A Choice of Investments
The Partnership offers two alternatives for investors wanting to own an interest in its portfolio of energy transportation assets. The first is via limited partner units of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P., which are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EEP. These units represent a direct interest in a traditional master limited partnership. An investment in a partnership differs in a number of significant ways from an investment in a corporation.
- A unitholder (partner) in a publicly traded partnership owns units of the partnership rather than shares of stock and receives cash distributions rather than dividends. Cash distributions received generally reduce a partner’s tax basis in the partnership. The cash distributions are not taxable as long as the partner’s tax basis exceeds zero.
- Typically, a corporation is subject to federal and state income taxes, but a partnership is not. All of the income, gains, losses and deductions of a partnership are passed through to its partners, who are required to show their allocated share of these amounts on their income tax returns. Allocated taxable income increases a partner’s tax basis in the partnership.
- In late February, partners are provided a tax package (Schedule K-1) required for preparation of their personal income tax returns. By comparison, a corporate stockholder typically receives a Form 1099 in late January detailing required tax data.
The second choice available to equity investors is shares of Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C., which is a limited liability company that trades publicly on the NYSE under the symbol EEQ. These shares represent an indirect investment in Enbridge Partners since Enbridge Management’s only investment is its interest in the Partnership. Further, the performance of Enbridge Management shares is generally expected to track that of the Partnership, since its shares are maintained on a one-for-one basis with a specific class of Enbridge Partners limited partner units. An investment in EEQ shares differs from an investment in EEP partnership units in a number of significant ways.
- Enbridge Management shareholders receive quarterly distributions in the form of additional shares. The distributions are comparable in value to the quarterly cash distributions paid to unitholders of Enbridge Partners.
- Enbridge Management distributions are not taxable when received and shareholders are not issued either a Schedule K-1 or a 1099 tax form. The sale of Enbridge Management shares is generally subject to capital gains treatment, thus providing a tax efficient form of investment.
- These investment attributes result in shares of Enbridge Management being attractive to many individual investors. In addition, Enbridge Management is classified as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, making ownership of its shares a more suitable investment for mutual funds and tax-exempt investors than direct ownership of partnership units.
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