Energy Transfer announce results of Southern Union merger elections

Energy Transfer Equity (NYSE: ETE) and Southern Union Co. (NYSE: SUG) on March 20 announced preliminary results of the elections made by Southern Union stockholders regarding their preferences as to the form of merger consideration they will receive in connection with Southern Union’s pending merger with ETE, which is currently expected to be completed on or about March 26, 2012.

Under the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 19, 2011, as amended, among Southern Union, ETE and Sigma Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETE, Southern Union stockholders could elect to exchange each outstanding share of Southern Union common stock for $44.25 of cash or 1.00x ETE common unit, with no more than 60 percent of the aggregate merger consideration payable in cash and no more than 50 percent of the aggregate merger consideration payable in ETE common units. Elections in excess of either the cash or common unit limits will be subject to proration.

Based on available information as of the election deadline on March 19, 2012, the preliminary merger consideration election results were as follows:

* Holders of approximately 55 percent of outstanding Southern Union shares, or 68,644,424 Southern Union shares, elected to receive cash. This includes 15,522,372 shares subject to guaranteed delivery procedures.

* Holders of approximately 45 percent of outstanding Southern Union shares, or 56,212,227 Southern Union shares, will receive ETE common units. This amount is comprised of 38,973,314 Southern Union shares for which holders elected to receive ETE common units (which includes 4,350,144 shares subject to guaranteed delivery procedures), and 17,238,913 Southern Union shares for which holders either did not make an election or did not deliver a valid election form prior to the election deadline and, therefore, will be deemed to have elected to receive ETE common units.

Elections made pursuant to the notice of guaranteed delivery procedure require the delivery of Southern Union shares to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the exchange agent for the merger, by March 22, 2012. If the exchange agent does not receive the required stock certificates or book-entry transfer of shares by the guaranteed delivery deadline, the Southern Union shares subject to such elections will be treated as shares deemed to have made an election for ETE common units.

After the final results of the merger consideration election process are determined, the final allocation of the merger consideration will be calculated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.