UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
OR
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from to
Commission file number: 1-32953
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 43-2094238 | |
(State or other jurisdiction or incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
Park Place Corporate Center One 1000 Commerce Drive, 4th Floor Pittsburgh, PA |
15275 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | Zip code |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (412) 489-0006
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | x | Accelerated filer | ¨ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ¨ (Do not check if smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
The number of outstanding common units of the registrant on May 7, 2012 was 51,318,155.
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT
ON FORM 10-Q
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
March 31, | December 31, | |||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 45,349 | $ | 77,376 | ||||
Accounts receivable |
126,090 | 136,853 | ||||||
Current portion of derivative asset |
26,154 | 15,447 | ||||||
Subscriptions receivable |
| 34,455 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other |
19,850 | 24,779 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total current assets |
217,443 | 288,910 | ||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
2,164,021 | 2,093,283 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
109,524 | 104,777 | ||||||
Investment in joint venture |
85,975 | 86,879 | ||||||
Goodwill, net |
31,784 | 31,784 | ||||||
Long-term derivative asset |
25,111 | 30,941 | ||||||
Other assets, net |
47,563 | 48,197 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
$ | 2,681,421 | $ | 2,684,771 | |||||
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|
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LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS CAPITAL | ||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
$ | 4,011 | $ | 2,085 | ||||
Accounts payable |
69,830 | 93,554 | ||||||
Liabilities associated with drilling contracts |
27,998 | 71,719 | ||||||
Accrued producer liabilities |
77,047 | 88,096 | ||||||
Current portion of derivative liability |
1,642 | | ||||||
Current portion of derivative payable to Drilling Partnerships |
18,541 | 20,900 | ||||||
Accrued interest |
9,760 | 1,629 | ||||||
Accrued well drilling and completion costs |
20,404 | 17,585 | ||||||
Accrued liabilities |
52,963 | 61,653 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Total current liabilities |
282,196 | 357,221 | ||||||
Long-term debt, less current portion |
626,314 | 522,055 | ||||||
Long-term derivative payable to Drilling Partnerships |
11,499 | 15,272 | ||||||
Asset retirement obligations and other |
54,152 | 46,142 | ||||||
Commitments and contingencies |
||||||||
Partners Capital: |
||||||||
Common limited partners interests |
442,700 | 554,999 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
32,961 | 29,376 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
475,661 | 584,375 | |||||||
Non-controlling interests |
1,231,599 | 1,159,706 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Total partners capital |
1,707,260 | 1,744,081 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
$ | 2,681,421 | $ | 2,684,771 | |||||
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|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated combined financial statements
3
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per unit data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Revenues: |
||||||||
Gas and oil production |
$ | 17,164 | $ | 17,626 | ||||
Well construction and completion |
43,719 | 17,725 | ||||||
Gathering and processing |
305,220 | 280,218 | ||||||
Administration and oversight |
2,831 | 1,361 | ||||||
Well services |
5,006 | 5,286 | ||||||
Loss on mark-to-market derivatives |
(12,035 | ) | (21,645 | ) | ||||
Other, net |
2,801 | 4,353 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total revenues |
364,706 | 304,924 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Costs and expenses: |
||||||||
Gas and oil production |
4,505 | 3,921 | ||||||
Well construction and completion |
37,695 | 15,021 | ||||||
Gathering and processing |
251,924 | 236,984 | ||||||
Well services |
2,430 | 2,360 | ||||||
General and administrative |
37,248 | 16,190 | ||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
29,950 | 26,607 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Total costs and expenses |
363,752 | 301,083 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Operating income |
954 | 3,841 | ||||||
Gain (loss) on asset disposals |
(7,005 | ) | 255,947 | |||||
Interest expense |
(9,091 | ) | (18,078 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
(15,142 | ) | 241,710 | |||||
Discontinued operations: |
||||||||
Loss from discontinued operations |
| (81 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) |
(15,142 | ) | 241,629 | |||||
Income attributable to non-controlling interests |
(3,365 | ) | (211,378 | ) | ||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Income (loss) after non-controlling interests |
(18,507 | ) | 30,251 | |||||
Income not attributable to common limited partners (results of operations of the Transferred Business as of and prior to February 17, 2011, the date of acquisition (see Note 2)) |
| (4,711 | ) | |||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners |
$ | (18,507 | ) | $ | 25,540 | |||
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|
|
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Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners per unit - basic and diluted: |
||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common limited partners |
$ | (0.36 | ) | $ | 0.65 | |||
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to common limited partners |
| | ||||||
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|
|||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners |
$ | (0.36 | ) | $ | 0.65 | |||
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Weighted average common limited partner units outstanding: |
||||||||
Basic |
51,294 | 39,010 | ||||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Diluted |
51,294 | 39,245 | ||||||
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|
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Income (loss) attributable to common limited partners: |
||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (18,507 | ) | $ | 25,550 | |||
Loss from discontinued operations |
| (10 | ) | |||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners |
$ | (18,507 | ) | $ | 25,540 | |||
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|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated combined financial statements
4
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | (15,142 | ) | $ | 241,629 | |||
Income attributable to non-controlling interests |
(3,365 | ) | (211,378 | ) | ||||
Income not attributable to common limited partners (results of operations of the Transferred Business as of and prior to February 17, 2011, the date of the acquisition (see Note 2)) |
| (4,711 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common unitholders |
(18,507 | ) | 25,540 | |||||
Other comprehensive income (loss): |
||||||||
Changes in fair value of derivative instruments accounted for as cash flow hedges |
14,169 | 442 | ||||||
Less: reclassification adjustment for realized gains in net income (loss) |
(1,454 | ) | (6,029 | ) | ||||
Changes in non-controlling interest related to items in other comprehensive income (loss) |
(9,130 | ) | (1,465 | ) | ||||
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|
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|
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Total other comprehensive income (loss) |
3,585 | (7,052 | ) | |||||
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|
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|
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Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common unitholders |
$ | (14,922 | ) | $ | 18,488 | |||
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|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated combined financial statements
5
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS CAPITAL
(in thousands, except unit data)
(Unaudited)
Accumulated | ||||||||||||||||||||
Common Limited | Other | Non- | Total | |||||||||||||||||
Partners Capital | Comprehensive | Controlling | Partners | |||||||||||||||||
Units | Amount | Income | Interests | Capital | ||||||||||||||||
Balance at January 1, 2012 |
51,278,362 | $ | 554,999 | $ | 29,376 | $ | 1,159,706 | $ | 1,744,081 | |||||||||||
Distribution of Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. units |
| (84,892 | ) | | 84,892 | | ||||||||||||||
Distributions to non-controlling interests |
| | | (26,286 | ) | (26,286 | ) | |||||||||||||
Unissued common units under incentive plans |
| 3,831 | | 928 | 4,759 | |||||||||||||||
Issuance of units under incentive plans |
28,917 | 32 | | 77 | 109 | |||||||||||||||
Distributions paid to common limited partners |
| (12,310 | ) | | | (12,310 | ) | |||||||||||||
Distribution equivalent rights paid on unissued units under incentive plans |
| (453 | ) | | (216 | ) | (669 | ) | ||||||||||||
Other comprehensive income |
| | 3,585 | 9,133 | 12,718 | |||||||||||||||
Net income (loss) |
| (18,507 | ) | | 3,365 | (15,142 | ) | |||||||||||||
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Balance at March 31, 2012 |
51,307,279 | $ | 442,700 | $ | 32,961 | $ | 1,231,599 | $ | 1,707,260 | |||||||||||
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See accompanying notes to consolidated combined financial statements
6
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | (15,142 | ) | $ | 241,629 | |||
Loss from discontinued operations |
| (81 | ) | |||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations |
(15,142 | ) | 241,710 | |||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
29,950 | 26,607 | ||||||
Amortization of deferred finance costs |
1,359 | 6,199 | ||||||
Non-cash loss on derivative value, net |
3,351 | 72,807 | ||||||
Non-cash compensation expense |
4,759 | 1,678 | ||||||
(Gain) loss on asset disposals |
7,005 | (255,947 | ) | |||||
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests |
(26,502 | ) | (19,251 | ) | ||||
Equity income in unconsolidated companies |
(1,233 | ) | (1,613 | ) | ||||
Distributions received from unconsolidated companies |
1,996 | 2,154 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses and other |
50,810 | (17,437 | ) | |||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
(60,845 | ) | (34,572 | ) | ||||
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|
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Net cash provided by (used in) continuing operating activities |
(4,492 | ) | 22,335 | |||||
Net cash used in discontinued operating activities |
| (81 | ) | |||||
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|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
(4,492 | ) | 22,254 | |||||
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CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Capital expenditures |
(100,125 | ) | (26,065 | ) | ||||
Net cash paid for acquisitions |
(17,235 | ) | | |||||
Investments in unconsolidated companies |
| (12,250 | ) | |||||
Net proceeds from asset disposals |
| 411,753 | ||||||
Other |
(941 | ) | (1,480 | ) | ||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
(118,301 | ) | 371,958 | |||||
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CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: |
||||||||
Borrowings under credit facilities |
336,500 | 178,000 | ||||||
Repayments under credit facilities |
(231,500 | ) | (248,000 | ) | ||||
Repayments of long-term debt |
| (35,415 | ) | |||||
Distributions paid to unitholders |
(12,310 | ) | (1,948 | ) | ||||
Cash placed in escrow (APL Senior Note Redemption) |
| (293,696 | ) | |||||
Net transaction adjustment related to the acquisition of the Transferred Business (see Note 3) |
| 117,230 | ||||||
Deferred financing costs and other |
(1,924 | ) | (4,700 | ) | ||||
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|
|
|
|||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
90,766 | (288,529 | ) | |||||
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|
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Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
(32,027 | ) | 105,683 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year |
77,376 | 247 | ||||||
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|
|||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$ | 45,349 | $ | 105,930 | ||||
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|
See accompanying notes to consolidated combined financial statements
7
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2012
(Unaudited)
NOTE 1 BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Atlas Energy, L.P., (the Partnership or Atlas Energy) is a publicly-traded Delaware master limited partnership, formerly known as Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. (NYSE: ATLS).
At March 31, 2012, the Partnerships operations primarily consisted of its ownership interests in the following entities:
| Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. (ARP), a publicly-traded Delaware master limited partnership (NYSE: ARP) and an independent developer and producer of natural gas and oil, with operations in basins across the United States. ARP sponsors and manages tax-advantaged investment partnerships, in which it coinvests, to finance a portion of its natural gas and oil production activities. At March 31, 2012, the Partnership owned 100% of the general partner Class A units and incentive distribution rights through which it manages and effectively controls ARP, and common units representing an approximate 78.4% limited partner interest in ARP; |
| Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (APL), a publicly traded Delaware master limited partnership (NYSE: APL) and midstream energy service provider engaged in the gathering and processing of natural gas in the Mid-Continent and Appalachia regions of the United States. At March 31, 2012, the Partnership owned a 2.0% general partner interest, all of the incentive distribution rights, and an approximate 10.5% common limited partner interest in APL; and |
| Lightfoot Capital Partners, LP (Lightfoot LP) and Lightfoot Capital Partners GP, LLC (Lightfoot GP), the general partner of Lightfoot L.P. (collectively, Lightfoot), entities which incubate new master limited partnerships (MLPs) and invest in existing MLPs. At March 31, 2012, the Partnership had an approximate 16% general partner interest and 12% limited partner interest in Lightfoot (see Note 6). |
In February 2012, the board of directors of the Partnerships General Partner (the Board) approved the formation of ARP as a newly created exploration and production master limited partnership and the related transfer of substantially all of the Partnerships exploration and production assets to ARP on March 5, 2012. The Board also approved the distribution of approximately 5.24 million ARP common units to the Partnerships unitholders, which were distributed on March 13, 2012 using a ratio of 0.1021 ARP limited partner units for each of the Partnerships common units owned on the record date of February 28, 2012. The distribution of ARP limited partner units represented approximately 20% of the common limited partner units outstanding at March 13, 2012.
The accompanying consolidated combined financial statements, which are unaudited except that the balance sheet at December 31, 2011 is derived from audited financial statements, are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim reporting. They do not include all disclosures normally made in financial statements contained in Form 10-K. In managements opinion, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the Partnerships financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods disclosed have been made. These interim consolidated combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto presented in the Partnerships Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (see Note 2). Certain amounts in the prior years consolidated combined financial statements have also been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. The results of operations for the three month period ended March 31, 2012 may not necessarily be indicative of the results of operations for the full year ending December 31, 2012.
NOTE 2 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation and Combination
The consolidated combined financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned at March 31, 2012 except for ARP and APL, which are controlled by the Partnership. Due to the structure of the Partnerships ownership interests in ARP and APL, the Partnership consolidates the financial statements of ARP and APL into its consolidated combined financial statements rather than present its ownership
8
interest as equity investments. As such, the non-controlling interests in ARP and APL are reflected as income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests in its consolidated combined statements of operations and as a component of partners capital on its consolidated combined balance sheets. All material intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
On February 17, 2011, the Partnership acquired certain producing natural gas and oil properties, a partnership management business which sponsors tax-advantaged direct investment natural gas and oil partnerships, and other assets (the Transferred Business) from Atlas Energy, Inc. (AEI), the former owner of the Partnerships general partner (see Note 3). Management of the Partnership determined that the acquisition of the Transferred Business constituted a transaction between entities under common control. In comparison to the purchase method of accounting, whereby the purchase price for the asset acquisition would have been allocated to identifiable assets and liabilities of the Transferred Business based upon their fair values with any excess treated as goodwill, transfers between entities under common control require that assets and liabilities be recognized by the acquirer at historical carrying value at the date of transfer, with any difference between the purchase price and the net book value of the assets recognized as an adjustment to partners capital on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets. Also, in comparison to the purchase method of accounting, whereby the results of operations and the financial position of the Transferred Business would have been included in the Partnerships consolidated combined financial statements from the date of acquisition, transfers between entities under common control require the acquirer to reflect the effect to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the related results of operations at the beginning of the period during which it was acquired and retrospectively adjust its prior year financial statements to furnish comparative information. As such, the Partnership reflected the impact of the acquisition of the Transferred Business on its consolidated combined financial statements in the following manner:
| Recognized the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the Transferred Business at their historical carrying value at the date of transfer, with any difference between the purchase price and the net book value of the assets recognized as an adjustment to partners capital; |
| Retrospectively adjusted its consolidated combined financial statements for any date prior to February 17, 2011, the date of acquisition, to reflect its results on a consolidated combined basis with the results of the Transferred Business as of or at the beginning of the respective period; and |
| Adjusted the presentation of the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 to reflect the results of operations attributable to the Transferred Business prior to the date of acquisition as a reduction of net income to determine income attributable to common limited partners. However, the Transferred Business historical financial statements prior to the date of acquisition do not reflect general and administrative expenses and interest expense. The Transferred Business was not managed by AEI as a separate business segment and did not have identifiable labor and other ancillary costs. The general and administrative and interest expenses of AEI prior to the date of acquisition, including the exploration and production business segment, related primarily to business activities associated with the business sold to Chevron Corporation in February 2011 and not activities related to the Transferred Business. |
In accordance with established practice in the oil and gas industry, the Partnerships consolidated combined financial statements include its pro-rata share of assets, liabilities, income and lease operating and general and administrative costs and expenses of the energy partnerships in which ARP has an interest (the Drilling Partnerships). Such interests typically range from 20% to 41%. The Partnerships financial statements do not include proportional consolidation of the depletion or impairment expenses of ARPs Drilling Partnerships. Rather, ARP calculates these items specific to its own economics as further explained under the heading Property, Plant and Equipment elsewhere within this note.
The Partnerships consolidated combined financial statements also include APLs 95% ownership interest in joint ventures which individually own a 100% ownership interest in the West OK natural gas gathering system and processing plants and a 72.8% undivided interest in the West TX natural gas gathering system and processing plants. APL consolidates 100% of these joint ventures. The Partnership reflects the non-controlling 5% ownership interest in the joint ventures as non-controlling interests on its consolidated combined statements of operations. The Partnership also reflects the 5% ownership interest in the net assets of the joint ventures as non-controlling interests within partners capital on its consolidated combined balance sheets. The joint ventures have a $1.9 billion note receivable from the holder of the 5% ownership interest in the joint ventures, which was reflected within non-controlling interests on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets.
The West TX joint venture has a 72.8% undivided joint venture interest in the West TX system, of which the remaining 27.2% interest is owned by Pioneer Natural Resources Company (NYSE: PXD). Due to the West TX systems
9
status as an undivided joint venture, the West TX joint venture proportionally consolidates its 72.8% ownership interest in the assets and liabilities and operating results of the West TX system.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of the Partnerships consolidated combined financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities that exist at the date of the Partnerships consolidated combined financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and costs and expenses during the reporting periods. The Partnerships consolidated combined financial statements are based on a number of significant estimates, including revenue and expense accruals, depletion, depreciation and amortization, asset impairments, fair value of derivative instruments, the probability of forecasted transactions and the allocation of purchase price to the fair value of assets acquired. Such estimates included estimated allocations made from the historical accounting records of AEI in order to derive the historical financial statements of the Transferred Business prior to February 17, 2011, the date of acquisition (see Principles of Consolidation and Combination). Actual results could differ from those estimates.
The natural gas industry principally conducts its business by processing actual transactions as many as 60 days after the month of delivery. Consequently, the most recent two months financial results were recorded using estimated volumes and contract market prices. Differences between estimated and actual amounts are recorded in the following months financial results. Management believes that the operating results presented for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 represent actual results in all material respects (see Revenue Recognition).
Receivables
Accounts receivable on the consolidated combined balance sheets consist solely of the trade accounts receivable associated with ARPs and APLs operations. In evaluating the realizability of its accounts receivable, management of ARP and APL performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and adjusts credit limits based upon payment history and the customers current creditworthiness, as determined by managements review of ARPs and APLs customers credit information. ARP and APL extend credit on sales on an unsecured basis to many of its customers. At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, ARP and APL had recorded no allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost or, upon acquisition of a business, at the fair value of the assets acquired. Maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Major renewals and improvements that extend the useful lives of property are capitalized. Depreciation and amortization expense is based on cost less the estimated salvage value primarily using the straight-line method over the assets estimated useful life. When entire pipeline systems, gas plants or other property and equipment are retired or sold, any gain or loss is included in the Partnerships results of operations. APL follows the composite method of depreciation and has determined the composite groups to be the major asset classes of its gathering and processing systems. Under the composite depreciation method, any gain or loss upon disposition or retirement of pipeline, gas gathering and processing components, is recorded to accumulated depreciation.
ARP follows the successful efforts method of accounting for oil and gas producing activities. Exploratory drilling costs are capitalized pending determination of whether a well is successful. Exploratory wells subsequently determined to be dry holes are charged to expense. Costs resulting in exploratory discoveries and all development costs, whether successful or not, are capitalized. Geological and geophysical costs to enhance or evaluate development of proved fields or areas are capitalized. All other geological and geophysical costs, delay rentals and unsuccessful exploratory wells are expensed. Oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs) are converted to gas equivalent basis (Mcfe) at the rate of one barrel to 6 Mcf of natural gas.
ARPs depletion expense is determined on a field-by-field basis using the units-of-production method. Depletion rates for leasehold acquisition costs are based on estimated proved reserves, and depletion rates for well and related equipment costs are based on proved developed reserves associated with each field. Depletion rates are determined based on reserve quantity estimates and the capitalized costs of undeveloped and developed producing properties. Capitalized costs of developed producing properties in each field are aggregated to include ARPs costs of property interests in proportionately consolidated investment partnerships, joint venture wells, wells drilled solely by ARP for its interests, properties purchased and working interests with other outside operators.
10
Upon the sale or retirement of an ARP complete field of a proved property, the cost is eliminated from the property accounts, and the resultant gain or loss is reclassified to the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. Upon the sale of an individual ARP well, ARP credits the proceeds to accumulated depreciation and depletion within the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets. Upon ARPs sale of an entire interest in an unproved property where the property had been assessed for impairment individually, a gain or loss is recognized in the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. If a partial interest in an unproved property is sold, any funds received are accounted for as a reduction of the cost in the interest retained.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
The Partnership and its subsidiaries review their long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined that an assets estimated future cash flows will not be sufficient to recover its carrying amount, an impairment charge will be recorded to reduce the carrying amount for that asset to its estimated fair value if such carrying amount exceeds the fair value.
The review of ARPs oil and gas properties is done on a field-by-field basis by determining if the historical cost of proved properties less the applicable accumulated depletion, depreciation and amortization and abandonment is less than the estimated expected undiscounted future cash flows. The expected future cash flows are estimated based on ARPs plans to continue to produce and develop proved reserves. Expected future cash flow from the sale of production of reserves is calculated based on estimated future prices. ARP estimates prices based upon current contracts in place, adjusted for basis differentials and market related information including published futures prices. The estimated future level of production is based on assumptions surrounding future prices and costs, field decline rates, market demand and supply and the economic and regulatory climates. If the carrying value exceeds the expected future cash flows, an impairment loss is recognized for the difference between the estimated fair market value (as determined by discounted future cash flows) and the carrying value of the assets.
The determination of oil and natural gas reserve estimates is a subjective process, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate depends on the quality of available data and the application of engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Estimates of economically recoverable reserves and future net cash flows depend on a number of variable factors and assumptions that are difficult to predict and may vary considerably from actual results. In particular, ARPs reserve estimates for its investment in the Drilling Partnerships are based on its own assumptions rather than its proportionate share of the limited partnerships reserves. These assumptions include ARPs actual capital contributions, an additional carried interest (generally 5% to 10%), a disproportionate share of salvage value upon plugging of the wells and lower operating and administrative costs.
ARPs lower operating and administrative costs result from the limited partners in the Drilling Partnerships paying to ARP their proportionate share of these expenses plus a profit margin. These assumptions could result in ARPs calculation of depletion and impairment being different than its proportionate share of the Drilling Partnerships calculations for these items. In addition, reserve estimates for wells with limited or no production history are less reliable than those based on actual production. Estimated reserves are often subject to future revisions, which could be substantial, based on the availability of additional information which could cause the assumptions to be modified. ARP cannot predict what reserve revisions may be required in future periods.
ARPs method of calculating its reserves may result in reserve quantities and values which are greater than those which would be calculated by the Drilling Partnerships, which ARP sponsors and owns an interest in but does not control. ARPs reserve quantities include reserves in excess of its proportionate share of reserves in Drilling Partnerships, which ARP may be unable to recover due to the Drilling Partnerships legal structure. ARP may have to pay additional consideration in the future as a well or Drilling Partnership becomes uneconomic under the terms of the Drilling Partnerships agreement in order to recover these excess reserves and to acquire any additional residual interests in the wells held by other partnership investors. The acquisition of any well interest from the Drilling Partnership by ARP is governed under the Drilling Partnerships agreement and in general, must be at fair market value supported by an appraisal of an independent expert selected by ARP.
Unproved properties are reviewed annually for impairment or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Impairment charges are recorded if conditions indicate that ARP will not explore the acreage prior to expiration of the applicable leases or if it is determined that the carrying value of the properties is above their fair value. There were no impairments of unproved gas and oil properties recorded by ARP for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
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Proved properties are reviewed annually for impairment or whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. During the year ended December 31, 2011, the Partnership recognized $7.0 million of asset impairment related to ARPs gas and oil properties within property, plant and equipment on its consolidated combined balance sheet for its shallow natural gas wells in the Niobrara Shale. This impairment related to the carrying amount of the gas and oil properties being in excess of ARPs estimate of their fair value at December 31, 2011. The estimate of fair value of the gas and oil properties was impacted by, among other factors, the deterioration of natural gas prices at the date of measurement.
Capitalized Interest
ARP and APL capitalize interest on borrowed funds related to capital projects only for periods that activities are in progress to bring these projects to their intended use. The weighted average interest rates used to capitalize interest on combined borrowed funds by ARP and APL in the aggregate were 6.7% and 5.9% for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. The aggregate amounts of interest capitalized by ARP and APL were $2.3 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Intangible Assets
Customer contracts and relationships. APL amortizes intangible assets with finite lives in connection with natural gas gathering contracts and customer relationships assumed in certain consummated acquisitions, which APL amortizes over their estimated useful lives. If an intangible asset has a finite useful life, but the precise length of that life is not known, that intangible asset must be amortized over the best estimate of its useful life. At a minimum, APL will assess the useful lives of all intangible assets on an annual basis to determine if adjustments are required. The estimated useful life for APLs customer relationship intangible assets is based upon the estimated average length of non-contracted customer relationships in existence at the date of acquisition, adjusted for APLs managements estimate of whether the individual relationships will continue in excess or less than the average length. APL completed the acquisition of a gas gathering system in February 2012 and recognized $10.6 million related to customer contracts with an estimated useful life 14 years.
Partnership management and operating contracts. ARP has recorded intangible assets with finite lives in connection with partnership management and operating contracts acquired through prior consummated acquisitions. ARP amortizes contracts acquired on a declining balance over their respective estimated useful lives.
The following table reflects the components of intangible assets being amortized at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
Estimated Useful Lives In Years | ||||||||
Gross Carrying Amount: |
||||||||||
Customer contracts and relationships |
$ | 215,946 | $ | 205,313 | 7 14 | |||||
Partnership management and operating contracts |
14,344 | 14,344 | 1 13 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
$ | 230,290 | $ | 219,657 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Accumulated Amortization: |
||||||||||
Customer contracts and relationships |
$ | (107,876 | ) | $ | (102,037 | ) | ||||
Partnership management and operating contracts |
(12,890 | ) | (12,843 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
$ | (120,766 | ) | $ | (114,880 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Net Carrying Amount: |
||||||||||
Customer contracts and relationships |
$ | 108,070 | $ | 103,276 | ||||||
Partnership management and operating contracts |
1,454 | 1,501 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
$ | 109,524 | $ | 104,777 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
Amortization expense on intangible assets was $5.9 million and $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31 2012 and 2011, respectively. Aggregate estimated annual amortization expense for all of the contracts described above for the next five years ending December 31 is as follows: 2012 - $24.0 million; 2013 - $24.0 million; 2014 - $20.4 million; 2015 - $15.4 million; and 2016 - $15.4 million.
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Goodwill
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Partnership had $31.8 million of goodwill recorded in connection with prior ARP consummated acquisitions. There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011.
ARP tests its goodwill for impairment at each year end by comparing its reporting unit estimated fair values to carrying values. Because quoted market prices for the reporting units are not available, management must apply judgment in determining the estimated fair value of these reporting units. ARPs management uses all available information to make these fair value determinations, including the present values of expected future cash flows using discount rates commensurate with the risks involved in the assets. A key component of these fair value determinations is a reconciliation of the sum of the fair value calculations to market capitalization. The observed market prices of individual trades of an entitys equity securities (and thus its computed market capitalization) may not be representative of the fair value of the entity as a whole. Substantial value may arise from the ability to take advantage of synergies and other benefits that flow from control over another entity. Consequently, measuring the fair value of a collection of assets and liabilities that operate together in a controlled entity is different from measuring the fair value of that entity on a stand-alone basis. In most industries, including ARPs, an acquiring entity typically is willing to pay more for equity securities that give it a controlling interest than an investor would pay for a number of equity securities representing less than a controlling interest. Therefore, once the above fair value calculations have been determined, ARP also considers the inclusion of a control premium within the calculations. This control premium is judgmental and is based on, among other items, observed acquisitions in ARPs industry. The resultant fair values calculated for the reporting units are compared to observable metrics on large mergers and acquisitions in ARPs industry to determine whether those valuations appear reasonable in managements judgment. ARPs management will continue to evaluate goodwill at least annually or when impairment indicators arise. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, no impairment indicators arose, and no goodwill impairments were recognized by the Partnership.
Capital Leases
Leased property and equipment meeting capital lease criteria are capitalized based on the minimum payments required under the lease and are included within property, plant and equipment on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets. Obligations under capital leases are accounted for as current and noncurrent liabilities and are included within debt on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets. Amortization is calculated on a straight-line method based upon the estimated useful lives of the assets (see Note 8).
Derivative Instruments
ARP and APL enter into certain financial contracts to manage their exposure to movement in commodity prices and interest rates (see Note 9). The derivative instruments recorded in the consolidated combined balance sheets were measured as either an asset or liability at fair value. Changes in ARPs and APLs derivative instruments fair value are recognized currently in the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met.
Asset Retirement Obligations
ARP recognizes an estimated liability for the plugging and abandonment of its gas and oil wells and related facilities (see Note 7). ARP also recognizes a liability for its future asset retirement obligations if a reasonable estimate of the fair value of that liability can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The Partnership and its subsidiaries also consider the estimated salvage value in the calculation of depreciation, depletion and amortization.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Partnership recognizes all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, in the consolidated combined financial statements based on their fair values (see Note 15).
Net Income (Loss) Per Common Unit
Basic net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners per unit is computed by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners, which is determined after the deduction of net income attributable to participating securities, if applicable, by the weighted average number of common limited partner units outstanding during the period.
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Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per unit pursuant to the two-class method. The Partnerships phantom unit awards, which consist of common units issuable under the terms of its long-term incentive plans and incentive compensation agreements (see Note 15), contain non-forfeitable rights to distribution equivalents of the Partnership. The participation rights result in a non-contingent transfer of value each time the Partnership declares a distribution or distribution equivalent right during the awards vesting period. However, unless the contractual terms of the participating securities require the holders to share in the losses of the entity, net loss is not allocated to the participating securities. As such, the net income utilized in the calculation of net income (loss) per unit must be after the allocation of only net income to the phantom units on a pro-rata basis.
The following is a reconciliation of net income (loss) from continuing operations and net income (loss) from discontinued operations allocated to the common limited partners for purposes of calculating net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners per unit (in thousands, except unit data):
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Continuing operations: |
||||||||
Net income (loss) |
$ | (15,142 | ) | $ | 241,710 | |||
Income attributable to non-controlling interests |
(3,365 | ) | (211,449 | ) | ||||
Income not attributable to common limited partners (results of operations of the Transferred Business as of and prior to February 17, 2011, the date of acquisition (see Note 2)) |
| (4,711 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners |
(18,507 | ) | 25,550 | |||||
Less: Net income attributable to participating securities - phantom units(1) |
| (98 | ) | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) utilized in the calculation of net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to common limited partners per unit |
$ | (18,507 | ) | $ | 25,452 | |||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Discontinued operations: |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | | $ | (81 | ) | |||
Loss attributable to non-controlling interests |
| 71 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net loss utilized in the calculation of net income from discontinued operations attributable to common limited partners per unit |
$ | | $ | (10 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Net income attributable to common limited partners ownership interests is allocated to the phantom units on a pro-rata basis (weighted average phantom units outstanding as a percentage of the sum of the weighted average phantom units and common limited partner units outstanding). For the three months ended March 31, 2012, net loss attributable to common limited partners ownership interest is not allocated to approximately 1,929,000 phantom units, respectively, because the contractual terms of the phantom units as participating securities do not require the holders to share in the losses of the entity. |
Diluted net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners per unit is calculated by dividing net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners, less income allocable to participating securities, by the sum of the weighted average number of common limited partner units outstanding and the dilutive effect of unit option awards, as calculated by the treasury stock method. Unit options consist of common units issuable upon payment of an exercise price by the participant under the terms of the Partnerships long-term incentive plans (see Note 15).
The following table sets forth the reconciliation of the Partnerships weighted average number of common limited partner units used to compute basic net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners per unit with those used to compute diluted net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners per unit (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Weighted average number of common limited partners per unit - basic |
51,294 | 39,010 | ||||||
Add effect of dilutive incentive awards(1) |
| 235 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Weighted average number of common limited partners per unit - diluted |
51,294 | 39,245 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
14
(1) | For the three months ended March 31, 2012, approximately 2,260,000 units were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings attributable to common limited partners per unit because the inclusion of such units would have been anti-dilutive. |
Revenue Recognition
Atlas Resources. Certain energy activities are conducted by ARP through, and a portion of its revenues are attributable to, the Drilling Partnerships. ARP contracts with the Drilling Partnerships to drill partnership wells. The contracts require that the Drilling Partnerships must pay ARP the full contract price upon execution. The income from a drilling contract is recognized as the services are performed using the percentage of completion method. The contracts are typically completed between 60 and 270 days. On an uncompleted contract, ARP classifies the difference between the contract payments it has received and the revenue earned as a current liability titled Liabilities Associated with Drilling Contracts on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets. ARP recognizes well services revenues at the time the services are performed. ARP is also entitled to receive management fees according to the respective partnership agreements and recognizes such fees as income when earned, which are included in administration and oversight revenues within the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations.
ARP generally sells natural gas, crude oil and NGLs at prevailing market prices. Generally, ARPs sales contracts are based on pricing provisions that are tied to a market index, with certain fixed adjustments based on proximity to gathering and transmission lines and the quality of its natural gas. Generally, the market index is fixed 2 business days prior to the commencement of the production month. Revenue and the related accounts receivable are recognized when produced quantities are delivered to a custody transfer point, persuasive evidence of a sales arrangement exists, the rights and responsibility of ownership pass to the purchaser upon delivery, collection of revenue from the sale is reasonably assured and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Revenues from the production of natural gas and crude oil, in which ARP has an interest with other producers, are recognized on the basis of its percentage ownership of the working interest and/or overriding royalty.
Atlas Pipeline. APLs revenue primarily consists of the sale of natural gas and NGLs, along with the fees earned from its gathering, processing and transportation operations. Under certain agreements, APL purchases natural gas from producers, moves it into receipt points on its pipeline systems and then sells the natural gas, or produced NGLs, if any, at delivery points on its systems. Under other agreements, APL gathers natural gas across its systems, from receipt to delivery point, without taking title to the natural gas. Revenue associated with the physical sale of natural gas and NGLs is recognized upon physical delivery. In connection with its gathering, processing and transportation operations, APL enters into the following types of contractual relationships with its producers and shippers:
| Fee-Based Contracts. These contracts provide a set fee for gathering and/or processing raw natural gas and for transporting NGLs. APLs revenue is a function of the volume of natural gas that it gathers and processes or the volume of NGLs transported and is not directly dependent on the value of the natural gas or NGLs. APL is also paid a separate compression fee on many of its gathering systems. The fee is dependent upon the volume of gas flowing through its compressors and the quantity of compression stages utilized to gather the gas. |
| Percentage of Proceeds (POP) Contracts. These contracts provide for APL to retain a negotiated percentage of the sale proceeds from residue gas and NGLs it gathers and processes, with the remainder being remitted to the producer. In this contract-type, APL and the producer are directly dependent on the volume of the commodity and its value; APL effectively owns a percentage of the commodity and revenues are directly correlated to its market value. POP contracts may include a fee component which is charged to the producer. |
| Keep-Whole Contracts. These contracts require APL, as the processor and gatherer, to gather or purchase raw natural gas at current market rates per MMBTU. The volume and energy content of gas gathered or purchased is based on the measurement at an agreed upon location (generally at the wellhead). The BTU quantity of gas redelivered or sold at the tailgate of APLs processing facility may be lower than the BTU quantity purchased at the wellhead primarily due to the NGLs extracted from the natural gas when processed through a plant. APL must make up or keep the producer whole for this loss in BTU quantity. To offset the make-up obligation, APL retains the NGLs which are extracted and sells them for its own account. Therefore, APL bears the economic risk (the processing margin risk) that (i) the BTU quantity of residue gas available for redelivery to the producer may be less than APL received from the producer; and/or (ii) aggregate proceeds from the sale of the processed natural gas and NGLs could be less than the amount that it paid for the unprocessed natural gas. In order to help mitigate the risk associated with Keep-Whole contracts, APL generally imposes a fee to gather the gas that is settled under this arrangement. Also, because the natural gas volumes contracted under some Keep-Whole |
15
agreements are lower in BTU content and thus can meet downstream pipeline specifications without being processed, the natural gas can be bypassed around the processing plants on these systems and delivered directly into downstream pipelines during periods when the processing margin is uneconomic. |
ARP and APL accrue unbilled revenue due to timing differences between the delivery of natural gas, NGLs, crude oil and condensate and the receipt of a delivery statement. These revenues are recorded based upon volumetric data from ARPs and APLs records and management estimates of the related commodity sales and transportation and compression fees which are, in turn, based upon applicable product prices (see - Use of Estimates accounting policy for further description). ARP and APL had unbilled revenues at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 of $76.0 million and $81.2 million, respectively, which were included in accounts receivable within the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) includes net income (loss) and all other changes in the equity of a business during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources that, under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, have not been recognized in the calculation of net income (loss). These changes, other than net income (loss), are referred to as other comprehensive income (loss) and for the Partnership includes changes in the fair value of unsettled derivative contracts accounted for as cash flow hedges.
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2011-12, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05 (Update 2011-12). The amendments in this update effectively defer the implementation of the changes made in Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income (Update 2011-05), related to the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. Under Update 2011-05 which was issued by the FASB in June 2011, entities are provided the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Under each methodology, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with a total net income, each component of other comprehensive income and a total amount for comprehensive income. Update 2011-05 eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders equity. As a result of Update 2011-12, entities are required to disclose reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income consistent with the presentation requirements in effect prior to Update 2011-05. All other requirements in Update 2011-05 are not affected by Update 2011-12. These requirements are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Accordingly, entities are not required to comply with presentation requirements of Update 2011-05 related to the disclosure of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The Partnership included consolidated combined statements of comprehensive income within this Form 10-Q upon the adoption of these ASUs on January 1, 2012. The adoption had no material impact on the Partnerships financial condition or results of operations.
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-11, Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosure about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (Update 2011-11). The amendments in this update require an entity to disclose both gross and net information about both financial and derivative instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset on the statement of financial position. An entity shall disclose at the end of a reporting period certain quantitative information separately for assets and liabilities that are within the scope of Update 2011-11, as well as provide a description of the rights of setoff associated with an entitys recognized assets and recognized liabilities subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement. Entities are required to implement the amendments for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after January 1, 2013 and shall be applied retrospectively for any period presented that begins before the date of initial application. The Partnership has elected to early adopt these requirements and updated its disclosures to meet these requirements effective January 1, 2012 (see Note 9). The adoption had no material impact on the Partnerships financial position or results of operations.
In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-08, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Goodwill for Impairment (Update 2011-08). The amendments in Update 2011-08 allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors in determining the necessity of performing the two-step quantitative goodwill impairment test. If, after assessing qualitative factors, an entity determines it is not likely that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. Under the amendments in Update 2011-08, an entity has the option to bypass the
16
qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing the first step of the two-step impairment test. The amendments are effective for interim and annual goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Partnership adopted the amendments of Update 2011-08 upon its effective date of January 1, 2012. The adoption had no material impact on the Partnerships financial position or results of operations.
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-04, Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs (Update 2011-04). The amendments in Update 2011-04 revise the wording used to describe many of the requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosing information about fair value measurements in U.S. GAAP. For many of the amendments, the guidance is not necessarily intended to result in a change in the application of the requirements in Topic 820; rather it is intended to clarify the intent about the application of existing fair value measurement requirements. Other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. As a result, Update 2011-04 aims to provide common fair value measurement and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. These requirements are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Partnership updated its disclosures to meet these requirements upon the adoption of Update 2011-04 on January 1, 2012 (see Note 10). The adoption had no material impact on the Partnerships financial position or results of operations.
NOTE 3 ACQUISITION FROM ATLAS ENERGY, INC.
On February 17, 2011, the Partnership acquired the Transferred Business from AEI, including the following exploration and production assets that were transferred to ARP on March 5, 2012:
| AEIs investment management business which sponsors tax-advantaged direct investment natural gas and oil partnerships, through which ARP funds a portion of its natural gas and oil well drilling; |
| proved reserves located in the Appalachian Basin, the Niobrara formation in Colorado, the New Albany Shale of west central Indiana, the Antrim Shale of northern Michigan and the Chattanooga Shale of northeastern Tennessee; |
| certain producing natural gas and oil properties, upon which ARP is the developer and producer; |
In addition to the exploration and production assets, the Transferred Business also included all of the ownership interests in Atlas Energy GP, LLC, the Partnerships general partner, and a direct and indirect ownership interest in Lightfoot.
For the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, the Partnership issued approximately 23.4 million of its common limited partner units and paid $30.0 million in cash consideration. Based on the Partnerships February 17, 2011 common unit closing price of $15.92, the common units issued to AEI were valued at approximately $372.2 million. In connection with the transaction, the Partnership also received $118.7 million with respect to a contractual cash transaction adjustment from AEI related to certain liabilities assumed by the Partnership, including certain amounts subject to a reconciliation period following the consummation of the transaction. The reconciliation period was assumed by ARP on March 5, 2012 and remains ongoing at March 31, 2012, and certain amounts included within the contractual cash transaction adjustment are in dispute between the parties. The resolution of the disputed amounts could result in ARP being required to repay a portion of the cash transaction adjustment (see Note 12). Including the cash transaction adjustment, the net book value of the Transferred Business was approximately $522.9 million.
Concurrent with the Partnerships acquisition of the Transferred Business on February 17, 2011, including assets and liabilities transferred to ARP on March 5, 2012, AEI completed its merger with Chevron Corporation (Chevron), whereby AEI became a wholly owned subsidiary of Chevron. Also concurrent with the Partnerships acquisition of the Transferred Business and immediately preceding AEIs merger with Chevron, APL completed its sale to AEI of its 49% non-controlling interest in Laurel Mountain Midstream, LLC (Laurel Mountain; see Note 4). APL received $409.5 million in cash, including adjustments based on certain capital contributions APL made to and distributions it received from the Laurel Mountain joint venture after January 1, 2011. APL retained the preferred distribution rights under the limited liability company agreement of the Laurel Mountain joint venture entitling APL to receive all payments made under the note receivable issued to Laurel Mountain by Williams Laurel Mountain, LLC (Williams) in connection with the formation of the Laurel Mountain joint venture.
Management of the Partnership determined that the acquisition of the Transferred Business constituted a transaction between entities under common control. As such, the Partnership recognized the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at historical carrying value at the date of acquisition, with the difference between the purchase price and the net book value of
17
the assets recognized as an adjustment to partners capital on its consolidated combined balance sheet. The Partnership recognized a non-cash decrease of $261.0 million in partners capital on its consolidated combined balance sheet based on the excess net book value above the value of the consideration paid to AEI. The following table presents the historical carrying value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed by the Partnership, including the effect of cash transaction adjustments, as of February 17, 2011 (in thousands):
Cash |
$ | 153,350 | ||
Accounts receivable |
18,090 | |||
Accounts receivable - affiliate |
45,682 | |||
Prepaid expenses and other |
6,955 | |||
|
|
|||
Total current assets |
224,077 | |||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
516,625 | |||
Goodwill |
31,784 | |||
Intangible assets, net |
2,107 | |||
Other assets, net |
20,416 | |||
|
|
|||
Total long-term assets |
570,932 | |||
|
|
|||
Total assets acquired |
$ | 795,009 | ||
|
|
|||
Accounts payable |
$ | 59,202 | ||
Net liabilities associated with drilling contracts |
47,929 | |||
Accrued well completion costs |
39,552 | |||
Current portion of derivative payable to Drilling Partnerships |
25,659 | |||
Accrued liabilities |
25,283 | |||
|
|
|||
Total current liabilities |
197,625 | |||
Long-term derivative payable to Drilling Partnerships |
31,719 | |||
Asset retirement obligations |
42,791 | |||
|
|
|||
Total long-term liabilities |
74,510 | |||
|
|
|||
Total liabilities assumed |
$ | 272,135 | ||
|
|
|||
Historical carrying value of net assets acquired |
$ | 522,874 | ||
|
|
The Partnership reflected the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the related results of operations at the beginning of the period during which the Transferred Business was acquired and retrospectively adjusted its prior year financial statements to furnish comparative information (see Note 2).
NOTE 4 APL INVESTMENT IN JOINT VENTURES
West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership
On May 11, 2011, APL acquired a 20% interest in West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership (West Texas LPG) from Buckeye Partners, L.P. (NYSE: BPL) for $85.0 million. West Texas LPG owns a common-carrier pipeline system that transports NGLs from New Mexico and Texas to Mont Belvieu, Texas for fractionation. West Texas LPG is operated by Chevron Pipeline Company, a subsidiary of Chevron, which owns the remaining 80% interest. APL has accounted for its ownership interest in West Texas LPG under the equity method of accounting, with recognition of its ownership interest in the income of West Texas LPG in other, net on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, APL recognized $0.9 million of equity income within other, net on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations related to its West Texas LPG interest.
Laurel Mountain
On February 17, 2011, APL completed the sale of its 49% non-controlling interest in the Laurel Mountain joint venture to AEI (see Note 3). The Laurel Mountain joint venture was formed in May 2009 by APL and subsidiaries of the Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE: WMB; Williams) to own and operate APLs Appalachian Basin natural gas gathering system. APL used the proceeds from the sale to repay its indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. APL also retained its preferred distribution rights with respect to a remaining $8.5 million note receivable due from Williams, an investment grade rated entity, related to the formation of Laurel Mountain, including interest due on this note. Since APL accounted for its ownership of Laurel Mountain as an equity investment included within investment in joint venture on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet and recognition of its ownership interest in the income of Laurel Mountain as other income (loss) on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations, APL did not reclassify
18
the earnings or the gain on sale related to Laurel Mountain to discontinued operations upon the sale of its ownership interest. The Partnership recognized a net gain of $255.9 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011, which is included in gain (loss) on asset disposal within the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. The Partnership also reclassified the $8.5 million note receivable previously recorded to investment in joint venture to prepaid expenses and other on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets. In December 2011, Williams made a cash payment to APL to settle the remaining $8.5 million balance on the note receivable plus accrued interest of $0.2 million.
The following tables summarize the components of equity income within other, net on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations (in thousands).
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Equity income in Laurel Mountain |
$ | | $ | 462 | ||||
Equity income in WTLPG |
896 | | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Equity income in joint ventures |
$ | 896 | $ | 462 | ||||
|
|
|
|
NOTE 5 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
The following is a summary of property, plant and equipment at the dates indicated (in thousands):
March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
Estimated Useful Lives in Years | ||||||||
Natural gas and oil properties: |
||||||||||
Proved properties: |
||||||||||
Leasehold interests |
$ | 67,151 | $ | 61,587 | ||||||
Pre-development costs |
1,367 | 2,540 | ||||||||
Wells and related equipment |
829,775 | 828,780 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total proved properties |
898,293 | 892,907 | ||||||||
Unproved properties |
40,804 | 43,253 | ||||||||
Support equipment |
10,015 | 9,413 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total natural gas and oil properties |
949,112 | 945,573 | ||||||||
Pipelines, processing and compression facilities |
1,726,498 | 1,646,320 | 2 40 | |||||||
Rights of way |
168,894 | 161,275 | 20 40 | |||||||
Land, buildings and improvements |
23,491 | 23,416 | 3 40 | |||||||
Other |
24,169 | 22,734 | 3 10 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
2,892,164 | 2,799,318 | |||||||||
Less - accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization |
(728,143 | ) | (706,035 | ) | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||
$ | 2,164,021 | $ | 2,093,283 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, ARP recognized a $7.0 million loss on asset disposal pertaining to its decision to terminate a farm out agreement with a third party for well drilling in the South Knox area of the New Albany Shale that was originally entered into in 2010. The farm out agreement contained certain well drilling targets for ARP to maintain ownership of the South Knox processing plant, which ARPs management decided in 2012 to not achieve due to the current natural gas price environment. As a result, ARP forfeited its interest in the processing plant and related properties and recorded a loss related to the net book values of those assets as of March 31, 2012.
During the year ended December 31, 2011, ARP recognized $7.0 million of asset impairment related to its gas and oil properties within property, plant and equipment, net on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet for ARPs shallow natural gas wells in the Niobrara Shale. This impairment related to the carrying amount of gas and oil properties being in excess of ARPs estimate of their fair value at December 31, 2011. The estimate of fair value of these gas and oil properties was impacted by, among other factors, the deterioration of natural gas prices at the date of measurement.
NOTE 6 OTHER ASSETS
The following is a summary of other assets at the dates indicated (in thousands):
19
March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $20,690 and $19,331 at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively |
$ | 23,252 | $ | 23,426 | ||||
Investment in Lightfoot |
19,415 | 19,514 | ||||||
Security deposits |
2,658 | 4,584 | ||||||
Other |
2,238 | 673 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 47,563 | $ | 48,197 | |||||
|
|
|
|
Deferred finance costs are recorded at cost and amortized over the term of the respective debt agreements (see Note 8). Amortization expense of ARPs and APLs deferred finance costs was $1.4 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, which is recorded within interest expense on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. In March 2011, the Partnership recorded an additional $4.9 million of accelerated amortization of its deferred financing costs associated with the retirement of its $70 million credit facility.
At March 31, 2012, the Partnership owns an approximate 12% interest in Lightfoot LP and an approximate 16% interest in Lightfoot GP, the general partner of Lightfoot LP, an entity for which Jonathan Cohen, Chairman of the General Partners board of directors, is the Chairman of the Board. Lightfoot LP focuses its investments primarily on incubating new master limited partnerships and providing capital to existing MLPs in need of additional equity or structured debt. The Partnership accounts for its investment in Lightfoot under the equity method of accounting. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Partnership recorded equity income of $0.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively. The equity income was recorded within other, net on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, the Partnership received net cash distributions of $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively.
NOTE 7 ASSET RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS
ARP recognizes an estimated liability for the plugging and abandonment of its gas and oil wells and related facilities. ARP also recognizes a liability for its future asset retirement obligations if a reasonable estimate of the fair value of that liability can be made. The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying amount of the long-lived asset. The Partnership and its subsidiaries also consider the estimated salvage value in the calculation of depreciation, depletion and amortization.
The estimated liability is based on ARPs historical experience in plugging and abandoning wells, estimated remaining lives of those wells based on reserve estimates, external estimates as to the cost to plug and abandon the wells in the future and federal and state regulatory requirements. The liability is discounted using an assumed credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate. Revisions to the liability could occur due to changes in estimates of plugging and abandonment costs or remaining lives of the wells, or if federal or state regulators enact new plugging and abandonment requirements. ARP has no assets legally restricted for purposes of settling asset retirement obligations. Except for ARPs gas and oil properties, the Partnership and its subsidiaries have determined that there are no other material retirement obligations associated with tangible long-lived assets.
A reconciliation of ARPs liability for well plugging and abandonment costs recorded on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets for the periods indicated is as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Asset retirement obligations, beginning of year |
$ | 45,779 | $ | 42,673 | ||||
Liabilities incurred |
181 | 93 | ||||||
Liabilities settled |
(118 | ) | (99 | ) | ||||
Accretion expense |
696 | 648 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Asset retirement obligations, end of period |
$ | 46,538 | $ | 43,315 | ||||
|
|
|
|
The above accretion expense was included in depreciation, depletion and amortization in the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations and the asset retirement obligation liabilities were included within asset retirement obligations and other in the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets.
20
NOTE 8 DEBT
Total debt consists of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):
March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
ARP revolving credit facility |
$ | 17,000 | $ | | ||||
APL revolving credit facility |
230,000 | 142,000 | ||||||
APL 8.75 % Senior Notes - due 2018 |
370,783 | 370,983 | ||||||
APL capital leases |
12,542 | 11,157 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total debt |
630,325 | 524,140 | ||||||
Less current maturities |
(4,011 | ) | (2,085 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total long-term debt |
$ | 626,314 | $ | 522,055 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Partnerships Credit Facility
At March 31, 2012, the Partnerships debt consisted entirely of instruments entered into by ARP and APL, and it has not guaranteed any of its subsidiaries debt obligations. On March 5, 2012, in connection with the transfer of substantially all of the Partnerships exploration and production assets to ARP (see Note 1 and ARPs Credit Facility), the Partnership assigned its credit facility, which had maximum lender commitments of $300 million and a borrowing base of $138 million, to ARP.
ARPs Credit Facility
On March 5, 2012, the Partnerships credit facility was amended and restated such that it assigned, and ARP assumed, the Partnerships rights, privileges and obligations under the credit facility. The transferred credit facility, which had $17.0 million outstanding at March 31, 2012, has maximum lender commitments of $300 million, a borrowing base of $138 million and matures in March 2016 (see Note 17). The borrowing base will be redetermined semi-annually with the first such redetermination to occur on May 1, 2012. Up to $20.0 million of the credit facility may be in the form of standby letters of credit, of which $0.8 million was outstanding at March 31, 2012, which was not reflected as borrowings on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet. ARPs obligations under the facility are secured by mortgages on its oil and gas properties and first priority security interests in substantially all of its assets. Additionally, obligations under the facility are guaranteed by substantially all of ARPs subsidiaries. Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest, at ARPs election, at either LIBOR plus an applicable margin between 2.00% and 3.25% or the base rate (which is the higher of the banks prime rate, the Federal funds rate plus 0.5% or one-month LIBOR plus 1.00%) plus an applicable margin between 1.00% and 2.25%. ARP is also required to pay a fee of 0.5% per annum on the unused portion of the borrowing base, which is included within interest expense on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. At March 31, 2012, the weighted average interest rate was 4.25%.
The credit agreement contains customary covenants that limit ARPs ability to incur additional indebtedness, grant liens, make loans or investments, make distributions if a borrowing base deficiency or default exists or would result from the distribution, merger or consolidation with other persons, or engage in certain asset dispositions including a sale of all or substantially all of its assets. ARP was in compliance with these covenants as of March 31, 2012. The credit agreement also requires ARP to maintain a ratio of its Total Funded Debt (as defined in the credit agreement) to four quarters (actual or annualized, as applicable) of its EBITDA (as defined in the credit agreement) not greater than 3.75 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, a ratio of its current assets (as defined in the credit agreement) to its current liabilities (as defined in the credit agreement) of not less than 1.0 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter, and a ratio of four quarters (actual or annualized, as applicable) of its EBITDA to its Consolidated Interest Expense (as defined in the credit agreement) of not less than 2.5 to 1.0 as of the last day of any fiscal quarter. Based on the definitions contained in ARPs credit facility, its ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 1.5 to 1.0, its ratio of Total Funded Debt to EBITDA was 0.3 to 1.0 and its ratio of EBITDA to Consolidated Interest Expense was 423.1 to 1.0 at March 31, 2012.
APL Credit Facility
At March 31, 2012, APL had a $450.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, which matures in December 2015, of which $230.0 million was outstanding. Borrowings under APLs credit facility bear interest, at APLs option, at either (i) the higher of (a) the prime rate, (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% and (c) three-month LIBOR plus 1.0%, or (ii) the LIBOR rate for the applicable period (each plus the applicable margin). The weighted average
21
interest rate on APLs outstanding revolving credit facility borrowings at March 31, 2012 was 2.8%. Up to $50.0 million of the credit facility may be utilized for letters of credit, of which $0.1 million was outstanding at March 31, 2012. These outstanding letter of credit amounts were not reflected as borrowings on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet at March 31, 2012. At March 31, 2012, APL had $219.9 million of remaining committed capacity under its credit facility, subject to covenant limitations. The Partnership has not guaranteed any of the obligations under APLs senior secured revolving credit facility.
Borrowings under APLs credit facility are secured by a lien on and security interest in all of APLs property and that of its subsidiaries, except for the assets owned by West OK and West TX joint ventures, and by the guarantee of each of APLs consolidated subsidiaries other than the joint venture companies. The revolving credit facility contains customary covenants, including requirements that APL maintain certain financial thresholds and restrictions on its ability to (i) incur additional indebtedness, (ii) make certain acquisitions, loans or investments, (iii) make distribution payments to its unitholders if an event of default exists, or (iv) enter into a merger or sale of assets, including the sale or transfer of interests in its subsidiaries. APL is also unable to borrow under its credit facility to pay distributions of available cash to unitholders because such borrowings would not constitute working capital borrowings pursuant to its partnership agreement.
The events which constitute an event of default for the revolving credit facility are also customary for loans of this size, including payment defaults, breaches of representations or covenants contained in the credit agreement, adverse judgments against APL in excess of a specified amount and a change of control of APLs general partner. APL was in compliance with these covenants as of March 31, 2012.
APL Senior Notes
At March 31, 2012, APL had $370.8 million principal amount outstanding of 8.75% senior unsecured notes due on June 15, 2018 (APL 8.75% Senior Notes). Interest on the APL 8.75% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15. The APL 8.75% Senior Notes are redeemable at any time after June 15, 2013, at certain redemption prices, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. The APL 8.75% Senior Notes are subject to repurchase by APL at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, upon a change of control or upon certain asset sales if APL does not reinvest the net proceeds within 360 days. The APL 8.75% Senior Notes are junior in right of payment to APLs secured debt, including APLs obligations under its credit facility.
In November 2011, APL issued $150.0 million of the 8.75% Senior Notes, priced at a premium of $155.3 million, in a private placement transaction under Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for net proceeds of $152.4 million after underwriting commissions and other transaction costs. APL utilized the proceeds to reduce the outstanding balance on its revolving credit facility.
In April 2011, APL redeemed all of its 8.125% senior notes, due December 15, 2015, for a total redemption of $293.7 million, including accrued interest of $7.0 million and premium of $11.2 million. APL also redeemed $7.2 million of the APL 8.75% Senior Notes in April 2011, which were tendered upon its offer to purchase the senior notes at par. APL funded its purchase with a portion of the net proceeds from its sale of its 49% non-controlling interest in Laurel Mountain (see Note 4).
The indenture governing the APL 8.75% Senior Notes in the aggregate contains covenants, including limitations of APLs ability to: incur certain liens; engage in sale/leaseback transactions; incur additional indebtedness; declare or pay distributions if an event of default has occurred; redeem, repurchase or retire equity interests or subordinated indebtedness; make certain investments; or merge, consolidate or sell substantially all of its assets. APL was in compliance with these covenants as of March 31, 2012.
APL Capital Leases
At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, APL had $12.5 million and $11.2 million, respectively, of long-term debt related to capital leases. For leased property and equipment meeting capital lease criteria, APL recognizes an asset within property, plant and equipment with an offsetting liability recorded within long term debt on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets based on the minimum payments required under the lease and APLs incremental borrowing rate. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, APL recognized $2.0 million of additional assets meeting capital lease criteria within property, plant and equipment and recognized an offsetting liability within long term debt on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets. The following is a summary of the leased property under capital leases, which are included within property, plant and equipment (see Note 5) (in thousands):
22
March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
Pipelines, processing and compression facilities |
$ | 14,512 | $ | 12,507 | ||||
Less - accumulated depreciation |
(510 | ) | (199 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 14,002 | $ | 12,308 | |||||
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2012, future minimum lease payments related to the capital leases are as follows (in thousands):
Capital Lease Minimum Payments |
||||
2012 |
$ | 2,499 | ||
2013 |
10,879 | |||
2014 |
64 | |||
2015 |
| |||
2016 |
| |||
Thereafter |
| |||
|
|
|||
Total minimum lease payments |
13,442 | |||
Less amounts representing interest |
(900 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Present value of minimum lease payments |
12,542 | |||
Less current capital lease obligations |
(4,011 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Long-term capital lease obligations |
$ | 8,531 | ||
|
|
Cash payments for interest for the Partnership and its subsidiaries were $1.4 million and $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
NOTE 9 DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
ARP and APL use a number of different derivative instruments, principally swaps, collars, and options, in connection with their commodity and interest rate price risk management activities. ARP and APL enter into financial instruments to hedge forecasted commodity sales against the variability in expected future cash flows attributable to changes in market prices. Swap instruments are contractual agreements between counterparties to exchange obligations of money as the underlying commodities are sold or interest payments on the underlying debt instrument are due. Under commodity-based swap agreements, ARP and APL receive or pay a fixed price and receive or remit a floating price based on certain indices for the relevant contract period. Commodity-based put option instruments are contractual agreements that require the payment of a premium and grant the purchaser of the put option the right, but not the obligation, to receive the difference between a fixed, or strike, price and a floating price based on certain indices for the relevant contract period, if the floating price is lower than the fixed price. The put option instrument sets a floor price for commodity sales being hedged. Costless collars are a combination of a purchased put option and a sold call option, in which the premiums net to zero. The costless collar eliminates the initial cost of the purchased put, but places a ceiling price for commodity sales being hedged.
ARP and APL formally document all relationships between hedging instruments and the items being hedged, including their risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transactions. This includes matching the commodity and interest derivative contracts to the forecasted transactions. ARP and APL assess, both at the inception of the derivative and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative is effective in offsetting changes in the forecasted cash flow of the hedged item. If it is determined that a derivative is not effective as a hedge or that it has ceased to be an effective hedge due to the loss of adequate correlation between the hedging instrument and the underlying item being hedged, ARP and APL will discontinue hedge accounting for the derivative and subsequent changes in the derivative fair value, which is determined by management of ARP and APL through the utilization of market data, will be recognized immediately within gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivatives in the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. For derivatives qualifying as hedges, the ARP and APL recognize the effective portion of changes in fair value of derivative instruments in partners capital as accumulated other comprehensive income and reclassify the portion relating to ARPs commodity derivatives to gas and oil production revenues and gathering and processing revenues for APLs commodity derivatives and the portion relating to interest rate derivatives to interest expense within the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations as the underlying transactions are settled. For non-qualifying derivatives and for the ineffective portion of qualifying derivatives, ARP and APL recognize changes in fair value within gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivatives in the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations as they occur.
23
Derivatives are recorded on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value. The Partnership reflected net derivative assets on its consolidated combined balance sheets of $49.6 million and $46.4 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. Of the $33.0 million of net gain in accumulated other comprehensive income within partners capital on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet related to derivatives at March 31, 2012, if the fair values of the instruments remain at current market values, the Partnership will reclassify $16.8 million of gains to its consolidated combined statement of operations over the next twelve month period as these contracts expire, consisting of $17.2 million of gains to gas and oil production revenues and $0.4 million of losses to gathering and processing revenues. Aggregate gains of $16.2 million to gas and oil production revenues will be reclassified to the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations in later periods as these remaining contracts expire. Actual amounts that will be reclassified will vary as a result of future price changes.
Atlas Resource Partners
ARP enters into derivative contracts with various financial institutions, utilizing master contracts based upon the standards set by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. These contracts allow for rights of offset at the time of settlement of the derivatives. Due to the right of offset, derivatives are recorded on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets as assets or liabilities at fair value on the basis of the net exposure to each counterparty. Potential credit risk adjustments are also analyzed based upon the net exposure to each counterparty. Premiums paid for purchased options are recorded on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets as the initial value of the options. The following table summarizes the gross fair values of ARPs own derivative instruments, presenting the impact of offsetting the derivative assets and liabilities on the Partnerships combined balance sheets for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets |
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Combined Balance Sheets |
Net Amount of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Combined Balance Sheets |
||||||||||
Offsetting Derivative Assets |
||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||
Current portion of derivative assets |
$ | 26,579 | $ | (425 | ) | $ | 26,154 | |||||
Long-term portion of derivative assets |
24,714 | (4,403 | ) | 20,311 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets |
$ | 51,293 | $ | (4,828 | ) | $ | 46,465 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
As of December 31, 2011 |
||||||||||||
Current portion of derivative assets |
$ | 14,146 | $ | (345 | ) | $ | 13,801 | |||||
Long-term portion of derivative assets |
21,485 | (5,357 | ) | 16,128 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets |
$ | 35,631 | $ | (5,702 | ) | $ | 29,929 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities |
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Combined Balance Sheets |
Net Amount of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Combined Balance Sheets |
||||||||||
Offsetting Derivative Liabilities |
||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||
Current portion of derivative liabilities |
$ | (425 | ) | $ | 425 | $ | | |||||
Long-term portion of derivative liabilities |
(4,403 | ) | 4,403 | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative liabilities |
$ | (4,828 | ) | $ | 4,828 | $ | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
As of December 31, 2011 |
||||||||||||
Current portion of derivative liabilities |
$ | (345 | ) | $ | 345 | $ | | |||||
Long-term portion of derivative liabilities |
(5,357 | ) | 5,357 | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative liabilities |
$ | (5,702 | ) | $ | 5,702 | $ | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
24
The following table summarizes ARPs gain or loss recognized in the Partnerships combined statements of operations for effective derivative instruments for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Gain recognized in accumulated OCI |
$ | 14,169 | $ | 442 | ||||
Gain reclassified from accumulated OCI into income |
$ | (2,600 | ) | $ | (7,731 | ) |
ARP enters into commodities future option and collar contracts to achieve more predictable cash flows by hedging its exposure to changes in commodities prices. At any point in time, such contracts may include regulated New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) futures and options contracts and non-regulated over-the-counter futures contracts with qualified counterparties. NYMEX contracts are generally settled with offsetting positions, but may be settled by the physical delivery of the commodity. Crude oil contracts are based on a West Texas Intermediate (WTI) index. These contracts have qualified and been designated as cash flow hedges and recorded at their fair values.
In March 2012, ARP entered into contracts, which provides ARP with the option enter into swap contracts (swaptions) up through May 31, 2012 for production volumes related to wells acquired from Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. through acquisition (see Note 17). In connection with the swaption contracts, ARP paid a premium of $4.6 million, which represented the fair value of contracts on the date of the transaction and was recorded as a derivative asset on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet as of March 31, 2012. The premium will be amortized ratably over the term of the swaption. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Partnership recorded approximately $1.0 million of amortization expense in other, net on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations.
ARP recognized gains of $2.6 million and $7.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, on settled contracts covering commodity production. These gains are included within gas and oil production revenue in the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. As the underlying prices and terms in ARPs derivative contracts were consistent with the indices used to sell its natural gas and oil, there were no gains or losses recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 for hedge ineffectiveness or as a result of the discontinuance of any cash flow hedges.
At March 31, 2012, ARP had the following commodity derivatives:
Natural Gas Fixed Price Swaps
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Volumes | Average Fixed Price |
Fair Value Asset/(Liability) |
|||||||||
(mmbtu)(1) | (per mmbtu)(1) | (in thousands)(2) | ||||||||||
2012 |
5,490,000 | $ | 4.477 | $ | 10,761 | |||||||
2013 |
3,120,000 | $ | 5.288 | 5,631 | ||||||||
2014 |
3,960,000 | $ | 5.121 | 4,541 | ||||||||
2015 |
3,960,000 | $ | 5.386 | 4,348 | ||||||||
2016 |
1,080,000 | $ | 4.383 | (134 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
$ | 25,147 | |||||||||||
|
|
Natural Gas Costless Collars
25
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Option Type | Volumes | Average Floor and Cap |
Fair
Value Asset/(Liability) |
||||||||||
(mmbtu)(1) | (per mmbtu)(1) | (in thousands)(2) | ||||||||||||
2012 |
Puts purchased | 3,240,000 | $ | 4.074 | $ | 5,194 | ||||||||
2012 |
Calls sold | 3,240,000 | $ | 5.279 | (29 | ) | ||||||||
2013 |
Puts purchased | 5,520,000 | $ | 4.395 | 6,354 | |||||||||
2013 |
Calls sold | 5,520,000 | $ | 5.443 | (570 | ) | ||||||||
2014 |
Puts purchased | 3,840,000 | $ | 4.221 | 2,970 | |||||||||
2014 |
Calls sold | 3,840,000 | $ | 5.120 | (1,099 | ) | ||||||||
2015 |
Puts purchased | 3,840,000 | $ | 4.296 | 2,801 | |||||||||
2015 |
Calls sold | 3,840,000 | $ | 5.233 | (1,631 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
$ | 13,990 | |||||||||||||
|
|
Natural Gas Put Options
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Option Type | Volumes | Average Fixed Price |
Fair Value Asset |
||||||||||
(mmbtu)(1) | (per mmbtu)(1) | (in thousands)(3) | ||||||||||||
2012 |
Puts purchased | 3,800,000 | $ | 2.595 | $ | 1,417 | ||||||||
2013 |
Puts purchased | 1,020,000 | $ | 3.450 | 507 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
$ | 1,924 | |||||||||||||
|
|
Natural Gas Swaptions
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Swaption Type | Volumes | Average Fixed Price |
Fair Value Asset |
||||||||||
(mmbtu)(1) | (per mmbtu)(1) | (in thousands)(3) | ||||||||||||
2012 |
Swaptions purchased | 4,680,000 | $ | 2.850 | $ | 1,758 | ||||||||
2013 |
Swaptions purchased | 8,040,000 | $ | 3.550 | 1,771 | |||||||||
2014 |
Swaptions purchased | 6,840,000 | $ | 4.000 | 1,192 | |||||||||
2015 |
Swaptions purchased | 3,000,000 | $ | 4.250 | 409 | |||||||||
2016 |
Swaptions purchased | 2,760,000 | $ | 4.500 | 378 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
$ | 5,508 | |||||||||||||
|
|
Crude Oil Fixed Price Swaps
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Volumes | Average Fixed Price |
Fair Value Liability |
|||||||||
(Bbl)(1) | (per Bbl)(1) | (in thousands)(3) | ||||||||||
2012 |
15,750 | $ | 103.986 | $ | (14 | ) | ||||||
2013 |
15,000 | $ | 100.570 | (45 | ) | |||||||
2014 |
36,000 | $ | 97.693 | (43 | ) | |||||||
2015 |
36,000 | $ | 93.973 | (42 | ) | |||||||
2016 |
33,000 | $ | 92.082 | (31 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
$ | (175 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
Crude Oil Costless Collars
26
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Option Type | Volumes | Average Floor and Cap |
Fair Value Asset/(Liability) |
||||||||||
(Bbl)(1) | (per Bbl)(1) | (in thousands)(3) | ||||||||||||
2012 |
Puts purchased | 45,000 | $ | 90.000 | $ | 115 | ||||||||
2012 |
Calls sold | 45,000 | $ | 117.912 | (125 | ) | ||||||||
2013 |
Puts purchased | 60,000 | $ | 90.000 | 414 | |||||||||
2013 |
Calls sold | 60,000 | $ | 116.396 | (398 | ) | ||||||||
2014 |
Puts purchased | 24,000 | $ | 80.000 | 160 | |||||||||
2014 |
Calls sold | 24,000 | $ | 121.250 | (144 | ) | ||||||||
2015 |
Puts purchased | 24,000 | $ | 80.000 | 210 | |||||||||
2015 |
Calls sold | 24,000 | $ | 120.750 | (161 | ) | ||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
$ | 71 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total ARP net asset |
$ | 46,465 | ||||||||||||
|
|
(1) | Mmbtu represents million British Thermal Units; Bbl represents barrels. |
(2) | Fair value based on forward NYMEX natural gas prices, as applicable. |
(3) | Fair value based on forward WTI crude oil prices, as applicable. |
Prior to its merger transaction with Chevron on February 17, 2011, AEI monetized all of its derivative instruments, including those related to the future natural gas and oil production of the Transferred Business (see Note 3). AEI also monetized derivative instruments which were specifically related to the future natural gas and oil production of the limited partners of the Drilling Partnerships. At March 31, 2012, remaining hedge monetization cash proceeds of $30.0 million related to the amounts hedged on behalf of the Drilling Partnerships limited partners were included within cash and cash equivalents, and ARP will allocate the monetization net proceeds to the Drilling Partnerships limited partners based on their natural gas and oil production generated over the period of the original derivative contracts. The derivative payable related to the hedge monetization proceeds at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 were payable to the limited partners in the Drilling Partnerships and are included in the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets as follows (in thousands):
March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
Current portion of derivative payable to Drilling Partnerships |
$ | (18,541 | ) | $ | (20,900 | ) | ||
Long-term portion of derivative payable to Drilling Partnerships |
(11,499 | ) | (15,272 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | (30,040 | ) | $ | (36,172 | ) | |||
|
|
|
|
On March 5, 2012, ARP entered into a secured hedge facility agreement with a syndicate of banks under which certain recently formed and future drilling partnerships will have the ability to enter into derivative contracts to manage their exposure to commodity price movements. Under its senior secured credit facility (see Note 8), ARP is required to utilize this secured hedge facility for future commodity risk management activity for its equity production volumes within the drilling partnerships. ARP, as general partner of the drilling partnerships, will administer the commodity price risk management activity for the investment partnerships under the secured hedge facility. The secured hedge facility agreement contains covenants that limit each of the participating investment partnerships ability to incur indebtedness, grant liens, make loans or investments, make distributions if a default under the secured hedge facility agreement exists or would result from the distribution, merge into or consolidate with other persons, enter into commodity or interest rate swap agreements that do not conform to specified terms or that exceed specified amounts, or engage in certain asset dispositions including a sale of all or substantially all of its assets.
Atlas Pipeline Partners
For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, APL did not apply hedge accounting for derivatives. As such, changes in fair value of derivatives are recognized immediately within gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivatives on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. The change in fair value of commodity-based derivative instruments entered into prior to the discontinuation of hedge accounting will be reclassified from within accumulated other comprehensive income on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets to gathering and processing revenue on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations at the time the originally hedged physical transactions settle.
The following table summarizes APLs gross fair values of its derivative instruments, presenting the impact of offsetting the derivative assets and liabilities on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets for the periods indicated (in thousands):
27
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets |
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Combined Balance Sheets |
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Combined Balance Sheets |
||||||||||
Offsetting of Derivative Assets |
||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||
Current portion of derivative assets |
$ | 10,080 | $ | (10,080 | ) | $ | | |||||
Long-term portion of derivative assets |
8,269 | (3,469 | ) | 4,800 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets |
$ | 18,349 | $ | (13,549 | ) | $ | 4,800 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
As of December 31, 2011 |
||||||||||||
Current portion of derivative assets |
$ | 11,603 | $ | (9,958 | ) | $ | 1,645 | |||||
Long-term portion of derivative assets |
17,011 | (2,197 | ) | 14,814 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative assets |
$ | 28,614 | $ | (12,155 | ) | $ | 16,459 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities |
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Combined Balance Sheets |
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Combined Balance Sheets |
||||||||||
Offsetting of Derivative Liabilities |
||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||
Current portion of derivative liabilities |
$ | (11,722 | ) | $ | 10,080 | $ | (1,642 | ) | ||||
Long-term portion of derivative liabilities |
(3,469 | ) | 3,469 | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative liabilities |
$ | (15,191 | ) | $ | 13,549 | $ | (1,642 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
As of December 31, 2011 |
||||||||||||
Current portion of derivative liabilities |
$ | (9,958 | ) | $ | 9,958 | $ | | |||||
Long-term portion of derivative liabilities |
(2,197 | ) | 2,197 | | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
Total derivative liabilities |
$ | (12,155 | ) | $ | 12,155 | $ | | |||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2012, APL had the following commodity derivatives:
Fixed Price Swaps
Production Period |
Purchased/ Sold |
Commodity | Volumes(2) | Average Fixed Price |
Fair
Value(1) Asset/(Liability) (in thousands) |
|||||||||||
Natural Gas |
||||||||||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Natural Gas | 3,420,000 | $ | 3.019 | $ | 1,736 | |||||||||
NGLs |
||||||||||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Ethane | 6,300,000 | $ | 0.739 | 1,422 | ||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Ethane | 6,300,000 | $ | 0.710 | (1,240 | ) | |||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Propane | 14,868,000 | $ | 1.280 | 175 | ||||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Normal Butane | 3,906,000 | $ | 1.712 | (954 | ) | |||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Isobutane | 2,142,000 | $ | 1.584 | (1,169 | ) | |||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Natural Gasoline | 3,150,000 | $ | 2.394 | 112 | ||||||||||
2013 |
Sold | Propane | 41,328,000 | $ | 1.281 | (821 | ) | |||||||||
2013 |
Sold | Normal Butane | 2,394,000 | $ | 1.662 | (597 | ) | |||||||||
2013 |
Sold | Isobutane | 1,134,000 | $ | 1.807 | (305 | ) | |||||||||
Crude Oil |
||||||||||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Crude Oil | 222,000 | $ | 95.827 | (1,912 | ) |
28
Production Period |
Purchased/Sold |
Commodity |
Volumes(2) |
Average |
Fair Value(1) |
|||||||||||
2013 |
Sold | Crude Oil | 345,000 | $ | 97.170 | (2,291 | ) | |||||||||
2014 |
Sold | Crude Oil | 60,000 | $ | 98.425 | (104 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total Fixed Price Swaps |
$ | (5,948 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
Options
Production Period |
Purchased/ Sold |
Type | Commodity | Volumes(2) | Average Strike Price |
Fair
Value(1) Asset/(Liability) (in thousands) |
||||||||||||
NGLs |
||||||||||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Ethane | 1,260,000 | $ | 0.745 | $ | 298 | ||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Propane | 22,176,000 | $ | 1.361 | 2,987 | |||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Normal Butane | 5,166,000 | $ | 1.552 | 132 | |||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Isobutane | 2,898,000 | $ | 1.583 | 61 | |||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Natural Gasoline | 10,710,000 | $ | 2.012 | 392 | |||||||||||
2013 |
Purchased | Put | Normal Butane | 10,458,000 | $ | 1.667 | 1,528 | |||||||||||
2013 |
Purchased | Put | Isobutane | 4,158,000 | $ | 1.687 | 579 | |||||||||||
2013 |
Purchased | Put | Natural Gasoline | 23,940,000 | $ | 2.108 | 4,083 | |||||||||||
Crude Oil |
||||||||||||||||||
2012 |
Sold(3) | Call | Crude Oil | 373,500 | $ | 94.694 | (4,926 | ) | ||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased(3) | Call | Crude Oil | 135,000 | $ | 125.200 | 183 | |||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Crude Oil | 117,000 | $ | 106.645 | 937 | |||||||||||
2013 |
Purchased | Put | Crude Oil | 282,000 | $ | 100.100 | 2,852 | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total Options |
$ | 9,106 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Total APL net asset |
$ | 3,158 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
(1) | See Note 10 for discussion on fair value methodology. |
(2) | Volumes for natural gas are stated in MMBTUs. Volumes for NGLs are stated in gallons. Volumes for crude oil are stated in barrels. |
(3) | Calls purchased for 2012 represent offsetting positions for calls sold. These offsetting positions were entered into to limit the loss which could be incurred if crude oil prices continued to rise. |
The following tables summarize the gross effect of APLs derivative instruments on the Partnerships consolidated combined statement of operations for the period indicated (in thousands):
For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Derivatives previously designated as cash flow hedges |
||||||||
Loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into natural gas and liquids sales |
$ | (1,146 | ) | $ | (1,702 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Derivatives not designated as hedges |
||||||||
Loss recognized in derivative loss, net |
||||||||
Commodity contract - realized(1) |
(763 | ) | (2,557 | ) | ||||
Commodity contract - unrealized(2) |
(11,272 | ) | (19,088 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Derivative loss, net |
$ | (12,035 | ) | $ | (21,645 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Realized loss represents the loss incurred when the derivative contract expires and/or is cash settled. |
(2) | Unrealized loss represents the mark-to-market loss recognized on open derivative contracts, which have not yet been settled. |
The fair value of the derivatives included in the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets was as follows (in thousands):
29
March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
Current portion of derivative asset |
$ | 26,154 | $ | 15,447 | ||||
Long-term derivative asset |
25,111 | 30,941 | ||||||
Current portion of derivative liability |
(1,642 | ) | | |||||
Long-term derivative liability |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total Partnership net asset |
$ | 49,623 | $ | 46,388 | ||||
|
|
|
|
NOTE 10 FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Partnership and its subsidiaries have established a hierarchy to measure their financial instruments at fair value which requires them to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs represent market data obtained from independent sources; whereas, unobservable inputs reflect the Partnership and its subsidiaries own market assumptions, which are used if observable inputs are not reasonably available without undue cost and effort. The hierarchy defines three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1 - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets and liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.
Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset and liability or can be corroborated with observable market data for substantially the entire contractual term of the asset or liability.
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that reflect the entitys own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in the pricing of the asset or liability and are consequently not based on market activity but rather through particular valuation techniques.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
ARP and APL use a market approach fair value methodology to value the assets and liabilities for their outstanding derivative contracts (see Note 9). ARP and APL manage and report derivative assets and liabilities on the basis of their exposure to market risks and credit risks by counterparty. ARPs and APLs commodity derivative contracts, with the exception of APLs NGL fixed price swaps and NGL options, are valued based on observable market data related to the change in price of the underlying commodity and are therefore defined as Level 2 assets and liabilities within the same class of nature and risk. These derivative instruments are calculated by utilizing the NYMEX quoted prices for futures and options contracts traded on NYMEX that coincide with the underlying commodity, expiration period, strike price (if applicable) and pricing formula utilized in the derivative instrument.
Valuations for APLs NGL fixed price swaps are based on forward price curves provided by a third party, which is considered to be a Level 3 input. The prices for isobutene, normal butane and natural gasoline are adjusted based upon the relationship between the prices for the product/locations quoted by the third party and the underlying product/locations utilized for the swap contracts, as determined by a regression model of the historical settlement prices for the different product/locations. The regression model is recalculated on a quarterly basis. This adjustment is an unobservable Level 3 input. The NGL fixed price swaps are over the counter instruments which are not actively traded in an open market. However, the prices for the underlying products and locations do have a direct correlation to the prices for the products and locations provided by the third party, which are based upon trading activity for the products and locations quoted. Valuations for APLs NGL options are based on forward price curves developed by financial institutions, and therefore are defined as Level 3. The NGL options are over the counter instruments that are not actively traded in an open market, thus APL utilizes the valuations provided by the financial institutions that provide the NGL options for trade.
Information for ARPs and APLs assets and liabilities measured at fair value at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was as follows (in thousands):
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||||||
Derivative assets, gross |
||||||||||||||||
ARP Commodity swaps |
| $ | 25,643 | $ | | $ | 25,643 | |||||||||
ARP Commodity options |
| 20,142 | | 20,142 | ||||||||||||
ARP Commodity swaptions |
| 5,508 | | 5,508 | ||||||||||||
APL Commodity swaps |
| 2,200 | 2,117 | 4,317 | ||||||||||||
APL Commodity options |
| 3,972 | 10,060 | 14,032 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 3 |
Total |
|||||||||||||
Total derivative assets, gross |
| 57,465 | 12,177 | 69,642 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Derivative liabilities, gross |
||||||||||||||||
ARP Commodity swaps |
| (671 | ) | | (671 | ) | ||||||||||
ARP Commodity options |
| (4,157 | ) | | (4,157 | ) | ||||||||||
ARP Commodity swaptions |
| | | | ||||||||||||
APL Commodity swaps |
| (4,771 | ) | (5,494 | ) | (10,265 | ) | |||||||||
APL Commodity options |
| (4,926 | ) | | (4,926 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total derivative liabilities, gross |
| (14,525 | ) | (5,494 | ) | (20,019 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total derivatives, fair value, net |
$ | | $ | 42,940 | $ | 6,683 | $ | 49,623 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
As of December 31, 2011 |
||||||||||||||||
Derivative assets, gross |
||||||||||||||||
ARP Commodity swaps |
$ | | $ | 20,908 | $ | | $ | 20,908 | ||||||||
ARP Commodity options |
| 14,723 | | 14,723 | ||||||||||||
ARP Commodity swaptions |
| | | | ||||||||||||
APL Commodity swaps |
| 1,270 | 1,836 | 3,106 | ||||||||||||
APL Commodity options |
| 7,229 | 18,279 | 25,508 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total derivative assets, gross |
| 44,130 | 20,115 | 64,245 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Derivative liabilities, gross |
||||||||||||||||
ARP Commodity swaps |
| | | | ||||||||||||
ARP Commodity options |
| (5,702 | ) | | (5,702 | ) | ||||||||||
ARP Commodity swaptions |
| | | | ||||||||||||
APL Commodity swaps |
| (2,766 | ) | (3,569 | ) | (6,335 | ) | |||||||||
APL Commodity options |
| (5,820 | ) | | (5,820 | ) | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total derivative liabilities, gross |
| (14,288 | ) | (3,569 | ) | (17,857 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total derivatives, fair value, net |
$ | | $ | 29,842 | $ | 16,546 | $ | 46,388 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
APLs Level 3 fair value amounts relates to its derivative contracts on NGL fixed price swaps and NGL options. The following table provides a summary of changes in fair value of APLs Level 3 derivative instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2012 (in thousands):
NGL Fixed Price Swaps | NGL Put Options | Total | ||||||||||||||||||
Volume(1) | Amount | Volume(1) | Amount | Amount | ||||||||||||||||
Balance - January 1, 2012 |
49,644 | $ | (1,733 | ) | 92,610 | $ | 18,279 | $ | 16,546 | |||||||||||
New contracts(2) |
42,084 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Cash settlements from unrealized gain (loss)(3)(4) |
(10,206 | ) | (1,032 | ) | (11,844 | ) | 696 | (336 | ) | |||||||||||
Net change in unrealized loss(3) |
| (612 | ) | | (6,529 | ) | (7,141 | ) | ||||||||||||
Option premium recognition(4) |
| | | (2,386 | ) | (2,386 | ) | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Balance - March 31, 2012 |
81,522 | $ | (3,377 | ) | 80,766 | $ | 10,060 | $ | 6,683 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Volumes are stated in thousand gallons. |
(2) | Swaps are entered into with no value on the date of trade. Options include premiums paid, which are included in the value of the derivatives on the date of trade. |
(3) | Included within gain (loss) on mark-to-market derivatives on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. |
(4) | Includes option premium cost reclassified from unrealized gain (loss) to realized gain (loss) at time of option expiration. |
The following table provides a summary of the unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of APLs NGL fixed price swaps at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 (in thousands):
Gallons | Third
Party Quotes(1) |
Adjustments(2) | Total Amount(3) |
|||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||||||
Ethane swaps |
12,600 | $ | 182 | $ | | $ | 182 | |||||||||
Propane swaps |
56,196 | (646 | ) | | (646 | ) | ||||||||||
Isobutane swaps |
3,276 | (2,188 | ) | 714 | (1,474 | ) | ||||||||||
Normal butane swaps |
6,300 | (1,917 | ) | 366 | (1,551 | ) |
31
Gallons |
Third Party |
Adjustments(2) |
Total |
|||||||||||||
Natural gasoline swaps |
3,150 | 216 | (104 | ) | 112 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total NGL swaps - March 31, 2012 |
81,522 | $ | (4,353 | ) | $ | 976 | $ | (3,377 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
As of December 31, 2011 |
||||||||||||||||
Ethane swaps |
6,678 | $ | 31 | $ | | $ | 31 | |||||||||
Propane swaps |
29,358 | (1,322 | ) | | (1,322 | ) | ||||||||||
Isobutane swaps |
2,646 | (1,590 | ) | 570 | (1,020 | ) | ||||||||||
Normal butane swaps |
6,804 | (1,074 | ) | 343 | (731 | ) | ||||||||||
Natural gasoline swaps |
4,158 | 1,824 | (515 | ) | 1,309 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total NGL swaps - December 31, 2011 |
49,644 | $ | (2,131 | ) | $ | 398 | $ | (1,733 | ) | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) | Based upon the difference between the quoted market price provided by the third party and the fixed price of the swap. |
(2) | Based upon the price adjustment to the price provided by the third party to adjust for product and location differentials. The adjustment is calculated through a regression model comparing settlement prices of the different products and locations over a three year historical period. |
The following table provides a summary of the regression coefficient utilized in the calculation of the unobservable inputs for the Level 3 fair value measurements for APLs NGL swaps for the periods indicated (in thousands):
Adjustment based upon Regression Coefficient |
||||||||||||||||
Level 3 Fair Value Adjustments |
Lower 95% |
Upper 95% |
Average Coefficient |
|||||||||||||
As of March 31, 2012 |
||||||||||||||||
Isobutane swaps |
$ | 714 | 1.1192 | 1.1285 | 1.1239 | |||||||||||
Normal butane swaps |
366 | 1.0312 | 1.0354 | 1.0333 | ||||||||||||
Natural gasoline swaps |
(104 | ) | 0.9831 | 0.9859 | 0.9845 | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total NGL swaps - March 31, 2012 |
$ | 976 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
As of December 31, 2011 |
||||||||||||||||
Isobutane swaps |
$ | 570 | 1.1239 | 1.1333 | 1.1286 | |||||||||||
Normal butane swaps |
343 | 1.0311 | 1.0355 | 1.0333 | ||||||||||||
Natural gasoline swaps |
(515 | ) | 0.9351 | 0.9426 | 0.9389 | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total NGL swaps - December 31, 2011 |
$ | 398 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
Other Financial Instruments
The estimated fair value of the Partnership and its subsidiaries other financial instruments has been determined based upon its assessment of available market information and valuation methodologies. However, these estimates may not necessarily be indicative of the amounts that the Partnership and its subsisidaries could realize upon the sale or refinancing of such financial instruments.
The Partnership and its subsidiaries other current assets and liabilities on its consolidated combined balance sheets are financial instruments. The estimated fair values of these instruments approximate their carrying amounts due to their short-term nature and thus are categorized as Level 1. The estimated fair values of the Partnership and its subsidiaries debt at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, which consist principally of APLs Senior Notes and borrowings under ARPs and APLs revolving credit facilities, were $647.3 million and $537.3 million, respectively, compared with the carrying amounts of $630.3 million and $524.1 million, respectively. The carrying value of outstanding borrowings under the respective credit facilities, which bear interest at a variable interest rate, approximates their estimated fair value and thus are categorized as Level 1. The fair value of the APL Senior Notes is provided by financial institutions based on its recent trading activity and is therefore categorized as Level 3.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
32
ARP estimates the fair value of its asset retirement obligations based on discounted cash flow projections using numerous estimates, assumptions and judgments regarding such factors at the date of establishment of an asset retirement obligation such as: amounts and timing of settlements, the credit-adjusted risk-free rate of ARP and estimated inflation rates (see Note 7). Information for assets that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Level 3 | Total | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Asset retirement obligations |
$ | 181 | $ | 181 | $ | 93 | $ | 93 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total |
$ | 181 | $ | 181 | $ | 93 | $ | 93 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARP and APL estimate the fair value of their long-lived assets by reviewing these assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable, using estimates, assumptions and judgments regarding such events or circumstances. For the year ended December 31, 2011, ARP recognized a $7.0 million impairment of long-lived assets, which was defined as a Level 3 fair value measurement (see Note 2 - Impairment of Long-Lived Assets). No impairments were recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 (see Note 5).
NOTE 11 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Relationship with ARPs Sponsored Investment Partnerships. ARP conducts certain activities through, and a portion of its revenues are attributable to, the Drilling Partnerships. ARP serves as general partner and operator of the Drilling Partnerships and assumes customary rights and obligations for the Drilling Partnerships. As the general partner, ARP is liable for the Drilling Partnerships liabilities and can be liable to limited partners if it breaches its responsibilities with respect to the operations of the Drilling Partnerships. ARP is entitled to receive management fees, reimbursement for administrative costs incurred, and to share in the Drilling Partnerships revenue and costs and expenses according to the respective partnership agreements.
NOTE 12 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
General Commitments
ARP is the managing general partner of the Drilling Partnerships, and has agreed to indemnify each investor partner from any liability that exceeds such partners share of Drilling Partnership assets. Subject to certain conditions, investor partners in certain Drilling Partnerships have the right to present their interests for purchase by ARP, as managing general partner. ARP is not obligated to purchase more than 5% to 10% of the units in any calendar year. Based on its historical experience, the management of ARP believes that any liability incurred would not be material. Also, ARP has agreed to subordinate a portion of its share of net partnership revenues from the Drilling Partnerships to the benefit of the investor partners until they have received specified returns, typically 10% per year determined on a cumulative basis, over a specific period, typically the first five to seven years, in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreements. For the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, $0.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of ARPs revenues, net of corresponding production costs, were subordinated, which reduced its cash distributions received from the Drilling Partnerships.
Immediately following the acquisition of the Transferred Business, the Partnership received from Chevron $118.7 million related to a contractual cash transaction adjustment related to certain liabilities of the Transferred Business at February 17, 2011. Following the closing of the acquisition of the Transferred Business, the Partnership entered into a reconciliation process with Chevron to determine the final cash adjustment amount pursuant to the transaction agreement. The reconciliation process was assumed by ARP on March 5, 2012 and remains ongoing at March 31, 2012, as certain amounts included within the contractual cash transaction adjustment are in dispute between the parties. ARP believes the amounts included within the contractual cash transaction adjustment are appropriate and is currently engaged in an on-going reconciliation process with Chevron. The resolution of the disputed amounts could result in ARP being required to repay a portion of the cash transaction adjustment (see Note 3). According to the transaction agreement, should ARP and Chevron not be able to come to an agreement during the reconciliation process, the two parties will enter into arbitration with a neutral public accounting firm. At March 31, 2012, the Partnership believes the range of loss associated with the disputed balances is between zero and $45.0 million.
33
The Partnership and its subsidiaries are party to employment agreements with certain executives that provide compensation and certain other benefits. The agreements also provide for severance payments under certain circumstances.
As of March 31, 2012, ARP and APL are committed to expend approximately $70.0 million on drilling and completion expenditures, pipeline extensions, compressor station upgrades and processing facility upgrades.
Legal Proceedings
The Partnership and its subsidiaries are parties to various routine legal proceedings arising out of the ordinary course of its business. Management of the Partnership and its subsidiaries believe that none of these actions, individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on the Partnerships financial condition or results of operations.
NOTE 13 ISSUANCES OF UNITS
The Partnership recognizes gains on ARPs and APLs equity transactions as credits to partners capital on its consolidated combined balance sheets rather than as income on its consolidated combined statements of operations. These gains represent the Partnerships portion of the excess net offering price per unit of each of ARPs and APLs common units over the book carrying amount per unit.
In February 2011, the Partnership paid $30.0 million in cash and issued approximately 23.4 million newly issued common limited partner units for the Transferred Business acquired from AEI. Based on the Partnerships common limited partner units February 17, 2011 closing price on the NYSE, the common units issued to AEI were valued approximately at $372.2 million (see Note 3).
Atlas Resource Partners
In February 2012, the Board approved the distribution of approximately 5.24 million ARP common units which were distributed on March 13, 2012 to Atlas Energys unitholders using a ratio of 0.1021 ARP limited partner units for each Atlas Energy common unit owned on the record date of February 28, 2012. The distribution of ARPs limited partner units represented approximately 19.6% of its outstanding limited partner interests. Subsequent to the distribution, the Partnership owned 100% of the general partner Class A units and incentive distribution rights through which it manages and effectively controls ARP, and common units representing an approximate 78.4% limited partner interest in ARP.
Atlas Pipeline Partners
In February 2011, as part of AEIs merger with Chevron, the APL Class C Preferred Units were acquired from AEI by Chevron. On May 27, 2011, APL redeemed all 8,000 APL Class C Preferred Units outstanding for cash at the liquidation value of $1,000 per unit, or $8.0 million, plus $0.2 million, representing the accrued dividend on the 8,000 APL Class C Preferred Units prior to APLs redemption. Subsequent to the redemption, APL had no preferred units outstanding.
NOTE 14 CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
The Partnership has a cash distribution policy under which it distributes, within 50 days after the end of each quarter, all of its available cash (as defined in the partnership agreement) for that quarter to its common unitholders. Distributions declared by the Partnership for the period from January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012 were as follows (in thousands, except per unit amounts):
Date Cash Distribution Paid |
For Quarter Ended |
Cash Distribution per Common Limited Partner Unit |
Total Cash Distributions Paid to Common Limited Partner |
|||||||
May 20, 2011 |
March 31, 2011 | $ | 0.11 | $ | 5,635 | |||||
August 19, 2011 |
June 30, 2011 | $ | 0.22 | $ | 11,276 | |||||
November 18, 2011 |
September 30, 2011 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 12,303 | |||||
February 17, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 12,307 |
On April 26, 2012, the Partnership declared a cash distribution of $0.25 per unit on its outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The $12.8 million distribution will be paid on May 18, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2012.
34
ARP Cash Distributions. ARP has a cash distribution policy under which it distributes, within 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter, all of its available cash (as defined in the partnership agreement) for that quarter to its common unitholders and general partner. If ARPs common unit distributions in any quarter exceed specified target levels, the Partnership will receive between 13% and 48% of such distributions in excess of the specified target levels. On April 17, 2012, ARP declared a prorated cash distribution of $0.12 per unit on its outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the partial quarter beginning on March 5, 2012 and ended on March 31, 2012. The $3.2 million distribution will be paid on May 15, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on April 27, 2012.
APL Cash Distributions. APL is required to distribute, within 45 days after the end of each quarter, all of its available cash (as defined in its partnership agreement) for that quarter to its common unitholders and the Partnership, as general partner. If APLs common unit distributions in any quarter exceed specified target levels, the Partnership will receive between 15% and 50% of such distributions in excess of the specified target levels. Common unit and general partner distributions declared by APL for the period from January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012 were as follows (in thousands, except per unit amounts):
Date Cash Distribution Paid |
For Quarter Ended |
APL Cash Distribution per Common Limited Partner Unit |
Total APL
Cash Distribution to Common Limited Partners |
Total APL
Cash Distribution to the General Partner |
||||||||||
May 13, 2011 |
March 31, 2011 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 21,400 | $ | 2,730 | |||||||
August 12, 2011 |
June 30, 2011 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 25,184 | $ | 3,687 | |||||||
November 14, 2011 |
September 30, 2011 | $ | 0.54 | $ | 28,953 | $ | 4,946 | |||||||
February 14, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 | $ | 0.55 | $ | 29,489 | $ | 5,195 |
On April 25, 2012, APL declared a cash distribution of $0.56 per unit on its outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The $32.2 million distribution, including $5.4 million to the Partnership, will be paid on May 15, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2012.
NOTE 15 BENEFIT PLANS
2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan
The Board of Directors of the General Partner approved and adopted the Partnerships 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2010 LTIP) effective February 2011. The 2010 LTIP provides equity incentive awards to officers, employees and board members and employees of its affiliates, consultants and joint-venture partners (collectively, the Participants) who perform services for the Partnership. The 2010 LTIP is administered by a committee consisting of the Board or committee of the Board or board of an affiliate appointed by the Board (the LTIP Committee), which is the Compensation Committee of the General Partners board of directors. Under the 2010 LTIP, the LTIP Committee may grant awards of phantom units, restricted units or unit options for an aggregate of 5,763,781 common limited partner units. At March 31, 2012, the Partnership had 4,633,028 phantom units and unit options outstanding under the 2010 LTIP, with 1,123,527 phantom units and unit options available for grant.
Upon a change in control, as defined in the 2010 LTIP, all unvested awards held by directors will immediately vest in full. In the case of awards held by eligible employees, upon the eligible employees termination of employment without cause, as defined in the 2010 LTIP, or upon any other type of termination specified in the eligible employees applicable award agreement(s), in any case following a change in control, any unvested award will immediately vest in full and, in the case of options, become exercisable for the one-year period following the date of termination of employment, but in any case not later than the end of the original term of the option.
In connection with a change in control, the committee, in its sole and absolute discretion and without obtaining the approval or consent of the unitholders or any participant, but subject to the terms of any award agreements and employment agreements to which our general partner (or any affiliate) and any participant are party, may take one or more of the following actions (with discretion to differentiate between individual participants and awards for any reason):
| cause awards to be assumed or substituted by the surviving entity (or affiliate of such surviving entity); |
35
| accelerate the vesting of awards as of immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction that constitutes the change in control so that awards will vest (and, with respect to options, become exercisable) as to our common units that otherwise would have been unvested so that participants (as holders of awards granted under the new equity plan) may participate in the transaction; |
| provide for the payment of cash or other consideration to participants in exchange for the cancellation of outstanding awards (in an amount equal to the fair market value of such cancelled awards); |
| terminate all or some awards upon the consummation of the change-in-control transaction, but only if the committee provides for full vesting of awards immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction; and |
| make such other modifications, adjustments or amendments to outstanding awards or the new equity plan as the committee deems necessary or appropriate. |
2010 Phantom Units. A phantom unit entitles a Participant to receive a Partnership common unit upon vesting of the phantom unit. In tandem with phantom unit grants, the LTIP Committee may grant Participant Distribution Equivalent Rights (DERs), which are the right to receive cash per phantom unit in an amount equal to, and at the same time as, the cash distributions the Partnership makes on a common unit during the period such phantom unit is outstanding. Through March 31, 2012, phantom units granted under the 2010 LTIP generally will vest 25% on the third anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining 75% on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. Of the phantom units outstanding under the 2010 LTIP at March 31, 2012, there are 4,078 units that will vest within the following twelve months. All phantom units outstanding under the 2010 LTIP at March 31, 2012 include DERs granted to the Participants by the LTIP Committee. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Partnership paid $0.4 million with respect to the 2010 LTIP DERs. There were no amounts paid with respect to the 2010 LTIP DERs for the three months ended March 31, 2011.
The following table sets forth the 2010 LTIP phantom unit activity for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Number of Units |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
Number of Units |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|||||||||||||
Outstanding, beginning of year |
1,838,164 | $ | 22.11 | | $ | | ||||||||||
Granted |
55,300 | 26.66 | 1,566,000 | 22.23 | ||||||||||||
Vested (1) |
(7,226 | ) | 20.67 | | | |||||||||||
Forfeited |
| | | | ||||||||||||
ARP Anti-Dilution Adjustment(2) |
165,468 | | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Outstanding, end of period(3) |
2,051,706 | $ | 20.46 | 1,566,000 | $ | 22.23 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Non-cash compensation expense recognized (in thousands) |
|
$ | 3,002 | $ | 176 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | The aggregate intrinsic value of phantom unit awards vested during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $0.2 million. No phantom unit awards vested during the three months ended March 31, 2011. |
(2) | The number of 2010 phantom units was adjusted concurrently with the distribution of ARP common units. |
(3) | The aggregate intrinsic value of phantom unit awards outstanding at March 31, 2012 was $67.7 million. |
At March 31, 2012, the Partnership had approximately $31.4 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested phantom units outstanding under the 2010 LTIP based upon the fair value of the awards.
2010 Unit Options. A unit option entitles a Participant to receive a common unit of the Partnership upon payment of the exercise price for the option after completion of vesting of the unit option. The exercise price of the unit option is equal to the fair market value of the Partnerships common unit on the date of grant of the option. The LTIP Committee also shall determine how the exercise price may be paid by the Participant. The LTIP Committee will determine the vesting and exercise period for unit options. Unit option awards expire 10 years from the date of grant. Through March 31, 2012, unit options granted under the 2010 LTIP generally will vest 25% of the original granted amount three years from the date of grant and the remaining 75% of the original granted amount four years from the date of grant. Awards will automatically
36
vest upon a change of control of the Partnership, as defined in the 2010 LTIP. There are 3,399 unit options outstanding under the 2010 LTIP at March 31, 2012 that will vest within the following twelve months.
The following table sets forth the 2010 LTIP unit option activity for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Number of Unit Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Number of Unit Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|||||||||||||
Outstanding, beginning of year |
2,304,300 | $ | 22.12 | | $ | | ||||||||||
Granted |
69,229 | 26.27 | 2,226,000 | 22.23 | ||||||||||||
Forfeited |
| | | | ||||||||||||
ARP Anti-Dilution Adjustment(1) |
207,793 | | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Outstanding, end of period(2)(3) |
2,581,322 | $ | 20.45 | 2,226,000 | $ | 22.23 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Options exercisable, end of period(4) |
| $ | | | $ | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Non-cash compensation expense recognized (in thousands) |
|
$ | 1,561 | $ | 112 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | The number of 2010 unit options and exercise price was adjusted concurrently with the distribution of ARP common units. |
(2) | The weighted average remaining contractual life for outstanding options at March 31, 2012 was 9.0 years. |
(3) | The options outstanding at March 31, 2012 had an aggregate intrinsic value of $32.3 million. |
(4) | No options were exercisable at March 31, 2012 or 2011. No options vested during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. |
At March 31, 2012, the Partnership had approximately $17.0 million in unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested unit options outstanding under the 2010 LTIP based upon the fair value of the awards. The Partnership used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the weighted average fair value of options granted. The following weighted average assumptions were used for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Expected dividend yield |
3.7 | % | 1.5 | % | ||||
Expected unit price volatility |
47.0 | % | 48.0 | % | ||||
Risk-free interest rate |
1.4 | % | 2.8 | % | ||||
Expected term (in years) |
6.88 | 6.88 | ||||||
Fair value of unit options granted |
$ | 8.50 | $ | 9.93 |
2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan
The Board of Directors of the General Partner approved and adopted the Partnerships 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (2006 LTIP), which provides equity incentive awards to Participants who perform services for the Partnership. The 2006 LTIP is administered by the LTIP Committee. The LTIP Committee may grant such awards of either phantom units or unit options for an aggregate of 2,261,516 common limited partner units. At March 31, 2012, the Partnership had 1,003,552 phantom units and unit options outstanding under the 2006 LTIP, with 995,399 phantom units and unit options available for grant. Share based payments to non-employees, which have a cash settlement option, are recognized within liabilities in the financial statements based upon their current fair market value.
2006 Phantom Units. Through March 31, 2012, phantom units granted under the 2006 LTIP generally will vest 25% of the original granted amount three years from the date of grant and the remaining 75% of the original granted amount four years from the date of grant. Awards will automatically vest upon a change of control of the Partnership, as defined in the 2006 LTIP. Of the phantom units outstanding under the 2006 LTIP at March 31, 2012, 9,359 units will vest within the following twelve months. All phantom units outstanding under the 2006 LTIP at March 31, 2012 include DERs granted to the Participants by the LTIP Committee. During the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, the Partnership paid $8,000 and $1,000 with respect to 2006 LTIPs DERs. This amount was recorded as a reduction of partners capital on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet.
37
The following table sets forth the 2006 LTIP phantom unit activity for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Number of Units |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
Number of Units |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|||||||||||||
Outstanding, beginning of year |
32,641 | $ | 15.99 | 27,294 | $ | 5.98 | ||||||||||
Granted |
7,688 | 26.01 | 13,395 | 15.92 | ||||||||||||
Vested (1) |
(6,253 | ) | 24.06 | (9,664 | ) | 13.75 | ||||||||||
Forfeited |
| | | | ||||||||||||
ARP anti-dilution adjustment(2) |
2,977 | | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Outstanding, end of period(3)(4) |
37,053 | $ | 15.42 | 31,025 | $ | 7.85 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Non-cash compensation expense recognized (in thousands) |
|
$ | 167 | $ | 185 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | The intrinsic values for phantom unit awards vested during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were $0.2 million and $0.2 million, respectively. |
(2) | The number of 2006 phantom units was adjusted concurrently with the distribution of ARP common units. |
(3) | The aggregate intrinsic value for phantom unit awards outstanding at March 31, 2012 was $1.2 million. |
(4) | There were 30,528 units at March 31, 2012 classified under accrued liabilities on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheets of $0.9 million due to the option of the participant to settle in cash instead of units. No units were classified under accrued liabilities at December 31, 2011. The respective weighted average grant date fair value for these units is $17.45 as of March 31, 2012. |
At March 31, 2012, the Partnership had approximately $0.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested phantom units outstanding under the 2006 LTIP based upon the fair value of the awards.
2006 Unit Options. The exercise price of the unit option may be equal to or more than the fair market value of the Partnerships common unit on the date of grant of the option. Unit option awards expire 10 years from the date of grant. Through March 31, 2012, unit options granted under the 2006 LTIP generally will vest 25% on the third anniversary of the date of grant and the remaining 75% on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. Awards will automatically vest upon a change of control of the Partnership, as defined in the 2006 LTIP. There are no unit options outstanding under the 2006 LTIP at March 31, 2012 that will vest within the following twelve months. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Partnership received cash of $32,000 from the exercise of options.
The following table sets forth the 2006 LTIP unit option activity for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Number of Unit Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Number of Unit Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|||||||||||||
Outstanding, beginning of year |
903,614 | $ | 21.52 | 955,000 | $ | 20.54 | ||||||||||
Granted |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Exercised(1) |
(15,438 | ) | 3.24 | | | |||||||||||
Forfeited |
| | | | ||||||||||||
ARP anti-dilution adjustment(2) |
78,323 | | | | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Outstanding, end of period(3)(4) |
966,499 | $ | 20.08 | 955,000 | $ | 20.54 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Options exercisable, end of period(5) |
966,499 | $ | 20.08 | 955,000 | $ | 20.54 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Non-cash compensation expense recognized (in thousands) |
|
$ | | $ | 28 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | The intrinsic value of options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $0.4 million. No options were exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2011. |
38
(2) | The number of 2006 unit options and exercise price was adjusted concurrently with the distribution of ARP common units. |
(3) | The weighted average remaining contractual life for outstanding options at March 31, 2012 was 4.7 years. |
(4) | The aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding at March 31, 2012 was approximately $12.5 million. |
(5) | The weighted average remaining contractual life for options exercisable at March 31, 2012 was 4.7 years. |
At March 31, 2012, the Partnership had no unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested unit options outstanding under the 2006 LTIP based upon the fair value of the awards. The Partnership uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the weighted average fair value of options granted. No options were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 under the 2006 Plan.
The transfer of assets to ARP on March 5, 2012 and the subsequent distribution of ARP common units on March 13, 2012 resulted in an adjustment to the Partnerships 2010 and 2006 long-term incentive plans. Concurrent with the distribution of ARP common units, the number of the phantom units, restricted units and options in the plans were increased in an amount equivalent to the percentage change in the Partnerships publicly traded unit price from the closing price on March 13, 2012 to the opening price on March 14, 2012. In addition, the strike price of unit option awards was decreased by the same percentage change.
ARP Long-Term Incentive Plan
On March 12, 2012, the Partnership, as the sole limited partner of ARP, and the Board of Directors (the Board) of Atlas Resource Partners GP, LLC, the general partner of ARP (ARP GP), approved the 2012 Atlas Resource Partners Long-Term Incentive Plan (the ARP LTIP). Awards of options to purchase units, restricted units and phantom units may be granted to officers, employees and directors of ARP GP (collectively, the Participants) under the ARP LTIP, and such awards may be subject to vesting terms and conditions in the discretion of the administrator of the ARP LTIP. Up to 2,900,000 common units of ARP, subject to adjustment as provided for under the ARP LTIP, may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the ARP LTIP. The ARP LTIP is administered by the Board, a committee of the Board or the board (or committee of the board) of an affiliate (the LTIP Committee), which is the Compensation Committee of the General Partners board of directors. At March 31, 2012, ARP had no phantom units, restricted units and unit options outstanding under the ARP LTIP, with 2,900,000 phantom units, restricted units and unit options available for grant.
Upon a change in control, as defined in the ARP LTIP, all unvested awards held by directors will immediately vest in full. In the case of awards held by eligible employees, upon the eligible employees termination of employment without cause, as defined in the ARP LTIP, or upon any other type of termination specified in the eligible employees applicable award agreement(s), in any case following a change in control, any unvested award will immediately vest in full and, in the case of options, become exercisable for the one-year period following the date of termination of employment, but in any case not later than the end of the original term of the option.
In connection with a change in control, the committee, in its sole and absolute discretion and without obtaining the approval or consent of the unitholders or any participant, but subject to the terms of any award agreements and employment agreements to which our general partner (or any affiliate) and any participant are party, may take one or more of the following actions (with discretion to differentiate between individual participants and awards for any reason):
| cause awards to be assumed or substituted by the surviving entity (or affiliate of such surviving entity); |
| accelerate the vesting of awards as of immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction that constitutes the change in control so that awards will vest (and, with respect to options, become exercisable) as to our common units that otherwise would have been unvested so that participants (as holders of awards granted under the new equity plan) may participate in the transaction; |
| provide for the payment of cash or other consideration to participants in exchange for the cancellation of outstanding awards (in an amount equal to the fair market value of such cancelled awards); |
| terminate all or some awards upon the consummation of the change-in-control transaction, but only if the committee provides for full vesting of awards immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction; and |
| make such other modifications, adjustments or amendments to outstanding awards or the new equity plan as the committee deems necessary or appropriate. |
39
APL Long-Term Incentive Plans
APL has a 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (APL 2004 LTIP), and a 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which was modified on April 26, 2011 (APL 2010 LTIP and collectively with the APL 2004 LTIP, the APL LTIPs), in which officers, employees and non-employee managing board members of APLs general partner and employees of APLs general partners affiliates and consultants are eligible to participate. The APL LTIPs are administered by a committee (the APL LTIP Committee) appointed by APLs general partner. Under the 2010 APL LTIP, the APL LTIP Committee may make awards of either phantom units or unit options for an aggregate of 3,000,000 common units, in addition to the 435,000 common units authorized in previous plans. At March 31, 2012, APL had 390,567 phantom units outstanding under the APL LTIPs, with 2,360,147 phantom units and unit options available for grant. APL generally issues new common units for phantom units and unit options, which have vested and have been exercised. Share based payments to non-employees, which have a cash settlement option, are recognized within liabilities in the consolidated combined financial statements based upon their current fair market value.
APL Phantom Units. Through March 31, 2012, phantom units granted under the APL LTIPs generally had vesting periods of four years. In conjunction with the approval of the 2010 LTIP, the holders of 300,000 of the 375,000 equity indexed bonus units (APL Bonus Units) under APLs subsidiarys plan discussed below agreed to exchange their APL Bonus Units for an equivalent number of phantom units, effective as of June 1, 2010. These phantom units will vest over a two year period. Phantom units awarded to non-employee managing board members will vest over a four year period. Awards may automatically vest upon a change of control, as defined in the APL LTIPs. Of the units outstanding under the APL LTIPs at March 31, 2012, 171,534 units will vest within the following twelve months. APL is authorized to repurchase common units to cover employee-related taxes on certain phantom units, when they have vested. On February 17, 2011, the employment agreement with APLs Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was terminated in connection with AEIs merger with Chevron and 75,250 outstanding phantom units, which represents all outstanding phantom units held by APLs CEO, automatically vested and were issued.
All phantom units outstanding under the APL LTIPs at March 31, 2012 include DERs granted to the participants by the APL LTIP Committee. The amounts paid with respect to APL LTIP DERs were $0.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. These amounts were recorded as reductions of non-controlling interest on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet.
The following table sets forth the APL LTIP phantom unit activity for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Number of Units |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
Number of Units |
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |
|||||||||||||
Outstanding, beginning of period |
394,489 | $ | 21.63 | 490,886 | $ | 11.75 | ||||||||||
Granted |
4,132 | 36.29 | 5,730 | 30.63 | ||||||||||||
Vested and issued(1) |
(8,054 | ) | 39.78 | (81,900 | ) | 13.60 | ||||||||||
Outstanding, end of period(2)(3) |
390,567 | $ | 21.41 | 414,716 | $ | 11.65 | ||||||||||
Matured and not issued(4) |
4,125 | $ | 44.51 | 4,500 | $ | 44.51 | ||||||||||
Non-cash compensation expense recognized (in thousands) |
$ | 978 | $ | 1,174 |
(1) | The intrinsic values for phantom unit awards vested and issued during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 were $0.3 million and $2.4 million, respectively. |
(2) | The aggregate intrinsic value for phantom unit awards outstanding at March 31, 2012 and 2011 was $13.8 million and $14.3 million, respectively. |
(3) | There were 16,692 and 12,902 outstanding phantom unit awards at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, which were classified as liabilities due to a cash option available on the related phantom unit awards. |
(4) | The aggregate intrinsic value for phantom unit awards vested but not issued at both March 31, 2012 and 2011 was $0.2 million. |
At March 31, 2012, APL had approximately $4.5 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested phantom units outstanding under the APL LTIPs based upon the fair value of the awards, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.1 years.
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APL Unit Options. The exercise price of the unit option is equal to the fair market value of APLs common unit on the date of grant of the option. The APL LTIP Committee also shall determine how the exercise price may be paid by the Participant. The APL LTIP Committee will determine the vesting and exercise period for unit options. Unit option awards expire 10 years from the date of grant. Through March 31, 2012, unit options granted under the APL LTIPs generally will vest 25% on each of the next four anniversaries of the date of grant. Awards will automatically vest upon a change of control of APL, as defined in the APL LTIPs. On February 17, 2011, the employment agreement with the CEO of APLs General Partner was terminated in connection with AEIs merger with Chevron, and 50,000 outstanding unit options held by the CEO automatically vested. As of March 31, 2012, all unit options were exercised. There are no unit options outstanding under APL LTIPs at March 31, 2012 that will vest within the following twelve months.
The following table sets forth the APL LTIPs unit option activity for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||||||||||
Number of Unit Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
Number of Unit Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price |
|||||||||||||
Outstanding, beginning of period |
| $ | | 75,000 | $ | 6.24 | ||||||||||
Exercised(1)(2) |
| | (75,000 | ) | 6.24 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Outstanding, end of period(2) |
| $ | | | $ | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Non-cash compensation expense recognized (in thousands)(3) |
$ | | $ | 3 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | The intrinsic value for the options exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2011, was $1.8 million. Approximately $0.5 million was received from the exercise of unit option awards during the three months ended March 31, 2011. |
At March 31, 2012, APL had no unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested unit options outstanding under APLs LTIPs based upon the fair value of the awards.
APL uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the weighted average fair value of options granted. No options were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 under the APL LTIPs.
APL Employee Incentive Compensation Plan and Agreement
At March 31, 2012, a wholly-owned subsidiary of APL had an incentive plan (the Cash Plan), which allows for equity-indexed cash incentive awards to employees of APL (the Participants). The Cash Plan is administered by a committee appointed by the CEO of APLs General Partner. Under the Cash Plan, cash bonus units may be awarded to Participants at the discretion of the committee. An APL Bonus Unit entitles the employee to receive the cash equivalent of the then-fair market value of a common limited partner unit, without payment of an exercise price, upon vesting of the APL Bonus Unit. APL Bonus Units vest ratably over a three year period from the date of grant and will automatically vest upon a change of control, death, or termination without cause, each as defined in the governing document. Vesting will terminate upon termination of employment with cause.
At March 31, 2012, APL had 25,500 outstanding APL Bonus Units, which will all vest within the following twelve months. APL recognizes compensation expense related to these awards based upon the fair value, which is re-measured each reporting period based upon the current fair value of the underlying common units. APL recognized compensation expense related to the re-measurement of the outstanding Bonus Units of $0.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011, which was recorded within general and administrative expense on the Partnerships consolidated combined statements of operations. APL had $0.8 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011 included within accrued liabilities on the Partnerships consolidated combined balance sheet with regard to these awards, which represents their fair value as of those dates.
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NOTE 16 OPERATING SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Partnerships operations include four reportable operating segments. These operating segments reflect the way the Partnership manages its operations and makes business decisions. Operating segment data for the periods indicated are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Gas and oil production: |
||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 17,164 | $ | 17,626 | ||||
Operating costs and expenses |
(4,505 | ) | (3,921 | ) | ||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense |
(7,567 | ) | (6,566 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Segment income |
$ | 5,092 | $ | 7,139 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Well construction and completion: |
||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 43,719 | $ | 17,725 | ||||
Operating costs and expenses |
(37,695 | ) | (15,021 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Segment income |
$ | 6,024 | $ | 2,704 | ||||
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|
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|
|||||
Other partnership management:(1) |
||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 10,608 | $ | 12,249 | ||||
Operating costs and expenses |
(7,104 | ) | (8,094 | ) | ||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense |
(1,541 | ) | (1,135 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Segment income |
$ | 1,963 | $ | 3,020 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Atlas Pipeline: |
||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 293,215 | $ | 257,324 | ||||
Operating costs and expenses |
(247,250 | ) | (231,250 | ) | ||||
Depreciation and amortization expense |
(20,842 | ) | (18,906 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Segment income |
$ | 25,123 | $ | 7,168 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Reconciliation of segment income to net income (loss) from continuing operations: |
||||||||
Segment income: |
||||||||
Gas and oil production |
$ | 5,092 | $ | 7,139 | ||||
Well construction and completion |
6,024 | 2,704 | ||||||
Other partnership management |
1,963 | 3,020 | ||||||
Atlas Pipeline |
25,123 | 7,168 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total segment income |
38,202 | 20,031 | ||||||
General and administrative expenses(2) |
(37,248 | ) | (16,190 | ) | ||||
Gain (loss) on asset disposal(2) |
(7,005 | ) | 255,947 | |||||
Interest expense(2) |
(9,091 | ) | (18,078 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net income (loss) from continuing operations |
$ | (15,142 | ) | $ | 241,710 | |||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Capital expenditures: |
||||||||
Gas and oil production |
$ | 17,166 | $ | 4,738 | ||||
Other partnership management |
327 | 1,152 | ||||||
Atlas Pipeline |
81,167 | 18,333 | ||||||
Corporate and other |
1,465 | 1,842 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total capital expenditures |
$ | 100,125 | $ | 26,065 | ||||
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2012 |
December 31, 2011 |
|||||||
Balance sheet: |
||||||||
Goodwill: |
||||||||
Gas and oil production |
$ | 18,145 | $ | 18,145 | ||||
Well construction and completion |
6,389 | 6,389 |
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Other partnership management |
7,250 | 7,250 | ||||||
Atlas Pipeline |
| | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 31,784 | $ | 31,784 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total assets: |
||||||||
Gas and oil production |
$ | 571,742 | $ | 593,320 | ||||
Well construction and completion |
6,957 | 6,987 | ||||||
Other partnership management |
44,956 | 45,991 | ||||||
Atlas Pipeline |
1,977,817 | 1,930,813 | ||||||
Corporate and other |
79,949 | 107,660 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 2,681,421 | $ | 2,684,771 | |||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Includes revenues and expenses from well services, gathering and processing, administration and oversight, and other that do not meet the quantitative threshold for reporting segment information. |
(2) | The Partnership notes that interest expense, gain (loss) on asset disposal and general and administrative expenses have not been allocated to its reportable segments as it would be impracticable to reasonably do so for the periods presented. |
NOTE 17 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Partnership Cash Distribution. On April 26, 2012, the Partnership declared a cash distribution of $0.25 per unit on its outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The $12.8 million distribution will be paid on May 18, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2012.
ARP Cash Distribution. On April 17, 2012, ARP declared a prorated cash distribution of $0.12 per unit on its outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the partial quarter beginning on March 5, 2012 and ended on March 31, 2012. The $3.2 million distribution will be paid on May 15, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on April 27, 2012.
APL Cash Distribution. On April 25, 2012, APL declared a cash distribution of $0.56 per unit on its outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The $32.2 million distribution, including $5.4 million to the Partnership, will be paid on May 15, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2012.
ARPs Joint Venture Agreement with Subsidiaries of Equal Energy, Ltd. On April 26, 2012, ARP acquired a 50% interest in approximately 14,500 net undeveloped acres in the oil and natural gas liquids area of the Mississippi Lime play in northwestern Oklahoma for $18.0 million from subsidiaries of Equal Energy, Ltd. (Equal) (NYSE: EQU; TSX: EQU). The transaction was funded through borrowings under ARPs revolving credit facility.
ARPs Acquisition of Assets from Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. On April 30, 2012, ARP acquired certain assets from Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRZO; Carrizo) for $190 million in cash. The assets acquired include interests in approximately 200 producing natural gas wells from the Barnett Shale, located in Bend Arch-Fort Worth Basin in North Texas, proved undeveloped acres also in the Barnett Shale and gathering pipelines and associated gathering facilities that service certain of the acquired wells. The purchase price is subject to certain post-closing adjustments based on, among other things, environmental and title defects, if any.
To partially fund the acquisition of assets from Carrizo, ARP executed a unit purchase agreement with several purchasers for the sale of 6.0 million of its common units at a negotiated purchase price per unit of $20.00, for gross proceeds of $120.6 million, of which $5.0 million was purchased by certain executives of the Partnership. The common units were issued and sold in a private transaction exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In connection with its acquisition of certain assets from Carrizo, ARP also amended its credit facility to, among other items, increase the borrowing base to $250.0 million and the maximum lender commitment to $500.0 million, which was contingent upon the closing of the acquisition of assets from Carrizo.
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ITEM 2: | MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Forward-Looking Statements
When used in this Form 10-Q, the words believes, anticipates, expects and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties more particularly described in Item 1A. Risk Factors, in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from the results stated or implied in this document. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to forward-looking statements which we may make to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this Form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
BUSINESS OVERVIEW
We are a publicly-traded Delaware master limited partnership, formerly known as Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. (NYSE: ATLS).
At March 31, 2012, our operations primarily consisted of our ownership interests in the following entities:
| Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. (ARP), a publicly-traded Delaware master limited partnership (NYSE: ARP), and an independent developer and producer of natural gas and oil, with operations in basins across the United States. ARP sponsors and manages tax-advantaged investment partnerships, in which it coinvests, to finance a portion of its natural gas and oil production activities. At March 31, 2012, we owned 100% of the general partner Class A units and incentive distribution rights, and common units representing an approximate 78.4% limited partner interest in ARP; |
| Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. (APL), a publicly traded Delaware master limited partnership (NYSE: APL) and midstream energy service provider engaged in the gathering and processing of natural gas in the Mid-Continent and Appalachia regions of the United States. At March 31, 2012, we owned a 2.0% general partner interest, all of the incentive distribution rights, and an approximate 10.5% common limited partner interest; and |
| Lightfoot Capital Partners, LP (Lightfoot LP) and Lightfoot Capital Partners GP, LLC (Lightfoot GP), the general partner of Lightfoot L.P. (collectively, Lightfoot), entities which incubate new master limited partnerships (MLPs) and invest in existing MLPs. At March 31, 2012, we had an approximate 16% general partner interest and 12% limited partner interest in Lightfoot. |
In February 2012, the board of directors of our General Partner (the Board) approved the formation of ARP as a newly created exploration and production master limited partnership and the related transfer of substantially all of our natural gas and oil development and production assets and the partnership management business to ARP on March 5, 2012. The Board also approved the distribution of approximately 5.24 million ARP common units to our unitholders, which were distributed on March 13, 2012 using a ratio of 0.1021 ARP limited partner units for each of our common units owned on the record date of February 28, 2012. The distribution of ARP limited partner units represented approximately 20% of the common limited partner units outstanding at March 13, 2012.
FINANCIAL PRESENTATION
Our consolidated combined financial statements contain our accounts and those of our consolidated subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned at March 31, 2012 except for ARP and APL, which we control. Due to the structure of our ownership interests in ARP and APL, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, we consolidate the financial statements of ARP and APL into our financial statements rather than present our ownership interests as equity investments. As such, the non-controlling interests in ARP and APL are reflected as income attributable to non-controlling interests in our consolidated combined statements of operations and as a component of partners capital on our consolidated combined balance sheets. Throughout this section, when we refer to our consolidated combined financial statements, we are referring to the consolidated combined results for us, our wholly-owned subsidiaries and the consolidated results of ARP
44
and APL, adjusted for non-controlling interests in ARP and APL. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidation of our financial statements.
On February 17, 2011, we acquired certain producing natural gas and oil properties, a partnership management business which sponsors tax-advantaged direct investment natural gas and oil partnerships, and other assets (the Transferred Business) from Atlas Energy, Inc. (AEI), the former owner of our general partner. Our management determined that the acquisition of the Transferred Business constituted a transaction between entities under common control. In comparison to the purchase method of accounting, whereby the purchase price for the asset acquisition would have been allocated to identifiable assets and liabilities of the Transferred Business based upon their fair values with any excess treated as goodwill, transfers between entities under common control require that assets and liabilities be recognized by the acquirer at historical carrying value at the date of transfer, with any difference between the purchase price and the net book value of the assets recognized as an adjustment to partners capital on our consolidated combined balance sheet. Also, in comparison to the purchase method of accounting, whereby the results of operations and the financial position of the Transferred Business would have been included in our consolidated combined financial statements from the date of acquisition, transfers between entities under common control require the acquirer to reflect the effect to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the related results of operations at the beginning of the period during which it was acquired and retrospectively adjust its prior year financial statements to furnish comparative information. As such, we reflected the impact of the acquisition of the Transferred Business on our consolidated combined financial statements in the following manner:
| Recognized the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the Transferred Business at their historical carrying value at the date of transfer, with any difference between the purchase price and the net book value of the assets recognized as an adjustment to partners capital; |
| Retrospectively adjusted our consolidated combined financial statements for any date prior to February 17, 2011, the date of acquisition, to reflect our results on a consolidated combined basis with the results of the Transferred Business as of or at the beginning of the respective period; and |
| Adjusted the presentation of our consolidated combined statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 to reflect the results of operations attributable to the Transferred Business prior to the date of acquisition as a reduction of net income to determine income attributable to common limited partners. However, the Transferred Business historical financial statements prior to the date of acquisition do not reflect general and administrative expenses and interest expense. The Transferred Business was not managed by AEI as a separate business segment and did not have identifiable labor and other ancillary costs. The general and administrative and interest expenses of AEI prior to the date of acquisition, including the exploration and production business segment, related primarily to business activities associated with the business sold to Chevron Corporation in February 2011 and not activities related to the Transferred Business. |
SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Cash Distribution. On April 26, 2012, we declared a cash distribution of $0.25 per unit on our outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The $12.8 million distribution will be paid on May 18, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2012.
ARP Cash Distribution. On April 17, 2012, the ARP declared a pro-rated cash distribution of $0.12 per unit on its outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the partial quarter beginning on March 5, 2012 and ended on March 31, 2012. The $3.2 million distribution will be paid on May 15, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on April 27, 2012.
APL Cash Distribution. On April 25, 2012, APL declared a cash distribution of $0.56 per unit on its outstanding common limited partner units, representing the cash distribution for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. The $32.2 million distribution, including $5.4 million to us, will be paid on May 15, 2012 to unitholders of record at the close of business on May 8, 2012.
ARPs Joint Venture Agreement with Subsidiaries of Equal Energy, Ltd. On April 26, 2012, ARP acquired a 50% interest in approximately 14,500 net undeveloped acres in the oil and natural gas liquids area of the Mississippi Lime play in northwestern Oklahoma for $18.0 million from subsidiaries of Equal Energy, Ltd. (Equal) (NYSE: EQU; TSX: EQU). The transaction was funded through borrowings under ARPs revolving credit facility.
ARPs Acquisition of Assets from Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. On April 30, 2012, ARP acquired certain assets from
45
Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRZO; Carrizo) for $190 million in cash. The assets acquired include interests in approximately 200 producing natural gas wells from the Barnett Shale, located in Bend ArchFort Worth Basin in North Texas, proved undeveloped acres also in the Barnett Shale and gathering pipelines and associated gathering facilities that service certain of the acquired wells. The purchase price is subject to certain post-closing adjustments based on, among other things, environmental and title defects, if any.
To partially fund the acquisition of assets from Carrizo, ARP executed a unit purchase agreement with several purchasers for the sale of 6.0 million of its common units at a negotiated purchase price per unit of $20.00, for gross proceeds of $120.6 million, of which $5.0 million was purchased by certain of our executives. The common units were issued and sold in a private transaction exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In connection with its acquisition of certain assets from Carrizo, ARP also amended its credit facility to, among other items, increase the borrowing base to $250.0 million and the maximum lender commitment to $500.0 million, contingent upon the closing of the acquisition of assets from Carrizo.
CONTRACTUAL REVENUE ARRANGEMENTS
Atlas Resources
Natural Gas. ARP markets the majority of its natural gas production to gas utility companies, gas marketers, local distribution companies, industrial or other end-users, and companies generating electricity. The sales price of natural gas produced in the Appalachian Basin has been primarily based upon the NYMEX spot market price, the natural gas produced in the New Albany Shale and Antrim Shale has been primarily based upon the Texas Gas Zone SL and Chicago spot market prices, and the gas produced in the Niobrara formation has been primarily based upon the Cheyenne Index.
Crude Oil. Crude oil produced from ARPs wells flows directly into storage tanks where it is picked up by an oil company, a common carrier or pipeline companies acting for an oil company, which is purchasing the crude oil. ARP sells any oil produced by our Appalachian wells to regional oil refining companies at the prevailing spot market price for Appalachian crude oil.
Natural Gas Liquids. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) are produced by ARPs natural gas processing plants, which extract the NGLs from the natural gas production, enabling the remaining dry gas (low BTU content) to meet pipeline specifications for long-haul transport to end users. ARP sells NGLs produced by its natural gas processing plants to regional refining companies at the prevailing spot market price for NGLs.
ARP does not have delivery commitments for fixed and determinable quantities of natural gas, oil or NGLs in any future periods under existing contracts or agreements.
Investment Partnerships. ARP generally has funded a portion of its drilling activities through sponsorship of tax-advantaged investment drilling partnerships. In addition to providing capital for its drilling activities, its investment partnerships are a source of fee-based revenues, which are not directly dependent on commodity prices. As managing general partner of the investment partnerships, ARP receives the following fees:
| Well construction and completion. For each well that is drilled by an investment partnership, ARP receives a 15% to 18% mark-up on those costs incurred to drill and complete the well; |
| Administration and oversight. For each well drilled by an investment partnership, ARP receives a fixed fee of between $15,000 and $250,000, depending on the type of well drilled. Additionally, the partnership pays ARP a monthly per well administrative fee of $75 for the life of the well. Because ARP coinvests in the partnerships, the net fee that ARP receives is reduced by its proportionate interest in the well; |
| Well services. Each partnership pays ARP a monthly per well operating fee, currently $100 to $1,500, for the life of the well. Because ARP coinvests in the partnerships, the net fee that ARP receives is reduced by its proportionate interest in the wells; and |
| Gathering. Each royalty owner, partnership and certain other working interest owners pay ARP a gathering fee, which generally ranges from $0.35 per Mcf to the amount of the competitive gathering fee, currently defined as 13% of the gross sales price of the natural gas. In general, pursuant to gathering agreements, ARP has with a third-party gathering system, which gathers the majority of our natural gas, ARP must also pay an additional amount equal to the excess of the gathering fees collected from the investment partnerships up to an amount equal to approximately |
46
16% of the realized natural gas sales price (adjusted for the settlement of natural gas derivative instruments). As a result, some of its gathering expenses within our partnership management segment, specifically those in the Appalachian Basin, will generally exceed the revenues collected from investment partnerships by approximately 3%. |
Atlas Pipeline
APLs principal revenue is generated from the gathering and sale of natural gas, NGLs and condensate. Variables that affect its revenue are:
| the volumes of natural gas APL gathers and processes, which in turn, depend upon the number of wells connected to its gathering systems, the amount of natural gas they produce, and the demand for natural gas, NGLs and condensate; |
| the price of the natural gas APL gathers and processes and the NGLs and condensate it recovers and sells, which is a function of the relevant supply and demand in the mid-continent, mid-Atlantic and northeastern areas of the United States; |
| the NGL and BTU content of the gas that is gathered and processed; |
| the contract terms with each producer; and |
| the efficiency of APLs gathering systems and processing plants. |
Under certain agreements, APL purchases natural gas from producers and moves it into receipt points on its pipeline systems and then sells the natural gas and NGLs off of delivery points on its systems. Under other agreements, APL gathers natural gas across its systems, from receipt to delivery point, without taking title to the natural gas. Revenue associated with the physical sale of natural gas is recognized upon physical delivery of the natural gas.
GENERAL TRENDS AND OUTLOOK
Atlas Resources
The areas in which ARP operates are experiencing a significant increase in natural gas, oil and NGL production related to new and increased drilling for deeper natural gas formations and the implementation of new exploration and production techniques, including horizontal and multiple fracturing techniques. The increase in the supply of natural gas has put a downward pressure on domestic prices. While ARP anticipates continued high levels of exploration and production activities over the long-term in the areas in which it operates, fluctuations in energy prices can greatly affect production rates and investments by third parties in the development of new natural gas, oil and NGL reserves.
ARPs future gas and oil reserves, production, cash flow, its ability to make payments on its revolving credit facility and its ability to make distributions to its unitholders, including us, depend on ARPs success in producing its current reserves efficiently, developing its existing acreage and acquiring additional proved reserves economically. ARP faces the challenge of natural production declines and volatile natural gas and oil prices. As initial reservoir pressures are depleted, natural gas production from particular wells decreases. ARP attempts to overcome this natural decline by drilling to find additional reserves and acquiring more reserves than it produces.
Atlas Pipeline
APL faces competition in obtaining natural gas supplies for its processing and related services operations. Competition for natural gas supplies is based primarily on the location of gas gathering facilities and gas processing plants, operating efficiency and reliability, and the ability to obtain a satisfactory price for products recovered. Competition for customers is based primarily on price, delivery capabilities, quality of assets, flexibility, service history and maintenance of high-quality customer relationships. Many of APLs competitors operate as master limited partnerships and enjoy a cost of capital comparable to, and in some cases lower than, its own. Other competitors, such as major oil and gas and pipeline companies, have capital resources and control supplies of natural gas substantially greater than APLs. Smaller local distributors may enjoy a marketing advantage in their immediate service areas. APL management believes the primary difference between APL and some of its competitors is that APL provides an integrated and responsive package of midstream services, while some of its competitors provide only certain services. APL management believes offering an integrated package of services,
47
while remaining flexible in the types of contractual arrangements that APL offers producers, allows it to compete more effectively for new natural gas supplies in its regions of operations.
As a result of APLs Percentage of Proceeds (POP) and Keep-Whole contracts, its results of operations and financial condition substantially depend upon the price of natural gas, NGLs and crude oil. APL management believes future natural gas prices will be influenced by supply deliverability, the severity of winter and summer weather and the level of United States economic growth. Based on historical trends, APL management generally expects NGL prices to follow changes in crude oil prices over the long term, which management believes will in large part be determined by the level of production from major crude oil exporting countries and the demand generated by growth in the world economy. However, energy market uncertainty has negatively impacted North American drilling activity in the past. Lower drilling levels and shut-in wells over a sustained period would have a negative effect on natural gas volumes gathered and processed.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GAS AND OIL PRODUCTION
Production Profile. Currently, ARP has focused its natural gas and oil production operations in various shale plays in the northeastern and midwestern United States. As part of our agreement with AEI to acquire the Transferred Business on February 17, 2011, ARP has certain agreements which restrict its ability to drill additional wells in certain areas of Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia, including portions of the Marcellus Shale. Through March 31, 2012, ARP has established production positions in the following areas:
| the Appalachia basin, including the Marcellus Shale, a rich, organic shale that generally contains dry, pipeline-quality natural gas, and the Chattanooga Shale in northeastern Tennessee, which enables ARP to access other formations in that region such as the Monteagle and Ft. Payne Limestone; |
| the Niobrara Shale in northeastern Colorado, a predominantly biogenic shale play that produces dry gas; |
| the New Albany Shale in southwestern Indiana, a biogenic shale play with a long-lived and shallow decline profile; and |
| the Antrim Shale in Michigan, where ARP produces out of the biogenic region of the shale similar to the New Albany Shale. |
The following table presents the number of wells ARP drilled, both gross and for its interest, and the number of gross wells it turned in line during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Gross wells drilled: |
||||||||
Appalachia |
9 | 3 | ||||||
Niobrara |
51 | 17 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
60 | 20 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Our share of gross wells drilled(1): |
||||||||
Appalachia |
2 | 1 | ||||||
Niobrara |
34 | 5 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
36 | 6 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross wells turned in line: |
||||||||
Appalachia |
21 | 1 | ||||||
New Albany/Antrim |
| 12 | ||||||
Niobrara |
49 | 18 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
70 | 31 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Includes (i) ARPs percentage interest in the wells in which it has a direct ownership interest and (ii) ARPs percentage interest in the wells based on its percentage ownership in its investment partnerships. |
Production Volumes. The following table presents ARPs total net natural gas, oil, and NGL production volumes and production per day for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
48
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Production:(1)(2) |
||||||||
Appalachia:(3) |
||||||||
Natural gas (MMcf) |
2,857 | 2,630 | ||||||
Oil (000s Bbls) |
28 | 23 | ||||||
Natural gas liquids (000s Bbls) |
38 | 42 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total (MMcfe) |
3,253 | 3,023 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
New Albany/Antrim: |
||||||||
Natural gas (MMcf) |
275 | 292 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total (MMcfe) |
275 | 292 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Niobrara: |
||||||||
Natural gas (MMcf) |
58 | 17 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total (MMcfe) |
58 | 17 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total: |
||||||||
Natural gas (MMcf) |
3,190 | 2,939 | ||||||
Oil (000s Bbls) |
28 | 23 | ||||||
Natural gas liquids (000s Bbls) |
38 | 42 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total (MMcfe) |
3,587 | 3,332 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Production per day: (1)(2) |
||||||||
Appalachia:(3) |
||||||||
Natural gas (Mcfd) |
31,391 | 29,226 | ||||||
Oil (Bpd) |
305 | 262 | ||||||
Natural gas liquids (Bpd) |
422 | 465 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total (Mcfed) |
35,751 | 33,589 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
New Albany/Antrim: |
||||||||
Natural gas (Mcfd) |
3,026 | 3,244 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total (Mcfed) |
3,026 | 3,244 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Niobrara: |
||||||||
Natural gas (Mcfd) |
642 | 185 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total (Mcfed) |
642 | 185 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total: |
||||||||
Natural gas (Mcfd) |
35,060 | 32,655 | ||||||
Oil (Bpd) |
305 | 262 | ||||||
Natural gas liquids (Bpd) |
422 | 465 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total (Mcfed) |
39,420 | 37,019 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Production quantities consist of the sum of (i) ARPs proportionate share of production from wells in which it has a direct interest, based on its proportionate net revenue interest in such wells, and (ii) ARPs proportionate share of production from wells owned by the investment partnerships in which it has an interest, based on its equity interest in each such partnership and based on each partnerships proportionate net revenue interest in these wells. |
(2) | MMcf represents million cubic feet; MMcfe represent million cubic feet equivalents; Mcfd represents thousand cubic feet per day; Mcfed represents thousand cubic feet equivalents per day; and Bbls and Bpd represent barrels and barrels per day. Barrels are converted to Mcfe using the ratio of approximately six Mcfs to one barrel. |
(3) | Appalachia includes ARPs production located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, West Virginia and Tennessee. |
Production Revenues, Prices and Costs. ARPs production revenues and estimated gas and oil reserves are substantially dependent on prevailing market prices for natural gas, which comprised 94% of its proved reserves on an energy equivalent basis at December 31, 2011. The following table presents ARPs production revenues and average sales prices for its natural gas, oil, and natural gas liquids production for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, along with its average production costs, taxes, and transportation and compression costs in each of the reported periods:
49
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Production revenues (in thousands): |
||||||||
Appalachia:(1) |
||||||||
Natural gas revenue |
$ | 11,490 | $ | 12,215 | ||||
Oil revenue |
2,787 | 2,059 | ||||||
Natural gas liquids revenue |
1,678 | 1,845 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total revenues |
$ | 15,955 | $ | 16,119 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
New Albany/Antrim: |
||||||||
Natural gas revenue |
$ | 1,060 | $ | 1,439 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total revenues |
$ | 1,060 | $ | 1,439 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Niobrara: |
||||||||
Natural gas revenue |
$ | 149 | $ | 68 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total revenues |
$ | 149 | $ | 68 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total: |
||||||||
Natural gas revenue |
$ | 12,699 | $ | 13,722 | ||||
Oil revenue |
2,787 | 2,059 | ||||||
Natural gas liquids revenue |
1,678 | 1,845 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total revenues |
$ | 17,164 | $ | 17,626 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Average sales price:(2) |
||||||||
Natural gas (per Mcf): |
||||||||
Total realized price, after hedge(3) |
$ | 4.33 | $ | 5.46 | ||||
Total realized price, before hedge(3) |
$ | 2.88 | $ | 4.47 | ||||
Oil (per Bbl): |
||||||||
Total realized price, after hedge |
$ | 100.41 | $ | 87.39 | ||||
Total realized price, before hedge |
$ | 100.41 | $ | 87.39 | ||||
Natural gas liquids (per Bbl) total realized price: |
$ | 43.73 | $ | 44.04 | ||||
Production costs (per Mcfe):(2) |
||||||||
Appalachia:(1) |
||||||||
Lease operating expenses(4) |
$ | 1.03 | $ | 0.97 | ||||
Production taxes |
0.11 | 0.06 | ||||||
Transportation and compression |
0.33 | 0.46 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 1.47 | $ | 1.49 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
New Albany/Antrim: |
||||||||
Lease operating expenses |
$ | 1.19 | $ | 1.12 | ||||
Production taxes |
0.07 | 0.08 | ||||||
Transportation and compression |
0.03 | 0.09 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 1.30 | $ | 1.28 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Niobrara: |
||||||||
Lease operating expenses |
$ | 1.49 | $ | 0.66 | ||||
Production taxes |
0.07 | | ||||||
Transportation and compression |
0.34 | 0.30 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 1.90 | $ | 0.96 | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total: |
||||||||
Lease operating expenses(4) |
$ | 1.05 | $ | 0.98 | ||||
Production taxes |
0.11 | 0.06 | ||||||
Transportation and compression |
0.30 | 0.43 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
$ | 1.46 | $ | 1.47 | |||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Appalachia includes ARPs operations located in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, West Virginia and Tennessee. |
(2) | Mcf represents thousand cubic feet; Mcfe represents thousand cubic feet equivalents; and Bbl represents barrels. |
(3) | Excludes the impact of subordination of ARPs production revenue to investor partners within its investment partnerships for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. Including the effect of this subordination, the average realized gas sales price was $3.98 per Mcf ($2.53 per Mcf before the effects of financial hedging) and $4.67 per Mcf ($3.68 per Mcf before the effects of financial hedging) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. |
(4) | Excludes the effects of ARPs proportionate share of lease operating expenses associated with subordination of ARPs production revenue to investor partners within its investment partnerships for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. Including the effects of these costs, Appalachia lease operating expenses per Mcfe were $0.80 per Mcfe ($1.24 per Mcfe for total production costs) and $0.65 per Mcfe ($1.17 per Mcfe for total production costs) for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. Including the effects of these costs, total lease operating expenses per Mcfe were $0.84 per Mcfe ($1.26 per Mcfe for total production costs) and $0.69 per Mcfe ($1.18 per Mcfe for total production costs) for three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. |
50
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011. Total natural gas revenues were $12.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $1.0 million from $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This decrease consisted of a $3.1 million decrease attributable to lower realized natural gas prices, partially offset by a $0.9 million increase attributable to higher production volumes and a $1.2 million decrease in gas revenues subordinated to the investor partners within ARPs investment partnerships for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with the prior year period. The decrease in gas revenues subordinated to the investor partners within ARPs investment partnerships was related to the overall decrease in natural gas revenue. Total oil and natural gas liquids revenues were $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, an increase of $0.6 million from $3.9 million for the comparable prior year period. This increase resulted from a $0.4 million increase associated with higher oil production volumes and a $0.3 million increase associated with higher average oil realized prices, partially offset by a $0.1 million decrease from the sale of natural gas liquids.
Appalachia production costs were $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, an increase of $0.5 million from $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This increase was principally due to a $0.2 million increase in water hauling and disposal costs, a $0.1 million increase in labor-related costs and a $0.2 million increase associated with a reduction in ARPs net credit received against lease operating expenses from the subordination of our revenue within ARPs investment partnerships. The increases in water hauling and disposal costs were primarily due to an increase in natural gas volumes between the periods. New Albany/Antrim production costs were $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, which was consistent with the comparable prior year period.
PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT
Well Construction and Completion
Drilling Program Results. The number of wells ARP drills will vary within the partnership management segment depending on the amount of capital it raises through its investment partnerships, the cost of each well, the depth or type of each well, the estimated recoverable reserves attributable to each well and accessibility to the well site. The following table presents the amounts of drilling partnership investor capital raised and deployed (in thousands), as well as the number of gross and net development wells ARP drilled for its investment partnerships during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011. There were no exploratory wells drilled during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011:
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Drilling partnership investor capital: |
||||||||
Raised |
$ | | $ | | ||||
Deployed |
$ | 43,719 | $ | 17,725 | ||||
Gross partnership wells drilled: |
||||||||
Appalachia |
9 | 3 | ||||||
New Albany/Antrim |
| | ||||||
Niobrara |
51 | 17 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
60 | 20 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Net partnership wells drilled: |
||||||||
Appalachia |
9 | 3 | ||||||
New Albany/Antrim |
| | ||||||
Niobrara |
51 | 17 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
60 | 20 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
Well construction and completion revenues and costs and expenses incurred represent the billings and costs associated with the completion of wells for investment partnerships ARP sponsors. The following table sets forth information relating to these revenues and the related costs and number of net wells associated with these revenues during the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):
51
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Average construction and completion: |
||||||||
Revenue per well |
$ | 688 | $ | 635 | ||||
Cost per well |
593 | 538 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross profit per well |
$ | 95 | $ | 97 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross profit margin |
$ | 6,024 | $ | 2,704 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Partnership net wells associated with revenue recognized(1): |
||||||||
Appalachia |
9 | 1 | ||||||
New Albany/Antrim |
| 2 | ||||||
Niobrara |
55 | 25 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
64 | 28 | |||||||
|
|
|
|
(1) | Consists of partnership net wells for which well construction and completion revenue was recognized on a percentage of completion basis. |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011. Well construction and completion segment margin was $6.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, an increase of $3.3 million from $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This increase consisted of a $3.4 million increase related to an increased number of wells recognized for revenue within the ARP investment partnerships, partially offset by a $0.1 million decrease associated with lower gross profit margin per well. Average revenue and cost per well increased between periods due to higher capital deployed for Marcellus Shale wells within the drilling partnerships during first quarter 2012. Since ARPs drilling contracts with the investment partnerships are on a cost-plus basis, an increase or decrease in its average cost per well also results in a proportionate increase or decrease in its average revenue per well, which directly affects the number of wells ARP drills. In addition, the increase in well construction and completion margin was due to the deployment of funds raised from ARPs Fall 2011 drilling program. The planned Fall 2010 drilling program was cancelled following AEIs announcement of the acquisition of the Transferred Business in November 2010.
Our consolidated combined balance sheet at March 31, 2012 includes $28.0 million of liabilities associated with drilling contracts for funds raised by ARPs investment partnerships that have not been applied to the completion of wells due to the timing of drilling operations, and thus had not been recognized as well construction and completion revenue on our consolidated combined statements of operations. We and ARP expect to recognize this amount as revenue during the remainder of 2012.
Administration and Oversight
Administration and oversight fee revenues represent supervision and administrative fees earned for the drilling and subsequent ongoing management of wells for ARPs investment partnerships.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011. Administration and oversight fee revenues were $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, an increase of $1.4 million from $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This increase was primarily due to an increase in the number of Marcellus Shale and Niobrara Shale wells drilled during the current year period in comparison to the prior year period, primarily as a result of the wells drilled as part of ARPs Fall 2011 drilling program. The planned Fall 2010 drilling program was cancelled following AEIs announcement of the acquisition of the Transferred Business in November 2010.
Well Services
Well service revenue and expenses represent the monthly operating fees ARP charges and the work ARPs service company performs for its investment partnership wells during the drilling and completing phase as well as ongoing maintenance of these wells and other wells in which ARP serves as operator.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011. Well services revenues were $5.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, a decrease of $0.3 million from $5.3 million for three months ended March 31, 2011. Well services expenses were $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, which was consistent with the comparable prior year period. The decrease in well services revenue is primarily related to a temporary reduction in repairs and maintenance projects during the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared with the comparable prior year period.
52
Gathering and Processing
Gathering and processing margin includes gathering fees ARP charges to its investment partnership wells and the related expenses and gross margin for its processing plants in the New Albany Shale and the Chattanooga Shale, and the operating revenues and expenses of APL. The gathering fees charged to ARPs investment partnership wells generally range from $0.35 per Mcf to the amount of the competitive gathering fee, currently defined as 13% of the gross sales price of the natural gas. In general, pursuant to gathering agreements ARP has with a third-party gathering system which gathers the majority of its natural gas, ARP must also pay an additional amount equal to the excess of the gathering fees collected from the investment partnerships up to an amount equal to approximately 16% of the realized natural gas sales price (adjusted for the settlement of natural gas derivative instruments). However, in most of ARPs direct investment partnerships, it collects a gathering fee of 13% of the realized natural gas sales price per the respective partnership agreement. As a result, some of ARPs gathering expenses within our partnership management segment, specifically those in the Appalachian Basin, will generally exceed the revenues collected from the investment partnerships by approximately 3%.
The following table presents ARPs and APLs gathering and processing revenues and expenses for each of the respective periods:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
Gathering and Processing: |
2012 | 2011 | ||||||
Atlas Resource: |
||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 3,314 | $ | 4,499 | ||||
Expense |
(4,674 | ) | (5,734 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross Margin |
$ | (1,360 | ) | $ | (1,235 | ) | ||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Atlas Pipeline: |
||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 301,906 | $ | 275,719 | ||||
Expense |
(247,250 | ) | (231,250 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross Margin |
$ | 54,656 | $ | 44,469 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total: |
||||||||
Revenue |
$ | 305,220 | $ | 280,218 | ||||
Expense |
(251,924 | ) | (236,984 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Gross Margin |
$ | 53,296 | $ | 43,234 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011. ARPs net gathering and processing expense for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $1.4 million compared with $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This unfavorable movement was principally due to an increase in natural gas volume between the periods.
Gathering and processing margin for APL was $54.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with $44.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This increase was due principally to higher production volumes related to on-going capacity expansion projects, partially offset by lower natural gas and NGL sales prices.
Loss on Mark-to-Market Derivatives
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011. Loss on mark-to-market derivatives was $12.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared with $21.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This favorable movement was due primarily due to a $7.8 million favorable variance in non-cash mark-to-market adjustments on APLs commodity derivatives and a $1.8 million favorable movement in cash settlements on net cash derivative expense related to APLs commodity derivatives.
Other, Net
Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011. Other, net was $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared with $4.4 million for the comparable prior year period. This decrease was primarily due to the $1.0 million amortization of ARPs premium on derivative contracts which provide ARP with the option to enter into swap contracts up through May 31, 2012 for production volumes related to wells recently acquired (see Subsequent Events) and a $0.6 million decrease in income from equity investments.
53
OTHER COSTS AND EXPENSES
General and Administrative Expenses
The following table presents our general and administrative expenses and those attributable to ARP and APL for each of the respective periods:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
General and Administrative expenses: |
||||||||
Atlas Energy |
$ | 15,561 | $ | 2,931 | ||||
Atlas Resource |
11,742 | 4,242 | ||||||
Atlas Pipeline |
9,945 | 9,017 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 37,248 | $ | 16,190 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Total general and administrative expenses increased to $37.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with $16.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. Our $15.6 million of general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 represents a $12.7 million increase from the comparable period primarily due to an $8.4 million increase resulting from costs incurred in the formation of ARP and the related distribution of its common units and a $4.2 million increase of non-cash compensation expense. ARPs $11.7 million of general and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2012 represents a $7.5 million increase from the comparable period primarily due to a $2.6 million increase related to the expiration of its transition services agreement with Chevron, a $2.5 million increase in acquisition and other related costs primarily resulting from costs incurred for the acquisition of certain assets from Carrizo (see Subsequent Events), a $1.9 million increase in salary and wages expenses related to the growth of ARPs business and $0.5 million increase related to consulting and other outside services. APLs $9.9 million of general and administrative expense for the three months ended March 31, 2012 represents an increase of $0.9 million from the comparable prior year period, which was principally due to an increase in salaries and wages resulting from the expansion of its business.
Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization
The following table presents depreciation, depletion and amortization expense that was attributable to ARP and APL for each of the respective periods:
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization: |
||||||||
Atlas Resource |
$ | 9,108 | $ | 7,701 | ||||
Atlas Pipeline |
20,842 | 18,906 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 29,950 | $ | 26,607 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization increased to $30.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with $26.6 million for the comparable prior year period primarily due to a $1.0 million increase in ARPs depletion expense and a $1.9 million increase in APLs depreciation expenses, principally associated with APLs expansion capital expenditures incurred subsequent to March 31, 2011. The following table presents ARPs depletion expense per Mcfe for its operations for the respective periods:
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Depletion expense (in thousands): |
||||||||
Total |
$ | 7,568 | $ | 6,566 | ||||
Depletion expense as a percentage of gas and oil production revenue |
44 | % | 37 | % | ||||
Depletion per Mcfe |
$ | 2.11 | $ | 1.97 |
54
Depletion expense varies from period to period and is directly affected by changes in ARPs gas and oil reserve quantities, production levels, product prices and changes in the depletable cost basis of ARPs gas and oil properties. For the three months ended March 31, 2012, depletion expense increased $1.0 million to $7.6 million compared with $6.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. ARPs depletion expense of gas and oil properties as a percentage of gas and oil revenues was 44% for the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with 37% for the three months ended March 31, 2011, which was primarily due to a decrease in realized natural gas prices between periods. Depletion expense per Mcfe was $2.11 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, an increase of $0.14 per Mcfe from $1.97 for the three months ended March 31, 2011, primarily related to increased Marcellus Shale well costs and additional capitalized costs related to ARPs 2011 drilling partnership fundraising. Depletion expense increased between periods principally due to an overall increase in production volumes.
Gain (Loss) on Asset Disposals
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the loss on asset disposals was $7.0 million, compared to a gain of $255.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. The $7.0 million loss on asset disposals for the three months ended March 31, 2012 pertained to ARPs decision to terminate a farm out agreement with a third party for well drilling in the South Knox area of the New Albany Shale that was originally entered into in 2010. The farm out agreement contained certain well drilling targets for ARP to maintain ownership of the South Knox processing plant, which ARPs management decided in 2012 to not achieve due to the current natural gas price environment. As a result, ARP forfeited its interest in the processing plant and recorded a loss related to the net book values of those assets as of March 31, 2012. The $255.9 million gain on asset disposals for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is principally due to APLs gain on the sale of its 49% non- controlling interest in the Laurel Mountain joint venture which was finalized and recorded in February 2011.
Interest Expense
The following table presents our interest expense and that which was attributable to ARP and APL for each of the respective periods:
Three Months
Ended March 31, |
||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Interest Expense: |
||||||||
Atlas Energy |
$ | 233 | $ | 5,633 | ||||
Atlas Resource |
150 | | ||||||
Atlas Pipeline |
8,708 | 12,445 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 9,091 | $ | 18,078 | ||||
|
|
|
|
Total interest expense decreased to $9.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared with $18.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011. This $9.0 million decrease was primarily due to our $5.4 million decrease and a $3.7 million decrease related to APL. Our $5.4 million decrease in interest expense was primarily due to $4.9 million of accelerated amortization of deferred financing costs for our bridge credit facility that was entered into in connection with our closing of the acquisition of the Transferred Business. The bridge credit facility was replaced in March 2011. The $3.7 million decrease in interest expense for APL was primarily due to a $5.6 million decrease in interest expense associated with APLs 8.125% senior unsecured notes due on December 15, 2015 (8.125% Senior Notes) and a $2.0 million increase in APLs capitalized interest, partially offset by a $2.9 million increase in interest expense associated with APLs 8.75% senior unsecured notes due on June 15, 2018 (8.75% Senior Notes) and a $1.0 million increase in interest associated with APLs revolving credit facility. The lower interest expense on APLs 8.125% Senior Notes is due to the redemption of APLs 8.125% Senior Notes in April 2011 with proceeds from the sale of its 49% non-controlling interest in Laurel Mountain. The increased capitalized interest is due to APLs increased capital expenditures in the current period. The increased interest on APLs 8.75% Senior Notes is due to the issuance of additional 8.75% Senior Notes in November 2011. The increased interest on APLs revolving credit facility is due to additional borrowings in the current period to cover APLs current capital expenditures.
Income Not Attributable to Common Limited Partners
For the three months ended March 31, 2011, income not attributable to common limited partners was $4.7 million, which consisted of income not attributable to common limited partners related to the results of operations of the Transferred Business prior to our acquisition on February 17, 2011 (see Financial Presentation).
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Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests
Income attributable to non-controlling interests was $3.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 as compared with $211.4 million for the comparable prior year period. Income attributable to non-controlling interests includes an allocation of APLs net income and ARPs net loss to non-controlling interest holders. The decrease between the three months ended March 31, 2012 and the prior year comparable period was primarily due to the decrease in APLs net earnings between periods, as a result of the gain from the sale of its investment in Laurel Mountain in 2011.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
General
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash distributions received with respect to our ownership interests in ARP and APL. Our primary cash requirements are for our general and administrative expenses and other expenditures and quarterly distributions to our common unitholders, which we expect to fund through cash distributions received and cash on hand. Our operations principally occur through our subsidiaries, whose sources of liquidity are discussed in more detail below.
Atlas Resource. ARPs primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, capital raised through investment partnerships, and borrowings under its credit facility. ARPs primary cash requirements, in addition to normal operating expenses, are for debt service, capital expenditures, and quarterly distributions to its common unitholders and us as general partner. In general, ARP expects to fund:
| cash distributions and maintenance capital expenditures through existing cash and cash flows from operating activities; |
| expansion capital expenditures and working capital deficits through cash generated from operations, additional borrowings and capital raised through investment partnerships; and |
| debt principal payments through additional borrowings as they become due or by the issuance of additional common units or asset sales. |
Atlas Pipeline. APLs primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations and borrowings under its credit facility. APLs primary cash requirements, in addition to normal operating expenses, are for debt service, capital expenditures, and quarterly distributions to its common unitholders and us as general partner. In general, APL expects to fund:
| cash distributions and maintenance capital expenditures through existing cash and cash flows from operating activities; |
| expansion capital expenditures and working capital deficits through the retention of cash and additional capital raising; and |
| debt principal payments through operating cash flows and refinancings as they become due, or by the issuance of additional limited partner units or asset sales. |
ARP and APL rely on cash flow from operations and their credit facilities to execute their growth strategy and to meet their financial commitments and other short-term liquidity needs. ARP and APL cannot be certain that additional capital will be available to the extent required and on acceptable terms. We and our subsidiaries believe that we will have sufficient liquid assets, cash from operations and borrowing capacity to meet our financial commitments, debt service obligations, contingencies and anticipated capital expenditures for at least the next twelve month period. However, we and our subsidiaries are subject to business, operational and other risks that could adversely affect our cash flow. We and our subsidiaries may supplement our cash generation with proceeds from financing activities, including borrowings under ARPs and APLs credit facilities and other borrowings, the issuance of additional common units, the sale of assets and other transactions.
Cash Flows - Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared with the Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
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Net cash used in operating activities of $4.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 represented an unfavorable movement of $26.8 million from net cash provided by operating activities of $22.3 million for the comparable prior year period. The $26.8 million decrease was derived principally from a $69.5 million unfavorable movement in non-cash loss on derivatives and a $7.3 million unfavorable movement in distributions paid to non-controlling interests, partially offset by a $42.0 million favorable movement in working capital and an $8.0 million increase in net income excluding non-cash items. The non-cash charges which impacted net income included $263.0 million favorable movement in gain (loss) on asset disposals and a $1.9 million favorable movement in non-cash expenses including depreciation, depletion and amortization, amortization of deferred financing costs, equity income and distributions from unconsolidated companies, and compensation expense; partially offset by a $256.9 million decrease in net income (loss) from continuing operations. The decrease in net income from continuing operations was primarily due to a $255.9 million net gain on the sale of APLs interest in Laurel Mountain in the first quarter of 2011. The movement in cash distributions to non-controlling interest holders was due principally to increases in the cash distributions of APL. The movement in working capital was principally due to a $68.2 million favorable movement in accounts receivable and other current assets, due to a decrease in subscriptions receivable for funds raised for ARPs new drilling program in the fourth quarter of 2011, partially offset by a $26.2 million unfavorable movement in accounts payable and other current liabilities.
Net cash used in investing activities of $118.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 represented an unfavorable movement of $490.3 million from net cash provided by investing activities of $372.0 million for the comparable prior year period. This unfavorable movement was principally due to a $411.8 million decrease in net proceeds from asset sales, a $74.1 million unfavorable movement in capital expenditures and a $17.2 million unfavorable movement in APLs net cash paid for acquisitions, partially offset by a $12.3 million favorable movement in APLs investments in unconsolidated companies and a $0.5 million favorable movement in other assets. See further discussion of capital expenditures under - Capital Requirements.
Net cash provided by financing activities of $90.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 represented a change of $379.3 million from net cash used in financing activities of $288.5 million for the comparable prior year period. This movement was principally due to a $293.7 million favorable movement in cash in escrow relating to the 8.125% APL Senior Note redemption in the first quarter of 2011, a net $175.0 million increase in ARPs and APLs net borrowings under their respective credit facilities, a $35.4 million favorable movement in repayments of long-term debt and a $2.8 million favorable movement in deferred financing costs and other, partially offset by a $117.2 million unfavorable movement in the non-cash transaction adjustment related to the acquisition of the Transferred Business on February 17, 2011 and a $10.4 million increase in distributions paid to unitholders.
Capital Requirements
Our principal assets consist of our ownership interests in ARP and APL, through which our operating activities occur. As such, we do not currently have any separate capital requirements apart from those entities. A more detailed discussion of ARPs and APLs capital requirements is provided below.
Atlas Resource Partners. ARPs capital requirements consist primarily of:
| maintenance capital expenditures - capital expenditures ARP makes on an ongoing basis to maintain its current levels of production over the long term; and |
| expansion capital expenditures - capital expenditures ARP makes to increase its current levels of production for longer than the short-term and includes new leasehold interests and the development and exploitation of existing leasehold interests through acquisitions and investments in its drilling partnerships. |
Atlas Pipeline Partners. APLs operations require continual investment to upgrade or enhance existing operations and to ensure compliance with safety, operational and environmental regulations. APLs capital requirements consist primarily of:
| maintenance capital expenditures to maintain equipment reliability and safety and to address environmental regulations; and |
| expansion capital expenditures to acquire complementary assets and to expand the capacity of its existing operations. |
The following table summarizes consolidated maintenance and expansion capital expenditures, excluding amounts
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paid for acquisitions, for the periods presented (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||
2012 | 2011 | |||||||
Atlas Resource |
||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures |
$ | 1,750 | $ | 1,666 | ||||
Expansion capital expenditures |
17,208 | 6,066 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 18,958 | $ | 7,732 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Atlas Pipeline |
||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures |
$ | 4,510 | $ | 3,260 | ||||
Expansion capital expenditures |
76,657 | 15,073 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 81,167 | $ | 18,333 | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Consolidated Combined |
||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures |
$ | 6,260 | $ | 4,926 | ||||
Expansion capital expenditures |
93,865 | 21,139 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total |
$ | 100,125 | $ | 26,065 | ||||
|
|
|
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2012, ARPs $19.0 million of total capital expenditures consisted primarily of $13.1 million of well costs, principally its investments in the investment partnerships, compared with $4.0 million for the prior year comparable period, $4.0 million of leasehold acquisition costs compared with $0.7 million for the prior year comparable period, $0.3 million of gathering and processing costs compared with $1.2 million for the prior year comparable period and $1.6 million of corporate and other compared with $1.8 million for the prior year comparable period. The net increase in investments in its investment partnerships was the result of the cancellation of ARPs Fall 2010 drilling program and the resulting reduction of investment partnership capital deployed in 2011. The net increase in leasehold acquisition costs relates to ARPs acquisition of additional Marcellus Shale acreage during the three months ended March 31, 2012.
ARP continuously evaluates acquisitions of gas and oil assets. In order to make any acquisition, ARP believes it will be required to access outside capital either through debt or equity placements or through joint venture operations with other energy companies. There can be no assurance that ARP will be successful in its efforts to obtain outside capital.
Atlas Pipeline Partners. APLs capital expenditures increased to $81.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared with $18.3 million for the comparable prior year period. The increase was due principally to costs incurred related to APLs processing facility expansions, compressor upgrades and pipeline projects as well as fluctuations in the timing of scheduled maintenance activity.
As of March 31, 2012, ARP and APL are committed to expend approximately $70.0 million on drilling and completion expenditures, pipeline extensions, compressor station upgrades and processing facility upgrades.
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of March 31, 2012, our off-balance sheet arrangements are limited to ARPs letters of credit outstanding of $0.8 million, APLs letters of credit outstanding of $0.1 million and ARPs and APLs commitments to spend $70.0 million related to ARPs drilling and completion expenditures, and ARPs and APLs capital expenditures.
CASH DISTRIBUTIONS
The Board has adopted a cash distribution policy, pursuant to our partnership agreement, which requires that we distribute all of our available cash quarterly to our limited partners within 50 days following the end of each calendar quarter in accordance with their respective percentage interests. Under our partnership agreement, available cash is defined to generally mean, for each fiscal quarter, cash generated from our business in excess of the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to, among other things:
| provide for the proper conduct of our business; |
| comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other agreements; or |
58
| provide funds for distributions to our unitholders for any one or more of the next four quarters. |
These reserves are not restricted by magnitude, but only by type of future cash requirements with which they can be associated. When our general partner determines our quarterly distributions, it considers current and expected reserve needs along with current and expected cash flows to identify the appropriate sustainable distribution level. Our distributions to limited partners are not cumulative. Consequently, if distributions on our common units are not paid with respect to any fiscal quarter, our unitholders are not entitled to receive such payments in the future.
Atlas Resource Partners Cash Distribution Policy: ARPs partnership agreement requires that it distribute 100% of available cash to its common unitholders and general partner, our wholly-owned subsidiary, within 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter in accordance with their respective percentage interests. Available cash consists generally of all of ARPs cash receipts, less cash disbursements and net additions to reserves, including any reserves required under debt instruments for future principal and interest payments. We, as ARPs general partner, are granted discretion under the partnership agreement to establish, maintain and adjust reserves for future operating expenses, debt service, maintenance capital expenditures, and distributions for the next four quarters. These reserves are not restricted by magnitude, but only by type of future cash requirements with which they can be associated.
Available cash will initially be distributed 98% to ARPs common limited partners and 2% to its general partner. These distribution percentages are modified to provide for incentive distributions to be paid to us, as ARPs general partner, if quarterly distributions to common limited partners exceed specified targets. Incentive distributions are generally defined as all cash distributions paid to ARPs general partner that are in excess of 2% of the aggregate amount of cash being distributed. The incentive distribution rights will entitle us to receive an increasing percentage of cash distributed by ARP as it reaches specified targets. Incentive distributions are generally defined as all cash distributions paid to ARPs general partner that are in excess of 2% of the aggregate amount of cash being distributed. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, we did not receive any incentive distributions from ARP.
Atlas Pipeline Partners Cash Distribution Policy. APLs partnership agreement requires that it distribute 100% of available cash to its common unitholders and general partner, our wholly-owned subsidiary, within 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter in accordance with their respective percentage interests. Available cash consists generally of all of APLs cash receipts, less cash disbursements and net additions to reserves, including any reserves required under debt instruments for future principal and interest payments.
APLs general partner is granted discretion by APLs partnership agreement to establish, maintain and adjust reserves for future operating expenses, debt service, maintenance capital expenditures, and distributions for the next four quarters. These reserves are not restricted by magnitude, but only by type of future cash requirements with which they can be associated. When APLs general partner determines its quarterly distributions, it considers current and expected reserve needs along with current and expected cash flows to identify the appropriate sustainable distribution level.
Available cash is initially distributed 98% to APLs common limited partners and 2% to its general partner. These distribution percentages are modified to provide for incentive distributions to be paid to APLs general partner if quarterly distributions to common limited partners exceed specified targets. Incentive distributions are generally defined as all cash distributions paid to APLs general partner that are in excess of 2% of the aggregate amount of cash being distributed. Atlas Pipeline GP agreed to allocate up to $3.75 million of incentive distribution rights per quarter back to APL after Atlas Pipeline GP receives the initial $7.0 million per quarter of incentive distribution rights as set forth in the IDR Adjustment Agreement. Incentive distributions of $1.4 million were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2012. No incentive distributions were paid during the three months ended March 31, 2011.
CREDIT FACILITY
At March 31, 2012, our debt consisted entirely of instruments entered into by ARP and APL, and we have not guaranteed any of our subsidiaries debt obligations. On March 5, 2012, in connection with the transfer of substantially all of our exploration and production assets to ARP (see Business Overview), we assigned our credit facility, which had maximum lender commitments of $300 million and a borrowing base of $138 million, to ARP.
ISSUANCE OF UNITS
We recognize gains on ARPs and APLs equity transactions as credits to partners capital rather than as income. These gains represent our portion of the excess net offering price per unit of each of ARPs and APLs common units over the book carrying amount per unit.
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In February 2011, we paid $30.0 million in cash and issued approximately 23.4 million newly issued common limited partner units for the Transferred Business acquired from AEI. Based on our common limited partner units February 17, 2011 closing price on the NYSE, the common units issued to AEI were valued approximately at $372.2 million.
Atlas Resource Partners
In February 2012, the Board approved the distribution of approximately 5.24 million ARP common units which were distributed on March 13, 2012 to our unitholders using a ratio of 0.1021 ARP limited partner units for each of our common units owned on the record date of February 28, 2012. The distribution of ARPs common units represented approximately 19.6% of its outstanding limited partner interests. Subsequent to the distribution, we owned 100% of the general partner Class A units and incentive distribution rights, and common units representing an approximate 78.4% limited partner interest in ARP. For a further description of ARPs cash distribution policy, please see Atlas Resource Partners Cash Distribution Policy.
Atlas Pipeline Partners
In February 2011, as part of AEIs merger with Chevron, the APL Class C Preferred Units were acquired from AEI by Chevron. On May 27, 2011, APL redeemed all 8,000 APL Class C Preferred Units outstanding for cash at the liquidation value of $1,000 per unit, or $8.0 million, plus $0.2 million, representing the accrued dividend on the 8,000 APL Class C Preferred Units prior to APLs redemption. Subsequent to the redemption, APL had no preferred units outstanding.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires making estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of actual revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Although we and our subsidiaries base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, actual results may differ from the estimates on which our financial statements are prepared at any given point of time. Changes in these estimates could materially affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Significant items that are subject to such estimates and assumptions include revenue and expense accruals, depletion, depreciation and amortization, asset impairment, fair value of derivative instruments, the probability of forecasted transactions and the allocation of purchase price to the fair value of assets acquired. A discussion of our significant accounting policies we have adopted and followed in the preparation of our consolidated combined financial statements was included with our Audit Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and in Note 2 under Item 1. Financial Statements included in this report, and there have been no material changes to these policies through March 31, 2012.
ITEM 3: | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
The primary objective of the following information is to provide forward-looking quantitative and qualitative information about our and our subsidiaries potential exposure to market risks. The term market risk refers to the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in interest rates and commodity prices. The disclosures are not meant to be precise indicators of expected future losses, but rather indicators of reasonable possible losses. This forward-looking information provides indicators of how we and our subsidiaries view and manage our ongoing market risk exposures. All of the market risk sensitive instruments were entered into for purposes other than trading.
General
All of our and our subsidiaries assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars, and as a result, we do not have exposure to currency exchange risks.
We and our subsidiaries are exposed to various market risks, principally fluctuating interest rates and changes in commodity prices. These risks can impact our results of operations, cash flows and financial position. We and our subsidiaries manage these risks through regular operating and financing activities and periodic use of derivative financial instruments such as forward contracts and interest rate cap and swap agreements. The following analysis presents the effect on our results of operations, cash flows and financial position as if the hypothetical changes in market risk factors occurred on March 31, 2012. Only the potential impact of hypothetical assumptions was analyzed. The analysis does not consider other possible effects that could impact our and our subsidiaries business.
60
Current market conditions elevate our and our subsidiaries concern over counterparty risks and may adversely affect the ability of these counterparties to fulfill their obligations to us, if any. The counterparties related to our subsidiaries commodity derivative contracts are banking institutions or their affiliates, who also participate in ARPs and APLs revolving credit facilities. The creditworthiness of ARPs and APLs counterparties is constantly monitored, and they currently believe them to be financially viable. We and our subsidiaries are not aware of any inability on the part of their counterparties to perform under their contracts and believe ARPs and APLs exposure to non-performance is remote.
Interest Rate Risk. At March 31, 2012, ARP had $17.0 million of outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2012, APL had $230.0 outstanding borrowings under its senior secured revolving credit facility. Holding all other variables constant, a hypothetical 100 basis-point or 1% change in variable interest rates would change our consolidated combined interest expense, excluding the effect of non-controlling interests, by $2.5 million.
Commodity Price Risk. ARPs and APLs market risk exposures to commodities are due to the fluctuations in the commodity prices and the impact those price movements have on our and our subsidiaries financial results. To limit their exposure to changing commodity prices, ARP and APL use financial derivative instruments, including financial swap and option instruments, to hedge portions of their future production. The swap instruments are contractual agreements between counterparties to exchange obligations of money as the underlying commodities are sold. Under these swap agreements, ARP and APL receive or pay a fixed price and receive or remit a floating price based on certain indices for the relevant contract period. Option instruments are contractual agreements that grant the right, but not the obligation, to purchase or sell commodities at a fixed price for the relevant period.
Holding all other variables constant, including the effect of commodity derivatives, a 10% change in the average commodity prices would result in a change to our consolidated combined operating income from continuing operations for the twelve-month period ending March 31, 2013 of approximately $12.1 million, net of non-controlling interests.
At March 31, 2012, ARP had the following commodity derivatives:
Natural Gas Fixed Price Swaps
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Volumes |
Average Fixed Price |
||||||
(mmbtu)(1) | (per mmbtu)(1) | |||||||
2012 | 5,490,000 | $ | 4.477 | |||||
2013 | 3,120,000 | $ | 5.288 | |||||
2014 | 3,960,000 | $ | 5.121 | |||||
2015 | 3,960,000 | $ | 5.386 | |||||
2016 | 1,080,000 | $ | 4.383 |
Natural Gas Costless Collars
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Option Type |
Volumes |
Average Floor and Cap |
|||||||
(mmbtu)(1) | (per mmbtu)(1) | |||||||||
2012 | Puts purchased | 3,240,000 | $ | 4.074 | ||||||
2012 | Calls sold | 3,240,000 | $ | 5.279 | ||||||
2013 | Puts purchased | 5,520,000 | $ | 4.395 | ||||||
2013 | Calls sold | 5,520,000 | $ | 5.443 | ||||||
2014 | Puts purchased | 3,840,000 | $ | 4.221 | ||||||
2014 | Calls sold | 3,840,000 | $ | 5.120 | ||||||
2015 | Puts purchased | 3,840,000 | $ | 4.296 | ||||||
2015 | Calls sold | 3,840,000 | $ | 5.233 |
Natural Gas Put Options
61
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Option Type |
Volumes |
Average Fixed Price |
|||||||
(mmbtu)(1) | (per mmbtu)(1) | |||||||||
2012 | Puts purchased | 3,800,000 | $ | 2.595 | ||||||
2013 | Puts purchased | 1,020,000 | $ | 3.450 |
Natural Gas Swaptions
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Swaption Type | Volumes | Average Fixed Price |
|||||||
(mmbtu)(1) | (per mmbtu)(1) | |||||||||
2012 | Swaptions purchased | 4,680,000 | $ | 2.850 | ||||||
2013 | Swaptions purchased | 8,040,000 | $ | 3.550 | ||||||
2014 | Swaptions purchased | 6,840,000 | $ | 4.000 | ||||||
2015 | Swaptions purchased | 3,000,000 | $ | 4.250 | ||||||
2016 | Swaptions purchased | 2,760,000 | $ | 4.500 |
Crude Oil Fixed Price Swaps
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Volumes | Average Fixed Price |
||||||
(Bbl)(1) | (per Bbl)(1) | |||||||
2012 | 15,750 | $ | 103.986 | |||||
2013 | 15,000 | $ | 100.570 | |||||
2014 | 36,000 | $ | 97.693 | |||||
2015 | 36,000 | $ | 93.973 | |||||
2016 | 33,000 | $ | 92.082 |
Crude Oil Costless Collars
Production Period Ending December 31, |
Option Type | Volumes | Average Floor and Cap |
|||||||
(Bbl)(1) | (per Bbl)(1) | |||||||||
2012 | Puts purchased | 45,000 | $ | 90.000 | ||||||
2012 | Calls sold | 45,000 | $ | 117.912 | ||||||
2013 | Puts purchased | 60,000 | $ | 90.000 | ||||||
2013 | Calls sold | 60,000 | $ | 116.396 | ||||||
2014 | Puts purchased | 24,000 | $ | 80.000 | ||||||
2014 | Calls sold | 24,000 | $ | 121.250 | ||||||
2015 | Puts purchased | 24,000 | $ | 80.000 | ||||||
2015 | Calls sold | 24,000 | $ | 120.750 |
(1) | Mmbtu represents million British Thermal Units; Bbl represents barrels. |
As of March 31, 2012, APL had the following commodity derivatives:
Fixed Price Swaps
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Production Period |
Purchased/ Sold |
Commodity | Volumes(1) | Average Fixed Price |
||||||||
Natural Gas |
||||||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Natural Gasoline | 3,420,000 | $ | 3.019 | |||||||
NGLs |
||||||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Ethane | 6,300,000 | $ | 0.739 | |||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Ethane | 6,300,000 | $ | 0.710 | |||||||
2012 |
Sold | Propane | 14,868,000 | $ | 1.280 | |||||||
2012 |
Sold | Normal Butane | 3,906,000 | $ | 1.712 | |||||||
2012 |
Sold | Isobutane | 2,142,000 | $ | 1.584 | |||||||
2012 |
Sold | Natural Gasoline | 3,150,000 | $ | 2.394 | |||||||
2013 |
Sold | Propane | 41,328,000 | $ | 1.281 | |||||||
2013 |
Sold | Normal Butane | 2,394,000 | $ | 1.662 | |||||||
2013 |
Sold | Isobutane | 1,134,000 | $ | 1.807 | |||||||
Crude Oil |
||||||||||||
2012 |
Sold | Crude Oil | 222,000 | $ | 95.827 | |||||||
2013 |
Sold | Crude Oil | 345,000 | $ | 97.170 | |||||||
2014 |
Sold | Crude Oil | 60,000 | $ | 98.425 |
Options
Production Period |
Purchased/ Sold |
Type | Commodity |
Volumes(1) | Average Strike Price |
|||||||||
NGLs |
||||||||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Ethane | 1,260,000 | $ | 0.745 | ||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Propane | 22,176,000 | $ | 1.361 | ||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Normal Butane | 5,166,000 | $ | 1.552 | ||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Isobutane | 2,898,000 | $ | 1.583 | ||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Natural Gasoline | 10,710,000 | $ | 2.012 | ||||||||
2013 |
Purchased | Put | Normal Butane | 10,458,000 | $ | 1.667 | ||||||||
2013 |
Purchased | Put | Isobutane | 4,158,000 | $ | 1.687 | ||||||||
2013 |
Purchased | Put | Natural Gasoline | 23,940,000 | $ | 2.108 | ||||||||
Crude Oil |
||||||||||||||
2012 |
Sold(2) | Call | Crude Oil | 373,500 | $ | 94.694 | ||||||||
2012 |
Purchased(2) | Call | Crude Oil | 135,000 | $ | 125.200 | ||||||||
2012 |
Purchased | Put | Crude Oil | 117,000 | $ | 106.645 | ||||||||
2013 |
Purchased | Put | Crude Oil | 282,000 | $ | 100.100 | ||||||||
Total Options |
(1) | Volumes for natural gas are stated in MMBTUs. Volumes for NGLs are stated in gallons. Volumes for crude oil are stated in barrels. |
(2) | Calls purchased for 2012 represent offsetting positions for calls sold. These offsetting positions were entered into to limit the loss which could be incurred if crude oil prices continued to rise. |
63
ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Securities Exchange Act of 1934 reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our general partners Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, our management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Under the supervision of our general partners Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer and with the participation of our disclosure committee appointed by such officers, we have carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, our general partners Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2012, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
In February 2012, the board of directors of our General Partner approved the formation of a newly created exploration and production master limited partnership named Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. (ARP). In March 2012, we transferred substantially all of our current natural gas and oil development and production assets and the partnership management business to ARP. As of March 31, 2012, we maintained a 2% general partner interest and 78.4% limited partner interest in ARP.
Other than the previously mentioned item, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
64
ITEM 6. | EXHIBITS |
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
2.1 | Transaction Agreement, by and among Atlas Energy, Inc., Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. and Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC, dated November 8, 2010. (11) | |
2.2 | Purchase and Sale Agreement, by and among Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., APL Laurel Mountain, LLC, Atlas Energy, Inc., and Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, dated November 8, 2010. (11) | |
2.3 | Employee Matters Agreement, by and among Atlas Energy, Inc., Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. and Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC, dated November 8, 2010. (11) | |
2.4 | Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated February 23, 2012, by and among Atlas Energy, L.P., Atlas Energy GP, LLC, Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. and Atlas Resource Partners GP, LLC. (The schedules to the Separation and Distribution Agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b) of Regulation S-K. A copy of the omitted schedules will be furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission supplementally upon request.) (27) | |
3.1(a) | Certificate of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.(1) | |
3.1(b) | Certificate of Amendment of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.(13) | |
3.1(c) | Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership of Atlas Energy, L.P. (5) | |
3.2(a) | Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.(13) | |
3.2(b) | Amendment No. 1 to Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P.(13) | |
3.2(c) | Amendment No. 2 to Second Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Atlas Energy, L.P. (5) | |
4.1 | Specimen Certificate Representing Common Units(1) | |
10.1 | Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Holdings GP, LLC. (13) | |
10.2 | Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Atlas Pipeline Partners GP, LLC(1) | |
10.3(a) | Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(1) | |
10.3(b) | Amendment No. 2 to Second Amendment and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(4) | |
10.3(c) | Amendment No. 3 to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(6) | |
10.3(d) | Amendment No. 4 to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(6) | |
10.3(e) | Amendment No. 5 to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(6) | |
10.3(f) | Amendment No. 6 to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(7) | |
10.3(g) | Amendment No. 7 to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(8) | |
10.3(h) | Amendment No. 8 to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(9) | |
10.3(i) | Amendment No. 9 to Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.(14) | |
10.4 | Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Atlas Resource Partners GP, LLC |
65
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
10.5 | Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Atlas Resource Partners, L.P.(28) | |
10.6(a) | Long-Term Incentive Plan(6) | |
10.6(b) | Amendment No. 1 to Long-Term Incentive Plan(15) | |
10.7 | 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan(16) | |
10.8 | Form of Phantom Unit Grant under 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan(32) | |
10.9 | Form of Stock Option Grant under 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan(32) | |
10.10(a) | Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated July 27, 2007, amended and restated as of December 22, 2010, among Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P., the guarantors therein, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, and other banks party thereto(23) | |
10.10(b) | Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2011 (25) | |
10.10(c) | Incremental Joinder Agreement to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 8, 2011 (26) | |
10.11 | Pennsylvania Operating Services Agreement dated as of February 17, 2011 between Atlas Energy, Inc., Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. and Atlas Resources, LLC. Specific terms in this exhibit have been redacted, as marked by three asterisks (***), because confidential treatment for those terms has been requested. The redacted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.(12) | |
10.12 | Petro-Technical Services Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2011 between Atlas Energy, Inc. and Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P. Specific terms in this exhibit have been redacted, as marked by three asterisks (***), because confidential treatment for those terms has been requested. The redacted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (12) | |
10.13(a) | Base Contract for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas dated as of November 8, 2010 between Chevron Natural Gas, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Atlas Resources, LLC, Viking Resources, LLC, and Resource Energy, LLC. Specific terms in this exhibit have been redacted, as marked by three asterisks (***), because confidential treatment for those terms has been requested. The redacted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (12) | |
10.13(b) | Amendment No. 1 to the Base Contract for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas dated as of November 8, 2010 between Chevron Natural Gas, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Atlas Resources, LLC, Viking Resources, LLC, and Resource Energy, LLC, dated as of January 6, 2011. (12) | |
10.13(c) | Amendment No. 2 to the Base Contract for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas dated as of November 8, 2010 between Chevron Natural Gas, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Atlas Resources, LLC, Viking Resources, LLC, and Resource Energy, LLC, dated as of February 2, 2011. Specific terms in this exhibit have been redacted, as marked by three asterisks (***), because confidential treatment for those terms has been requested. The redacted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (12) | |
10.14 | Transaction Confirmation, Supply Contract No. 0001, under Base Contract for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas dated as of November 8, 2010 between Chevron Natural Gas, a division of Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and Atlas Resources, LLC, Viking Resources, LLC, and Resource Energy, LLC, dated February 17, 2011. Specific terms in this exhibit have been redacted, as marked by three asterisks (***), because confidential treatment for those terms has been requested. The redacted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (12) | |
10.15 | Gas Gathering Agreement for Natural Gas on the Legacy Appalachian System dated as of June 1, 2009 between Laurel Mountain Midstream, LLC and Atlas America, LLC, Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, Atlas Energy Operating Company, LLC, Atlas Noble, LLC, Resource Energy, LLC, Viking Resources, LLC, Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. and Atlas Pipeline Operating Partnership, L.P. Specific terms in this exhibit have been redacted, as marked by three asterisks (***), because confidential treatment for those terms has been requested. The redacted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.(12) | |
10.16 | Gas Gathering Agreement for Natural Gas on the Expansion Appalachian System dated as of June 1, 2009 between Laurel Mountain Midstream, LLC and Atlas America, LLC, Atlas Energy Resources, LLC, Atlas Energy Operating Company, LLC, Atlas Noble, LLC, Resource Energy, LLC, Viking Resources, LLC, Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. and Atlas Pipeline Operating Partnership, L.P. Specific terms in this exhibit have been |
66
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
redacted, as marked by three asterisks (***), because confidential treatment for those terms has been requested. The redacted material has been separately filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.(12) | ||
10.17 | Employment Agreement between Atlas Energy, L.P. and Edward E. Cohen dated as of May 13, 2011(12) | |
10.18 | Employment Agreement between Atlas Energy, L.P. and Jonathan Z. Cohen dated as of May 13, 2011(12) | |
10.19 | Employment Agreement between Atlas Energy, L.P. and Eugene N. Dubay dated as of November 4, 2011(21) | |
10.20 | Employment Agreement between Atlas Energy, L.P. and Matthew A. Jones dated as of November 4, 2011(32) | |
10.21 | Form of Grant of Phantom Units to Non-Employee Managers (20) | |
10.22 | Letter Agreement, by and between Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. and Atlas Pipeline Holdings, L.P., dated November 8, 2010(21) | |
10.23 | Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, by and between Chevron Corporation and Edward E. Cohen, dated as of November 8, 2010(22) | |
10.24 | Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement, by and between Chevron Corporation and Jonathan Z. Cohen, dated as of November 8, 2010(22) | |
10.25(a) | Credit Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2012, among Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (30) | |
10.25(b) | First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of April 30, 2012, between Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent for the Lenders (31) | |
10.25(c) | Joinder Agreement dated April 18, 2012 between ARP Barnett, LLC, ARP Oklahoma, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.(31) | |
10.25(d) | Joinder Agreement dated April 30, 2012 between ARP Barnett, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.(31) | |
10.26 | Secured Hedge Facility Agreement dated as of March 5, 2012 among Atlas Resources, LLC, the participating partnerships from time to time party thereto, the hedge providers from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as collateral agent for the hedge providers(30) | |
10.27 | Atlas Resource Partners, L.P. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan(28) | |
10.28 | Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March 15, 2012, among ARP Barnett, LLC, Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc., CLLR, Inc., Hondo Pipeline, Inc. and Mescalero Pipeline, Inc. (29) | |
31.1 | Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification | |
31.2 | Rule 13(a)-14(a)/14(d)-14(a) Certification | |
32.1 | Section 1350 Certification | |
32.2 | Section 1350 Certification | |
101.INS | XBRL Instance Document(33) | |
101.SCH | XBRL Schema Document(33) | |
101.CAL | XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document(33) | |
101.LAB | XBRL Label Linkbase Document(33) | |
101.PRE | XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document(33) | |
101.DEF | XBRL Definition Linkbase Document(33) |
(1) | Previously filed as an exhibit to the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-130999). |
(2) | [Intentionally omitted] |
67
(3) | [Intentionally omitted] |
(4) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed July 30, 2007. |
(5) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed December 13, 2011. |
(6) | Previously filed as an exhibit to annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. |
(7) | Previously filed as an exhibit to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. |
(8) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on April 2, 2010. |
(9) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on July 7, 2010. |
(10) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2009. |
(11) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed November 12, 2010. |
(12) | Previously filed as an exhibit to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. |
(13) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed on February 24, 2011. |
(14) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on December 13, 2011. |
(15) | Previously filed as an exhibit to annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. |
(16) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed on November 12, 2010. |
(17) | [Intentionally omitted] |
(18) | [Intentionally omitted] |
(19) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2010. |
(20) | Previously filed as an exhibit to quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. |
(21) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011. |
(22) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Energy, Inc.s current report on Form 8-K filed on November 12, 2010. |
(23) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on December 23, 2010. |
(24) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed on March 25, 2011. |
(25) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. |
(26) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on July 11, 2011. |
(27) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed on February 24, 2012. |
(28) | Previously filed as an exhibit to current report on Form 8-K filed on March 14, 2012. |
(29) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Resource Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on March 21, 2012. |
(30) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Resource Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2012 |
(31) | Previously filed as an exhibit to Atlas Resource Partners, L.P.s current report on Form 8-K filed on May 1, 2012 |
(32) | Previously filed as an exhibit to annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 |
(33) | Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are documents formatted in XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language). Users of this data are advised pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T that the interactive data file is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of section 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, is deemed not filed for purposes of section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and otherwise not subject to liability under these sections. The financial information contained in the XBRL-related documents is unaudited or unreviewed. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. | ||||||
By: | Atlas Energy GP, LLC, its General Partner | |||||
Date: May 9, 2012 | By: | /s/ EDWARD E. COHEN | ||||
Edward E. Cohen | ||||||
Chief Executive Officer and President of the General Partner | ||||||
Date: May 9, 2012 | By: | /s/ SEAN P. MCGRATH | ||||
Sean P. McGrath | ||||||
Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner | ||||||
Date: May 9, 2012 | By: | /s/ JEFFREY M. SLOTTERBACK | ||||
Jeffrey M. Slotterback | ||||||
Chief Accounting Officer of the General Partner |
69
Exhibit 10.4
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
ATLAS RESOURCE PARTNERS GP, LLC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
Section 1.1 Definitions |
1 | |||
Section 1.2 Construction |
5 | |||
ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION |
5 | |||
Section 2.1 Formation |
5 | |||
Section 2.2 Name |
5 | |||
Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices |
6 | |||
Section 2.4 Purposes |
6 | |||
Section 2.5 Powers |
6 | |||
Section 2.6 Term |
6 | |||
Section 2.7 Title to Company Assets |
6 | |||
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP |
7 | |||
Section 3.1 Membership Interests; Additional Members |
7 | |||
Section 3.2 Access to Information |
7 | |||
Section 3.3 Liability |
7 | |||
Section 3.4 Withdrawal |
7 | |||
Section 3.5 Meetings |
8 | |||
Section 3.6 Action by Consent of Members |
8 | |||
Section 3.7 Conference Telephone Meetings |
8 | |||
Section 3.8 Quorum |
8 | |||
Section 3.9 Other Business of Members |
8 | |||
ARTICLE IV ADMISSION OF MEMBERS; DISPOSITION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS |
8 | |||
Section 4.1 Assignment; Admission of Assignee as a Member |
8 | |||
Section 4.2 Requirements Applicable to All Dispositions and Admissions |
8 | |||
ARTICLE V CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
9 | |||
Section 5.1 Initial Capital Contributions |
9 | |||
Section 5.2 Loans |
9 | |||
Section 5.3 Return of Contributions |
9 | |||
ARTICLE VI DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS |
9 | |||
Section 6.1 Distributions |
9 | |||
Section 6.2 Allocations of Profits and Losses |
9 | |||
Section 6.3 Limitations on Distributions |
10 | |||
ARTICLE VII MANAGEMENT |
10 | |||
Section 7.1 Management by Board of Directors |
10 | |||
Section 7.2 Number; Qualification; Tenure; Chairman of the Board |
10 | |||
Section 7.3 Regular Meetings |
11 | |||
Section 7.4 Special Meetings |
11 | |||
Section 7.5 Notice |
11 | |||
Section 7.6 Action by Consent of Board |
11 | |||
Section 7.7 Conference Telephone Meetings |
11 | |||
Section 7.8 Quorum and Action |
12 | |||
Section 7.9 Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors |
12 | |||
Section 7.10 Committees |
12 | |||
Section 7.11 Removal |
13 |
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ARTICLE VIII OFFICERS |
13 | |||
Section 8.1 Officers |
13 | |||
Section 8.2 Election and Term of Office |
13 | |||
Section 8.3 Chief Executive Officer |
13 | |||
Section 8.4 President |
14 | |||
Section 8.5 Vice Presidents |
14 | |||
Section 8.6 Chief Financial Officer |
14 | |||
Section 8.7 General Counsel |
14 | |||
Section 8.8 Secretary |
14 | |||
Section 8.9 Removal |
15 | |||
Section 8.10 Vacancies |
15 | |||
ARTICLE IX INDEMNITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY |
15 | |||
Section 9.1 Indemnification |
15 | |||
Section 9.2 Liability of Indemnitees |
17 | |||
ARTICLE X TAXES |
18 | |||
Section 10.1 Taxes |
18 | |||
ARTICLE XI BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS |
18 | |||
Section 11.1 Maintenance of Books |
18 | |||
Section 11.2 Reports |
18 | |||
Section 11.3 Bank Accounts |
18 | |||
ARTICLE XII DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP, TERMINATION AND CONVERSION |
19 | |||
Section 12.1 Dissolution. |
19 | |||
Section 12.2 Winding-Up and Termination |
19 | |||
Section 12.3 Deficit Capital Accounts |
20 | |||
Section 12.4 Certificate of Cancellation |
20 | |||
ARTICLE XIII MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION |
20 | |||
Section 13.1 Authority |
20 | |||
Section 13.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion |
20 | |||
Section 13.3 Approval by Members of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion |
21 | |||
Section 13.4 Certificate of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion |
22 | |||
ARTICLE XIV GENERAL PROVISIONS |
22 | |||
Section 14.1 Notices |
22 | |||
Section 14.2 Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect; Creditors |
23 | |||
Section 14.3 Effect of Waiver or Consent |
23 | |||
Section 14.4 Amendment or Restatement |
23 | |||
Section 14.5 Binding Effect |
23 | |||
Section 14.6 Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction |
23 | |||
Section 14.7 Venue |
24 | |||
Section 14.8 Further Assurances |
24 | |||
Section 14.9 Waiver of Certain Rights |
24 | |||
Section 14.10 Counterparts |
24 |
Exhibit A Members
Exhibit B Form of Partnership Agreement
-ii-
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
OF
ATLAS RESOURCE PARTNERS GP, LLC
This AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of Atlas Resource Partners GP, LLC (the Company), dated as of February 13, 2012, is adopted, executed and agreed to by Atlas Energy, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (Atlas Energy), as the sole member of the Company as of the date hereof.
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, the Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company on October 13, 2011;
WHEREAS, Atlas Energy, as the sole member of the Company, executed the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Atlas Resource Partners GP, LLC, dated as of October 13, 2011 (the Original Limited Liability Company Agreement); and
WHEREAS, Atlas Energy, as the sole member of the Company, deems it advisable to amend and restate the Original Limited Liability Company Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein by executing this Agreement.
NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises, the covenants and agreements set forth herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Atlas Energy, as the sole member of the Company, hereby amends and restates the Original Limited Liability Company Agreement in its entirety as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions.
(a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below or set forth in the Sections referred to below:
Act means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del. C. § 18-101, et seq.), as it may be amended from time to time. All references in this Agreement to provisions of the Act shall be deemed to refer, if applicable, to their successor statutory provisions to the extent appropriate in light of the context herein in which such references are used.
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; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Agreement means this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Atlas Resource Partners GP, LLC, as it may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time. This Agreement constitutes a limited liability company agreement as such term is defined in the Act.
Applicable Law means (a) any United States federal, state or local law, statute or ordinance or any rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction, judgment, decree or permit of any Governmental Authority and (b) any rule or listing requirement of any national securities exchange or trading market recognized by the Commission on which securities issued by the Partnership are listed or quoted.
Assignee means any Person that acquires a Members share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company or any portion thereof through a Disposition; provided, however, that an Assignee shall have no right to be admitted to the Company as a Member except in accordance with Article IV. The Assignee of a dissolved Member shall be the shareholder, partner, member or other equity owner or owners of the dissolved Member or such other Persons to whom such Members Membership Interest is assigned by the Person conducting the liquidation or winding up of such Member.
Atlas Energy is defined in the introductory paragraph.
Audit Committee is defined in Section 7.10(b).
Bankruptcy or Bankrupt means, with respect to any Person, that (a) such Person (i) makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (ii) files a voluntary bankruptcy petition; (iii) becomes the subject of an order for relief or is declared insolvent in any federal or state bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; (iv) files a petition or answer seeking for such Person a reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any Applicable Law; (v) files an answer or other pleading admitting or failing to contest the material allegations of a petition filed against such Person in a proceeding of the type described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause (a); or (vi) seeks, consents to, or acquiesces in the appointment of a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Persons properties or (b) a proceeding seeking reorganization, arrangement, composition, readjustment, liquidation, dissolution, or similar relief under any Applicable Law has been commenced against such Person and 120 days have expired without dismissal thereof or with respect to which, without such Persons consent or acquiescence, a trustee, receiver, or liquidator of such Person or of all or any substantial part of such Persons properties has been appointed and 90 days have expired without the appointment having been vacated or stayed, or 90 days have expired after the date of expiration of a stay, if the appointment has not previously been vacated. The foregoing definition of Bankruptcy is intended to replace and shall supercede and replace the definition of Bankruptcy set forth in the Act.
Board is defined in Section 7.1(c).
Capital Contribution means, with respect to any Member, the amount of money and the net agreed value of any property (other than money) contributed to the Company by such
-2-
Member. Any reference in this Agreement to the Capital Contribution of a Member shall include any Capital Contribution of its predecessors in interest.
Commission means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Unit is defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Company is defined in the introductory paragraph.
Company Group means the Company and its Subsidiaries, treated as a single consolidated entity.
Conflicts Committee is defined in Section 7.10(c).
Delaware Certificate is defined in Section 2.1.
Director or Directors means a member or members of the Board.
Dispose, Disposing or Disposition means with respect to any asset (including a Membership Interest or any portion thereof), a sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, gift, exchange or other disposition of such asset, whether such disposition be voluntary, involuntary or by operation of Applicable Law.
Disposing Member is defined in Section 4.1.
Dissolution Event is defined in Section 12.1(a).
Governmental Authority or Governmental means any federal, state or local court or governmental or regulatory agency or authority or any arbitration board, tribunal or mediator having jurisdiction over the Company or its assets or Members.
Group Member means a member of the Company Group.
Indemnitee means any of (a) the Members, (b) any Person who is or was an Affiliate of the Company (other than the Partnership and its Subsidiaries), (c) any Person who is or was a member, partner, director, officer, fiduciary or trustee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company (other than the Partnership and its Subsidiaries), (d) any Person who is or was serving at the request of the Company or the Members as an officer, director, member, manager, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another Person; provided, however, that a Person shall not be an Indemnitee by reason of providing, on a fee-for-services basis, trustee, fiduciary or custodial services, and (e) any Person that the Company or the Board designates as an Indemnitee for purposes of this Agreement.
Independent Director is defined in Section 7.10(b).
Limited Partner and Limited Partners are defined in the Partnership Agreement.
Majority Interest means Membership Interests in the Company entitled to more than 50% of the Sharing Ratios.
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Member means Atlas Energy, as the initial member of the Company, and includes any Person hereafter admitted to the Company as a member as provided in this Agreement, each in its capacity as a member of the Company, but such term does not include any Person who has ceased to be a member of the Company.
Membership Interest means, with respect to any Member, that Members limited liability company interests in the Company, including its share of the income, gain, loss, deduction and credits of, and the right to receive distributions from, the Company.
Merger Agreement is defined in Section 13.1.
Notices is defined in Section 14.1.
Original Limited Liability Company Agreement is defined in the Recitals.
Partnership means Atlas Resource Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.
Partnership Agreement means the Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B hereto, as it may be further amended and restated, or any successor agreement.
Person means an individual or a corporation, firm, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
Plan of Conversion is defined in Section 13.1.
Sharing Ratio means, subject in each case to adjustments in accordance with this Agreement or in connection with Dispositions of Membership Interests, (a) in the case of a Member executing this Agreement as of the date of this Agreement or a Person acquiring such Members Membership Interest, the percentage specified for that Member as its Sharing Ratio on Exhibit A and (b) in the case of Membership Interests issued pursuant to Section 3.1, the Sharing Ratio established pursuant thereto; provided, however, that the total of all Sharing Ratios shall always equal 100%.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, (a) a corporation of which more than 50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (b) a partnership (whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, or (c) any other Person (other than a corporation or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (i) at least a majority ownership
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interest or (ii) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority of the directors or other governing body of such Person.
Surviving Business Entity is defined in Section 13.1.
Tax Matters Member is defined in Section 10.1(a).
Treasury Regulations means the regulations (including temporary regulations) promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury pursuant to and in respect of provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. All references herein to sections of the Treasury Regulations shall include any corresponding provision or provisions of succeeding, similar or substitute, temporary or final Treasury Regulations.
Withdraw, Withdrawing or Withdrawal means the resignation of a Member from the Company as a Member. Such terms shall not include any Dispositions of Membership Interests (which are governed by Article IV), even though the Member making a Disposition may cease to be a Member as a result of such Disposition.
(b) Other terms defined herein have the meanings so given them.
Section 1.2 Construction. Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns, pronouns and verbs shall include the plural and vice versa; (b) references to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms include, includes, including or words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation; (d) the terms hereof, herein or hereunder refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; and (e) a reference to any Person shall include such Persons successors and permitted assigns. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only, and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
Section 2.1 Formation. The Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company by the filing of a Certificate of Formation (the Delaware Certificate) on October 13, 2011 with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware under and pursuant to the Act and by the entering into of the Original Limited Liability Company Agreement.
Section 2.2 Name. The name of the Company is Atlas Resource Partners GP, LLC. The Companys business may be conducted under any other name or names deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board or the Members in their discretion, including, if consented to by the Board, the name of the Partnership. The words Limited Liability Company, L.L.C. or LLC or similar words or letters shall be included in the Companys name where necessary for the purpose of complying with the laws of any jurisdiction that so requires. The Board in its discretion may change the name of the Company at any time and from time to time and shall promptly notify the Members of such change.
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Section 2.3 Registered Office; Registered Agent; Principal Office; Other Offices. The registered office of the Company required by the Act to be maintained in the State of Delaware shall be the office of the initial registered agent for service of process named in the Delaware Certificate or such other office (which need not be a place of business of the Company) as the Board may designate in the manner provided by Applicable Law. The registered agent for service of process of the Company in the State of Delaware shall be the initial registered agent for service of process named in the Delaware Certificate or such other Person or Persons as the Board may designate in the manner provided by Applicable Law. The principal office of the Company in the United States shall be at such a place as the Board may from time to time designate, which need not be in the State of Delaware, and the Company shall maintain records there. The Company may have such other offices as the Board of Directors may designate.
Section 2.4 Purposes. The purpose and nature of the business to be conducted by the Company shall be to (a) serve as the general partner of the Partnership and, in connection therewith, to exercise all rights conferred upon the Company as the general partner of the Partnership in accordance with the Partnership Agreement; (b) engage directly in, or enter into or form any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that the Company is permitted to engage in and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Company pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity; (c) engage directly in, or enter into or form any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other arrangement to engage indirectly in, any business activity that is approved by the Members and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited liability company organized pursuant to the Act and, in connection therewith, to exercise all of the rights and powers conferred upon the Company pursuant to the agreements relating to such business activity; (d) guarantee, mortgage, pledge or encumber any or all of its assets in connection with any indebtedness of any Affiliate of the Company; and (e) do anything necessary or appropriate in connection with the foregoing, including the making of capital contributions or loans to a Group Member, the Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Partnership.
Section 2.5 Powers. The Company shall be empowered to do any and all acts and things necessary, appropriate, proper, advisable, incidental to or convenient for the furtherance and accomplishment of the purposes and business described in Section 2.4 and for the protection and benefit of the Company.
Section 2.6 Term. The term of the Company commenced upon the filing of the Delaware Certificate in accordance with the Act and shall continue in existence in perpetuity or until the dissolution of the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. The existence of the Company as a separate legal entity shall continue until the cancellation of the Certificate of Formation as provided in the Act.
Section 2.7 Title to Company Assets. Title to Company assets, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible, shall be deemed to be owned by the Company as an entity, and the Members shall not have any ownership interest in such Company assets or any portion thereof.
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ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 3.1 Membership Interests; Additional Members. Atlas Energy is the sole initial Member of the Company as reflected in Exhibit A attached hereto. Additional Persons may be admitted to the Company as Members, and Membership Interests may be issued, on such terms and conditions as the existing Members, voting as a single class, may determine at the time of admission. The terms of admission or issuance must specify the Sharing Ratios applicable thereto and may provide for the creation of different classes or groups of Members or Membership Interests having different (including senior) rights, powers and duties. The Members may reflect the creation of any new class or group in an amendment to this Agreement, indicating the different rights, powers and duties, and such an amendment shall be approved and executed by the Members in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Any such admission shall be effective only after such new Member has executed and delivered to the Members and the Company an instrument containing the notice address of the new Member, the new Members ratification of this Agreement and agreement to be bound by it. All Membership Interests issued to Atlas Energy as the sole initial Member shall be fully paid and non-assessable Membership Interests, except as such non-assessability may be affected by Sections 18-607 and 18-804 of the Act.
Section 3.2 Access to Information. Each Member shall be entitled to receive any information that it may request concerning the Company; provided, however, that this Section 3.2 shall not obligate the Company to create any information that does not already exist at the time of such request (other than to convert existing information from one medium to another, such as providing a printout of information that is stored in a computer database). Each Member shall also have the right, upon reasonable notice, and at all reasonable times during usual business hours to inspect the properties of the Company and to audit, examine and make copies of the books of account and other records of the Company. Such right may be exercised through any agent or employee of such Member designated in writing by it or by an independent public accountant, engineer, attorney or other consultant so designated. All costs and expenses incurred in any inspection, examination or audit made on such Members behalf shall be borne by such Member.
Section 3.3 Liability.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by the Act, no Member shall be liable for the debts, obligations or liabilities of the Company solely by reason of being a member of the Company.
(b) The Company and the Members agree that the rights, duties and obligations of the Members in their capacities as members of the Company are only as set forth in this Agreement and as otherwise arise under the Act. Furthermore, the Members agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the existence of any rights of a Member, or the exercise or forbearance from exercise of any such rights, shall not create any duties or obligations of the Member in its capacity as a member of the Company, nor shall such rights be construed to enlarge or otherwise to alter in any manner the duties and obligations of such Member.
Section 3.4 Withdrawal. A Member does not have the right or power to Withdraw.
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Section 3.5 Meetings. A meeting of the Members may be called at any time at the request of any Member.
Section 3.6 Action by Consent of Members. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law or otherwise provided in this Agreement, all decisions of the Members shall require the affirmative vote of the Members owning a majority of Sharing Ratios present at a meeting at which a quorum is present in accordance with Section 3.8. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Members may act without a meeting and without notice so long as the number of Members who own the percentage of Sharing Ratios that would be required to take such action at a duly held meeting shall have executed a written consent with respect to any such action taken in lieu of a meeting.
Section 3.7 Conference Telephone Meetings. Any Member may participate in a meeting of the Members by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment or by such other means by which all Persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 3.8 Quorum. The Members owning a majority of Sharing Ratios, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 3.7, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; provided, however, that, if at any meeting of the Members there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the Members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. The Members present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Members to leave less than a quorum.
Section 3.9 Other Business of Members. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law or otherwise provided in this Agreement, all decisions of the Members shall require the affirmative vote of the Members
ARTICLE IV
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS; DISPOSITION OF MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS
Section 4.1 Assignment; Admission of Assignee as a Member. Subject to this Article IV, a Member may assign, transfer or convey, in whole or in part, its Membership Interests. An Assignee has the right to be admitted to the Company as a Member, with the Membership Interests (and attendant Sharing Ratio) so transferred to such Assignee, only if (a) the Member making the Disposition (a Disposing Member) has granted the Assignee either (i) all, but not less than all, of such Disposing Members Membership Interests or (ii) the express right to be so admitted and (b) such Disposition is effected in compliance with this Article IV. If a Member transfers all of its Membership Interest in the Company pursuant to this Article IV, such admission shall be deemed effective immediately upon the transfer and, immediately upon such admission, the transferor Member shall cease to be a member of the Company.
Section 4.2 Requirements Applicable to All Dispositions and Admissions. Any Disposition of Membership Interests and any admission of an Assignee as a Member shall also be subject to the following requirements, and such Disposition (and admission, if applicable) shall not be effective unless such requirements are complied with:
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(a) Payment of Expenses. The Disposing Member and its Assignee shall pay, or reimburse the Company for, all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Disposition and admission of the Assignee as a Member.
(b) No Release. No Disposition of Membership Interests shall effect a release of the Disposing Member from any liabilities to the Company or the other Members arising from events occurring prior to the Disposition, except as otherwise may be provided in any instrument or agreement pursuant to which a Disposition of Membership Interests is effected.
(c) Agreement to be Bound. The Assignee shall execute a counterpart to this Agreement or other instrument by which such Assignee agrees to be bound by this Agreement.
ARTICLE V
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Section 5.1 Initial Capital Contributions. At the time of the formation of the Company, Atlas Energy, as the initial or organizational Member of the Company, made the Capital Contribution as set forth next to its name on Exhibit A. Atlas Energy, as the sole Member of the Company, shall not be obligated to make additional Capital Contributions to the Company.
Section 5.2 Loans. If the Company does not have sufficient cash to pay its obligations, any Member(s) that may agree to do so may advance all or part of the needed funds to or on behalf of the Company, it being understood that in no event shall any such Member(s) be obligated to make such advances. Any advance described in this Section 5.2 will constitute a loan from the Member to the Company, will bear interest at a lawful rate determined by the Members from the date of the advance until the date of payment and will not be a Capital Contribution.
Section 5.3 Return of Contributions. Except as expressly provided herein, no Member is entitled to the return of any part of its Capital Contributions or to be paid interest in respect of either its Capital Account or its Capital Contributions. An unreturned Capital Contribution is not a liability of the Company or of any Member. A Member is not required to contribute or to lend any cash or property to the Company to enable the Company to return any Members Capital Contributions.
ARTICLE VI
DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS
Section 6.1 Distributions. Distributions to the Members shall be made only to all Members simultaneously in proportion to their respective Sharing Ratios (at the time the amounts of such distributions are determined) and in such aggregate amounts and at such times as shall be determined by the Board or by action of the Members representing a Majority Interest; provided, however, that any loans from Members pursuant to Section 5.2 shall be repaid prior to any distributions to Members pursuant to this Section 6.1.
Section 6.2 Allocations of Profits and Losses. The Companys profits and losses shall be allocated to the Members in proportion to their respective Sharing Ratios.
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Section 6.3 Limitations on Distributions. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company shall not make a distribution to any Member on account of its interest in the Company if such distribution would violate the Act or other Applicable Law.
ARTICLE VII
MANAGEMENT
Section 7.1 Management by Board of Directors.
(a) The management of the Company is fully reserved to the Members, and the Company shall not have managers as that term is used in the Act. The powers of the Company shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be managed under the direction of, the Members, which, except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, shall make all decisions and take all actions for the Company.
(b) The Members shall have the power and authority to delegate to one or more other persons the Members rights and power to manage and control the business and affairs, or any portion thereof, of the Company, including to delegate to agents, officers and employees of a Member or the Company, and to delegate by a management agreement with or otherwise to other Persons.
(c) Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the Members hereby delegate to the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board), to the fullest extent permitted under this Agreement and Delaware law and subject to Section 7.1(d), all power and authority related to the Companys management and control of the business and affairs of the Partnership.
(d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without obtaining approval of Members representing a Majority Interest, the Company shall not, and shall not take any action to cause the Partnership to, (i) sell all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or the Partnership, (ii) merge or consolidate, (iii) to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, dissolve or liquidate, (iv) make or consent to a general assignment for the benefit of its respective creditors; (v) file or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization petition for relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code naming the Company or the Partnership, as applicable, or otherwise seek, with respect to the Company or the Partnership, such relief from debtors or protection from creditors generally; or (vi) take various actions similar to those described in any of clauses (i) through (v) of this Section 7.1(d).
Section 7.2 Number; Qualification; Tenure; Chairman of the Board.
(a) The number of Directors constituting the Board shall be at least two and no more than twelve, unless otherwise fixed from time to time pursuant to a resolution adopted by Members representing a Majority Interest. A Director need not be a Member. Each Director shall be elected or approved by Members representing a Majority Interest.
(b) Once appointed or approved pursuant to Section 7.2(a), a Director shall continue in office until the removal of such Director in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement or until the earlier death or resignation of such Director. Any Director may resign at any time by
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giving written notice of such Directors resignation to the Board. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time the Board receives such notice or at any later effective time specified in such notice. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance by the Board of such Directors resignation shall not be necessary to make such resignation effective.
(c) The Chairman of the Board, if any, shall be chosen from among the Directors by a vote of the Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall preside, if present, at all meetings of the Board and of the Limited Partners of the Partnership and shall perform such additional functions and duties as the Board may prescribe from time to time. The Directors also may elect a Vice Chairman of the Board to act in the place of the Chairman of the Board upon his or her absence or inability to act. The Chairman of the Board shall not be an Officer by virtue of being the Chairman of the Board but may otherwise be an Officer.
(d) The Directors shall not be obligated and shall not be expected to devote all of their time or business efforts to the affairs of the Company in their capacity as Directors.
Section 7.3 Regular Meetings. Regular quarterly and annual meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated from time to time by resolution of the Board. Notice of such regular quarterly and annual meetings shall not be required.
Section 7.4 Special Meetings. A special meeting of the Board may be called at any time at the request of (a) the Chairman of the Board or (b) a majority of the Directors then in office.
Section 7.5 Notice. Oral or written notice of all special meetings of the Board must be given to all Directors at least two days prior to any special meeting of the Board (if the special meeting is to be held in person) or twenty-four hours (if the special meeting is to be held telephonically), or upon such shorter notice as may be approved by the Directors (or the members of such committee), which approval may be given before or after the relevant meeting to which the notice relates. All notices and other communications to be given to Directors shall be sufficiently given for all purposes hereunder if (i) in writing and delivered by hand, courier or overnight delivery service or three days after being mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, with appropriate postage prepaid, or (ii) when received in the form of a telegram, as an attachment to an electronic mail message or facsimile, and shall be directed to the address, electronic mail address or facsimile number as such Director (or such member) shall designate by notice to the Company. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board need be specified in the notice of such meeting. A meeting may be held at any time without notice if all the Directors are present, and any Director (or member of such committee) may waive the requirement of such notice as to such Director (or such member).
Section 7.6 Action by Consent of Board. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Board, or any committee of the Board, may act without a meeting so long as a majority of the members of the Board or committee shall have executed a written consent with respect to any action taken in lieu of a meeting.
Section 7.7 Conference Telephone Meetings. Directors or members of any committee of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference
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telephone or similar communications equipment or by such other means by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 7.8 Quorum and Action. A majority of all Directors, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 7.7, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Except as otherwise required by Applicable Law, all decisions of the Board, or any committee of the Board, shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all Directors of the Board, or any committee of the Board, respectively. The Directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum.
Section 7.9 Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of Directors shall be filled by the appointment of individuals approved by Members representing a Majority Interest.
Section 7.10 Committees.
(a) The Board may establish committees of the Board and may delegate any of its responsibilities to such committees, except as prohibited by Applicable Law.
(b) The Board shall have an audit committee (the Audit Committee) comprised, to the extent required by the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed, of Independent Directors. The Audit Committee shall establish a written audit committee charter in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed from time to time, in each case as amended from time to time. Independent Director shall mean a Director who meets the independence standards required of directors who serve on an audit committee of a board of directors, as established by the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and by the New York Stock Exchange or any national securities exchange on which the Common Units are listed, in each case as amended from time to time.
(c) The Board shall have a conflicts committee (the Conflicts Committee) comprised of one or more Directors, each of whom (i) is not an officer of employee of the Company, (ii) is not an officer, director or employee of any Affiliate of the Company, (iii) is not the holder of any ownership interest in the Company or the Partnership, other than Common Units or other awards granted to such Director under the Partnerships equity compensation plans, and (iv) qualifies as an Independent Director. The Conflicts Committee shall function in the manner described in the Partnership Agreement. Notwithstanding any duty otherwise existing at law or in equity, any matter approved by the Conflicts Committee in accordance with the provisions, and subject to the limitations, of the Partnership Agreement, shall not be deemed to be a breach of any fiduciary or other duties owed by the Board or any Director to the Company or the Members.
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(d) A majority of any committee, present in person or participating in accordance with Section 7.7, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee.
(e) A majority of any committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board shall otherwise provide. Notice of such meetings shall be given to each member of the committee in the manner provided for in Section 7.5. The Board shall have power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve any such committee.
Section 7.11 Removal. Any Director or the entire Board may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by Members representing a Majority Interest.
ARTICLE VIII
OFFICERS
Section 8.1 Officers.
(a) The Board shall elect one or more persons to be officers of the Company to assist in carrying out the Boards decisions and the day-to-day activities of the Company in its capacity as the general partner of the Partnership. Officers are not managers as that term is used in the Act. Any individuals who are elected as officers of the Company shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall have such titles and the authority and duties specified in this Agreement or otherwise delegated to each of them, respectively, by the Board from time to time. The salaries or other compensation, if any, of the officers of the Company shall be fixed by the Board.
(b) The officers of the Company may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, a General Counsel, a Secretary and such other officers as the Board from time to time may deem proper. All officers elected by the Board shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article VIII. The Board may from time to time elect such other officers or appoint such agents as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of the business of the Company. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be provided in this Agreement or as may be prescribed by the Board, as the case may be from time to time.
Section 8.2 Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Company shall be elected from time to time by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until such persons successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until such persons death or until he or she shall resign or be removed pursuant to Section 8.9.
Section 8.3 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, who may be the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board and/or the President, shall have general and active management authority over the business of the Company and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer may sign deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by this Agreement to some other officer or agent of the Company, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed and executed. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform all duties and have all powers incident
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to the office of Chief Executive Officer and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be assigned by this Agreement or prescribed by the Board from time to time.
Section 8.4 President. The President shall, subject to the control of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, in general, supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Company. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Members. The President may sign any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by this Agreement to some other officer or agent of the Company, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed and executed. The President shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of President and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.
Section 8.5 Vice Presidents. Any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President and Vice President, in the order of seniority, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President. They shall also perform the usual and customary duties and have the powers that pertain to such office and generally assist the President by executing contracts and agreements and exercising such other powers and performing such other duties as are delegated to them by the Chief Executive Officer or President or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.
Section 8.6 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of the Chief Financial Officer and in general have overall supervision of the financial operations of the Company. The Chief Financial Officer shall receive and deposit all moneys and other valuables belonging to the Company in the name and to the credit of the Company and shall disburse the same and only in such manner as the Board or the appropriate officer of the Company may from time to time determine. The Chief Financial Officer shall render to the Board, the Chief Executive Officer and the President, whenever any of them request it, an account of all his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Company, and shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or President or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the same power as the President and Chief Executive Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Company.
Section 8.7 General Counsel. The General Counsel shall be the principal legal officer of the Company. The General Counsel shall have general direction of and supervision over the legal affairs of the Company and shall advise the Board and the officers of the Company on all legal matters. The General Counsel shall perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or President or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time. The General Counsel shall have the same power as the President and Chief Executive Officer to execute documents on behalf of the Company.
Section 8.8 Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, in one or more books provided for that purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board and the Members and of the Limited Partners. The Secretary shall see that all notices are duly
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given in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and as required by Applicable Law; shall be custodian of the records and the seal of the Company (if any) and affix and attest the seal (if any) to all documents to be executed on behalf of the Company under its seal; and shall see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by Applicable Law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and in general, shall perform all duties and have all powers incident to the office of Secretary and perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may be delegated by the Chief Executive Officer or President or as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.
Section 8.9 Removal. Any officer elected, or agent appointed, by the Board may be removed, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board. No officer shall have any contractual rights against the Company for compensation by virtue of such election beyond the date of the election of such persons successor, such persons death, such persons resignation or such persons removal, whichever event shall first occur, except as otherwise provided in an employment contract or under an employee deferred compensation plan.
Section 8.10 Vacancies. A newly created elected office and a vacancy in any elected office because of death, resignation or removal may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term at any meeting of the Board.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Section 9.1 Indemnification.
(a) To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law but subject to the limitations expressly provided in this Agreement, all Indemnitees shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all threatened, pending or completed claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal and including appeals, in which any Indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as an Indemnitee and acting (or refraining to act) in such capacity on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company; provided, however, that the Indemnitee shall not be indemnified and held harmless if there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitees conduct was unlawful. Any indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.1 shall be made only out of the assets of the Company, it being agreed that the Members shall not be personally liable for such indemnification and shall have no obligation to contribute or loan any monies or property to the Company to enable it to effectuate such indemnification.
(b) To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnitee who is indemnified pursuant to Section 9.1(a) in appearing
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at, participating in or defending any claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the Company prior to a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, in respect of the matter for which the Indemnitee is seeking indemnification pursuant to this Section 9.1, the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified upon receipt by the Company of any undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by this Section 9.1.
(c) The indemnification provided by this Section 9.1 shall be in addition to any other rights to which an Indemnitee may be entitled under any agreement, as a matter of law, in equity or otherwise, both as to actions in the Indemnitees capacity as an Indemnitee and as to actions in any other capacity, and shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to serve in such capacity and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, successors, assigns and administrators of the Indemnitee.
(d) The Company may purchase and maintain (or reimburse its Affiliates for the cost of) insurance on behalf of the Indemnitees, the Company and its Affiliates and such other Persons as the Company shall determine, against any liability that may be asserted against or expense that may be incurred by such Person in connection with the Companys activities or such Persons activities on behalf of the Company, regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Agreement.
(e) For purposes of this Section 9.1, the Company shall be deemed to have requested an Indemnitee to serve as fiduciary of an employee benefit plan whenever the performance by it of its duties to the Company also imposes duties on, or otherwise involves services by, it to the plan or participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on an Indemnitee with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to applicable law shall constitute fines within the meaning of Section 9.1; and action taken or omitted by an Indemnitee with respect to any employee benefit plan in the performance of its duties for a purpose reasonably believed by it to be in the best interest of the participants and beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose that is in the best interests of the Company.
(f) In no event may an Indemnitee subject the Members to personal liability by reason of the indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement.
(g) An Indemnitee shall not be denied indemnification in whole or in part under this Section 9.1 because the Indemnitee had an interest in the transaction with respect to which the indemnification applies if the transaction was otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement.
(h) The provisions of this Section 9.1 are for the benefit of the Indemnitees, their heirs, successors, assigns, executors and administrators and shall not be deemed to create any rights for the benefit of any other Persons.
(i) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 9.1 or any provision hereof shall in any manner terminate, reduce or impair the right of any past, present or future Indemnitee to be indemnified by the Company, nor the obligations of the Company to indemnify
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any such Indemnitee under and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 9.1 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
(j) TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, AND SUBJECT TO SECTION 9.1(a), THE PROVISIONS OF THE INDEMNIFICATION PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION 9.1 ARE INTENDED BY THE PARTIES TO APPLY EVEN IF SUCH PROVISIONS HAVE THE EFFECT OF EXCULPATING THE INDEMNITEE FROM LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH PERSONS NEGLIGENCE, FAULT OR OTHER CONDUCT.
Section 9.2 Liability of Indemnitees.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement or the Partnership Agreement, no Indemnitee shall be liable for monetary damages to the Company, the Partnership, the Members or any other Person bound by this Agreement, for losses sustained or liabilities incurred as a result of any act or omission of an Indemnitee unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that, with respect to the matter in question, the Indemnitee acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the Indemnitees conduct was criminal.
(b) Subject to its obligations and duties as set forth in Article VII, the Board and any committee thereof may exercise any of the powers granted to it by this Agreement and perform any of the duties imposed upon it hereunder either directly or by or through the Companys officers or agents, and neither the Board nor any committee thereof shall be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such officer or agent appointed by the Board or any committee thereof in good faith.
(c) Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, no Member or any other Indemnitee shall have any duties or liabilities, including fiduciary duties, to the Company or any other Member and the provisions of this Agreement, to the extent that they restrict, eliminate or otherwise modify the duties and liabilities, including fiduciary duties, of the Members or any other Indemnitee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Members to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Members and such other Indemnitee.
(d) No amendment, modification or repeal of this Section 9.2 or any provision hereof shall in any manner affect the limitations on the liability of any Indemnitee under this Section 9.2 as in effect immediately prior to such amendment, modification or repeal with respect to claims arising from or relating to matters occurring, in whole or in part, prior to such amendment, modification or repeal, regardless of when such claims may arise or be asserted.
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ARTICLE X
TAXES
Section 10.1 Taxes.
(a) The Board shall from time to time designate a Member to act as the tax matters partner under Section 6231 of the Internal Revenue Code, subject to replacement by the Board (such Member, the Tax Matters Member). The initial Tax Matters Member will be Atlas Energy. The Tax Matters Member shall prepare and timely file (on behalf of the Company) all state and local tax returns, if any, required to be filed by the Company. The Company shall bear the costs of the preparation and filing of its returns.
(b) The Company and the Members acknowledge that for federal income tax purposes, the Company will be disregarded as an entity separate from the Members pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 301.7701-3 as long as all of the Membership Interests in the Company are owned by a sole Member.
ARTICLE XI
BOOKS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND BANK ACCOUNTS
Section 11.1 Maintenance of Books.
(a) The Board shall keep or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Company or at such other location approved by the Board complete and accurate books and records of the Company, supporting documentation of the transactions with respect to the conduct of the Companys business and minutes of the proceedings of the Board and any other books and records that are required to be maintained by Applicable Law.
(b) The books of account of the Company shall be maintained on the basis of a fiscal year that is the calendar year and on an accrual basis in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.
Section 11.2 Reports. The Board shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each Member such reports, forecasts, studies, budgets and other information as the Members may reasonably request from time to time.
Section 11.3 Bank Accounts. Funds of the Company shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as shall be designated from time to time by the Board. All withdrawals from any such depository shall be made only as authorized by the Board and shall be made only by check, wire transfer, debit memorandum or other written instruction.
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ARTICLE XII
DISSOLUTION, WINDING-UP, TERMINATION AND CONVERSION
Section 12.1 Dissolution.
(a) The Company shall be of perpetual duration; provided that the Company shall dissolve, and its affairs shall be wound up, upon the first to occur of the following events (each a Dissolution Event):
(i) the unanimous consent of the Members;
(ii) entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Company under Section 18-802 of the Act; and
(iii) at any time there are no Members of the Company, unless the Company is continued in accordance with the Act or this Agreement.
(b) Except as provided in Section 12.1(a), no other event shall cause a dissolution of the Company.
(c) Upon the occurrence of any event that causes there to be no Members of the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, the personal representative of the last remaining Member is hereby authorized to, and shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company, agree in writing (i) to continue the Company and (ii) to the admission of the personal representative or its nominee or designee, as the case may be, as a substitute Member of the Company, effective as of the occurrence of the event that terminated the continued membership of such Member in the Company.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Bankruptcy of a Member shall not cause such Member to cease to be a member of the Company and, upon the occurrence of such an event, the Company shall continue without dissolution.
Section 12.2 Winding-Up and Termination.
(a) On the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Members shall act as, or alternatively appoint, a liquidator. The liquidator shall proceed diligently to wind up the affairs of the Company and make final distributions as provided herein and in the Act. The costs of winding up shall be borne as a Company expense. The steps to be accomplished by the liquidator are as follows:
(i) as promptly as possible after dissolution and again after final winding up, the liquidator shall cause a proper accounting to be made by a recognized firm of certified public accountants of the Companys assets, liabilities, and operations through the last day of the month in which the dissolution occurs or the final winding up is completed, as applicable;
(ii) subject to the Act, the liquidator shall discharge from Company funds all of the debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company (including all expenses incurred in winding
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up or otherwise make adequate provision for payment and discharge thereof (including the establishment of a cash escrow fund for contingent, conditional and unmatured liabilities in such amount and for such term as the liquidator may reasonably determine)); and
(iii) all remaining assets of the Company shall be distributed to the Members in accordance with Section 6.1.
(b) The distribution of cash or property to a Member in accordance with the provisions of this Section 12.2 constitutes a complete return to the Member of its Capital Contributions and a complete distribution to the Member of its Membership Interest and all the Companys property and constitutes a compromise to which all Members have consented pursuant to Section 18-502(b) of the Act. To the extent that a Member returns funds to the Company, such Member shall have no claim against any other Member for those funds.
Section 12.3 Deficit Capital Accounts. No Member will be required to pay to the Company, to any other Member or to any third party any deficit balance that may exist from time to time in the Members Capital Account.
Section 12.4 Certificate of Cancellation. On completion of the winding up of the Company as provided herein and under the Act, the Members (or such other Person or Persons as the Act may require or permit) shall file a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and take such other actions as may be necessary to terminate the existence of the Company. Upon the filing of such certificate of cancellation, the existence of the Company shall terminate, except as may be otherwise provided by the Act or by Applicable Law.
ARTICLE XIII
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR CONVERSION
Section 13.1 Authority. Subject to compliance with Section 7.1(d), the Company may merge or consolidate with one or more domestic corporations, limited liability companies, statutory trusts or associations, real estate investment trusts, common law trusts or unincorporated businesses, including a partnership (whether general or limited (including a limited liability partnership)), or convert into any such domestic entity, pursuant to a written agreement of merger or consolidation (Merger Agreement) or a written plan of conversion (Plan of Conversion), as the case may be, in accordance with this Article 13. The surviving entity to any such merger, consolidation or conversion is referred to herein as the Surviving Business Entity.
Section 13.2 Procedure for Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) The merger, consolidation or conversion of the Company pursuant to this Article 13 requires the prior approval of a majority of the Board and compliance with Section 13.3.
(b) If the Board shall determine to consent to a merger or consolidation, the Board shall approve the Merger Agreement, which shall set forth:
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(i) the names and jurisdictions of formation or organization of each of the business entities proposing to merge or consolidate;
(ii) the name and jurisdiction of formation or organization of the Surviving Business Entity that is to survive the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iii) the terms and conditions of the proposed merger or consolidation;
(iv) the manner and basis of exchanging or converting the equity securities of each constituent business entity for, or into, cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity; and (A) if any general or limited partner interests, securities or rights of any constituent business entity are not to be exchanged or converted solely for, or into, cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity, the cash, property or interests, rights, securities or obligations of any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity) which the holders of such general or limited partner interests, securities or rights are to receive in exchange for, or upon conversion of their interests, securities or rights, and (B) in the case of securities represented by certificates, upon the surrender of such certificates, which cash, property or general or limited partner interests, rights, securities or obligations of the Surviving Business Entity or any general or limited partnership, corporation, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated business or other entity (other than the Surviving Business Entity), or evidences thereof, are to be delivered;
(v) a statement of any changes in the constituent documents or the adoption of new constituent documents (the articles or certificate of incorporation, articles of trust, declaration of trust, certificate or agreement of limited partnership, certificate of formation, limited liability company agreement or other similar charter or governing document) of the Surviving Business Entity to be effected by such merger or consolidation;
(vi) the effective time of the merger, which may be the date of the filing of the certificate of merger pursuant to Section 13.4 or a later date specified in or determinable in accordance with the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that if the effective time of the merger is to be later than the date of the filing of such certificate of merger, the effective time shall be fixed at a date or time certain at or prior to the time of the filing of such certificate of merger and stated therein; and
(vii) such other provisions with respect to the proposed merger or consolidation as are deemed necessary or appropriate by the Board.
(c) If the Board shall determine to consent to a conversion of the Company, the Board shall approve and adopt a Plan of Conversion containing such terms and conditions that the Board of Directors determines to be necessary or appropriate.
Section 13.3 Approval by Members of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) The Board, upon its approval of the Merger Agreement or Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, shall direct that the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, be
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submitted to a vote of the Members, whether at a meeting or by written consent. A copy or a summary of the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, shall be included in or enclosed with the notice of a special meeting or the written consent.
(b) The Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as applicable, shall be approved upon receiving the affirmative vote or consent of Members representing a Majority Interest.
(c) After such approval by vote or consent of the Members, and at any time prior to the filing of the certificate of merger, consolidation or conversion pursuant to Section 13.4, the merger, consolidation or conversion may be abandoned pursuant to provisions therefor, if any, set forth in the Merger Agreement or the Plan of Conversion, as the case may be.
Section 13.4 Certificate of Merger, Consolidation or Conversion.
(a) Upon the required approval by the Board and the Members of a Merger Agreement or a Plan of Conversion, as the case may be, a certificate of merger, consolidation or conversion, as applicable, shall be executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in conformity with the requirements of the Act and shall have such effect as provided under the Act or other Applicable Law.
(b) A merger, consolidation or conversion effected pursuant to this Article 13 shall not (i) to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, be deemed to result in a transfer or assignment of assets or liabilities from one entity to another having occurred or (ii) require the Company (if it is not the Surviving Business Entity) to wind up its affairs, pay its liabilities or distribute its assets as required under Article 12 of this Agreement or under the applicable provisions of the Act.
ARTICLE XIV
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 14.1 Notices. All notices, demands, requests, consents, approvals or other communications (collectively, Notices) required or permitted to be given hereunder or which are given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be personally served, delivered by reputable air courier service with charges prepaid, or transmitted by hand delivery or facsimile, addressed as set forth below, or to such other address as such party shall have specified most recently by written notice. Notices shall be deemed given on the date of service or transmission if personally served or transmitted by facsimile. Notices otherwise sent as provided herein shall be deemed given upon delivery of such Notices:
To the Company:
Atlas Resource Partners GP, LLC
c/o Atlas Energy, L.P.
Park Place Corporate Center One
1000 Commerce Drive, 4th Floor
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275
To Atlas Energy:
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Atlas Energy, L.P.
Park Place Corporate Center One
1000 Commerce Drive, 4th Floor
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15275
Section 14.2 Entire Agreement; Superseding Effect; Creditors. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Members relating to the Company and the transactions contemplated hereby, and supersedes all provisions and concepts contained in all prior contracts or agreements between the Members with respect to the Company, whether oral or written. None of the provisions of this Agreement shall be for the benefit of, or shall be enforceable by, any creditor of the Company.
Section 14.3 Effect of Waiver or Consent. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a waiver or consent, express or implied, to or of any breach or default by any Member in the performance by that Member of its obligations with respect to the Company is not a consent or waiver to or of any other breach or default in the performance by that Member of the same or any other obligations of that Member with respect to the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, failure on the part of a Member to complain of any act of any Member or to declare any Member in default with respect to the Company, irrespective of how long that failure continues, does not constitute a waiver by that Member of its rights with respect to that default until the applicable statute-of-limitations period has run.
Section 14.4 Amendment or Restatement. This Agreement may be amended or restated only by a written instrument executed by all Members; provided, however, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, each Member agrees that the Board, without the approval of any Member, may amend any provision of the Delaware Certificate and this Agreement, and may authorize any officer to execute, swear to, acknowledge, deliver, file and record any such amendment and whatever documents may be required in connection therewith, to reflect any change that does not require consent or approval (or for which such consent or approval has been obtained) under this Agreement or does not materially adversely affect the rights of the Members.
Section 14.5 Binding Effect. Subject to the restrictions on Dispositions set forth in this Agreement, this Agreement is binding on and shall inure to the benefit of the Members and their respective successors and permitted assigns. If any provision or part of a provision of this Agreement is or becomes for any reason, invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions and/or parts thereof contained herein shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be reformed and construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, or part of a provision, had never been contained herein, and such provisions and/or part shall be reformed so that it would be valid, legal and enforceable to the maximum extent possible.
Section 14.6 Applicable Law; Forum; Venue and Jurisdiction. THIS AGREEMENT IS GOVERNED BY AND SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE, EXCLUDING ANY CONFLICT-OF-LAWS RULE OR PRINCIPLE THAT MIGHT REFER THE GOVERNANCE OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS AGREEMENT TO THE LAW OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION. In the event of a direct
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conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and (a) any mandatory, non-waivable provision of the Act, such provision of the Act shall control. If any provision of the Act may be varied or superseded in a limited liability company agreement (or otherwise by agreement of the members or managers of a limited liability company), such provision shall be deemed superseded and waived in its entirety if this Agreement contains a provision addressing the same issue or subject matter.
Section 14.7 Venue. Any and all claims, suits, actions or proceedings arising out of, in connection with or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be exclusively brought in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. Each party hereto unconditionally and irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware with respect to any such claim, suit, action or proceeding and waives any objection that such party may have to the laying of venue of any claim, suit, action or proceeding in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware.
Section 14.8 Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, each Member shall execute and deliver any additional documents and instruments and perform any additional acts that may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate and perform the provisions of this Agreement and those transactions.
Section 14.9 Waiver of Certain Rights. Each Member, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, irrevocably waives any right it may have to maintain any action for dissolution of the Company or for partition of the property of the Company.
Section 14.10 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signing parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and constitute the same instrument. The use of facsimile signatures and signatures delivered by email in portable document format (.pdf) affixed in the name and on behalf of a party is expressly permitted by this Agreement.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Member has executed this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.
MEMBER: | ||
ATLAS ENERGY, L.P. | ||
By: Atlas Energy GP, LLC, its general partner | ||
By: | /s/ Jonathan Z. Cohen | |
Jonathan Z. Cohen | ||
Vice Chairman |
[Signature Page to Amended and Restated LLC Agreement of ARP GP LLC]
EXHIBIT A
MEMBERS
Member |
Sharing Ratio | Capital Contribution | ||||||
Atlas Energy, L.P. |
100 | % | $ | 1,000.00 |
1
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Edward E. Cohen, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 of Atlas Energy, L.P.; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
(a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
(b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
(c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
(d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
(a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
/s/ EDWARD E. COHEN |
Edward E. Cohen |
Chief Executive Officer and President of the General Partner |
May 9, 2012 |
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Sean P. McGrath, certify that:
1. | I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 of Atlas Energy, L.P.; |
2. | Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report; |
3. | Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report; |
4. | The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have: |
(a) | Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared; |
(b) | Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
(c) | Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and |
(d) | Disclosed in this report any change in the registrants internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial reporting; and |
5. | The registrants other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): |
(a) | All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and |
(b) | Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
/s/ SEAN P. MCGRATH |
Sean P. McGrath |
Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner |
May 9, 2012 |
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Atlas Energy, L.P. (the Partnership) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Edward E. Cohen, Chief Executive Officer and President of the General Partner, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and |
(2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership. |
/s/ EDWARD E. COHEN |
Edward E. Cohen |
Chief Executive Officer and President of the General Partner |
May 9, 2012 |
Exhibit 32.2
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
In connection with the Quarterly Report of Atlas Energy, L.P. (the Partnership) on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2012 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the Report), I, Sean P. McGrath, Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) | The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and |
(2) | The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership. |
/s/ SEAN P. MCGRATH |
Sean P. McGrath |
Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner |
May 9, 2012 |
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