Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Net Income (Loss) per Common Unit

v3.19.3.a.u2
Net Income (Loss) per Common Unit
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
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 Statements of Partners’ Equity. On January 28, 2020, we declared a $0.63 distribution per common unit and subordinated unit and the related distribution to our general partner and IDR holders to be paid on February 14, 2020 to unitholders of record as of February 7, 2020 for the period from October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019.

The two-class method dictates that net income 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 (loss) 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. 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, which were mandatorily converted into our common units in accordance with the terms of our partnership agreement on August 2, 2017, were issued at a discount to the market price of the common units into which they were convertible.  This discount, totaling $2,130 million, represented a beneficial conversion feature and was 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 was considered a dividend that was distributed ratably with respect to any Class B unit from its issuance date through its conversion date, which resulted in an increase in Class B unitholders’ equity and a decrease in common and subordinated unitholders’ equity. We amortized the beneficial conversion feature through the mandatory conversion date of August 2, 2017 using the effective yield method, with a weighted average effective yield of 888.7% per year and 966.1% per year for Class B units previously held by Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC and Blackstone CQP Holdco, respectively. The impact of the beneficial conversion feature was also included in earnings per unit for the year ended December 31, 2017.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income and the allocation of net income to the common units, the subordinated units, the general partner units and IDRs for purposes of computing basic and diluted net income (loss) per unit (in millions, except per unit data).
 
 
 
 
Limited Partner Units
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
Common Units
 
Class B Units
 
Subordinated Units
 
General Partner Units
 
IDR
Year Ended December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
1,175

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
1,278

 
858

 
—

 
333

 
26

 
62

Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss (1)
 
$
(103
)
 
(73
)
 
—

 
(28
)
 
(2
)
 
—

Assumed allocation of net income
 
 
 
$
785

 
$
—

 
$
305

 
$
24

 
$
62

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
348.6

 
—

 
135.4

 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net income per unit
 
 
 
$
2.25

 
 
 
$
2.25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
1,274

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
1,162

 
795

 
—

 
309

 
22

 
36

Assumed allocation of undistributed net income (1)
 
$
112

 
79

 
—

 
31

 
2

 
—

Assumed allocation of net income
 
 
 
$
874

 
$
—

 
$
340

 
$
24

 
$
36

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
348.6

 
—

 
135.4

 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net income per unit
 
 
 
$
2.51

 
 
 
$
2.51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
490

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
514

 
376

 
—

 
127

 
10

 
1

Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class B units
 
—

 
(594
)
 
2,004

 
(1,410
)
 
—

 
—

Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss
 
$
(24
)
 
(17
)
 
—

 
(7
)
 
—

 
—

Assumed allocation of net income
 
 
 
$
(235
)
 
$
2,004

 
$
(1,290
)
 
$
10

 
$
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
178.5

 
84.8

 
135.4

 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted net loss per unit (2)
 
 
 
$
(1.32
)
 
 
 
$
(9.52
)
 
 
 
 

 
 
(1)
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).
(2)
Earnings per unit in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding because it is calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.