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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A/A
(Amendment No. 2)
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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Delaware
(State of incorporation or organization)
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76-0568219
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
1100 Louisiana Street, 10th Floor
Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class
to be so registered:
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Name of each exchange on which
each class is to be registered: |
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Common Units representing limited partner interests
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New York Stock Exchange |
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following
box. þ
If this Form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following
box. o
Securities act registration statement file number to which this form relates: 333-52537
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Amendment No. 2 hereby amends and restates the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
by the registrant on July 21, 1998, as amended by Amendment No. 1, relating to the Registrants
common units representing limited partner interests.
As used in this registration statement, we, us, and our mean Enterprise Products
Partners L.P. and, where the context requires, include its operating subsidiaries, but does not
include its general partner (referred to as such herein), Enterprise Products Holdings LLC. As
used in this registration statement, EPD GP means Enterprise Products Holdings LLC (formerly
named EPE Holdings, LLC) as the successor general partner under our partnership agreement as of
November 22, 2010.
This amendment is being filed to reflect changes to our partnership agreement as set forth in
the Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership dated effective as of November 22,
2010 (which we refer to as our partnership agreement) and to update matters relating to U.S.
federal income tax consequences of owning our common units.
Item 1. Description of Registrants Securities to be Registered.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON UNITS
Common Units
The common units registered hereunder represent limited partner interests in Enterprise
Products Partners L.P. (the partnership, we or us) and entitle holders thereof to the rights
and privileges specified in our partnership agreement. A description of the common units is set
forth below. The following summary does not purport to be complete, and reference is made to the
more detailed provisions of the partnerships Certificate of Limited Partnership, as amended to
date, and its partnership agreement, which are filed as exhibits to this Registration Statement on
Form 8-A/A (this Registration Statement).
Generally, our common units represent limited partner interests that entitle the holders to
participate in our cash distributions and to exercise the rights and privileges available to
limited partners under our partnership agreement.
We also have issued and outstanding Class B units, which are entitled to rights and privileges as
noted below. The Class B units are held by a privately held affiliate of Enterprise Products
Company, a Texas corporation formerly named EPCO, Inc. (EPCO). The Class B units generally have
the same rights and privileges as our common units, except that they are not entitled to regular
quarterly cash distributions for the first sixteen quarters following October 26, 2009, which was
the closing date of our merger with TEPPCO Partners, L.P. (TEPPCO). The Class B units will
automatically convert into the same number of common units on the date immediately following the
payment date for the sixteenth quarterly distribution following the closing of the TEPPCO merger.
For a description of the relative rights and
preferences of unitholders in and to cash distributions, please
read Cash Distribution Policy elsewhere in this Registration Statement:
Our outstanding common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol EPD. Any additional
common units we issue will also be listed on the NYSE.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common units is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services LLC.
Meetings/Voting
Each holder of our common units and Class B units is entitled to one vote for each unit on all
matters submitted to a vote of the common unitholders. Holders of the Class B units are
entitled to vote as a separate class on any matter that adversely affects the rights or preference
of such class in relation to other classes of partnership interests. The approval of a majority of
the Class B units is required to approve any matter for which the Class B unitholders are entitled
to vote as a separate class.
Status as Limited Partner or Assignee
Except as
described below under Limited Liability, our common units will be fully paid,
and unitholders will not be required to make additional capital contributions to us.
Each purchaser of our common units must execute a transfer application whereby the purchaser
requests admission as a substituted limited partner and makes representations and agrees to
provisions stated in the transfer application. If this action is not taken, a purchaser will not be
registered as a record holder of common units on the books of our transfer agent or issued a common
unit certificate. Purchasers may hold common units in nominee accounts.
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An assignee, pending its admission as a substituted limited partner, is entitled to an
interest in us equivalent to that of a limited partner with respect to the right to share in
allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions. Our general partner will vote
and exercise other powers attributable to our common units owned by an assignee who has not become
a substituted limited partner at the written direction of the assignee. Transferees who do not
execute and deliver transfer applications will be treated neither as assignees nor as record
holders of common units and will not receive distributions, federal income tax allocations or
reports furnished to record holders of our common units. The only right the transferees will have
is the right to admission as a substituted limited partner in respect of the transferred common
units upon execution of a transfer application in respect of the common units. A nominee or broker
who has executed a transfer application with respect to our common units held in street name or
nominee accounts will receive distributions and reports pertaining to its common units.
Limited Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the
meaning of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the Delaware Act) and that he
otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership agreement, his liability under
the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to some possible exceptions, generally to the amount of
capital he is obligated to contribute to us in respect of his units plus his share of any
undistributed profits and assets.
Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner to the
extent that at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, all
liabilities of the partnership, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership
interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of
the partnership, exceed the fair value of the assets of the limited partnership.
For the purposes of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited partnership, the
Delaware Act provides that the fair value of the property subject to liability of which recourse of
creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited partnership only to the extent
that the fair value of that property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act provides
that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that
the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act is liable to the limited partnership for the
amount of the distribution for three years from the date of the distribution.
Reports and Records
As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal
year, our general partner will furnish or make available to each unitholder of record (as of a
record date selected by our general partner) an annual report containing our audited financial
statements for the past fiscal year. These financial statements will be prepared in accordance with
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or such other accounting standards as may be required
by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, no later than 45 days after the close
of each quarter (except the fourth quarter), our general partner will furnish or make available to
each unitholder of record (as of a record date selected by our general partner) a report containing
our unaudited financial statements and any other information required by law.
Our general partner will use all reasonable efforts to furnish each unitholder of record
information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each
fiscal year. Our general partners ability to furnish this summary tax information will depend on
the cooperation of unitholders in supplying information to our general partner. Each unitholder
will receive information to assist him in determining his U.S. federal and state and Canadian
federal and provincial tax liability and filing his U.S. federal and state income tax returns.
A limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to the limited partners 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 our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited partnership,
amendments to either of them and powers of attorney which have been executed
under our partnership agreement; |
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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 and other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is
not in our best interest or which we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to
keep confidential.
CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY
Distributions of Available Cash
General. Effective after November 22, 2010, within approximately 45 days after the end of each
quarter, we will distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record (excluding holders
of our Class B units as set forth in our partnership agreement and subject to terms applicable
under a distribution waiver agreement with one of our common unitholders) on the applicable record
date.
Definition of Available Cash. Available cash is defined in our partnership agreement and
generally means, with respect to any calendar quarter, all cash on hand at the end of such 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 our business (including reserves for our future capital expenditures
and for our future credit needs) subsequent to such quarter; |
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comply with applicable law or any loan agreement, security agreement, mortgage, debt instrument or
other agreement or obligation to which we are a party or to which we are bound or our assets are
subject; or |
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provide funds for distributions to unitholders in respect of any one or more of the next four quarters; |
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plus all cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings
made after the end of the quarter or certain interim capital transactions after the end of such quarter designated by our
general partner as operating surplus in accordance with the partnership agreement. Working capital borrowings are generally
borrowings that are made under our credit facilities and in all cases are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay
distributions to partners. |
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 in the order of priority provided in the partnership agreement and by
law and, thereafter, we will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders
in accordance with their respective capital account balances as so adjusted.
Manner of Adjustments for Gain. The manner of the adjustment is set forth in the partnership
agreement. Upon our liquidation, we will allocate any net gain (or unrealized gain attributable to
assets distributed in kind to the partners) as follows:
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first, to the unitholders having negative balances in their capital
accounts to the extent of and in proportion to |
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such negative balances;
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second, to the unitholders, pro rata. |
Manner of Adjustments for Losses. Upon our liquidation,
any net loss will generally be allocated to the unitholders as follows:
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first, to the unitholders in proportion to the positive balances in
their respective capital accounts, until the capital accounts of the
unitholders have been reduced to zero; and |
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second, to the unitholders, pro rata. |
Adjustments to Capital Accounts. In addition, interim adjustments to capital accounts will be
made at the time we issue additional partnership interests or make distributions of property. Such
adjustments will be based on the fair market value of the partnership interests or the property
distributed and any gain or loss resulting therefrom will be allocated to the unitholders in the
same manner as gain or loss is allocated upon liquidation.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. Our
amended and restated partnership agreement has been filed with the Commission. The following
provisions of our partnership agreement are summarized elsewhere in this Registration Statement:
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distributions of our available cash are described under Cash Distribution Policy; and |
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rights of holders of common units are described under Description of Our Common Units. |
In addition, allocations of taxable income and other matters are described under Material Tax
Consequences below in this Registration Statement.
Purpose
Our purpose under our partnership agreement is to serve as a member of Enterprise Products
Operating, LLC (EPO), our primary operating subsidiary, and to engage in any business activities
that may be engaged in by EPO or that are approved by our general partner. The limited liability
company agreement of EPO provides that it may engage in any activity that was engaged in by our
predecessors at the time of our initial public offering or reasonably related thereto and any other
activity approved by our general partner.
Power of Attorney
Each limited partner, and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and
delivers a transfer application, grants to our general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a
power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for our
qualification, continuance or dissolution. The power of attorney also grants the authority for the
amendment of, and to make consents and waivers under, our partnership agreement.
Voting Rights
Unitholders will not have voting rights except with respect to the following matters, for
which our partnership agreement requires the approval of the holders of a majority of the units,
unless otherwise indicated:
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the merger of our partnership or a sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets; |
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the removal of our general partner (requires 60% of the outstanding units, including units held by our general
partner and its affiliates); |
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the election of a successor general partner; |
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the dissolution of our partnership or the reconstitution of our partnership upon dissolution; |
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approval of certain actions of our general partner (including the transfer by the general partner of its general
partner interest under certain circumstances); and |
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certain amendments to the partnership agreement, including any amendment that would cause us to be treated as an
association taxable as a corporation. |
Under the partnership agreement, our general partner generally will be permitted to effect,
without the approval of unitholders, amendments to the partnership agreement that do not adversely
affect unitholders.
Class B Units. Holders of Class B units are entitled to vote together with the our common
unitholders as a single class on all matters that our common unitholders are entitled to vote on.
Holders of the Class B units are entitled to vote as a separate class on any matter that adversely
affects the rights or preference of such class in relation to other classes of partnership
interests. The approval of the holders of a majority of the Class B units is required to approve
any matter for which the Class B unitholders are entitled to vote as a separate class.
Issuance of Additional Securities
Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional limited
partner interests and other equity securities that are equal in rank with or junior to our common
units on terms and conditions established by our general partner in its sole discretion without the
approval of any limited partners.
It is possible that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units
or other equity securities. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to
share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our cash distributions. In
addition, the issuance of additional partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of
the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also
issue additional partnership interests that, in the sole discretion of our general partner, may
have special voting rights to which common units are not entitled.
Our general partner has the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part
to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units or other equity securities whenever, and on the
same terms that, we issue those securities to persons other than our general partner and its
affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain their percentage interests in us that existed
immediately prior to the issuance. The holders of common units will not have preemptive rights to
acquire additional common units or other partnership interests in us.
Our partnership agreement authorizes a series of our limited partner interests called Class B
units. The Class B units will not be entitled to regular quarterly cash distributions for the first
sixteen quarters following the closing of the TEPPCO merger (which occurred on October 26, 2009).
The Class B units will convert automatically into the same number of our common units on the date
immediately following the payment date of the sixteenth quarterly distribution following October
26, 2009, and holders of such converted units will thereafter be entitled to receive distributions
of available cash.
Amendments to Our Partnership Agreement
Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. Any
amendment that materially and adversely affects the rights or preferences of any type or class of
limited partner interests in relation to other types or classes of limited partner interests or our
general partner interest will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of
limited partner interests or general partner interests so affected. However, in some circumstances,
more particularly described in our partnership agreement, our general partner may make amendments
to our partnership agreement without the approval of our limited partners or assignees to reflect:
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a change in our names, the location of our principal place of business, our
registered agent or our registered |
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office; |
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the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners; |
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a change to qualify or continue our qualification as a limited partnership or a
partnership in which our limited partners have limited liability under the laws of
any state or to ensure that neither we, our operating partnership, nor any of our
subsidiaries will be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise
taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes; |
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a change that does not adversely affect our limited partners in any material respect; |
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a change to (i) satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any
opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or state agency or
judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute or (ii) facilitate
the trading of our limited partner interests or comply with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any national securities exchange on which our limited
partner interests are or will be listed for trading; |
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a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and any changes that are necessary or
advisable as a result of a change in our fiscal year or taxable year; |
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an amendment that is necessary to prevent us, or our general partner or its
directors, officers, trustees or agents from being subjected to the provisions of
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended, or plan asset regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended; |
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an amendment that is necessary or advisable in connection with the authorization or
issuance of any class or series of our securities; |
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any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our
general partner acting alone; |
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an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement approved
in accordance with our partnership agreement; |
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an amendment that is necessary or advisable to reflect, account for and deal with
appropriately our formation of, or investment in, any corporation, partnership,
joint venture, limited liability company or other entity other than our operating
partnership, in connection with our conduct of activities permitted by our
partnership agreement; |
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a merger or conveyance to effect a change in our legal form; or |
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any other amendments substantially similar to the foregoing. |
Any amendment to our partnership agreement that would have the effect of reducing the voting
percentage required to take any action must be approved by the written consent or the affirmative
vote of our limited partners constituting not less than the voting requirement sought to be
reduced.
No amendment to our partnership agreement may (i) enlarge the obligations of any limited
partner without its consent, unless such shall have occurred as a result of an amendment approved
by not less than a majority of the outstanding partnership interests of the class affected, (ii)
enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way
the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable to, our general partner or any of its
affiliates without its consent, which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion,
(iii) change the provision of our partnership agreement that provides for our dissolution (A) at
the expiration of its term or (B) upon the election to dissolve us by the general partner that is
approved by the holders of a majority of our outstanding common units and by special approval (as
such term is defined under our partnership agreement),
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or (iv) change the term of us or, except as set forth in the provision described in clause
(iii)(B) of this paragraph, give any person the right to dissolve us.
Except for certain amendments in connection with the merger or consolidation of us and
except for those amendments that may be effected by the general partner without the consent of
limited partners as described above, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the
rights or preferences of any class of partnership interests in relation to other classes of
partnership interests must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority of the
outstanding partnership interests of the class so affected.
Except for those amendments that may be effected by the general partner without the consent of
limited partners as described above or certain provisions in connection with our merger or
consolidation, no amendment shall become effective without the approval of the holders of at least
90% of the outstanding units unless twe obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that such
amendment will not affect the limited liability of any limited partner under applicable law.
Except for those amendments that may be effected by the general partner without the
consent of limited partners as described above, the foregoing provisions described above relating
to the amendment of our partnership agreement may only be amended with the approval of the holders
of at least 90% of the outstanding units.
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
Our partnership agreement generally prohibits the general partner, without the prior
approval of a majority of our outstanding units, from causing us to, among other things, sell,
exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets us or EPO in a single
transaction or a series of related transactions (including by way of merger, consolidation or other
combination). The general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security
interest in all or substantially all of the assets of us or EPO without the approval of a Unit
Majority (as defined in the our partnership agreement). Our partnership agreement generally
prohibits the general partner from causing us to merge or consolidate with another entity without
the approval of a majority of the members of our Audit and Conflicts Committee, at least one of
which majority meets certain independence requirements (such approval constituting special
approval under our partnership agreement).
If certain conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general
partner may merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey some or all of our assets to, a
newly formed entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance is to change our legal form
into another limited liability entity.
Reimbursements of Our General Partner
Our general partner does not receive any compensation for its services as our general partner.
It is, however, entitled to be reimbursed for all of its costs incurred in managing and operating
our business. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner will determine the
expenses that are allocable to us in any reasonable manner determined by our general partner in its
sole discretion.
Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner
Our general partner may withdraw as general partner without first obtaining approval of any
unitholder by giving 90 days written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation
of our partnership agreement. In addition, our general partner may withdraw without unitholder
approval upon 90 days notice to our limited partners if at least 50% of our outstanding common
units are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates other than our general partner and
its affiliates.
Upon the voluntary withdrawal of our general partner, the holders of a majority of our
outstanding common units, excluding the common units held by the withdrawing general partner and
its affiliates, may elect a successor to the withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not
elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot
be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within 90 days after that
withdrawal, the holders of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding the common units held
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by the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, agree to continue our business and to appoint a
successor general partner.
Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the
holders of not less than 60% of our outstanding units, including units held by our general partner
and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax
matters. In addition, if our general partner is removed as our general partner under circumstances
where cause does not exist and units held by our general partner and its affiliates are not voted
in favor of such removal, our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner
interest into common units or to receive cash in exchange for such interests. Cause is narrowly
defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment
finding the general partner liable for actual fraud, gross negligence or willful or wanton
misconduct in its capacity as our general partner. Any removal of this kind is also subject to the
approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding
common units, including those held by our general partner and its affiliates.
Transfer of the General Partner Interest
While our partnership agreement limits the ability of our general partner to withdraw, it
allows the general partner interest to be transferred to an affiliate or to a third party in
conjunction with a merger or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of our general partner.
In addition, our partnership agreement expressly permits the sale, in whole or in part, of the
ownership of our general partner. Our general partner may also transfer, in whole or in part, the
common units it owns.
At any time, the owners of our general partner may sell or transfer all or part of their
ownership interests in the general partner without the approval of the unitholders.
Dissolution and Liquidation
We will continue as a limited partnership until terminated under our partnership
agreement. We will dissolve upon:
(1) the expiration of its term on December 31, 2088;
(2) the withdrawal, removal, bankruptcy or dissolution of the general partner unless a
successor is elected and an opinion of counsel is received that such withdrawal (following the
selection of a successor general partner) would not result in the loss of the limited liability of
any limited partner or of any member of EPO or cause us or EPO to be treated as an association
taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be taxed as an entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes
(to the extent not previously treated as such) and such successor is admitted to the partnership as
required by our partnership agreement;
(3) an election to dissolve us by the general partner that receives special approval (as
defined in our partnership agreement) and is approved by a majority of the holders of our common
units;
(4) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of us pursuant to the provisions of the
Delaware Act; or
(5) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets and properties of us, EPO and
their subsidiaries.
Upon (a) our dissolution following the withdrawal or removal of the general partner and
the failure of the partners to select a successor general partner, then within 90 days thereafter,
or (b) our dissolution upon the bankruptcy or dissolution of the general partner, then, to the
maximum extent permitted by law, within 180 days thereafter, the holders of a majority of the
holders of our common units may elect to reconstitute tus and continue our business on the same
terms and conditions set forth in the our partnership agreement by forming a new limited
partnership on terms identical to those set forth in our partnership agreement and having as the
successor general partner a person approved by the holders of a majority of the holders of our
common units. Unless such an election is made within the applicable time period as set forth above,
we shall conduct only activities necessary to wind up our affairs.
Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
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Upon our dissolution, unless we are reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership,
the person authorized to wind up our affairs (the liquidator) will, acting with all the powers of
our general partner that the liquidator deems necessary or desirable in its good faith judgment,
liquidate our assets. The proceeds of the liquidation will be applied as follows:
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first, towards the payment of all of our creditors and the creation of a reserve for contingent liabilities; and |
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then, to all partners in accordance with the positive balance in the respective capital accounts. |
Under some circumstances and subject to some limitations, the liquidator may defer liquidation
or distribution of our assets for a reasonable period of time. If the liquidator determines that a
sale would be impractical or would cause a loss to our partners, our general partner may distribute
assets in kind to our partners.
Meetings; Voting
For purposes of determining the limited partners entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of limited partners or to give approvals without a meeting, the general partner may set a
record date, which shall not be less than 10 nor more than 60 days before (i) the date of the
meeting (unless such requirement conflicts with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of
any national securities exchange on which the limited partner interests are listed for trading, in
which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such exchange shall govern) or (ii) in
the event that approvals are sought without a meeting, the date by which limited partners are
requested in writing by the general partner to give such approvals.
If authorized by the general partner, any action that may be taken at a meeting of the limited
partners may be taken without a meeting if an approval in writing setting forth the action so taken
is signed by limited partners owning not less than the minimum percentage of the outstanding
limited partner interests (including limited partner interests deemed owned by the general partner)
that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all the limited
partners were present and voted (unless such provision conflicts with any rule, regulation,
guideline or requirement of any national securities exchange on which the limited partner interests
are listed for trading, in which case the rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of such
exchange shall govern). Special meetings of limited partners may be called by the general partner
or by limited partners owning 20% or more of the outstanding limited partner interests of the class
or classes for which a meeting is proposed. The holders of a majority of the outstanding limited
partner interests of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called (including limited
partner interests deemed owned by the general partner) represented in person or by proxy shall
constitute a quorum at a meeting of limited partners of such class or classes unless any such
action by the limited partners requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of such limited
partner interests, in which case the quorum shall be such greater percentage.
Each holder of common units and Class B units is entitled to one vote for each unit on
all matters submitted to a vote of the common unitholders. Holders of the Class B units are
entitled to vote as a separate class on any matter that adversely affects the rights or preference
of such class in relation to other classes of partnership interests. The approval of a majority of
the Class B units is required to approve any matter for which the Class B unitholders are entitled
to vote as a separate class. Our common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted
by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless
the arrangement between the beneficial owner and its nominee provides otherwise.
Limited Call Right
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own 85% or more of the issued and
outstanding limited partner interests of any class, our general partner will have the right to
purchase all, but not less than all, of the outstanding limited partner interests of that class
that are held by non-affiliated persons. The record date for determining ownership of the limited
partner interests would be selected by our general partner on at least 10 but not more than 60
days notice. The purchase price in the event of a purchase under these provisions would be the
greater of (1) the current market price (as defined in our partnership agreement) of the limited
partner interests of the class as of the date three days prior to the date that notice is mailed to
the limited partners as provided in the partnership
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agreement and (2) the highest cash price paid by our general partner or any of its affiliates for
any limited partner interest of the class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date our
general partner mails notice of its election to purchase the units.
Indemnification
Section 17-108 of the Delaware Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify
and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against all claims and demands whatsoever.
Our partnership agreement provides that we will indemnify (i) the general partner, (ii) any
departing general partner, (iii) any person who is or was an affiliate of the general partner or
any departing general partner, (iv) any person who is or was a member, partner, officer director,
employee, agent or trustee of the general partner or any departing general partner or any affiliate
of the general partner or any departing general partner or (v) any person who is or was serving at
the request of the general partner or any departing general partner or any affiliate of any such
person, any affiliate of the general partner or any fiduciary or trustee of another person (each, a
Partnership Indemnitee), to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (joint or several), expenses (including, without limitation,
legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements and other amounts
arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in which any Partnership Indemnitee may be involved, or is
threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of its status as a Partnership
Indemnitee; provided that in each case the Partnership Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a
manner that such Partnership Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to our best
interests and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe its
conduct was unlawful. The termination of any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction
or upon a plea of nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not create an assumption that the
Partnership Indemnitee acted in a manner contrary to that specified above. Any indemnification
under these provisions will be only out of the our assets, and the general partner shall not be
personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or assets to us to enable
it to effectuate, such indemnification. We are authorized to purchase (or to reimburse the general
partner or its affiliates for the cost of) insurance against liabilities asserted against and
expenses incurred by such persons in connection with our activities, regardless of whether we would
have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under the provisions described
above.
Registration Rights
Under our 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. We are obligated to pay all expenses
incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.
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MATERIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
This section is a summary of the material tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective
unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States. This section is based
upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, existing and proposed regulations and current
administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Changes in these
authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described
below.
The following discussion does not address on all federal income tax matters affecting us or
our unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or
residents of the United States and has only limited application to corporations, estates, trusts,
nonresident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt
institutions, non-U.S. persons, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), real estate investment
trusts (REITs) or mutual funds. Accordingly, we encourage each prospective unitholder to consult,
and depend on, such unitholders own tax advisor in analyzing the U.S. federal, state, local and
non-U.S. tax consequences particular to that unitholder resulting from the ownership or disposition
of common units.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding our status as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, the statements made here 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 the 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 the unitholders and thus will be borne
indirectly by the unitholders. 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.
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 unless the amount of cash distributed is in excess of the
partners adjusted basis in his partnership interest.
Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue 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,
refining, transportation, storage and marketing of any mineral or natural resource, including our
allocable share of such income from Duncan Energy Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
(Duncan Energy Partners), and Energy Transfer Equity, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership
(Energy Transfer Equity, and collectively with Duncan Energy Partners, the MLP Entities). 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 assets held for the
production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income. We estimate that less than 5% of
our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to
time.
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 Enterprise Products Operating L.P. (the Operating Partnership) as
partnerships for federal income tax purposes. We believe that we and the Operating Partnership
will be classified as partnerships for federal income tax purposes because, among other things:
(a) Neither we, the Operating Partnership nor the MLP Entities has elected or will elect to be
treated as a corporation; and
(b) For each taxable year, we believe (or expect) that more than 90% of our gross income has
been (or will be) qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
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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 require us to make adjustments with respect to the 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 taxable as a corporation 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. Moreover, if any MLP Entities were taxable
as a corporation in any taxable year, our share of such entitys items of income, gain,
loss and deduction would not be passed through to us and such entity would pay tax on its income
at
corporate rates. If we or an MLP Entity were taxable as a corporation, losses recognized by the
MLP Entity would not flow through to us or losses recognized by us would not flow through to
our unitholders, as the case may be. In addition, any distribution made by us to
a unitholder (or by the MLP Entity to us) would be treated as either taxable dividend income, to
the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings and
profits, a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholders tax basis in his common
units (or our tax basis in our interest in the MLP Entity), or taxable capital gain, after the
unitholders tax basis in his common units is reduced to zero. Accordingly, taxation of us or any
MLP Entity as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a unitholders cash flow and
after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction of the value of the units.
The discussion below is based on our assumption that we will be classified as a partnership
for federal income tax purposes.
Limited Partner Status
Unitholders who have become limited partners of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. will be
treated as partners of Enterprise Products Partners L.P. for federal income tax purposes. Also,
assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting admission as
limited partners, and 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 Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
for federal income tax purposes. A purchaser or other transferee of common units who does not
execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some federal income tax information or
reports furnished to record holders of common units unless the common units are held in a nominee
or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application
for those common units.
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 read Tax Consequences of Common Unit Ownership Treatment
of Short Sales.
Income, gains, 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 appear to be fully taxable as
ordinary income. We strongly encourage prospective unitholders to consult their own tax advisors
with respect to their status as partners in Enterprise Products Partners L.P. for federal income
tax purposes.
Tax Consequences of Common Unit Ownership
Flow-through of Taxable Income. We do not pay any federal income tax. Instead, each unitholder
is required to report on his income tax return his share of our income, gains, losses and
deductions without regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are received by him.
Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash
distribution. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of our
income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year or years ending with or within his
taxable year. Our taxable year ends on December 31.
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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. Our
cash distributions in excess of a unitholders tax basis in his common units generally will be
considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the common units, taxable in accordance with the
rules described under Disposition of Common Units below. Any reduction in a unitholders share
of our liabilities for which no partner bears the economic risk of loss, known as nonrecourse
liabilities, will be treated as a distribution of cash to that unitholder. To the extent our
distributions cause a unitholders at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable
year, the unitholder must recapture any losses deducted in previous years. Please read
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.
A decrease in a unitholders percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional
common units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a
corresponding deemed distribution of cash which 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 unitholders share
of our unrealized receivables, including depreciation recapture, and/or substantially appreciated
inventory items, both as defined in Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code, and collectively,
Section 751 Assets. To that extent, he will be treated as having been distributed his
proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and 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 unitholders realization of ordinary income, which will equal the
excess of (a) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (b) the unitholders tax basis for
the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Common Units. A unitholders initial tax basis for his common units will be the
amount he paid for the common units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will
be increased by his share of our income and gains and by any increases in his share of our
nonrecourse liabilities. That basis generally will be decreased, but not below zero, by
distributions from us, by the unitholders share of our losses and deductions, 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 will
have no share of our debt which is recourse to the general partner, but will have a share,
generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. Please read Disposition
of Common Units Recognition of Gain or 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 units and, in the case of an individual unitholder
or a corporate unitholder, if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholders 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 amount 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
in a later year to the extent that his tax basis or at risk amount, whichever is the limiting
factor, is subsequently increased provided that such losses are otherwise allowable. Upon the
taxable disposition of a 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 excess loss above that gain previously suspended by the at risk or basis
limitations is no longer utilizable.
In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his 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 other than those 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 units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an
interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A
unitholders at risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholders 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 are permitted to deduct losses from passive
activities, which are generally trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not
materially participate, only to the extent of the taxpayers income from those passive activities.
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The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded
partnership. However, the application of the passive loss limitations to tiered publicly traded
partnerships is uncertain. We take the position that any passive losses that are reasonably
allocable to our investment in Duncan Energy Partners or Energy Transfer Equity, as applicable,
will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future that is reasonably
allocable to our investment in Duncan Energy Partners or Energy Transfer Equity, as applicable and
will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including
other investments in private businesses or investments we may make in other publicly traded
partnerships. Moreover, because the passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect
to each publicly traded partnerships, 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 investments in other publicly
traded partnerships, or a unitholders salary or active business income. Further, a unitholders
share of our net income may be offset by any suspended losses from his investment in
us, but may not be offset by his current or carryover losses from other passive activities,
including those attributable to other publicly traded partnerships. Passive losses that are not
deductible because they exceed a unitholders 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 activity loss limitations are applied after other applicable limitations on
deductions, including the at risk rules and the basis limitation.
The IRS could take the position that for purposes of applying the passive loss limitation
rules to tiered publicly traded partnerships, such as the MLP Entities and us, the related entities
are treated as one publicly traded partnership. In that case, any passive losses we generate would
be available to offset income from a unitholders investment in the MLP Entities, as applicable.
However, passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholders share of income
we generate would not be deductible in full until a unitholder disposes of his entire investment in
us and each MLP Entity in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party.
A unitholders share of our net income may be offset by any 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.
Limitations on Interest Deductions. The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayers
investment interest expense is generally limited to the amount of that taxpayers 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 portfolio income; 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 unitholders investment interest expense will take into account interest
on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a 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. The IRS has indicated that net
passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be treated as investment income to its
unitholders for purposes of the investment interest deduction limitation. In addition, the
unitholders share of our portfolio income 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 the 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 partner 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 the
partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax
characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these
distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under the
partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is
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practicable. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf
of an individual partner in which event the partner 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 will be allocated among the unitholders in accordance with
their percentage interests in us. If we have a net loss for the entire year, that loss will be
allocated to the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us.
Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated under Section 704(c)
of the Internal Revenue Code to account for (i) any difference between the tax basis and fair
market value of our assets at the time of an offering, or (ii) any difference between the tax basis
and fair market value of any property contributed to us at the time of such contribution, together
referred to in this discussion as Contributed Property. These allocations are required to
eliminate the difference between a partners book capital account, credited with the fair market
value of Contributed Property, and the tax capital account, credited with the tax basis of
Contributed Property, referred to in the discussion as the Book-Tax Disparity. The effect of
these allocations to a unitholder purchasing common units in such an offering will be essentially
the same as if the tax basis of our assets were equal to their fair market value at the time of
such an offering. In the event we issue additional common units or engage in certain other
transactions in the future, reverse Section 704(c) allocations, similar to the Section 704(c)
allocations described above, will be made to all partners to account for the difference, at the
time of the future transaction, 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 the 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 other 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 by Section 704(c) of
the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate the difference between a partners book
capital account, credited with the fair market value of Contributed Property, and tax capital
account, credited with the tax basis of Contributed Property, referred to in this discussion as the
Book-Tax Disparity, will generally be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining
a partners share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has
substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partners 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:
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his relative contributions to us; |
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the interests of all the partners in profits and losses; |
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the interest of all the partners in cash flow and other nonliquidating distributions; and |
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the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation. |
We believe that, with the possible exception of the issues described in Tax Consequences of
Common Unit Ownership Section 754 Election and Disposition of Common Units Allocations
Between Transferors and Transferees, allocations under our partnership agreement will be given
effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partners share of an item of income, gain,
loss or deduction.
Treatment of Short Sales. A unitholder whose units are loaned to a short seller to cover a
short sale of units may be considered as having disposed of those units. If so, he would no longer
be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan
and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period:
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any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units would not be reportable
by the unitholder; |
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any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units would be fully taxable; and |
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all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income. |
The proper treatment of a unitholder where common units are loaned to a short seller to cover
a short sale of common units is not clear; 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
modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and
loaning their units. The IRS has previously announced that it is studying issues relating to the
tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please also read Disposition of Common
Units Recognition 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. The current minimum tax rate for noncorporate taxpayers is 26% on the
first $175,000 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 units on their liability for the
alternative minimum tax.
Tax Rates. Under current law, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate for
individuals is 35.0% and the maximum U.S. federal income tax rate for net capital gains of an
individual is 15.0% if the asset disposed of was held for more than 12 months at the time of
disposition. However, absent new legislation extending the current rates, beginning January 1, 2011,
the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income and long-term
capital gains of individuals will increase to 39.6% and 20%, respectively. Moreover, these rates
are subject to change by new legislation at any time.
Recently enacted legislation will impose a 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income earned
by individuals, estates and trusts for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. For these
purposes, net investment income generally includes a unitholders 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 (1) the unitholders net investment income or (2) the amount by
which the unitholders modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is
married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the unitholder is married and
filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case).
Section 754 Election. We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal
Revenue Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The election generally
permits us to adjust a common unit purchasers tax basis in our assets (inside basis) under
Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his purchase price. This election applies to
a person who purchases units from a selling unitholder but 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, a unitholders inside basis in our assets will
be considered to have two components: (1) his share of our tax basis in our assets (common basis)
and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.
Treasury Regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code require that, if the
remedial allocation method is adopted (which we have adopted), a portion of the Section 743(b)
adjustment attributable to recovery property subject to depreciation under Section 168 of the
Internal Revenue Code to be depreciated over the remaining cost recovery period for the propertys
unamortized Book-Tax Disparity. Under Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6), a Section
743(b) adjustment attributable to property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the
Internal Revenue Code, rather than cost recovery deductions under Section 168, is generally
required to be depreciated using either the straight-line method or the 150% declining balance
method. Under our partnership agreement, our general partner is authorized to take a position to
preserve the uniformity of units even if that position is not consistent with these and any other
Treasury Regulations. Please read Tax Treatment of Operations Uniformity of Common Units.
Although there is no controlling authority on this issue, we intend to depreciate the portion
of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed
Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or
amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the
unamortized Book-Tax Disparity of the property, or treat that portion as non-amortizable to the
extent attributable to property which is not amortizable. This method is consistent with
methods employed by other publicly traded partnerships but is arguably inconsistent with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion
of our assets. To the extent this Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in
value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the
Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine
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that this position cannot reasonably be taken, we may take a depreciation or amortization position
under which all purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive depreciation or
amortization, whether attributable to common basis or a Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the
same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in our assets. This kind of
aggregate approach may result in lower annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would
otherwise be allowable to some unitholders. Please read Tax Treatment of Operations Uniformity
of Units. A unitholders tax basis for his common units is reduced by his share of our
deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individuals income tax return) so
that any position we take that understate deductions will overstate the common unitholders basis
in his common units, which may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any
sale of such units. Please read Disposition of Common Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
The IRS may challenge our position with respect to depreciating or amortizing the Section 743(b)
adjustment we take to preserve the uniformity of the common units. If such a challenge were
sustained, the gain from the sale of common units might be increased without the benefit of
additional deductions.
A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferees tax basis in his 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 and depletion deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of our
assets would be less. Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the transferees tax
basis in his units is lower than those units share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets
immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair market value of the units may be affected either
favorably or unfavorably by the election. 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 basis reduction or a built-in loss is substantial if it
exceeds $250,000.
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 Internal
Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment
allocated by us to our tangible assets or the tangible assets of the MLP Entities to goodwill
instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally either non-amortizable 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 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 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 one year of our income, gain, loss and
deduction. Please read Disposition of Common Units Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees.
Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization. The tax basis of our and the MLP Entities 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 the
time we issue additional units will be borne by our general partner,
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its affiliates and our unitholders immediately prior to the issuance of additional units. Please
read Tax Consequences of Common Unit Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and
Deduction.
To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that
will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years subject to these allowances
after assets are placed in service. Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be
depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the Internal Revenue Code.
If we or the MLP Entities 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 common unitholder who has taken cost
recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we or the MLP Entities 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 Ownership Allocation of Income,
Gain, Loss and Deduction and Disposition of Common Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
The costs incurred in selling our 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 we may amortize 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 units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market
values, and the tax bases, of our assets and the MLP Entities 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 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 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 units equal to the
difference between the unitholders amount realized and the unitholders tax basis for the units
sold. A unitholders 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 attributable
to the common units sold. Because the amount realized includes a unitholders share of our
nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability
in excess of any cash received from the sale.
Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit that
decreased a unitholders tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if
the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholders 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 unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss.
Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held more than 12 months will
generally be taxed at a maximum U.S. federal income tax rate of 15% through December 31, 2010 and
20% thereafter (absent legislation extending or adjusting the current rate). However, a portion,
which will likely be substantial, of this gain or loss will be separately computed and taxed as
ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent attributable
to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other unrealized receivables or to inventory
items we or the MLP Entities 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
unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit.
Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Net
capital
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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.
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 partners tax basis in his entire interest in the partnership as the value of
the interest sold bears to the value of the partners entire interest in the partnership. Treasury
Regulations under Section 1223 of the Internal Revenue 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, a common 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, 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 Internal Revenue Code 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:
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a short sale; |
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an offsetting notional principal contract; or |
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a futures or forward contract 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 units owned by each of them as of
the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month (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 units
may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.
Although simplifying coventions are contemplated by the Internal Revenue Code and most
publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not
be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Recently, the Department of Treasury and the IRS
issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which a publicly traded
partnership may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor
and transferee unitholders, although such tax items must be prorated on a daily basis. Existing
publicly traded partnerships are entitled to rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations; however,
they are not binding on the IRS and are subject to change until final Treasury Regulations are
issued. Accordingly, the IRS may challenge 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 unitholders 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
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well as among unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method
permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
A unitholder who owns 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 but will not be entitled to receive that
cash distribution.
Notification Requirements. A unitholder who sells any of his units other than through a
broker, generally is 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
purchased 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 notification, we are
required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the
transferor and transferee. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an
individual who is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale or exchange through a
broker. Failure to satisfy these reporting obligations may lead to the imposition of substantial
penalties.
Constructive Termination. We will be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if
there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within
a 12-month period. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all
unitholders. 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 result in more than 12 months of our
taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. A
constructive termination occurring on a date other than December 31 will result in us filing two
tax returns (and unitholders could receive two Schedule K-1s) for one fiscal year and the cost of
the preparation of these returns will be born by all common unitholders. We would be required to
make new tax elections after a termination, including a new election under Section 754 of the
Internal Revenue Code, and a termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for
depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the
termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or
subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination. The IRS has recently announced a
relief procedure whereby if a publicly traded partnership that has technically terminated requests
and is granted relief from the IRS, among other things, the partnership will only have to provide
one Schedule K-1 to unitholders for the fiscal year notwithstanding that two partnership tax years
result from the termination.
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. A lack of uniformity can result from a literal
application of Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6). Any non-uniformity could have a
negative impact on the value of the units. Please read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Section 754 Election.
We intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized
appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax
Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or
amortization method and useful life applied to the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, or treat that
portion as nonamortizable, to the extent attributable to property which is not amortizable,
consistent with the Treasury Regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code, even
though that position may be inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6). Please
read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Section 754 Election. To the extent that the Section
743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax
Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative history.
If we determine that this position cannot reasonably be taken, we may adopt a depreciation and
amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive
depreciation and amortization deductions, whether attributable to a common basis or Section 743(b)
adjustment, based upon the same applicable method and lives as if they had purchased a direct
interest in our property. If this position is adopted, it may result in lower annual depreciation
and amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders and risk the loss
of depreciation and amortization deductions not taken in the year that these deductions are
otherwise allowable. This position will not be adopted if we determine that the loss of
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depreciation and amortization deductions will have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. If
we choose not to utilize this aggregate method, we may use any other reasonable depreciation and
amortization method to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any units
that would not have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. The IRS may challenge any method
of depreciating the Section 743(b) adjustment described in this paragraph. If this challenge were
sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of units might be
increased without the benefit of additional deductions. We do not believe these allocations will
affect any material items of income, gain,
loss or deduction. Please read Disposition of Common
Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of 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.
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 allocated to a unitholder that is a
tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them.
Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own units will be
considered to be engaged in business in the United States because of the ownership of 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
tax at the highest applicable effective tax rate on 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-8 BEN 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 units will be treated as engaged in a
United States trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the United States branch
profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income
and gain, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporations U.S. net equity, which are
effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. That tax may be
reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States 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 Internal Revenue
Code.
Under a ruling published by the IRS, a foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a
unit will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized on the sale or disposition of that unit
to the extent that this gain is effectively connected with a United States trade or business of the
foreign unitholder. Because a foreign unitholder is considered to be engaged in business in the
United States by virtue of the ownership of units, under this ruling a foreign unitholder who sells
or otherwise disposes of a unit generally will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized on
the sale or disposition of units. Apart from the ruling, a foreign unitholder will not be taxed or
subject to withholding upon the sale or disposition of a unit if he has owned less than 5% in value
of the units during the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition and if the units are
regularly traded on an established securities market at the time of the sale or disposition.
Administrative Matters
Information Returns and Audit Procedures. We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90
days after the close of each taxable year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1,
which describes each unitholders 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 unitholders 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 Internal Revenue Code,
Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. We cannot assure prospective
unitholders that the IRS will
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not successfully contend in court that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS
could negatively affect the value of the 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 years tax liability, and possibly may
result in an audit of his own return. Any audit of a unitholders 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 Internal Revenue Code
requires that one partner be designated as the Tax Matters Partner for these purposes. The
partnership agreement names our general partner as our Tax Matters Partner.
The Tax Matters Partner 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 in that action.
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.
Nominee Reporting. Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are
required to furnish the following information to us:
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the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the
nominee; |
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a statement regarding whether the beneficial owner is: |
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a person that is not a United States person, |
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a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly owned
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a tax-exempt entity; |
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the amount and description of 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 United States persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or
transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up to a maximum of $100,000 per
calendar year, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for failure to report that information to
us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the 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 by the Internal
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Revenue Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is
shown that there was a reasonable cause for the underpayment of 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. The amount of any understatement subject to penalty
generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return:
(1) for which there is, or was, substantial authority, or
(2) as to which there is a reasonable basis if the pertinent facts of that position are
adequately 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, but we believe we are not
a tax shelter.
A substantial valuation misstatement exists if (i) 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, (ii) 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 Internal Revenue Code Section 482 is 200% or more (or 50% or less) of the amount
determined under Section 482 to be the correct amount of such price, or (iii) the net Internal
Revenue Code Section 482 transfer price adjustment for the taxable year exceeds the lesser of $5
million or 10% of the taxpayers gross receipts.
No penalty 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, the penalty imposed increases to 40%.
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 a transaction of interest or that it produces certain kinds of losses in excess
of $2 million in any single year, or $4 million in any combination of six successive taxable 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 above.
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 provisions of
the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004:
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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. |
We do not expect to engage in any reportable transactions.
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Registration as a Tax Shelter. We registered as a tax shelter under the law in effect at the
time of our initial public offering and were assigned a tax shelter registration number. Issuance
of a tax shelter registration number to us does not indicate that investment in us or the claimed
tax benefits have been reviewed, examined or approved by the IRS.
The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 repealed the tax shelter registration rules and
replaced them with the reporting regime described above at
Reportable Transactions. The term tax shelter has a
different meaning for this purpose than under the penalty rules described above at
Accuracy-related Penalties.
State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to federal income taxes, a unitholder will likely be subject to other taxes,
including state, local and foreign income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate,
inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do
business or own property or in which the unitholder is a resident. Although an analysis of those
various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential
impact on his investment in us. We currently own property or do business in a substantial number of
states, virtually all of which impose a personal income tax and many impose an income tax on
corporations and other entities. We may also own property or do business in other states in the
future. Although a unitholder may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some states
because his income from that state falls below the filing and payment requirement, the unitholder
will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of the states in which
we do business or own property and 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 unitholders 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 Unit Ownership Entity-Level Collections. Based on current law
and our estimate of our future operations, any amounts required to be withheld are not contemplated
to 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 own 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 United States federal tax returns, that may be required of him. We make no
statement on the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment in us.
25
Item 2. Exhibits.
The
following exhibits to this Registration Statement on Form 8-A are incorporated by reference
from the documents specified, which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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3.1
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Certificate of Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products
Partners L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to
Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2007). |
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3.2
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Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Limited
Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to Form 8-K
filed on November 23, 2010). |
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3.3
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Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners L.P., dated
effective as of November 22, 2010 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Form 8-K filed on November 23,
2010). |
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10.1 |
|
Distribution Waiver Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2010, by and among Enterprise
Products Partners L.P., EPCO Holdings, Inc. and the EPD Unitholder named therein (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on November 23, 2010). |
26
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: November 23, 2010.
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ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS PARTNERS L.P.
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By: |
Enterprise Products Holdings LLC
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(formerly named EPE Holdings, LLC) |
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its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Michael J. Knesek
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Name: |
Michael J. Knesek |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President, Controller and Principal
Accounting Officer of Enterprise Products
Holdings, LLC |
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27
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
|
|
|
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Enterprise Products
Partners L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to
Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2007). |
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Limited
Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners L.P.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 to Form 8-K
filed on November 23, 2010). |
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Sixth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Enterprise Products Partners L.P., dated
effective as of November 22, 2010 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Form 8-K filed on November 23,
2010). |
|
|
|
10.1 |
|
Distribution Waiver Agreement, dated as of December 22, 2010, by and among Enterprise
Products Partners L.P., EPCO Holdings, Inc. and the EPD Unitholder named therein (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed on November 23, 2010). |
28