Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Net Income (Loss) per Common Unit

v2.4.0.8
Net Income (Loss) per Common Unit
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
CASH DISTRIBUTIONS AND NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON UNIT [Abstract]  
Cash Distributions and 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 21, 2014, we declared a $0.425 distribution per common unit and the related distribution to our general partner to be paid to owners of record on February 1, 2014 for the fourth quarter of 2013.

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 (losses) attributable to a company that was purchased from an entity under common control are 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 Statements 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 June 2017 and August 2017 for Cheniere's and Blackstone's Class B units, respectively, 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's and Blackstone's Class B units, respectively. The impact of the beneficial conversion feature is also included in earnings per unit for the year ended December 31, 2013.

The following is a schedule by years, based on the capital structure as of December 31, 2013, 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
2014
(2
)
 
6

 
(4
)
2015
(232
)
 
781

 
(549
)
2016
(29,564
)
 
99,685

 
(70,121
)
2017
(505,937
)
 
1,705,956

 
(1,200,019
)


Under our partnership agreement, the incentive distribution rights ("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 provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) and the allocation of net income (loss) to the common units, the subordinated units, the General Partner and Creole Trail Pipeline Business for purposes of computing net income (loss) per unit (in thousands, except per unit data). The following table also provides net income (loss) per unit, as adjusted, assuming the common units, subordinated units and General Partner had participated in the pre-acquisition date net losses of the Creole Trail Pipeline Business.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net income (loss) and the allocation of net income (loss) to the common units and the subordinated units for purposes of computing net income (loss) per unit (in thousands, except per unit data):
 
 
 
 
Limited Partner Units
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
 
Common Units
 
Class B Units
 
Subordinated Units
 
General Partner
 
Creole Trail Pipeline Business
Year Ended December 31, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(258,117
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
99,015

 
97,035

 
—

 
—

 
1,980

 
 
Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss
 
$
(357,132
)
 
(98,522
)
 
—

 
(233,680
)
 
(6,780
)
 
(18,150
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss)
 
 
 
$
(1,487
)
 
$
—

 
$
(233,680
)
 
$
(4,800
)
 
$
(18,150
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss) adjusted for the Creole Trail Pipeline Business
 
 
 
$
(6,762
)
 
$
—

 
$
(246,192
)
 
$
(5,163
)
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
54,235

 
140,500

 
135,384

 
 
 
 
Net loss per unit
 
 
 
$
(0.03
)
 
$
—


$
(1.73
)
 
 
 
 
Net loss per unit, adjusted to include pre-acquisition date net losses of the Creole Trail Pipeline Business
 
 
 
$
(0.12
)
 
$
—

 
$
(1.82
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2012 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(175,431
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
61,501

 
60,271

 
—

 
—

 
1,230

 
 
Amortization of beneficial conversion feature of Class B units
 
—

 
(5,149
)
 
25,319

 
(20,170
)
 
—

 
 
Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss
 
$
(236,932
)
 
(46,061
)
 
—

 
(157,917
)
 
(7,659
)
 
(25,295
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss)
 
 
 
$
9,061

 
$
25,319

 
$
(178,087
)
 
$
(6,429
)
 
$
(25,295
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss) adjusted for the Creole Trail Pipeline Business
 
 
 
3,463

 
25,319

 
(197,278
)
 
(6,935
)
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
33,470

 
43,303

 
135,384

 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per unit
 
 
 
$
0.27

 
$
0.58

 
$
(1.32
)
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per unit, adjusted to include pre-acquisition date net losses of the Creole Trail Pipeline Business
 
 
 
$
0.10

 
$
0.58

 
$
(1.46
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 2011 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(53,560
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Declared distributions
 
50,136

 
49,134

 
—

 
—

 
1,002

 
 
Assumed allocation of undistributed net loss
 
$
(103,696
)
 
(14,819
)
 
—

 
(64,713
)
 
(1,623
)
 
(22,541
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss)
 
 
 
$
34,315

 
$
—

 
$
(64,713
)
 
$
(621
)
 
$
(22,541
)
Assumed allocation of net income (loss) adjusted for the Creole Trail Pipeline Business
 
 
 
$
30,199

 
$
—

 
$
(82,687
)
 
$
(1,072
)
 
 
Weighted average units outstanding
 
 
 
27,910

 
—

 
135,384

 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per unit
 
 
 
$
1.23

 
$
—

 
$
(0.48
)
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per unit, adjusted to include pre-acquisition date net losses of the Creole Trail Pipeline Business
 
 
 
$
1.08

 
$
—

 
$
(0.61
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1) Retrospectively adjusted as discussed in Note 3—"Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.