Equitrans Midstream Announces Private Offering of Senior Notes

Rhea-AI Summary

Equitrans Midstream Corporation (NYSE: ETRN) announced that its subsidiary, EQM Midstream Partners, LP, plans to offer $1.75 billion in senior unsecured notes. Proceeds will be used to repay term loan borrowings, buy back outstanding debt via tender offers, and for general partnership purposes. If not used for these offers, remaining funds will reduce other borrowings or support capital expenditures. The offering is restricted to qualified institutional buyers and non-U.S. persons, and the notes have not been registered under the Securities Act.

Positive

• Plans to raise $1.75 billion to strengthen financial position.
• Proceeds aimed at debt repayment and reducing financial obligations.

Negative

• Potential dilution of shares if debt restructuring does not improve financial health.

Equitrans Midstream Corporation (NYSE: ETRN) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, EQM Midstream Partners, LP (EQM), intends to offer, subject to market conditions, $1.75 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes (collectively, Notes) in a private offering. EQM intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes to repay outstanding term loan borrowings, to purchase a portion of its outstanding indebtedness in tender offers with respect to several series of outstanding notes, which commenced on January 4, 2021, with a maximum aggregate principal amount of $350 million (the Tender Offers), and for general partnership purposes. In the event the Tender Offers are not consummated, or the net proceeds from the offering are otherwise in excess of the amount needed to fund the Tender Offers, EQM intends to use any remaining proceeds to repay certain of its outstanding indebtedness, including borrowings under its $3 billion credit facility, or to prefund capital expenditures and/or capital contributions to Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC.

The offering of the Notes has not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act), or any state securities laws and, unless so registered, the Notes may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Notes are being offered only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons in transactions outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

This news release is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes or any other securities and shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a sale of, the Notes or any other securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
Disclosures in this news release contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act. Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking. Words such as “could,” “will,” “may,” “assume,” “forecast,” “position,” “predict,” “strategy,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “budget,” “potential,” or “continue,” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this news release specifically include statements relating to the offering and the Tender Offers, including the expected timing thereof and the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom, as applicable. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results.

Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. ETRN and EQM have based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events. While ETRN and EQM consider these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond ETRN’s and EQM’s control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of ETRN’s and EQM’s business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those set forth in ETRN’s and EQM’s respective publicly filed reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), including those set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of ETRN’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as updated by Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of ETRN’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, and those set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of EQM’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and under Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of EQM’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on May 14, 2020.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and are based on information available at that time. ETRN and EQM assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements were made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by federal securities laws. As forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, caution should be exercised against placing undue reliance on such statements.

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FAQ

What is the purpose of ETRN's $1.75 billion note offering?

The offering aims to repay outstanding term loan borrowings, purchase existing debt in tender offers, and fund general partnership purposes.

When did ETRN commence its tender offers?

The tender offers began on January 4, 2021, with a maximum amount of $350 million.

Who can purchase the notes offered by ETRN?

The notes are offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons in accordance with Regulation S.

What risks are associated with ETRN's forward-looking statements?

The forward-looking statements are subject to significant business, economic, and regulatory risks that could materially affect actual results.

What will happen to the net proceeds if the tender offers are not completed?

Any remaining proceeds will be used to repay other outstanding indebtedness or to fund capital expenditures.