corresp
Tel 713.758.2222 Fax 713.758.2347
November 16, 2010
Via EDGAR and Federal Express
Mr. H. Christopher Owings
Assistant Director
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
Washington, D.C. 20549-7010
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Re: |
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Targa Resources Investments Inc.
Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1
Filed November 8, 2010
File No. 333-169277
Targa Resources Partners LP
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009
Filed March 4, 2010
Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter Ended June 30, 2010
Filed August 6, 2010
File No. 001-33303
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Dear Mr. Owings:
Set forth below are the responses of Targa Resources Corp., formerly known as Targa Resources
Investments Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company, we, us or our), to the comments and
requests for additional information contained in the letter received from the staff of the Division
of Corporation Finance (the Staff) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission)
dated November 12, 2010, with respect to the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1 initially
filed with the Commission on September 9, 2010, File No. 333-169277, as amended by Amendment No. 1
filed with the Commission on October 15, 2010, as further amended by Amendment No. 2 filed with the
Commission on November 8, 2010 and as further amended by Amendment No. 3 filed with the Commission
on November 12, 2010 (the Registration Statement). Each response below has been prepared and is
being provided by the Company and Targa Resources Partners LP (the Partnership), as applicable,
each of which have authorized us to respond to the Staffs comments on their behalf.
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Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law
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First City Tower, 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 |
Abu Dhabi Austin Beijing Dallas Dubai Hong Kong Houston
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Houston, TX 77002-6760 |
London Moscow New York Palo Alto Shanghai Tokyo Washington
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Tel +1.713.758.2222 Fax +1.713.758.2346 www.velaw.com |
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November 16, 2010 Page 2 |
Concurrently with the submission of this letter, (i) we are filing through EDGAR Amendment No.
4 to the Registration Statement (Amendment No. 4) and (ii) the Partnership is filing through
EDGAR correspondence that provides the acknowledgements requested by the Staff. For your
convenience, we have hand delivered three full copies of Amendment No. 4, as well as three copies
of Amendment No. 4 that are marked to show all changes made since the filing of Amendment No. 2.
For your convenience, each response is prefaced by the exact text of the Staffs corresponding
comment in bold, italicized text. All references to page numbers and captions correspond to
Amendment No. 4, unless otherwise specified.
Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1
Prospectus Cover Page
1. Please revise the prospectus cover page to identify only the lead or managing
underwriter(s). If you believe that each of the entities you identify on the cover page is a lead
or managing underwriter, please tell us why. Please refer to Item 501(b)(8) of Regulation S-K
Response: We have reviewed Item 501(b)(8) and its requirement that only lead
and managing underwriters be presented on the cover page of the prospectus. We have confirmed
with the
underwriting syndicate that each of the named underwriters is either a bookrunning manger, a
co-manager, or a manager and that each such firm is actively engaged in the conduct of the
firm commitment underwriting.
TRII Minimum Estimated Cash Available for Distribution for the Twelve Month Period Ending
December 31, 2011, page 61
2. We have reviewed your response to comment 1 in our letter dated November 1, 2010. Please note
that the most useful cash distribution forecast projections should cover a future period of no more
than 12 months in advance. If you believe the annual period ended 12/31/11 is more useful to
investors, given the loss of reliability the further out you project, please explain in detail why
such period is superior. We may have further comment. Alternatively, please revise your filing
accordingly.
Response: As a result of telephonic
discussions with Messrs. Blume and Niethamer we have decided to supplement our projection
for the twelve month period ending December 31, 2011 with an additional table providing a
projection for the three months ended December 31, 2010. Please see pages 68-72.
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November 16, 2010 Page 3 |
Changes in Connection with the Completion of this Offering, page 157
3. You indicate that the Compensation Committee expects to approve initial restricted stock and
bonus stock awards under the New Incentive Plan and cash bonus awards to certain named executive
officers. You state that the amount of the restricted stock awards and bonus stock awards were
determined pursuant to your compensation philosophy and the compensation review discussed in your
disclosure. However, you do not discuss how you determined the amount of bonus cash awards to
issue to each named executive officer. Please expand your disclosure to discuss in greater detail
how you determined the amount of restricted stock and bonus stock awards. Also, please discuss how
you determined the amount of cash bonus awards that you awarded to each named executive officer.
Response: The Registration Statement has been revised to provide a more detailed
explanation of the restricted stock awards, bonus stock awards and cash bonus awards and how the
awards to the named executive officers were determined. Please see pages 158-161.
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November 16, 2010 Page 4 |
Security Ownership of Management and Selling Stockholders, page 168
4. You indicate that all officers and directors as a group, twelve individuals in total, own
5,281,410 shares. However, we note that your table does not identify all twelve individuals and the
amount of shares listed under Directors and Executive Officers does not total 5,281,410. Please
revise your table or provide a footnote that clarifies how you reached the 5,281,410 that you
identify as being owned by all directors and officers as a group.
Response: In preparing the section titled Security Ownership of Management and
Selling Stockholders the Company reviewed Item 403 of Regulation S-K. Per Item 403(b), the Company
must reflect the beneficial ownership of (i) all of its directors, (ii) each named executive
officer and (iii) the directors and executive officers as a group, without naming them. The
Companys executive management team is comprised of seven members, five of whom are its named
executive officers. In addition to the Companys named executive officers, its executive
management team includes Messrs. Roy E. Johnson and Paul W. Chung. In accordance with Item 403(b),
the aggregate beneficial ownership of the Companys directors and executive officers reflected in
this section includes 713,566 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Johnson and 578,401 shares
beneficially owned by Mr. Chung. The Company has added a footnote to the table included in
Security Ownership of Management and Selling Stockholders to clarify how it calculates the
beneficial ownership attributed to All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons).
Please see pages 167, 169 and 170.
5. Please disclose in the footnotes to the table how Ms. Helma, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Ruiz acquired
the shares they are offering.
Response: The Registration Statement has been revised as requested. Please see
pages 169 and 170.
6. Since Messrs. Hwang, Joung, and Kagan are affiliated with the Warburg Pincus entities, please
reflect in the table that these directors also beneficially own the Warburg Pincus shares.
Response: The Registration Statement has been revised as requested. Please see
pages 169 and 171.
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November 16, 2010 Page 5 |
Consolidated Balance Sheet, page F-3
7. We note your disclosure on page 9 that you will effect a 1 for 2.11 reverse split of your common
shares immediately prior to the offering. It does not appear, however, that you have given
retroactive presentation to this reverse split in your financial statements. Please note that under
SAB Topic 4C, a reverse split occurring after the date of the latest reported balance sheet but
before the effective date of the registration statement must be given retroactive effect in the
balance sheet. Accordingly, please revise the share and per-share information throughout your
filing, including EPS figures, to reflect the reverse stock split. An appropriately
cross-referenced note should disclose the retroactive treatment, explain the change made and, to
the extent applicable, state the date the change became effective.
Response: The Company acknowledges the Staffs comment and has reviewed SAB Topic
4C. The Company agrees with the Staff that SAB Topic 4C calls for giving retroactive effect in the
balance sheet to a reverse split occurring after the date of the latest reported balance sheet
(September 30, 2010 in the Companys case) but before the later of (i) the release of the financial
statements or (ii) the effective date of the registration statement.
The Companys proposed reverse split of common shares will be declared by the Companys board
of directors concurrently with the pricing of the offering, which will take place after the
Registration Statement becomes effective. SAB Topic 4C is inapplicable to the Companys proposed
reverse split of common shares because the split does not fall within the timeframe contemplated by
SAB Topic 4C. Applying SAB Topic 4C to the Companys historical financial data and financial
statements included in the Registration Statement would result in the inappropriate presentation of
pro forma information within those historical periods (as the financial statements would show a
retroactive effect of a transaction that has not yet been approved and made effective). In
addition, as the exact reverse split ratio will not be determined until pricing, it is premature to
retroactively adjust the Companys historical financial statements.
In accordance with applicable accounting requirements, the Company presents the impact of the
reserve split in the pro forma financial information on page 21 and in the pro forma financial
statements on page F-74, and fully describes the impact on page F-75 and in Note 2(k) on
page F-79. The final prospectus will include re-issued financial statements that recognize the
reverse split as a subsequent event, update the balance sheets and update the earnings per share
calculation on the income statements. To the extent the re-issued financial statements and final
reverse split ratio differ materially from the information included in the preliminary prospectus,
the Company will provide updated information
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November 16, 2010 Page 6 |
through a free writing prospectus prior to the time investors make their investment decision
in connection with this offering.
It is the Companys belief that the presentation of the reverse split of common stock
presented in the Registration Statement fully complies with the Commissions rules and regulations
and applicable accounting requirements.
Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2009 of Targa Resources Partners LP
General
8. Please have an authorized representative of Targa Resources Partners LP submit correspondence on
EDGAR that provides the acknowledgements found at the end of our November 1, 2010 letter.
Response: An authorized representative of the Partnership has submitted (concurrently
with this letter) correspondence on EDGAR that provides the acknowledgements found at the end of
the Companys November 1, 2010 letter.
Form 10-Q for the Fiscal Quarter Ended June 30, 2010
Item 4. Controls and Procedures, page 45
9. We note your response to comment 19 in our letter dated November 1, 2010. Please confirm to us
that your disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as
of the end of the period covered by the report. Please also confirm to us, if true that your
officers concluded that your disclosure controls and procedures are also effective, at the
reasonable assurance level, to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that
you file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to your management,
including your Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions
regarding required disclosure. See Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e).
Response: The Partnership confirms that its disclosure controls and procedures were
effective at the reasonable assurance level as of June 30, 2010. The Partnership also confirms
that its officers concluded that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the
reasonable assurance level as of June 30, 2010 to ensure that information required to be disclosed
in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and
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November 16, 2010 Page 7 |
communicated to its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
10. We note your response to comment 20 in our letter dated November 1, 2010. Please confirm to us
that your disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2010 were designed at the reasonable
assurance level.
Response: The Partnership confirms that its disclosure controls and procedures as of
June 30, 2010 were designed at the reasonable assurance level.
Please direct any questions that you have with respect to the foregoing or with respect to the
Registration Statement or Amendment No. 4 to David P. Oelman at Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. at (713)
758-3708.
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Very truly yours,
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By: |
/s/ David P. Oelman
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David P. Oelman |
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Enclosures
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cc: |
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Robert W. Errett, Securities and Exchange Commission
Christopher S. Collins, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. |