Indemnification
Under the partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from
and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events:
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our general partner;
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any departing general partner;
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any person who is or was an affiliate of a general partner or any departing general partner;
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any person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, employee, agent or trustee of us or the operating partnership or our or its
respective subsidiaries, our general partner or any departing general partner or any affiliate of us or the operating partnership or our or its respective subsidiaries, the general partner or any
departing general partner; or
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any person who is or was serving at the request of a general partner or any departing general partner or any affiliate of a general partner or
any departing general partner as an officer, director, employee, member, partner, agent, fiduciary or trustee of another person.
Any
indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise agrees in its sole discretion, our general partner will not be personally liable for, or
have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We may purchase
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insurance
against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under the
partnership agreement.
Books and Reports
Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. The books will be maintained for both tax
and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax and fiscal reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.
We
will furnish or make available to record holders of common units, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited financial statements
and a report on those financial statements by our independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we will also furnish or make available summary financial information within
90 days after the close of each quarter.
We
will furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information
will be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders will depend on the
cooperation of unitholders in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder will receive information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his federal
and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies us with information.
Right to Inspect Our Books and Records
The partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to his interest as a limited partner, upon
reasonable demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:
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a current list of the name and last known address of each partner;
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a copy of our tax returns;
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information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to
be contributed by each partner and the date on which each became a partner;
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copies of the partnership agreement, the certificate of limited partnership of the partnership, related amendments and powers of attorney under
which they have been executed;
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information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; and
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any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable.
Our
general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith
is not in our best interests or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
Registration Rights
Under the partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any common
units or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise
available. These registration rights continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of EnLink Midstream GP, LLC as our general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses
incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.
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CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY
Distributions of Available Cash
References in this "Cash Distribution Policy" to "we," "us" and "our" mean EnLink Midstream Partners, LP.
General.
Within approximately 45 days after the end of each quarter, we will distribute all of our available cash to common
unitholders of
record on the applicable record date.
Definition of Available Cash.
Available Cash means, for any quarter ending prior to liquidation:
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the sum of
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all cash and cash equivalents of EnLink Midstream Partners, LP and its subsidiaries on hand at the end of that quarter; and
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all additional cash and cash equivalents of EnLink Midstream Partners, LP and its subsidiaries on hand on the date of
determination of available cash for that quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of that quarter;
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less the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the general partner to
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provide for the proper conduct of the business of EnLink Midstream Partners, LP and its subsidiaries (including reserves
for future capital expenditures and for future credit needs of EnLink Midstream Partners, LP and its subsidiaries) after that quarter;
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comply with applicable law or any debt instrument or other agreement or obligation to which EnLink Midstream Partners, LP
or any of its subsidiaries is a party or its assets are subject; and
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provide funds for minimum quarterly distributions and cumulative common unit arrearages for any one or more of the next four
quarters;
provided,
however, that disbursements made by EnLink Midstream Partners, LP or any of its subsidiaries or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of that quarter but on or
before the date of determination of available cash for that quarter shall be deemed to have been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining available cash, within that
quarter if the general partner so determines.
Distributions on Series B Preferred Units
Holders of Series B Preferred Units are entitled to receive a quarterly distribution, subject to certain adjustments, equal to
(x) during the quarter ending March 31, 2016 through the quarter ending June 30, 2017, an annual rate of 8.5% on the Issue Price of $15.00 per unit payable in-kind in the form of
additional Series B Preferred Units and (y) thereafter, an annual rate of 7.5% on the Issue Price payable in cash (the "Cash Distribution Component") plus an in-kind distribution equal
to the greater of (A) an annual rate of 1.0% of the Issue Price and (B) an amount equal to (i) the excess, if any, of the distribution that would have been payable had the
Series B Preferred Units converted into common units over the Cash Distribution Component, divided by (ii) the Issue Price.
If
we fail to pay in full the cash portion of any distribution on the Series B Preferred Units when due, we are not permitted to pay distributions on the common units until such
preferred distribution is paid in full. Cash distributions on the Series B Preferred Units are paid out of Available Cash prior to any distribution described below under
"Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus" and "Distributions from Capital Surplus."
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Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus
General.
All cash distributed to common unitholders will be characterized either as "operating surplus" or "capital surplus." We
distribute available
cash from operating surplus differently than available cash from capital surplus.
Definition of Operating Surplus.
For any period operating surplus generally means:
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our cash balance of $7.2 million at the closing of our initial public offering; plus
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$8.9 million; plus
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all of our cash receipts since the initial public offering, excluding cash from borrowings that are not working capital borrowings, sales of
equity and debt securities and sales or other dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business; plus
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working capital borrowings made after the end of a quarter but before the date of determination of operating surplus for the quarter; less
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all of our operating expenditures since the initial public offering, including the repayment of working capital borrowings, but not the
repayment of other borrowings, and including maintenance capital expenditures, and less
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the amount of cash reserves that the general partner deems necessary or advisable to provide funds for future operating expenditures.
Definition of Capital Surplus.
Capital surplus will generally be generated only by:
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borrowings other than working capital borrowings;
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sales of debt and equity securities; and
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sales or other disposition of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other current assets sold in the ordinary course
of business or as part of normal retirements or replacements of assets.
Characterization of Cash Distributions.
We will treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of
all available
cash distributed since we began operations equals the operating surplus as of the most recent date of determination of available cash. We will treat any amount distributed in excess of operating
surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. While we do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus in the near term, we may determine that the sale or
disposition of an asset or business owned or acquired by us may be beneficial to our common unitholders. If we distribute to you the equity we own in a subsidiary or the proceeds from the sale of one
of our businesses, such a distribution would be characterized as a distribution from capital surplus.
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
We will make distributions of available cash from operating surplus (after giving effect to distributions on the Series B Preferred Units
discussed above) in the following manner:
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First,
100% to the general partner and the common unitholders in accordance with their
respective then-current percentage interests until we distribute for each outstanding common unit an amount equal to $0.25 (the "minimum quarterly distribution") for that quarter;
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Second
, (A) to the general partner in accordance with its then-current percentage
interest, (B) 13% to the holders of the incentive distribution rights, pro rata, and (C) to all common unitholders, pro rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the sum of the percentages
specified
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Distributions from Capital Surplus
How Distributions from Capital Surplus will be Made.
We will make distributions of available cash from capital surplus (after giving
effect to
distributions on the Series B Preferred Units discussed above) in the following manner:
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First
, (A) to the general partner in accordance with its then-current percentage
interest and (B) to all unitholders holding common units, pro rata, a percentage equal to 100% less the general partner's percentage interest, until a common unit that was issued in the initial
public offering has received, during the period since the closing date of our initial public offering through such date, an amount of available cash from capital surplus equal to the initial public
offering price; and
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Thereafter
, we will make all distributions of available cash from capital surplus as if they
were from operating surplus.
Effect of a Distribution from Capital Surplus.
The partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of
the initial
unit price from the initial public offering, which is a return of capital. The initial public offering price less any distributions of capital surplus per unit is referred to as the "unrecovered
initial unit price." Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as the
corresponding reduction in the unrecovered initial unit price.
Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels
In addition to adjusting the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we
combine our common units into fewer units or subdivide our common units into a greater number of units we will proportionately adjust the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels
and the unrecovered initial unit price.
Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation
If we dissolve in accordance with the partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called a liquidation.
We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. The holders of Series B Preferred Units are entitled to receive, prior to and in preference to any distribution
to other partnership interests, the positive value in each such holders' capital account balance. We will then distribute any remaining proceeds to the common unitholders and our general partner, in
accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.
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MATERIAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section is a summary of the material tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or
residents of the U.S. and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel to our general partner and us, insofar as it relates to legal
conclusions with respect to matters of U.S. federal income tax law. This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), existing and proposed
Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code (the "Treasury Regulations") and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Later changes in these
authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to (i) "us" or "we" are
references to EnLink Midstream Partners, LP and (ii) "unitholders" are references to holders of common units.
The
following discussion does not comment on all federal income tax matters affecting us or the unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens
or residents of the U.S. and has only limited application to corporations, estates, trusts, partnerships and entities treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes, nonresident aliens, U.S.
expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as banks, insurance companies and other financial
institutions, tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons (including, without limitation, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and non-U.S. persons eligible for the
benefits of an applicable income tax treaty with the United States), IRAs, employee benefit plans, real estate investment trusts (REITs), employee benefit plans or mutual funds, dealers in securities
or currencies, traders in securities, U.S. persons whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar, persons holding their common units as part of a "straddle," "hedge," "conversion transaction" or
other risk reduction transaction, and persons deemed to sell their common units under the constructive sale provisions of the Code. In addition, the discussion only comments to a limited extent on
state, and does not comment on local or foreign, tax consequences. Accordingly, we encourage each prospective unitholder to consult his own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and
foreign tax consequences particular to him of the ownership or disposition of common units.
Except
as described in "Partnership Status" below, no ruling has been or will be requested from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") regarding any matter affecting us or
prospective unitholders. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Baker Botts L.L.P. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel's best legal judgment and does not bind the
IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and adversely
impact the market for our common units and the prices at which common units trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS, principally legal, accounting and related fees, will result in a
reduction in cash available for distribution to our unitholders and our general partner and thus will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner. Furthermore, the tax treatment of
us, or of an investment in us, may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively applied.
All
statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions, but not as to factual matters, contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P.
and are based on the accuracy of the representations made by us.
For
the reasons described below, Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific federal income tax issues: (i) the treatment of a
unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units (please read "Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipTreatment of Short Sales");
(ii) whether our monthly convention for allocating
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taxable
income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read "Disposition of Common UnitsAllocations Between Transferors and Transferees"); and
(iii) whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read "Tax Consequences of Unit
OwnershipSection 754 Election" and "Uniformity of Common Units").
Partnership Status
A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take
into account his share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash distributions are made to him by the
partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable to the partnership or the partner unless the amount of cash distributed to him is in excess of the partner's adjusted
basis in his partnership interest.
Section 7704
of the Code provides that publicly traded partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the "Qualifying Income
Exception," exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the gross income for every taxable year consists of "qualifying income." Qualifying income includes income and
gains derived from the exploration, development, mining or production, processing, transportation, storage, refining and marketing of natural resources, including oil, gas and products thereof. Other
types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held
for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income.
No
ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination as to our status or the status of the operating partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Similarly, while we have obtained a ruling from the IRS that removal, transportation, storage, treatment and disposal of brine, water, and other residual waste produced in connection with fracturing
oil and gas wells constitutes "qualifying income" under Section 7704 of the Code, we have not sought any other rulings from the IRS, and the IRS has made no determination, as to whether our
other operations generate "qualifying income" under Section 7704 of the Code. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. on such matters. It is the opinion of Baker
Botts L.L.P. that, based upon the Code, its regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations described below that:
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We will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes; and
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The operating partnership will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
In
rendering its opinion, Baker Botts L.L.P. has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon
which Baker Botts L.L.P. has relied are:
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Neither we nor the operating partnership has elected or will elect to be treated as a corporation; and
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For each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income of the type that Baker Botts L.L.P. has opined or
will opine is "qualifying income" within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code; and
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Each hedging transaction that we treat as resulting in qualifying income has been and will be appropriately identified as a hedging transaction
pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations, and has been and will be associated with oil, gas, or other products thereof that are held or to be held by us in activities that Baker Botts L.L.P.
has opined or will opine result in qualifying income.
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We
believe that these representations are true and expect that these representations will continue to be true in the future.
If
we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in
which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as if we had transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities,
to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed that stock to the
unitholders in liquidation of their interests in us. This deemed contribution and liquidation should be tax-free to unitholders and us so long as we, at that time, do not have liabilities in excess of
the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
If
we were taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of
income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on our tax return rather than being passed through to the unitholders, and our net income would be taxed to us at corporate rates. In addition,
any distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as taxable dividend income, to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings and profits, a
nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholder's tax basis in his common units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholder's tax basis in his common units is reduced to zero.
Accordingly, taxation as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a unitholder's cash flow and after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction of the value of the
common units.
The
discussion below is based on Baker Botts L.L.P.'s opinion that we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Treatment of Income Earned Through C Corporation Subsidiary
A material portion of our taxable income is earned through a C corporation subsidiary. Such C corporation subsidiary is subject to
federal income tax on its taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and will likely pay state (and possibly local) income tax at varying rates, on its taxable
income. Any such entity level taxes will reduce the cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Distributions from such C corporation subsidiary will generally be taxed again to
unitholders as dividend income to the extent of current and accumulated earnings and profits of such subsidiary. The maximum federal income tax rate applicable to such dividend income which is
allocable to individuals currently is 20% and such dividend income is also considered investment income subject to the 3.8% Medicare tax under the circumstances described in "Tax
Consequences of Unit OwnershipTax Rates." An individual unitholder's share of dividend and interest income from our C corporation subsidiary would constitute portfolio income that
could not be offset by the unitholder's share of our other losses or deductions.
The assets held or formerly held through our C corporation subsidiary have minimal tax basis. As a result, if such assets were to be sold by us, our C corporation subsidiary would
recognize substantial amounts of taxable income on which it would owe corporate level tax.
Limited Partner Status
Unitholders who have become limited partners of EnLink Midstream Partners, LP will be treated as partners of EnLink Midstream
Partners, LP for federal income tax purposes. Also, unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all
substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units will be treated as partners of EnLink Midstream Partners, LP for federal income tax purposes.
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A
beneficial owner of common units whose units have been transferred to a short seller to complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those units
for federal income tax purposes. Please see "Tax Consequences of Unit OwnershipTreatment of Short Sales."
Income,
gain, deductions or losses would not appear to be reportable by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by a
unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes would therefore be fully taxable as ordinary income. These holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax
consequences of holding common units in EnLink Midstream Partners, LP.
The
references to "unitholders" in the discussion that follows are to persons who are treated as partners in EnLink Midstream Partners, LP for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Consequences of Common Unit Ownership
Flow-Through of Taxable Income.
Subject to the discussion above under "Tax Treatment of Income Earned Through C Corporation
Subsidiary"
and the discussion below under "Entity-Level Collections," we will not pay any federal income tax. Instead, each unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his share
of our income, gains, losses and deductions without regard to whether we make cash distributions to him. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash
distribution. The income we allocate to unitholders will generally be taxable as ordinary income. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of our income, gains, losses
and deductions for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable year. Our taxable year ends on December 31.
Treatment of Distributions.
Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder for federal income tax
purposes,
except to the extent the amount of any such cash distribution exceeds his tax basis in his common units immediately before the distribution. Cash distributions made by us to a unitholder in an amount
in excess of a unitholder's tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of our common units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under
"Disposition of Common Units" below. Any reduction in a unitholder's share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known
as "nonrecourse liabilities," will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. To the extent our distributions cause a unitholder's "at-risk" amount to be less than zero at the end
of any taxable year, the Unitholder will be required the recapture any losses deducted in previous years. Please read "Limitations on Deductibility of Losses."
A
decrease in a unitholder's percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a
corresponding deemed distribution of cash. This deemed distribution may constitute a non-pro rata distribution. A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a
unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his common units, if the distribution reduces the unitholder's share of our "unrealized receivables," including depreciation recapture, and/or substantially
appreciated "inventory items," each as defined in the Code, and collectively, "Section 751 Assets." To that extent, the unitholder will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate
share of the Section 751 Assets and then having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will
generally result in the unitholder's realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (i) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (ii) the unitholder's tax basis
(generally zero) for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Common Units.
A unitholder's initial tax basis for his common units will generally equal the amount he paid for the common
units plus his
share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will
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be
increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from us, by the unitholder's share of our
losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A
unitholder generally will have no share of our debt that is recourse to our general partner to the extent of the general partner's "net value" as defined in Treasury Regulations under
Section 752 of the Code, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. Please read "Disposition of Common
UnitsRecognition of Gain Loss."
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.
The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our losses will be limited to the tax basis in
his common units
and, in the case of an individual unitholder, estate, trust, or corporate unitholder (if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholder's stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for five
or fewer individuals or some tax-exempt organizations) to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be "at risk" with respect to our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. A
unitholder subject to these limitations must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at-risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year.
Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction to the extent that his at-risk amount is subsequently
increased, provided such losses do not exceed such unitholders' tax basis in his common units. Upon the taxable disposition of a common unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by
losses that were previously suspended by the at-risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at-risk limitation in excess of
that gain would no longer be utilizable.
In
general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his common units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities,
reduced by (i) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or other similar arrangement and (ii) any
amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his common units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to another unitholder or can look only to the common units for
repayment. A unitholder's at-risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholder's common units increases or decreases, other than tax basis increases or decreases attributable to
increases or decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities.
In
addition to the basis and at-risk limitations on the deductibility of losses, the passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held
corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from passive activities, which are generally defined as trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially
participate, only to the extent of the taxpayer's income from those passive activities. The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded partnership.
Consequently, any passive losses we generate will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or
investments, including our investments or a unitholder's investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or the unitholder's salary, active business, or other income. Passive losses that are not
deductible because they exceed a unitholder's share of income we generate may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated
party. The passive loss limitations are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at-risk rules and the basis limitation.
A
unitholder's share of our net income may be offset by any of our suspended passive losses, but it may not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from other passive
activities, including those attributable to other publicly traded partnerships.
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Limitations on Interest Deductions.
The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer's "investment interest expense" is generally limited
to the amount
of that taxpayer's "net investment income." Investment interest expense includes:
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interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment;
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our interest expense attributed to income that is treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules; and
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the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a passive activity to the extent attributable to portfolio income.
The
computation of a unitholder's investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a common unit.
Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest,
directly connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment or (if applicable) qualified dividend
income. The IRS has indicated in Notice 88-75, 1988-2 C.B. 386, that the net passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be treated as investment income to its unitholders. In
addition, the unitholder's share of income that is treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules will be treated as investment income.
Entity-Level Collections.
If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or foreign income tax on
behalf of any
unitholder or our general partner or any former unitholder, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the unitholder on
whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current
unitholders. We are authorized to amend our partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of common units and to adjust later distributions, so
that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under our partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable.
Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual unitholder in which event the unitholder would be required to file a claim in order to
obtain a credit or refund.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.
In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction
(remaining after
taking into account allocations of income to holders of Series B Preferred Units) will be allocated among the general partner and the common unitholders in accordance with their percentage
interests in us. At any time that distributions are made to the common units in excess of distributions to certain other classes of units, or incentive distributions are made to the general partner,
gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of those excess distributions. If we have a net loss, that loss will be allocated first to the general partner and the common unitholders
in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and, second, to the general partner. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any items of loss or deduction
that are attributable to compensatory transfers of stock, stock options or other property by our general partner or EnLink Midstream Partners, LP to any employee or other service provider will
generally be specially allocated to the general partner.
Specified
items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for (i) any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time
of an offering and (ii) any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of any assets contributed to us that exists at the time of such contribution. The effect of these allocations,
referred to as Section 704(c) Allocations, to a unitholder purchasing common units from us in an offering will, as to those assets in
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respect
of which we use the remedial method, be essentially the same as if the tax bases of our assets were equal to their fair market values at the time of such offering. In the event we issue
additional common units or engage in certain other transactions in the future, we will make "reverse Section 704(c) Allocations," similar to the Section 704(c) Allocations described
above, to all holders of partnership interests immediately prior to such issuance or other transactions to account for the difference between the "book" basis for purposes of maintaining capital
accounts and the fair market value of all property held by us at the time of such issuance or future transaction. In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the
unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders. Finally, although
we do not expect that our operations will result in the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an
amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.
An
allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required under the Section 704(c) principles described above, will generally be given
effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has "substantial economic effect." In any other case, a
partner's share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances,
including:
-
-
his relative contributions to us;
-
-
the interests of all the partners in profits and losses;
-
-
the interest of all the partners in cash flow; and
-
-
the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation.
Baker
Botts L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in "Section 754 Election," "Disposition of Common
UnitsAllocations Between Transferors and Transferees," and "Uniformity of Common Units," allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect under
Section 704 of the Code for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.
Treatment of Short Sales.
A unitholder whose common units are loaned to a "short seller" to cover a short sale of units may be
considered as having
disposed of those common units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from
the disposition. As a result, during this period:
-
-
any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units would not be reportable by the unitholder;
-
-
any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units would be fully taxable; and
-
-
while not entirely free from doubt, all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income.
Because
there is no direct or indirect controlling authority on the issue relating to partnership interests, Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax
treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units; therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk
of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to consult a tax advisor to discuss whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers
from borrowing and loaning their common units. The IRS has previously announced that it is studying issues relating to the tax treatment
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of
short sales of partnership interests. Please also read "Disposition of Common UnitsRecognition of Gain or Loss."
Alternative Minimum Tax.
Each unitholder will be required to take into account his distributive share of any items of our income, gain,
loss or
deduction for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. For 2017, the minimum tax rate for noncorporate taxpayers is 26% on the first $187,800 ($93,900 for married individuals filing separately), which
amount is subject to annual inflation adjustments, of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective
unitholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in common units on their liability for the alternative minimum tax.
Tax Rates.
Currently, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains of
individuals
currently is 39.6% and 20%, respectively. These rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.
In
addition, a 3.8% Medicare tax, or NIIT, applies to certain net investment income earned by individuals, estates and trusts. For these purposes, net investment income generally
includes a unitholder's allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of common units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of
(i) the unitholder's net investment income, and (ii) the amount by which the unitholder's modified adjusted gross income exceeds (A) $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and
filing jointly or a surviving spouse), (B) $125,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing separately) or (C) $200,000 (in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax
will be imposed on the lesser of (1) undistributed net investment income, or (2) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket
applicable to an estate or trust begins.
Section 754 Election.
We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code. That election is irrevocable without
the consent
of the IRS unless there is a constructive termination of the partnership. Please read "Disposition of Common UnitsConstructive Termination." The election will generally
permit us to adjust a common unit purchaser's tax basis in our assets, or inside basis, under Section 743(b) of the Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does not apply to a person
who purchases common units directly from us. The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other unitholders. For purposes of this discussion, the inside basis in our assets
with respect to a unitholder will be considered to have two components: (i) his share of our tax basis in our assets, or common basis, and (ii) his Section 743(b) adjustment to
that basis.
The
timing of deductions attributable to a Section 743(b) adjustment to our common basis will depend upon a number of factors, including the nature of the assets to which the
adjustment is allocable, the extent to which the adjustment offsets any Section 704(c) type gain or loss with respect to an asset and certain elections we make as to the manner in which we
apply Section 704(c) principles with respect to an asset with respect to which the adjustment is allocable. Please read "Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction." The timing
of these deductions may affect the uniformity of our common units. Please read "Uniformity of Common Units."
A
Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferee's tax basis in his common units is higher than the units' share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior
to the transfer. In that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have, among other items, a greater amount of depreciation deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of our
assets would be less. A basis adjustment is required regardless of whether a Section 754 election is made in the case of a transfer of an interest in us if we have a substantial built-in loss
immediately after the transfer, or if we distribute property and have a substantial basis reduction. Generally a built-in loss or a basis reduction is substantial if it exceeds $250,000.
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The
calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. For example, the
allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment among our assets must be made in accordance with the Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment
allocated by us to our tangible assets to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally nonamortizable or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method
than our tangible assets. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or
disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission
from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If
permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of common units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.
Tax Treatment of Operations
Accounting Method and Taxable Year.
We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting
for federal
income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year ending within or with his taxable year. In addition, a
unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his common units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his taxable
year must include his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be required to include in income for his taxable year his share of more
than twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read "Disposition of Common UnitsAllocations Between Transferors and Transferees."
Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization.
The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost
recovery
deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax
basis immediately prior to an offering will be borne by our unitholders holding interests in us prior to any such offering. Please read "Tax Consequences of Common Unit
OwnershipAllocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction."
To
the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods, including bonus depreciation to the extent available, that will result in the largest deductions
being taken in the early years after assets subject to these allowances are placed in service. We may not be entitled to any amortization deductions with respect to certain goodwill properties held by
us at the time of any future offering. Please read "Uniformity of Common Units." Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by
the Code.
If
we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the
nature of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with
respect to property
we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. Please read "Tax Consequences of Common Unit
OwnershipAllocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction" and "Disposition of Common UnitsRecognition of Gain or Loss."
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The costs we incur in selling our common units (called "syndication expenses") must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our
termination. There are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us. The
underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses.
Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties.
The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of common units will
depend in part
on our estimates of the relative fair market values, and the amount of initial tax bases, of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation
matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates of value and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or
the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or determinations of basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously reported
by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.
Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of common units equal to the difference between the amount
realized and the
unitholder's tax basis for the units sold. A unitholder's amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property received by him plus his share of our
nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder's share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of common units could result in a tax liability in
excess of any cash received from the sale.
Prior
distributions from us that in the aggregate were in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit and, therefore, decreased a unitholder's tax basis in that common unit
will, in effect, become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder's tax basis in that common unit, even if the price received is less than his original cost.
Except
as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other than a "dealer" in units, on the sale or exchange of a common unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or
loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of common units held for more than twelve months will generally be taxed at the U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital
gains. However, a portion of this gain or loss, which will likely be substantial, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent
attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other "unrealized receivables" or to "inventory items" we own. The term "unrealized receivables" includes potential recapture items,
including depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a common unit
and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a common unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of common units.
Capital losses may offset capital gains and no more than $3,000 of ordinary income each year, in the case of individuals, and may only be used to offset capital gains in the case of corporations. Both
ordinary income and capital gain recognized on a sale of common units may be subject to the NIIT in certain circumstances. Please read "Tax Consequences of Common Unit
OwnershipTax Rates."
The
IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those
interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an "equitable apportionment" method, which
generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner's tax
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basis
in his entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner's entire interest in the partnership. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223
of the Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common units transferred. Thus,
according to the ruling discussed above, a unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury
Regulations, he may designate specific common units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of common units
transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of common units
purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.
Specific
provisions of the Code can affect the taxation of some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an "appreciated"
partnership interest, one in which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons enter(s)
into:
-
-
a short sale;
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-
an offsetting notional principal contract; or
-
-
a futures or forward contract;
in
each case, with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.
Moreover,
if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the
taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is
also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively
sold the financial position.
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.
In general, our taxable income and losses will be determined annually, will be prorated
on a monthly
basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of common units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business
day of the month, which we refer to in this prospectus as the "Allocation Date." However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of
business will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring common units may be allocated
income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.
Although
simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Code and most publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be permitted under
existing Treasury Regulations. The Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued Treasury Regulations pursuant to which a publicly traded partnership may use a similar monthly simplifying
convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders. Nonetheless, these regulations do not specifically authorize all aspects of the proration method we have adopted.
Accordingly, Baker Botts L.L.P. is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferor and transferee unitholders. If this method is not
allowed under the Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder's interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the unitholders. We are
authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferor and transferee unitholders, as well as unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under
the Treasury Regulations.
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A
unitholder who owns common units at any time during a quarter and who disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of
our income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter through the month of disposition, but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.
Notification Requirements.
A unitholder who sells any of his common units is generally required to notify us in writing of that sale
within
30 days after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the sale). A purchaser of common units who purchases common units from another unitholder is also generally
required to notify us in writing of that purchase within 30 days after the purchase. Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish
specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a purchase may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply
to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the U.S. and who effects the sale or exchange through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.
Constructive Termination.
We will be considered to have technically terminated our partnership for federal income tax purposes if there
is a sale or
exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For purposes of determining whether the 50% threshold has been met, multiple sales of the same
interest will be counted only once. Our technical termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders, which would result in us filing two tax returns
(and our unitholders could receive two schedules K-1 if relief was not available, as described below) for one fiscal year and could result in a deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in
computing our taxable income. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may also result in more than
twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. Our termination currently would not affect our classification as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes, but instead we would be treated as a new partnership for federal income tax purposes. If treated as a new partnership, we must make new tax elections, including a new
election under Section 754 of the Code, and could be subject to penalties if we are unable to determine that a termination occurred. The IRS has announced a relief procedure whereby if a
publicly traded partnership that has technically terminated requests, and the IRS grants, special relief, among other things, the partnership will be required to provide only a single
Schedule K-1 to unitholders for the tax years in which the termination occurs.
Uniformity of Common Units
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the
common units to a purchaser of these common units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements, both statutory and regulatory.
Any non-uniformity could have an impact upon the value of our common units. The timing of deductions attributable to Section 743(b) adjustments to the common basis of our assets with respect to
persons purchasing common units from another unitholder may affect the uniformity of our common units. Please read "Tax Consequences of Common Unit
OwnershipSection 754 Election."
For
example, some types of depreciable assets are not subject to the typical rules governing depreciation (under Section 168 of the Code) or amortization (under Section 197
of the Code). If we were to acquire any assets of that type, the timing of a common unit purchaser's deductions with respect to Section 743(b) adjustments to the common basis of those assets
might differ depending upon when and to whom the common unit he purchased was originally issued. We do not currently expect to acquire any assets of that type. However, if we were to acquire a
material amount of assets of that type, we intend to adopt tax positions as to those assets that will not result in any such lack of uniformity. Any such tax positions taken by us might result in
allocations to some unitholders of
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smaller
depreciation deductions than they would otherwise be entitled to receive. Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to those types of tax positions. Moreover, the IRS
might challenge those tax positions. If we took such a tax position and the IRS successfully challenged the position, the uniformity of common units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of
our common units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions. Please see "Disposition of Common UnitsRecognition of Gain or Loss."
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of common units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident aliens, foreign corporations and other foreign
persons raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should
consult your tax advisor before investing in our common units.
Employee
benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax
on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income, less certain allowable deductions, allocated to a unitholder that is a tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable
income and will be taxable to it.
Non-resident
aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own common units will be considered to be engaged in business in the U.S. because of the ownership of common units.
As a consequence, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net
income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, we will withhold at the highest
applicable effective tax rate from cash distributions made quarterly to foreign unitholders. Each foreign unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to
our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E, or applicable substitute form, in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes. A change in applicable law may require us to
change these procedures.
In
addition, because a foreign corporation that owns common units will be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax
at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our earnings and profits, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation's "U.S. net equity," which is effectively
connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the U.S. and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a
"qualified resident." In addition, this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Code.
A
foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a common unit will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent
the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS interpreting the scope of "effectively connected income," a foreign
unitholder would be considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. by virtue of the U.S. activities of the partnership, and part or all of that unitholder's gain would be effectively
connected with that unitholder's indirect U.S. trade or business. Moreover, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a foreign unitholder (other than certain unitholders that are or hold
their common units through "qualified foreign pension plans" as defined in the Code) generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a common unit if (i) he
owned (directly or constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our common units at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition and
(ii) 50% or more of the fair market
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value
of all of our assets consisted of U.S. real property interests at any time during the shorter of the period during which such unitholder held the common units or the five-year period ending on
the date of disposition. Currently, more than 50% of our assets consist of U.S. real property interests and we do not expect that to change in the foreseeable future. Therefore, foreign unitholders
may be subject to federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of their common units.
Administrative Matters
Information Returns and Audit Procedures.
We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar
year,
specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will
not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder's share of income, gain, loss and
deduction. We cannot assure you that those positions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we
nor Baker Botts L.L.P. can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively
affect the value of the common units.
The
IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year's tax liability, and possibly may
result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholder's return could result in adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns.
Partnerships
generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of federal tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The
tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Code requires that one
partner be designated as the "Tax Matters Partner" for these purposes. Our partnership agreement names our general partner as our Tax Matters Partner.
The
Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for
assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS
unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders
are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest
in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest
in the outcome may participate.
A
unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our
return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.
Pursuant
to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns, it may assess and
collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from us. Similarly, for such taxable years, if the IRS makes audit adjustments to
income tax returns filed by an entity in which we are a member or partner, it may assess and collect any taxes (including penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from
such entity. Generally, we expect to elect to have our general partner and unitholders take any such audit adjustment into account in accordance
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with
their interests in us during the taxable year under audit, but there can be no assurance that such election will be effective in all circumstances. With respect to audit adjustments as to an
entity in which we are a member or a partner, the Joint Committee on Taxation has stated that we would not be able to have our general partner and unitholders take such audit adjustment into account.
If we are unable to have our general partner and unitholders take such audit adjustment into account in accordance with their interests in us during the taxable year under audit, our current
unitholders may bear some or all of the tax liability resulting from such audit adjustment, even if such unitholders did not own our units during the taxable year under audit. If, as a result of any
such audit adjustment, we are required to make payments of taxes, penalties and interest, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders might be substantially reduced. These rules are not
applicable to us for taxable years beginning on or prior to December 31, 2017.
Additionally,
pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, the Code will no longer require that we designate a Tax Matters Partner. Instead, for taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2017, we will be required to designate a partner, or other person, with a substantial presence in the U.S. as the "Partnership Representative." The Partnership Representative will
have the sole authority to act on our behalf for purposes of, among other things, federal income tax audits and judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS. If we do not make such a
designation, the IRS can select any person as the Partnership Representative. We currently anticipate that we will designate our general partner as the Partnership Representative. Further, any actions
taken by us or by the Partnership Representative on our behalf with respect to, among other things, federal income tax audits and judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS, will be
binding on us and all of the unitholders. These rules are not applicable to us for taxable years beginning on or prior to December 31, 2017.
Additional Withholding Requirements.
Withholding taxes may apply to certain types of payments made to
"foreign financial institutions" (as specially defined in the Code) and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on interest, dividends and other fixed or
determinable annual or periodical gains, profits and income from sources within the U.S. ("FDAP Income"), or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any property of a type which can
produce interest or dividends from sources within the U.S. ("Gross Proceeds") paid to a foreign financial institution or to a "non-financial foreign entity" (as specially defined in the Code), unless
(i) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting, (ii) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or
furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from
these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in clause (i) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S.
Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain U.S. persons or U.S.-owned foreign entities, annually report certain information about such accounts, and
withhold 30% on payments to noncompliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders.
These
rules generally apply to payments of FDAP Income currently and generally will apply to payments of relevant Gross Proceeds made on or after January 1, 2019. Thus, to the
extent we have FDAP Income or Gross Proceeds after these dates that are not treated as effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (please read "Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other
Investors"), unitholders who are foreign financial institutions or certain other non-U.S. entities may be subject to withholding on distributions they receive from us, or their distributive share of
our income, pursuant to the rules described above.
Prospective
investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application of these withholding provisions to their investment in our common units.
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Nominee Reporting.
Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to
us:
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the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;
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whether the beneficial owner is:
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(1)
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a
person that is not a U.S. person;
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(2)
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a
foreign government, an international organization or any wholly-owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or
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(3)
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a
tax-exempt entity;
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the amount and description of common units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and
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specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for
purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales.
Brokers
and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on common units they acquire, hold or
transfer for their own account. A penalty is imposed for failure to report that information to us. For 2017, the penalty is $260 per failure, up to a maximum of $3,218,500 per calendar year. The
nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the common units with the information furnished to us.
Accuracy-Related Penalties.
An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable
to one or more
specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements, is imposed. No penalty will be imposed,
however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.
For
individuals, a substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on
the return for the taxable year or $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted
on the return:
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for which there is, or was, "substantial authority"; or
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as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of that position are disclosed on the return.
If
any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of unitholders might result in that kind of an "understatement" of income for which no "substantial
authority" exists, we must disclose the pertinent facts on our return. In addition, we will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on
their returns and to take other actions as may be appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid liability for this penalty. More stringent rules apply to "tax shelters," which we do not believe includes
us, or any of our investments, plans or arrangements.
A
substantial valuation misstatement exists if (a) the value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 150% or more of the amount
determined to be the correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis, (b) the price for any property or services (or for the use of property) claimed on any such return with respect to any
transaction between persons described in Section 482 of the Code is 200% or more (or 50% or less) of the amount determined under Code Section 482 to be the correct amount of such price,
or (c) the net Section 482 transfer price adjustment for the taxable year exceeds the lesser of $5 million or 10% of the taxpayer's gross receipts. No penalty
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is
imposed unless the portion of the underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). If the valuation claimed on a return is 200% or
more
than the correct valuation or certain other thresholds are met, the penalty imposed increases to 40%. We do not anticipate making any valuation misstatements.
In
addition, the 20% accuracy-related penalty also applies to any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to transactions lacking economic substance. To the extent that
such transactions are not disclosed, the penalty imposed is increased to 40%. Additionally, there is no reasonable cause defense to the imposition of this penalty to such transactions.
Reportable Transactions.
If we were to engage in a "reportable transaction," we (and possibly you and others) would be required to make
a detailed
disclosure of the transaction to the IRS. A transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors, including the fact that it is a type of tax avoidance transaction publicly
identified by the IRS as a "listed transaction" or that it produces certain kinds of losses for partnerships, individuals, S corporations, and trusts in excess of $2 million in any single year,
or $4 million in any combination of six successive tax years. Our participation in a reportable transaction could increase the likelihood that our federal income tax information return (and
possibly your tax return) would be audited by the IRS. Please read "Information Returns and Audit Procedures."
Moreover,
if we were to participate in a reportable transaction with a significant purpose to avoid or evade tax, or in any listed transaction, you may be subject to the following
additional consequences:
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accuracy-related penalties with a broader scope, significantly narrower exceptions, and potentially greater amounts than described above at
"Accuracy-related Penalties";
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for those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on federal tax deficiencies, nondeductibility of interest on any resulting tax
liability; and
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in the case of a listed transaction, an extended statute of limitations.
Recent Legislative Developments
The present federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our common units may be modified by
administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time members of the U.S. Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the existing federal income
tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. Any modification to the federal income tax laws and interpretations thereof may or may not be retroactively applied and could make it more difficult
or impossible to meet the exception for us to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Please read "Partnership Status." We are unable to predict whether any such
changes will ultimately be enacted. However, it is possible that a change in law could affect us and any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units.
State, Local and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to federal income taxes, you will likely be subject to other taxes, such as state and local income taxes, unincorporated business
taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or own property or in which you are a resident. We currently conduct
business and own property in multiple states. Substantially all of these states currently impose a personal income tax on individuals. All of these states impose an income tax on corporations and
other entities. Moreover, in addition to state income or similar taxes imposed on residents of certain states, we may also own property or do business in other states in the future that
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impose
income or similar taxes on nonresident individuals. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on his
investment in us. You may be required to file state income tax returns and to pay state income taxes in certain states in which we do business or own property, and you may be subject to penalties for
failure to comply with those requirements. In some states, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the year
incurred and also may not be available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the states may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be
distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the state. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder's income tax liability to the state, generally does
not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts withheld may be treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts
distributed by us. Please read "Tax Consequences of Common Unit OwnershipEntity-Level Collections." Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, we
anticipate that any amounts required to be withheld will not be material.
It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, of his investment in us.
Accordingly, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult, and depend upon, his tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to
file all state, local and foreign, as well as U.S. federal tax returns, that may be required of him. Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or foreign tax
consequences of an investment in us.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the common units being offered hereby in and outside the U.S. (1) through underwriters or underwriting syndicates led by one
or more managing underwriters, (2) to or through brokers or dealers, (3) to or through agents, (4) directly to one or more purchasers, including our affiliates,
(5) pursuant to delayed delivery contracts or forward contracts or (6) through a combination of any of these methods.
The
prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will include the following information:
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the names of any underwriters or agents;
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the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;
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the purchase price of the common units from us;
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the net proceeds to us from the sale of the common units;
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any delayed delivery arrangements;
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any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional common units from us;
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any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents;
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any public offering price;
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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers;
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any commissions paid to agents; and
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any securities exchange or market on which the common units offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed.