Eagle Rock Announces Fourth Quarter 2014 Cash Distribution, Unit Repurchase Update and Earnings Release Date


HOUSTON, Jan. 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eagle Rock Energy Partners, L.P. (Nasdaq:EROC) ("Eagle Rock" or the "Partnership") today declared that the Board of Directors approved a cash distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 2014 of $0.07 per common unit (including eligible restricted common units), equivalent to $0.28 per unit on an annualized basis. The distribution will be paid on Friday, February 13, 2015 to unitholders of record as of the close of business on Friday, February 6, 2015, and represents no change from the distribution of $0.07 per common unit paid with respect to the third quarter.

Management's future distribution recommendations are subject to change should the current commodity price environment persist or the Partnership's specific operations differ from expectations. All actual future distributions will be determined, declared and paid at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors.

Regency Unit Sale and Eagle Rock Repurchase Program

As of January 23, 2015, Eagle Rock had sold approximately 3.3 million Regency Energy Partners, L.P. ("RGP") units received as part of the consideration for the Midstream Business Contribution, and proceeds were approximately $82 million. These proceeds were used to fund the common unit repurchase program, pay down debt, and for general corporate purposes. Eagle Rock may continue to sell the approximately 5.0 million remaining RGP units in order to further strengthen liquidity.

Pursuant to its previously announced common unit repurchase program, as of January 23, 2015 Eagle Rock had repurchased approximately 8.5 million units for a total consideration of approximately $22 million. These repurchase amounts are not indicative of Eagle Rock's go-forward repurchasing plan, and any future repurchases will be at management's discretion. The repurchase program does not obligate the Partnership to acquire any, or any specific number of, units and may be discontinued at any time.    

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2014 Earnings Release Date and Conference Call Information

The Partnership plans to report fourth quarter and full year 2014 financial and operating results after market close on Wednesday, February 25, 2015. The fourth quarter and full year 2014 earnings conference call will be held at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (1:00 p.m. Central Time) on Thursday, February 26, 2015.

Interested parties may listen to the earnings conference call live over the Internet or via telephone. To listen live over the Internet, participants are advised to log on to the Partnership's web site at www.eaglerockenergy.com and select the "Events & Presentations" sub-tab under the "Investor Relations" tab. To participate by telephone, the call in number is (877) 293-5457, conference ID 72079318. Participants are advised to dial into the call at least 15 minutes prior to the call. An audio replay of the conference call will also be available for thirty days by dialing (855) 859-2056, conference ID 72079318. In addition, a replay of the audio webcast will be available by accessing the Partnership's web site after the call is concluded.

About the Partnership

Eagle Rock is a growth-oriented master limited partnership engaged in (a) the exploitation, development, and production of oil and natural gas properties and (b) ancillary gathering, compressing, treating, processing and marketing services with respect to its production of natural gas, natural gas liquids, condensate and crude oil.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may include "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements and speak only as of the date on which such statement is made. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Partnership. These include, but are not limited to, risks related to volatility of commodity prices; market demand for crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; the effectiveness of the Partnership's hedging activities; the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems and other facilities to transport crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; competition in the oil and gas industry; the Partnership's ability to obtain credit and access the capital markets; general economic conditions; and the effects of government regulations and policies. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, the Partnership's actual results and plans could differ materially from those implied or expressed by any forward-looking statements. The Partnership assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement as of any future date. For a detailed list of the Partnership's risk factors, please consult the Partnership's Form 10-K, filed with the SEC for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the Partnership's Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC for subsequent quarters, including the Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended September 30, 2014, as well as any other public filings and press releases.

Qualified Notice to Nominees

This release serves as qualified notice to nominees as provided for under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b)(4) and (d).  Please note that 100 percent of the Partnership's distributions to foreign investors are attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business.  Accordingly, all of the Partnership's distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest effective tax rate for individuals or corporations, as applicable. Nominees, and not the Partnership, are treated as withholding agents responsible for withholding distributions received by them on behalf of foreign investors.


            

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