PARTNERS' EQUITY

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

PARTNERS' EQUITY

PARTNERS' EQUITY

NOTE 6         PARTNERS’ EQUITY

ATM equity issuance program (ATM program)

During the three months ended March 31, 2017, we issued 1,197,749 common units under our ATM program generating net proceeds of approximately $69 million, plus $2 million from the General Partner to maintain its effective two percent general partner interest. The commissions to our sales agents in the three months ended March 31, 2017 were approximately $704,000. The net proceeds were used for general partnership purposes.

Class B units issued to TransCanada

The Class B Units we issued on April 1, 2015 to finance a portion of the 2015 GTN Acquisition represent a limited partner interest in us and entitle TransCanada to an annual distribution based on 30 percent of GTN’s annual distributions as follows: (i) 100 percent of distributions above $20 million through March 31, 2020; and (ii) 25 percent of distributions above $20 million thereafter.

For the year ending December 31, 2017, the Class B units’ equity account will be increased by the excess of 30 percent of GTN’s distributions over the annual threshold of $20 million until such amount is declared for distribution and paid in the first quarter of 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the threshold has not been exceeded.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Class B distribution was $22 million and was declared and paid in the first quarter of 2017.

Common unit issuance subject to rescission

In connection with a late filing of an employee-related Form 8-K with the SEC in March 2016, the Partnership became ineligible to use the then effective shelf registration statement upon filing of its 2015 Annual Report. As a result, it was determined that the purchasers of the 1.6 million common units that were issued from March 8, 2016 to May 19, 2016 under the Partnership’s ATM program may have a rescission right for an amount equal to the purchase price paid for the units, plus statutory interest and less any distributions paid, upon the return of such units to the Partnership. No unitholder has claimed or attempted to exercise any rescission rights to date and these rights expire one year from the date of purchase of the unit.

At December 31, 2016, $83 million was recorded as Common units subject to rescission on the consolidated balance sheet.  The Partnership classified all the 1.6 million common units sold under its ATM program from March 8, 2016 up to and including May 19, 2016, which may be subject to rescission rights, outside of equity given the potential redemption feature which is not within the control of the Partnership. These units are treated as outstanding for financial reporting purposes.

At March 31, 2017, $19 million of the Common units subject to rescission on the consolidated balance sheet were reclassified back to equity. The amount reclassified represents the net proceeds received from the 0.4 million units sold from March 8, 2016 up to and including March 31, 2016 as the rescission rights attached to these units expired.