Quarterly Distribution
Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: MEP) announced today that the board of directors of its general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.3575 per unit on all of its outstanding common and subordinated units, for the quarter ended December 31, 2016. The approved distribution remains unchanged from the previous quarter. The distribution is payable on February 14, 2017, to unitholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2017. Upon the payment of the distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 2016, it is anticipated that the subordination period with respect to MEP subordinated units owned by Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. ("EEP") will end and the subordinated units will convert into common units on a one-for-one basis.
Merger Agreement
MEP also announced that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. ("EECI"), an indirect subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (NYSE: ENB), whereby EECI will acquire, for cash, all of the outstanding publicly held common units of MEP at a price of US$8.00 per common unit for an aggregate transaction value of US$170.2 million. The transaction price represents a 5.5 percent premium to the trailing 30 trading-day volume weighted average price of MEP common units as of January 26, 2017.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2017. Upon closing, MEP will cease to be a publicly traded partnership. The transaction will be a taxable event to MEP's unaffiliated unitholders with recognition of gain or loss in the same manner as if they had sold their MEP units for the transaction price. The transaction is the result of the strategic alternatives review process, announced on May 2, 2016.
A committee of independent directors of the board of directors of the general partner of MEP (the "MEP Conflicts Committee") was formed on December 5, 2016, to review, evaluate, consider and negotiate the terms of the merger agreement. The MEP Conflicts Committee, after consultation with its independent legal and financial advisors, approved the merger agreement and determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are fair and reasonable to and in the best interests of MEP and its unaffiliated unitholders. Among other things, the MEP Conflicts Committee took into consideration MEP's projected financial performance and the implications on MEP's financial position, existing credit agreement covenants and distribution coverage, and any potential actions to address such matters, as reflected in the projected financial and operating data reviewed by the MEP Conflicts Committee. The board of directors of the general partner of MEP, acti ng based in part upon the recommendation of the MEP Conflicts Committee, unanimously approved the merger agreement and determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement are fair and reasonable to and in the best interests of MEP and the limited partners. The closing of the transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including the approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units of MEP.
Upon the conversion of the subordinated units owned by EEP described above, EEP will own approximately 52 percent of MEP's then outstanding common units. In connection with the execution of the merger agreement, MEP has entered into a support agreement with EECI and EEP whereby EEP has agreed, in its capacity as a holder of MEP units, to vote its units in favor of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.
Advisors
Evercore acted as financial advisor and Bracewell LLP acted as legal counsel to the MEP Conflicts Committee. Citigroup acted as financial advisor and Latham & Watkins LLP acted as legal counsel to EECI on this transaction. Simmons & Company acted as financial advisor and Vinson & Elkins LLP acted as legal counsel to the EEP Special Committee on this transaction.
About Midcoast Energy Partners, L.P.
MEP is a limited partnership formed by EEP to serve as EEP's primary vehicle for owning and growing its natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs) midstream business in the United States. MEP's assets consist of a 51.6 percent controlling interest in Midcoast Operating, L.P., a Texas limited partnership that owns a network of natural gas and NGL gathering and transportation systems, natural gas processing and treating facilities and NGL fractionation facilities primarily located in Texas and Oklahoma. Midcoast Operating also owns and operates natural gas, condensate and NGL logistics and marketing assets that primarily support its gathering, processing and transportation business. Through MEP's ownership of Midcoast Operating's general partner, MEP controls, manages and operates these systems.
