Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP (TEP) announced today that it has acquired an additional 24.99 percent membership interest in Rockies Express Pipeline LLC (“REX”) from Tallgrass Development, LP for cash consideration of $400 million effective March 31, 2017. The acquisition increases TEP’s ownership interest in REX to approximately 50 percent.
“We are pleased to acquire an additional interest in REX at a very attractive price and we expect the transaction to be immediately accretive to unitholders,” said Tallgrass President and CEO, David G. Dehaemers, Jr. “We intend to recommend to the board of directors of our general partner that TEP increase its quarterly distributions for the second and third quarters of 2017 by an aggregate of at least $0.10 per unit or $0.40 per unit on an annualized basis.”
Ultra Resources, Inc. recently announced that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court confirmed its Chapter 11 reorganization plan. The plan contemplates payment of REX’s $150 million claim within three months after Ultra emerges from bankruptcy, and no later than October 30, 2017. Ultra has previously indicated it plans to emerge from bankruptcy during the month of April. TEP will receive its approximate 50 percent share of an expected approximately $150 million distribution from REX resulting from Ultra’s settlement payment.
Tallgrass Energy is a family of companies that includes publicly traded partnerships Tallgrass Energy Partners, LP (TEP) and Tallgrass Energy GP, LP (TEGP), and privately held Tallgrass Development, LP. Operating across 10 states, Tallgrass is a growth-oriented midstream energy operator with transportation, storage, terminal and processing assets that serve some of the nation’s most prolific crude oil and natural gas basins.
