Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-110207

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 24, 2008

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(TO PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2003)

 

 

$                      % Senior Notes due 2013

$                      % Senior Notes due 2018

$                      % Senior Notes due 2038

 

TEPPCO Partners, L.P.

 

We are offering $     aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2013, which we refer to as the “2013 notes,” $     aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2018, which we refer to as the “2018 notes,” and $      aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2038, which we refer to as the “2038 notes” and, together with the 2013 notes and the 2018 notes, as the “notes.” We may redeem some or all of the notes of any series at any time at the applicable redemption price described beginning on page S-19 of this prospectus supplement, which includes a make-whole premium.

 

The notes are unsecured and rank equally with all other senior indebtedness of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. Each of TE Products Pipeline Company, LLC, TCTM, L.P., TEPPCO Midstream Companies, LLC and Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, L.P. will, jointly and severally, guarantee the notes.

 

Investing in the notes involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement.

 

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently, there is no public market for the notes.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book entry form only, through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, against payment on or about March   , 2008.

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

Senior Co-Managers

 

 

Co-Managers

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is March   , 2008.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of this offering of notes and certain terms of the notes and the guarantees. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which describes certain terms of the indenture under which the notes will be issued and which gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering of notes. If the information varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. We are not making an offer to sell these notes or the guarantees in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since these dates.

 

SUMMARY

	•	Downstream Segment: Transporting, Marketing and Storing Refined Petroleum Products, LPGs and Petrochemicals.  Our Downstream Segment owns, operates or has investments in properties located in 15 states. The operations of the Downstream Segment consist of interstate transportation, storage and terminaling of refined products and LPGs; intrastate transportation of petrochemicals; distribution and marketing operations, including terminaling services and other ancillary services. We own and operate an approximately 4,700-mile pipeline system, which includes receiving, storage and terminaling facilities, extending from southeast Texas through the central and midwestern United States to the northeastern United States. In addition, we own a 50% interest in Centennial Pipeline LLC, which owns and operates an interstate refined petroleum products pipeline extending from the upper Texas Gulf Coast to Illinois.
	•	Upstream Segment: Gathering, Transporting, Marketing and Storing Crude Oil.  Our Upstream Segment gathers, transports, markets and stores crude oil and distributes lubrication oils and specialty chemicals, principally in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and the Rocky Mountain region. We own and operate approximately 3,465 miles of crude oil trunk line and gathering pipelines, primarily in Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Our Upstream Segment uses its asset base to aggregate crude oil and provide transportation and related services to its customers. Our Upstream Segment purchases crude oil from various producers and operators at the wellhead and makes bulk purchases of crude oil on pipelines, in terminal facilities and at trading locations. The crude oil is then sold to refiners and other

		customers. We also own a 50% interest in Seaway Crude Pipeline Company (starting in 2007, we began receiving 40% of revenue and incurring 40% of the expense), which owns an approximately 500-mile, 30-inch diameter crude oil pipeline that transports primarily imported crude oil from Freeport, Texas to Cushing, Oklahoma, a central crude distribution point for the central United States and a delivery point for the New York Mercantile Exchange. In addition, we own crude oil storage tanks at Cushing, Oklahoma, and Midland, Texas, and an interest in the Basin pipeline, which transports crude oil from the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas to Cushing, Oklahoma.

	•	Midstream Segment: Gathering Natural Gas, Transporting NGLs and Fractionating NGLs.  Our Midstream Segment gathers natural gas and transports and fractionates NGLs. We have an equity ownership interest in Jonah Gas Gathering Company, which serves the Jonah and Pinedale fields in Wyoming. According to the Energy Information Administration’s 2006 estimates, these fields were in the top ten natural gas producing fields in the United States. The Jonah system gathers natural gas from approximately 1,476 producing wells and upon completion of the Phase V expansion, which is expected in April 2008, the Jonah system will consist of approximately 643 miles of pipelines and five compression stations operating at approximately 261,500 aggregate horsepower. Natural gas gathered on the Jonah system is delivered to several interstate pipeline systems that provide access to a number of West Coast, Rocky Mountain and Midwest markets. Through our Val Verde gathering system, we gather coal bed methane, conventional natural gas and commingled natural gas in southern Colorado and New Mexico. Our Val Verde system consists of approximately 400 miles of pipelines, 14 compressor stations operating over 75,000 aggregate horsepower of compression and a large amine treating system for the removal of carbon dioxide. In addition, we own approximately 1,400 miles of NGL pipelines, which include the Chaparral and Quanah systems extending from southeastern New Mexico through Texas and NGL pipelines along the Texas Gulf Coast and in East Texas. We also own two NGL fractionation facilities in Colorado, which separate a mixed stream of NGLs into individual components.

	•	Focus on internal growth prospects in order to increase pipeline system and terminal throughput, expand and upgrade existing assets and services and construct new pipelines, terminals and facilities;
	•	Target accretive and complementary acquisitions and expansion opportunities that provide attractive, long-term, balanced growth in each business segment;
	•	Continue to invest in fee based, demand driven, long-lived growth opportunities that complement our businesses, including blending and logistical opportunities using ethanol;
	•	Fund our growth with the financial discipline necessary to maintain our investment grade credit ratings; and
	•	Operate in a safe, efficient, compliant and environmentally responsible manner.

(1)		Dan Duncan LLC and its private company affiliates own the sole 0.01% GP interest and an aggregate 77.1% LP interest in Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. The remaining LP interests in Enterprise GP Holdings L.P. are publicly owned.
(2)		Does not include our general partner’s interest in distributions above the minimum quarterly distribution. For the year ended December 31, 2007, our general partner received 16.4% of the cash we distributed to our partners in respect of its interests in our partnership.
(3)		TEPPCO GP, Inc. is a member and manager of TE Products Pipeline Company, LLC and TEPPCO Midstream Companies, LLC and the sole general partner of TCTM, L.P.
(4)		TEPPCO Partners, L.P. is a non-managing member of TE Products Pipeline Company, LLC and TEPPCO Midstream Companies, LLC and limited partner of TCTM, L.P.
(5)		These entities are not jointly owned by TE Products Pipeline Company, LLC, TEPPCO Midstream Companies, LLC and TCTM, L.P. and include joint ventures not wholly owned by TEPPCO-controlled entities. In addition to each of the subsidiary guarantors, as of December 31, 2007, each of TEPPCO Crude Pipeline, LLC, TEPPCO Crude Oil, LLC and TEPPCO Seaway, L.P. were “significant subsidiaries” as defined by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Issuer		TEPPCO Partners, L.P.
Securities Offered		$     aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2013.
		$     aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2018.
		$     aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2038.
Maturity Dates		, 2013, for the 2013 notes.
		, 2018, for the 2018 notes.
		, 2038, for the 2038 notes.
Interest Rates		The 2013 notes will bear interest at     % per annum.
		The 2018 notes will bear interest at     % per annum.
		The 2038 notes will bear interest at     % per annum.
		All interest on the notes will accrue from the settlement date.
Interest Payment Dates		Interest on the notes will be paid in cash semi-annually in arrears on          and          of each year, beginning          , 2008.
Guarantees		Initially, the notes of each series will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by TE Products Pipeline Company, LLC, TCTM, L.P., TEPPCO Midstream Companies, LLC and Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, L.P., which we refer to as the “subsidiary guarantors,” on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis. In the future, if any of our other subsidiaries guarantee our funded debt, they must also guarantee the notes of each series. The guarantees are subject to release in certain circumstances.
Use of Proceeds		We expect to receive aggregate net proceeds of approximately $      million from the sale of the notes to the underwriters after deducting the underwriters’ discount and other offering expenses payable by us. We will use the net proceeds of this offering to repay approximately $      of debt outstanding under our term credit agreement. Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our term credit agreement and, accordingly, will receive proceeds of this offering. Please read “Underwriting.”
Ranking		The notes of each series will be senior unsecured obligations of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and will rank equally in right of payment with the notes of the other series and all of its other existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness and guarantee obligations. At December 31, 2007, on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to borrowings under the term credit agreement to retire the TE Products notes, to reduce indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility and to fund a portion of our marine transportation business acquisitions, the aggregate amount of our unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness was $1.9 billion. We and the subsidiary guarantors do not have any secured

		indebtedness. The notes will also rank equally in right of payment with our guarantee of up to $70 million principal amount of indebtedness of our Centennial joint venture. Additionally, the guarantees of the notes by the subsidiary guarantors will rank equally in right of payment with other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of those subsidiaries, including their guarantees of our revolving credit facility, term credit agreement, $500.0 million principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2012, $200.0 million principal amount of 6.125% Senior Notes due 2013 and, with the exception of Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, their guarantee of up to $70 million of indebtedness of our Centennial joint venture. As of March 19, 2008, there is no debt outstanding at any of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the notes.
Optional Redemption		We may redeem the notes of any series before their maturity in whole, at any time, or in part, from time to time, prior to maturity, at a redemption price that includes accrued and unpaid interest and a make-whole premium.
		For a more complete description of the redemption provisions of each series of notes, please read “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption.”
Certain Covenants		The indenture covenants include limitations on, among other things, our ability to incur indebtedness secured by certain liens and to engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions, in each case subject to exceptions.
Risk Factors		Investing in the notes involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus supplement, in addition to the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before deciding to invest in the notes.
Listing		We will not list the notes for trading on any securities exchange.
Governing Law		The notes and the indenture will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2005				2006				2007
		(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
Income statement data:
Operating revenues		$	8,605,034			$	9,607,485			$	9,658,060
Purchases of petroleum products			7,986,438				8,967,062				9,017,109
Depreciation and amortization			110,729				108,252				105,225
Operating, general and administrative expenses			288,502				309,796				304,824
Gains on sales of assets			(668	)			(7,404	)			(18,653	)
Total costs and expenses			8,385,001				9,377,706				9,408,505
Operating income			220,033				229,779				249,555
Interest expense — net			(81,861	)			(86,171	)			(101,223	)
Gain on sale of ownership interest in Mont Belvieu Storage Partners, L.P.			—				—				59,628
Equity earnings			20,094				36,761				68,755
Other income — net			1,135				2,965				3,022
Income before provision for income taxes			159,401				183,334				279,737
Provision for income taxes			—				652				557
Income from continuing operations			159,401				182,682				279,180
Income from discontinued operations			3,150				1,497				—
Gain on sale of discontinued operations			—				17,872				—
Discontinued operations			3,150				19,369				—
Net income		$	162,551			$	202,051			$	279,180
Basic and diluted net income per Limited Partner Unit:
Continuing operations		$	1.67			$	1.77			$	2.60
Discontinued operations			0.04				0.19				—
Basic and diluted net income per Limited Partner Unit		$	1.71			$	1.96			$	2.60
Weighted average Limited Partner Units outstanding			67,397				73,657				89,850
Balance sheet data (at period end):
Property, plant and equipment — net		$	1,960,068			$	1,642,095			$	1,793,634
Total assets			3,680,538				3,922,092				4,750,057
Long-term debt (net of current maturities)			1,525,021				1,603,287				1,511,083
Current maturities of long-term debt			—				—				353,976
Partners’ capital			1,201,370				1,320,330				1,264,627

		Year Ended December 31,
		2005				2006				2007
		(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
Other financial data:
Net cash flow provided by (used in):
Operating activities from continuing operations			250,723				271,552				350,572
Total operating activities			254,505				273,073				350,572
Investing activities
Capital expenditures			(220,553	)			(170,046	)			(228,272	)
Acquisitions and equity investments			(116,464	)			(148,775	)			(211,537	)
Proceeds from the sale of assets			510				51,558				165,110
Other			(14,408	)			(6,453	)			(42,701	)
Total investing activities		$	(350,915	)		$	(273,716	)		$	(317,400	)
Total financing activities		$	80,107			$	594			$	(33,219	)
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		$	383,695			$	432,233			$	537,984
Operating data:
Downstream (barrels):
Refined products			160,667				165,269				174,910
Liquefied petroleum gases			45,061				44,997				41,950
Upstream:
Crude oil transportation (barrels)			94,743				91,487				96,451
Crude oil marketing (barrels)			203,325				222,069				232,041
Crude oil terminaling (barrels)			110,254				125,974				135,010
Lubricants and chemicals (gallons)			14,844				14,444				15,344
Midstream:
NGL transportation and lease (barrels)			61,051				69,746				76,996
Gathering — natural gas (million cubic feet)(2)			595,880				655,837				763,021
Fractionation — natural gas liquids (barrels)			4,431				4,406				4,175

(1)		Includes gains on sales of assets totaling $.67 million in 2005, $25.28 million in 2006 and $78.28 million in 2007.
(2)		Includes 100% of Jonah system gathering volumes.

	•	assess financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structures or historical costs basis;
	•	compare the operating performance of our assets with the performance of other companies that have different financing and capital structures; and
	•	value our limited partners’ equity using adjusted EBITDA multiples.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2005				2006				2007
		(In thousands, except per unit amounts)
Net income		$	162,551			$	202,051			$	279,180
Discontinued operations			3,150				19,369				—
Net income from continuing operations			159,401				182,682				279,180
Interest expense — net			81,861				86,171				101,223
Depreciation and amortization (D&A)			110,729				108,252				105,225
Provision for income taxes			—				652				557
EBITDA from continuing operations		$	351,991			$	377,757			$	486,185
Discontinued operations			3,150				19,369				—
D&A included in discontinued operations			612				51				—
EBITDA		$	355,753			$	397,177			$	486,185
Amortization of excess investment in joint ventures			4,763				4,318				6,062
TEPPCO’s pro-rata percentage of joint venture interest expense and D&A			23,179				30,738				45,737
Adjusted EBITDA(1)		$	383,695			$	432,233			$	537,984

(1)		Includes gains on sales of assets totaling $.67 million in 2005, $25.28 million in 2006 and $78.28 million in 2007.

 

An investment in the notes involves risks. You should carefully consider the supplemental risks described below in addition to the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which are incorporated by reference herein, as well as the other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. If any of these risks were to materialize, our business, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In that case, the value of the notes could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

 

Risks Related to the Notes

 

Our future debt level or downgrades of our debt ratings by credit agencies may limit our future financial and operating flexibility.

 

As of December 31, 2007, on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to borrowings under the term credit agreement to retire the TE Products notes, to reduce indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility and to fund a portion of our marine transportation business acquisitions, we had outstanding approximately:

 

 

The amount of our future debt could have significant effects on our operations, because, among other reasons:

 

 

Our revolving credit facility and our term credit agreement contain restrictive financial and other covenants that, among other things, limit our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to incur certain additional indebtedness, make distributions in excess of available cash (generally defined in our partnership agreement as consolidated cash receipts less consolidated cash disbursements and cash reserves established by our general partner), incur certain liens, engage in specified transactions with affiliates and complete mergers, acquisitions and sales of assets. These credit agreements also prevent us from making a distribution if an event of default has occurred or would occur as a result of the distribution. Our breach of these restrictions or restrictions in the provisions of our other indebtedness could permit the holders of the indebtedness to declare all amounts outstanding thereunder to be immediately due and payable and, in the case of our revolving credit facility and term credit agreement, to terminate all commitments to extend further credit. Although our revolving credit facility and term credit agreement restrict our ability to incur additional debt above certain levels, any debt we may incur in compliance with these restrictions may still be substantial.

Our ability to access capital markets to raise capital on favorable terms will be affected by our debt level, the amount of our debt maturing in the next several years and current maturities, and by prevailing market conditions. Moreover, if the rating agencies were to downgrade our credit ratings, we could experience an increase in our borrowing costs, difficulty accessing capital markets, or a reduction in the market price of our limited partner units. Such a development could adversely affect our ability to obtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions or to refinance existing indebtedness. If we are unable to access the capital markets on favorable terms at the time a debt obligation becomes due in the future, we might be forced to refinance some of our debt obligations through bank credit, as opposed to long-term public debt securities or equity securities. The price and terms upon which we might receive such extensions or additional bank credit, if at all, could be more onerous than those contained in existing debt agreements. Any such arrangements could, in turn, increase the risk that our leverage may adversely affect our future financial and operating flexibility and thereby impact our ability to pay cash distributions at expected rates. In addition, a downgrade of our credit ratings could result in our being required to post financial collateral under our guaranty of indebtedness of our Centennial joint venture or some of the contracts that we use in connection with our commodity and interest rate hedging transactions.

 

The credit and risk profile of our General Partner and its owners could adversely affect our credit ratings and profile, which could increase our borrowing costs or hinder our ability to raise capital.

 

The credit and business risk profiles of the general partner or owners of the general partner may be factors in credit evaluations of a master limited partnership. This is because the general partner can exercise significant influence over the business activities of the partnership, including its cash distribution and acquisition strategy and business risk profile. Another factor that may be considered is the financial condition of the general partner and its owners, including the degree of their financial leverage and their dependence on cash flow from the partnership to service their indebtedness.

 

Entities controlling the owner of our general partner have significant indebtedness outstanding and are dependent principally on the cash distributions from the general partner and limited partner equity interests in us, Enterprise GP Holdings, Enterprise Products Partners L.P., and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. to service such indebtedness. Any distributions by us to such entities will be made only after satisfying our then-current obligations to our creditors. Although we have taken certain steps in our organizational structure, financial reporting and contractual relationships to reflect our separateness from our general partner and the entities that control our general partner, our credit ratings and business risk profile could be adversely affected if the ratings and risk profiles of Dan L. Duncan or the entities that control our general partner were viewed as substantially lower or more risky than ours. In addition, the 100% membership interest in our general partner and the 4,400,000 of our limited partner units that are owned by Enterprise GP Holdings are pledged under Enterprise GP Holdings’ credit facility. Upon an event of default under that credit facility, the lenders could foreclose on Enterprise GP Holdings’ assets, which could ultimately result in a change in control of our general partner and a change in the ownership of our limited partner units held by Enterprise GP Holdings.

 

The notes are pari passu to a substantial portion of our other unsecured senior indebtedness.

 

Our payment obligations under the notes are unsecured and pari passu in right of payment to a substantial portion of our current and future indebtedness, including our indebtedness for borrowed money, indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, obligations arising from or with respect to guarantees and direct credit substitutes, obligations associated with hedges and derivative products, capitalized lease obligations and other senior indebtedness.

 

The indenture does not limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness and other obligations, including indebtedness and other obligations that rank senior to or pari passu with the notes. At December 31, 2007, on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to borrowings under the term credit agreement to retire the TE Products notes, to reduce indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility and to fund a portion of our marine transportation business acquisitions, indebtedness of TEPPCO Partners and the subsidiary guarantors (including guarantees of indebtedness of unconsolidated affiliates) that is pari passu with the notes totaled approximately $1.9 billion. As discussed below, the notes will also be effectively subordinated to the existing

and future indebtedness and other obligations of our subsidiaries, other than the subsidiary guarantors, and unconsolidated affiliates.

 

The Subsidiary Guarantors’ guarantee of the notes is pari passu to their other senior indebtedness.

 

Each subsidiary guarantors’ guarantee of the notes ranks pari passu in right of payment to all of its current and future senior indebtedness, including such subsidiary guarantor’s indebtedness for borrowed money, indebtedness evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, obligations arising from or with respect to guarantees and direct credit substitutes, obligations associated with hedges and derivative products, capitalized lease obligations and other senior indebtedness.

 

We may not be able to obtain cash from our subsidiaries to make payments on the notes.

 

We are a holding company, and our subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliates, some of which are not wholly-owned, conduct all of our operations and own all of our assets. We have no significant assets other than ownership interests in these subsidiaries and affiliates. We rely on dividends, distributions, proceeds from inter-company transactions, interest payments and loans from those entities to meet our obligations for payment of principal and interest on our outstanding debt obligations and corporate expenses, including interest payments on the notes, which may be subject to contractual restrictions. Accordingly, the notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries, other than the subsidiary guarantors, and unconsolidated affiliates. If we are unable to obtain cash from such entities to fund required payments in respect of the notes, we may be unable to make payments of principal or interest on the notes.

 

A court may use fraudulent conveyance considerations to avoid or subordinate the subsidiary guarantees.

 

Various applicable fraudulent conveyance laws have been enacted for the protection of creditors. A court may use fraudulent conveyance laws to subordinate or avoid the subsidiary guarantors’ guarantees of the notes. It is also possible that under certain circumstances a court could hold that the direct obligations of a subsidiary guarantor could be superior to the obligations under its guarantee of the notes.

 

A court could avoid or subordinate the guarantee of the notes by a subsidiary guarantor in favor of that subsidiary guarantor’s other debts or liabilities to the extent that the court determined either of the following were true at the time the subsidiary guarantor issued the guarantee:

 

 

 

The measure of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing will vary depending upon the law of the relevant jurisdiction. Generally, however, an entity would be considered insolvent for purposes of the foregoing if the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, were greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets at a fair valuation, or if the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and matured.

 

Among other things, a legal challenge of a subsidiary guarantor’s guarantee of the notes on fraudulent conveyance grounds may focus on the benefits, if any, realized by that subsidiary guarantor as a result of our

issuance of the notes. To the extent a subsidiary guarantor’s guarantee of the notes is avoided as a result of fraudulent conveyance or held unenforceable for any other reason, the note holders would cease to have any claim in respect of that subsidiary guarantor’s guarantee.

 

We may elect to cause the redemption of the notes when prevailing interest rates are relatively low.

 

As discussed in “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption,” we may redeem the notes at any time, in whole or in part, at a price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest (at the rate in effect on the date of the calculation of the redemption price) on the notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the applicable treasury yield plus          basis points, in the case of the 2013 notes,          basis points, in the case of the 2018 notes and          basis points in the case of the 2038 notes; plus, in either case, accrued interest to the redemption date. We may choose to redeem notes of any series for a variety of reasons, including when prevailing interest rates are lower than the then applicable interest rate on the notes of such series. In that case, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on the notes.

 

A market may not develop for the notes.

 

The notes constitute a new issue of securities with no established trading market and will not be listed on any exchange. An active market for the notes may not develop or be sustained. As a result, we cannot assure you that you will be able to sell your notes or at what price. Although the underwriters have indicated that they intend to make a market in the notes, as permitted by applicable laws and regulations, they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue that market-making at any time without notice.

 

We do not have the same flexibility as other types of organizations to accumulate cash, which may limit cash available to service the notes or to repay them at maturity.

 

Unlike a corporation, our partnership agreement requires us to distribute, on a quarterly basis, 100% of our available cash to our unitholders of record and our general partner. Available cash is generally defined in our partnership agreement as consolidated cash receipts less consolidated cash disbursements and cash reserves established by our general partner. Our general partner will determine the amount and timing of such distributions and has broad discretion to establish and make additions to our reserves or the reserves of our operating subsidiaries in amounts the general partner determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate:

 

 

Although our payment obligations to our unitholders are subordinate to our payment obligations to you, the value of our limited partner units will decrease in direct correlation with decreases in the amount we distribute per limited partner unit. Accordingly, if we experience a liquidity problem in the future, we may not be able to issue equity to recapitalize.

 

If we were to become subject to entity level taxation for federal or state tax purposes, then our cash available for payment on the notes would be substantially reduced.

 

The present United States federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships may change so as to cause us to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to entity-level federal income taxation. Any such modification to the United States federal income tax laws and

interpretations thereof may or may not be applied retroactively. For example, in response to certain recent developments, members of Congress are considering substantive changes to the definition of qualifying income under Internal Revenue Code Section 7704(d). It is possible that these efforts could result in changes to the existing United States tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships, including us. We are unable to predict whether any of these changes or other proposals will ultimately be enacted.

 

If we were treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, we would pay United States federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and we likely would pay state taxes as well. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, the cash available for payment on the notes would be substantially reduced. Therefore, treatment of us as a corporation would result in a material reduction in our anticipated cash flows and could cause a reduction in the value of the notes.

 

In addition, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise, and other forms of taxation. For example, we became subject in 2007 to a new entity-level tax on the portion of our income generated in Texas. Specifically, the Texas margin tax will be imposed at a maximum effective rate of 0.7% of our gross income apportioned to Texas. Imposition of such tax on us by Texas, or any other state, will reduce the cash available for payment on the notes.

 

We expect to receive aggregate net proceeds of approximately $      million from the sale of the notes to the underwriters after deducting the underwriters’ discount and other offering expenses payable by us. We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay approximately $      of debt outstanding under our term credit agreement.

 

Our indebtedness under the term credit agreement was incurred to repay approximately $180 million aggregate principal amount of TE Products’ 6.450% Senior Notes due 2008, to redeem approximately $175 million aggregate principal amount of TE Products’ 7.510% Senior Notes due 2028, to reduce indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility and to finance the cash portion of, or repayment of debt assumed as part of, our marine transportation business acquisitions, which we purchased for an aggregate of approximately $336.8 million of cash (excluding approximately $6.8 million to be paid upon completion and delivery of marine vessels under construction), assumption of approximately $63.2 million of debt and approximately 4.85 million units representing limited partner interests in our partnership.

 

As of March 19, 2008, $1.0 billion was outstanding under our term credit agreement bearing an interest rate of 3.72%. The maturity date of the term credit agreement is December 19, 2008.

 

Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are lenders under our term credit agreement and, accordingly, will receive proceeds of this offering. Please read “Underwriting.”

 

 

The following table sets forth our unaudited consolidated capitalization as of December 31, 2007:

 

 

 

 

The historical data in the table below is derived from and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated historical financial statements, including the accompanying notes, incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

 

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges of TEPPCO Partners and its subsidiaries for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

 

 

For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges:

 

 

We have summarized below terms and provisions of the notes. However, this summary is not a complete description of all of the terms and provisions of the notes. You should read carefully the section entitled “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus for a description of other material terms of the notes, the guarantees and the base indenture under which we will issue the notes. For more information, we refer you to the notes, the base indenture and the supplemental indentures, all of which are available from us. We urge you to read the base indenture and the supplemental indentures because they, and not this description, define your rights as an owner of the notes. Each series of notes is a new series of “senior debt securities” referred to in the accompanying prospectus. The following description supplements and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of the senior debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus. In this description, references to “us,” “we,” “ours,” “TEPPCO Partners” or the “Partnership” are to TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and not our subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

We will issue each series of notes offered hereby under an indenture dated as of February 20, 2002, which we refer to as the “base indenture,” among us, as issuer, our subsidiaries parties thereto, as guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association (successor to Wachovia Bank, National Association and First Union National Bank), as trustee, as amended and supplemented pursuant to a supplemental indenture applicable to such series of notes. We refer to the base indenture, as amended and supplemented by each such supplemental indenture applicable to each series of notes offered hereby, as the “indenture.”

 

General

 

The notes of each series:

 

 

Subject to the exceptions, and subject to compliance with the applicable requirements, set forth in the indenture, we may discharge our obligations under the indenture with respect to the notes as described under “Description of Debt Securities — Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus.

 

The Guarantees

 

The notes are guaranteed by TE Products, TCTM, TEPPCO Midstream and Val Verde as described under “— Subsidiary Guarantors.” These are our only subsidiaries that presently guarantee any of our long-term indebtedness.

 

Each guarantee by a subsidiary guarantor of the notes:

 

 

Principal, Maturity and Interest

 

Initially, we will issue the 2013 notes in an aggregate principal amount of $      million, the 2018 notes in an aggregate principal amount of $      million and the 2038 notes in an aggregate principal amount of $      million.

 

The notes will be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The notes will mature on (a)     , 2013, in the case of the 2013 notes, (b)     , 2018, in the case of the 2018 notes and (c)     , 2038, in the case of the 2038 notes. We may issue additional notes of each series from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes, in compliance with the terms of the indenture.

 

Interest on the notes will:

 

 

If any interest payment date, maturity date or redemption date falls on a day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the next business day with the same force and effect as if made on the relevant interest payment date, maturity date or redemption date. Unless we default on a payment, no interest will accrue for the period from and after the applicable interest payment date, maturity date or redemption date.

 

Payment and Transfer

 

Initially, each series of notes will be issued only in global form. Beneficial interests in notes in global form will be shown on, and transfers of interest in notes in global form will be made only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants. Notes in definitive form, if any, may be presented for registration, exchange or transfer at the office or agency maintained by us for such purpose (which initially will be the corporate trust office of the trustee located at 100 Wall Street, Suite 1600, EX-NY-WALL, New York, NY 10005, Attn: David Massa, Vice President).

 

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on notes in global form registered in the name of DTC’s nominee will be made in immediately available funds to DTC’s nominee, as the registered holder of such global notes. If any of the notes is no longer represented by a global note, payment of interest on the notes in definitive form may, at our option, be made at the corporate trust office of the trustee indicated above or by check mailed directly to holders at their respective registered addresses or by wire transfer to an account designated by a holder.

 

No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge payable upon transfer or exchange of notes. We are not required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption or any other note for a period of 15 days before any mailing of notice of notes to be redeemed.

 

The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.

Optional Redemption

 

Each series of notes will be redeemable, at our option, at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, at a price equal to the greater of:

 

 

The actual redemption price, calculated as provided above, will be calculated and certified to the trustee and us by the Independent Investment Banker.

 

Notes called for redemption become due on the Redemption Date. Notices of optional redemption will be mailed at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed at its registered address. The notice of optional redemption for the notes will state, among other things, the amount of notes to be redeemed, the Redemption Date, the method of calculating the redemption price and each place that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, interest will cease to accrue on any notes that have been called for redemption at the Redemption Date. If less than all of the notes of any series are redeemed at any time, the trustee will select the notes of such series to be redeemed on a pro rata basis or by any other method the trustee deems fair and appropriate.

 

For purposes of determining the optional redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:

 

“Treasury Yield” means, with respect to any Redemption Date applicable to any series of the notes, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding such Redemption Date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the applicable Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining terms of the notes to be redeemed; provided, however, that if no maturity is within three months before or after the maturity date for such notes, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to such United States Treasury security will be determined and the treasury rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis rounding to the nearest month.

 

“Independent Investment Banker” means any of UBS Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (and their respective successors) or, if no such firm is willing and able to select the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue or perform the other functions of the Independent Investment Banker provided in the indenture, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the trustee and reasonably acceptable to us.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, (a) the average of four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means (a) each of UBS Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC (or its relevant affiliate) and their respective successors, and (b) one other primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States selected by us (each, a “Primary Treasury Dealer”); provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall resign as a Reference Treasury Dealer, we will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date for the notes, an average, as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue for the notes (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to an Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such Redemption Date.

 

Ranking and Security

 

The notes will be our unsubordinated obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness. The notes will also be unsecured, unless we are required to secure them pursuant to the limitations on liens covenant described below. Similarly, each guarantee of the notes will be an unsubordinated and unsecured obligation of the subsidiary guarantor and will rank equally in right of payment with all other existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness of the subsidiary guarantor. The notes will effectively rank junior to all of our existing or future secured indebtedness to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness. Similarly, each guarantee of the notes by a subsidiary guarantor will effectively rank junior to all existing and future secured indebtedness of the subsidiary guarantor to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness. The notes will effectively rank junior to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries that are not subsidiary guarantors.

 

At December 31, 2007, on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to borrowings under the term credit agreement to retire the TE Products notes, to reduce indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility and to fund a portion of our marine transportation business acquisitions, the aggregate amount of our unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness was $1.9 billion. We and the subsidiary guarantors do not have any secured indebtedness. The notes will also rank equally in right of payment with our guarantee of up to $70 million principal amount of indebtedness of our Centennial joint venture. Additionally, the guarantees of the notes by the subsidiary guarantors will rank equally in right of payment with other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of those subsidiaries, including their guarantees of our revolving credit facility, term credit agreement, $500.0 million principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2012, $200.0 million principal amount of 6.125% Senior Notes due 2013 and, with the exception of Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, the guarantee of up to $70 million of indebtedness of our Centennial joint venture. As of March 19, 2008, there is no debt outstanding at any of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the notes.

 

No Sinking Fund

 

We are not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.

 

Certain Covenants

 

Except to the extent described below, the indenture does not limit the amount of indebtedness or other obligations that we may incur and does not give you the right to require us to repurchase your notes upon a change of control. The indenture contains two principal covenants described in further detail below:

 

Limitation on Liens.  This covenant limits our ability, and that of our Subsidiaries, to permit liens to exist on our principal assets; and

 

Limitation of Sale-Leaseback Transactions.  This covenant limits our ability to sell or transfer our principal assets and then lease back those assets.

 

Capitalized terms used within this “Covenants” subsection are defined in the “Definitions” subsection.

 

Limitation on Liens.  We will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any lien on any Principal Property or on any shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary that owns or leases any Principal Property to secure any Debt (whether such Principal Property or shares of stock are now existing or owned or subsequently created or acquired), without effectively providing that the notes will be secured equally and ratably with or prior to such secured Debt until such time as such Debt is no longer secured by a lien.

The foregoing restriction does not require us to secure the notes if the liens consist of Permitted Liens or if the Debt secured by these liens is exempted as described under “— Exempted Indebtedness” below.

 

Limitation on Sale-Leaseback Transactions.  We will not, and will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, enter into any Sale-Leaseback Transaction unless:

 

 

(1) the voluntary defeasance or the prepayment, repayment, redemption or retirement of the notes or other senior Funded Debt of ours or any of our Subsidiaries;

 

(2) the acquisition, construction, development or improvement of any Principal Property used or useful in our businesses (including the businesses of our Subsidiaries); or

 

(3) any combination of applications referred to in (1) or (2) above.

 

Exempted Indebtedness.  Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on liens and Sale-Leaseback Transactions, we and our Subsidiaries may incur, create, assume or suffer to exist any lien (other than a Permitted Lien) to secure Debt on any property referred to in the covenant described under “— Limitation on Liens” without securing the notes, or may enter into Sale-Leaseback Transactions without complying with the preceding paragraph, or enter into a combination of such transactions, if the sum of the aggregate principal amount of all such Debt then outstanding and the Attributable Indebtedness of all Sale-Leaseback Transactions then in existence not otherwise permitted in the preceding three bullet points (other than the second bullet point above), does not at the time exceed 10% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

 

Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

 

We will not merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other person or sell, convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our property or assets to any person, whether in a single transaction or series of related transactions, except in accordance with the provisions of our partnership agreement, and unless:

 

 

 

 

 

Thereafter, the surviving entity may exercise our rights and powers under the indenture, in our name or in its own name. If we sell or otherwise dispose of (except by lease) all or substantially all of our assets and the above stated requirements are satisfied, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the indenture. If we lease all or substantially all of our assets, we will not be so released from our obligations under the indenture.

 

Events of Default

 

In addition to the “Events of Default” described in the base prospectus under the heading “Description of Debt Securities — Events of Default, Remedies and Notice — Events of Default,” the following constitutes an “Event of Default” under the indenture in respect of each series of notes offered hereby:

 

default in the payment by us or any of our Subsidiaries at the stated final maturity, after the expiration of any applicable grace period, of any principal of our Debt (other than the notes of that series) or Debt of any of our Subsidiaries (other than the guarantee of the notes of that series) outstanding in an aggregate principal amount in excess of $50 million, or the occurrence of any other default (including, without limitation, the failure to pay interest or any premium), the effect of which is to cause such Debt to become, or to be declared, due prior to its stated maturity and such acceleration is not rescinded within 60 days after notice is given, in accordance with the indenture, to us and the subsidiary guarantors by the trustee, or to us, the subsidiary guarantors and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes of that series.

 

An Event of Default for a particular series of notes will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for the other series of notes or for any other series of debt securities that may be issued under the base indenture.

 

Definitions

 

As used in the description of certain provisions of the indenture, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

“Attributable Indebtedness” means with respect to a Sale-Leaseback Transaction, at the time of determination, the lesser of:

 

 

For purposes of the foregoing definition, rent will not include amounts required to be paid by the lessee, whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of or contingent upon maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, utilities, water rates, operating charges, labor costs and similar charges. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall be the lesser of the net amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the amount of the penalty, but no rent shall be considered as

required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) or the net amount determined assuming no such termination.

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, at any date of determination, the aggregate amount of total assets included in our most recent consolidated quarterly or annual balance sheet prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, less applicable reserves reflected in such balance sheet, after deducting the following amounts:

 

 

“Debt” means any obligation created or assumed by any person for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee therefor.

 

“Funded Debt” means all Debt maturing one year or more from the date of the incurrence, creation, assumption or guarantee thereof, all Debt directly or indirectly renewable or extendable, at the option of the debtor, by its terms or by the terms of the instrument or agreement relating thereto, to a date one year or more from the date of the incurrence, creation, assumption or guarantee thereof, and all Debt under a revolving credit or similar agreement obligating the lender or lenders to extend credit over a period of one year or more.

 

“Permitted Liens” include:

 

 

 

 

“Principal Property” means, whether owned or leased on the date of the initial issuance of notes or acquired later:

 

 

except, in the case of either of the foregoing clauses, any such assets consisting of inventories, furniture, office fixtures and equipment (including data processing equipment), vehicles and equipment used on, or useful with, vehicles, and any such assets, plant or terminal which, in the opinion of the board of directors of our general partner, is not material in relation to our activities or the activities of us and our Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

“Sale-Leaseback Transaction” means any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by us or any of our Subsidiaries of any Principal Property, which Principal Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or such Subsidiary to such person, other than:

 

 

“Subsidiary” of any person means:

 

 

Subsidiary Guarantors

 

Our payment obligations under the notes will be jointly and severally guaranteed by the subsidiary guarantors. The obligations of each subsidiary guarantor under its guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the subsidiary guarantor and

to any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other subsidiary guarantor in respect of the obligations of the other subsidiary guarantor under its guarantee, result in the obligations of the subsidiary guarantor under the guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under Federal or state law.

 

Provided that no default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under the indenture, a subsidiary guarantor will be unconditionally released and discharged from the guarantee:

 

 

If at any time after the issuance of the notes, including following any release of a subsidiary guarantor from its guarantee under the indenture, a Subsidiary (including any future Subsidiary) guarantees any of our Funded Debt, we will cause such Subsidiary to guarantee the notes in accordance with the indenture by simultaneously executing and delivering a supplemental indenture.

 

Concerning the Trustee

 

U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the indenture and has been appointed by us as registrar and paying agent with regard to the notes.

 

The following summary describes certain United States federal income tax considerations associated with the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes. This discussion applies only to the initial holders of the notes who acquire the notes for a price equal to the issue price of the notes and who hold the notes as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The issue price of the notes is the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes is sold other than to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers.

 

In this discussion, we do not purport to address all tax considerations that may be important to a particular holder in light of the holder’s circumstances, or to certain categories of investors that may be subject to special rules, such as:

 

 

This discussion is included for general information only and does not address all of the aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in light of your particular investment or other circumstances. In addition, this discussion does not address any state or local, foreign or other tax consequences. This discussion is based on U.S. federal income tax law, including the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury regulations, administrative rulings and judicial authority, all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement. Subsequent developments in U.S. federal income tax law, including changes in law or differing interpretations, which may be applied retroactively, could have a material effect on the U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of notes as described below. Before you purchase notes, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the particular U.S. federal, state and local, foreign and other tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of notes that may be applicable to you.

 

U.S. Holders

 

The following summary applies to you only if you are a U.S. holder (as defined below).

 

Definition of a U.S. Holder

 

A “U.S. holder” is a beneficial owner of a note or notes who or which is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

 

 

If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of notes, the treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Holders of notes that are a partnership or partners in such partnership should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the notes.

 

Payments of Interest

 

Interest on your notes will be taxed as ordinary income. In addition:

 

 

Sale or Other Disposition of Notes

 

When you sell or otherwise dispose of your notes in a taxable transaction, you generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between:

 

 

Your tax basis in your notes generally will equal the amount you paid for the notes. Your gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the sale or other taxable disposition you have held the notes for more than one year. Subject to limited exceptions, your capital losses cannot be used to offset your ordinary income. If you are a non-corporate U.S. holder, your long-term capital gain generally will be subject to a maximum tax rate of 15% for taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2010. For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, the long-term capital gain rate is currently scheduled to increase to 20%.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

Information reporting requirements apply to interest and principal payments and to the proceeds of sales before maturity. These amounts generally must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service and to you. In general, “backup withholding” may apply:

 

 

if you are a non-corporate U.S. holder and fail to provide a correct taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, or otherwise fail to comply with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

 

The applicable backup withholding rate will be the fourth lowest income tax rate applicable to unmarried individuals for the relevant taxable year. Presently, the backup withholding rate is 28%. The backup withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability if the required information is provided to the Internal Revenue Service.

Non-U.S. Holders

 

The following summary applies to you if you are not a U.S. holder (as defined above) and are not a partnership (including an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes). An individual may, subject to exceptions, be deemed to be a resident alien, as opposed to a non-resident alien, by, among other ways, being present in the United States:

 

 

Resident aliens are subject to U.S. federal income tax as if they were U.S. citizens.

 

U.S. Federal Withholding Tax

 

Under current U.S. federal income tax laws, and subject to the discussion below, U.S. federal withholding tax will not apply to payments by us or our paying agent (in its capacity as such) of interest on your notes under the “portfolio interest” exception of the Internal Revenue Code, provided that interest on the notes is not effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States and:

 

 

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to you will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide us with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) claiming an exemption from (or a reduction of) withholding under a U.S. income tax treaty, or you provide us with a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI claiming that the payments of interest are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, in which case you generally will be subject to U.S. income tax on a net income basis on such payments of interest (see “U.S. Federal Income Tax” below).

 

U.S. Federal Income Tax

 

Except for the possible application of U.S. federal withholding tax (as described immediately above) and backup withholding tax (see “Backup Withholding and Information Reporting” below), you generally will not have to pay U.S. federal income tax on payments of interest on your notes, or on any gain or income realized from the sale, redemption, retirement at maturity or other disposition of your notes (subject to, in the case of proceeds representing accrued interest, the conditions described in “U.S. Federal Withholding Tax” immediately above) unless:

 

 

If you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest, gain or any other income attributable to your notes is effectively connected with the conduct of your trade or business, and, if a U.S. income tax treaty applies, you maintain a U.S. “permanent establishment” to which the interest, gain or other income is generally attributable, you generally will be subject to U.S. income tax on a net income basis on such interest, gain or income. In this instance, however, the interest on your notes will be exempt from the 30% U.S. withholding tax discussed immediately above under “U.S. Federal Withholding Tax” if you provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI or appropriate substitute form to us or our paying agent on or before any payment date to claim the exemption.

 

In addition, if you are a foreign corporation, you may be subject to a U.S. branch profits tax equal to 30% of your effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, as adjusted for certain items, unless a lower rate applies to you under a U.S. income tax treaty with your country of residence. For this purpose, you must include interest and gain on your notes in the earnings and profits subject to the U.S. branch profits tax if these amounts are effectively connected with the conduct of your U.S. trade or business.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

Payments of interest on a note, and amounts withheld from such payments, if any, generally will be required to be reported to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and to you. Backup withholding will not apply to payments made by us or our paying agent (in its capacity as such) to you if you have provided the required certification that you are a non-U.S. holder as described in “U.S. Federal Withholding Tax” above, and if neither we nor our paying agent has actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a U.S. holder (as described in “— U.S. Holders — Definition of a U.S. Holder” above).

 

The gross proceeds from the disposition of your notes may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding tax. If you sell your notes outside the United States through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker and the sales proceeds are paid to you outside the United States, then the U.S. backup withholding and information reporting requirements generally will not apply to that payment. However, U.S. information reporting, but not backup withholding, will apply to a payment of sales proceeds, even if that payment is made outside the United States, if you sell your notes through a non-U.S. office of a broker that:

 

 

unless the broker has documentary evidence in its files that you are not a United States person and certain other conditions are met or you otherwise establish an exemption. If you receive payments of the proceeds of a sale of your notes to or through a U.S. office of a broker, the payment is subject to both U.S. backup withholding and information reporting unless you provide an IRS Form W-8BEN certifying that you are not a United States person or you otherwise establish an exemption.

 

You should consult your own tax advisor regarding application of backup withholding in your particular circumstances and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding under current Treasury regulations. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to you will be allowed as a refund or credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase of the notes by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), by plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or provisions under any federal, state, local, non-United States or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws”), and by entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” (within the meaning of ERISA and any Similar Laws) of such employee benefit plans, plans, accounts and arrangements (each, a “Plan”).

 

General Fiduciary Matters

 

ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on persons who are fiduciaries of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (an “ERISA Plan”) and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of an ERISA Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties or disqualified persons. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of such an ERISA Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of such an ERISA Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to such an ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the ERISA Plan.

 

In considering an investment in the notes of a portion of the assets of any Plan, a fiduciary should determine whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Laws relating to a fiduciary’s duties to the Plan including, without limitation, the prudence, diversification, exclusive benefit, delegation of control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws. In addition, a fiduciary should determine whether the investment will result in the recognition of unrelated business taxable income by such Plan.

 

Prohibited Transaction Issues

 

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of ERISA, or “disqualified persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the ERISA Plan that engages in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. The acquisition and/or holding of notes by an ERISA Plan with respect to which we or the underwriters are considered a party in interest or a disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption. In this regard, the United States Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) that may apply to the acquisition and holding of the notes. These class exemptions include, without limitation, PTCE 84-14 respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers, PTCE 90-1, respecting insurance company pooled separate accounts, PTCE 91-38, respecting bank collective investment funds, PTCE 95-60, respecting life insurance company general accounts and PTCE 96-23, respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers, although there can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied. In addition, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 added a new statutory exemption in Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) that would exempt the acquisition and holding of the notes by a Plan under certain circumstances (certain transactions between a plan and a non-fiduciary services provider).

 

Because of the foregoing, the notes should not be purchased or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchase and holding will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.

Governmental plans and certain church plans (as defined under Sections 3(32) and 3(33) of ERISA, respectively) are not subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the Code. Such Plans may, however, be subject to Similar Laws which may affect their investment in the notes. Any fiduciary of such a governmental or church plan considering an investment in the notes should determine the need for, and the availability, if necessary, of any exemptive relief under federal, state, local, non United States laws or other laws or regulations.

 

Representation

 

Accordingly, by acceptance of a note, each purchaser and subsequent transferee will be deemed to have represented and warranted to us on each day from and including the date of its purchase of such notes through and including the date of its disposition of such notes that either (i) no portion of the assets used by such purchaser or transferee to acquire and hold the notes constitutes assets of any Plan or (ii) the purchase and holding of the notes by such purchaser or transferee will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or similar violation under any applicable Similar Laws.

 

The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive. In addition, such discussion assumes that the notes will constitute indebtedness as opposed to “equity” interests under the United States Department of Labor’s plan asset regulations or Similar Law. Although such characterization of the notes would appear appropriate, we can offer you no assurance that this will be the case. Accordingly, because of the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed on persons involved in nonexempt prohibited transactions or fiduciary breaches, it is particularly important that any fiduciary or other person considering purchasing the notes on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan, consult with its counsel regarding the potential applicability of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Law to such transactions and the consequences under ERISA, the Code or other Similar Law of the acquisition and ownership of the notes. Purchasers of the notes have exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase and holder of the notes do not violate the fiduciary or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Law. The sale of the notes to a Plan is in no respect a representation by us that such an investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to investment by Plans generally or any particular Plan, or that such an investment is appropriate for Plan generally or any particular Plan.

 

We, together with the subsidiary guarantors, are offering the notes described in this prospectus through the underwriters named below. UBS Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters and joint book-running managers for this offering. We have entered into an underwriting agreement with the representatives. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, each of the underwriters has severally agreed to purchase the principal amount of notes listed next to its name in the following table.

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters must take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken.

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters’ obligation to purchase the notes depends on the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement including:

 

 

In connection with this offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses electronically.

 

Commissions and Expenses

 

The notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to     % of the principal amount in the case of the 2013 notes, a discount from the initial public offering price of up to     % of the principal amount in the case of the 2018 notes and a discount from the initial public offering price of up to     % of the principal amount in the case of the 2038 notes. The underwriters may allow, and any such dealer may reallow, a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the 2013 notes,     % of the principal amount of the 2018 notes and     % of the principal amount of the 2038 notes to certain other dealers. If all the notes are not sold at the public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms.

The following table shows the per note and total underwriting discounts and commissions we will pay to the underwriters.

 

 

We estimate that the total out-of-pocket expenses of this offering payable by us, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $500,000.

 

New Issue of Notes

 

Each series of notes is a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We have been advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the notes, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes.

 

Indemnification

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

Price Stabilization, Short Positions

 

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our notes, including:

 

 

Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our notes while this offering is in progress. These transactions may also include making short sales of our notes, which involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of notes than they are required to purchase in this offering and purchasing notes on the open market to cover positions created by short sales.

 

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

 

As a result of these activities, the price of our notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

Relationships

 

From time to time the underwriters engage in transactions with us in the ordinary course of business. The underwriters have performed investment banking services for us in the last two years and have received fees for these services. In addition, certain affiliates of UBS Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC are lenders under our term credit agreement

and, accordingly, will receive proceeds of this offering. Because it is possible that the underwriters or their affiliated or associated persons could receive more than 10% of the proceeds of the offering as repayment for such debt, the offering is made in compliance with the applicable provisions of Section 2710(h)(1) and Rule 2720 of the NASD Conduct Rules. Because the notes are investment-grade rated by one or more nationally recognized statistical rating agencies, compliance with these rules only requires the disclosure set forth in this paragraph.

 

 

Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas, will pass on the validity of the notes, the guarantees and certain federal income tax matters related to the notes for us and the subsidiary guarantors. Certain legal matters with respect to the notes and the guarantees will be passed upon for the underwriters by Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas.

 

 

The (1) consolidated financial statements of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from TEPPCO Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the effectiveness of TEPPCO Partners, L.P.’s internal control over financial reporting and (2) the consolidated balance sheet of Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from TEPPCO Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2008 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The (1) consolidated financial statements of Jonah Gas Gathering Company and subsidiary incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2007 and (2) financial statements of LDH Energy Mont Belvieu L.P. (formerly Mont Belvieu Storage Partners, L.P.) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2007 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2005 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission”) under the Exchange Act (Commission File Nos. 1-10403 and 1-13603, respectively). You may read and copy any document we file at the Commission’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the Commission at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Such filings are also available to the public at the Commission’s Web site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, documents filed by us can be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10002. We maintain an Internet Web site at www.teppco.com. On the Investor Relations page of that site, we provide access to our Commission filings free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the Commission. The information on our Internet Web site is not incorporated in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus by reference and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

 

The Commission allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus the information we file with the Commission, which means that we can disclose

important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement, and later information that we file with the Commission will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the Commission under section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until this offering is completed (other than information furnished under Items 2.02 or 7.01 of any Form 8-K, which is not incorporated by reference herein):

 

 

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus supplement has been delivered, a copy of any and all Commission filings. You may request a copy of these filings by writing or telephoning us at:

 

 

TEPPCO Partners, L.P.

1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 1800

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (713) 381-4707

 

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and some of the documents we have incorporated herein and therein by reference contain statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements that express belief, expectation, estimates or intentions, as well as those that are not statements of historical facts are forward-looking statements. The words “proposed,” “anticipate,” “potential,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “expect,” “estimate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “seek” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Without limiting the broader description of forward-looking statements above, we specifically note that statements included or incorporated by reference herein that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including such things as future distributions, estimated future capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), business strategy and measures to implement strategy, competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of our business and operations, plans, references to future success, references to intentions as to future matters and other such matters are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors we believe are appropriate under the circumstances. While we believe our expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, whether actual results and developments will conform with our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including general economic, market or business conditions, the opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to and pursued by us, competitive actions by other pipeline or energy transportation companies, changes in laws or regulations and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. For example, the demand for refined products is dependent upon the price, prevailing economic conditions and demographic changes in the markets served, trucking and railroad freight, agricultural usage and military usage; the demand for propane is sensitive to the weather and prevailing economic conditions; the demand for petrochemicals is dependent upon prices for products produced from petrochemicals; the demand for crude oil and petroleum products is dependent upon the price of crude oil and the products produced from the refining of crude oil; and the demand for natural gas is dependent upon the price of natural gas and the locations in which natural gas is drilled. Further, the success of our new marine transportation business is dependent upon, among other things, our ability to effectively assimilate and provide for the operation of that business and maintain key personnel and customer relationships. We are also subject to regulatory factors such as the amounts we are allowed to charge our customers for the services we provide on our regulated pipeline systems and the cost and ability of complying with government regulations of the marine transportation industry. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made or incorporated by reference in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements, and we cannot assure you that actual results or developments that we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, will have the expected consequences to or effect on us or our business or operations. Also note that we provide additional cautionary discussion of risks and uncertainties under the captions “Risk Factors,” in this prospectus supplement and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

The forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference herein speak only as of the date hereof or in the case of any such statement in a document incorporated by reference, the date of such document. Except as required by the federal and state securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained herein, in the accompanying prospectus, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in our future periodic reports filed with the Commission. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed herein may not occur.

PROSPECTUS

 

TEPPCO Partners, L.P.

 

Limited Partnership Units

Debt Securities

 

 

Guarantees of Debt Securities of TEPPCO Partners, L.P. by:

TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership

TCTM, L.P.

TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P.

Jonah Gas Gathering Company

Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, L.P.

 

 

 

We, TEPPCO Partners, L.P., may from time to time offer and sell limited partnership units and debt securities that may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by our subsidiaries, TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership, TCTM, L.P., TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P., Jonah Gas Gathering Company and Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, L.P. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer the securities. The specific terms of any securities we offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities.

 

The New York Stock Exchange has listed our limited partnership units under the symbol “TPP.”

 

Our address is 2929 Allen Parkway, P.O. Box 2521, Houston, Texas 77252-2521, and our telephone number is (713) 759-3636.

 

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on Page 1 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is November 3, 2003

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else to give you different information. We are not offering these securities in any state where they do not permit the offer. We will disclose any material changes in our affairs in an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement or a future filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell up to $2,000,000,000 in principal amount of the limited partnership units or debt securities, or a combination of both described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus generally describes us and the limited partnership units and debt securities. Each time we sell limited partnership units or debt securities with this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information in this prospectus. The information in this prospectus is accurate as of November 3, 2003. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

We are one of the largest publicly traded limited partnerships engaged in the transportation of refined products, liquefied petroleum gases and petrochemicals, the transportation and marketing of crude oil and natural gas liquids and the gathering of natural gas. Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC (formerly Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company and referred to in this prospectus as TEPPCO LLC) serves as our general partner and is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Duke Energy Field Services, LLC, which is owned 70% by Duke Energy Corporation and 30% by ConocoPhillips. Please see the organization chart on page 11 for a more detailed description of our organizational structure.

 

As used in this prospectus, “we,” “us,” “our” and “TEPPCO Partners” mean TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and, where the context requires, include our subsidiary operating partnerships.

 

TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership, TCTM, L.P., TEPPCO Midstream Companies, L.P., Jonah Gas Gathering Company and Val Verde Gas Gathering Company, L.P. are our only “significant subsidiaries” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC, as of the date of this prospectus. The general partner of TE Products, TCTM and TEPPCO Midstream is TEPPCO GP, Inc., which is wholly owned by us. TEPPCO GP owns a 0.001% general partner interest in each of TE Products, TCTM and TEPPCO Midstream. We own a 99.999% limited partner interest in each of TE Products, TCTM and TEPPCO Midstream. Jonah is a Wyoming general partnership. TEPPCO Midstream owns a 99.999% general partner interest in Jonah and TEPPCO GP owns a 0.001% general partner interest and serves as its managing general partner. TEPPCO NGL Pipelines, LLC owns a 0.001% general partner interest in Val Verde, and TEPPCO Midstream owns a 99.999% limited partner interest in Val Verde. We sometimes refer to TE Products, TCTM, TEPPCO Midstream, Jonah and Val Verde in this prospectus as the “Subsidiary Guarantors.” The Subsidiary Guarantors may jointly and severally and unconditionally guarantee our payment obligations under any series of debt securities offered by this prospectus, as set forth in a related prospectus supplement.

 

Before you invest in our securities, you should be aware that there are risks associated with such an investment. You should consider carefully these risk factors together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference into this document before purchasing our securities.

 

If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In that event, we may be unable to make distributions to our unitholders or pay interest on, or the principal of, any debt securities, the trading price of our limited partnership units could decline or you may lose all of your investment.

 

Potential future acquisitions and expansions, if any, may affect our business by substantially increasing the level of our indebtedness and contingent liabilities and increasing our risks of being unable to effectively integrate these new operations.

 

From time to time, we evaluate and acquire assets and businesses that we believe complement our existing assets and businesses. Acquisitions may require substantial capital or the incurrence of substantial indebtedness. If we consummate any future acquisitions, our capitalization and results of operations may change significantly, and you will not have the opportunity to evaluate the economic, financial and other relevant information that we will consider in determining the application of these funds and other resources.

 

Acquisitions and business expansions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the assets and operations of the acquired businesses, inefficiencies and difficulties that arise because of unfamiliarity with new assets and the businesses associated with them and new geographic areas and the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns. Further, unexpected costs and challenges may arise whenever businesses with different operations or management are combined, and we may experience unanticipated delays in realizing the benefits of an acquisition. Following an acquisition, we may discover previously unknown liabilities associated with the acquired business for which we have no recourse under applicable indemnification provisions.

 

Expanding our natural gas gathering business by constructing new pipelines and compression facilities subjects us to construction risks and risks that natural gas supplies will not be available upon completion of the new pipelines.

 

We may expand the capacity of our existing natural gas gathering system through the construction of additional facilities. The construction of gathering facilities requires the expenditure of significant amounts of capital, which may exceed our estimates. Generally, we may have only limited natural gas supplies committed to these facilities prior to their construction. Moreover, we may construct facilities to capture anticipated future growth in production in a region in which anticipated production growth does not materialize. As a result, there is the risk that new facilities may not be able to attract enough natural gas to achieve our expected investment return, which could adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.

Our interstate tariff rates are subject to review and possible adjustment by federal regulators, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or the FERC, pursuant to the Interstate Commerce Act, regulates the tariff rates for our interstate common carrier pipeline operations. To be lawful under that Act, interstate tariff rates must be just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory. Shippers may protest, and the FERC may investigate, the lawfulness of new or changed tariff rates. The FERC can suspend those tariff rates for up to seven months. It can also require refunds of amounts collected under rates ultimately found unlawful. The FERC may also challenge tariff rates that have become final and effective. Because of the complexity of rate making, the lawfulness of any rate is never assured.

 

The FERC uses prescribed rate methodologies for approving regulated tariff rates for transporting crude oil and refined products. These methodologies may limit our ability to set rates based on our actual costs or may delay the use of rates reflecting increased costs. Changes in the FERC’s approved methodology for approving rates could adversely affect us. Adverse decisions by the FERC in approving our regulated rates could adversely affect our cash flow. Additional challenges to our tariff rates could be filed with the FERC.

 

While the FERC does not directly regulate our natural gas gathering operations, federal regulation, directly or indirectly, influences the parties that gather natural gas on our gas gathering systems. Our intrastate natural gas gathering systems are generally exempt from FERC regulation under the Natural Gas Act of 1938. Nonetheless, FERC regulation still significantly affects our natural gas gathering business. In recent years, the FERC has pursued pro-competition policies in its regulation of interstate natural gas pipelines. However, if the FERC does not continue this approach as it considers proposals by natural gas pipelines to allow negotiated rates that are not limited by rate ceilings, pipeline rate case proposals and revisions to rules and policies that may affect our shippers’ rights of access to interstate natural gas transportation capacity, it could have an adverse effect on the rates we are able to charge in the future.

 

Our partnership status may be a disadvantage to us in calculating our cost of service for rate-making purposes.

 

In a 1995 decision involving an unrelated oil pipeline limited partnership, the FERC partially disallowed the inclusion of income taxes in that partnership’s cost of service. In another FERC proceeding involving a different oil pipeline limited partnership, the FERC held that the oil pipeline limited partnership may not claim an income tax allowance for income attributable to non-corporate limited partners, both individuals and other entities. Because corporations are taxpaying entities, income taxes are generally allowed to be included as a corporate cost-of-service. While we currently do not use the cost-of-service methodology to support our rates, these decisions might adversely affect us should we elect in the future to use the cost-of-service methodology or should we be required to use that methodology to defend our rates if challenged by our customers. This could put us at a competitive disadvantage.

 

Competition could adversely affect our operating results.

 

Our refined products and liquefied petroleum gases, or LPGs, transportation business competes with other pipelines in the areas where we deliver products. We also compete with trucks, barges and railroads in some of the areas we serve. Competitive pressures may adversely affect our tariff rates or volumes shipped. The crude oil gathering and marketing business is characterized by thin margins and intense competition for supplies of crude oil at the wellhead. A decline in domestic crude oil production has intensified competition among gatherers and marketers. Our crude oil transportation business competes with common carriers and proprietary pipelines owned and operated by major oil companies, large independent pipeline companies and other companies in the areas where our pipeline systems deliver crude oil and natural gas liquids.

 

New supplies of natural gas are necessary to offset natural declines in production from wells connected to our gathering system and to increase throughput volume, and we encounter competition in obtaining contracts to gather natural gas supplies. Competition in natural gas gathering is based in large part on reputation, efficiency, reliability, gathering system capacity and price arrangements. Our key competitors in the gas gathering segment include independent gas gatherers and major integrated energy companies. Alternate gathering facilities are available to

producers we serve, and those producers may also elect to construct proprietary gas gathering systems. If the production delivered to our gathering system declines, our revenues from such operations will decline.

 

Our business requires extensive credit risk management that may not be adequate to protect against customer nonpayment.

 

Risks of nonpayment and nonperformance by customers are a major consideration in our businesses. Our credit procedures and policies may not be adequate to fully eliminate customer credit risk.

 

Our crude oil marketing business involves risks relating to product prices.

 

Our crude oil operations subject us to pricing risks as we buy and sell crude oil for delivery on our crude oil pipelines. These pricing and basis risks cannot be completely hedged or eliminated. These are the risks that price relationships between delivery points, classes of products or delivery periods will change from time to time.

 

Reduced demand could affect shipments on the pipelines.

 

Our products pipeline business depends in large part on the demand for refined petroleum products in the markets served by our pipelines. Reductions in that demand adversely affect our pipeline business. Market demand varies based upon the different end uses of the refined products we ship. Demand for gasoline, which has in recent years accounted for approximately one-half of our refined products transportation revenues, depends upon price, prevailing economic conditions and demographic changes in the markets we serve. Weather conditions, government policy and crop prices affect the demand for refined products used in agricultural operations. Demand for jet fuel, which has in recent years accounted for almost one-quarter of our refined products revenues, depends on prevailing economic conditions and military usage. Propane deliveries are generally sensitive to the weather and meaningful year-to-year variances have occurred and will likely continue to occur.

 

Our gathering system profits and cash flow depend on the volumes of natural gas produced from the fields served by our gathering systems and are subject to factors beyond our control.

 

Regional production levels drive the volume of natural gas gathered on our system. We cannot influence or control the operation or development of the gas fields we serve. Production levels may be affected by:

 

 

Any declines in the volumes of natural gas delivered for gathering on our system will adversely affect our revenues and could, if sustained or pronounced, materially adversely affect our financial position or results of operation.

 

 

Our operations are subject to governmental laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment which may expose us to significant costs and liabilities.

 

The risk of substantial environmental costs and liabilities is inherent in pipeline and terminaling operations and we may incur substantial environmental costs and liabilities. Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to protection of the environment. We currently own or lease, and have owned or leased, many properties that have been used for many years to terminal or store crude oil, petroleum products or other chemicals. Owners, tenants or users of these properties have disposed of or released hydrocarbons or solid wastes on

or under them. Additionally, some sites we operate are located near current or former refining and terminaling operations. There is a risk that contamination has migrated from those sites to ours. Increasingly strict environmental laws, regulations and enforcement policies and claims for damages and other similar developments could result in substantial costs and liabilities.

 

Many of our operations and activities are subject to significant federal and state environmental laws and regulations. These include, for example, the Federal Clean Air Act and analogous state laws, which impose obligations related to air emissions and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act, and analogous state laws, which regulate discharge of wastewaters from our facilities to state and federal waters. In addition, our operations are also subject to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as CERCLA or the Superfund law, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, also known as RCRA, and analogous state laws in connection with the cleanup of hazardous substances that may have been released at properties currently or previously owned or operated by us or locations to which we have sent wastes for disposal. Various governmental authorities including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have the power to enforce compliance with these regulations and the permits issued under them, and violators are subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including civil fines, injunctions or both. Liability may be incurred without regard to fault under CERCLA, RCRA, and analogous state laws for the remediation of contaminated areas. Private parties, including the owners of properties through which our pipeline systems pass, may also have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as to seek damages for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations or for personal injury or property damage. There is inherent risk of the incurrence of environmental costs and liabilities in our business due to our handling of the products we gather or transport, air emissions related to our operations, historical industry operations, waste disposal practices and the prior use of flow meters containing mercury, some of which may be material. In addition, the possibility exists that stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase our compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary, some of which may be material. Our insurance may not cover all environmental risks and costs or may not provide sufficient coverage in the event an environmental claim is made against us. Our business may be adversely affected by increased costs due to stricter pollution control requirements or liabilities resulting from non-compliance with required operating or other regulatory permits. New environmental regulations might adversely affect our products and activities, including processing, storage and transportation, as well as waste management and air emissions. Federal and state agencies also could impose additional safety requirements, any of which could affect our profitability.

 

Terrorist attacks aimed at our facilities could adversely affect our business.

 

On September 11, 2001, the United States was the target of terrorist attacks of unprecedented scale. Since the September 11 attacks, the United States government has issued warnings that energy assets, specifically our nation’s pipeline infrastructure, may be the future target of terrorist organizations. These developments have subjected our operations to increased risks. Any future terrorist attack on our facilities, those of our customers and, in some cases, those of other pipelines, could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Our business involves many hazards and operational risks, some of which may not be covered by insurance.

 

Our operations are subject to the many hazards inherent in the transportation of refined petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gases and petrochemicals, the transportation of crude oil and the gathering, compressing, treating and processing of natural gas and natural gas liquids and in the storage of residue gas, including ruptures, leaks and fires. These risks could result in substantial losses due to personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment and pollution or other environmental damage and may result in curtailment or suspension of our related operations. We are not fully insured against all risks incident to our business. Most significantly, we are not insured against the loss of revenues caused by interruption of business in the event of a loss of, or damage to, our facilities. If a significant accident or event occurs that is not fully insured, it could adversely affect our financial position or results of operations.

 

We are a holding company and depend entirely on our operating subsidiaries’ distributions to service our debt obligations.

 

We are a holding company with no material operations. If we cannot receive cash distributions from our operating subsidiaries, we will not be able to meet our debt service obligations. Our operating subsidiaries may from time to time incur additional indebtedness under agreements that contain restrictions which could further limit each operating subsidiary’s ability to make distributions to us.

 

The debt securities issued by us and the guarantees issued by our subsidiary guarantors will be structurally subordinated to the claims of the creditors of our operating subsidiaries who are not guarantors of the debt securities. Holders of the debt securities will not be creditors of our operating partnerships that have not guaranteed the debt securities. The claims to the assets of non-guarantor operating subsidiaries derive from our own partnership interests in those operating subsidiaries. Claims of our non-guarantor operating subsidiaries’ creditors will generally have priority as to the assets of those operating subsidiaries over our own partnership interest claims and will therefore have priority over the holders of our debt, including the debt securities. Our non-guarantor operating subsidiaries’ creditors may include:

 

 

While our non-guarantor operating subsidiaries currently have no indebtedness for borrowed money, such subsidiaries are not restricted from incurring indebtedness and may do so in the future. Any debt securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement will be structurally subordinated to any such indebtedness.

 

We may issue additional limited partnership interests, diluting existing interests of unitholders.

 

Our partnership agreement allows us to issue additional limited partnership units and other equity securities without unitholder approval. These additional securities may be issued to raise cash or acquire additional assets or for other partnership purposes. There is no limit on the total number of limited partnership units and other equity securities we may issue. When we issue additional limited partnership units or other equity securities, the proportionate partnership interest of our existing unitholders will decrease. The issuance could negatively affect the amount of cash distributed to unitholders and the market price of limited partnership units. Issuance of additional limited partnership units will also diminish the relative voting strength of the previously outstanding limited partnership units.

 

Our general partner and its affiliates may have conflicts with our partnership.

 

The directors and officers of our general partner and its affiliates have duties to manage the general partner in a manner that is beneficial to its member. At the same time, the general partner has duties to manage us in a manner that is beneficial to us. Therefore, the general partner’s duties to us may conflict with the duties of its officers and directors to its member.

 

Such conflicts may include, among others, the following:

 

 

We may acquire additional businesses or properties directly or indirectly for the issuance of additional limited partnership units. At our current level of cash distributions, our general partner receives as incentive distributions approximately 50% of any incremental increase in our distributions. As a result, acquisitions funded though the issuance of limited partnership units have in the past and may in the future benefit our general partner more than our unitholders.

 

Unitholders have limited voting rights and control of management.

 

Our general partner manages and controls our activities and the activities of our operating partnerships. Unitholders have no right to elect the general partner or the directors of the general partner on an annual or other ongoing basis. However, if the general partner resigns or is removed, its successor may be elected by holders of a majority of the limited partnership units. Unitholders may remove the general partner only by a vote of the holders of at least 662/3% of the limited partnership units and only after receiving state regulatory approvals required for the transfer of control of a public utility. As a result, unitholders will have limited influence on matters affecting our operations, and third parties may find it difficult to gain control of us or influence our actions.

 

Our partnership agreement limits the liability of our general partner.

 

Our general partner owes duties of loyalty and care to the unitholders. Provisions of our partnership agreement and the partnership agreements for each of the operating partnerships, however, contain language limiting the liability of the general partner to the unitholders for actions or omissions taken in good faith. In addition, the partnership agreements grant broad rights of indemnification to the general partner and its directors, officers, employees and affiliates for acts taken in good faith in a manner believed to be in or not opposed to our best interests.

 

You should read “Tax Considerations,” beginning on page 28, for a more complete discussion of the following federal income tax risks related to owning and disposing of limited partnership units.

 

The IRS could treat us as a corporation for tax purposes, which would substantially reduce the cash available for distribution to you.

 

The anticipated benefit of an investment in our limited partnership units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

If we were classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we would pay federal income tax on our income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and would pay state income taxes at varying rates. Distributions to you would generally be taxed again to you as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses or deductions would flow through to you. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, the cash available for distribution to you would be substantially reduced. Treatment of us as a corporation would result in a material reduction in the after-tax return to the unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of the limited partnership units. Current law may change so as to cause us to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to entity-level taxation. Our partnership agreement provides that, if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects us to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects us to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax purposes, then the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be decreased to reflect that impact on us.

 

A successful IRS contest of the federal income tax positions we take may adversely impact the market for limited partnership units.

 

We have not requested a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, with respect to any matter affecting us. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the conclusions of our counsel expressed in this prospectus or from

the positions we take. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain our counsel’s conclusions or the positions we take. A court may not concur with our counsel’s conclusions or the positions we take. Any contest with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for limited partnership units and the price at which they trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS, principally legal, accounting and related fees, will be borne by us and directly or indirectly by the unitholders and the general partner.

 

You may be required to pay taxes even if you do not receive any cash distributions.

 

You will be required to pay federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes on your share of our taxable income even if you do not receive any cash distributions from us. You may not receive cash distributions from us equal to your share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax liability that results from your share of our taxable income.

 

Tax gain or loss on disposition of limited partnership units could be different than expected.

 

If you sell your limited partnership units, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and your tax basis in those limited partnership units. Prior distributions in excess of the total net taxable income you were allocated for a limited partnership unit, which decreased your tax basis in that limited partnership unit, will, in effect, become taxable income to you if the limited partnership unit is sold at a price greater than your tax basis in that limited partnership unit, even if the price you receive is less than your original cost. A substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be ordinary income to you. Should the IRS successfully contest some positions we take, you could recognize more gain on the sale of limited partnership units than would be the case under those positions, without the benefit of decreased income in prior years. Also, if you sell your limited partnership units, you may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash you receive from the sale.

 

If you are a tax-exempt entity, regulated investment company or mutual fund or you are not an individual residing in the United States, you may have adverse tax consequences from owning limited partnership units.

 

Investment in limited partnership units by tax-exempt entities, regulated investment companies (or mutual funds) and foreign persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them. Very little of our income will be qualifying income to a regulated investment company or mutual fund. Distributions to foreign persons will be reduced by withholding taxes at the highest effective rate applicable to individuals and foreign persons will be required to file federal income tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income.

 

We have registered as a tax shelter. This may increase the risk of an IRS audit of us or a unitholder.

 

We have registered with the IRS as a “tax shelter.” The IRS requires that some types of entities, including some partnerships, register as “tax shelters” in response to the perception that they claim tax benefits that the IRS may believe to be unwarranted. As a result, we may be audited by the IRS and tax adjustments could be made. Any unitholder owning less than a 1% profits interest in us has very limited rights to participate in the income tax audit process. Further, any adjustments in our tax returns will lead to adjustments in our unitholders’ tax returns and may lead to audits of unitholders’ tax returns and adjustments of items unrelated to us. You will bear the cost of any expense incurred in connection with an examination of your personal tax return.

 

We will treat each purchaser of limited partnership units after the initial sale of any limited partnership units pursuant to this prospectus as having the same tax benefits without regard to the limited partnership units purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our limited partnership units.

 

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of limited partnership units, we will adopt depreciation and amortization positions that do not conform with all aspects of final Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS

challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to you. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from your sale of limited partnership units and could have a negative impact on the value of the limited partnership units or result in audit adjustments to your tax returns. Please read “Tax Considerations — Uniformity of Limited Partnership Units” for a further discussion of the effect of the depreciation and amortization positions we adopt.

 

You will likely be subject to state and local taxes in states where you do not live as a result of an investment in our limited partnership units.

 

In addition to federal income taxes, you will likely be subject to other taxes, including state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and in which you do not reside. You may be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in many or all of the jurisdictions in which we do business. Please read “Tax Considerations — State, Local and Other Tax Considerations” for a discussion of the jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and the jurisdictions in which you will likely be required to file tax returns. Further, you may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. It is your responsibility to file all United States federal, state and local tax returns. Our counsel has not rendered an opinion on the state or local tax consequences of an investment in the limited partnership units.

 

TEPPCO Partners, L.P. and TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on their public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You can also obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

The SEC allows TEPPCO Partners and TE Products to “incorporate by reference” the information they have filed with the SEC. This means that TEPPCO Partners and TE Products can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that TEPPCO Partners and TE Products file later with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC. The documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are incorporated by reference in this prospectus until the termination of this offering.

 

TEPPCO Partners, L.P. (File No. 1-10403)

 

TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership (File No. 1-13603)

 

 

You may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address:

 

Investor Relations Department

TEPPCO Partners, L.P.

TE Products Pipeline Company, Limited Partnership

2929 Allen Parkway

P.O. Box 2521

Houston, Texas 77252-2521

(713) 759-3636

 

This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “estimate” and “anticipate” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include those that address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future. These include the following:

 

 

A forward-looking statement may include a statement of the assumptions or bases underlying the forward-looking statement. We believe we have chosen these assumptions or bases in good faith and that they are reasonable. However, we caution you that assumed facts or bases almost always vary from actual results, and the differences between assumed facts or bases and actual results can be material, depending on the circumstances. When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” and other cautionary statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference. We will not update these statements unless the securities laws require us to do so.

 

We are a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership engaged in the transportation of refined products, liquefied petroleum gases and petrochemicals, the transportation and marketing of crude oil and natural gas liquids and the gathering of natural gas. The following chart shows our organization and ownership structure as of the date of this prospectus before giving effect to this offering. Except in the following chart, the ownership percentages referred to in this prospectus reflect the approximate effective ownership interest in us and our subsidiary companies on a combined basis. Please read “The Subsidiary Guarantors” on page ii for a more detailed description of our ownership of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

 

 

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities to pay all or a portion of indebtedness outstanding at the time and to acquire properties as suitable opportunities arise.

 

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is as follows:

 

 

For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges:

 

 

We will issue our debt securities under an Indenture dated February 20, 2002, as supplemented, among us, as issuer, First Union National Bank, as trustee, and the Subsidiary Guarantors. The debt securities will be governed by the provisions of the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We, the trustee and the Subsidiary Guarantors may enter into additional supplements to the Indenture from time to time. If we decide to issue subordinated debt securities, we will issue them under a separate Indenture containing subordination provisions.

 

This description is a summary of the material provisions of the debt securities and the Indentures. We urge you to read the Indenture and the form of Subordinated Indenture filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part because those Indentures, and not this description, govern your rights as a holder of debt securities. References in this prospectus to an “Indenture” refer to the particular Indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities.

 

The debt securities

 

Any series of debt securities that we issue:

 

 

The Indenture does not limit the total amount of debt securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities under the Indenture from time to time in separate series, up to the aggregate amount authorized for each such series.

 

We will prepare a prospectus supplement and either an indenture supplement or a resolution of our Board of Directors and accompanying officers’ certificate relating to any series of debt securities that we offer, which will include specific terms relating to some or all of the following:

 

 

This description of debt securities will be deemed modified, amended or supplemented by any description of any series of debt securities set forth in a prospectus supplement related to that series.

 

The prospectus supplement will also describe any material United States federal income tax consequences or other special considerations regarding the applicable series of debt securities, including those relating to:

 

 

At our option, we may make interest payments by check mailed to the registered holders of debt securities or, if so stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, at the option of a holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the holder.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the trustee at which its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without the payment of any service charge, other than any applicable tax or governmental charge.

 

Any funds we pay to a paying agent for the payment of amounts due on any debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years will be returned to us, and the holders of the debt securities must look only to us for payment after that time.

The Subsidiary Guarantees

 

Our payment obligations under any series of debt securities may be jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors. If a series of debt securities are so guaranteed, the Subsidiary Guarantors will execute a notation of guarantee as further evidence of their guarantee. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any guarantee by the Subsidiary Guarantors.

 

The obligations of each Subsidiary Guarantor under its guarantee will be limited to the maximum amount that will not result in the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor under the guarantee constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law, after giving effect to:

 

 

The guarantee of any Subsidiary Guarantor may be released under certain circumstances. If no default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, and to the extent not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture, a Subsidiary Guarantor will be unconditionally released and discharged from the guarantee:

 

 

If a series of debt securities is guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors and is designated as subordinate to our Senior Indebtedness, then the guarantees by the Subsidiary Guarantors will be subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of the Subsidiary Guarantors to substantially the same extent as the series is subordinated to our Senior Indebtedness. See “— Subordination.”

 

Reports

 

The Indenture contains the following covenant for the benefit of the holders of all series of debt securities:

 

So long as any debt securities are outstanding, we will:

 

 

A series of debt securities may contain additional financial and other covenants applicable to us and our subsidiaries. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain a description of any such covenants that are added to the Indenture specifically for the benefit of holders of a particular series.

 

Events of default

 

Each of the following events will be an “Event of Default” under the Indenture with respect to a series of debt securities:

 

 

 

Exercise of remedies

 

If an Event of Default, other than an Event of Default described in the fifth bullet point above, occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the entire principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately.

 

A default under the fourth bullet point above will not constitute an Event of Default until the trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series notify us and, if the series of debt securities is guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors, the Subsidiary Guarantors, of the default and such default is not cured within 60 days after receipt of notice.

 

If an Event of Default described in the fifth bullet point above occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all outstanding debt securities of all series will become immediately due and payable without any declaration of acceleration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders.

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may:

 

 

but only if:

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any costs, liability or expense. No holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the debt securities of any series, except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium or interest when due, unless:

 

 

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series have the right, subject to certain restrictions, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or of exercising any right or power conferred on the trustee with respect to that series of debt securities. The trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that:

 

 

Notice of event of default

 

Within 30 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, we are required to give written notice to the trustee and indicate the status of the default and what action we are taking or propose to take to cure the default. In addition, we are required to deliver to the trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a compliance certificate indicating that we have complied with all covenants contained in the Indenture or whether any default or Event of Default has occurred during the previous year.

 

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder a notice of the Event of Default by the later of 90 days after the Event of Default occurs or 30 days after the trustee knows of the Event of Default. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal, premium or interest with respect to any debt securities, the trustee may withhold such notice, but only if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the trustee in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of the holders.

 

We may amend the Indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities to:

 

 

In addition, we may amend the Indenture if the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of each series that would be affected then outstanding under the Indenture consent to it. We may not, however, without the consent of each holder of outstanding debt securities of each series that would be affected, amend the Indenture to:

 

 

The consent of the holders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment under the Indenture becomes effective, we are required to mail to all holders a notice briefly describing the amendment. The failure to give, or any defect in, such notice, however, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

 

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series, on behalf of all such holders, and subject to certain rights of the trustee, may waive:

 

 

except that such majority of holders may not waive a default:

 

 

At any time, we may terminate, with respect to debt securities of a particular series all our obligations under such series of debt securities and the Indenture, which we call a “legal defeasance.” If we decide to make a legal defeasance, however, we may not terminate our obligations:

 

 

If we exercise our legal defeasance option, any subsidiary guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of debt securities.

 

At any time we may also effect a “covenant defeasance,” which means we have elected to terminate our obligations under:

 

 

We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our legal defeasance option, payment of the affected series of debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect to that series. If we exercise our covenant defeasance option, payment of the affected series of debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in the fourth, fifth (with respect only to a Subsidiary Guarantor (if any)) or sixth bullet points under “— Events of Default” above or an Event of Default that is added specifically for such series and described in a prospectus supplement.

 

In order to exercise either defeasance option, we must:

 

 

Texas Eastern Products Pipeline Company, LLC, our general partner, and its directors, officers, employees, incorporators and stockholders, as such, will not be liable for:

 

 

 

By accepting a debt security, each holder will be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for our issuance of the debt securities. This waiver may not be effective, however, to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the Securities and Exchange Commission that such a waiver is against public policy.

 

Debt securities of a series may be subordinated to our “Senior Indebtedness,” which we define generally to include all notes or other evidences of indebtedness for money, including guarantees, borrowed by us or, if applicable to any series of outstanding debt securities, the Subsidiary Guarantors, that are not expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to any of our or any Subsidiary Guarantor’s other indebtedness. Subordinated debt securities will be subordinate in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture and the prospectus supplement relating to such series, to the prior payment of all of our indebtedness and that of any Subsidiary Guarantor that is designated as “Senior Indebtedness” with respect to the series.

 

The holders of Senior Indebtedness of ours or, if applicable, a Subsidiary Guarantor, will receive payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness before holders of subordinated debt securities will receive any payment of principal, premium or interest with respect to the subordinated debt securities:

 

 

Until the Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, any distribution to which holders of subordinated debt securities would otherwise be entitled will be made to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, except that such holders may receive limited partnership units and any debt securities that are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness to at least the same extent as the subordinated debt securities.

 

If we do not pay any principal, premium or interest with respect to Senior Indebtedness within any applicable grace period (including at maturity), or any other default on Senior Indebtedness occurs and the maturity of the Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms, we may not:

 

 

unless, in either case,

 

 

Generally, “Designated Senior Indebtedness” will include:

 

 

During the continuance of any default, other than a default described in the immediately preceding paragraph, that may cause the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness to be accelerated immediately without further notice, other than any notice required to effect such acceleration, or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, we may not pay the subordinated debt securities for a period called the “Payment Blockage Period.” A Payment Blockage Period will commence on the receipt by us and the trustee of written notice of the default, called a “Blockage Notice,” from the representative of any Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period.

 

The Payment Blockage Period may be terminated before its expiration:

 

 

Unless the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall have accelerated the maturity of the Senior Indebtedness, we may resume payments on the subordinated debt securities after the expiration of the Payment Blockage Period.

 

Generally, not more than one Blockage Notice may be given in any period of 360 consecutive days unless the first Blockage Notice within the 360-day period is given by holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness, other than Bank Indebtedness, in which case the representative of the Bank Indebtedness may give another Blockage Notice within the period. The total number of days during which any one or more Payment Blockage Periods are in effect, however, may not exceed an aggregate of 179 days during any period of 360 consecutive days.

 

After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the subordinated debt securities are paid in full, holders of the subordinated debt securities shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness.

 

As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of insolvency, the holders of Senior Indebtedness, as well as certain of our general creditors, may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the subordinated debt securities.

 

We may appoint a separate trustee for any series of debt securities. We use the term “trustee” to refer to the trustee appointed with respect to any such series of debt securities. We may maintain banking and other commercial relationships with the trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business, and the trustee may own debt securities.

 

The Indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

We may issue debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global certificates deposited with a depositary. We expect that The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or “DTC,” will act as depositary. If we issue debt securities of a series in book-entry form, we will issue one or more global certificates that will be deposited with DTC and will not issue physical certificates to each holder. A global security may not be transferred unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated security, except that DTC, its nominees and their successors may transfer a global security as a whole to one another.

DTC will keep a computerized record of its participants, such as a broker, whose clients have purchased the debt securities. The participants will then keep records of their clients who purchased the debt securities. Beneficial interests in global securities will be shown on, and transfers of beneficial interests in global securities will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.

 

DTC advises us that it is:

 

 

DTC is owned by a number of its participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also records the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.

 

We will wire principal, premium, if any, and interest payments due on the global securities to DTC’s nominee. We, the trustee and any paying agent will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of the global securities for all purposes. Accordingly, we, the trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global securities to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities.

 

It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, to credit participants’ accounts on the payment date according to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global securities as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to participants, whose accounts are credited with debt securities on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy.

 

Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities, as well as voting by participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the participants and the owners of beneficial interests, as is the case with debt securities held for the account of customers registered in “street name.” Payments to holders of beneficial interests are the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the trustee or us.

 

Beneficial interests in global securities will be exchangeable for certificated securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

 

 

We hold all of our assets and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries will generate all of our Cash from Operations. The distribution of that cash from our subsidiaries to us is expected to be our principal source of Available Cash, as described below, from which we will make distributions. Available Cash means generally, with respect to any calendar quarter, the sum of all of our cash receipts plus net reductions to cash reserves less the sum of all of our cash disbursements and net additions to cash reserves. Cash from Operations,

which is determined on a cumulative basis, generally means all cash generated by our operations, after deducting related cash expenditures, reserves and other items specified in our partnership agreement. It also includes the $20 million cash balance we had on the date of our initial public offering in 1990. The full definitions of Available Cash and Cash from Operations are set forth in “— Defined Terms.”

 

Our subsidiary partnerships must, under their partnership agreements, distribute 100% of their available cash. Available cash is defined in the subsidiary partnership agreements in substantially the same manner as it is in our partnership agreement. Our limited liability company subsidiaries have adopted a dividend policy under which all available cash is to be distributed. Accordingly, the following paragraphs describing distributions to unitholders and the general partner, and the percentage interests in our distributions, are stated on the basis of cash available for distribution by us and our subsidiaries on a combined basis.

 

We will make distributions to unitholders and the general partner with respect to each calendar quarter in an amount equal to 100% of our Available Cash for the quarter, except in connection with our dissolution and liquidation. Distributions of our Available Cash will be made 98% to unitholders and 2% to the general partner, subject to the payment of incentive distributions to the general partner, if specified target levels of cash distributions to the unitholders are achieved. The general partner’s incentive distributions are described below under “— Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash — Distributions of Cash from Operations.”

 

The following table sets forth the amount of distributions of Available Cash constituting Cash from Operations effected with respect to our limited partnership units for the quarters in the periods shown.

 

 

Cash distributions are characterized as either distributions of Cash from Operations or Cash from Interim Capital Transactions. This distinction is important because it affects the amount of cash that is distributed to the unitholders relative to the general partner. See “— Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash — Distributions of Cash from Operations” and “— Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash — Distributions of Cash from Interim Capital Transactions” below. We will ordinarily generate Cash from Interim Capital Transactions from: