EX-99.3 3 a07-8327_1ex99d3.htm AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GREAT LAKES AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2006 AND DECEMBER 31, 2005

Exhibit 99.3

AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF
GREAT LAKES GAS TRANSMISSION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Partners and Management Committee
Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership and subsidiary (Partnership) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the related consolidated statements of income and partners’ capital and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2006. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Partnership as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2006, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Detroit, Michigan

January 23, 2007




Consolidated Statements of Income and Partners’ Capital

Years Ended December 31

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation Revenues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Affiliated Revenues

 

$

161,605

 

173,796

 

185,391

 

Non Affiliated Revenues

 

110,652

 

106,947

 

98,936

 

 

 

272,257

 

280,743

 

284,327

 

Operating Expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation and Maintenance

 

34,083

 

41,312

 

34,723

 

Depreciation

 

57,612

 

57,693

 

57,756

 

Income Taxes Payable by Partners

 

44,076

 

43,253

 

47,058

 

Property and Other Taxes

 

25,965

 

26,756

 

23,265

 

 

 

161,736

 

169,014

 

162,802

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

110,521

 

111,729

 

121,525

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest on Long Term Debt

 

(35,970

)

(36,844

)

(37,718

)

Other, Net

 

3,723

 

1,917

 

1,373

 

 

 

(32,247

)

(34,927

)

(36,345

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

78,274

 

76,802

 

85,180

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at Beginning of Year

 

$

376,713

 

420,501

 

452,007

 

Contributions by General Partners

 

 

30,976

 

29,398

 

Net Income

 

78,274

 

76,802

 

85,180

 

Current Income Taxes Payable by Partners Charged to Earnings

 

39,259

 

33,237

 

31,536

 

Distributions to Partners

 

(132,099

)

(184,803

)

(177,620

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at End of Year

 

$

362,147

 

376,713

 

420,501

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.




Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of December 31

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

$

78,368

 

59,280

 

Accounts Receivable (net of allowance of $1,000 in 2006 and $1,200 in 2005)

 

16,327

 

33,804

 

Receivable from Affiliates

 

18,954

 

16,721

 

Materials and Supplies, at Average Cost

 

10,908

 

9,664

 

Prepayments

 

4,286

 

2,746

 

Other

 

310

 

361

 

 

 

129,153

 

122,576

 

Gas Utility Plant

 

 

 

 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

2,038,123

 

2,025,196

 

Less Accumulated Depreciation

 

1,030,059

 

970,737

 

 

 

1,008,064

 

1,054,459

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,137,217

 

1,177,035

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES & PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Current Maturities of Long Term Debt

 

$

10,000

 

10,000

 

Accounts Payable

 

16,306

 

30,671

 

Payable to Affiliates

 

2,362

 

4,755

 

Property Taxes

 

17,793

 

19,149

 

Other Non Income Taxes

 

3,939

 

5,299

 

Accrued Interest

 

9,289

 

9,435

 

Other

 

4,136

 

3,976

 

 

 

63,825

 

83,285

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Term Debt

 

440,000

 

450,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Amounts Equivalent to Deferred Income Taxes

 

270,515

 

266,192

 

Other

 

730

 

845

 

 

 

271,245

 

267,037

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ Capital

 

362,147

 

376,713

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,137,217

 

1,177,035

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.




Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flow Increase (Decrease) from:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

78,274

 

76,802

 

85,180

 

Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Operating Cash Flows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation

 

57,612

 

57,693

 

57,756

 

Amounts Equivalent to Deferred Income Taxes

 

4,323

 

9,233

 

15,678

 

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

 

(386

)

(135

)

(157

)

Changes in Current Assets and Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts Receivable

 

17,477

 

(2,516

)

(15,848

)

Receivable from Affiliates

 

(2,233

)

(3,872

)

6,458

 

Accounts Payable

 

(14,365

)

5,675

 

11,957

 

Payable to Affiliates

 

(2,393

)

1,767

 

1,177

 

Property and Other Non Income Taxes

 

(2,716

)

341

 

(970

)

Other

 

(2,834

)

1,950

 

(3,076

)

 

 

132,759

 

146,938

 

158,155

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in Utility Plant

 

(18,953

)

(16,102

)

(15,136

)

Insurance Proceeds

 

8,122

 

 

2,545

 

 

 

(10,831

)

(16,102

)

(12,591

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Repayment of Long Term Debt

 

(10,000

)

(10,000

)

(10,000

)

Contributions by General Partners

 

 

30,976

 

29,398

 

Current Income Taxes Payable by Partners Charged to Earnings

 

39,259

 

33,237

 

31,536

 

Distribution to Partners

 

(132,099

)

(184,803

)

(177,620

)

 

 

(102,840

)

(130,590

)

(126,686

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

19,088

 

246

 

18,878

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beginning of Year

 

59,280

 

59,034

 

40,156

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

End of Year

 

$

78,368

 

59,280

 

59,034

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information Cash Paid During the Year for Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Net of Amounts Capitalized of $153, $47 and $48, Respectively)

 

$

36,132

 

37,018

 

37,903

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.




Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1 Organization and Management

Great Lakes Gas Transmission Limited Partnership (Partnership) is a Delaware limited partnership that owns and operates an interstate natural gas pipeline system.  The Partnership transports natural gas for delivery to wholesale customers in the midwestern and northeastern United States and eastern Canada.   The partners, their parent companies, and partnership ownership percentages at December 31 are as follows:

 

Ownership %

 

Partner (Parent Company)

 

2006

 

2005

 

General Partners:

 

 

 

 

 

El Paso Great Lakes Company, LLC (El Paso Corporation)

 

46.45

 

46.60

 

TransCanada GL, Inc. (TransCanada PipeLines Ltd.)

 

46.45

 

46.60

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited Partner:

 

 

 

 

 

Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company (TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. and El Paso Corporation)

 

7.10

 

6.80

 

 

The day-to-day operation of Partnership activities is the responsibility of Great Lakes Gas Transmission Company (Company), which is reimbursed for its employee salaries, benefits and other expenses, pursuant to the Partnership’s Operating Agreement with the Company.

On December 22, 2006, TC PipeLines, LP and TransCanada Corporation announced the purchase of El Paso’s 46.45% ownership interest in the Partnership and 50% interest in the Company, respectively.  The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2007.  The impact, if any, of this transaction on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements has not been determined.

2 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership and GLGT Aviation Company, a wholly owned subsidiary.  GLGT Aviation Company owns a fractional interest in a transport aircraft used principally for pipeline operations.  Intercompany amounts have been eliminated.

For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Partnership considers all liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

The fair value of long term debt is discussed in footnote 4.  All other financial instruments approximate fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported as assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosures in these financial statements.  Actual results can, and often do, differ from those estimates.

Regulation

The Partnership is subject to the rules, regulations and accounting procedures of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).  The Partnerships accounting policies follow regulatory accounting principles prescribed under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 71, Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation.  Regulatory assets and liabilities have been established and represent probable future revenue or expense which will be recovered from or refunded to customers.

Revenue and Accounts Receivable

The Partnership recognizes transportation revenues in the period the service is provided based on transportation service contracts under a tariff regulated by the FERC.  The tariff specifies maximum transportation rates and the contracts’ general terms and conditions of service.

Accounts receivable are reported at the invoiced amount.  The Partnership establishes an allowance for losses on




accounts receivable if it is determined that all or a portion of the outstanding balance will not be collected.  The Partnership also considers historical industry data and customer credit trends.  Account balances are charged against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

Natural Gas Imbalances

Natural gas imbalances occur when the actual amount of natural gas delivered or received differs from the scheduled amount of natural gas delivered or received.  The Partnership values these imbalances due to or from customers and interconnecting pipelines at current index prices.  Imbalances are made up in kind, in accordance with the terms of the tariff.

Imbalances due from others are reported on the consolidated balance sheet as either accounts receivable or receivable from Partners and their affiliated companies.  Imbalances owed to others are reported on the consolidated balance sheet as either accounts payable or payable to Partners and their affiliated companies.  Imbalances are expected to settle within a year.

Gas Utility Plant and Depreciation

Gas utility plant is stated at cost and includes certain administrative and general expenses, plus an allowance for funds used during construction.  The Partnership capitalizes major units of property replacements or improvements and expenses minor items.  The cost of plant retired is charged to accumulated depreciation.  Depreciation of gas utility plant is computed using the straight-line method.  The Partnership’s principal operating assets are depreciated at an annual rate of 2.75%.

The allowance for funds used during construction represents the debt and equity costs of capital funds applicable to utility plant under construction, calculated in accordance with a uniform formula prescribed by the FERC.  The rates used were 10.37%, 10.50% and 10.49% for years 2006, 2005, and 2004, respectively.

Asset Retirement Obligations

In the fourth quarter of 2005, the Partnership adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation (FIN) No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.  FIN No. 47 requires companies to record a liability for those asset retirement obligations in which the timing or amount of settlement of the obligations are uncertain.  These conditional obligations were not addressed by SFAS No 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which the Partnership adopted on January 1, 2003.  FIN No. 47 requires accrual of a liability when a range of scenarios indicates that the potential timing or settlement amounts of conditional asset retirement obligations can be determined.  The Partnership has asset retirement obligations if it were to permanently retire all or part of the pipeline system; however, the amount of asset retirement obligations cannot be reasonably estimated because the end of the pipeline system life is not determinable with the degree of accuracy necessary to currently establish a liability for the obligation.

Accounting for Pipeline Integrity Costs

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Partnership capitalized certain costs incurred related to its pipeline integrity assessment programs as part of Property, Plant and Equipment.  In June 2005, the FERC issued an order on Accounting for Pipeline Assessment Costs which generally requires pipeline inspections and assessments incurred after January 1, 2006 to be expensed.  The partnership expensed $2,400,000 of pipeline integrity costs in 2006.




Uncertain Income Tax Positions

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FIN 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes.”  FIN 48 prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain income tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return.  FIN 48 also requires significant new annual disclosures.  FIN 48 is effective beginning January 1, 2007.  The Partnership is currently determining the effect of FIN 48 on the consolidated financial statements but does not expect it to have a material impact.

Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”, which provides guidance on measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities in the financial statements. This standard is effective in 2008.  The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 157, if any, on the consolidated financial statements.

Income Taxes

The Partnership’s tariff includes an allowance for income taxes, which the FERC requires the Partnership to record as if it were a corporation.   Income taxes are deducted in the Consolidated Statements of Income and the current portion of income taxes is returned to partners’ capital.  Recorded current income taxes are distributed to partners based on their ownership percentages.

Amounts equivalent to deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases at currently enacted income tax rates.

3 Affiliated Company Transactions

Affiliated company amounts included in the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements, not otherwise disclosed, are as follows:

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TransCanada PipeLines Limited and affiliates

 

$

150,067

 

156,561

 

164,810

 

El Paso Corporation and affiliates

 

11,538

 

17,235

 

20,581

 

 

Affiliated transportation revenues are primarily provided under fixed priced contracts with remaining terms ranging from 1 to 10 years.

The Partnership reimburses the Company for salaries, benefits and other incurred expenses.  Benefits include pension, savings plan, and other post-retirement benefits.  Operating expenses charged by the Company in 2006, 2005 and 2004 were $16,056,000, $18,636,000 and $17,388,000, respectively.

The Company makes contributions for eligible employees of the Company to a voluntary defined contribution plan sponsored by El Paso Corporation.   The Company’s contributions, which are based on matching employee contributions, amounted to $592,000, $1,008,000, and $475,000 in 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively.

The Company participates in a cash balance pension plan sponsored by El Paso Corporation and a post-retirement plan.  The Company accounts for pension and post-retirement benefits on an accrual basis.  The net expense (income) for each of the plans is as follows:




 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Pension

 

$

(2,186

)

(297

)

(743

)

Post-Retirement

 

151

 

179

 

202

 

 

4 Debt

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Senior Notes, unsecured, interest due semiannually, principal due as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

8.74% series, due 2007 to 2011

 

$

50,000

 

60,000

 

9.09% series, due 2012 to 2021

 

100,000

 

100,000

 

6.73% series, due 2009 to 2018

 

90,000

 

90,000

 

6.95% series, due 2019 to 2028

 

110,000

 

110,000

 

8.08% series, due 2021 to 2030

 

100,000

 

100,000

 

 

 

450,000

 

460,000

 

Less current maturities

 

10,000

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total long term debt less current maturities

 

$

440,000

 

450,000

 

 

The aggregate estimated fair value of long term debt was $516,698,000 and $547,433,000 for 2006 and 2005, respectively.  The fair value is determined using discounted cash flows based on the Partnership’s estimated current interest rates for similar debt.

The aggregate annual required repayments of Senior Notes is $10,000,000 in 2007 and 2008 and $19,000,000 for each year 2009 through 2011.

Under the most restrictive covenants in the Senior Note Agreements, approximately $242,000,000 of partners’ capital is restricted as to distributions as of December 31, 2006.

5 Income Taxes Payable by Partners

Income taxes payable by partners for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 consists of:

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

2004

 

Current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

$

37,579

 

31,815

 

30,187

 

State

 

1,680

 

1,422

 

1,349

 

 

 

39,259

 

33,237

 

31,536

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Federal

 

4,611

 

9,588

 

14,833

 

State

 

206

 

428

 

689

 

 

 

4,817

 

10,016

 

15,522

 

 

 

$

44,076

 

43,253

 

47,058

 

 

Income taxes payable by partners differs from the statutory rate of 35% due to the amortization of excess deferred taxes along with the effects of state and local taxes.  The Partnership was required by FERC to amortize excess deferred taxes which had previously been accumulated at tax rates in excess of current




statutory rates.  Such amortization reduced income taxes payable by partners by $575,000 in 2004.  These excess deferred taxes were fully amortized at December 31, 2004.

The deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 are as follows:

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

2006

 

2005

 

Deferred tax assets - other

 

$

4,924

 

4,674

 

Deferred tax liabilities - utility plant

 

(258,537

)

(254,752

)

Deferred tax liabilities - other

 

(16,902

)

(16,114

)

Net deferred tax liability

 

$

(270,515

)

(266,192

)

 

As of December 31, 2006 and 2005, no valuation allowance is required.