OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has affirmed its Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and senior unsecured rating on Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Co. (Panhandle) at 'BBB-' and its junior subordinated notes at 'BB'. The Rating Outlook is Stable. Approximately \$1.1 billion in debt is affected by today's action.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

Parent Company Affiliation: The affirmation reflects Panhandle's affiliation with Energy Transfer Partners, LP (ETP; IDR: 'BBB-'/Stable Outlook) and expectations that ETP will continue to manage Panhandles's credit metrics and liquidity needs at levels appropriate to support its 'BBB-' rating. Panhandle is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETP. Panhandle was merged with Southern Union Company (SUG) last year, with all notes of SUG and Panhandle becoming pari passu. Fitch does not expect any additional material transactions or growth initiatives at Panhandle and expects that future debt maturities will be financed through issuance at the ETP level. ETP is expected to provide any liquidity needs to Panhandle and refinance any Panhandle maturities at the ETP level and take any excess cash flow to use at ETP. Panhandle's standalone credit profile is consistent with a 'BBB-' or better IDR; however, given their strategic, operational and legal ties, Fitch believes it appropriate to link Panhandle's ratings with those of its parent ETP. An upgrade or downgrade at ETP would likely lead to an upgrade or downgrade at Panhandle.

Stable Cash Flow: Panhandle's revenue is largely derived from long-term capacity reservation contracts for its pipeline operations. The majority of Panhandle's revenue and cash flow is from volume and commodity price-insensitive reservation contracts on its various pipelines and storage assets. Panhandle's operations currently consist of interstate pipelines that transport natural gas from the Gulf of Mexico, South Texas and the Panhandle regions of Texas and Oklahoma to major U.S. markets in the Midwest and Great Lakes region, as well as underground storage. Fitch expects liquidity at Panhandle to be adequate given support from ETP and leverage to be roughly 3x to 3.5x over the next several years.

KEY ASSUMPTIONS

Fitch's key assumptions within the rating case for the issuer include:

--Large growth projects, such as the Trunkline conversion to oil service, will be developed outside of Panhandle.
--Future debt maturities to be refinanced through issuance at ETP level; any liquidity needs provided by ETP.
--Any excess cash upstreamed to ETP

RATINGS SENSITIVITIES

Negative: Future developments that may, individually or collectively, lead to a negative rating action include:

--Weakening credit metrics with leverage above 5x;
--Negative ratings action at ETP.

Positive: Future developments that may, individually or collectively, lead to a positive rating action include:

--Positive ratings action at ETP.

Fitch has affirmed the following ratings with a Stable Outlook:

--IDR at 'BBB-';
--Senior unsecured notes at 'BBB-';
--Jr. subordinate notes at 'BB'.