Form 8-K Western Gas Partners LP For: Oct 18
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E-mailUNITED 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): October 18, 2016
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-34046 | 26-1075808 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1201 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77380-1046
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(832) 636-6000
(Registrant’s 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:
☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On October 18, 2016, Western Gas Partners, LP (the “Partnership”) completed the previously announced public offering of $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.450% senior notes due 2044 (the “Notes”).
The terms of the Notes are governed by the Indenture, dated as of May 18, 2011 (the “Base Indenture”), by and among the Partnership, the former subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 20, 2014 (the “Sixth Supplemental Indenture” and as so amended and supplemented, the “Indenture”), by and between the Partnership and the Trustee, setting forth the specific terms applicable to the Notes. The Notes were offered as additional senior notes under the Indenture, pursuant to which the Partnership issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes on March 20, 2014 (the “Existing Notes”). The Notes are identical to, and will be treated as a single class of debt securities with, the Existing Notes under the Indenture. Interest on the Notes will accrue from October 1, 2016 and will be payable semi-annually on April 1 and October 1 of each year, with the next payment date being April 1, 2017.
Material terms of the Notes, the Base Indenture, and the Sixth Supplemental Indenture are described in the prospectus supplement forming a part of the prospectus dated October 6, 2016, as filed by the Partnership with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on October 7, 2016. The full text of the Sixth Supplemental Indenture is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on March 20, 2014.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) | Exhibits | ||
Exhibit Number | Description of the Exhibit | ||
5.1 | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. | ||
23.1 | Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1). | ||
SIGNATURE
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.
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP | ||||
By: | Western Gas Holdings, LLC, its general partner | |||
Dated: October 18, 2016 | By: | /s/ Philip H. Peacock | ||
Philip H. Peacock Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | ||||
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number | Description of the Exhibit | |
5.1 | Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. | |
23.1 | Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1). | |
Exhibit 5.1
October 18, 2016
Western Gas Partners, LP
1201 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77380
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Western Gas Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), with respect to certain legal matters in connection with the registration by the Partnership under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the proposed offer and sale by the Partnership of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.450% Senior Notes due 2044 (the “Notes”), to be issued and sold pursuant to an underwriting agreement dated October 6, 2016 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Partnership, Western Gas Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “General Partner”), and the Representatives of the Underwriters named therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
The Notes are being offered and sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated October 6, 2016 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b) on October 7, 2016, to a prospectus dated February 7, 2014 (such prospectus, as amended and supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, the “Prospectus”), included in a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-193828) (the “Registration Statement”), which Registration Statement became effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act.
The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated May 18, 2011, by and among the Partnership, the prior subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented and amended by the Sixth Supplemental Indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”) by and between the Partnership and the Trustee, dated March 20, 2014 (the Base Indenture, as so supplemented and amended, the “Indenture”).
We have examined, among other things, originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the organizational certificates, certificate of limited partnership or formation (as the case may be) and the limited partnership or limited liability company agreements (as the case may be) of the Partnership and the General Partner, (ii) certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the General Partner relating to the registration
Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law Austin Beijing Dallas Dubai Hong Kong Houston London Moscow New York Palo Alto Richmond Riyadh San Francisco Taipei Tokyo Washington | 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 Houston, TX 77002-6760 Tel +1.713.758.2222 Fax +1.713.758.2346 www.velaw.com |
Western Gas Partners, LP
October 18, 2016 Page 2
of the Notes and related matters, (iii) certain resolutions adopted by the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the General Partner, (iv) the Registration Statement, (v) the Prospectus, (vi) each of the Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture and (vii) such other certificates, instruments and documents as we consider appropriate for purposes of the opinions hereafter expressed. In addition, we reviewed such questions of law as we considered appropriate.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, assuming the Notes have been duly authenticated by the Trustee as contemplated by the Indenture and paid for by the Underwriters as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Partnership, enforceable against the Partnership in accordance with their terms.
The opinions expressed herein are qualified in the following respects:
A.As to any facts material to the opinions contained herein, we have made no independent investigation of such facts and have relied, to the extent that we deem such reliance proper, upon certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Partnership.
B.We have assumed that (i) all information contained in all documents submitted to us for review is accurate and complete, (ii) all signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, (iii) all documents submitted to us as originals are originals and all documents submitted to us as copies conform to the originals of those documents, (iv) each certificate from governmental officials reviewed by us is accurate, complete and authentic and all public records are accurate and complete, (v) each natural person signing any document has the legal capacity to do so; (vi) each person signing any document reviewed by us in a representative capacity had the legal capacity to do so, and (vii) the Notes will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and in the manner stated in the Prospectus and the Underwriting Agreement.
C.The opinions expressed herein are limited in all respects to the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, the laws of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
D.The opinion is qualified to the extent that the enforceability of any document, instrument or security may be limited by or subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable or public policy principles.
E.We express no opinions concerning (i) the validity or enforceability of any provisions contained in the Indenture that purport to waive or not give effect to rights to notices,
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October 18, 2016 Page 3
defenses, subrogation or other rights or benefits that cannot be effectively waived under applicable law or (ii) the enforceability of indemnification provisions to the extent they purport to relate to liabilities resulting from or based upon negligence or any violation of federal or state securities or blue sky laws.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion of counsel as Exhibit 5.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Partnership dated on or about the date hereof, to the incorporation by reference of this opinion of counsel into the Registration Statement and to the reference to our Firm under the headings “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
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