Form S-3
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 2015

Registration No. 333-          

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP

Boardwalk Pipelines, LP

(Exact name of registrants as specified in their charter)

 

 

Delaware

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

20-3265614

20-3265614

(I.R.S Employer Identification Number)

9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2800

Houston, Texas 77046

(866) 913-2122

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants’ principal executive offices)

 

 

 

Michael E. McMahon

9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2800

Houston, Texas 77046

(866) 913-2122

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

with a copy to:

E. Ramey Layne

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 758-4629

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement as determined by market conditions and other factors.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

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.

 

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

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of
Securities To Be Registered
 

Proposed

Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price
of All Securities

to be Registered(3)

  Amount of
Registration Fee(6)

 

Common Units

       

Preferred Units

       

Partnership Securities

       

Warrants

       

Rights

       

Debt Securities(1)

       

Guarantees of Debt Securities(2)

       

Total

  $1,000,000,000(4)(5)   $100,700

 

 

 

(1) If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $1,000,000,000, less the dollar amount of any registered securities previously issued hereunder.
(2) Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP may guarantee the obligations of Boardwalk Pipelines, LP under some or all of the debt securities. No separate consideration will be paid in respect of any such guarantees. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) of the Securities Act, no separate fee will be payable with respect to the guarantees of the debt securities.
(3) The amount to be registered, proposed maximum offering price per unit, and proposed maximum aggregate offering price for each class of securities to be registered is not specified pursuant to General Instruction, II.D. of Form S-3.
(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o). In no event will the aggregate initial offering price of all securities offered from time to time pursuant to the prospectus included as a part of this Registration Statement exceed $1,000,000,000. To the extent applicable, the aggregate amount of common units registered is further limited to that which is permissible under Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
(5) There are being registered hereunder a presently indeterminate number of common units, preferred units and partnership securities, an indeterminate principal amount of debt securities and an indeterminate amount of warrants and rights to purchase common units, preferred units, partnership securities and debt securities. This registration statement also covers an indeterminate amount of securities as may be issued in exchange for, or upon conversion or exercise of, as the case may be, the securities registered hereunder. The common units, preferred units and other partnership securities consist of units of partnership interest.
(6) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o).

 

 

The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated December 18, 2015.

PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests

Preferred Units Representing Limited Partner Interests

Partnership Securities

Warrants

Rights

 

 

Boardwalk Pipelines, LP

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed by

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP

 

 

We may, in one or more offerings and in one or more series, offer and sell, (i) common units representing limited partner interests in Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (“common units”), (ii) preferred units representing limited partner interest in Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (“preferred units”), (iii) partnership securities representing limited partner interests in Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP (“partnership securities”), (iv) warrants to purchase common units, preferred units or partnership securities and (v) rights to purchase common units, preferred units or partnership securities, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of our offerings.

Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, may, in one or more offerings and in one or more series, offer and sell (i) its debt securities, which may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by us, and may also be guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries, (ii) warrants to purchase its debt securities and (iii) rights to purchase its debt securities, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of our offerings. We will provide information in the related prospectus supplement for the trading market, if any, for any debt securities Boardwalk Pipelines, LP may offer.

We may offer the securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of the offer. This prospectus describes only the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer the securities. The specific terms of any securities that we offer will, if not included in this prospectus or information incorporated by reference herein, be included in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities, and also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. We may sell these securities through underwriters on a firm commitment basis. The names of any underwriters and the specific terms of a plan of distribution will be stated in a supplement to this prospectus.

You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein carefully before you invest in any of our securities. You should also read the documents we have referred you to in the “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information We Incorporate by Reference” sections of this prospectus for information about us, including our financial statements. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of our securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Limited partnerships are inherently different from corporations. You should carefully consider each of the factors referred to under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus and contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein before you make an investment in our securities.

 

 

In order to comply with applicable Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) rate-making policies, we require an owner of our units to be an Eligible Holder. Eligible Holders are individuals or entities whose U.S. federal income tax status (or lack thereof) has not or is not reasonably likely to have, as determined by our general partner, a material adverse effect on the rates that can be charged to our customers with respect to assets that are subject to regulation by FERC or similar regulatory body. If you are not an Eligible Holder, you will not be entitled to receive distributions or allocations of income or loss on your units and your units will be subject to redemption.

Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “BWP.”

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS                 , 2015.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1   

ABOUT BOARDWALK PIPELINE PARTNERS, LP

     1   

ABOUT BOARDWALK PIPELINES, LP

     1   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     1   

INFORMATION WE INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE

     2   

RISK FACTORS

     3   

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED RISKS

     4   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     6   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     7   

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS AND PREFERRED UNITS

     8   

HOW WE MAKE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS

     11   

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FIDUCIARY DUTIES

     19   

THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

     26   

DESCRIPTION OF PARTNERSHIP SECURITIES

     39   

DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS

     40   

DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTS

     41   

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     42   

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     53   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     67   

LEGAL MATTERS

     69   

EXPERTS

     69   

In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to give you different information. We are not offering these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents. We will disclose any material changes in our affairs in an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement or a future filing with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, in one or more offerings, up to $1,000,000,000 of the securities described in this prospectus. Each time we offer securities with this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe, among other things, the specific amounts, types and prices of the securities being offered and the terms of the offering. Any prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in or incorporate by reference in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in a prospectus supplement. Therefore, you should read this prospectus (including any documents incorporated by reference) and any attached prospectus supplement before you invest in our securities.

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Boardwalk,” “we,” “our,” “us” or similar terms refer to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP and, unless the context indicates otherwise, its subsidiaries. References in this prospectus to our “general partner” refer to Boardwalk GP, LP and/or Boardwalk GP, LLC, the general partner of Boardwalk GP, LP, as appropriate. References to “Loews” refer to Loews Corporation, the ultimate parent company of our general partner.

The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any other date. You should read carefully this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information We Incorporate by Reference.”

ABOUT BOARDWALK PIPELINE PARTNERS, LP

We are a limited partnership operating in the midstream portion of the natural gas and natural gas liquids industry, providing transportation, storage, gathering and processing services for those commodities.

Our principal executive offices are located at 9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2800, Houston, Texas, 77046, and our phone number is (866) 913-2122. Our website is located at http://www.bwpmlp.com. We make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus unless specifically so designated and filed with the SEC.

ABOUT BOARDWALK PIPELINES, LP

Boardwalk Pipelines, LP is our wholly-owned subsidiary. We have no operations other than through Boardwalk Pipelines, LP.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act that registers the offer and sale of the securities covered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.

We file annual, quarterly and other reports and information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Room 1580,

 

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Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on their public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You can also obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, or on our website at www.bwpmlp.com. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus unless specifically so designated and filed with the SEC.

INFORMATION WE INCORPORATE BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously deemed to be “filed” with the SEC.

The documents listed below and any future filings made by Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (excluding those furnished to the SEC on Form 8-K), including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, until the termination of each offering under this prospectus.

 

    Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014;

 

    Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015;

 

    Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 9, 2015, March 12, 2015, May 26, 2015 and August 3, 2015 (in each case, to the extent filed and not furnished); and

 

    The description of our common units contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed November 4, 2005, and any subsequently filed amendments and reports updating such description.

You may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address:

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP

Attn: Investor Relations

9 Greenway Plaza, Suite 2800

Houston, Texas 77046

(866) 913-2122

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than its respective date.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in the securities involves a significant degree of risk. Before you invest in the securities you should carefully consider those risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other subsequent filings to the extent applicable, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and those risk factors that may be included in any applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference in evaluating an investment in the securities.

If any of the risks discussed in the foregoing documents were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In that case, we may be unable to pay distributions to our unitholders, or pay interest on, or the principal of, any debt securities. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED RISKS

Some of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement delivered with this prospectus, as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements made by our officials and our subsidiaries during presentations about us, may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. In addition, any statement made by our management concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions by our partnership or its subsidiaries, are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and their potential impact on us. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there is no assurance that future events affecting us will be those that we anticipate. All forward-looking statements are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. These risks and uncertainties include, among others:

 

    our recently announced growth projects are supported by foundation shippers, many of which are major integrated oil companies. The recent decrease in oil and natural gas prices could impact the foundation shippers ability to obtain credit support in the future and cause our counterparty credit risk to increase;
    we may not complete projects, including growth projects, that we have commenced or will commence, or we may complete projects on materially different terms, cost or timing than anticipated and we may not be able to achieve the intended economic or operational benefits of any such projects, if completed;

 

    the successful negotiation, consummation and completion of contemplated transactions, projects and agreements, including obtaining all necessary regulatory and customer approvals and land owner opposition, or the timing, cost, scope, financial performance and execution of our recent, current and future acquisitions and growth projects;

 

    our ability to maintain or replace expiring gas transportation and storage contracts, to contract and physically make our systems bi-directional, and to sell short-term capacity on our pipelines;

 

    the costs of maintaining and ensuring the integrity and reliability of our pipeline systems, the need to remove pipeline and other assets from service as a result of such activities, and the timing and financial impacts of returning any such assets to service;

 

    the impact of changes to laws and regulations, such as the proposed greenhouse gas and methane legislation and other changes in environmental legislations, the pipeline safety bill, and regulatory changes that result from that legislation applicable to interstate pipelines, on our business, including our costs, liabilities and revenues;

 

    our ability to access the banking and capital markets on acceptable terms to refinance our outstanding indebtedness and to fund our capital and growth needs, including through the issuance of our common units;

 

    the impact to our business of continuing to make distributions on our common units to our unitholders at our current distribution rate;

 

    the ability of our customers to pay for our services, including the ability of any foundation shippers on our growth projects to provide required credit support or otherwise comply with the terms of precedent agreements;

 

    the impact of new pipelines or new gas supply sources on competition and basis spreads on our pipeline systems;

 

    volatility or disruptions in the capital or financial markets;

 

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    the impact of FERC’s rate-making policies and decisions on the services we offer, the rates we are proposing to charge or are charging and our ability to recover the full cost of operating our pipeline, including earning a reasonable return on equity;

 

    the success of our strategy to grow and diversify our business, including expansion into new product lines and geographic areas, especially in light of the recently depressed price levels of oil and natural gas prices which can influence the associated production of these commodities;

 

    the impact on our system throughput and revenues from changes in the supply of and demand for natural gas, including as a result of commodity price changes;

 

    operational hazards, litigation and unforeseen interruptions for which we may not have adequate or appropriate insurance coverage;

 

    the future cost of insuring our assets;

 

    our ability to access new sources of natural gas and the impact on us of any future decreases in supplies of natural gas in our supply areas; and

 

    the additional risks and uncertainties as described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of the master partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Developments in any of these areas could cause our results to differ materially from results that have been or may be anticipated or projected. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein, including those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and, to the extent applicable, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, other subsequent filings and any prospectus supplement. The risk factors and other factors noted in this prospectus, incorporated by reference herein or in any prospectus supplement delivered with this prospectus, as well as some statements in periodic press releases and some oral statements made by our officials and our subsidiaries during presentations about us, could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus or, in the case of forward-looking statements contained in any document incorporated by reference, the date of such document, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these statements to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of consolidated earnings to fixed charges for the periods presented:

 

     Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP  
     Nine Months Ended
September 30,
     Year Ended December 31,  
             2015                      2014              2014      2013      2012      2011      2010  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     2.12x         2.53x         2.34x         2.43x         2.71x         2.22x         2.80x   

For purposes of calculating the ratio of consolidated earnings to fixed charges:

 

    “earnings” is the aggregate of the following items: pre-tax income from continuing operations before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees; plus fixed charges; plus amortization of capitalized interest; less capitalized interest; and less noncontrolling interest in pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges; and

 

    “fixed charges” means the sum of the following: interest expensed and capitalized; amortized premiums, discounts and capitalized expenses related to indebtedness; and an estimate of the interest within rental expense. Fixed charges are not reduced by any allowance for funds used during construction.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds (after the payment of offering expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions) we receive from the sale of the securities covered by this prospectus for general partnership purposes, including repayment of debt, acquisitions, capital expenditures and additions to working capital.

The actual application of proceeds we receive from any particular offering of securities using this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS AND PREFERRED UNITS

General

The common units represent limited partner interests in us that entitle the holders to participate in partnership distributions and to exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the relative rights and preferences of our common units, incentive distribution rights and general partner interest in and to partnership distributions, please read this section and “How We Make Cash Distributions.” For a description of the rights and privileges of limited partners under our partnership agreement, including voting rights, please read “The Partnership Agreement.”

Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “BWP.”

Restrictions on Ownership of Common Units

In order to comply with certain FERC rate-making policies applicable to entities like us that pass their taxable income through to their owners, we have adopted requirements regarding who can be our owners. Our partnership agreement requires that a transferee of common units, including underwriters and those who purchase common units from underwriters, properly complete and deliver to us a transfer application containing a certification that such transferee is not a Non-Eligible Holder (as defined in our partnership agreement, as amended) as of the date of such transfer application. In addition, our general partner may require any owner of our units to recertify its status as being subject to United States federal income taxation on the income generated by us. The form or forms used for any such recertification will be specified by our general partner and may be changed in any manner our general partner determines necessary or appropriate. If a transferee or other unitholder does not properly complete the transfer application or recertification, for any reason, the transferee or other unitholder will have no right to receive any distributions or allocations of income or loss on its common units or to vote its units on any matter and we will have the right to redeem such units at a price equal to the lower of the transferee’s purchase price or the then-current market price of such units, calculated in accordance with a formula specified in our partnership agreement. The redemption price will be paid in cash or by delivery of a promissory note, as determined by our general partner. See “—Transfer of Common Units” and “The Partnership Agreement—Non-Taxpaying Assignees; Redemption.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Duties

American Stock Transfer and Trust Company serves as transfer agent and registrar for the common units. We pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units, except the following that must be paid by unitholders:

 

    surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, or to cover taxes and other governmental charges in connection therewith;

 

    special charges for services requested by a holder of a common unit; and

 

    other similar fees or charges.

There is no charge to unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their respective stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.

 

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Resignation or Removal

The transfer agent may resign, by notice to us, or be removed by us. The resignation or removal of the transfer agent will become effective upon our appointment of a successor transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If no successor has been appointed and has accepted the appointment within 30 days after notice of the resignation or removal, our general partner may act as the transfer agent and registrar until a successor is appointed.

Transfer of Common Units

Our partnership agreement requires that persons who purchase common units directly from the underwriters or directly from us properly complete, execute and deliver a transfer application. Any later transfers of a common unit might not be recorded by the transfer agent or recognized by us unless the transferee executes and delivers a properly completed transfer application. By executing and delivering a transfer application, the transferee of common units:

 

    becomes the record holder of the common units and is an assignee until admitted into our partnership as a substituted limited partner;

 

    automatically requests admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership;

 

    executes and agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of our partnership agreement;

 

    represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into our partnership agreement;

 

    grants powers of attorney to the officers of our general partner and any liquidator of us as specified in our partnership agreement;

 

    gives the consents, covenants, representations and approvals contained in our partnership agreement; and

 

    certifies that such transferee is not a Non-Eligible Holder (as defined in our partnership agreement, as amended) as of the date of such transfer application.

An assignee will become a substituted limited partner of our partnership for the transferred common units automatically upon the recording of the transfer on our books and records. Our general partner will cause any unrecorded transfers for which a properly completed and duly executed transfer application has been received to be recorded on our books and records no less frequently than quarterly.

A transferee’s broker, agent or nominee may, but is not obligated to, complete, execute and deliver a transfer application. We are entitled to treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holder’s rights are limited solely to those that it has against the nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.

Common units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to request admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common units. A purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a properly completed transfer application obtains only:

 

    the right to assign the common unit to a purchaser or other transferee; and

 

    the right to transfer the right to seek admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common units.

 

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Thus, a purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a properly completed transfer application:

 

    will not be entitled to receive cash distributions;

 

    will not be entitled to be allocated any of our income, gain, deduction, losses or credits for federal income tax or other tax purposes;

 

    may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units; and

 

    will have no voting rights;

unless the common units are held in a nominee or “street name” account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application and certification as to itself and any beneficial holders.

The transferor of common units has a duty to provide the transferee with all information that may be necessary to transfer the common units. The transferor does not have a duty to ensure the execution of the transfer application by the transferee and has no liability or responsibility if the transferee neglects or chooses not to execute and deliver a properly completed transfer application to the transfer agent. Please read “The Partnership Agreement—Status as Limited Partner or Assignee.”

Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.

The Preferred Units

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner interests and other equity securities for the consideration and with the designations, preferences, rights, powers and duties established by our general partner without the approval of any of our limited partners. In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may issue additional partnership interests that have special voting rights to which our common units are not entitled. As of the date of this prospectus, we have no preferred units outstanding.

Should we offer preferred units under this prospectus, a prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of preferred units offered will include the specific terms of those preferred units, including, among other things, the following:

 

    the designation, stated value, and liquidation preference of the preferred units and the number of preferred units offered;

 

    the initial public offering price at which the preferred units will be issued;

 

    the conversion or exchange provisions of the preferred units;

 

    any redemption or sinking fund provisions of the preferred units;

 

    the distribution rights of the preferred units, if any;

 

    a discussion of any additional material federal income tax considerations regarding the preferred units; and

 

    any additional rights, preferences, privileges, limitations, and restrictions of the preferred units.

 

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HOW WE MAKE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS

General

Rationale for our Cash Distribution Policy

Our cash distribution policy reflects a basic judgment that our unitholders will be better served by our distributing our available cash surplus rather than our retaining it. Our available cash includes cash generated from the operation of our assets and business as described elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein. Our cash distribution policy is consistent with the terms of our partnership agreement which require us to distribute available cash to unitholders on a quarterly basis.

Limitations on Our Ability to Make Quarterly Distributions

Our ability to make distributions to our unitholders depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us. The ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us may be restricted by, among other things, the provisions of existing and future indebtedness, applicable state partnership and limited liability company laws and other laws and regulations, including the effect of FERC policies on our regulated pipelines.

There is no guarantee that unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us. Our distribution policy may be changed at any time and is subject to certain restrictions, including:

 

    Other than the obligation under our partnership agreement to distribute available cash on a quarterly basis, which is subject to our general partner’s broad discretion to establish reserves and other limitations, our unitholders have no contractual or other legal right to receive distributions.

 

    Our general partner has broad discretion to establish reserves for the proper conduct of our business and the establishment of those reserves could result in a reduction of our distributions.

 

    Our pipeline subsidiaries are regulated by FERC, which places restrictions on various types of cash management programs employed by companies in the energy industry, including our regulated subsidiaries. FERC may preclude or limit natural gas companies from participating in such cash management programs unless the parent company and its FERC-regulated affiliates maintain investment-grade credit ratings. If we and our FERC-regulated pipelines do not maintain an investment-grade credit rating, then our regulated subsidiaries could be precluded from making cash distributions to us, which would have an adverse effect on our ability to make distributions to unitholders.

 

    Our credit agreement requires us, generally, to maintain a ratio of Consolidated Total Debt (as defined in our credit agreement) to Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in our credit agreement) of no more than 5.00 to 1.00, or up to 5.50 to 1.00 for the three quarters following the quarter of an acquisition. In addition, a default by us on the payment of any indebtedness in excess of $50 million constitutes an event of default under our credit agreement, and we would be prohibited from making distributions in such an event. Should we be unable to satisfy these restrictions or if another default or event of default were to occur and be continuing under our credit agreement, we would be prohibited from making a distribution to unitholders notwithstanding our stated distribution policy.

 

    Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified, the amount of distributions we pay and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement.

 

    Under Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (or the Delaware Act), we may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets.

 

    We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to a number of factors that would adversely affect us. See “Risk Factors” for information regarding the factors.

 

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    Although our partnership agreement requires us to distribute our available cash, our general partner has broad authority to determine the amount of available cash and may determine it to be zero.

Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus

Overview

All cash distributed to unitholders is characterized as either “operating surplus” or “capital surplus.” We treat distributions of available cash from operating surplus differently than distributions of available cash from capital surplus.

Definition of Available Cash

Available cash generally means, for each fiscal quarter, all cash on hand at the end of the quarter:

 

    less the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to:

 

    provide for the proper conduct of our business;

 

    comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments, or other agreements; and

 

    provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and to our general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters;

 

    plus all cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter for which the determination is being made. Working capital borrowings are generally borrowings that are made under our credit facility and in all cases are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners and will generally be repaid within 12 months of such borrowings.

General Partner Interest and Incentive Distribution Rights

Our general partner holds a general partner interest that entitles it to 2% of all quarterly distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. This general partner interest is represented by general partner unit equivalents for the purpose of calculating its percentage interest. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its current general partner interest. The general partner’s 2% interest in our distributions may be reduced if we issue additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 2% general partner interest.

Our general partner also currently holds incentive distribution rights that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 50%, of the cash we distribute from operating surplus (as defined below) in excess of $0.4025 per unit. The maximum distribution of 50% includes distributions paid to our general partner on its 2% general partner interest, and assumes that our general partner maintains its general partner interest at 2%. Please read “—Incentive Distribution Rights” for additional information.

Definition of Operating Surplus

Operating surplus for any period generally means:

 

    our cash balance on the closing date of our initial public offering, which was approximately $33 million; plus

 

    $75 million; plus

 

    all of our cash receipts after the closing of our initial public offering, excluding cash from (i) borrowings that are not working capital borrowings, (ii) sales of equity and debt securities and (iii) sales or other dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business; plus

 

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    cash distributions paid on the equity securities issued by us to finance all or any portion of the construction, expansion or improvement of our facilities during the period from such financing until the earlier to occur of the date the capital asset is put into service or the date it is abandoned or disposed of; plus

 

    cash distributions paid on the equity securities issued by us to pay the construction period interest on debt incurred, or to pay construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the construction projects referred to above; plus

 

    working capital borrowings made after the end of a quarter but before the date of determination of operating surplus for the quarter; less

 

    all of our operating expenditures (as defined below) after the closing of our initial public offering; less

 

    the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to provide funds for future operating expenditures.

If a working capital borrowing, which increases operating surplus, is not repaid during the twelve-month period following the borrowing, it will be deemed repaid at the end of such period, thus decreasing operating surplus at such time. When such working capital is in fact repaid, it will not be treated as a reduction in operating surplus because operating surplus will have been previously reduced by the deemed repayment.

As described above, operating surplus does not reflect actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders. For example, it includes a provision that enables us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $75 million of cash we receive from non-operating sources such as asset sales, issuances of securities and long-term borrowings that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus.

Operating expenditures generally means all of our expenditures, including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of expenses to our general partner, repayment of working capital borrowings, debt service payments and capital expenditures, provided that operating expenditures do not include:

 

    payments (including prepayments) of principal of and premium on indebtedness, other than working capital borrowings;

 

    capital improvement expenditures;

 

    payment of transaction expenses relating to interim capital transactions; or

 

    distributions to partners.

Where capital expenditures are made in part for acquisitions or for capital improvements and in part for other purposes, our general partner, with the concurrence of the conflicts committee, shall determine the allocation between the amounts paid for each.

Maintenance capital expenditures reduce operating surplus, but capital expenditures for acquisitions and capital improvements do not. Maintenance capital expenditures represent capital expenditures to replace partially or fully depreciated assets to maintain the operating capacity of or sales generated by existing assets and extend their useful lives. Maintenance capital expenditures include expenditures required to maintain equipment reliability, storage and pipeline integrity and safety and to address environmental regulations. Capital improvement expenditures include expenditures to acquire assets to grow our business and to expand existing pipeline delivery capacity, such as projects that increase operating capacity by increasing volume throughput or storage capacity or increase cash flow and which are expected to produce a financial return. Repair and maintenance expenses associated with existing assets that are minor in nature and do not extend the useful life of existing assets are charged to operating expenses as incurred. The officers and directors of our general partner determine how to allocate a capital expenditure for the acquisition or expansion of our assets between maintenance capital expenditures and capital improvement expenditures.

 

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Definition of Capital Surplus

We also define capital surplus below, and it is generally generated only by:

 

    borrowings other than working capital borrowings;

 

    sales of debt and equity securities; and

 

    sales or other disposition of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other current assets sold in the ordinary course of business or as part of normal retirements or replacements of assets.

Characterization of Cash Distributions

We treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since our initial public offering equals the operating surplus as of the most recent date of determination of operating surplus. We treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. As reflected above, operating surplus includes $75 million in addition to our cash balance on the closing date of our initial public offering, cash receipts from our operations and cash from working capital borrowings. This amount does not reflect actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders. Rather, it is a provision that enables us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $75 million of cash we receive following the date of our initial public offering from non-operating sources, such as asset sales, issuances of securities, and long-term borrowings, that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. We do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus.

Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

We will make distributions of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter in the following manner:

 

    First, 98% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until each outstanding common unit receives a total of $0.4025 per unit for that quarter (the “first target distribution”); and

 

    Thereafter, in the manner described in “—Incentive Distribution Rights” below.

The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Incentive Distribution Rights

Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after certain target distribution levels have been achieved. Our general partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its general partner interest, subject to restrictions in our partnership agreement.

If, in any quarter, we have distributed available cash from operating surplus to the common unitholders in an amount equal to the first target distribution ($0.4025 per unit), we will distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus for that quarter among our common unitholders and our general partner in the following manner:

 

    First, 85% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner, until each common unitholder receives a total of $0.4375 per unit for that quarter (the “second target distribution”);

 

    Second, 75% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner, until each common unitholder receives a total of $0.5250 per unit for that quarter (the “third target distribution”); and

 

    Thereafter, 50% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to our general partner.

 

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The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2% general partner interest and has not transferred its incentive distribution rights and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Percentage Allocations of Available Cash from Operating Surplus

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner up to and above the various target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of our general partner and the unitholders in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column “Total Quarterly Distribution,” until available cash from operating surplus we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the unitholders and our general partner for the first target distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the first target distribution. The percentage interests set forth below for our general partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume our general partner maintains its 2% general partner interest and has not transferred its incentive distribution rights.

 

           Total Quarterly Distribution          Marginal Percentage Interest in
Distributions
 
       Target Amount      Limited Partner
Unitholders
    General Partner
and IDRs
 

First Target Distribution

     up to $0.4025        98     2

Second Target Distribution

     above $0.4025 up to $0.4375        85     15

Third Target Distribution

     above $0.4375 up to $0.5250        75     25

Thereafter

     above $0.5250        50     50

Distributions from Capital Surplus

How Distributions from Capital Surplus Will Be Made

We will make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following manner:

 

    First, 98% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we distribute for each common unit an amount of available cash from capital surplus equal to the initial public offering price; and

 

    Thereafter, we will make all distributions of available cash from capital surplus as if they were from operating surplus.

The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Effect of a Distribution from Capital Surplus

Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from our initial public offering, which is a return of capital. The initial public offering price in our initial public offering less any distributions of capital surplus per unit is referred to as the “unrecovered initial unit price.” Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as the corresponding reduction in the unrecovered initial unit price. Because distributions of capital surplus will reduce the target distribution levels, after any of these distributions are made, it may be easier for our general partner to receive incentive distributions.

Once we distribute capital surplus on a unit in an amount equal to the initial unit price, we will reduce the target distribution levels to zero. We will then make all future distributions from operating surplus, with 50% being paid to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to our general partner. The percentage interests shown

 

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for our general partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume our general partner maintains its 2% general partner interest and has not transferred its incentive distribution rights.

Adjustment to the Target Distribution Levels

In addition to adjusting the target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units, we will proportionately adjust the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price.

For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units should occur, each target distribution level and the unrecovered initial unit price would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level. We will not make any adjustment by reason of the issuance of additional units for cash or property.

In addition, if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted by a court of competent jurisdiction so that we become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, we will reduce the target distribution levels for each quarter by multiplying each distribution level by a fraction, the numerator of which is available cash for that quarter (after deducting our general partner’s estimate of our aggregate liability for the quarter for such income taxes payable by reason of such legislation or interpretation) and the denominator of which is the sum of available cash for that quarter plus our general partner’s estimate of our aggregate liability for the quarter for such income taxes payable by reason of such legislation or interpretation. To the extent that the actual tax liability differs from the estimated tax liability for any quarter, the difference will be accounted for in subsequent quarters.

The amount of distributions paid under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement.

Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation

General

If we dissolve in accordance with our partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the common unitholders and our general partner, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.

The allocations of gain and loss upon liquidation are intended, to the extent possible, to entitle the holders of outstanding common units to receive their unrecovered initial unit price. There may not be sufficient gain upon our liquidation to enable the holders of common units to fully recover all of these amounts. Any further net gain recognized upon liquidation will be allocated in a manner that takes into account the incentive distribution rights, currently owned by our general partner.

Manner of Adjustments for Gain

The manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in our partnership agreement. If our liquidation occurs we will allocate any gain to the partners in the following manner:

 

    First, to our general partner and the holders of units who have negative balances in their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to those negative balances;

 

   

Second, 98% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until the capital account for each common unit is equal to the sum of the unrecovered initial unit price for that common

 

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unit plus the unpaid minimum quarterly distribution (if any) for the quarter during which the liquidation occurs;

 

    Third, 98% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to:

 

  (1) the sum of the excess of the first target distribution per unit over the minimum quarterly distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less

 

  (2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution per unit that we distributed 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, for each quarter of our existence;

 

    Fourth, 85% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to:

 

  (1) the sum of the excess of the second target distribution per unit over the first target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less

 

  (2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the first target distribution per unit that we distributed 85% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence;

 

    Fifth, 75% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to:

 

  (1) the sum of the excess of the third target distribution per unit over the second target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less

 

  (2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the second target distribution per unit that we distributed 75% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence; and

 

    Thereafter, 50% to all common unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to our general partner.

The percentages set forth above are based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2% general partner interest and has not transferred its incentive distribution rights and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Manner of Adjustments for Losses

If our liquidation occurs we will generally allocate any loss to our general partner and the common unitholders in the following manner:

 

    First, 98% to all common unitholders in proportion to the positive balances in their capital accounts and 2% to our general partner, until the capital accounts of the common unitholders have been reduced to zero; and

 

    Thereafter, 100% to our general partner.

The percentages set forth in the first and second bullet points above for our general partner are based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 2% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Adjustments to Capital Accounts

We will make adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units. In doing so, we will allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the

 

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unitholders and our general partner in the same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that we make positive adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, we will allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional units or upon our liquidation in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in our general partner’s capital account balances equaling the amount which the balances would have been if no earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.

The initial public offering price of common units in our initial public offering less any distributions of capital surplus per common unit is referred to as the “unrecovered initial unit price” of a common unit.

 

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CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FIDUCIARY DUTIES

Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest exist and may arise in the future as a result of the relationships between our general partner and its affiliates, on the one hand, and us and our unaffiliated limited partners, on the other hand. The directors and officers of our general partner have fiduciary duties to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to subsidiaries of Loews. At the same time, the directors and officers of our general partner have a contractual duty to manage us in a manner beneficial to our unitholders and us.

Whenever a conflict arises between our general partner or its affiliates, including Loews, on the one hand, and us or any other partner, on the other, including a transaction with an affiliate, our general partner will resolve that conflict. Our partnership agreement contains provisions that eliminate and replace our general partner’s fiduciary duties to our unitholders. Our partnership agreement also restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken that, without those limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.

Our general partner will not be in breach of its obligations under our partnership agreement or its duties to us or our unitholders if a transaction with an affiliate or the resolution of a conflict is:

 

    approved by the conflicts committee, although our general partner is not obligated to seek such approval;

 

    approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by our general partner or any of its affiliates, including Loews, although our general partner is not obligated to seek such approval;

 

    on terms no less favorable to us than those generally provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or

 

    fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us.

Our general partner may, but is not required to, seek the approval of such resolution from the conflicts committee of its board of directors or from the common unitholders. If our general partner does not seek approval from the conflicts committee and its board of directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the affiliate transaction or conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the third and fourth bullet points above, then it will be presumed that, in making its decision, the board of directors, including board members affected by the conflict of interest, acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited partner or the partnership the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Unless the resolution of, or course of action taken with respect to, an affiliate transaction or a conflict is specifically provided for in our partnership agreement, our general partner or the conflicts committee may consider any factors it determines in good faith to consider when resolving a conflict. When our partnership agreement requires someone to act in good faith, it requires that person to reasonably believe that he is acting in the best interests of the partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.

Conflicts of interest could arise in the situations described below, among others.

Our general partner’s affiliates may compete with us.

Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner is restricted from engaging in any business activities other than acting as our general partner or those activities incidental to its ownership of interests in us. Except as provided in our partnership agreement, Loews and other affiliates of our general partner are not prohibited from engaging in other businesses or activities, including those that might be in direct competition with us.

 

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Our general partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us in resolving conflicts.

Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty law. For example, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner. This entitles our general partner to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, us, our affiliates or any limited partner. Examples include the exercise of its call rights, its voting rights with respect to the units it owns, and its registration rights and its determination whether to consent to any merger or consolidation of the partnership.

Our general partner has limited its liability and replaced its fiduciary duties, and has also restricted the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that, without the limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.

In addition to the provisions described above, our partnership agreement contains provisions that replace the fiduciary duties of our general partner and restrict the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty. For example, our partnership agreement:

 

    provides that our general partner shall not have any liability to us or our unitholders for decisions made in its capacity as a general partner so long as it acted in good faith, meaning it believed that the decision was in the best interests of the partnership;

 

    generally provides that affiliate transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner and not involving a vote of unitholders will not be a breach of our partnership agreement if they are on terms no less favorable to us than those generally provided to or available from unrelated third parties or be fair and reasonable to us, as determined by our general partner in good faith, and that, in determining whether a transaction or resolution is fair and reasonable, our general partner may consider the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly advantageous or beneficial to us; and

 

    provides that our general partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us or our limited partners for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our general partner or its officers or directors acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the conduct was unlawful.

Actions taken by our general partner may affect the amount of cash distributions to unitholders.

The amount of cash that is available for distribution to unitholders is affected by decisions of our general partner regarding such matters as:

 

    the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales;

 

    cash expenditures;

 

    borrowings;

 

    the issuance of additional units; and

 

    the creation, reduction, or increase of reserves in any quarter.

In addition, borrowings by us and our affiliates do not constitute a breach of any duty owed by our general partner to our unitholders, including borrowings that have the purpose or effect of enabling our general partner to receive distributions on the incentive distribution rights.

 

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Our partnership agreement provides that we and our subsidiaries may borrow funds from our general partner or its affiliates. Our general partner and its affiliates may not borrow funds from us or our subsidiaries.

We reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for expenses.

We reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for costs incurred in managing and operating us, including costs incurred in rendering corporate staff and support services to us, including overhead allocated to us by Loews in amounts allowable consistent with accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes and past business practices. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner determines in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us and that reimbursement of overhead to Loews as described above is fair and reasonable to us.

Contracts between us, on the one hand, and our general partner or its affiliates, on the other, will not be the result of arm’s-length negotiations.

Our partnership agreement allows our general partner to determine, in good faith, the amounts to pay itself or its affiliates for any services rendered to us. Our general partner may also enter into additional contractual arrangements with Loews or any of its other affiliates on our behalf. Neither our partnership agreement nor any of the other agreements, contracts and arrangements between us and our general partner or its affiliates are or will be the result of arm’s-length negotiations.

Our partnership agreement generally provides that any affiliate transaction, such as an agreement, contract or arrangement between us and our general partner or its affiliates, will not be in breach of our partnership agreement if they are:

 

    approved by the conflicts committee;

 

    approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by our general partner or any of its affiliates, including Loews;

 

    on terms no less favorable to us than those generally provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or

 

    fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us).

Our general partner determines, in good faith, the terms of any of these transactions.

Our general partner and its affiliates have no obligation to permit us to use any of their facilities or assets, except as may be provided in contracts entered into specifically dealing with that use. There is no obligation of our general partner or its affiliates to enter into any contracts of this kind.

Our general partner intends to limit its liability regarding our obligations.

Our general partner intends to limit its liability under contractual arrangements so that the other party has recourse only to our assets and not against our general partner or its assets. Our partnership agreement provides that any action taken by our general partner to limit its or our liability is not a breach of our general partner’s fiduciary duties, even if we could have obtained terms that were more favorable had the limitation on liability not been included.

Common units are subject to our general partner’s call rights.

Our general partner may exercise its rights to call common units as provided in our partnership agreement or assign this right to one of its affiliates or to us. Our general partner may use its own discretion, free of fiduciary duty restrictions, in determining whether to exercise this right. As a result, a common unitholder may have his common units purchased from him at an undesirable time or price. Please read “The Partnership Agreement—Call Rights.”

 

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Common unitholders have no right to enforce obligations of our general partner and its affiliates under agreements with us.

Any agreements between us, on the one hand, and our general partner or its affiliates, on the other, will not grant to the unitholders, separate and apart from us, the right to enforce the obligations of our general partner or its affiliates in our favor.

We may choose not to retain separate counsel for ourselves or for the holders of common units.

The attorneys, independent accountants and others who perform services for us have been retained by our general partner or its affiliates, are selected by our general partner or the conflicts committee and may perform services for our general partner and its affiliates. We may retain separate counsel for ourselves or the holders of common units in the event of a conflict of interest between our general partner or its affiliates, on the one hand, and us or the holders of common units, on the other, depending on the nature of the conflict. We do not intend to do so in most cases.

Except in limited circumstances, our general partner has the power and authority to conduct our business without unitholder approval.

Under our partnership agreement, our general partner has full power and authority to do all things, other than those items that require unitholder approval or with respect to which our general partner has sought conflicts committee approval, on such terms as it determines to be necessary or appropriate to conduct our business including, but not limited to, the following:

 

    the making of any expenditures, the lending or borrowing of money, the assumption or guarantee of, or other contracting for, indebtedness and other liabilities, the issuance of evidences of indebtedness, including indebtedness that is convertible into securities of the partnership, and the incurring of any other obligations;

 

    the making of tax, regulatory and other filings, or rendering of periodic or other reports to governmental or other agencies having jurisdiction over our business or assets;

 

    the acquisition, disposition, mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or exchange of any or all of our assets or the merger or other combination of us with or into another person;

 

    the negotiation, execution and performance of any contracts, conveyances or other instruments;

 

    the distribution of partnership cash;

 

    the selection and dismissal of employees and agents, outside attorneys, accountants, consultants and contractors and the determination of their compensation and other terms of employment or hiring;

 

    the maintenance of insurance for our benefit and the benefit of our partners;

 

    the formation of, or acquisition of an interest in, and the contribution of property and the making of loans to, any further limited or general partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, limited liability companies or other relationships;

 

    the control of any matters affecting our rights and obligations, including the bringing and defending of actions at law or in equity and otherwise engaging in the conduct of litigation, arbitration or mediation and the incurring of legal expense and the settlement of claims and litigation;

 

    the indemnification of any person against liabilities and contingencies to the extent permitted by law;

 

    the purchase, sale or other acquisition or disposition of our securities, or the issuance of additional options, rights, warrants and appreciation rights relating to our securities; and

 

    the entering into of agreements with any of its affiliates to render services to us or to itself in the discharge of its duties as our general partner.

 

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Fiduciary Duties

General partners of limited partnerships are generally accountable to the limited partnership and the limited partnership’s unitholders as a fiduciary. The Delaware Act provides that Delaware limited partnerships may, in their partnership agreements, eliminate, restrict or expand the fiduciary duties otherwise owed by a general partner to limited partners and the partnership. The contractual duties owed to unitholders by our general partner are prescribed by law and our partnership agreement.

Our partnership agreement contains various provisions that eliminate and replace the fiduciary duties that might otherwise be owed by our general partner. We have adopted these provisions to allow our general partner or its affiliates to engage in transactions with us that would otherwise be prohibited by state law fiduciary standards and to take into account the interests of parties other than us when resolving conflicts of interest. Without such modifications, such transactions could result in violations of our general partner’s state law fiduciary duty standards, and our general partner’s ability to make decisions involving conflicts of interest would be restricted. We believe this is appropriate and necessary because the board of directors of our general partner has fiduciary duties to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to its owners and contractual duties to manage us in a manner beneficial to you. The replacements to the fiduciary standards enable our general partner to take into consideration all parties involved in the proposed action, so long as the resolution is fair and reasonable to us. These modifications also strengthen the ability of our general partner to attract and retain experienced and capable directors. However, these modifications disadvantage the common unitholders because they restrict the rights and remedies that would otherwise be available to unitholders for actions that, without those modifications, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty, as described below, and permit our general partner to take into account the interests of parties other than us when resolving conflicts of interest. The following is a summary of the material restrictions of the fiduciary duties owed by our general partner to the limited partners:

 

State law fiduciary duty standards

Fiduciary duties are generally considered to include an obligation to act in good faith and with due care and loyalty. The duty of care, in the absence of a provision in a partnership agreement providing otherwise, would generally require a general partner to act for the partnership in the same manner as a prudent person would act on his own behalf. The duty of loyalty, in the absence of a provision in a partnership agreement providing otherwise, would generally require that any action taken or transaction engaged in be entirely fair to the partnership.

 

Partnership agreement modified standards

Our partnership agreement contains provisions that waive or consent to conduct by our general partner and its affiliates that might otherwise raise issues as to compliance with fiduciary duties or applicable law. For example, our partnership agreement provides that when our general partner is acting in its capacity as our general partner, as opposed to in its individual capacity, it must act in good faith and will not be subject to any other standard under applicable law. In addition, when our general partner is acting in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner, it may act without any fiduciary obligation to us or the unitholders whatsoever. These provisions reduce the standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held. Our partnership agreement generally provides that affiliate transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by a vote of unitholders or approved

 

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by the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner will not be a breach of any duty if they are:

 

    on terms no less favorable to us than those generally provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or

 

    fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved (including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us).

 

  If our general partner does not seek approval from the conflicts committee or the common unitholders and its board of directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the bullet points above, then it will be presumed that, in making its decision, the board of directors, which may include board members affected by the conflict of interest, acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited partner or the partnership, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption. These provisions reduce the standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held.

 

  Our partnership agreement provides that the allocation of overhead costs to us by our general partner and its affiliates (including Loews) consistent with then-applicable accounting and allocation methodologies generally permitted by FERC for rate-making purposes (or in the absence of then-applicable methodologies permitted by FERC, consistent with the most-recently applicable methodologies) and past business practices shall be deemed to be fair and reasonable to us.

 

  In addition to the other more specific provisions limiting the obligations of our general partner, our partnership agreement further provides that our general partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us or our limited partners for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our general partner or its officers and directors acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct, or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the conduct was unlawful.

 

Rights and remedies of unitholders

The Delaware Act generally provides that a limited partner may institute legal action on behalf of the partnership to recover damages from a third party where a general partner has refused to institute the action or where an effort to cause a general partner to do so is not likely to succeed. These actions include actions against a general partner for breach of its fiduciary duties or of a partnership agreement. In addition, the statutory or case law of some jurisdictions may permit a limited partner to institute legal action on behalf of it and all other similarly situated limited partners to recover damages from a general partner for violations of its fiduciary duties to the limited partners.

 

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In order to become one of our limited partners, a common unitholder is required to agree to be bound by our partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above. Please read “Description of the Common Units—Transfer of Common Units.” This is in accordance with the policy of the Delaware Act favoring the principle of freedom of contract and the enforceability of partnership agreements. The failure of a limited partner or assignee to sign the partnership agreement does not render our partnership agreement unenforceable against that person.

Under our partnership agreement, we must indemnify our general partner and its officers and directors, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against liabilities, costs and expenses incurred by our general partner or these other persons. We must provide this indemnification unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that these persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that their conduct was unlawful. Thus, our general partner could be indemnified for its negligent acts if it meets the requirements set forth above. To the extent that these provisions purport to include indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act, in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is contrary to public policy and therefore unenforceable. Please read “The Partnership Agreement—Indemnification.”

 

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THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. Our partnership agreement is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part. We will provide prospective investors with a copy of this agreement upon request at no charge.

We summarize the following provisions of our partnership agreement elsewhere in this prospectus:

 

    with regard to distributions of available cash, please read “How We Make Cash Distributions;”

 

    with regard to the duties of our general partner, please read “Conflicts of Interest and Fiduciary Duties;”

 

    with regard to the transfer of common units, please read “Description of the Common Units—Transfer of Common Units;” and

 

    with regard to allocations of taxable income and taxable loss, please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

Organization and Duration

We were organized on August 4, 2005, and have a perpetual existence.

Purpose

Our purpose under our partnership agreement is limited to any business activities that relate to the business of gathering, transmitting by pipeline, processing or storing natural gas (either in gaseous or liquid form) (the “transmission business”) or activities now or hereafter customarily conducted in conjunction with the transmission business, that are approved by our general partner in its sole discretion, and any other business that is approved by our general partner, in its sole discretion, and in any event that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized under Delaware law; provided, that our general partner may not cause us to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that our general partner determines would cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes.

Although our general partner, in its individual capacity, has the power to expand our purpose to activities other than those that relate to the transmission business or activities now or hereafter customarily conducted in conjunction with the transmission business, our general partner may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. However, any decision by our general partner to cause us or our subsidiaries to invest in activities will be subject to its contractual duties as specified by our partnership agreement. In general, our general partner is authorized to perform all acts it determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out our purposes and to conduct our business.

Power of Attorney

Each limited partner and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and delivers a transfer application and certification grants to our general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for our qualification, continuance or dissolution. The power of attorney also grants our general partner the authority to amend, and to make consents and waivers under, our partnership agreement.

Capital Contributions

Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described below under “—Limited Liability.”

 

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Voting Rights

The following matters require the limited partner vote specified below. Various matters require the approval of a “unit majority,” which means the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units.

In voting their common units, our general partner and its affiliates will have no fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us and our limited partners.

The following is a summary of the vote requirements specified for certain matters under our partnership agreement:

 

Issuance of additional units

No approval required.

 

Amendment of our partnership agreement

Certain amendments may be made by our general partner without the approval of the limited partners. Other amendments generally require the approval of a unit majority. Please read “—Amendment of Our Partnership Agreement.”

 

Merger of our partnership or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets

Unit majority in certain circumstances. Please read “—Merger, Sale, or Other Disposition of Assets.”

 

Continuation of our partnership upon dissolution

Unit majority. Please read “—Termination and Dissolution.”

 

Withdrawal of our general partner

No approval required.

 

Removal of our general partner

Not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding common units, including common units held by our general partner and its affiliates. Please read “—Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner.”

 

Transfer of our general partner interest

No approval required.

 

Transfer of incentive distribution rights

No approval required.

 

Transfer of ownership interests in our general partner

No approval required at any time. Please read “—Transfer of Ownership Interests in Our General Partner.”

Limited Liability

Participation in the Control of Our Partnership

Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware Act and that it otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership agreement, its liability under the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital it is obligated to contribute to us for its common units plus its share of any undistributed profits and assets. If it were determined, however, that the right of, or exercise of the right by, the limited partners as a group:

 

    to remove or replace our general partner;

 

    to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement; or

 

    to take other action under our partnership agreement;

 

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constituted “participation in the control” of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the laws of Delaware to the same extent as our general partner. This liability would additionally extend to persons who transact business with us who reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner. Neither our partnership agreement nor the Delaware Act specifically provides for legal recourse against our general partner if a limited partner were to lose limited liability through any fault of our general partner. While this does not mean that a limited partner could not seek legal recourse, we know of no precedent for such a claim in Delaware case law.

Unlawful Partnership Distribution

Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if, after the distribution, all liabilities of the limited partnership, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the partnership, would exceed the fair value of the assets of the limited partnership. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act shall be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act, an assignee who becomes a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and that could not be ascertained from our partnership agreement.

Failure to Comply with the Limited Liability Provisions of Jurisdictions in Which We Do Business

We conduct business in thirteen states. We may conduct business in other states in the future. Maintenance of our limited liability as a limited partner of Boardwalk Pipelines may require compliance with legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which Boardwalk Pipelines conducts business, including qualifying our subsidiaries to do business there.

Limitations on the liability of limited partners for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. If, by virtue of our limited partner interest in Boardwalk Pipelines or otherwise, it were determined that we were conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership or limited liability company statute, or that the right of, or exercise of the right by, the limited partners as a group, to remove or replace our general partner, to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement, or to take other action under our partnership agreement constituted “participation in the control” of our business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as our general partner under the circumstances. We will operate in a manner that our general partner considers reasonable and necessary or appropriate to preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.

Issuance of Additional Securities

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions determined by our general partner without the approval of the limited partners.

It is possible that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other partnership securities. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of

 

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additional common units or other partnership securities may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.

In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership securities that, as determined by our general partner, have special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled. In addition, our partnership agreement does not prohibit the issuance by our subsidiaries of equity securities, which may effectively rank senior to our common units.

Our general partner’s 2% interest in us is represented by unit equivalents for allocation and distribution purposes. Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner will have the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions to us in exchange for a proportionate number of general partner unit equivalents, to the extent necessary to maintain its general partner interest of the total units and unit equivalents outstanding prior to the issuance at the same percentage level. Our general partner’s 2% interest in us will thus be reduced if we issue additional partnership securities in the future and our general partner does not elect to maintain its 2% general partner interest. In addition, our general partner will have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units or other partnership securities to the extent necessary to maintain its and its affiliates’ percentage interest in us, whenever, and on the same terms that, we issue those securities to persons other than our general partner and its affiliates. The holders of common units will not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership securities.

Amendment of Our Partnership Agreement

General

Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. However, our general partner has no duty or obligation to propose any amendment and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. In order to adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed below, our general partner must seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as described below, an amendment must be approved by a unit majority.

Prohibited Amendments

No amendment may:

 

    enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless approved by at least a majority of the type or class of limited partner interests so affected; or

 

    enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable by us to our general partner or any of its affiliates without the consent of our general partner, which may be given or withheld at its option.

The provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in the bullets above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units, voting together as a single class (including units owned by our general partner and its affiliates).

No Limited Partner Approval

Our general partner may generally make amendments to the partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee to reflect:

 

    a change in our name, the location of our principal place of business, our registered agent or our registered office;

 

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    the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of partners in accordance with our partnership agreement;

 

    a change that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for us to qualify or to continue our qualification as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that neither we, Boardwalk Pipelines, nor its subsidiaries will be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not already so treated or taxed);

 

    an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent us or our general partner or its directors, officers, agents, or trustees from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (or ERISA), whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed;

 

    an amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the authorization of additional partnership securities or rights to acquire partnership securities;

 

    any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our general partner acting alone;

 

    an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has been approved under the terms of our partnership agreement;

 

    any amendment that our general partner determines to be necessary or appropriate for the formation by us of, or our investment in, any corporation, partnership or other entity, as otherwise permitted by our partnership agreement;

 

    a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes;

 

    mergers with or conveyances to another limited liability entity that is newly formed and has no assets, liabilities or operations at the time of the merger or conveyance other than those it receives by way of the merger or conveyance; or

 

    any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described above.

In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee if our general partner determines that those amendments:

 

    do not adversely affect the limited partners (or any particular class of limited partners) in any material respect;

 

    are necessary or appropriate to satisfy any requirements, conditions, or guidelines contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling, or regulation of any federal or state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute;

 

    are necessary or appropriate to facilitate the trading of limited partner interests or to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline, or requirement of any securities exchange on which the limited partner interests are or will be listed for trading;

 

    are necessary or appropriate for any action taken by our general partner relating to splits or combinations of units under the provisions of our partnership agreement; or

 

    are required to effect the intent expressed in this prospectus or the intent of the provisions of our partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by our partnership agreement.

Opinion of Counsel and Limited Partner Approval

Our general partner will not be required to obtain an opinion of counsel that an amendment will not result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners or result in our being treated as an entity for federal income tax

 

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purposes in connection with any of the amendments described under “—No Limited Partner Approval.” No other amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units voting as a single class unless we first obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not affect the limited liability under Delaware law of any of our limited partners. Finally, our general partner may consummate any merger without the prior approval of our limited partners if we are the surviving entity in the transaction, the transaction would not result in a material amendment to our partnership agreement, each of our units will be an identical unit of our partnership following the transaction, the units to be issued do not exceed 20% of our outstanding units immediately prior to the transaction and our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding certain limited liability and tax matters.

In addition to the above restrictions, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any type or class of outstanding units in relation to other classes of units will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of units so affected. Any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action must be approved by the affirmative vote of holders of outstanding units whose aggregate outstanding units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.

Merger, Sale, or Other Disposition of Assets

A merger or consolidation of us requires the prior consent of our general partner. However, our general partner has no duty or obligation to consent to any merger or consolidation and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interest of us or the limited partners.

In addition, our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval of the holders of units representing a unit majority, from causing us to, among other things, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, including by way of merger, consolidation or other combination, or approving on our behalf the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of our subsidiaries. Our general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without that approval. Our general partner may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without that approval.

If the conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general partner may convert us or any of our subsidiaries into a new limited liability entity or merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey all of our assets to, a newly formed entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity. The limited partners are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal under our partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a conversion, merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets or any other transaction or event.

Termination and Dissolution

We will continue as a limited partnership until terminated under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve:

 

    upon the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if approved by the holders of units representing a unit majority;

 

    if at any time there are no limited partners, unless we continue to exist in accordance with the Delaware Act;

 

    upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of our partnership; or

 

    upon the withdrawal or removal of our general partner or any other event that results in its ceasing to be our general partner other than by reason of a transfer of its general partner interest in accordance with our partnership agreement or withdrawal or removal following approval and admission of a successor.

 

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Upon a dissolution under the fourth bullet point listed above, the holders of a unit majority may also elect, within specific time limitations, to continue our business on the same terms and conditions described in our partnership agreement by appointing as a successor general partner a person or entity approved by the holders of units representing a unit majority, subject to our receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect that:

 

    the action would not result in the loss of limited liability under Delaware law of any limited partner; and

 

    neither our partnership nor any of our subsidiaries would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of that right to continue (to the extent not already so treated or taxed).

Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds

Upon our dissolution, unless our business is continued as described above, the liquidator authorized to wind up our affairs will, acting with all of the powers of our general partner that are necessary or appropriate, liquidate our assets and apply the proceeds of the liquidation as described in “How We Make Cash Distributions—Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation.” The liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets for a reasonable period of time or distribute assets to partners in kind if it determines that a sale or distribution, as the case may be, would be impractical or would cause undue loss to our partners.

Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner

Our general partner may withdraw as general partner without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days’ written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. In addition, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to sell or otherwise transfer all of its general partner interest in us without the approval of the limited partners. Please read “—Transfer of General Partner Interest” and “—Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights.”

Upon the voluntary withdrawal of our general partner under any circumstances, other than as a result of a transfer by our general partner of all or a part of its general partner interest in us, the holders of a unit majority may select a successor to that withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within a specified period of time after that withdrawal, the holders of a unit majority agree in writing to continue our business and to appoint a successor general partner. Please read “—Termination and Dissolution.”

Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, voting together as a single class, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of our general partner is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. The ownership of more than 33 1/3% of the outstanding common units by our general partner and its affiliates would give them the practical ability to prevent our general partner’s removal.

In the event of the removal of our general partner under circumstances where cause exists or the withdrawal of our general partner under circumstances where that withdrawal violates our partnership agreement, a successor general partner will have the option to purchase the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair market value of those interests. Under all other circumstances where our general partner withdraws or is removed by the limited partners, the departing general partner will have the option to require the successor general partner to purchase the general partner interest of the departing general partner and its incentive distribution rights for their fair market value. In each case, this fair market value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the successor general

 

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partner. If no agreement is reached, an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the departing general partner and the successor general partner will determine the fair market value. Or, if the departing general partner and the successor general partner cannot agree upon an expert, then an expert chosen by agreement of the experts selected by each of them will determine the fair market value.

Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed as our general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist and no units held by our general partner and its affiliates are voted in favor of that removal, our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests based on the fair market value of the interests at the time.

If the option described above is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the successor general partner, the departing general partner’s general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights will automatically convert into common units with a value equal to the fair market value of those interests as determined by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.

In addition, we will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts due to it, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities, including severance liabilities, incurred for the termination of any employees employed by the departing general partner or its affiliates for our benefit.

Transfer of General Partner Interest

Our general partner may transfer all or any part of its general partner interest without the approval of our unitholders. As a condition of this transfer, the transferee must, among other things, assume the rights and duties of our general partner, agree to be bound by the provisions of our partnership agreement and furnish an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters.

Transfer of Ownership Interests in Our General Partner

At any time, the owners of our general partner may sell or transfer all or part of their ownership interests in our general partner without the approval of our unitholders.

Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights

Our general partner, its affiliates or a subsequent holder may transfer any or all of its incentive distribution rights without unitholder approval. As a condition of such transfer, the transferee must agree to be bound by the provisions of our partnership agreement.

Change of Management Provisions

Our partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are intended to discourage a person or group from attempting to remove Boardwalk GP as our general partner or otherwise change management. If any person or group other than our general partner and its affiliates acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or group loses voting rights on all of its units. This loss of voting rights does not apply to any person or group that acquires the units from our general partner or its affiliates and any transferees of that person or group approved by our general partner or to any person or group who acquires the units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner.

Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed without cause and no units held by our general partner and its affiliates are voted in favor of that removal, our general partner will have the

 

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right to convert its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests.

Call Rights

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the then-issued and outstanding partnership securities of any class, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining partnership securities of the class held by unaffiliated persons.

The purchase price in the event of such an acquisition will be the greater of:

 

    the average of the daily closing prices of the partnership securities of such class for the 20 consecutive trading days preceding the date three days before the date the notice is mailed; and

 

    the highest price paid by our general partner or any of its affiliates for any partnership securities of the class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date on which our general partner first mails notice of its election to purchase those partnership securities.

In addition, if (a) our general partner receives an opinion of outside counsel to the effect that our being a pass-through entity for federal income tax purposes has or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the maximum applicable rates chargeable to customers by our subsidiaries that are regulated interstate natural gas pipelines and (b) at such time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 50% in the aggregate of the outstanding common units and other equity securities, then within 90 days of receiving such opinion our general partner will have the right, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or us, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the equity securities held by unaffiliated persons.

The purchase price in the event of such an acquisition will be equal to the average of the daily closing prices of the equity securities for the 180 consecutive trading days preceding the date three days before the date on which our general partner first mails notice of its election to purchase the equity securities.

The call rights are exercisable by our general partner, acting in its individual capacity, and may be assigned to its affiliates.

As a result of our general partner’s rights to purchase outstanding units, a holder of units may have his units purchased at an undesirable time or price. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of these call rights are the same as a sale by that unitholder of his common units in the market. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences—Disposition of Units.”

Non-Taxpaying Assignees; Redemption

To avoid any adverse effect on the maximum applicable rates chargeable to customers by our subsidiaries that are regulated interstate natural gas pipelines, or in order to reverse an adverse determination that has occurred regarding such maximum rates, transferees (including purchasers from the underwriters in offerings) are required to furnish a properly completed transfer application certifying, and our general partner, acting on our behalf, may at any time require each unitholder to re-certify that that such transferee is not a Non-Eligible Holder (as defined in our partnership agreement, as amended) as of the date of such transfer application.

This certification can be changed in any manner our general partner determines is necessary or appropriate to implement its original purpose. An updated version of the transfer application is available from our website at http://www.bwpmlp.com.

 

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If a unitholder:

 

    fails to furnish:

 

    a transfer application containing the required certification; or

 

    a re-certification containing the required certification within 30 days after request; or

 

    provides a false certification; then

we will have the right to acquire all but not less than all of the units held by such unitholder. Further, the units will not be entitled to any allocations of income or loss, distributions or voting rights while held by such unitholder.

The purchase price in the event of such an acquisition for each unit held by such unitholder will be the lesser of:

 

    the price paid by such unitholder for the relevant unit; and

 

    the average of the daily closing prices of the partnership securities of such class for the 20 consecutive trading days preceding the date fixed for redemption.

The purchase price will be paid in cash or by delivery of a promissory note, as determined by our general partner. Any such promissory note will bear interest at the rate of 5% annually and be payable in three equal annual installments of principal and accrued interest, commencing one year after the redemption date.

Meetings; Voting

Except as described below regarding a person or group owning 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, unitholders or assignees who are record holders of units on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited. Common units that are owned by an assignee who is a record holder, but who has not yet been admitted as a limited partner, will be voted by our general partner at the written direction of the record holder. Absent direction of this kind, the common units will not be voted, except that, in the case of common units held by our general partner on behalf of assignees who are not Eligible Holders (as defined in our partnership agreement, as amended), our general partner will distribute the votes on those common units in the same ratios as the votes of limited partners on other units are cast.

Our general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of unitholders will be called in the foreseeable future. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting if consents in writing describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be the greater percentage. The unit equivalents representing the general partner interest are unit equivalents for distribution and allocation purposes, do not entitle our general partner to any vote other than its rights as general partner under our partnership agreement, will not be entitled to vote on any action required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders and will not count toward or be considered outstanding when calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum, or for similar purposes.

Each record holder of a unit has a vote according to his percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. Please read “—Issuance of Additional Securities.”

 

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However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, or a direct or subsequently approved transferee of our general partner or its affiliates, acquires, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum, or for other similar purposes. Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise.

Any notice, demand, request, report, or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of common units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the record holder by us or by the transfer agent.

Status as Limited Partner or Assignee

Except as described above under “—Limited Liability,” the common units will be fully paid, and unitholders will not be required to make additional contributions.

An assignee of a common unit, after executing and delivering a transfer application, but while pending admission as a substituted limited partner, is entitled to an interest equivalent to that of a limited partner for the right to share in allocations and distributions from us, including liquidating distributions. Our general partner will vote and exercise other powers attributable to common units owned by an assignee that has not become a substituted limited partner at the written direction of the assignee. Please read “—Meetings; Voting.” Transferees who do not execute and deliver a transfer application and certification will not be treated as assignees or as record holders of common units, and will not be entitled to receive cash distributions, federal income tax allocations, or reports furnished to holders of common units. Please read “Description of the Common Units—Transfer of Common Units.”

Indemnification

Under our partnership agreement we will indemnify the following persons in most circumstances, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages, or similar events:

 

    our general partner;

 

    any departing general partner;

 

    any person who is or was an affiliate of our general partner or any departing general partner;

 

    any person who is or was an officer, director, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of any entity described in the three foregoing bullets;

 

    any person who is or was serving as a director, officer, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another person at the request of our general partner or any departing general partner or any of their affiliates; or

 

    any person designated by our general partner.

Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise agrees, our general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. Our partnership agreement permits us to purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.

 

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Reimbursement of Expenses

Our partnership agreement requires us to reimburse our general partner for all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on our behalf and all other expenses allocable to us or otherwise incurred by our general partner in connection with operating our business, including overhead allocated to us by Loews. These expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for us or on our behalf, and expenses allocated to our general partner by its affiliates. Our general partner is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us.

Books and Reports

Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. The books are maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax and financial reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.

We will furnish or make available (by posting on our website or other reasonable means) to record holders of common units, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited financial statements and a report on those financial statements by our independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we will also furnish or make available summary financial information within 90 days after the close of each quarter.

We will furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information is expected to be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders will depend on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder will receive information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies us with information.

Right to Inspect Our Books and Records

Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to his interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:

 

    a current list of the name and last known address of each partner;

 

    a copy of our tax returns;

 

    information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by each partner and the date on which each became a partner;

 

    copies of our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited partnership and related amendments and powers of attorney under which they have been executed;

 

    information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; and

 

    any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable.

Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is not in our best interests or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.

 

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Registration Rights

Under our partnership agreement, subject to certain limitations, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any common units or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available. These registration rights continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of Boardwalk GP as our general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF PARTNERSHIP SECURITIES

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner interests and other equity securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our general partner without the approval of any limited partners.

In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we also may issue additional partnership interests that, if approved by our general partner, have special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled.

The following is a description of the general terms and provisions of our partnership securities. The particular terms of any series of partnership securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and the amendment to our partnership agreement, if necessary, relating to that series of partnership securities, which will be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in this prospectus at or before the time of issuance of any such series of partnership securities. If so indicated in a prospectus supplement, the terms of any such series may differ from the terms set forth below.

Our general partner is authorized to approve the issuance of one or more series of partnership securities without further authorization of the limited partners and to fix the number of securities, the designations, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions of any such series.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the number of securities, particular designation, relative rights and preferences and the limitations of any series of partnership securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered. The particular terms of any such series may include the following:

 

    the maximum number, if any, of securities to constitute the series and the designation and ranking thereof;

 

    the distribution rate, if any, on securities of the series, whether such rate is fixed or variable or both, the dates from which distributions will begin to accrue or accumulate, whether distributions will be cumulative and whether such distributions will be paid in cash, securities or otherwise;

 

    whether the securities of the series will be redeemable and, if so, the price at the terms and conditions on which the securities of the series may be redeemed, including the time during which securities of the series may be redeemed and any accumulated distributions thereof that the holders of the securities of the series will be entitled to receive upon the redemption thereof;

 

    the liquidation preference, if any, applicable to securities of the series;

 

    the terms and conditions, if any, on which the securities of the series will be convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities of any other class or classes of partnership securities, including the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the method, is any, of adjusting the same; and

 

    the voting rights, if any, of the securities of the series.

Partnership securities will be fully paid and non-assessable when issued upon full payment of the purchase price therefor. The prospectus supplement will contain, if applicable, a description of the material United States federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase and ownership of the series of partnership securities offered by the prospectus supplement. The transfer agent, registrar and distributions disbursement agent for the partnership securities will be designated in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS

General Description of Warrants

We and Boardwalk Pipelines, LP may issue warrants for the purchase of common units, preferred units, partnership securities or debt securities, as applicable. Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us or Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as applicable, and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not have any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. A copy of the warrant agreement will be filed with the SEC in connection with any offering of warrants. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants will describe the terms of the warrants, including, among other things, the following:

 

    the title of the warrants;

 

    the offering price for the warrants, if any;

 

    the aggregate number of the warrants;

 

    the designation and terms of the securities that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants;

 

    if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security;

 

    if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable;

 

    the number or principal amount of securities that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which such securities may be purchased upon exercise;

 

    the dates on which the warrants may be exercised;

 

    if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

    the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;

 

    if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;

 

    anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;

 

    redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants;

 

    terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; and

 

    any other material terms of the warrants.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder of the warrant to purchase at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement the number or principal amount of securities being offered. Holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date or on specified dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants are void unless the expiration date is otherwise extended in accordance with the terms of the applicable warrants. Holders may exercise warrants as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered. Until you exercise your warrants to purchase securities, you will not have any rights as a holder of such securities, as the case may be, by virtue of your ownership of warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTS

We and Boardwalk Pipelines, LP may issue rights to purchase common units, preferred units, partnership securities, warrants, or debt securities, as applicable. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of such rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

We or Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as applicable, will enter into a rights agent agreement with a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. A copy of the rights certificates relating to each series of rights will be filed with the SEC. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of rights will describe the terms of the rights, including, among other things, the following:

 

    the date of determining the unitholders entitled to the rights distribution;

 

    the number of rights issued or to be issued;

 

    the exercise price payable for each common unit, partnership security, warrant, or unit of debt securities upon the exercise the rights;

 

    the number and terms of the common units, partnership securities, warrants, or units of debt securities which may be purchased per each right;

 

    the extent to which the rights are transferable;

 

    the date on which the holder’s ability to exercise the rights shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall expire;

 

    the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;

 

    if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of such rights; and

 

    any other terms of the rights, including the terms, procedures, conditions, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description sets forth the general terms and provisions that apply to the debt securities. Each prospectus supplement will state the particular terms that will apply to the debt securities included in the supplement. The debt securities will be issued solely by Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as the issuer. References in this “Description of Debt Securities” to “us,” “we,” or “our” refer only to Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as issuer, and not to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP or to any of Boardwalk Pipelines’ subsidiaries. References in this “Description of Debt Securities” to “the master partnership” or “the guarantor” refer only to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, and not to any of its subsidiaries.

We will issue debt securities under one or more indentures among us, as issuer, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, and, if applicable, the master partnership as guarantor. The debt securities will be governed by the provisions of the Indenture (as described below) and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We, the Trustee and the guarantor, if applicable, may enter into supplements to the Indenture from time to time. If we decide to issue subordinated debt securities, we will issue them under a separate Indenture containing subordination provisions.

This description is a summary of the material provisions of the debt securities and the Indentures. We urge you to read the senior indenture and form of subordinated indenture filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part because those indentures, and not this description, govern your rights as a holder of debt securities. References in this prospectus to an “Indenture” refer to the particular indenture under which we issue a series of debt securities.

General

Debt Securities

Any series of debt securities that we issue:

 

    will be our general obligations;

 

    will be general obligations of the master partnership, if it guarantees that series; and

 

    may be subordinated to our senior indebtedness, with any guarantees also being subordinated to any senior indebtedness.

The Indenture does not limit the total amount of debt securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities under the Indenture from time to time in separate series, up to the aggregate amount authorized for each such series.

We will prepare a prospectus supplement and either an indenture supplement or a resolution of the board of directors of the master partnership’s general partner and accompanying officers’ certificate relating to any series of debt securities that we offer, which will include specific terms relating to some or all of the following:

 

    the form and title of the debt securities;

 

    the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the date or dates on which the debt securities may be issued;

 

    the portion of the principal amount which will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated;

 

    any right we may have to defer payments of interest by extending the dates payments are due and whether interest on those deferred amounts will be payable;

 

    the dates on which the principal and premium, if any, of the debt securities will be payable;

 

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    the interest rate which the debt securities will bear and the interest payment dates for the debt securities;

 

    any optional redemption provisions;

 

    any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;

 

    whether the debt securities are entitled to the benefits of any guarantees by the master partnership;

 

    whether the debt securities may be issued in amounts other than $1,000 each or multiples thereof;

 

    any changes to or additional Events of Default or covenants;

 

    the subordination, if any, of the debt securities and any changes to the subordination provisions of the Indenture;

 

    the terms, if any, upon which the debt securities may be convertible into or exchanged for stock, other debt securities or other securities; and

 

    any other terms of the debt securities.

This description of debt securities will be deemed modified, amended or supplemented by any description of any series of debt securities set forth in a prospectus supplement related to that series.

The prospectus supplement will also describe any material United States federal income tax consequences or other special considerations regarding the applicable series of debt securities, including those relating to:

 

    debt securities with respect to which payments of principal, premium or interest are determined with reference to an index or formula, including changes in prices of particular securities, currencies or commodities;

 

    debt securities with respect to which principal, premium or interest is payable in a foreign or composite currency;

 

    debt securities that are issued at a discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of issuance is below market rates; and

 

    variable rate debt securities that are exchangeable for fixed rate debt securities.

At our option, we may make interest payments by check mailed to the registered holders of any debt securities or, if so stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, at the option of a holder by wire transfer to an account designated by the holder.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the Trustee at which its corporate trust business is principally administered in the United States, subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without the payment of any service charge, other than any applicable tax or governmental charge.

Any funds we pay to a paying agent for the payment of amounts due on any debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years will be returned to us, and the holders of the debt securities must look only to us for payment after that time.

The Guarantees

Our payment obligations under any series of debt securities may be jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the master partnership. If a series of debt securities is so guaranteed, the master partnership will execute a notation of guarantee as further evidence of its guarantee. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any guarantee by the master partnership.

 

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If a series of debt securities is guaranteed by the master partnership and is designated as subordinate to our senior indebtedness, then the guarantees by the master partnership will be subordinated to the senior indebtedness of the master partnership to substantially the same extent as the series is subordinated to our senior indebtedness. See “—Subordination.”

Covenants

The Indenture contains the following covenant for the benefit of the holders of all series of debt securities.

Reports

So long as any debt securities are outstanding, we will file with the Trustee, within 15 days after we or the master partnership would have been required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports that we or the master partnership are required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).

A series of debt securities may contain additional financial and other covenants. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain a description of any such covenants that are added to the Indenture specifically for the benefit of holders of a particular series.

Merger, Amalgamation, Consolidation and Sale of Assets

We will not merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other person or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any person, whether in a single transaction or series of related transactions, unless:

 

    we are the surviving person in the case of a merger, or the surviving or transferee person, if other than us:

 

    is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation organized under the laws of the United States, a state thereof or the District of Columbia; and

 

    expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee, all of our obligations under the Indenture and the debt securities issued under the Indenture;

 

    immediately after giving effect to the transaction or series of transactions, no Default or Event of Default would occur or be continuing;

 

    if we are not the surviving person, then each guarantor, unless it is the person with which we have consummated a transaction under this provision, has confirmed that its guarantee of the debt securities will continue to apply to the obligations under the debt securities and the Indenture; and

 

    we have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel, each stating that the merger, amalgamation, consolidation, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition, and if a supplemental indenture is required, the supplemental indenture, comply with the conditions set forth above and any other applicable provisions of the Indenture.

Thereafter, if we are not the surviving person, the surviving or transferee person will be substituted for us under the Indenture. If we sell or otherwise dispose of (except by lease) all or substantially all of our assets and the above stated requirements are satisfied, we will be released from all of our liabilities and obligations under the Indenture and the debt securities. If we lease all or substantially all of our assets, we will not be so released from our obligations under the Indenture and the debt securities.

 

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Events of Default, Remedies and Notice

Events of Default

Each of the following events will be an “Event of Default” under the Indenture with respect to a series of debt securities:

 

    default in any payment of interest on any debt securities of that series when due that continues for 30 days;

 

    default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any debt securities of that series when due at its stated maturity, upon redemption, upon required repurchase or otherwise;

 

    default in the payment of any sinking fund payment on any debt securities of that series when due;

 

    failure by us or, if the series of debt securities is guaranteed by the master partnership, by the guarantor, to comply for 60 days (180 days in the case of a failure to comply with the covenant described under “—Covenants—Reports” above) after notice with the other agreements contained in the Indenture, any supplement to the Indenture or any board resolution authorizing the issuance of that series;

 

    certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the issuer or, if applicable, the guarantor; and

 

    if such series of debt securities is entitled to the benefits of a guarantee, such guarantee (i) ceases to be in full force and effect, except as specifically permitted under the Indenture, (ii) is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding or (iii) is denied or disaffirmed by the guarantor.

Exercise of Remedies

If an Event of Default, other than an Event of Default described in the fifth bullet point above, occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the entire principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately.

A default under the fourth bullet point above will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series notify us and, if the series of debt securities is guaranteed by the guarantor, the guarantor, of the default and such default is not cured within 60 days after receipt of notice (180 days in the case of a failure to comply with the covenant described under “—Covenants—Reports” above).

If an Event of Default described in the fifth bullet point above occurs and is continuing, the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all outstanding debt securities of all series will become immediately due and payable without any declaration of acceleration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any holders.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may:

 

    waive all past defaults, except with respect to nonpayment of principal, premium or interest; and

 

    rescind any declaration of acceleration by the Trustee or the holders with respect to the debt securities of that series, but only if:

 

    rescinding the declaration of acceleration would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and

 

    all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived, other than the nonpayment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities of that series that have become due solely by the declaration of acceleration.

 

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If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders unless such holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any costs, liability or expense. No holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the debt securities of any series, except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest when due, unless:

 

    such holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default with respect to that series is continuing;

 

    holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have requested that the Trustee pursue the remedy;

 

    such holders have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any cost, liability or expense;

 

    the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity or security; and

 

    the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have not given the Trustee a direction that, in the opinion of the trustee, is inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series have the right, subject to certain restrictions, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any right or power conferred on the trustee with respect to that series of debt securities. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that:

 

    conflicts with law;

 

    is inconsistent with any provision of the Indenture;

 

    the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other holder; or

 

    would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

Notice of Event of Default

Within 30 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, we are required to give written notice to the Trustee and indicate the status of the default and what action we are taking or propose to take to cure the default. In addition, we are required to deliver to the Trustee, on or before January 31 in each year, a compliance certificate indicating that we have complied with all covenants contained in the Indenture or whether any default or Event of Default has occurred during the previous year.

If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee must mail to each holder a notice of the Event of Default by the later of 90 days after the Event of Default occurs or 30 days after the Trustee knows of the Event of Default. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to any debt securities, the Trustee may withhold such notice, but only if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a committee of directors or responsible officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of the holders.

Amendments and Waivers

The issuer may amend the Indenture without the consent of any holder of debt securities to:

 

    cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

 

    convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge any property to or with the Trustee;

 

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    provide for the assumption by a successor of the issuer’s obligations under the Indenture;

 

    add guarantors with respect to the debt securities or reflect the release of any guarantor in accordance with the Indenture;

 

    secure the debt securities;

 

    add covenants for the benefit of the holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the issuer;

 

    make any change that does not adversely affect the rights under the Indenture of any holder;

 

    add or appoint a successor or separate Trustee;

 

    comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; or

 

    establish the form or terms of any new series of debt securities.

In addition, the issuer may amend the Indenture if the holders of a majority in principal amount of all debt securities of each series that would be affected then outstanding under the Indenture consent to it. The issuer may not, however, without the consent of each holder of outstanding debt securities of each series that would be affected, amend the Indenture to:

 

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of debt securities of any series whose holders must consent to an amendment;

 

    reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any debt securities;

 

    reduce the principal of or extend the stated maturity of any debt securities;

 

    reduce any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt securities or change the time at which any debt securities may or shall be redeemed;

 

    make any debt securities payable in other than U.S. dollars;

 

    impair the right of any holder to receive payment of premium, if any, principal or interest with respect to such holder’s debt securities on or after the applicable due date;

 

    impair the right of any holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment with respect to such holder’s debt securities;

 

    release any security that has been granted in respect of the debt securities, other than in accordance with the Indenture;

 

    make any change in the amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent;

 

    make any change in the waiver provisions; or

 

    release any guarantor or modify a guarantor’s guarantee in any manner adverse to the holders.

The consent of the holders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment. After an amendment under the Indenture requiring the consent of the holders of any series of debt securities becomes effective, the issuer is required to mail to all holders a notice briefly describing the amendment with respect to other holders. The failure to give, or any defect in, such notice to any holder, however, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment with respect to other holders.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series, on behalf of all such holders, and subject to certain rights of the Trustee, may waive:

 

    compliance by the issuer or a guarantor with certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture; and

 

    any past default under the Indenture, subject to certain rights of the Trustee under the Indenture;

 

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except that such majority of holders may not waive a default:

 

    in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest; or

 

    in respect of a provision that under the Indenture cannot be amended without the consent of all holders of the series of debt securities that is affected.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The issuer may discharge all its obligations under the Indenture with respect to any series of debt securities, other than its obligation to register the transfer and exchange of debt securities of such series, provided that either:

 

    the issuer delivers all outstanding debt securities of such series to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

    all such debt securities not so delivered for cancellation have either become due and payable, will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are scheduled for redemption within one year, and the issuer has deposited with the Trustee in trust an amount of cash sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of such debt securities, including interest to the stated maturity or applicable redemption date,

and, in either case, the issuer has paid all other sums payable under the Indenture.

Defeasance

At any time, the issuer may terminate, with respect to debt securities of a particular series, all its obligations under such series of debt securities and the Indenture, which we call a “legal defeasance.” If the issuer decides to make a legal defeasance, however, the issuer may not, among other things, terminate its obligations:

 

    relating to the defeasance trust;

 

    to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of that series;

 

    to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of that series;

 

    to maintain one or more offices or agencies where the debt securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment and may be surrendered for transfer or exchange; or

 

    to compensate the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture.

If the issuer exercises its legal defeasance option, any guarantee will terminate with respect to that series of debt securities.

At any time the issuer may also effect a “covenant defeasance,” which means it has elected to terminate its obligations with respect to debt securities of a particular series under the covenants applicable to such series of debt securities and described in the prospectus supplement applicable to such series, other than as described in such prospectus supplement.

The legal defeasance option may be exercised notwithstanding a prior exercise of the covenant defeasance option. If the legal defeasance option is exercised, payment of the affected series of debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect to that series. If the covenant defeasance option is exercised, payment of the affected series of debt securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in the fourth and sixth (and with respect to any guarantor, the fifth) bullet points in the first paragraph under “—Events of Default, Remedies and Notice—Events of Default” or an Event of Default that is added specifically for such series and described in the prospectus supplement applicable to such series.

 

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In order to exercise either defeasance option, the issuer must:

 

    irrevocably deposit in trust with the Trustee money or certain U.S. government obligations for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be;

 

    deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred. In the case of legal defeasance only, such opinion of counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable federal income tax law; and

 

    comply with certain other conditions, including that no default has occurred and is continuing after the deposit in trust.

Subordination

Debt securities of a series may be subordinated to our “Senior Indebtedness,” which we define generally to include any obligation created or assumed by us (or, if the series is guaranteed, the guarantor) for the repayment of borrowed money and any guarantee therefor, whether outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such obligation, it is provided that such obligation is subordinate or not superior in right of payment to such debt securities (or, if the series is guaranteed, the guarantee of the guarantor), or to other obligations which are pari passu with or subordinated to such debt securities (or, if the series is guaranteed, the guarantee of the guarantor). Subordinated debt securities will be subordinate in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture and the prospectus supplement relating to such series, to the prior payment of all of our indebtedness and that of the guarantor, if applicable, that is designated as “Senior Indebtedness” with respect to such series.

The holders of our Senior Indebtedness or, if applicable, of the Senior Indebtedness of a guarantor, will receive payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness before holders of subordinated debt securities will receive any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to the subordinated debt securities:

 

    upon any payment or distribution of our assets or, if applicable to any series of outstanding debt securities, the guarantor’s assets, to creditors;

 

    upon a liquidation or dissolution of us or, if applicable to any series of outstanding debt securities, the guarantor; or

 

    in a bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceeding relating to us or, if applicable to any series of outstanding debt securities, to the guarantor.

Until the Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, any distribution to which holders of subordinated debt securities would otherwise be entitled will be made to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, except that the holders of subordinated debt securities may receive units representing limited partner interests in us and any debt securities that are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness to at least the same extent as the subordinated debt securities.

If the issuer does not pay any principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to Senior Indebtedness within any applicable grace period (including at maturity), or any other default on Senior Indebtedness occurs and the maturity of the Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms, the issuer and any guarantor may not:

 

    make any payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to subordinated debt securities;

 

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    make any deposit for the purpose of defeasance of the subordinated debt securities; or

 

    repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire any subordinated debt securities, except that in the case of subordinated debt securities that provide for a mandatory sinking fund, the issuer may deliver subordinated debt securities to the Trustee in satisfaction of its sinking fund obligation,

unless, in either case,

 

    the default has been cured or waived and any declaration of acceleration has been rescinded;

 

    the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; or

 

    the issuer and the Trustee receive written notice approving the payment from the representatives of each issue of “Designated Senior Indebtedness.”

Generally, “Designated Senior Indebtedness” will include:

 

    any specified issue of Senior Indebtedness of at least $100 million; and

 

    any other Senior Indebtedness that we may designate in respect of any series of subordinated debt securities.

During the continuance of any default, other than a default described in the paragraph prior to the immediately preceding paragraph, that may cause the maturity of any Designated Senior Indebtedness to be accelerated immediately without further notice, other than any notice required to effect such acceleration, or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the issuer may not make any payments on the subordinated debt securities or any related guarantee for a period called the “Payment Blockage Period.” A Payment Blockage Period will commence on the receipt by the issuer and the Trustee of written notice of the default, called a “Blockage Notice,” from the representative of any Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period and will end 179 days thereafter.

The Payment Blockage Period may be terminated before its expiration:

 

    by written notice from the person or persons who gave the Blockage Notice;

 

    by repayment in full in cash of the Designated Senior Indebtedness with respect to which the Blockage Notice was given; or

 

    if the default giving rise to the Payment Blockage Period is no longer continuing.

Unless the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness have accelerated the maturity of the Designated Senior Indebtedness, the issuer may resume payments on the subordinated debt securities after the expiration of the Payment Blockage Period.

Generally, not more than one Blockage Notice may be given in any period of 360 consecutive days. The total number of days during which any one or more Payment Blockage Periods are in effect, however, may not exceed an aggregate of 179 days during any period of 360 consecutive days.

After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the subordinated debt securities are paid in full, holders of the subordinated debt securities shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness.

As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of insolvency, the holders of Senior Indebtedness, as well as certain of the issuer’s general creditors, may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the subordinated debt securities.

 

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No Personal Liability of General Partner

Our general partner and its directors, officers, employees, incorporators and equity owners, as such, will not be liable for:

 

    any of our obligations or the obligations of any guarantor under the debt securities or the indentures; or

 

    any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.

By accepting a debt security, each holder will be deemed to have waived and released all such liability. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for our issuance of the debt securities. This waiver may not be effective, however, to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Book Entry, Delivery and Form

A series of debt securities may be issued in the form of one or more global certificates deposited with a depositary. We expect that The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or “DTC,” will act as depositary. If a series of debt securities is issued in book-entry form, one or more global certificates will be issued and deposited with or on behalf of DTC and physical certificates will not be issued to each holder. A global security may not be transferred unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated security, except that DTC, its nominees and their successors may transfer a global security as a whole to one another.

DTC will keep a computerized record of its participants, such as a broker, whose clients have purchased the debt securities. The participants will then keep records of their clients who purchased the debt securities. Beneficial interests in global securities will be shown on, and transfers of beneficial interests in global securities will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.

DTC advises us that it is:

 

    a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

 

    a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

 

    a member of the United States Federal Reserve System;

 

    a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

 

    a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC is owned by a number of its participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also records the settlement among participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments due on the global securities will be wired to DTC’s nominee. The issuer, any guarantor, the Trustee and any paying agent will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of the global securities for all purposes. Accordingly, the issuer, the trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global securities to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities.

 

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It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, to credit participants’ accounts on the payment date according to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global securities as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to participants, whose accounts are credited with debt securities on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy.

Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global securities, as well as voting by participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the participants and the owners of beneficial interests, as is the case with debt securities held for the account of customers registered in “street name.” Payments to holders of beneficial interests are the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the Trustee, any guarantor or us.

Beneficial interests in global securities will be exchangeable for certificated securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

 

    DTC notifies the issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law and a successor depositary is not appointed by the issuer within 90 days; or

 

    the issuer determines not to require all of the debt securities of a series to be represented by a global security and notifies the trustee of the decision.

The Trustee

A separate trustee may be appointed for any series of debt securities. We use the term “Trustee” to refer to the trustee appointed with respect to any such series of debt securities. We may maintain banking and other commercial relationships with the Trustee and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business, and the Trustee may own debt securities.

Governing Law

The Indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders and is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed Treasury Regulations thereunder, and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Changes in these authorities may cause the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a prospective unitholder to vary substantially from those described below, possibly on a retroactive basis. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we” or “us” are references to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, L.P. and our subsidiaries.

Legal conclusions contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and are based on the accuracy of representations made by us to them for this purpose. However, this section does not address all U.S. federal income tax matters that affect us or our unitholders and does not describe the application of the alternative minimum tax that may be applicable to certain unitholders. Furthermore, this section focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States (for U.S. federal income tax purposes), who have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, who use the calendar year as their taxable year, and who hold units as capital assets (generally, property that is held for investment). This section has limited applicability to corporations, partnerships (including entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes), estates, trusts, non-resident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions, non-U.S. persons, individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), employee benefit plans, real estate investment trusts or mutual funds. Accordingly, we encourage each unitholder to consult the unitholder’s own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences particular to that unitholder resulting from ownership or disposition of units and potential changes in applicable tax laws.

We are relying on opinions and advice of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. with respect to the matters described herein. An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or a court. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any such contest of the matters described herein may materially and adversely impact the market for our units and the prices at which our units trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner because the costs will reduce our cash available for distribution. Furthermore, the tax consequences of an investment in us may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions, which may be retroactively applied.

For the reasons described below, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following federal income tax issues: (1) the treatment of a unitholder whose units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a short seller to cover a short sale of units) (please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Treatment of Securities Loans”); (2) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read “—Disposition of Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees”); and (3) whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election” and “—Uniformity of Units”).

Taxation of the Partnership

Partnership Status

We expect to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, generally will not be liable for entity-level federal income taxes. Instead, as described below, each of our unitholders will take into account its respective share of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction in computing its federal income

 

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tax liability as if the unitholder had earned such income directly, even if we make no cash distributions to the unitholder.

Section 7704 of the Code generally provides that publicly traded partnerships will be treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes. However, if 90% or more of a partnership’s gross income for every taxable year it is publicly traded consists of “qualifying income,” the partnership may continue to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (the “Qualifying Income Exception”). Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation, storage, processing and marketing of certain natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, as well as other types of qualifying income such as interest (other than from a financial business) and dividends. We estimate that less than 5% of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time.

Based upon factual representations made by us and our general partner, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that we will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied in rendering its opinion include, without limitation:

(a) Neither we nor any of our partnerships or limited liability company subsidiaries has elected to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

(b) For each taxable year, since and including the year of our initial public offering, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income of a character that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined is “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code; and

(c) Each hedging transaction that we treat as resulting in qualifying income has been and will be appropriately identified as a hedging transaction pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations, and has been and will be associated with oil, natural gas, or products thereof that are held or to be held by us in activities that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined or will opine result in qualifying income.

We believe that these representations are true and will be true in the future.

If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as transferring all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation and then as distributing that stock to our unitholders in liquidation. This deemed contribution and liquidation should not result in the recognition of taxable income by our unitholders or us so long as our liabilities do not exceed the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our common units may be modified by administrative or legislative action or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of the United States Congress and the President propose and consider substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships, including the elimination of the Qualifying Income Exception upon which we rely for our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In addition, the IRS has issued proposed regulations regarding qualifying income under Section 7704(d)(1)(E) of the Code (the “Proposed Regulations”). We do not believe the Proposed Regulations affect our ability to meet the Qualifying Income Exception. However, there are no assurances that final regulations will not include changes that interpret Section 7704(d)(1)(E) in a manner that is contrary to the Proposed Regulations, which could modify the amount of our gross income that we are able to treat as qualifying

 

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income for the purposes of the Qualifying Income Exception. We are unable to predict whether any such changes will ultimately be enacted. However, it is possible that a change in law could affect us and may be applied retroactively. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.

If for any reason we are taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be taken into account by us in determining the amount of our liability for federal income tax, rather than being passed through to our unitholders. Our taxation as a corporation could materially reduce the cash available for distribution to unitholders and thus could substantially reduce the value of our units. Any distribution made to a unitholder at a time we are treated as a corporation would be (i) a taxable dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, then (ii) a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the unitholder’s tax basis in its units, and thereafter (iii) taxable capital gain.

The remainder of this discussion is based on the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. that we will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership

Limited Partner Status

Unitholders who are admitted as limited partners of the partnership, assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications and are awaiting admission as limited partners, and unitholders whose units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of units will be treated as partners of the partnership for federal income tax purposes.

As there is no direct or indirect controlling authority addressing the federal income tax treatment of assignees of common units who are entitled to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion does not extend to these persons. Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units unless the common units are held in a nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those common units. For a discussion related to the risks of losing partner status as a result of securities loans, please read “—Treatment of Securities Loans.” Unitholders who are not treated as partners of the partnership as described above are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences applicable to them under the circumstances.

Flow-Through of Taxable Income

Subject to the discussion below under “—Entity-Level Collections of Unitholder Taxes” with respect to payments we may be required to make on behalf of our unitholders, we will not pay any federal income tax. Rather, each unitholder will be required to report on its federal income tax return each year its share of our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year or years ending with or within its taxable year. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if that unitholder has not received a cash distribution.

Basis of Units

A unitholder’s tax basis in its units initially will be the amount paid for those units increased by the unitholder’s initial allocable share of our liabilities. That basis generally will be (i) increased by the unitholder’s share of our income and any increases in such unitholder’s share of our liabilities, and (ii) decreased, but not below zero, by the amount of all distributions to the unitholder, the unitholder’s share of our losses, and any

 

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decreases in the unitholder’s share of our liabilities. The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all of those interests.

Treatment of Distributions

Distributions made by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder, unless such distributions exceed the unitholder’s tax basis in its units, in which case the unitholder generally will recognize gain taxable in the manner described below under “—Disposition of Units.”

Any reduction in a unitholder’s share of our “liabilities” will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. A decrease in a unitholder’s percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional units may decrease the unitholder’s share of our liabilities. For purposes of the foregoing, a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities (liabilities for which no partner bears the economic risk of loss) generally will be based upon that unitholder’s share of the unrealized appreciation (or depreciation) in our assets, to the extent thereof, with any excess liabilities allocated based on the unitholder’s share of our profits. Please read “—Disposition of Units.”

A non-pro rata distribution of money or property (including a deemed distribution as a result of the reallocation of our liabilities described above) may cause a unitholder to recognize ordinary income, if the distribution reduces the unitholder’s share of our “unrealized receivables,” including depreciation recapture and substantially appreciated “inventory items,” both as defined in Section 751 of the Code (“Section 751 Assets”). To the extent of such reduction, the unitholder would be deemed to receive its proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and exchange such assets with us in return for a portion of the non-pro rata distribution. This deemed exchange generally will result in the unitholder’s recognition of ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (ii) the unitholder’s tax basis (generally zero) in the Section 751 Assets deemed to be relinquished in the exchange.

Limitations on Deductibility of Losses

A unitholder may not be entitled to deduct the full amount of loss we allocate to it because its share of our losses will be limited to the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s tax basis in its units, and (ii) in the case of a unitholder that is an individual, estate, trust or certain types of closely-held corporations, the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be “at risk” with respect to our activities. In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of its tax basis in its units, reduced by (1) any portion of that basis attributable to the unitholder’s share of our liabilities, (2) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or similar arrangement and (3) any amount of money the unitholder borrows to acquire or hold its units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to another unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A unitholder subject to the at risk limitation must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions (including distributions deemed to result from a reduction in a unitholder’s share of nonrecourse liabilities) cause the unitholder’s at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year.

Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of the basis or at risk limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction in a later year to the extent that the unitholder’s tax basis or at risk amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon a taxable disposition of units, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at risk limitation but not losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at risk limitation in excess of that gain can no longer be used, and will not be available to offset a unitholder’s salary or active business income.

In addition to the basis and at risk limitations, a passive activity loss limitation generally limits the deductibility of losses incurred by individuals, estates, trusts, some closely held corporations and personal service

 

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corporations from “passive activities” (generally, trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate). The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly-traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will be available to offset only passive income generated by us. Passive losses that exceed a unitholder’s share of passive income we generate may be deducted in full when the unitholder disposes of all of its units in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive loss rules generally are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at risk and basis limitations.

Limitations on Interest Deductions

The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer’s “investment interest expense” generally is limited to the amount of that taxpayer’s “net investment income.” Investment interest expense includes:

 

    interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment;

 

    interest expense allocated against portfolio income; and

 

    the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a passive activity to the extent allocable against portfolio income.

The computation of a unitholder’s investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly connected with the production of investment income. Net investment income generally does not include qualified dividend income (if applicable) or gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment. A unitholder’s share of a publicly traded partnership’s portfolio income and, according to the IRS, net passive income will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest expense limitation.

Entity-Level Collections of Unitholder Taxes

If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax on behalf of any current or former unitholder or our general partner, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution of cash to the relevant unitholder or general partner. Where the tax is payable on behalf of all unitholders or we cannot determine the specific unitholder on whose behalf the tax is payable, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of a unitholder, in which event the unitholder may be entitled to claim a refund of the overpayment amount. Unitholders are urged to consult their tax advisors to determine the consequences to them of any tax payment we make on their behalf.

Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction

In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that incentive distributions are made to our general partner, gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss, that loss will be allocated first to our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and, second, to our general partner.

Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated under Section 704(c) of the Code (or the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code) to account for any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time such assets are contributed to us and at the time of any subsequent offering of our units (a “Book-Tax Disparity”). As a result, the federal income tax burden associated with any Book-Tax

 

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Disparity immediately prior to an offering generally will be borne by our partners holding interests in us prior to such offering. In addition, items of recapture income will be specially allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to that recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by other unitholders.

An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by the Code to eliminate a Book-Tax Disparity, will generally be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has “substantial economic effect.” In any other case, a partner’s share of an item will be determined on the basis of the partner’s interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including (i) the partner’s relative contributions to us, (ii) the interests of all the partners in profits and losses, (iii) the interest of all the partners in cash flow and (iv) the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in “—Section 754 Election” and “—Disposition of Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees,” allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.

Treatment of Securities Loans

A unitholder whose units are loaned (for example, a loan to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of units) may be treated as having disposed of those units. If so, such unitholder would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period (i) any of our income, gain, loss or deduction allocated to those units would not be reportable by the lending unitholder and (ii) any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units may be treated as ordinary taxable income.

Due to a lack of controlling authority, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder that enters into a securities loan with respect to its units. Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of income recognition from a loan of their units are urged to consult their own tax advisors and modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and lending their units. The IRS has announced that it is studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please read “—Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

Tax Rates

Under current law, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rates for individuals applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains (generally, gains from the sale or exchange of certain investment assets held for more than one year) are 39.6% and 20%, respectively. These rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.

In addition, a 3.8% net investment income tax applies to certain net investment income earned by individuals, estates, and trusts. For these purposes, net investment income generally includes a unitholder’s allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s net investment income from all investments, or (ii) the amount by which the unitholder’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if married filing separately) or $200,000 (if the unitholder is unmarried or in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income, or (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins.

 

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Section 754 Election

We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code that permits us to adjust the tax bases in our assets as to specific purchasers of our units under Section 743(b) of the Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The Section 743(b) adjustment separately applies to each purchaser of units based upon the values and bases of our assets at the time of the relevant purchase, and the adjustment will reflect the purchase price paid. The Section 743(b) adjustment does not apply to a person who purchases units directly from us.

Under our partnership agreement, we are authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of units even if that position is not consistent with applicable Treasury Regulations. A literal application of Treasury Regulations governing a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to properties depreciable under Section 167 of the Code may give rise to differences in the taxation of unitholders purchasing units from us and unitholders purchasing from other unitholders. If we have any such properties, we intend to adopt methods employed by other publicly traded partnerships to preserve the uniformity of units, even if inconsistent with existing Treasury Regulations, and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not opined on the validity of this approach. Please read “—Uniformity of Units.”

The IRS may challenge the positions we adopt with respect to depreciating or amortizing the Section 743(b) adjustment we take to preserve the uniformity of units due to lack of controlling authority. Because a unitholder’s tax basis in its units is reduced by its share of our items of deduction or loss, any position we take that understates deductions will overstate a unitholder’s basis in its units, and may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read “—Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.” If a challenge to such treatment were sustained, the gain from the sale of units may be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.

The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment we allocated to our assets subject to depreciation to goodwill or non-depreciable assets. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure any unitholder that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS or that the resulting deductions will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different tax basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than it would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.

Tax Treatment of Operations

Accounting Method and Taxable Year

We will use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in its tax return its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for each taxable year ending within or with its taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of its units after December 31 but before the close of its taxable year must include its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for its taxable year, with the result that it will be required to include in income for its taxable year its share of more than twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read “—Disposition of Units—Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.”

 

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Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization

The tax bases of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of those assets. If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation deductions previously taken, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of its interest in us. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction” and “—Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

The costs we incur in offering and selling our units (called “syndication expenses”) must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. While there are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us, the underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses.

Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties

The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values and the tax bases of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates and tax basis determinations ourselves. These estimates and determinations of tax basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deduction previously reported by unitholders could change, and unitholders could be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

Disposition of Units

Recognition of Gain or Loss

A unitholder will be required to recognize gain or loss on a sale of units equal to the difference between the unitholder’s amount realized and tax basis in the units sold. A unitholder’s amount realized generally will equal the sum of the cash and the fair market value of other property it receives plus its share of our liabilities with respect to the units sold. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.

Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than one year generally will be taxable as long-term capital gain or loss. However, gain or loss recognized on the disposition of units will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent attributable to Section 751 Assets, such as depreciation recapture and our ‘inventory items,” regardless of whether such inventory is substantially appreciated in value. Ordinary income attributable to Section 751 Assets may exceed net taxable gain realized on the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and capital gain or loss upon a sale of units. Net capital loss may offset capital gains and, in the case of individuals, up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year. Both ordinary income and capital gain recognized on a sale of units may be subject to net investment income tax in certain circumstances. Please read, “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Tax Rates.”

For purposes of calculating gain or loss on the sale of units, the unitholder’s adjusted tax basis will be adjusted by its allocable share of our income or loss in respect of its units for the year of the sale. Furthermore, as

 

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described above, the IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all of those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an “equitable apportionment” method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner’s tax basis in its entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner’s entire interest in the partnership.

Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed above, a unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, it may designate specific units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of the units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of our units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult its tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.

Specific provisions of the Code affect the taxation of some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an “appreciated” financial position, including a partnership interest with respect to which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, in the event the taxpayer or a related person enters into:

 

    a short sale;

 

    an offsetting notional principal contract; or

 

    a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.

Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.

Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees

In general, our taxable income or loss will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month (the “Allocation Date”). However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets or, in the discretion of the general partner, any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which such income, gain, loss or deduction is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.

Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Code and most publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. The Department of the Treasury and the IRS have issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which a publicly traded partnership may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders, although such tax items must be prorated on a daily basis. Nonetheless, the proposed regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. Accordingly, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferee and transferor unitholders. If this method is not

 

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allowed under the final Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder’s interest, our taxable income or losses could be reallocated among our unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferee and transferor unitholders, as well as among unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.

A unitholder who disposes of units prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to the month of disposition but will not be entitled to receive a cash distribution for that period.

Notification Requirements

A unitholder who sells or purchases any of its units is generally required to notify us in writing of that transaction within 30 days after the transaction (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the transaction in the case of a seller). Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a transfer of units may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.

Constructive Termination

We will be considered to have “constructively” terminated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes upon the sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For such purposes, multiple sales of the same unit are counted only once. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than the calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in such unitholder’s taxable income for the year of termination.

A constructive termination occurring on a date other than December 31 generally would require that we file two tax returns for one fiscal year, thereby increasing our administration and tax preparation costs. However, pursuant to an IRS relief procedure, the IRS may allow a constructively terminated partnership to provide a single Schedule K-1 for the calendar year in which a termination occurs. Following a constructive termination, we would be required to make new tax elections, including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, and the termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation and thus increase the taxable income allocable to unitholders. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination may either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination that would not otherwise have been applied to us as a continuing partnership as opposed to a terminating partnership.

Uniformity of Units

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units and for other reasons, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements. Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the units. Please read “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election.”

Our partnership agreement permits our general partner to take positions in filing our tax returns that preserve the uniformity of our units. These positions may include reducing the depreciation, amortization or loss deductions to which a unitholder would otherwise be entitled or reporting a slower amortization of Section 743(b) adjustments for some unitholders than that to which they would otherwise be entitled. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine as to the validity of such filing positions.

 

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A unitholder’s basis in units is reduced by its share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individual income tax return) so that any position that we take that understates deductions will overstate the unitholder’s basis in its units, and may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read “—Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss” above and “—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election” above. The IRS may challenge one or more of any positions we take to preserve the uniformity of units. If such a challenge were sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and, under some circumstances, the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors

Ownership of units by employee benefit plans and other tax-exempt organizations, as well as by non-resident alien individuals, non-U.S. corporations and other non-U.S. persons (collectively, “Non-U.S. Unitholders” raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. Prospective unitholders that are tax-exempt entities or Non-U.S. Unitholders should consult their tax advisors before investing in our units. Employee benefit plans and most other tax-exempt organizations, including IRAs and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to a tax-exempt unitholder.

Non-U.S. Unitholders are taxed by the United States on income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business (“effectively connected income”) and on certain types of U.S.-source non-effectively connected income (such as dividends), unless exempted or further limited by an income tax treaty, and will be treated as engaged in business in the United States because of their ownership of our units. Furthermore, it is probable that they will be deemed to conduct such activities through permanent establishments in the United States within the meaning of any applicable tax treaty. Consequently, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax on their share of our net income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, distributions to Non-U.S. Unitholders are subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Each Non-U.S. Unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E, or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes.

In addition, because a Non-U.S. Unitholder classified as a corporation will be treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income and gain as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation’s “U.S. net equity” to the extent reflected in the corporation’s earnings and profits. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a “qualified resident.” In addition, this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Code.

A Non-U.S. Unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. Unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS interpreting the scope of “effectively connected income,” gain recognized by a non-U.S. person from the sale of its interest in a partnership that is engaged in a trade or business in the United States will be considered effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Thus, part or all of a Non-U.S. Unitholder’s gain from the sale or other disposition of its units may be treated as effectively connected with that unitholder’s indirect U.S. trade or business constituted by its investment in us. Moreover, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a Non-U.S. Unitholder generally will be subject to federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a unit if (i) it owned (directly, indirectly or constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our units at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition and (ii) 50% or more of the fair market

 

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value of our worldwide real property interests and other assets used or held for use in a trade or business consisted of U.S. real property interests (which include U.S. real estate (including land, improvements, and certain associated personal property) and interests in entities holding U.S. real estate) at any time during the shorter of the period during which such unitholder held the units or the five-year period ending on the date of disposition. More than 50% of our assets may consist of U.S. real property interests. Therefore, Non-U.S. Unitholders may be subject to federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of their units.

Administrative Matters

Information Returns and Audit Procedures

We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each taxable year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder’s share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure our unitholders that those positions will yield a result that conforms to all of the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS.

The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Neither we nor Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully challenge the positions we adopt, and such a challenge could adversely affect the value of the units. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability, and may result in an audit of the unitholder’s own return. Any audit of a unitholder’s return could result in adjustments unrelated to our returns.

Publicly traded partnerships generally are treated as entities separate from their owners for purposes of federal income tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS, and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings of the partners. The Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for these purposes, and our partnership agreement designates our general partner.

The Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review may go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate in that action.

A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on its federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.

Nominee Reporting

Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:

 

  (1) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;

 

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  (2) a statement regarding whether the beneficial owner is:

 

  (a) a non-U.S. person;

 

  (b) a non-U.S. government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or

 

  (c) a tax-exempt entity;

 

  (3) the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and

 

  (4) specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales.

Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $100 per failure, up to a maximum of $1.5 million per calendar year, is imposed by the Code for failure to report that information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to us.

Accuracy-Related Penalties

Certain penalties may be imposed as a result of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for the underpayment of that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding the underpayment of that portion. We do not anticipate that any accuracy-related penalties will be assessed against us.

State, Local, Non-U.S. and Other Tax Considerations

In addition to federal income taxes, unitholders may be subject to other taxes, including state and local and non-U.S. income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangibles taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or own property now or in the future or in which the unitholder is a resident. We currently conduct business or own property in several states. Some or all of these states may impose an income tax on nonresident partners of partnerships doing business within the state, and we may also own property or do business in other states in the future that impose income or similar taxes on nonresident persons owning an interest in us. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on its investment in us.

Although you may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some jurisdictions because your income from that jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment requirement, you will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of these jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. Some of the jurisdictions may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder’s income tax liability to the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return.

It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, of his investment in us. We strongly recommend that each prospective unitholder consult, and depend upon, its own tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal

 

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tax returns that may be required of it. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local, alternative minimum tax or non-U.S. tax consequences of an investment in us.

Tax Consequences of Ownership of Preferred Units

A description of the material federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of preferred units will be set forth on the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of preferred units.

Tax Consequences of Ownership of Partnership Securities

A description of the material federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of partnership securities will be set forth on the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of partnership securities.

Tax Consequences of Ownership of Warrants

A description of the material federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of warrants will be set forth on the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of warrants.

Tax Consequences of Ownership of Rights

A description of the material federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of rights will be set forth on the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of rights.

Tax Consequences of Ownership of Debt Securities

A description of the material federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of debt securities will be set forth on the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of debt securities.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Under this prospectus, we intend to offer our securities to the public through one or more broker-dealers, underwriters or directly to investors.

We will fix a price or prices of our securities at:

 

    market prices prevailing at the time of any sale under this registration statement;

 

    prices related to market prices; or

 

    negotiated prices.

We may change the price of the securities offered from time to time.

We will pay or allow distributors’ or sellers’ commissions that will not exceed those customary in the types of transactions involved. Broker-dealers may act as agent or may purchase securities as principal and thereafter resell the securities from time to time:

 

    in or through one or more transactions (which may involve crosses and block transactions) or distributions;

 

    on the New York Stock Exchange;

 

    in the over-the-counter market; or

Broker-dealers or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agents. If any broker-dealer purchases the securities as principal, it may effect resales of the securities from time to time to or through other broker-dealers, and other broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of concessions or commissions from the purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents.

To the extent required, the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, as well as other important information, will be set forth in prospectus supplements. In that event, the discounts and commissions we will allow or pay to the underwriters, if any, and the discounts and commissions the underwriters may allow or pay to dealers or agents, if any, will be set forth in, or may be calculated from, the prospectus supplements. Any underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents who participate in any sale of the securities may also engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses. We may indemnify underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents against specific liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

We may offer our units into an existing trading market on the terms described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. Underwriters and dealers who may participate in any at-the-market offerings will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Because FINRA views our common units as interests in a direct participation program, any offering of common units under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part will be made in compliance with Rule 2310 of the FINRA Rules.

 

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To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

In connection with offerings under this shelf registration and in compliance with applicable law, underwriters, brokers or dealers may engage in transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers or dealers may over-allot in connection with offerings, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the purpose of covering a syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the securities, the underwriters, brokers or dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other brokers or dealers for distribution the securities in offerings may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the securities will be passed upon by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas, as our counsel. Any underwriters will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements, and related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the effectiveness of Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth all expenses payable by Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP and Boardwalk Pipelines, LP (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities.

 

Registration fee

   $ 100,700   

Printing expenses

     *   

Fees and expenses of legal counsel

     *   

Accounting fees and expenses

     *   

Fees and expenses of Trustee

     *   

Listing fees

     *   

Miscellaneous

     *   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ *   
  

 

 

 

 

* These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The section of the prospectus entitled “The Partnership Agreement—Indemnification” is incorporated herein by reference. Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set forth in the partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against all claims and demands whatsoever.

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

(a) See the Exhibit Index on the page immediately preceding the exhibits for a list of exhibits filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-3, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

(b) Financial Statement Schedules

Not Applicable.

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertake:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of

 

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prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; or

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

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(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of an undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, if any securities not taken by existing securityholders are to be offered to the public, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of any registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)2 of the Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, each of the registrants certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas on December 18, 2015.

 

BOARDWALK PIPELINE PARTNERS, LP
By:   BOARDWALK GP, LP,
  its general partner
By:   BOARDWALK GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:   /s/ JAMIE L. BUSKILL
  Jamie L. Buskill
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and Treasurer
BOARDWALK PIPELINES, LP
By:   BOARDWALK OPERATING GP, LP,
  its general partner
By:   BOARDWALK PIPELINE PARTNERS, LP,
  its managing member
By:   BOARDWALK GP, LP,
  its general partner
By:   BOARDWALK GP, LLC,
  its general partner
By:   /s/ JAMIE L. BUSKILL
  Jamie L. Buskill
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and Treasurer

 

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POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Stanley C. Horton, Jamie L. Buskill and Michael E. McMahon, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this registration statement, or any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with exhibits hereto and other documents in connection therewith or in connection with the registration of the securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ STANLEY C. HORTON

Stanley C. Horton

  

Chief Executive Officer,
President and Director (principal executive officer)

  December 18, 2015

/s/ JAMIE L. BUSKILL

Jamie L. Buskill

  

Senior Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and Treasurer

(principal financial officer)

  December 18, 2015

/s/ STEVEN A. BARKAUSKAS

Steven A. Barkauskas

  

Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer)

  December 18, 2015

/s/ WILLIAM R. CORDES

William R. Cordes

  

Director

  December 18, 2015

/s/ THOMAS E. HYLAND

Thomas E. Hyland

  

Director

  December 18, 2015

/s/ PETER W. KEEGAN

Peter W. Keegan

  

Director

  December 18, 2015

/s/ ARTHUR L. REBELL

Arthur L. Rebell

  

Director

  December 18, 2015

/s/ MARK L. SHAPIRO

Mark L. Shapiro

  

Director

  December 18, 2015

/s/ KENNETH I. SIEGEL

Kenneth I. Siegel

  

Director, Chairman of the Board

  December 18, 2015

/s/ ANDREW H. TISCH

Andrew H. Tisch

  

Director

  December 18, 2015

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

  1.1**       Form of Underwriting Agreement
  4.1       Indenture dated August 21, 2009, by and among Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as issuer, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on August 21, 2009).
  4.2       First Supplemental Indenture dated August 21, 2009, by and among Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as issuer, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 21, 2009).
  4.3       Second Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture dated August 21, 2009, by and among Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as issuer, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on November 8, 2012).
  4.4       Third Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture dated August 21, 2009, among Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as issuer, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 23, 2013).
  4.5       Fourth Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture dated August 21, 2009, among Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, as issuer, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP, as guarantor, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 26, 2014).
  4.6**       Form of Senior Note.
  4.7       Form of Subordinated Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, LP’s Form S-3ASR filed on March 5, 2007).
  4.8**       Form of Subordinated Note.
  4.9**       Form of Warrant Agreement
  4.10**       Form of Rights Agreement
  5.1*       Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
  8.1*       Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. relating to tax matters.
12.1*       Statement of Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1*       Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.2*       Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).
24.1*       Power of Attorney (contained on signature page.
25.1*       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. respecting the indenture dated as of August 21, 2009.
25.2*       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of the Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. respecting the form of indenture governing the subordinated debt securities.

 

* Filed herewith.
** To be filed as an exhibit to a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or in a post-effective amendment to this registration statement.

 

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