UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 30, 2017
Azure Midstream Partners, LP
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware |
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001-36018 |
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46-2627595 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of |
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(Commission File Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
12377 Merit Drive, Suite 300
Dallas, Texas 75251
(address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
(972) 674-5200
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.03 Bankruptcy or Receivership.
On January 30, 2017, Azure Midstream Partners GP, LLC (the General Partner), the general partner of Azure Midstream Partners, LP (the Partnership), the Partnership and the Partnerships direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively with the General Partner and the Partnership, the Debtors) filed voluntary petitions (the Bankruptcy Petitions, and the cases commenced thereby, the Chapter 11 Cases) under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the Bankruptcy Code) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division (the Court). The Partnerships Chapter 11 Case is being administered under the caption In re Azure Midstream Partners, LP, et al. (Case No. 17-30461). The Debtors have filed a motion with the Court seeking to administer all of the Debtors Chapter 11 Cases jointly under the caption In re Azure Midstream Partners, LP, et al.
No trustee has been appointed, and the Debtors will continue to operate their businesses as debtors in possession under the jurisdiction of the Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Court. The Partnership expects to continue its operations without interruption during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases. To assure ordinary course operations, the Partnership is seeking approval from the Court for a variety of first day motions seeking various relief and authorizing the Debtors to maintain their operations in the ordinary course. Court filings and other information related to the Chapter 11 Cases are available at a website administered by the Partnerships claims agent, Kurtzman Carson Consultants, at http://kccllc.net/azuremlp.
The subsidiary Debtors in the Chapter 11 Cases are Marlin Logistics, LLC; Marlin Midstream Finance Corporation; Marlin Midstream, LLC; Azure ETG, LLC; Murvaul Gas Gathering, LLC; Marlin G & P I, LLC; Turkey Creek Pipeline, LLC; Azure TGG, LLC; Azure Holdings GP, LLC; and Talco Midstream Assets, Ltd.
Item 2.04 Triggering Events That Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.
The commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases constitutes an event of default that accelerated the Debtors obligations under the following debt instruments (the Debt Instruments).
· Credit Agreement, dated as of February 27, 2015, as amended, by and among the Partnership, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent.
The Debt Instruments provide that as a result of the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases, the principal and accrued interest due thereunder shall be immediately due and payable. Any efforts to enforce such payment obligations under the Debt Instruments are automatically stayed as a result of the filing of the Bankruptcy Petitions, and the holders rights of enforcement in respect of the Debt Instruments are subject to the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code.
Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.
On January 30, 2017, the Partnership issued a press release announcing the filing of the Chapter 11 Cases, as described in Item 1.03. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated into this Item 7.01 by reference.
The information furnished pursuant to Item 7.01, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is not subject to the liabilities of that section and is not deemed incorporated by reference in any filing of the Partnerships under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, unless specifically identified therein as being incorporated therein by reference.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
The Partnership cautions that trading in the Partnerships securities during the pendency of the anticipated Chapter 11 proceedings is highly speculative and poses substantial risks. Trading prices for the Partnerships securities may bear little or no relationship to the actual recovery, if any, by holders of the Partnerships securities in the Chapter 11 Cases.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.
This Current Report on Form 8-K includes forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this Current Report on Form 8-K that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as will, would, should, could, expect, anticipate, plan, project, intend, estimate, believe, target, continue, potential, the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about financial restructuring or strategic alternatives and the Partnerships expectations of plans, goals, strategies (including measures to implement strategies), objectives and anticipated results with respect thereto. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances, but such assumptions may prove to be inaccurate. Such statements are also subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Partnership, which may cause the Partnerships actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. These include risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things: the ability to confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization; the bankruptcy process, including the effects thereof on Partnerships business and on the interests of various constituents, the length of time that the Partnership may be required to operate in bankruptcy and the continued availability of operating capital during the pendency of such proceedings; third party motions in any bankruptcy case, which may interfere with the ability to confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization; the potential adverse effects of bankruptcy proceedings on the Partnerships liquidity or results of operations; increased costs to execute the financial restructuring; the Partnerships efforts to reduce leverage; the Partnerships level of indebtedness including its ability to satisfy its debt obligations; risks related to the Partnerships ability to generate sufficient cash flow and to make payments on its obligations and to execute its business plan; the Partnerships ability to access funds on acceptable terms, if at all, because of the terms and conditions governing the Partnerships indebtedness or otherwise; the uncertainty of the impact that any financial restructuring implemented will have on the market for the Partnerships publicly traded securities; tax consequences of business transactions; and changes in commodity prices and hedge positions and the risk that the Partnerships hedging strategy may be ineffective or may reduce its income. Please read the Partnerships filings with the SEC, including Risk Factors in the Partnerships Annual Report on Form 10-K, and if applicable, the Partnerships Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on the Partnerships Investor Relations website at http://investor.memorialpp.com/sec.cfm or on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, the Partnership undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
Exhibit No. |
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Exhibit Description |
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99.1 |
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Press Release dated January 30, 2017 |
SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: January 30, 2017 |
AZURE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP | |
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By: |
Azure Midstream Partners GP, LLC, |
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the General Partner of Azure Midstream Partners, LP | |
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By: |
/s/ Amanda Bush |
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Amanda Bush | |
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Chief Financial Officer |
EXHIBIT 99.1
AZURE MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP
VOLUNTARY FILING FOR RELIEF UNDER CHAPTER 11
Dallas, January 30, 2017 Azure Midstream Partners, LP (the Company) (OTCQB: AZUR) today announced that the Company, along with its affiliates and certain subsidiaries, commenced Chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in its continuing efforts to manage its debt obligations and conserve its going concern value. The Company anticipates filing a motion to approve procedures for a sale of all or substantially all of its assets, as well as a Chapter 11 plan and accompanying disclosure statement shortly.
The Company has been able to reach a consensual agreement with the lenders under that certain Credit Agreement dated as of February 27, 2015 and the lenders are supportive of the Companys process, including the sale process.
The Company expects day-to-day operation to continue without interruption throughout the Court-supervised process. The Company expects to maintain sufficient liquidity to maintain its business operations until such time as a sale is consummated.
While we recognize this is disappointing news, Chapter 11 reorganization is the only solution that maximizes going concern value for all stakeholders, said I.J. Chip Berthelot, Azure President and CEO. We will continue to operate the company and proceed through this process in a way that best preserves asset value for everyone with an interest.
The Company also announced that it has filed certain first day motions with the court to facilitate operating in the normal course throughout the court-supervised process. The Company is seeking court approval this week to continue paying employees, trade creditors, suppliers, and contractors in the ordinary course of business.
These cases do not involve Azures parent company, Azure Midstream Energy,
Court filings and other information related to the Chapter 11 proceedings is available at a website administered by the Companys claims agent, Kurtzman Carson Consultants at www.kccllc.net/azuremlp.
Alvarez & Marsal is serving as financial advisor to the Company, Evercore Group LLC is serving as investment bankers to the Company, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP is serving as the Companys legal advisor.
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About Azure Midstream Partners, LP
Azure Midstream Partners, LP, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a fee-based, growth oriented limited partnership formed to develop, operate, and acquire midstream energy assets. The Partnership provides natural gas gathering, transportation, and processing services; as well as NGL transportation and crude oil logistics services. The Partnerships assets include 963 miles of gathering lines in the Shelby Trough sub-play of the Haynesville Shale and the horizontal Cotton Valley play located in east Texas and north Louisiana that are capable of gathering 1.9 Bcf/d. The Partnership also has natural gas processing facilities located in the Panola, San Augustine and Tyler Counties of Texas, two NGL transportation pipelines that connect its Panola County and Tyler County processing facilities to third party NGL pipelines capable of transporting 20,000 barrels per day, and three crude oil transloading facilities containing six crude oil transloaders with a combined capacity of 31,200 Bbls/d.
Contact: Steven C. Sullivan, 518-587-5995
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