HOUSTON, TX — (Marketwired) — 09/30/14 — Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MEP) (Midcoast Partners) is pleased to announce that it has closed a private placement of senior unsecured notes to a group of institutional investors. In total, $400 million of gross proceeds was raised through three tranches in the U.S. private debt market. Midcoast Partners intends to utilize the net proceeds to repay short-term debt, to finance a portion of its capital expansion program relating to its core natural gas systems and for general partnership purposes. Some or all of the net proceeds of this offering may be invested temporarily in short-term investment grade securities pending their use for such purposes. The gross proceeds were raised in three tranches with terms of five, seven, and ten years with an average term of 7.75 years and weighted average coupon of 4.09%.
“This funding transaction is a key step in positioning Midcoast Partners as a leading natural gas and NGL midstream infrastructure developer, operator and service provider in North America,” stated C. Gregory Harper, principal executive officer for the Partnership. “We greatly appreciate the investment and support provided by our bond investors and are excited to further that relationship in future transactions that enhance the scale, scope, reach and capabilities of Midcoast Energy Partners.”
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as lead placement agent on the offering. Royal Bank of Scotland and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation acted as co-agents.
The senior notes have not and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.
Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MEP), is a limited partnership formed by Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P (“Enbridge Partners”) to serve as Enbridge Partners– primary vehicle for owning and growing its natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) midstream business in the United States. Our assets consist of a 51.6 percent controlling interest in Midcoast Operating, L.P., a Texas limited partnership that owns a network of natural gas and NGL gathering and transportation systems, natural gas processing and treating facilities and NGL fractionation facilities primarily located in Texas and Oklahoma. Midcoast Operating also owns and operates natural gas, condensate and NGL logistics and marketing assets that primarily support its gathering, processing and transportation business. Through our ownership of Midcoast Operating–s general partner, we control, manage and operate these systems.
Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: EEP), owns 100 percent of Midcoast Holdings, LLC, the general partner of Midcoast Partners and holds an approximate 54 percent interest in Midcoast Partners. Enbridge Partners owns and operates a diversified portfolio of crude oil and, through Midcoast Partners, natural gas transportation systems in the United States. Its principal crude oil system is the largest pipeline transporter of growing oil production from western Canada and the North Dakota Bakken formation. Enbridge Partners is recognized by Forbes as one of the 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in America.
This news release includes forward-looking statements, which are statements that frequently use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “position,” “projection,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will” and similar words. Although we believe that such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on currently available information, such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are not guarantees of performance. Future actions, conditions or events and future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond the ability of Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P. (“MEP”) to control or predict. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include: (1) changes in the demand for or the supply of, forecast data for, and price trends related to natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil; (2) MEP–s ability to successfully complete and finance expansion projects; (3) the effects of competition, in particular, by other pipeline and gathering systems, as well as other processing and treating plants; (4) shut-downs or cutbacks at MEP–s facilities or refineries, petrochemical plants, utilities or other businesses for which MEP transports products or to whom MEP sells products; (5) hazards and operating risks that may not be covered fully by insurance; (6) changes in or challenges to MEP–s rates; and (7) changes in laws or regulations to which MEP is subject, including compliance with environmental and operational safety regulations that may increase costs of system integrity testing and maintenance.
The Partnership–s forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties pertaining to operating performance, regulatory parameters, project approval and support, weather, economic conditions, interest rates and commodity prices, including but not limited to those discussed more extensively in our filings with the U.S. securities regulators. The impact of any one risk, uncertainty or factor on any particular forward looking statement is not determinable with certainty as these are independent and our future course of action depends on management–s assessment of all information available at the relevant time. Except to the extent required by law, we assume no obligation to publically update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In addition to the risks listed above, other risks include those detailed from time to time in MEP–s Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, reports, including, without limitation, in MEP–s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently completed fiscal year and, and any subsequently filed annual, quarterly or current reports, which filings are available to the public at the SEC–s website ().
Sanjay Lad, CFA
Investment Community
Toll-free: (855) MEP-7222 or (866) 637-7222
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Terri Larson, APR
Media
Telephone: (877) 496-8142
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