Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Net Income (Loss) per Common Unit

v3.5.0.2
Net Income (Loss) per Common Unit
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]  
Net Income (Loss) per Common Unit
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON UNIT
 
Net income (loss) per common unit for a given period is based on the distributions that will be made to the unitholders with respect to the period plus an allocation of undistributed net income (loss) based on provisions of the partnership agreement, divided by the weighted average number of common units outstanding. Distributions paid by us are presented on the Consolidated Statement of Partners’ Equity. On October 21, 2016, we declared a $0.425 distribution per common unit and the related distribution to our general partner to be paid on November 11, 2016 to unitholders of record as of November 1, 2016 for the period from July 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016.

The two-class method dictates that net income (loss) for a period be reduced by the amount of available cash that will be distributed with respect to that period and that any residual amount representing undistributed net income be allocated to common unitholders and other participating unitholders to the extent that each unit may share in net income as if all of the net income for the period had been distributed in accordance with the partnership agreement. Undistributed income is allocated to participating securities based on the distribution waterfall for available cash specified in the partnership agreement. Undistributed losses (including those resulting from distributions in excess of net income) are allocated to common units and other participating securities on a pro rata basis based on provisions of the partnership agreement. Historical income (loss) attributable to a company that was purchased from an entity under common control is allocated to the predecessor owner in accordance with the terms of the partnership agreement. Distributions are treated as distributed earnings in the computation of earnings per common unit even though cash distributions are not necessarily derived from current or prior period earnings.

The Class B units were issued at a discount to the market price of the common units into which they are convertible.  This discount, totaling $2,130.0 million, represents a beneficial conversion feature and is reflected as an increase in common and subordinated unitholders’ equity and a decrease in Class B unitholders’ equity to reflect the fair value of the Class B units at issuance on our Consolidated Statement of Partners’ Equity.  The beneficial conversion feature is considered a dividend that will be distributed ratably with respect to any Class B unit from its issuance date through its conversion date, resulting in an increase in Class B unitholders’ equity and a decrease in common and subordinated unitholders’ equity. We amortize the beneficial conversion feature assuming a conversion date of August 2017 for Cheniere Holdings’ and Blackstone CQP Holdco’s Class B units, although actual conversion may occur prior to or after these assumed dates. We are amortizing using the effective yield method with a weighted average effective yield of 888.7% per year and 966.1% per year for Cheniere Holdings’ and Blackstone CQP Holdco’s Class B units, respectively. The impact of the beneficial conversion feature is also included in earnings per unit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.

The following is a schedule by years, based on the capital structure as of September 30, 2016, of the anticipated impact to the capital accounts in connection with the amortization of the beneficial conversion feature (in thousands):
 
Common Units
 
Class B Units
 
Subordinated Units
2016
$
(29,567
)
 
$
99,685

 
$
(70,118
)
2017
(594,462
)
 
2,004,209

 
(1,409,747
)


Under our partnership agreement, the IDRs participate in net income (loss) only to the extent of the amount of cash distributions actually declared, thereby excluding the IDRs from participating in undistributed net income (loss). We did not allocate earnings or losses to IDR holders for the purpose of the two-class method earnings per unit calculation for any of the periods presented. The following table (in thousands, except per unit data) provides a reconciliation of net loss and the allocation of net loss to the common units, the subordinated units and the general partner units for purposes of computing net loss per unit.
 
 
 
 
Limited Partner Units
 
 
 
 
Total
 
Common Units
 
Class B Units
 
Subordinated Units
 
General Partner Units
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(81,509
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
24,758

 
24,263

 
—

 
—

 
495

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class B units
 
—

 
(8,806
)
 
29,691

 
(20,885
)
 
—

Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss
 
$
(106,267
)
 
(30,890
)
 
—

 
(73,252
)
 
(2,125
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss)
 
 
 
$
(15,433
)
 
$
29,691

 
$
(94,137
)
 
$
(1,630
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
57,086

 
145,333

 
135,384

 
 
Net income (loss) per unit
 
 
 
$
(0.27
)
 
$
0.20

 
$
(0.70
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(24,132
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
24,755

 
24,260

 
—

 
—

 
495

Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss
 
$
(48,887
)
 
(14,209
)
 
—

 
(33,700
)
 
(978
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss)
 
 
 
$
10,051

 
$
—

 
$
(33,700
)
 
$
(483
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
57,081

 
145,333

 
135,384

 
 
Net income (loss) per unit
 
 
 
$
0.18

 
$
—

 
$
(0.25
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(256,540
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
74,268

 
72,783

 
—

 
—

 
1,485

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class B units
 
—

 
(8,806
)
 
29,691

 
(20,885
)
 
—

Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss
 
$
(330,808
)
 
(96,158
)
 
—

 
(228,034
)
 
(6,616
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss)
 
 
 
$
(32,181
)
 
$
29,691

 
$
(248,919
)
 
$
(5,131
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
57,085

 
145,333

 
135,384

 
 
Net income (loss) per unit
 
 
 
$
(0.56
)
 
$
0.20

 
$
(1.84
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(262,851
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
74,266

 
72,781

 
—

 
—

 
1,485

Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss
 
$
(337,117
)
 
(97,984
)
 
—

 
(232,389
)
 
(6,744
)
Assumed allocation of net loss
 
 
 
$
(25,203
)
 
$
—

 
$
(232,389
)
 
$
(5,259
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
57,081

 
145,333

 
135,384

 
 
Net loss per unit
 
 
 
$
(0.44
)
 
$
—

 
$
(1.72
)