UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



 

FORM 10-K



 

 
x   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016
or

 
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from         to        

Commission file number: 1-31383



 

ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)



 

 
Delaware   61-1414604
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 3300,
Houston, Texas 77002

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
(713) 821-2000



 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 
Title of each class   Name of each exchange on which registered
Shares representing limited liability company interests   New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE



 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 
Large accelerated filer x   Accelerated filer o
Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)   Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).Yes o No x

As of June 30, 2016, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s Listed Shares held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $1,582,245,614 based on the last reported sale price of such Listed Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on that date.

As of February 14, 2017, the registrant has 83,983,811 Listed Shares outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Annual Report on Form 10-K of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. for the year ended December 31, 2016

 


 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page
PART I
        

Item 1.

Business

    1  

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

    3  

Item 2.

Properties

    8  

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

    8  

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

    8  
PART II
        

Item 5.

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of   Equity Securities

    9  

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

    10  

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

    11  

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

    14  

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

    15  

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

    31  

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

    31  

Item 9B.

Other Information

    32  
PART III
        

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

    33  

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

    39  

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder   Matters

    39  

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

    41  

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

    42  
PART IV
        

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

    43  

Signatures

 

    44  

In this report, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company” or “Enbridge Management” are intended to mean Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. We are a limited partner of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., which we refer to as the “Partnership.” References to “Enbridge” refer collectively to Enbridge Inc. and its subsidiaries other than us.

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements, which are statements that frequently use words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “position,” “projection,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “will” and similar words. Although we believe that such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on currently available information, such statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are not guarantees of performance. Future actions, conditions or events and future results of operations may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this Annual Report on Form 10-K speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement. Many of the factors that will determine these results are beyond our ability to control or predict. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include: (1) changes in the demand for the supply of, forecast data for, and price trends related to crude oil, liquid petroleum, natural gas and NGLs, including the rate of development of the Alberta Oil Sands; (2) our ability to successfully complete and finance expansion projects; (3) the effects of competition, in particular, by other pipeline systems; (4) shut-downs or cutbacks at our facilities or refineries, petrochemical plants, utilities or other businesses for which we transport products or to whom we sell products; (5) hazards and operating risks that may not be covered fully by insurance, including those related to Line 6B and any additional fines and penalties and injunctive relief assessed in connection with the crude oil release on that line; (6) costs in connection with complying with the settlement consent decree, to which we or the Partnership are subject, related to Line 6B and Line 6A, which is still subject to court approval, or the failure to receive court approval of, or material modifications to, such decree; (7) changes in or challenges to our tariff rates; (8) changes in laws or regulations to which we are subject, including compliance with environmental and operational safety regulations that may increase costs of system integrity testing and maintenance; and (9) permitting at federal, state and local level or renewals of rights of way. Forward-looking statements regarding sponsor support transactions or sales of assets (to Enbridge or otherwise) are further qualified by the fact that Enbridge is under no obligation to provide additional sponsor support and neither Enbridge nor any third party is under any obligation to offer to buy or sell us assets, and we are under no obligation to buy or sell any such assets. As a result, we do not know when or if any such transactions will occur. Any statements regarding sponsor expectations or intentions are based on information communicated to us by Enbridge, but there can be no assurance that these expectations or intentions will not change in the future.

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For additional factors that may affect results, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on 10-Q, which are available to the public over the Internet at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s, or the SEC’s, website (www.sec.gov) and at our website (www.enbridgemanagement.com). Also see information regarding forward-looking statements and “Item 1A. Risk Factors” included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a discussion of risks to the Partnership that also may affect us.

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PART I

Item 1. Business

OVERVIEW

In this report, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “Enbridge Management” are intended to mean Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. Our shares, representing limited liability company interests, which we refer to as our Listed Shares, are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “EEQ”. References to our “shares” in this Annual Report mean, collectively, our Listed Shares and our voting shares.

We are a publicly-traded Delaware limited liability company that was formed on May 14, 2002. We are a limited partner of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., which we refer to as the Partnership, through our ownership of i-units, a special class of the Partnership’s limited partner interests. Our only investment is our limited partner interest in the Partnership. We are structured as an alternative to direct investment in master limited partnerships for investors without the complications associated with partnership tax reporting.

The Partnership’s Class A common units are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “EEP,” which, together with the Class B common units, we refer to as common units. On July 1, 2014, the Partnership entered into an equity restructuring transaction, whereby they issued two new classes of limited partner interests designated as Class D units and Incentive Distribution Units, or IDUs. Furthermore, on January 2, 2015, the Partnership closed a transaction pursuant to which they acquired the remaining interest in the U.S. segment of the Alberta Clipper Pipeline from its General Partner whereby they issued another new class of limited partner interests designated as Class E units. For more information on these two transactions, see Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 4. Shareholders’ Equity.

As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we owned an approximate 16.6% and 15.1% outstanding ownership interest of the Partnership, respectively. At December 31, 2016, the General Partner owned 100% of our 6.17 voting shares, as well as 9,566,352 of our Listed Shares, which represents 11.7% of our Listed Shares. The remaining 72,290,810 of our Listed Shares were held by the public, which represents 88.3% of our Listed Shares. Our performance depends entirely on the operations and management of the Partnership. Accordingly, we incorporate by reference the Partnership’s 10-K.

Under a delegation of control agreement among us, the Partnership and its general partner, Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., referred to as the General Partner, we manage the Partnership’s business and affairs. The General Partner is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that we refer to herein as Enbridge.

The delegation of control agreement provides that we will not amend or propose to amend the Partnership’s agreement of limited partnership, or Partnership Agreement, allow a merger or consolidation involving the Partnership, allow a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or dissolve or liquidate the Partnership without the approval of the General Partner.

The General Partner remains responsible to the Partnership for actions taken or omitted by us while serving as the delegate of the General Partner as if the General Partner had taken or omitted to take such actions. The General Partner has agreed not to voluntarily withdraw as general partner of the Partnership and has agreed not to transfer its interest as general partner of the Partnership unless the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of the delegation of control agreement that apply to the General Partner.

The Partnership recognizes the delegation of rights and powers to us, and indemnifies and protects us, our officers and our directors to the same extent as it does with respect to the General Partner under the Partnership Agreement. In addition, the Partnership reimburses us for expenses to the same extent as it does with respect to the General Partner under the Partnership Agreement and reimburses us for any Texas franchise taxes and any other foreign, state and local taxes not otherwise paid or reimbursed pursuant to a tax indemnification agreement between Enbridge and us.

The delegation of control agreement with the General Partner continues until:

Either the General Partner has withdrawn (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) or has been removed as the general partner of the Partnership;

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All of our shares are owned by the General Partner of the Partnership or its affiliates, and termination of the delegation of control agreement has been approved by us and the General Partner of the Partnership; or
Termination of the delegation of control agreement has been approved by us, the General Partner, the record holders of a majority of the outstanding Listed Shares (other than the General Partner, the record holder of the voting shares or their respective affiliates) and the record holders of the majority of the voting shares.

The General Partner is the only general partner of the Partnership. The General Partner retains its general partner interest and shares in the profits, losses and distributions from the Partnership.

If the General Partner’s power and authority as general partner are modified in the Partnership Agreement of the Partnership, then the power and authority delegated to us will be modified on the same basis. The delegation of control agreement can be amended by all parties to the agreement except for any amendment that, in the sole discretion of our board of directors, would reduce the time for any notice to which owners of our shares are entitled or would materially adversely affect the rights or preferences of the holders of our shares.

Under its Partnership Agreement, except for the available cash that the Partnership is required to retain in respect of the i-units, the Partnership distributes all of its available cash to the General Partner and limited partners on a quarterly basis. The amount of cash distributed by the Partnership depends on the operations of the Partnership and its subsidiaries and is determined by our board of directors in accordance with the Partnership Agreement. We do not, however, receive distributions of cash in respect of the i-units we own and do not otherwise have any cash flow attributable to our ownership of the i-units. Instead, when the Partnership makes cash distributions to the General Partner and holders limited partner units other than the i-units, the number of i-units we own increases automatically under the Partnership Agreement and the amount of available cash that is attributable to the i-units is retained by the Partnership. The amount of this increase is calculated by dividing the amount of the cash distribution paid by the Partnership on each of its common units by the average closing price of one of our Listed Shares on the NYSE as determined for a 10 trading day period immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for our shares, multiplied by the number of our shares outstanding on the record date. Concurrently with the increase in the number of i-units we own, we make distributions on our shares in the form of additional shares, with the result that the number of shares that are then outstanding equal the number of i-units that we own.

We have elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, an owner of our shares does not report on its U.S. federal income tax return any of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction relating to an investment in us. We are subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income; however, the i-units owned by us generally are not entitled to allocations of income, gain, loss or deduction of the Partnership unless there is a liquidation of the Partnership. Therefore, we do not anticipate that we will have material amounts of taxable income resulting from our ownership of the i-units unless we enter into a sale or exchange of the i-units or the Partnership is liquidated.

EMPLOYEES

We have no employees. We have entered into agreements with the General Partner and several of its affiliates to provide us with the necessary services and support personnel, who act on our behalf as our agents.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We make available free of charge on or through our Internet website at http://www.enbridgemanagement.com, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other information statements, and if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Information contained on our website is not part of this report.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

We encourage you to consider carefully the risk factors described below, in addition to the other information contained in or incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our performance depends entirely on the operations and management of the Partnership. Consequently, risks and uncertainties affecting the Partnership will directly affect our performance. Specifically, see information regarding forward-looking statements and Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and its subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act for a discussion of risks to the Partnership that also may affect us. We incorporate by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

Because our only assets are the i-units issued by the Partnership to us, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows depend entirely on our management and the performance of the Partnership.

We are a limited partner of the Partnership and our only assets are the i-units that the Partnership has issued to us. As a result, our performance depends entirely on the Partnership’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. The risks and uncertainties that affect the Partnership, its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows also affect us and the value of our Listed Shares.

The distributions of additional shares that we make to our shareholders depend on the amount of cash that the Partnership distributes to the holders of its Class A common units.

When the Partnership makes a cash distribution to the holders of its Class A common units, we distribute to each holder of our shares that fraction of a share determined by dividing the amount of the cash distribution paid by the Partnership with respect to each common unit by the average market price of one of our Listed Shares. Therefore, if the Partnership decreases the cash distributions that it pays to the holders of its common units, the value of the distributions of additional shares that we make to our shareholders will decrease as well.

Our board of directors may establish cash reserves at the Partnership that it believes are necessary to fund the Partnership’s future operating and capital expenditures, provide for the proper conduct of its business, comply with applicable laws or agreements to which the Partnership is a party, or provide funds for future distributions to partners. These cash reserves affect the amount of cash available for distribution by the Partnership to the holders of its common units and, consequently, the value of the distributions of additional shares that we make to our shareholders.

In addition, the fraction of a share to be issued in each quarterly distribution on our outstanding shares is based on the average closing price of our shares for the 10-day trading period immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for our Listed Shares. Because the market price of our Listed Shares may vary substantially over time, the value of the additional shares that we distribute to our shareholders may vary substantially from the cash that they would have received had they owned common units of the Partnership instead of our Listed Shares.

The Partnership may issue additional common units or other classes of units, and we may issue additional shares, any of which would dilute ownership interest.

The Partnership’s issuance of additional common units or other classes of units or our issuance of shares, other than our quarterly distributions, may have the following effects:

The amount available for distributions on each share may decrease;
The relative voting power of each previously outstanding share may decrease; and
The market price of the Listed Shares may decline.

Additionally, the public sale by the General Partner of a significant portion of the Class B common units, Class D units or Class E units that it currently owns could reduce the market price of the Class A common units and, indirectly, the market price of our shares. The Partnership Agreement allows the General Partner to cause the Partnership to register for public sale any units held by the General Partner or one of its affiliates. A public sale of the Class B common units, Class D units or Class E units currently held by the General Partner could absorb some of the trading market demand for the outstanding Class A common units, which indirectly could reduce the market

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price of our shares. In addition, the General Partner may sell its Class B common units, Class D units or Class E units in private transactions at any time, which could have a similar effect on the market for the outstanding Class A common units and, indirectly, the market for our shares.

Furthermore, the public sale by the Partnership of Series 1 Preferred Units, or Preferred Units, may reduce the available cash for payment of distributions to common unit holders, as Preferred Units have preferential rights to distributions prior to the holders of Class A common units, Class B common units and i-units. Through the quarter ending June 30, 2018, the quarterly distributions will not be payable on the Preferred Units and instead will accrue and accumulate. The accrued amounts will be paid in equal amounts over a twelve-quarter period beginning with the first quarter of 2019; provided that the Partnership, at the General Partner’s sole discretion, may from time to time pay all or any portion of the payment deferral prior to the scheduled payment date. Thereafter, the distributions will be paid in cash on a quarterly basis. To the extent that the Partnership does not pay in full any distribution on the Preferred Units, the unpaid amount will accrue and accumulate until it is paid in full, and no distributions may be made on the common units during that time. This could cause the market price of the Partnership’s common units to reduce and, indirectly, the market price of our shares.

If we are not fully reimbursed or indemnified for obligations and liabilities we incur in managing the business and affairs of the Partnership, we may be unable to pay those liabilities and the value of our shares could decline.

Under the delegation of control agreement, the General Partner has delegated to us management of the Partnership and its operating subsidiaries. To the extent we incur liabilities or other obligations in connection with our performance under the delegation of control agreement, we are entitled to be reimbursed or indemnified by the Partnership to the same extent as the General Partner under the Partnership Agreement. In the event the Partnership and the General Partner are either unwilling or unable to reimburse or indemnify us, we likely will be unable to satisfy these liabilities or obligations. Additionally, our right to reimbursement or indemnification is limited under certain circumstances, including if we act in bad faith or if we violate laws, like the United States federal securities laws, for which indemnification may be against public policy.

If in the future we cease to manage the business and affairs of the Partnership, we may be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

If we cease to manage the Partnership’s business and are deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act, we would either have to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, obtain exemptive relief from the SEC, or modify our organizational structure or our contract rights to fall outside the definition of an investment company. Registering as an investment company could, among other things, materially limit our ability to engage in transactions with our affiliates, including the purchase and sale of certain securities or other property to or from our affiliates, restrict our ability to borrow funds or engage in other transactions involving leverage and require us to add directors who are independent of us or our affiliates.

TAX RISKS TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS

If the Partnership were treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, the value of our shares would be substantially reduced, and the owner of our voting shares would have the right to merge us into the Partnership.

The anticipated benefit of an investment in our shares depends largely on the continued treatment of the Partnership as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes. Current law requires the Partnership to derive at least 90% of its annual gross income from specific activities to continue to be treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes. The Partnership may not find it possible, regardless of its efforts, to meet this income requirement or may inadvertently fail to meet this income requirement. Current law could change so as to cause the Partnership to be treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes without regard to its sources of income or otherwise subject the Partnership to entity-level taxation.

If the Partnership were to be treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, it would pay United States federal income tax on its income at the corporate tax rate, which currently is a maximum of 35%, and such treatment also may subject the Partnership to state income taxes at varying rates. Additional taxes imposed on the Partnership as a result of being treated as a corporation could substantially reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to the holders of its common units, which in turn could reduce the value of the i-units we

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own and the value of our Listed Shares. In addition, the automatic increase in the number of i-units that we will own after each quarterly distribution of cash to holders of common units generally would be a taxable distribution to us.

Under the provisions of our limited liability company agreement and the Partnership Agreement, if the Partnership were to be treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, the owner of our voting shares has the right to cause us to merge with or into the Partnership or one of its subsidiaries. As a condition to such merger, we must obtain either an opinion of counsel that such merger should be currently non-taxable to holders of our shares or a ruling from the United States Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, that such merger will be currently non-taxable to holders of our shares, except as to the consideration received for fractional shares or as to the termination of any rights or obligations related to the purchase provisions. In such an event, our shareholders would receive common units or other securities substantially similar to the common units in exchange for their shares.

RISKS ARISING FROM OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH ENBRIDGE, THE GENERAL PARTNER, AND THE PARTNERSHIP

Our shares are subject to purchase provisions that could result in our shareholders having to sell their shares at a time or price that may be unfavorable.

If Enbridge were to exercise any of its rights to purchase our shares that are held by the public, those shareholders would be required to sell their shares for cash at a time or price that may be undesirable, and could receive an amount of cash that is less than the amount they paid for their shares. Any such sale would be taxable for United States federal income tax purposes, and the individual shareholders would recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the tax basis in the shares sold.

Owners of our Listed Shares are not entitled to vote to elect our directors, and, therefore, will have little or no opportunity to influence or change our management.

Owners of our Listed Shares have little or no opportunity to influence or change our management, because Enbridge indirectly owns all of our voting shares and elects all of our directors. Through the election of our directors, Enbridge indirectly controls us and the Partnership.

A person or group owning 20% or more of the aggregate number of the Partnership’s issued and outstanding common units and our shares, other than Enbridge and its affiliates, may not vote the common units or shares, which could reduce the possibility that they would receive a premium for their shares in a hostile takeover.

A person or group owning 20% or more of the aggregate number of the Partnership’s issued and outstanding common units and our shares, other than Enbridge and its affiliates, may not vote its common units or shares, which could reduce the possibility that they would receive a premium for their shares in a hostile takeover. This limitation may:

Discourage a person or group from attempting to take over control of us or the Partnership; and
Reduce the price at which our shares will trade under certain circumstances.

For example, this limitation could have the result of discouraging a third-party from attempting to remove the General Partner and take over our management of the Partnership by making a tender offer for the common units at a price above their trading market price.

The terms of our shares may be changed without shareholder permission, because our board of directors will have the power to change the terms of our shares in ways our board determines, in its sole discretion, are not materially adverse to our shareholders.

Shareholders may not like the changes, if any, to the terms of our shares made by our board of directors, and may disagree with our board’s determination that the changes are not materially adverse. If a shareholder should disagree with our board’s decisions, the recourse will be limited because our limited liability company agreement gives broad latitude and discretion to our board of directors and eliminates or reduces many of the fiduciary duties that our board of directors otherwise would owe to shareholders.

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Our limited liability company agreement limits the fiduciary duties that our directors owe to our shareholders and restricts the remedies available to our shareholders for actions taken by our board of directors that might otherwise constitute a breach of a fiduciary duty.

Our limited liability company agreement contains provisions that modify the fiduciary duties that our board of directors otherwise would owe to our shareholders under state fiduciary duty law. For example, our limited liability company agreement:

Permits our board of directors to make a number of decisions, including the determination of which factors it will consider in resolving conflicts of interest, in its “sole discretion,” which entitles our board of directors to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, with no duty or obligation to give consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, us, our affiliates or any shareholder;
Provides that Enbridge, its affiliates, and their respective officers and directors, who in most cases are also our officers and directors, are not required to offer us any business opportunities; and
Provides that none of our directors or officers will be liable to us or any other person for any act or omission taken or omitted by such director or officer, so long as such director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner that such director or officer reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests.

These and similar provisions in our limited liability company agreement may restrict the remedies available to our shareholders for actions taken by our board of directors that might otherwise constitute a breach of a fiduciary duty. The Partnership Agreement contains similar provisions that modify the fiduciary duties that the board of directors of the General Partner would otherwise owe to the Partnership’s unitholders under state fiduciary duty law. As the delegate of the General Partner, these provisions apply to our directors and officers in managing the business and affairs of the Partnership.

Potential conflicts of interest may arise among Enbridge and its shareholders, on the one hand, and us and our shareholders and the Partnership and its unitholders, on the other hand. Because the fiduciary duties of our directors have been modified, our board of directors may be permitted to make decisions that benefit Enbridge and its shareholders or the Partnership and its unitholders more than us and our shareholders.

Conflicts of interest may arise from time to time among Enbridge and its shareholders, on the one hand, and us and our shareholders and the Partnership and its unitholders, on the other hand. Conflicts of interest may also arise from time to time between us and our shareholders, on the one hand, and the Partnership and its unitholders, on the other hand. In managing and controlling us and the Partnership, our board of directors may consider the interests of all parties to a conflict and may resolve those conflicts by making decisions that benefit Enbridge and its shareholders or the Partnership and its unitholders more than us and our shareholders. The following decisions, among others, could involve conflicts of interest:

Whether the Partnership or Enbridge will pursue certain acquisitions or other business opportunities;
Whether the Partnership will issue additional units or other equity securities or whether it will purchase outstanding units;
Whether we will issue additional shares;
The amount of payments to Enbridge and its affiliates for any services rendered for the Partnership’s benefit;
The amount of costs that is reimbursable to us or Enbridge by the Partnership;
The enforcement of obligations owed to the Partnership by us, the General Partner and Enbridge, including obligations regarding competition between Enbridge and the Partnership; and
The retention of separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for us and the Partnership.

In these and similar situations, any decision by our board of directors may benefit one group more than another, and in making such decisions, our board of directors may consider the interests of all groups, as well as other factors, in deciding whether to take a particular course of action.

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In other situations, Enbridge may take certain actions, including engaging in businesses that compete with the Partnership, that are adverse to us and our shareholders and the Partnership and its unitholders. For example, although Enbridge and its subsidiaries are generally restricted from engaging in any business that is in direct material competition with our businesses, that restriction is subject to the following significant exceptions:

Enbridge and its subsidiaries are not restricted from continuing to engage in businesses, including the normal development of such businesses, in which they were engaged at the time of the Partnership’s initial public offering in December 1991;
Such restriction is limited geographically only to those routes and products for which the Partnership provided transportation at the time of its initial public offering;
Enbridge and its subsidiaries are not prohibited from acquiring any business that materially and directly competes with the Partnership as part of a larger acquisition, so long as the majority of the value of the business or assets acquired, in Enbridge’s reasonable judgment, is not attributable to the competitive business; and
Enbridge and its subsidiaries are not prohibited from acquiring any business that materially and directly competes with the Partnership if that business is first offered for acquisition to the Partnership and our board of directors and the Partnership’s unitholders determine not to pursue the acquisition.

Since the Partnership was not engaged in any aspect of the natural gas business at the time of its initial public offering, Enbridge and its subsidiaries are not restricted from competing with the Partnership in any aspect of the natural gas business. In addition, Enbridge and its subsidiaries would be permitted to transport crude oil and liquid petroleum over routes that are not the same as the Partnership’s Lakehead system, even if such transportation is in direct material competition with the Partnership’s business.

These exceptions also expressly permitted the reversal by Enbridge in 1999 of one of its pipelines that extends from Sarnia, Ontario to Montreal, Quebec. As a result of this reversal, Enbridge competes with the Partnership to supply crude oil to the Ontario, Canada market.

In the event of a liquidation of the Partnership not resulting from any action taken by the Partnership or otherwise approved by us at the direction of our shareholders, the value of our shares would likely decline.

The Partnership may not take any action to cause a liquidation of the Partnership unless, prior to such liquidation, Enbridge has agreed to purchase all of our shares or we have voted to approve such liquidation at the direction of our shareholders. In the event of a liquidation of the Partnership not resulting from any action taken by the Partnership or otherwise approved by us at the direction of our shareholders, the value of our shares will depend on the after-tax amount of the liquidating distribution received by us as the owner of i-units. The terms of the i-units provide that no allocations of income, gain, loss or deduction will be made in respect of the i-units until such time as there is a liquidation of the Partnership. If there is a liquidation of the Partnership, it is intended that we will be allocated income and gain in an amount necessary for the capital account attributable to each i-unit to be equal to that of a common unit. As a result, we likely will realize taxable income upon the liquidation of the Partnership. However, there may not be sufficient amounts of income and gain to cause the capital account attributable to each i-unit to be equal to that of a common unit. If they are not equal, we and, therefore, our shareholders will receive less value than would be received by an owner of common units. In that event, the liquidating distribution per common unit will exceed the liquidating distribution per i-unit.

Further, the tax indemnity provided to us by Enbridge only indemnifies us for our tax liabilities arising out of a transaction involving the i-units to the extent we have not received sufficient cash in the transaction generating the tax liability to pay the associated tax. Prior to any liquidation of the Partnership, we do not expect to receive cash in a taxable transaction. If a liquidation of the Partnership occurs, however, we likely would receive cash which we would use, at least in part, to pay taxes. As a result, our residual value and the value of our shares will likely be less than the value of the common units upon the liquidation of the Partnership.

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Item 2. Properties

None.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are a participant in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Some of these proceedings are covered, in whole or in part, by insurance. We believe that the outcome of all these proceedings will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Shareholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our Listed Shares are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “EEQ.” The quarterly price ranges per Listed Share are summarized as follows:

       
  First   Second   Third   Fourth
2016 Quarters
                                   
High   $ 23.12     $ 23.46     $ 25.67     $ 26.45  
Low   $ 14.27     $ 16.47     $ 21.73     $ 22.17  
2015 Quarters
                                   
High   $ 39.62     $ 37.76     $ 33.28     $ 28.98  
Low   $ 34.07     $ 32.45     $ 22.27     $ 19.11  

On February 14, 2017, the last reported sales price of the Listed Shares on the NYSE was $18.33. As of January 20, 2017, there were approximately 33 registered holders of our Listed Shares. The number of registered holders does not include unitholders whose units are held in trust by other entities.

Distributions.  Under the terms of our limited liability company agreement, except in connection with our liquidation, we do not pay distributions on our Listed Shares in cash, but instead make distributions on our Listed Shares in additional shares or fractions of shares. At the same time the Partnership makes a distribution on its common units and i-units, we distribute on each of our shares that fraction of a share determined by dividing the amount of the cash distribution to be made by the Partnership on each common unit by the average market price of a Listed Share determined for the 10 trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the ex-dividend date for our Listed Shares.

The following table sets forth the details regarding our share distributions, as approved by our board of directors for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

             
Distribution
Declaration Date
  Record Date   Distribution
Payment Date
  Distribution
per Unit
of the
Partnership
  Average
Closing Price
of the Listed
Shares
  Additional
i-units Owned
  Listed Shares
Distributed
to Public
  Shares
Distributed
to General
Partner
2016
                                                              
October 28     November 7       November 14     $ 0.58300     $ 25.06       1,861,187       1,643,677       217,510  
July 28     August 5       August 12     $ 0.58300     $ 22.84       1,991,304       1,758,587       232,717  
April 29     May 6       May 13     $ 0.58300     $ 21.14       2,093,257       1,848,626       244,631  
January 29     February 5       February 12     $ 0.58300     $ 16.27       2,625,681       2,318,827       306,854  
                               8,571,429       7,569,717       1,001,712  
2015
                                                              
October 30     November 6       November 13     $ 0.58300     $ 27.10       1,543,182       1,362,836       180,346  
July 30     August 7       August 14     $ 0.58300     $ 30.68       1,337,969       1,181,605       156,364  
April 30     May 8       May 15     $ 0.57000     $ 37.25       1,061,026       937,028       123,998  
January 29     February 6       February 13     $ 0.57000     $ 37.50       1,038,375       917,024       121,351  
                               4,980,552       4,398,493       582,059  
2014
                                                              
October 31     November 7       November 14     $ 0.55500     $ 35.75       1,044,292       922,250       122,042  
July 31     August 7       August 14     $ 0.55500     $ 34.53       1,064,113       939,754       124,359  
April 30     May 8       May 15     $ 0.54350     $ 29.14       1,212,031       1,070,385       141,646  
January 30     February 7       February 14     $ 0.54350     $ 27.90       1,241,652       1,096,544       145,108  
                               4,562,088       4,028,933       533,155  

In 2016 and 2015, we had non-cash operating activities in the form of the distributions from the i-units and corresponding non-cash financing activities in the form of the distributions to the shareholders of our Listed Shares of $179.1 million and $161.3 million, respectively.

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On January 26, 2017, our board of directors declared a share distribution payable on February 14, 2017, to shareholders of record as of February 7, 2017, based on the $0.5830 per common unit distribution declared by the Partnership. The Partnership’s distribution increases the number of i-units we own. The number of i-units we received from the Partnership on February 14, 2017 was 2,126,649.

The amount of this increase is calculated by dividing $0.5830, the cash amount distributed by the Partnership per common unit by $22.44, the average closing price of one of our Listed Shares on the NYSE for the 10-day trading period immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for our shares, multiplied by 81,857,168, the number of shares outstanding on the record date. We distributed additional Listed Shares to our shareholders and voting shares to the General Partner in respect of these additional i-units.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The following table sets forth our summary historical financial data for the periods and at the dates indicated. We derived the historical financial data from, and it should be read in conjunction with, our financial statements and notes thereto. See also Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

         
  As of and for the year ended December 31,
     2016(1)   2015(2)   2014   2013   2012
     (in millions, except per share amounts)
Equity income (loss) from investment in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.   $ (121.9 )    $ (379.7 )    $ 43.7     $ (26.3 )    $ 50.5  
Income tax benefit (expense)     1.8       (132.7 )      (16.6 )      8.2       (18.7 ) 
Net income (loss)   $ (120.1 )    $ (512.4 )    $ 27.1     $ (18.1 )    $ 31.8  
Net income (loss) per share, (basic and diluted)   $ (1.54 )    $ (7.26 )    $ 0.41     $ (0.33 )    $ 0.80  
Weighted average shares outstanding     78.0       70.6       66.1       54.2       39.9  
Equivalent distribution value per share(3)   $ 2.33     $ 2.31     $ 2.20     $ 2.17     $ 2.15  
Number of additional shares distributed     8.57       4.98       4.56       3.77       2.63  
Total assets at December 31   $ 0.8     $ 133.3     $ 741.7     $ 1,270.8     $ 747.3  

(1) Equity loss from investment and net loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 was affected by curing losses and by the discontinued application of the equity method of accounting when the carrying amount of our investment in the Partnership was reduced to zero. For further information, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. This was also the cause of the decrease in total assets at December 31, 2016, when compared to total assets at December 31, 2015.
(2) Net income for the year ended December 31, 2015 was affected by our pre-tax pro-rata share of the allocation needed to cure the capital account deficits of the Partnership’s Class A and Class B common units of $362.3 million. Net income was also impacted by the recognition of a full valuation allowance on our deferred tax asset, which resulted in additional tax expense of $274.8 million. For further information, see Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 6. Income Taxes. This was also the cause of the decrease in total assets at December 31, 2015, when compared to total assets at December 31, 2014.
(3) Represents the cash distribution paid on each common unit of the Partnership for each period shown. As more fully discussed in Note 4. Shareholders’ Equity to our financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we receive distributions of additional i-units rather than cash.

Selected financial data of the Partnership is found in Part II, Item 6. Selected Financial Data of the Partnership’s 10-K, which is hereby incorporated by reference as our results of operations, financial position and cash flows are dependent on the results of operations, financial position and the cash flows of the Partnership.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based on and should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the accompanying notes beginning in Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

We are a Delaware limited liability company that was formed on May 14, 2002. We have elected to be treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. Our sole investment is all of a special class of units issued by the Partnership, referred to as i-units, representing limited partner interests in the Partnership. The General Partner owns all of our voting shares and is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge.

By an agreement among the Partnership, the General Partner and us, we manage the business and affairs of the Partnership, subject to the General Partner’s right to approve specified actions.

The information set forth under Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, is hereby incorporated by reference as our results of operation, cash flows and financial position are dependent on the results of operation, cash flows and financial position of the Partnership.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Our results of operations consist of our share of earnings from the Partnership attributed to our ownership of the i-units, a special class of limited partner interest in the Partnership. Through our ownership of the i-units, we had an approximate 16.6%, 15.1% and 15.0% limited partner voting interest in the Partnership as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Our percentage ownership of the Partnership will change over time as the number of i-units we own becomes a different percentage of the total limited partner interests outstanding due to our ownership of additional i-units and other issuances of limited partner interests by the Partnership. Historically, our share of the Partnership’s earnings was reduced by (1) allocations of income to the Preferred Units, Class D and Class E units, and IDUs, and (2) curing impacts on limited partnership interests whose capital account balances become negative during the year.

The Partnership Agreement does not permit capital deficits to accumulate in the capital account of any limited partner and thus requires that such capital account deficits brought to zero, or “cured,” by additional allocations from the positive capital accounts of the common units, i-units, and General Partner, generally on a pro-rata basis. From the second quarter of 2014 through the first quarter of 2016, our equity income from the Partnership was adjusted for our pro-rata share of such reallocations. The curing losses were primarily a result of issuances of the Class D and Class E units by the Partnership in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and by a goodwill impairment in 2015, which reduced the capital balances of the Class A and Class B common units below zero. During the same period, distributions to the Class A and Class B common units exceeded the earnings allocated to such units, which further reduced the capital balances and required additional curing from the positive balances of the Partnership’s i-unit capital accounts.

During the first quarter of 2016, our share of losses in the Partnership, driven primarily from curing losses, exceeded the carrying amount of our investment in the Partnership. As a result, we discontinued application of the equity method of accounting when the carrying amount of our investment was reduced to zero and will no longer provide for additional losses as we are not obligated to provide further financial support to the Partnership. Further, we will amortize into earnings the remaining accumulated other comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the Partnership’s underlying hedge contracts. As a result, our net loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes, and future losses will consist of, amortization of remaining accumulated other comprehensive loss.

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The following table presents our results of operations for the periods presented:

     
  For the year ended December 31,
     2016   2015   2014
     (in millions)
Equity income (loss) from investment in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.   $ (121.9 )    $ (379.7 )    $ 43.7  
Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)     (121.9 )      (379.7 )      43.7  
Income tax benefit (expense)     1.8       (132.7 )      (16.6 ) 
Net income (loss)   $ (120.1 )    $ (512.4 )    $ 27.1  

Our net losses of $120.1 million and $512.4 million and net income of $27.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, represents our equity in earnings and losses attributable to the i-units that we own, adjusted for deferred income tax expense or benefit.

Year ended December 31, 2016 compared with year ended December 31, 2015

For the year ended December 31, 2016, our equity loss from investment in the Partnership decreased by $257.8 million as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease was primarily due to the discontinuance of equity method accounting at March 31, 2016, which limited the amount of losses recorded during the applicable period to the amortization of the remaining accumulated other comprehensive income as discussed above.

For the year ended December 31, 2016, our income tax expense decreased by $134.5 million as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The decrease was primarily due to the recognition of a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset, which resulted in additional tax expense of $274.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. No similar charge was recorded during the same period in 2016.

Year ended December 31, 2015 compared with year ended December 31, 2014

For the year ended December 31, 2015, our equity income (loss) from investment in the Partnership decreased by $423.4 million as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. The decrease was primarily due to our pre-tax pro-rata share of the allocation needed to cure the capital account deficits of the Partnership’s Class A and Class B common units of $362.3 million. In addition, allocations of income to the Partnership’s Class D units, Class E units, and incentive distribution units increased due to increases in distributions to these limited partner interests. Our share of the remaining net income attributable to the Partnership’s common units and i-units was impacted by goodwill impairment and lower operating income in the natural gas business of the Partnership for the year ended December 31, 2015, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014.

For the year ended December 31, 2015, our income tax expense increased by $116.1 million as compared to the year ended 2014. As mentioned above, the increase was primarily due to the recognition of a full valuation allowance against our deferred tax asset, which resulted in additional tax expense of $274.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. The valuation allowance expense was partially offset by tax benefits relating to our increased equity losses from the Partnership as compared with 2014.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our authorized capital structure consists of two classes of limited liability company interests: (1) our Listed Shares, which are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, and represent limited liability company interests with limited voting rights, and (2) our voting shares, which represent limited liability company interests with full voting rights and are held solely by the General Partner. At December 31, 2016, our issued capitalization consisted of $1,622.9 million associated with our 81,857,162 Listed Shares outstanding.

We use our capital to invest in i-units of the Partnership. We have, from time to time, raised capital through public equity offerings. Any net cash proceeds we receive from the sale of additional shares will immediately be used to purchase additional i-units. We did not issue additional shares in 2016, 2015, or 2014. The number of our shares outstanding including the voting shares owned by the General Partner will at all times equal the number of i-units we own in the Partnership. Typically, the General Partner and owners of the Partnership’s Class A and B common units, Class D units, Class E units, and IDUs will receive distributions from the Partnership in cash. Instead of receiving cash distributions on the i-units we own, however, we receive additional i-units under the terms of the Partnership Agreement. The number of additional i-units we receive is calculated by dividing the amount of the cash distribution paid by the Partnership on each of its common units by the average closing price of one of our

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Listed Shares on the NYSE for the 10 trading day period immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for our shares, multiplied by the number of our shares outstanding on the record date. We make share distributions to our shareholders concurrently with the i-unit distributions we receive from the Partnership that increase the number of i-units we own. As a result of our share distributions, the number of shares outstanding is equal to the number of i-units that we own in the Partnership.

We are not permitted to borrow money or incur debt other than with Enbridge and its affiliates without the approval of holders owning at least a majority of our shares.

Under the Enbridge purchase provisions, which are a part of our limited liability company agreement, Enbridge has the right and obligation, under limited circumstances, to purchase our outstanding shares. In addition, Enbridge generally agreed to indemnify us for any tax liability attributable to our formation, our management of the Partnership or our ownership of the i-units. Additionally, Enbridge generally agreed to indemnify us for any taxes arising from a transaction involving the i-units to the extent the transaction does not generate cash sufficient to pay such taxes, in each case, other than any Texas franchise taxes or other capital-based foreign, state or local taxes that are required to be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership under the delegation of control agreement.

If we incur liabilities or other obligations in connection with the performance of our obligations under the delegation of control agreement, we are entitled to be reimbursed or to be indemnified by the Partnership or the General Partner. Thus, we expect that our expenditures associated with managing the business and affairs of the Partnership and the reimbursement of these expenses that we receive will continue to be equal. As previously stated, we do not receive quarterly cash distributions on the i-units we hold. Therefore, we expect neither to generate nor to require significant amounts of cash in ongoing operations. Any net cash proceeds we receive from the sale of additional shares will immediately be used to purchase additional i-units. Accordingly, we do not anticipate any other sources of or needs for additional liquidity.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, which we refer to as GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Our management evaluates these estimates on an ongoing basis, utilizing historical experience, consultation with experts and other methods considered reasonable in the particular circumstances. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates. Any effects on the financial statements resulting from revisions to these estimates are recorded in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.

Accounting for Investment in the Partnership

Prior to March 31, 2016, we used the equity method of accounting for our ownership interest in the Partnership because we exercise significant influence over the Partnership pursuant to a delegation of control agreement among the General Partner, the Partnership, and us. As of December 31, 2016, we owned approximately 16.6% of the Partnership. Our ownership percentage changes as the Partnership issues additional limited partner units. Under the equity method of accounting, changes in the calculation of our ownership percentage affected our net income and comprehensive income.

Distributions to holders of the Partnership’s Preferred Units, Class D Units, Class E Units and Incentive Distribution Units, or IDUs, reduce the amount of income that was allocated to the Partnership’s remaining limited partners: (1) Class A common units, (2) Class B common units and (3) i-units on a pro-rata basis based on our ownership interest in the Partnership. Further, the Partnership’s Preferred Units were issued at a discount to the market price of the Class A common units into which they are convertible. This discount represents a beneficial conversion feature, which is amortized ratably from the issuance date through the first available conversion date. This amortization results in an increase to the capital account of the Preferred Units and a decrease in the Partnership’s earnings allocable to the Class A and Class B common units and the i-units on a pro-rata basis. Thus, our “Equity income (loss) from investment in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.” on our statements of income also includes a pro-rata share of these costs.

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The Partnership Agreement does not permit capital deficits to accumulate in the capital account of any limited partner and thus requires that such capital account deficits brought to zero, or “cured,” by additional allocations from the positive capital accounts of the common units, i-units, and General Partner, generally on a pro-rata basis. Our equity income from the Partnership is adjusted for our pro-rata share of such reallocations. Until we discontinued equity accounting for our investment in the Partnership on March 31, 2016, our equity earnings were reduced by $121.3 million, for our pro-rata share of the allocation needed to cure the capital account deficits of the Class A and Class B common units.

During the first quarter of 2016, our share of losses in the Partnership, driven primarily from curing losses, exceeded the carrying amount of our investment in the Partnership. As a result, we ceased recognition of our equity interest in the earnings of the Partnership when the carrying amount of our investment was reduced to zero and will no longer provide for additional losses as we are not obligated to provide further financial support to the Partnership. Our accumulated other comprehensive income is comprised of our historical interest in the Partnership’s other comprehensive income, which is based primarily on the effective mark-to-market changes in the Partnership’s underlying cash flow hedge contracts. We amortize into earnings the remaining accumulated other comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the Partnership’s underlying hedge contracts.

CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICY

Adoption of New Standards

Consolidation

On January 1, 2016, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-02, which amended consolidation guidance to, among other things, eliminate the specialized consolidation model and guidance for limited partnerships, including the presumption that the general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. As a result, we have determined that the Partnership, which historically has not been consolidated by us under this presumption as we are not the general partner, is a variable interest entity, or VIE. Further, we determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the Partnership. While the amended guidance did not impact our conclusion that the Partnership should not be consolidated, because the Partnership is now considered a VIE, additional disclosures are necessary. We have applied this amended guidance retrospectively to our disclosures.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Share Distribution

On January 26, 2017, our board of directors declared a share distribution payable on February 14, 2017, to shareholders of record as of February 7, 2017, based on the $0.5830 per limited partner unit distribution declared by the Partnership. The Partnership’s distribution increases the number of i-units that we own. The number of i-units we received from the Partnership on February 14, 2017 was 2,126,649. The amount of this increase is calculated by dividing $0.5830, the cash amount distributed by the Partnership per common unit by $22.44, the average closing price of one of our Listed Shares on the NYSE for the 10-day trading period immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for our shares, multiplied by 81,857,168, the number of shares outstanding on the record date. We distributed an additional 1,878,115 Listed Shares to our public shareholders and 248,534 voting shares to the General Partner in respect of these additional i-units.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The nature of our business and operations is such that we do not conduct activities or enter into transactions of the type requiring discussion under this item.

For a discussion of these matters as they pertain to the Partnership, please read Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk of the Partnership’s 10-K, which is hereby incorporated by reference as activities of the Partnership have an impact on our results of operations and financial position.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.

 
  Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm     16  
Statements of Income for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014     17  
Statements of Comprehensive Income for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014     18  
Statements of Cash Flows for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014     19  
Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2016 and 2015     20  
Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014     21  
Notes to the Financial Statements     22  

FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Financial statement schedules not included in this report have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is either immaterial or shown in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.:

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of financial position and the related statements of income, of comprehensive income, of shareholders’ equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (the “Company”) at December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A of the Company’s 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
Houston, Texas
February 16, 2017

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
STATEMENTS OF INCOME

     
  For the year ended
December 31,
     2016   2015   2014
     (in millions, except per share amounts)
Equity income (loss) from investment in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.   $ (121.9 )    $ (379.7 )    $ 43.7  
Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)     (121.9 )      (379.7 )      43.7  
Income tax benefit (expense) (Note 6)     1.8       (132.7 )      (16.6 ) 
Net income (loss)   $ (120.1 )    $ (512.4 )    $ 27.1  
Net income (loss) per share, (basic and diluted)   $ (1.54 )    $ (7.26 )    $ 0.41  
Weighted average shares outstanding     78.0       70.6       66.1  

 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

     
  For the year ended
December 31,
     2016   2015   2014
     (in millions)
Net income (loss)   $ (120.1 )    $ (512.4 )    $ 27.1  
Equity in other comprehensive income (loss) of Enbridge Energy Partners,
L.P., net of tax expense (benefit) of $1.8, $(14.2) and $(8.8), respectively
    (12.4 )      (20.4 )      (14.7 ) 
Comprehensive income (loss)   $ (132.5 )    $ (532.8 )    $ 12.4  

 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

     
  For the year ended
December 31,
     2016   2015   2014
     (in millions)
Cash provided by operating activities:
                          
Net income (loss)   $ (120.1 )    $ (512.4 )    $ 27.1  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash flows from operating activities:
                          
Equity (income) loss from investment in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.     121.9       379.7       (43.7 ) 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                          
Due from affiliates           0.2       0.1  
Due to affiliates           (0.1 )      (0.1 ) 
Deferred income taxes     (1.8 )      132.7       16.6  
Net cash provided by operating activities           0.1        
Cash used in investing activities:
                          
Net cash used in investing activities                  
Cash provided by financing activities:
                          
Net cash provided by financing activities                  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents           0.1        
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year     0.8       0.7       0.7  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 0.8     $ 0.8     $ 0.7  

 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION

   
  December 31,
     2016   2015
     (in millions)
ASSETS
                 
Cash   $ 0.8     $ 0.8  
Investment in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (Note 4)           132.5  
     $ 0.8     $ 133.3  
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                 
Commitments and contingencies
                 
Shareholders’ equity: (Note 4)
                 
Voting shares – unlimited authorized; 6.17 and 5.53 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively   $     $  
Listed shares – unlimited authorized; 81,857,162 and 73,285,734 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively     1,622.9       1,443.8  
Accumulated deficit     (1,565.6 )      (1,266.4 ) 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (56.5 )      (44.1 ) 
       0.8       133.3  
     $ 0.8     $ 133.3  

 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

           
  For the year ended December 31,
     2016   2015   2014
     Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount
     (in millions, except share amounts)
Voting Shares
                                                     
Beginning balance     5.53     $       5.15     $       4.81     $  
Share distributions     0.64             0.38             0.34        
Ending balance     6.17             5.53             5.15        
Listed Shares
                                                     
Beginning balance     73,285,734       1,443.8       68,305,182       1,358.0       63,743,094       1,603.9  
Capital account adjustments                       (75.5 )            (389.9 ) 
Share distributions     8,571,428       179.1       4,980,552       161.3       4,562,088       144.0  
Ending balance     81,857,162       1,622.9       73,285,734       1,443.8       68,305,182       1,358.0  
Accumulated deficit
                                                     
Beginning balance              (1,266.4 )               (592.7 )               (475.8 ) 
Net income (loss)              (120.1 )               (512.4 )               27.1  
Share distributions           (179.1 )            (161.3 )            (144.0 ) 
Ending balance           (1,565.6 )            (1,266.4 )            (592.7 ) 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
                                                     
Beginning balance              (44.1 )               (23.7 )               (9.0 ) 
Equity in other comprehensive loss of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.           (12.4 )            (20.4 )            (14.7 ) 
Ending balance           (56.5 )            (44.1 )            (23.7 ) 
Total Shareholders’ equity         $ 0.8           $ 133.3           $ 741.6  

 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. GENERAL

Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C., referred to herein as “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Company,” or “Enbridge Management,” is a publicly traded Delaware limited liability company that was formed on May 14, 2002. Our listed shares, or Listed Shares, are traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “EEQ.” We are a limited partner of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., which we also refer to as the Partnership, through our ownership of i-units, a special class of the Partnership’s limited partner interests. The Partnership’s Class A common units are traded on the NYSE under the symbol “EEP”, which together with the Class B common units, we refer to as common units. The Partnership is a Delaware limited partnership that owns and operates crude oil and liquid petroleum transportation and storage assets and natural gas gathering, treating, processing, transportation and marketing assets in the United States of America.

Under a delegation of control agreement among us, the Partnership and its general partner, Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., referred to as the General Partner, we manage the Partnership’s business and affairs. The General Partner is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, that we refer to herein as Enbridge. The General Partner owns 6.17 voting shares, which is 100% of our voting shares, as well as 9,566,352 Listed Shares, which is 11.7% of our Listed Shares. The remaining 72,290,810 Listed Shares, which is 88.3% of our Listed Shares, were held by the public at December 31, 2016.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

We prepare our financial statements in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We regularly evaluate these estimates utilizing historical experience, consultation with experts and other methods we consider reasonable under the circumstances. Nevertheless, actual results may differ significantly from these estimates. We record the effect of any revisions to these estimates in our financial statements in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.

Variable Interest Entities

Upon inception of a contractual agreement, we perform an assessment to determine whether the arrangement contains a variable interest in a legal entity and whether that legal entity is a VIE. We assess all aspects of our interests in an entity and use judgment when determining if we are the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Other qualitative factors that are considered include decision-making responsibilities, the VIE capital structure, risk and rewards sharing, contractual agreements with the VIE, voting rights and level of involvement of other parties. A reassessment of the primary beneficiary conclusion is conducted when there are changes in the facts and circumstances related to a VIE.

As discussed above, we are a limited partner of the Partnership, through our ownership of i-units, a special class of the Partnership’s limited partner interests. At December 31, 2016, we owned approximately 16.6% of the Partnership through our ownership of the i-units. Further, under a delegation of control agreement among us, the Partnership and the General Partner, we manage the Partnership’s business and affairs. However, ultimate responsibility to direct the activities that most significantly impact the Partnership’s economic performance continues to rest with the General Partner. Further, the General Partner has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact our economic performance through its 100% ownership interest in our voting shares. As a result, we have determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the Partnership.

Accounting for Investment in the Partnership

Prior to March 31, 2016, we used the equity method of accounting for our ownership in the Partnership because we exercise significant influence over the Partnership pursuant to a delegation of control agreement among the General Partner, the Partnership and us. As of December 31, 2016 and 2015, we owned approximately 16.6% and 15.1% of the Partnership, respectively. Our ownership percentage changes as the Partnership issues additional limited partner units. Changes in the calculation of our ownership percentage affect our net income and comprehensive income.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  – (continued)

Distributions to holders of the Partnership’s Preferred Units, Class D Units, Class E Units and Incentive Distribution Units, or IDUs, reduce the amount of income that was allocated to the Partnership’s remaining limited partners: (1) Class A common units, (2) Class B common units and (3) i-units on a pro-rata basis based on our ownership interest in the Partnership. Further, the Partnership’s Preferred Units were issued at a discount to the market price of the Class A common units into which they are convertible. This discount represents a beneficial conversion feature, which is amortized ratably from the issuance date through the first available conversion date. This amortization results in an increase to the capital account of the Preferred Units and a decrease in the Partnership’s earnings allocable to the Class A and Class B common units and the i-units on a pro-rata basis. Thus, our “Equity income (loss) from investment in Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.” on our statements of income also includes a pro-rata share of these costs.

The Partnership Agreement does not permit capital deficits to accumulate in the capital account of any limited partner and thus requires that such capital account deficits brought to zero, or “cured,” by additional allocations from the positive capital accounts of the common units, i-units, and General Partner, generally on a pro-rata basis. Our equity income from the Partnership is adjusted for our pro-rata share of such reallocations. Until we discontinued equity accounting for our investment in the Partnership on March 31, 2016, our equity earnings were reduced by $121.3 million, for our pro-rata share of the allocation needed to cure the capital account deficits of the Class A and Class B common units.

During the first quarter of 2016, our share of losses in the Partnership, driven primarily from curing losses, exceeded the carrying amount of our investment in the Partnership. As a result, we ceased recognition of our equity interest in the earnings of the Partnership when the carrying amount of our investment was reduced to zero and will no longer provide for additional losses as we are not obligated to provide further financial support to the Partnership.

Capital Account Adjustments

The Partnership records an adjustment to the carrying value of its book capital accounts for certain changes to its equity structure. We refer to these adjustments as capital account adjustments. We recognize any capital account adjustments recorded by the Partnership to the book capital account it maintains for our i-units by increasing or decreasing our investment in the Partnership and recording a corresponding capital account adjustment directly to “Shareholders’ equity” on our statements of financial position.

Net Income Per Share

Both basic and diluted earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average number of our shares outstanding during each period. We have no securities outstanding that may be converted into or exercised for our shares.

Income Taxes

We are a limited liability company that has elected to be treated as a corporation for U. S. federal income tax purposes. We recognize deferred income tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the basis of our assets and liabilities for financial reporting and tax purposes. Changes in tax legislation are included in the relevant computations in the period in which the legislation is enacted. Temporary differences and associated deferred tax expense and deferred tax liabilities result from recording our equity in the earnings of the Partnership, which will not become taxable until the Partnership is liquidated or the i-units are otherwise monetized, in addition to capital account adjustments.

We are a party to a tax indemnification agreement with Enbridge. Pursuant to this tax indemnification agreement, Enbridge agrees to indemnify us from any tax liability attributable to our formation or our management of the business and affairs of the Partnership and from any taxes arising out of a transaction involving the i-units owned, to the extent the transaction does not generate cash sufficient to pay our taxes with respect to such transaction, in each case, other than any Texas franchise taxes and other capital-based foreign, state or local taxes that are required to be paid or reimbursed by the Partnership under the delegation of control agreement.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  – (continued)

The delegation of control agreement states that the General Partner bears the economic impact for our taxes only in the event we do not have cash sufficient to pay them. As a result, we accrue state income taxes in addition to federal income tax.

Comprehensive Income

Comprehensive income differs from net income due to the equity in other comprehensive income or loss of the Partnership. The Partnership enters into a variety of derivative financial instruments to mitigate its exposure to commodity price and interest rate risk, some of which are qualified cash flow hedges under the applicable authoritative accounting guidance for derivative activities. As such, prior to March 31, 2016, changes in the fair market value of the Partnership’s derivative financial instruments produced fluctuations in our comprehensive income, which was reflected as equity in other comprehensive income or loss of the Partnership.

As discussed above, we discontinued equity method accounting for our investment in the Partnership as of March 31, 2016. Our accumulated other comprehensive income is comprised of our historical interest in the Partnership’s other comprehensive income, which is based primarily on the effective mark-to-market changes in the Partnership’s underlying cash flow hedge contracts. We amortize into earnings the remaining accumulated other comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the Partnership’s underlying hedge contracts.

3. CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING POLICY

Adoption of New Standards

Consolidation

On January 1, 2016, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-02, which amended consolidation guidance to, among other things, eliminate the specialized consolidation model and guidance for limited partnerships, including the presumption that the general partner should consolidate a limited partnership. As a result, we have determined that the Partnership, which historically has not been consolidated by us under this presumption as we are not the general partner, is a variable interest entity, or VIE. Further, we determined that we are not the primary beneficiary of the Partnership. While the amended guidance did not impact our conclusion that the Partnership should not be consolidated, because the Partnership is now considered a VIE, additional disclosures are necessary. We have applied this amended guidance retrospectively to our disclosures.

4. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Share Distributions

Our authorized capital structure consists of two classes of interests: (1) Listed Shares, which represent limited liability company interests with limited voting rights, and (2) voting shares, which represent limited liability company interests with full voting rights, all voting shares of which are held by the General Partner.

We make share distributions on a quarterly basis at the same time that the Partnership declares and makes cash distributions to the General Partner and limited partner interests other than the i-units. We do not receive cash distributions on the i-units we own and do not otherwise have any cash flow attributable to our ownership of the i-units. Instead, when the Partnership makes cash distributions to the General Partner and other limited partner interests, we receive additional i-units under the terms of the Partnership Agreement. The amount of the additional i-units we receive is calculated by dividing the amount of the per unit cash distribution paid by the Partnership on each of its Class A and B common units by the average closing price of one of our Listed Shares on the NYSE as determined for a 10 trading-day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the ex-dividend date for our shares multiplied by the number of shares outstanding on the record date. We concurrently distribute additional shares to our shareholders that are equivalent in number to the additional i-units we receive from the Partnership. As a result, the number of our outstanding shares is equal to the number of i-units that we own in the Partnership.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY  – (continued)

The following table sets forth the details regarding our share distributions, as approved by our board of directors for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

             
Distribution
Declaration Date
  Record Date   Distribution
Payment Date
  Distribution
per Unit
of the
Partnership
  Average
Closing
Price of
the Listed
Shares
  Additional
i-units
owned
  Listed
Shares
Distributed
to Public
  Shares
Distributed
to General
Partner
2016
                                                              
October 28     November 7       November 14     $ 0.58300     $ 25.06       1,861,187       1,643,677       217,510  
July 28     August 5       August 12     $ 0.58300     $ 22.84       1,991,304       1,758,587       232,717  
April 29     May 6       May 13     $ 0.58300     $ 21.14       2,093,257       1,848,626       244,631  
January 29     February 5       February 12     $ 0.58300     $ 16.27       2,625,681       2,318,827       306,854  
                               8,571,429       7,569,717       1,001,712  
2015
                                                              
October 30     November 6       November 13     $ 0.58300     $ 27.10       1,543,182       1,362,836       180,346  
July 30     August 7       August 14     $ 0.58300     $ 30.68       1,337,969       1,181,605       156,364  
April 30     May 8       May 15     $ 0.57000     $ 37.25       1,061,026       937,028       123,998  
January 29     February 6       February 13     $ 0.57000     $ 37.50       1,038,375       917,024       121,351  
                               4,980,552       4,398,493       582,059  
2014
                                                              
October 31     November 7       November 14     $ 0.55500     $ 35.75       1,044,292       922,250       122,042  
July 31     August 7       August 14     $ 0.55500     $ 34.53       1,064,113       939,754       124,359  
April 30     May 8       May 15     $ 0.54350     $ 29.14       1,212,031       1,070,385       141,646  
January 30     February 7       February 14     $ 0.54350     $ 27.90       1,241,652       1,096,544       145,108  
                               4,562,088       4,028,933       533,155  

We had non-cash operating activities in the form of i-units distributed to us by the Partnership and corresponding non-cash financing activities in the form of share distributions to our shareholders in the amounts of $179.1 million, $161.3 million and $144.0 million during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Partnership Transactions Impacting Shareholders’ Equity

MEP Drop Down Transaction

On July 1, 2014, the Partnership sold a 12.6% limited partner interest in Midcoast Operating, L.P., or Midcoast Operating, to Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P., or MEP, for $350.0 million in cash, which reduced the Partnership’s total ownership interest in Midcoast Operating from 61% to 48.4%. The difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the interest in Midcoast Operating was recorded as an adjustment to the Partnership’s capital accounts. This noncash adjustment resulted in a reduction of $15.5 million, net of a $9.3 million tax benefit, to the book basis of our investment in the Partnership, based on our proportionate ownership interest in the Partnership at the time of the transaction, with a corresponding reduction to “Capital account adjustments” on our statements of shareholders’ equity.

Partnership Equity Restructuring

Effective July 1, 2014, the General Partner entered into an equity restructuring transaction, or Equity Restructuring, with the Partnership in which the General Partner irrevocably waived its right to receive cash distributions and allocations of items of income, gain, deduction and loss in excess of 2% in respect of its general partner interest in the Previous IDRs, in exchange for the issuance to a wholly-owned subsidiary of the General Partner of a new class of limited partner interests designated as Class D units, and a new class of limited partner interests designated as IDUs. The IDUs entitle the holder thereof to receive 23% of the incremental cash distributions paid by the Partnership in excess of $0.5435 per unit per quarter on its Class A and Class B common units, collectively, the common units, the i-units we own, the Class D units, and the Class E units.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4. SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY  – (continued)

As a result of the Equity Restructuring and the associated creation of the Class D units and IDUs, a reallocation in the carrying values of the Partnership’s capital accounts was required. The Class D units and IDUs were recorded at fair value, and the remaining balance in the Partnership’s capital accounts was allocated to the General Partner, the common units, and i-units on a pro-rata basis. In addition, the reallocation among the Partnership’s capital accounts resulted in a negative capital account balance for the Partnership’s Class B common units. The Partnership Agreement does not allow for the capital accounts of any limited partner to be negative and, as a result, requires the General Partner and those limited partners with positive capital account balances that participate in earnings of the Partnership based on their ownership interest to allocate income to the capital account of the Class B common units on a pro rata basis to bring the balance to zero.

The reallocation from these noncash transactions reduced the book basis of our investment in the Partnership, based on our proportionate ownership interest in the Partnership at the time of the transaction, by $375.4 million, net of a $222.7 million tax benefit. A corresponding reduction to our Shareholders’ equity was recorded and is reflected under “Capital account adjustments” on our statements of shareholders’ equity.

Alberta Clipper Drop Down to the Partnership

On January 2, 2015, the Partnership completed a transaction, or the Drop Down, pursuant to which it acquired the remaining 66.7% interest in the U.S. segment of the Alberta Clipper Pipeline from the General Partner. The consideration consisted of 18,114,975 units of a new class of limited partner interests designated as Class E units with an aggregate value of $694.0 million issued to the General Partner, plus a cash repayment of approximately $306.0 million of indebtedness.

The Partnership recorded the issuance of the Class E units at a fair value of $767.7 million, which was $364.0 million higher than the $403.7 million carrying value of the Partnership’s related noncontrolling interest in Alberta Clipper. As a result, the Partnership reduced the carrying values of the Class A and Class B common units, the i-units, and the General Partner interest by $364.0 million on a pro-rata basis. The recording of this noncash transaction reduced the book basis of our investment in the Partnership, based on our proportionate ownership interest in the Partnership at the time of the transaction, by $46.2 million, net of a $27.3 million tax benefit. A corresponding reduction to our “Shareholders’ equity” was recorded and is reflected under “Capital account adjustments” in the significant changes in the statements of shareholders’ equity. The recording of this transaction also reduced the carrying values of both classes of the common units below zero.

As discussed above, the Partnership Agreement requires that such capital account deficits are cured by additional allocations from the capital accounts of the i-units and the General Partner on a pro-rata basis. Our pro-rata share of this curing as a result of the Drop Down, was $29.4 million, net of a $17.3 million tax benefit, which is reflected as an additional reduction to the book basis of our investment in the Partnership, with a corresponding reduction to our “Shareholders’ equity.”

5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

We are a limited partner in the Partnership and, pursuant to a delegation of control agreement among us, the General Partner and the Partnership, we have assumed the General Partner’s responsibility to manage the business and affairs of the Partnership and its subsidiaries. The delegation of control agreement provides that we will not amend or propose to amend the Partnership’s limited Partnership Agreement, allow a merger or consolidation involving the Partnership, allow a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Partnership or dissolve or liquidate the Partnership without the approval of the General Partner.

The General Partner remains responsible to the Partnership for actions taken or omitted by us while serving as the delegate of the General Partner as if the General Partner had itself taken or omitted to take such actions. The General Partner owns all of our voting shares. The General Partner has agreed not to voluntarily withdraw as general partner of the Partnership and has agreed not to transfer its interest as general partner of the Partnership unless the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of the delegation of control agreement that apply to the General Partner.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

5. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS  – (continued)

The Partnership recognizes the delegation of rights and powers to us and indemnifies and protects us and our officers and directors to the same extent as it does with respect to the General Partner. In addition, the Partnership reimburses our expenses to the same extent as it does with respect to the General Partner as general partner. The Partnership also reimburses us for any Texas franchise taxes and any other similar capital-based foreign, state and local taxes not otherwise paid or reimbursed by Enbridge pursuant to the tax indemnification agreement.

The General Partner, we and Enbridge, through its affiliates, provide the Partnership with managerial, administrative, operational and director services pursuant to service agreements among all of us. Pursuant to these service agreements, the Partnership reimburses us, the General Partner and affiliates of Enbridge for the costs of these managerial, administrative, operational and director services. Through an operational services agreement among Enbridge, affiliates of Enbridge and the Partnership, the Partnership is charged for the services of our executive management resident in Canada. Through a general and administrative services agreement among the Partnership, the General Partner, us and Enbridge Employee Services, Inc., a subsidiary of the General Partner, which we refer to as EES, the Partnership is charged for the services of our executive management resident in the United States. In addition, other employees of EES are assigned to work for the General Partner, the Partnership and us, and employer expenses for these employees are charged by EES to each of us, as appropriate. For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, all costs from EES incurred by us were charged to the Partnership pursuant to these agreements and were immaterial.

6. INCOME TAXES

The terms of the i-units provide that the units owned by us will not be allocated income, gain, loss or deductions of the Partnership for tax purposes until such time that we dispose of our investment in the Partnership. As a result, actual realization of any long-term deferred income tax asset or liability would only occur upon liquidation of our investment in the Partnership.

As a result of several transactions impacting the Partnership’s equity accounts in 2014, we recognized tax benefits that resulted in a deferred tax asset of $73.7 million as of December 31, 2014. In January 2015, as a result of the Partnership’s Drop Down of their remaining equity investment in Alberta Clipper and the issuance of Class E units, we recorded an additional $44.6 million deferred tax benefit. Further, capital account deficits generated on the Class A and Class B common units during 2015 resulted in equity losses from our investment in the Partnership, which created additional tax benefits.

During the third quarter of 2015, we updated our forecasts and concurrently reevaluated the reversal of our temporary difference related to the investment in EEP. As a result of this revision to our forecast, we determined that Class A and Class B common units would continue to be cured primarily from income allocations of the i-units into the foreseeable future. Based on the estimates of our future operating income included in our forecasts, including curing impacts, we concluded that it is not more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be realized. As a result, we recognized a full valuation allowance on the net deferred tax asset during the third quarter of 2015. The recognition of the valuation allowance resulted in additional tax expense of $274.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. We considered our disclosure of the valuation allowance as shown in the effective rate reconciliation as compared to the table of deferred taxes, and noted that this is consistent with our application of the intraperiod allocation of the valuation allowance between the loss in continuing operations and other comprehensive income.

The tax effects of significant temporary differences representing deferred tax assets and (liabilities) are as follows:

   
  December 31,
     2016   2015
     (in millions)
Investment in Partnership   $ 320.9     $ 273.6  
Valuation allowance on investment in Partnership     (320.9 )      (273.6 ) 
Net deferred tax asset (liability)   $     $  

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

6. INCOME TAXES  – (continued)

The effective income tax rates we used in computing the income tax provisions for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 are presented in the following table. There were no cash payments for income taxes during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014.

     
  For the year ended December 31,
     2016   2015   2014
     (in millions)
Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense)   $ (121.9 )    $ (379.7 )    $ 43.7  
Federal Income tax benefit (expense)     42.6       132.9       (15.3 ) 
State Income tax benefit (expense)     2.3       9.2       (1.3 ) 
Tax Rate change     (3.7 )             
Valuation allowance     (39.4 )      (274.8 )       
Total income tax benefit (expense)(1)   $ 1.8     $ (132.7 )    $ (16.6 ) 
Effective income tax rate(2)     1.5 %      (34.9 )%      37.9 % 

(1) Amortization of accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings is recorded before tax to recognize the related tax benefit. Recognition of the tax benefit in earnings does not impact the balance of the deferred tax asset and associated full valuation allowance, which were previously recorded when the losses were reflected in Other Comprehensive Income.
(2) For the year ended December 31, 2015, the effective income tax rate is negative as we had tax expense on a pre-tax book loss. The tax expense is a result of the valuation allowance as noted above, which resulted in a tax expense instead of a tax benefit on the pre-tax book loss for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Our tax years are generally open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state revenue authorities for the calendar years ended 2015, 2014 and 2013.

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

7. SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE PARTNERSHIP

The following table provides summarized financial information of the Partnership:

     
  For the years ended December 31,
     2016   2015   2014
     (in millions)
Operating revenue   $ 4,481.9     $ 5,146.1     $ 7,964.7  
Operating expenses     4,153.8       4,464.5       6,878.0  
Operating income   $ 328.1     $ 681.6     $ 1,086.7  
Net income (loss)   $ (41.3 )    $ 454.3     $ 740.0  
Less: Net income attributable to:
                          
Noncontrolling interest     26.4       221.1       263.3  
Series 1 preferred unit distributions     90.0       90.0       90.0  
Accretion of discount on Series 1 preferred units     4.7       11.2       14.9  
Net income (loss) attributable to Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.   $ (162.4 )    $ 132.0     $ 371.8  
Less: Net income attributable to the General Partner(1)     214.1       216.8       153.4  
Net income (loss) attributable to common units and i-units(2)   $ (376.5 )    $ (84.8 )    $ 218.4  
Current assets   $ 401.2     $ 556.3     $ 955.4  
Long-term assets(3)   $ 17,708.9     $ 18,218.0     $ 16,771.1  
Current liabilities   $ 1,102.2     $ 1,590.3     $ 1,915.9  
Long-term liabilities(3)   $ 9,185.4     $ 8,271.9     $ 7,081.2  
Noncontrolling interest   $ 3,846.1     $ 3,944.5     $ 3,609.0  
Partners’ capital   $ 7,822.5     $ 8,912.1     $ 8,729.4  

(1) Net income attributable to the General Partner includes net income attributable to the general partner interest as well as to Class D units, Class E units, and IDUs.
(2) The Partnership allocates its net income among the Preferred Units, the General Partner and limited partners first using preferred unit distributions and then the two-class method in accordance with applicable authoritative accounting guidance. Under the two-class method, the Partnership allocates its net income, after noncontrolling interest and preferred unit distributions, to the General Partner and its limited partners, including us, according to the distribution formula for available cash as set forth in its Partnership Agreement.
(3) On January 1, 2016, the Partnership adopted ASU No. 2015-03, which requires the Partnership to present debt issuance costs in the balance sheet of the Partnership as a reduction to the carrying amount of the debt liability, rather than as an asset.

8. SUPPLEMENTAL SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

         
  First   Second   Third   Fourth   Total
     (dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
2016 Quarters
                                            
Net loss   $ (116.2 )    $ (1.3 )    $ (1.3 )    $ (1.3 )    $ (120.1 ) 
Net loss per share, (basic and diluted)   $ (1.56 )    $ (0.02 )    $ (0.02 )    $ (0.02 )    $ (1.54 ) 
2015 Quarters
                                            
Net income (loss)   $ 10.8     $ (58.1 )    $ (277.8 )    $ (187.3 )    $ (512.4 ) 
Net income (loss) per share, (basic and diluted)   $ 0.16     $ (0.83 )    $ (3.91 )    $ (2.58 )    $ (7.26 ) 

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ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Share Distribution

On January 26, 2017, our board of directors declared a share distribution payable on February 14, 2017, to shareholders of record as of February 7, 2017, based on the $0.5830 per limited partner unit distribution declared by the Partnership. The Partnership’s distribution increases the number of i-units that we own. The number of i-units we received from the Partnership on February 14, 2017 was 2,126,649. The amount of this increase is calculated by dividing $0.5830, the cash amount distributed by the Partnership per common unit by $22.44, the average closing price of one of our Listed Shares on the NYSE for the 10-day trading period immediately preceding the ex-dividend date for our shares, multiplied by 81,857,168, the number of shares outstanding on the record date. We distributed an additional 1,878,115 Listed Shares to our public shareholders and 248,534 shares to the General Partner in respect of these additional i-units.

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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We and Enbridge maintain systems of disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that we are able to record, process, summarize and report the information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information required to be disclosed in our annual and quarterly reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management, with the participation of our principal executive and principal financial officers, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2016. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive and principal financial officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at a reasonable assurance level. In conducting this assessment, our management relied on similar evaluations conducted by employees of Enbridge affiliates who provide certain treasury, accounting and other services on our behalf.

INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act.

Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive and principal financial officers, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of our financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that:

Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of our assets;
Provide reasonable assurance that our transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of our financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorizations of our management and directors; and
Provide reasonable assurance that unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements is prevented or timely detected.

Our internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect all misstatements because of its inherent limitations. Additionally, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or deterioration in the degree of compliance with our policies and procedures.

Our management assessed, with the participation of our principal executive and principal financial officers, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the framework established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO. Based on this assessment, our management concluded that we maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an attestation report on our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, beginning on the second page of Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, after the table of contents.

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Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended December 31, 2016.

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

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PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

Set forth below is certain information concerning the directors and executive officers of the General Partner and of Enbridge Management as the delegate of the General Partner under a delegation of control agreement among us, the General Partner and the Partnership. All directors of the General Partner are elected annually and may be removed by Enbridge (U.S.) Inc., as the sole shareholder of the General Partner, an indirect and wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge. All directors of Enbridge Management were elected and may be removed by the General Partner, as the sole holder of Enbridge Management’s voting shares. All officers of the General Partner and Enbridge Management serve at the discretion of the boards of directors of the General Partner and Enbridge Management, respectively. All directors and officers of the General Partner hold identical positions in Enbridge Management.

   
Name   Age   Position
Jeffrey A. Connelly   70   Director and Chairman of the Board
J. Richard Bird   67   Director
J. Herbert England   70   Director
C. Gregory Harper   52   Director and Executive Vice President — Gas Pipelines & Processing
D. Guy Jarvis   53   Director and Executive Vice President — Liquids Pipelines
Mark A. Maki   52   Director and President and Principal Executive Officer
William S. Waldheim   60   Director
Dan A. Westbrook   64   Director
John K. Whelen   57   Director
Mark R. Boyce   53   Vice President — Liquids Pipelines Law and Assistant Corporate Secretary
David W. Bryson   50   Senior Vice President — Liquids Pipelines, Operations
Leo J. Golden   50   Vice President — Major Projects
Noor S. Kaissi   44   Controller
E. Chris Kaitson   60   Vice President — Law and Assistant Corporate Secretary
Stephen J. Neyland   49   Vice President — Finance
Jonathan N. Rose   49   Treasurer
Allan M. Schneider   58   Vice President, Regulated Engineering and Operations
Bradley F. Shamla   48   Vice President — Liquids Pipelines, Operations
Leon A. Zupan   61   Executive Vice President — Liquids Pipelines, Operations

DIRECTORS AND NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Jeffrey A. Connelly

Jeffrey A. Connelly was elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the Board, in July 2012 and as a director of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in January 2003. Previously, Mr. Connelly served as Chairman of the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee of the General Partner and Enbridge Management. Mr. Connelly also served as Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President and Vice President of the Coastal Corporation from 1988 to 2001.

Mr. Connelly brings significant financial experience to our Board because of his experience as the former Treasurer and other executive roles with Coastal Corporation, a former Fortune 500 Company whose principal business segments included gathering, processing, transmission, storage and distribution of natural gas; oil refining and marketing; oil exploration and production; electric power production; and coal mining. He also served as the chief executive officer for several wholly-owned Coastal subsidiaries.

J. Richard Bird

J. Richard Bird was elected a director of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in October 2012. He retired from Enbridge in early 2015, having served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Development, and various other roles, including: Executive Vice President Liquids Pipelines, Senior Vice President Corporate Planning and Development, and Vice President and Treasurer during his tenure with Enbridge which began in 1995. Mr. Bird serves on the Board of Directors or Trustees of Enbridge Pipelines Inc., Enbridge

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Income Fund Holdings Inc., Gaz Metro Inc. and Bird Construction Company Inc. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alberta Investment Management Company and chairman of its audit committee. Mr. Bird is also a member of the Investment Committee of the University of Calgary Board of Governors. He was named Canada’s CFO of the Year for 2010. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Manitoba, and a Masters of Business Administration and PhD from the University of Toronto and has completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Through his long career in the energy industry and his financial expertise, Mr. Bird provides significant experience to the Boards of the General Partner and Enbridge Management.

J. Herbert England

J. Herbert England was elected a director of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in July 2010 and was appointed as the Chairman of the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in July 2012. Mr. England also serves on the Enbridge board of directors, for whom he also is Chairman of the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee, and on the board of directors and the audit committee of FuelCell Energy, Inc. In 2013, he was appointed to the board of directors of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., general partner of Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P., for whom he also serves as Chairman of the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee. He has been Chair & Chief Executive Officer of Stahlman-England Irrigation Inc., a contracting company in southwest Florida, since 2000. From 1993 to 1997, Mr. England was the Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer of Sweet Ripe Drinks Ltd., a fruit beverage manufacturing company. Prior to 1993, Mr. England held various executive positions with John Labatt Limited, a brewing company, and its operating companies, Catelli Inc., a food manufacturing company, and Johanna Dairies Inc., a dairy company.

Mr. England brings to the Board a wide range of financial executive experience because of his previous positions, as well as his service with other public company audit committees.

C. Gregory Harper

C. Gregory Harper was appointed to the board of directors of our General Partner and the board of directors of Enbridge Management on January 30, 2014, and he was elected Executive Vice President — Gas Pipelines & Processing of each of the General Partner and Enbridge Management on April 30, 2014. Mr. Harper was also appointed to the board of directors of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C. on January 30, 2014, principal executive officer on February 28, 2014, and on December 31, 2014, he was elected as President of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., Mr. Harper also was appointed as President, Gas Pipelines and Processing for Enbridge effective January 30, 2014. He has served on the board of directors of Sprague Operating Resources L.L.C. since October 2013. Prior to joining Enbridge, Mr. Harper served as the Senior Vice President, Midstream for Southwestern Energy since 2013. Prior to joining Southwestern Energy Company, Mr. Harper served CenterPoint Energy, Inc. as Senior Vice President and Group President, Pipelines and Field Services since December 2008. Before joining CenterPoint Energy in 2008, Mr. Harper served as President, Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of Spectra Energy Partners, LP from March 2007 to December 2008. From January 2007 to March 2007, Mr. Harper was Group Vice President of Spectra Energy Corp., and he was Group Vice President of Duke Energy from January 2004 to December 2006. Mr. Harper served as Senior Vice President of Energy Marketing and Management for Duke Energy North America from January 2003 until January 2004 and Vice President of Business Development for Duke Energy Gas Transmission and Vice President of East Tennessee Natural Gas, L.L.C. from March 2002 until January 2003. He served on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America for 2013.

Mr. Harper brings to the board insight and in-depth knowledge of our industry. He also provides leadership skills, pipeline operations and management expertise and knowledge of our local community and business environment, which he has gained through his long career in the oil and gas industry.

D. Guy Jarvis

D. Guy Jarvis was appointed Executive Vice President — Liquids Pipelines and a director of the General Partner and Enbridge Management on March 1, 2014. Mr. Jarvis was appointed President of the Liquids Pipelines division of Enbridge on March 1, 2014, assuming responsibility for all of Enbridge’s crude oil and liquids pipeline businesses across North America. Prior to this, he was Chief Commercial Officer, Liquids Pipelines from October 2013 to March 2014. From September 2011 to October 2013, Mr. Jarvis served as President of Enbridge Gas Distribution, providing overall leadership to Enbridge Gas Distribution, Canada’s largest natural gas utility, as well as Enbridge Gas New Brunswick, Gazifère and St. Lawrence Gas. Previously at Enbridge Pipelines Inc.,

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Mr. Jarvis served as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Enterprise Risk; Senior Vice President, Business Development from March 2008 to October 2010; Vice President, Upstream Development for Enbridge Pipelines Inc.; and Vice President, Gas Services.

Mr. Jarvis joined Enbridge in 2000 and brings to the board over a quarter century of experience in the oil and gas business, the bulk of which relates to energy marketing and business development activities.

Mark A. Maki

Mark A. Maki was appointed President and Principal Executive Officer of the General Partner and Enbridge Management on January 30, 2014 and has served as a director of both companies since October 2010. Mr. Maki is also a director and Senior Vice President of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C. Additionally, in October 2016, Mr. Maki was elected to serve Enbridge as Senior Vice President — Finance. Previously, Mr. Maki served as President of Enbridge Management and Senior Vice President of the General Partner from October 2010 to January 2014 and he served Enbridge in the functional title of Acting President, Gas Pipelines during 2013. Mr. Maki also previously served Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C. as Principal Executive Officer until February, 2014 and previously served as Vice President — Finance of the General Partner and Enbridge Management from July 2002. Prior to that time, Mr. Maki served as Controller of the General Partner and Enbridge Management from June 2001, and prior to that, as Controller of Enbridge Pipelines from September 1999.

Mr. Maki brings over thirty years of oil and gas experience to the board having joined Enbridge in 1986 and progressing through a series of accounting and financial roles of increasing responsibility during his tenure with Enbridge in the United States and Canada. Through his broad range of domestic and Canadian experience in the pipeline industry, Mr. Maki provides our Board with financial expertise, leadership skills in our industry and knowledge of our local community and business environment.

William S. Waldheim

William S. Waldheim was elected as a director of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in February 2016 and serves on the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee of the General Partner and Enbridge Management, as well as on Special Committees of Enbridge Management. He previously served as President of DCP Midstream Partners LP where he had overall responsibility for DCP partnership affairs including commercial, trading and business development until his retirement in 2015. Prior to this, Mr. Waldheim was President of Midstream Marketing and Logistics for DCP Midstream and managed natural gas, crude oil and natural gas liquids marketing and logistics. From 2005 to 2008 he was Group Vice President of commercial for DCP Midstream, managing its upstream and downstream commercial business. Mr. Waldheim started his professional career in 1978 with Champlin Petroleum as an auditor and financial analyst and served in roles involving NGL and crude oil distribution and marketing. He served as Vice President of NGL and Crude Oil Marketing for Union Pacific Fuels from 1987 until 1998 at which time they were acquired by DCP.

Mr. Waldheim provides our Board with a broad range of industry experience through his long career in the petroleum industry, ranging from upstream, midstream and downstream and across oil and gas and liquids sectors.

Dan A. Westbrook

Dan A. Westbrook was elected a director of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in October 2007 and serves on the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee of the General Partner and Enbridge Management, as well as on Special Committees of Enbridge Management. Since 2008, he has also served on the board of the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. During 2013, Mr. Westbrook was named a director and chairman of the board of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., the general partner of Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P., and serves on their Audit Finance & Risk Committee. From 2013 to 2016, Mr. Westbrook served as a director of SandRidge Energy, Inc. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Westbrook served as president of BP China Gas, Power & Upstream and as vice-chairman of the board of directors of Dapeng LNG, a Sino joint venture between BP subsidiary CNOOC Gas & Power Ltd. and other Chinese companies. He held executive positions with BP in Argentina, Houston, Russia, Chicago and the Netherlands before retiring from the company in January 2006. He is a former director of Ivanhoe Mines, now known as Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd., an international mining company, Synenco Energy Inc., a Calgary-based oil sands company, and Knowledge Systems Inc., a privately-held U.S. company that provided software and consultant services to the oil and gas industry.

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Through his long career in the petroleum exploration and production industry, including his other public company directorships and previous service as President of BP China, Mr. Westbrook provides our Board with extensive industry experience, leadership skills, international and petroleum development experience, as well as knowledge of our business environment.

John K. Whelen

John K. Whelen was elected a director of the General Partner and Enbridge Management on October 31, 2014. Mr. Whelen also serves Enbridge as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since October 15, 2014, and as such leads the financial reporting function, and tax and treasury functions for Enbridge. Prior to this, from July 2014, to October 2014, Mr. Whelen was Senior Vice President, Finance for Enbridge and from April 2011 to July 2014 he was Senior Vice President and Controller. From September 2006 to April 2011, Mr. Whelen was Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for Enbridge. Additionally, Mr. Whelen has served as the chief financial officer, and then president of Enbridge Income Fund. Mr. Whelen joined Enbridge in 1992 as Manager of Treasury at what has become Enbridge Gas Distribution and has held a series of executive positions during his tenure with Enbridge.

Mr. Whelen brings to our Board his broad experience in capital markets as well as treasury, risk management, corporate planning and development, and financial reporting.

Stephen J. Neyland

Stephen J. Neyland was appointed Vice President — Finance of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in October 2010. Mr. Neyland also serves as Vice President — Finance of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., general partner of MEP, since its formation in May 2013. Mr. Neyland was previously Controller of the General Partner and Enbridge Management effective September 2006. Prior to these appointments, he served the General Partner as Controller — Natural Gas from January 2005, Assistant Controller from May 2004 to January 2005 and in other managerial roles in finance and accounting from December 2001 to May 2004. Prior to that time, Mr. Neyland was Controller of Koch Midstream Services from 1999 to 2001.

Bradley F. Shamla

Bradley F. Shamla was appointed Vice President — U.S. Operations, Liquids Pipelines of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in April 2013. He previously served Enbridge as Vice President, Market Development since October 2010. Mr. Shamla was previously a senior director in the Business Development Group of Enbridge since 2008 and before that he was general manager in the Liquids Pipelines Operations Group, having joined Enbridge in 1991 and worked in a number of areas, including Operations, Engineering and Administration, both in the U.S. and Canada.

OTHER EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Mark R. Boyce was appointed Vice President, Liquids Pipelines Law and Assistant Corporate Secretary of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in June 2016. Mr. Boyce also currently serves as Vice President, Liquids Pipelines — Law of several Enbridge subsidiaries. Prior to that, from May 2015 to June 2016, he was Vice President, Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer for Enbridge and from April 2012 until May 2015, he was Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer for Enbridge, responsible for the development and performance of compliance, training and ethics programs. Prior to April 2012, Mr. Boyce served Enbridge Gas Distribution (“EGD”) as Vice President, Law & Information Technology, a position he had progressed to after joining Enbridge as a corporate solicitor for the predecessor of EGD in August 1993.

David W. Bryson was appointed Senior Vice President — Liquids Pipelines, Operations of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in October 2016. Since June 2016, Mr. Bryson also serves the Liquids Pipelines Division of Enbridge as Senior Vice President, Operations, Liquids Pipelines, responsible for North American field operations across the Mainline, Gathering and Storage assets of the Liquids Pipelines Division. Prior to that, from April 2014, he was Vice President, Customer Service, Liquids Pipelines, after serving from July 2012 to April 2014 as Vice President, Asset Performance & Development and Vice President, Strategy & Integrated Services. Mr. Bryson joined Enbridge in 1994 via Enbridge Gas Distribution as a manager and progressed into the Major Projects Division in 2008, where he held various roles directing several of the major projects and programs, and progressed to the Liquids Pipelines division in 2012.

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Leo J. Golden was appointed Vice President — Major Projects of the General Partner and Enbridge Management on April 30, 2015. Since July 2014 he also serves Enbridge as a Vice President responsible for the execution of Renewables, Power and Gas Processing projects in both Canada and the U.S. From November 2011 to July 2014, Mr. Golden served Enbridge as Vice President, Major Projects Execution for certain subsidiaries. From April 2008 and November 2011, he was Vice President of Pipeline and Green Energy Projects and Vice President of the Alberta Clipper Project for certain Enbridge subsidiaries. Mr. Golden has served Enbridge in many capacities for over 25 years, having joined in September 1990. His roles have included Director and Project Director of several Enbridge projects and areas, including Alberta Clipper, Shipper Services, Oil Sands and Acquisitions, Rates Assistant, Rates Analyst, Planning Analyst, Energy Analyst, and Manager of Business Development. In 1989, prior to joining Enbridge, Mr. Golden was a policy analyst with the Vancouver Stock Exchange.

Noor S. Kaissi was appointed Controller of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in July 2013. Ms. Kaissi also serves as Controller of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., general partner of MEP. Ms. Kaissi previously served as Chief Auditor and in other managerial roles of the General Partner with responsibility for financial accounting, internal audit and controls from June 2005.

E. Chris Kaitson was appointed Vice President — Law and Assistant Secretary of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in May 2007. His title was changed to Vice President — Law and Assistant Corporate Secretary in April 2014. Mr. Kaitson also serves as Vice President — Law and Assistant Corporate Secretary of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., general partner of MEP. Prior to that, he was Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the General Partner and Enbridge Management from July 2004. He served as Corporate Secretary of the General Partner and Enbridge Management from October 2001 to July 2004. He was previously Assistant Corporate Secretary and General Counsel of Midcoast Energy Resources, Inc. from 1997 until it was acquired by Enbridge in May 2001.

Jonathan N. Rose was appointed Treasurer of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in 2014. Mr. Rose also serves as Treasurer of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., general partner of MEP. Additionally, Mr. Rose serves Enbridge in the role of Director, Treasury since 2014. Mr. Rose’s prior roles with Enbridge include Director, Business Development of Enbridge Pipelines Inc. from April 2010 to March 2014 and Treasurer of the General Partner and Enbridge Management from January 2008 to April 2010. He was previously Assistant Treasurer of the General Partner and Enbridge Management from July 2005 to January 2008. Mr. Rose was also a Director, Finance of Enbridge, a position he held from October 2007 to 2010, prior to which he was Manager, Finance from 2004 to December 2008. Prior to that Mr. Rose was a Vice President with Citigroup Global Corporate and Investment Bank from 2001 to 2004.

Allan M. Schneider was appointed Vice President, Regulated Engineering and Operations of the General Partner and Enbridge Management in October 2007. Mr. Schneider also serves as Vice President — Regulated Engineering and Operations of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C., general partner of Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P. Prior to his appointment, he served as Director of Engineering and Operations for Regulated & Offshore and Director of Engineering Services from January 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Schneider was Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Shell Gas Transmission, L.L.C. from December 2000.

Leon A. Zupan currently serves the General Partner and Enbridge Management as Executive Vice President — Liquids Pipelines, Operations since April 2014. Previously, from April 2013 to April 2014, he served as Executive Vice President. In April 2013, he resigned as a director and as Executive Vice President — Gas Pipelines of the General Partner and Enbridge Management, positions which he held since April 2012, to accept a new position with Enbridge as Chief Operating Officer of Liquids Pipelines. Prior to April 2012, he had served the General Partner and Enbridge Management as Vice President — Operations since 2004. Prior to May of 2013, he served Enbridge as Senior Vice President — Gas Pipelines, overseeing Enbridge’s U.S. and Canadian gas pipelines businesses from February 2012 to April 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Zupan had served Enbridge as Vice President — Operations since 2004. Mr. Zupan joined Enbridge in 1987 and has experience across a range of businesses.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires our directors, executive officers and 10% beneficial owners to file with the SEC reports of ownership and changes in ownership of our equity securities and to furnish us with copies of all reports filed. Based on our review of the Section 16(a) filings that have been received by us and inquiries made to our directors and executive officers, we believe that all filings required to be made under Section 16(a) during 2016 were timely made.

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GOVERNANCE MATTERS

Our Board of Directors currently does not consist of a majority of independent directors. We are a “controlled company,” as that term is used in NYSE Rule 303A, because all of our voting shares are owned by the General Partner. Because we are a controlled company, the NYSE listing standards do not require that we or the General Partner have a majority of independent directors or a nominating or compensation committee of the General Partner’s board of directors.

The NYSE listing standards require our principal executive officer to annually certify that he is not aware of any violation by the Partnership of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. Accordingly, this certification was provided as required to the NYSE on February 24, 2016.

CODE OF ETHICS, STATEMENT ON BUSINESS CONDUCT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES

We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to our senior officers, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer of Enbridge Management. We also have a Statement on Business Conduct applicable to all of our employees, officers and directors. We also have a statement of Corporate Governance Guidelines that sets forth the expectation of how our board of directors should function and its position with respect to key corporate governance issues. Copies of the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, Statement on Business Conduct, and the Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website at www.enbridgemanagement.com. A copy of the Statement on Business Conduct is also included herein as Exhibit 14.1. We post on our website any amendments to or waivers of our Code of Ethics for Senior Officers or Statement on Business Conduct or amendments to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, and we intend to satisfy any disclosure requirements that may arise under Form 8-K relating to this information through such postings. Additionally, these materials are available in print, free of charge, to any person who requests the information. Persons wishing to obtain this printed material should submit a request to Corporate Secretary, c/o Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C., 1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 3300, Houston, Texas 77002.

AUDIT, FINANCE & RISK COMMITTEE

Enbridge Management has an Audit, Finance & Risk Committee, referred to as the “Audit Committee,” comprised of three board members who are independent as the term is used in Section 10A of the Exchange Act. None of these members are relying upon any exemptions from the foregoing independence requirements. Mr. England is chairman of the Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee are Jeffrey A. Connelly, J. Herbert England and Dan A. Westbrook. Rebecca B. Roberts also was a member of the Audit Committee until her resignation as a director on March 19, 2015. The Audit Committee provides independent oversight with respect to our internal controls, accounting policies, financial reporting, internal audit function and the report of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also reviews the scope and quality, including the independence and objectivity, of the independent and internal auditors and the fees paid for both audit and non-audit work and makes recommendations concerning audit matters, including the engagement of the independent auditors, to the Board of Directors.

The charter of the Audit Committee is available on our website at www.enbridgemanagement.com. The charter of the Audit Committee complies with the listing standards of the NYSE currently applicable to us. This material is available in print, free of charge, to any person who requests the information. Persons wishing to obtain this printed material should submit a request to Corporate Secretary, c/o Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C., 1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 3300, Houston, Texas 77002.

Enbridge Management’s Board of Directors has determined that Mr. England and Mr. Connelly each qualify as “audit committee financial experts” as defined in Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K. Each of the members of the Audit Committee is independent as defined by Section 303A of the listing standards of the NYSE.

Mr. England serves on the Audit Committees of the General Partner and Enbridge Management, FuelCell Energy, Inc., Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C. and Enbridge Inc. In compliance with the provisions of the Audit Committee Charter, the boards of directors of the General Partner and of Enbridge Management and of Midcoast Holdings, L.L.C. determined that Mr. England’s simultaneous service on such audit committees does not impair his ability to effectively serve on the Audit Committee.

Enbridge Management’s Audit Committee has established procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints we receive regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submission by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters.

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Persons wishing to communicate with our Audit Committee may do so by writing to the Chairman, Audit Committee, c/o Enbridge Energy, 1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 3300, Houston, Texas 77002.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS OF NON-MANAGEMENT DIRECTORS

The independent directors of Enbridge Management meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. Jeffrey A. Connelly serves as the presiding director at those executive sessions. Persons wishing to communicate with the Company’s independent directors may do so by writing to the Chairman, Board of Directors, Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C., 1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 3300, Houston, Texas 77002.

Item 11. Executive Compensation

We do not directly employ any of the individuals responsible for managing or operating our business. We obtain managerial, administrative and operational services from the General Partner and Enbridge pursuant to service agreements among us, the General Partner and other affiliates of Enbridge. Pursuant to these service agreements, the Partnership has agreed to reimburse the General Partner and affiliates of Enbridge for the cost of managerial, administrative, operational and director services they provide to us.

The discussion of executive compensation for the Partnership is found in Part III, Item 11. Executive Compensation of the Partnership’s 10-K, which is hereby incorporated by reference as the Partnership reimburses a portion of the compensation of our directors and officers for the services they provide to us, the General Partner and the Partnership.

The compensation policies and philosophy of Enbridge govern the types and amount of compensation of the Named Executive Officers, or NEOs. Since these policies and philosophy are those of Enbridge, we also refer you to a discussion of those items as set forth in the Executive Compensation section of the Enbridge “Management Information Circular,” or MIC, on the Enbridge website at www.enbridge.com. The Enbridge MIC is produced by Enbridge pursuant to Canadian securities regulations and is not incorporated into this document by reference or deemed furnished or filed by us under the Exchange Act; rather the reference is to provide our investors with an understanding of the compensation policies and philosophy of the ultimate parent of the General Partner.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Shareholder Matters

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The following table sets forth information as of February 16, 2017, unless otherwise noted, with respect to persons known by Enbridge Management to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of our Listed Shares:

   
  Listed Shares(1)
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner   Number of
shares
  Percent of
Class
Enbridge Energy Company, Inc.(1)(2)
1100 Louisiana St., Suite 3300
Houston, TX 77002
    9,814,885       11.7  
Energy Income Partners, LLC(3)
10 Wright Street
Westport, CT 06880
    8,933,822       10.6  
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P.(4)
1800 Avenue of Stars, Third Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
    8,336,082       9.9  
Advisory Research Inc.(5)
180 N. Stetson Ave., Suite 5500
Chicago, IL 60601
    6,701,983       8.0  
First Trust Portfolios L. P. and First Trust Advisors L.P.(6)
120 East Liberty Drive, Suite 400
Wheaton, Illinois 60187
    7,192,152       8.6  
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc.(7)
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
    5,421,624       6.5  
Salient Capital Advisors, LLC(8)
4265 San Felipe, 8th Floor
Houston, TX 77027
    5,233,183       6.2  

(1) As of February 14, 2017, there were 83,983,811 Listed Shares issued and outstanding. In all cases we will vote, or refrain from voting, the Partnership’s i-units that we own in the manner that the owners of our shares, including our voting shares, vote, or refrain from voting, their

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shares through the provisions in the Partnership Agreement and our limited liability company agreement. The number of our outstanding shares and the number of the Partnership’s i-units will at all times be equal.
(2) The General Partner also owns 6.33, or 100%, of our voting shares, which are not Listed Shares.
(3) Energy Income Partners, LLC, James J. Murchie, Eva Pao, Linda A. Longville, Saul Ballesteros and John Tysseland jointly reported in their Schedule 13G, filed February 14, 2017, that: (a) they each have shared voting power and shared dispositive power of 8,933,822 of our Listed Shares; (b) Energy Income Partners, LLC serves as a sub-adviser to certain registered investment companies advised by First Trust Advisors LP (“Sub Advised Funds”); (c) as of December 31, 2016 the Sub Advised Funds owned 9.9% of our Listed Shares; (d) James J. Murchie, Eva Pao and John Tysseland are the portfolio managers with respect to portfolios managed by Energy Income Partners, LLC; and (e) Linda A. Longville and Saul Ballesteros are control persons of Energy Income Partners, LLC.
(4) Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. and Richard A. Kayne reported shared voting power and shared dispositive power of 8,336,082 shares in its amendment to its Schedule 13G, filed January 10, 2017. Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares reported, except those attributable to it by virtue of its general partner interests in the limited partnerships. Mr. Kayne disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares reported, except those held by him or attributable to him by virtue of his limited partnership interests in the limited partnerships, his indirect interest in the interest of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. in the limited partnerships and his ownership of common stock of the registered investment company.
(5) Advisory Research Inc. reported shared voting power as to 6,683,456 shares and shared dispositive power as to 6,701,983 in its Schedule 13G, filed February 13, 2017.
(6) On its joint Schedule 13G, filed January 19, 2017, First Trust Portfolios L.P. and First Trust Advisors L. P., foregoing, The Charger Corporation, reported shared voting and shared dispositive power as to the 7,192,152 shares by First Trust Advisors L.P. and The Charger Corporation. First Trust Portfolio L.P. sponsors unit investment trusts which hold the Listed Shares; First Trust Advisors L.P. acts as portfolio supervisor of the unit investment trusts. The foregoing entities disclaim having the power to vote such listed shares as they are voted by the trustee of such unit investment trusts.
(7) Morgan Stanley Investment Management Inc. reported shared voting power as to 5,215,107 shares and shared dispositive power as to 5,421,624 in its Schedule 13G, filed February 10, 2017.
(8) Salient Capital Advisors LLC reported shared voting power as to 5,233,183 shares and shared dispositive power as to 5,233,183 in its Schedule 13G, filed January 26, 2017.

We do not have any shares that have been approved for issuance under an equity compensation plan.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTORS

The following table sets forth information as of February 16, 2017 with respect to our Listed Shares and each class of the Partnership’s units beneficially owned by the Named Executive Officers, or NEOs, all directors and all executive officers of the General Partner and Enbridge Management as a group:

           
  Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.   Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.
Name   Title of Class   Number of
Shares(1)
  Percent of
Class
  Title of Class   Amount and
Nature of
Beneficial
Ownership(1)
  Percent of
Class
Jeffrey A. Connelly(2)     Listed Shares                 Class A common units       20,000      
J. Richard Bird(3)     Listed Shares       115,653           Class A common units            
J. Herbert England     Listed Shares                 Class A common units       8,626      
C. Gregory Harper     Listed Shares                 Class A common units            
D. Guy Jarvis     Listed Shares                 Class A common units            
Mark A. Maki     Listed Shares       7,149           Class A common units       4,000      
William S. Waldheim(4)     Listed Shares                      Class A common units       6,000      
Dan A. Westbrook(5)     Listed Shares                 Class A common units       23,000      
John K. Whelen     Listed Shares                 Class A common units            
Stephen J. Neyland(6)(7)     Listed Shares       10,548           Class A common units       1,200      
Bradley F. Shamla     Listed Shares                 Class A common units            
All executive officers, directors and nominees as a group (19 persons)     Listed Shares       133,350           Class A common units       62,826      

* Less than 1%.
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, each beneficial owner has sole voting and investment power with respect to all of the Class A common units or Listed Shares attributed to him or her.
(2) Of the 20,000 Class A common units deemed beneficially owned by Mr. Connelly, 20,000 Class A common units are held in the Susan K. Connelly Family Trust, of which Mr. Connelly is the trustee and a beneficiary.
(3) The 115,653 Listed Shares owned by Mr. Bird are held by an investment holding corporation over which he exercises full control and direction.
(4) The 6,000 Class A common units beneficially held by Mr. Waldheim are held in the Waldheim Family Trust.
(5) Of the 23,000 Class A common units deemed beneficially owned by Mr. Westbrook, 16,000 Class A common units are held by The Westbrook Trust, for which Mr. Westbrook is the trustee and beneficiary, and 7,000 Class A common units are held by the Mary Ruth Westbrook Trust, for which Mr. Westbrook is the sole trustee and beneficiary.
(6) The 10,548 Listed shares beneficially owned by Mr. Neyland are held in a Family Trust for which Mr. Neyland is a co-trustee as well as a beneficiary.
(7) The 1,200 Class A common units beneficially owned by Mr. Neyland are held in a Family Trust for which Mr. Neyland is a co-trustee as well as a beneficiary.

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Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS AND RELATED AGREEMENTS

Under the delegation of control agreement, the General Partner delegated, and we assumed, all of the General Partner’s power and authority to manage the business and affairs of the Partnership and its subsidiaries subject to certain approval rights retained by the General Partner.

The Partnership has agreed to reimburse us under the delegation of control agreement for any direct and indirect expenses we incur to the same extent as it does with respect to the General Partner as general partner. In addition, the Partnership will reimburse us for any Texas franchise taxes and any other foreign, state and local taxes not otherwise paid or reimbursed pursuant to the tax indemnification agreement between Enbridge and us. The Partnership has also agreed to indemnify and protect us and our respective officers and directors in performing these management and control functions to the same extent as it does with respect to the General Partner as general partner.

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, all expenses in connection with our management of the business and affairs of the Partnership were paid by the Partnership.

Because we do not have employees, we have entered into various service agreements with Enbridge and certain of its subsidiaries to fulfill our obligations under the delegation of control agreement and the agency agreement. These service agreements allow us to obtain from Enbridge and its subsidiaries various administrative, operational, technical and professional services and the use of related personnel. The Partnership directly reimburses Enbridge and its subsidiaries for the actual amount of direct and indirect expenses they incur and payments they make on our behalf in connection with the services and personnel provided to us. In other cases, Enbridge allocates to its affiliates an agreed percentage of the total expenses with respect to a particular type of service provided by Enbridge to all of its affiliates and us. In either case, the Partnership pays directly or reimburses us for any amounts that we incur under the service agreements. The service agreements also provide that Enbridge and its affiliates will indemnify us for certain losses and defend us against certain claims in connection with providing or failing to provide the agreed services. Similarly, we have agreed to indemnify Enbridge and its affiliates for certain losses and defend them against certain claims as a result of their provision of the agreed services.

For the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, expenses for services and personnel provided under the services agreements were paid by the Partnership.

SUPPORTIVE ARRANGEMENTS WITH ENBRIDGE

In connection with our initial public offering in October 2002, we entered into a tax indemnification agreement and purchase provisions with Enbridge. Under the tax indemnification agreement, Enbridge has agreed to indemnify us for any tax liability attributable to our formation, our management of the business and affairs of the Partnership and for any taxes arising out of a transaction involving the i-units we own to the extent the transaction does not generate cash sufficient to pay our taxes with respect to such transaction. Under the purchase provisions, Enbridge has the right to purchase our outstanding Listed Shares in connection with certain significant events involving the Partnership and also whenever Enbridge owns more than 80% of our outstanding Listed Shares.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FIDUCIARY DUTIES

Conflicts of interest may arise because of the relationship among Enbridge, the General Partner, the Partnership and us. Our directors and officers have fiduciary duties to manage our business in a manner beneficial to us and to the holders of our shares. However, these fiduciary duties have been modified pursuant to the terms of our limited liability company agreement. Some of our directors and officers are also directors and officers of Enbridge and the General Partner and have fiduciary duties to manage the business of Enbridge or the General Partner and the Partnership in a manner beneficial to Enbridge and its shareholders or the General Partner, the Partnership and their respective shareholders or unitholders, as the case may be. Furthermore, through its ownership of our voting shares, the General Partner has the sole power to elect all of our directors. The resolution of these conflicts of interest may not always be in our best interest or in the best interest of our shareholders.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP AND DISTRIBUTIONS

In connection with our formation on May 14, 2002, we issued the General Partner one voting share in consideration of the General Partner’s initial contribution to us. In connection with our initial public offering on October 17, 2002, the General Partner acquired 1,550,000 of our Listed Shares at a price of $39.00 per share. We

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make quarterly share distributions pursuant to the provisions of our limited liability company agreement as described in Part II, Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters of this Annual Report. At February 16, 2017, the General Partner owned approximately 9,814,885, or approximately 11.7%, of our Listed Shares and 6.33, or 100%, of our voting shares.

At February 16, 2017, we owned 83,983,817 i-units, representing all of the outstanding i-units and an approximate 16.9% limited partner interest in the Partnership. For further discussion of ownership and distributions as they pertain to the Partnership, refer to Part III, Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence of the Partnership’s 10-K, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

OTHER RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS OF THE PARTNERSHIP

For a discussion of other relationships and related transactions as they pertain to the Partnership, refer to Part III, Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence of the Partnership’s 10-K, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

For a discussion of director independence, see Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The following table sets forth the aggregate fees billed for professional services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Enbridge Management’s principal independent auditors, for each of our last two fiscal years.

   
  For the year ended December 31,
     2016   2015
Audit Fees(1)   $ 89,000     $ 89,000  
Total   $ 89,000     $ 89,000  

(1) Audit fees consist of fees billed for professional services rendered for the audit of the financial statements and review of the interim financial statements.

Engagements for services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are subject to pre-approval by the Audit Committee of our board of directors; however services up to $50,000 may be approved by the Chairman of the Audit Committee, under authority of our Board of Directors. All services in 2016 and 2015 were approved by the Audit Committee.

All fees, including the amounts shown above, that are billed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for services rendered are paid by the Partnership on behalf of Enbridge Management.

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

(1) Financial Statements.

See the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this annual report.

(2) Financial Statement Schedules.

All schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable, any required information is shown in the Financial Statements or Notes thereto or the required information is immaterial.

(3) Exhibits.

Reference is made to the “Index of Exhibits” following the signature page, which is hereby incorporated into this Item.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 
  Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.
(Registrant)
Date: February 16, 2017  

By:

/s/ Mark A. Maki

Mark A. Maki
President and Principal Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on February 16, 2017 by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated.

 
/s/ Mark A. Maki

Mark A. Maki
President, Principal Executive Officer and
Director
  /s/ C. Gregory Harper

C. Gregory Harper
Executive Vice President — Gas Pipelines & Processing and Director
/s/ D. Guy Jarvis

D. Guy Jarvis
Executive Vice President — Liquids Pipelines and
Director
  /s/ Stephen J. Neyland

Stephen J. Neyland
Vice President — Finance
(Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Noor S. Kaissi

Noor S. Kaissi
Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)
  /s/ J. Richard Bird

J. Richard Bird
Director
/s/ Jeffrey A. Connelly

Jeffrey A. Connelly
Director
  /s/ J. Herbert England

J. Herbert England
Director
/s/ Dan A. Westbrook

Dan A. Westbrook
Director
  /s/ John K. Whelen

John K. Whelen
Director
/s/ William S. Waldheim

William S. Waldheim
Director
    

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Each exhibit identified below is filed as a part of this annual report. Exhibits included in this filing are designated by an asterisk (“*”); all exhibits not so designated are incorporated by reference to a prior filing as indicated. Exhibits designated with a “+” constitute a management contract or compensatory plan arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this report pursuant to Item 15(c) of Form 10-K.

 
Exhibit
Number
  Description
 3.1   Certificate of Formation of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Enbridge Management’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 31, 2002).
 3.2   Amendment to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Enbridge Management’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2007).
 3.3   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (including Purchase Provisions adopted by Enbridge) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Enbridge Management’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed on December 20, 2012).
 3.4   Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Enbridge Management’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 30, 2015).
10.1   Tax Indemnification Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Enbridge Management’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 25, 2002).
10.2   Delegation of Control Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Enbridge Management’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 25, 2002).
10.3   First Amending Agreement to the Delegation of Control Agreement dated October 17, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Enbridge Management’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 5, 2005).
10.4   Amended and Restated Treasury Services Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Enbridge Management’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 25, 2002).
10.5   Operational Services Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Enbridge Management’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 25, 2002).
10.6   General and Administrative Services Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Enbridge Management’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 25, 2002).
10.7   Form of Indemnification Agreement, and Schedule of Omitted Agreements (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed July 30, 2013).
10.8   Form of Indemnification Agreement by Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of to the Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed on October 30, 2015).
10.9   Form of Guarantee, and Schedule of Omitted Agreements (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Partnership’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed July 30, 2013).
 +10.10     Executive Employment Agreement between Stephen J. Wuori and Enbridge Inc. dated April 14, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 of the Partnership’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2008).
 +10.11     Executive Employment Agreement between E. Chris Kaitson, as Executive, and Enbridge Inc., as Corporation dated May 11, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 of the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2003).
 +10.12     Executive Employment Agreement between Leon Zupan, as Executive, and Enbridge Inc., dated December 6, 2012, effective August 1, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 14, 2013).

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Exhibit
Number
  Description
+10.13    Executive Employment Agreement, entered into February 11, 2014, between C. Gregory Harper, the Executive, and Enbridge Employee Services, Inc., effective January 30, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 of the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 18, 2014).
+10.14    Executive Employment Agreement, entered into March 14, 2014, between D. Guy Jarvis, the Executive, and Enbridge Inc., effective March 1, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of our Amended Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 18, 2014).
14.1    Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 of Enbridge Management’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2004).
*31.1     Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*31.2     Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*32.1     Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
*32.2     Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 99.1     Charter for the Audit, Finance & Risk Committee of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 of Enbridge Management’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 25, 2005).
*99.2     Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.
*101.INS   XBRL Instance Document.
*101.SCH   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
*101.CAL   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
*101.DEF   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
*101.LAB   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.
*101.PRE   XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

Copies of Exhibits may be obtained upon written request of any shareholder to Investor Relations, Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C., 1100 Louisiana Street, Suite 3300, Houston, Texas 77002.

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Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Mark A. Maki, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
Date: February 16, 2017  

By:

/s/ Mark A. Maki

Mark A. Maki
President and Principal Executive Officer


 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Stephen J. Neyland, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.;
2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 
Date: February 16, 2017  

By:

/s/ Stephen J. Neyland

Stephen J. Neyland
Vice President — Finance
(Principal Financial Officer)


 
 

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Exhibit 32.1

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Pursuant to Section 906(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code

The undersigned, being the Principal Executive Officer of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (the “Company”), hereby certifies that the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Annual Report”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)), as amended, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained in the Annual Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 
Date: February 16, 2017  

By:

/s/ Mark A. Maki

Mark A. Maki
President and Principal Executive Officer


 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Exhibit 32.2

CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
Pursuant to Section 906(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code

The undersigned, being the Principal Financial Officer of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (the “Company”), hereby certifies that the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (the “Annual Report”), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m(a) or 78o(d)), as amended, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and that the information contained in the Annual Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 
Date: February 16, 2017  

By:

/s/ Stephen J. Neyland

Stephen J. Neyland
Vice President — Finance
(Principal Financial Officer)