UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2016

 

OR

 

 

For the transition period from                    to                   

 

Commission file number: 001-36719

 

ANTERO MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

(303) 357-7310

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  ☒ Yes  ☐ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  ☒ Yes  ☐ No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)  ☐ Yes  ☒ No

 

As of October 21, 2016, there were 101,358,290 common units and 75,940,957 subordinated units outstanding.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the information in this report may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition, or forecasts of future events. Words such as “may,” “assume,” “forecast,” “position,” “predict,” “strategy,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “budget,” “potential,” or “continue,” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. They can be affected by assumptions used or by known or unknown risks or uncertainties. Consequently, no forward-looking statements can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in this report. Actual results may vary materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should also understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors and should not consider the following list to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by such forward-looking statements include:

We caution you that these forward-looking statements are subject to all of the risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, incident to the gathering and compression and water handling business. These risks include, but are not limited to, commodity price volatility, inflation, environmental risks, drilling and completion and other operating risks, regulatory changes, the uncertainty inherent in projecting future rates of production, cash flow and access to capital, the timing of development expenditures, and the other risks described under “Risk Factors” in this report and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2016 (the “2015 Form 10-K”).

Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this report occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this report are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue.

Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report.

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.Financial Statements

ANTERO MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

Condensed Combined Consolidated Balance Sheets

December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to condensed combined consolidated financial statements.

ANTERO MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

Condensed Combined Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

Three Months Ended September 30, 2015, and 2016

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

See accompanying notes to condensed combined consolidated financial statements.

ANTERO MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

Condensed Combined Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015, and 2016

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

See accompanying notes to condensed combined consolidated financial statements.

 

ANTERO MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

Condensed Combined Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed combined consolidated financial statements.

 

 

ANTERO MIDSTREAM PARTNERS LP

Condensed Combined Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015, and 2016

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

See accompanying notes to condensed combined consolidated financial statements.

(1)Business and Organization

Antero Midstream Partners LP (the “Partnership”) is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed by Antero Resources Corporation (“Antero”) to own, operate and develop midstream energy assets to service Antero’s increasing production. The Partnership’s assets consist of gathering pipelines, compressor stations and water handling and treatment assets, through which the Partnership provides midstream services to Antero under long-term, fixed-fee and cost plus contracts. Our assets are located in the southwestern core of the Marcellus Shale in northwest West Virginia and the core of the Utica Shale in southern Ohio. The Partnership’s condensed combined consolidated financial statements as of September 30, 2016, include the accounts of the Partnership, Antero Midstream LLC (“Midstream Operating”), Antero Water LLC (“Antero Water”), Antero Treatment LLC (“Antero Treatment”), and Antero Midstream Finance Corporation (“Finance Corp.”), all of which are entities under common control.

On September 23, 2015, Antero contributed (the “Water Acquisition”) (i) all of the outstanding limited liability company interests of Antero Water to the Partnership and (ii) all of the assets, contracts, rights, permits and properties owned or leased by Antero and used primarily in connection with the construction, ownership, operation, use or maintenance of Antero’s advanced waste water treatment complex under construction in Doddridge County, West Virginia, to Antero Treatment (collectively, (i) and (ii) are referred to herein as the “Contributed Assets”). Our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 have been recast to include the historical results of Antero Water because the transaction was between entities under common control. Antero Water’s operations prior to the Water Acquisition consisted entirely of fresh water handling operations.

References to “the Partnership,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms, when referring to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, refer to the Partnership’s gathering and compression assets and operations, and include Antero’s water assets and operations, which were contributed to us on September 23, 2015. References to “the Partnership,” “we,” “our,” “us” or like terms, when referring to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 or when used in the present tense or prospectively, refer to Antero Midstream Partners LP and its subsidiaries.

The Partnership’s gathering and compression assets consist of 8-, 12-, 16-, 20-, and 24-inch high and low pressure gathering pipelines and compressor stations that collect natural gas, NGLs and oil from Antero’s wells in West Virginia and Ohio. The Partnership’s assets also include two independent fresh water distribution systems that deliver water used by Antero for hydraulic fracturing activities in Antero’s operating areas. The fresh water distribution systems consist of permanent buried pipelines, surface pipelines and fresh water storage facilitates, as well as pumping stations and impoundments to transport fresh water throughout the pipeline system.

 

(2)Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of Presentation

These condensed combined consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) applicable to interim financial information, and should be read in the context of the December 31, 2015 combined consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for a more complete understanding of the Partnership’s operations, financial position, and accounting policies.  The December 31, 2015 combined consolidated financial statements were originally filed with the SEC in the 2015 Form 10-K.

The accompanying unaudited condensed combined consolidated financial statements of the Partnership have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for interim financial information, and, accordingly, do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Partnership’s financial position as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2016. The Partnership has no items of other comprehensive income; therefore, its net income is identical to its comprehensive income. Operating results for the period ended September 30, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year.

Certain costs of doing business which are incurred by Antero on our behalf have been reflected in the accompanying condensed combined consolidated financial statements. These costs include general and administrative expenses attributed to us by Antero in exchange for:

Transactions between us and Antero have been identified in the condensed combined consolidated financial statements (see Note 3-Transactions with Affiliates).

As of the date these condensed combined consolidated financial statements were filed with the SEC, the Partnership completed its evaluation of potential subsequent events for disclosure and no items requiring disclosure were identified, except the declaration of a cash distribution to unitholders, as described in Note 6—Partnership Equity and Distributions.

(b)Revenue Recognition

We provide gathering and compression and water handling and treatment services under fee-based contracts primarily based on throughput or cost plus a margin. Under these arrangements, we receive fees for gathering oil and gas products, compression services, and water handling and treatment services. The revenue we earn from these arrangements is directly related to (1) in the case of natural gas gathering and compression, the volumes of metered natural gas that we gather, compress and deliver to natural gas compression sites or other transmission delivery points, (2) in the case of oil and condensate gathering, the volumes of metered oil and condensate that we gather and deliver to other transmission delivery points, (3) in the case of fresh water delivery, the quantities of fresh water delivered to our customers for use in their well completion operations, or (4) in the case of other fluid handling services, which includes the disposal and treatment of waste water and high rate transfer of fresh water, our costs plus 3%. We recognize revenue when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, (2) services have been rendered, (3) prices are fixed or determinable and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.

(c) Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed combined consolidated financial statements and notes in conformity with GAAP requires that management formulate estimates and assumptions that affect revenues, expenses, assets, liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Items subject to estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of property and equipment and valuation of accrued liabilities, among others. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates.

(d)Cash and Cash Equivalents

Prior to September 23, 2015 Antero Water’s operations were funded by Antero. Net amounts funded by Antero are reflected as “Deemed distribution to Antero, net” on the accompanying statements of Condensed Combined Consolidated Cash Flows.

We consider all liquid investments purchased with an initial maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

(e)Property and Equipment

Property and equipment primarily consists of gathering pipelines, compressor stations and fresh water distribution pipelines and facilities stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. We capitalize construction-related direct labor and material costs. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives and salvage values of assets. The depreciation of fixed assets recorded under capital lease agreements is included in depreciation expense. Uncertainties that may

impact these estimates of useful lives include, among others, changes in laws and regulations relating to environmental matters, including air and water quality, restoration and abandonment requirements, economic conditions, and supply and demand for our services in the areas in which we operate. When assets are placed into service, management makes estimates with respect to useful lives and salvage values that management believes are reasonable. However, subsequent events could cause a change in estimates, thereby impacting future depreciation amounts.

Our investment in property and equipment for the periods presented is as follows:

 

(f)Impairment of Long‑Lived Assets

We evaluate our long‑lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the related carrying values of the assets may not be recoverable.  Generally, the basis for making such assessments is undiscounted future cash flow projections for the unit being assessed.  If the carrying values of the assets are deemed not recoverable, the carrying values are reduced to the estimated fair value, which are based on discounted future cash flows or other techniques, as appropriate.  No impairments for such assets have been recorded through September 30, 2016.

(g)Asset Retirement Obligations

Our gathering pipelines, compressor stations and fresh water distribution pipelines and facilities have an indeterminate life, if properly maintained. A liability will be recorded only if and when a future retirement obligation with a determinable life can be estimated. We are not able to make a reasonable estimate of when future dismantlement and removal dates of our pipelines, compressor stations and facilities, will occur and, because it has been determined that abandonment of all other ancillary assets would require minimal costs, we have not recorded asset retirement obligations at December 31, 2015 or September 30, 2016.

(h)Litigation and Other Contingencies

An accrual is recorded for a loss contingency when its occurrence is probable and damages can be reasonably estimated based on the anticipated most likely outcome or the minimum amount within a range of possible outcomes. We regularly review contingencies to determine the adequacy of our accruals and related disclosures. The ultimate amount of losses, if any, may differ from these estimates.

We accrue losses associated with environmental obligations when such losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Accruals for estimated environmental losses are recognized no later than at the time a remediation feasibility study, or an evaluation of response options, is complete. These accruals are adjusted as additional information becomes available or as circumstances change. Future environmental expenditures are not discounted to their present value. Recoveries of environmental costs from other parties are recorded separately as assets at their undiscounted value when receipt of such recoveries is probable.

(i)Equity‑Based Compensation

On March 30, 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-09, Stock Compensation–Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, and the Partnership has elected to early-adopt the standard as of January 1, 2016. See Note 2 (m) Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.

Our condensed combined consolidated financial statements reflect various equity-based compensation awards granted by Antero, as well as compensation expense associated with our own plan. These awards include profits interests awards, restricted stock, stock options, restricted units, and phantom units. For purposes of these condensed combined consolidated financial statements, we recognized as expense in each period an amount allocated from Antero, with the offset recorded as an increase in partners’ capital. See Note 3—Transactions with Affiliates for additional information regarding Antero’s allocation of expenses to us.

In connection with our initial public offering (“IPO”), our general partner adopted the Antero Midstream Partners LP Long-Term Incentive Plan (“Midstream LTIP”), pursuant to which certain non-employee directors of our general partner and certain officers, employees and consultants of our general partner and its affiliates are eligible to receive awards representing equity interests in the Partnership. An aggregate of 10,000,000 common units may be delivered pursuant to awards under the Midstream LTIP, subject to customary adjustments. For accounting purposes, these units are treated as if they are distributed from us to Antero. Antero recognizes compensation expense for the units awarded to its employees and a portion of that expense is allocated to us. See Note 5—Equity-Based Compensation.

(j)Income Taxes

Our condensed combined consolidated financial statements do not include a provision for income taxes as we are treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes, with each partner being separately taxed on its share of taxable income.

(k)Fair Value Measures

The FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance also relates to all nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not recognized or disclosed on a recurring basis (e.g., the initial recognition of asset retirement obligations and impairments of long ‑lived assets). The fair value is the price that we estimate would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize inputs to valuation techniques used to estimate fair value. An asset or liability subject to the fair value requirements is categorized within the hierarchy based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Our assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset or liability. The highest priority (Level 1) is given to unadjusted quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities, and the lowest priority (Level 3) is given to unobservable inputs. Level 2 inputs are data, other than quoted prices included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

The carrying values on our balance sheet of our cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable—Antero, accounts receivable—third party, prepaid expenses, other assets, accounts payable, accounts payable—Antero, accrued liabilities, accrued capital expenditures, accrued ad valorem tax, other current liabilities, other liabilities and the revolving credit facility approximate fair values due to their short-term maturities.

(l) Investment in Unconsolidated Entities

The Partnership uses the equity method to account for its investments in companies if the investment provides the Partnership with the ability to exercise significant influence over, but not control, the operating and financial policies of the investee. The Partnership’s consolidated net income includes the Partnership’s proportionate share of the net income or loss of such companies. The Partnership’s judgment regarding the level of influence over each equity method investee includes considering key factors such as the Partnership’s ownership interest, representation on the board of directors and participation in policy-making decisions of the investee and material intercompany transactions. See Note 10–Equity Method Investment.

 

(m) Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncement

On March 30, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Stock Compensation–Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.  This standard simplifies or clarifies several aspects of the accounting for equity-based payment awards, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows.  Certain of these changes are required to be applied retrospectively, while other changes are required to be applied prospectively.  The Partnership has elected to early-adopt the standard as of January 1, 2016.

As a result of adopting this standard, we will reclassify cash outflows attributable to tax withholdings on the net settlement of equity-classified awards from operating cash flows to financing cash flows. No retrospective adjustments to the condensed combined consolidated statement of cash flows were required for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, because no equity-based compensation awards were settled during this period.

 

 

(3)Transactions with Affiliates

(a)Revenues

All revenues earned, except revenues earned from third parties, were earned from Antero, under various agreements for gathering and compression, water services and seconded employees.

(b)Accounts receivable—Antero and Accounts payable—Antero

Accounts receivable—Antero represents amounts due from Antero, primarily related to gathering and compression services and water handling and treatment services. Accounts payable—Antero represents amounts due to Antero for general and administrative expenses and other costs.

(c)Allocation of Costs

The employees supporting our operations are employees of Antero. Direct operating expense includes allocated costs of $0.8 million and $1.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2016, respectively, and $2.2 million and $2.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2016, respectively, related to labor charges for Antero employees associated with the operation of our gathering lines, compressor stations, and water handling and treatment assets. General and administrative expense includes allocated costs of $11.6 million and $12.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2016, respectively, and $33.9 million and $36.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2016, respectively. These costs relate to: (i) various business services, including payroll processing, accounts payable processing and facilities management, (ii) various corporate services, including legal, accounting, treasury, information technology and human resources and (iii) compensation, including equity-based compensation (see Note 5—Equity-Based Compensation for more information). These expenses are charged or allocated to us based on the nature of the expenses and are allocated based on a combination of our proportionate share of Antero’s gross property and equipment, capital expenditures and labor costs, as applicable.

 

(4)Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt was as follows at December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016:

 

(a) Revolving Credit Facility

We have a secured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of bank lenders. The revolving credit facility provides for lender commitments of $1.5 billion and a letter of credit sublimit of $150 million. The revolving credit facility matures on November 10, 2019.

The revolving credit facility is ratably secured by mortgages on substantially all of our properties, including the properties of our subsidiaries, and guarantees from our subsidiaries. The revolving credit facility contains certain covenants including restrictions on indebtedness, and requirements with respect to leverage and interest coverage ratios. The revolving credit facility provides that, so long as no event of default exists or would be caused thereby, and only to the extent permitted by our organizational documents, distributions to the holders of our equity interests may be made in accordance with the cash distribution policy adopted by the board of directors of our general partner in connection with the IPO. The Partnership was in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

Principal amounts borrowed are payable on the maturity date with such borrowings bearing interest that is payable quarterly or, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Loans, at the end of the applicable interest period if shorter than six months. Interest is payable at a variable rate based on LIBOR or the base rate, determined by election at the time of borrowing. Commitment fees on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility are due quarterly at rates ranging from 0.25% to 0.375% of the unused facility based on utilization.

At December 31, 2015 and September 30, 2016, we had borrowings under the revolving credit facility of $620 million and $170 million, respectively, with a weighted average interest rate of 1.92% and 2.03%, respectively.  No letters of credit were outstanding at December 31, 2015 or September 30, 2016. 

(b) 5.375% Senior Notes Due 2024

On September 13, 2016, the Partnership and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Finance Corp., as co-issuers, issued $650 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.375% senior notes due September 15, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”) at par.  The 2024 Notes are unsecured and effectively subordinated to the revolving credit facility to the extent of the value of the collateral securing the revolving credit facility.  The 2024 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by the Partnership’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (other than Finance Corp.) and certain of its future restricted subsidiaries.  Interest on the 2024 Notes is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year.  The Partnership may redeem all or part of the 2024 Notes at any time on or after September 15, 2019 at redemption prices ranging from 104.031% on or after September 15, 2019 to 100.00% on or after September 15, 2022.  In addition, prior to September 15, 2019, the Partnership may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 2024 Notes with an amount of cash not greater than the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings, if certain conditions are met, at a redemption price of 105.375% of the principal amount of the 2024 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.  At any time prior to September 15, 2019, the Partnership may also redeem the 2024 Notes, in whole or in part, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2024 Notes plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest.  If the Partnership undergoes a change of control, the holders of the 2024 Notes will have the right to require the Partnership to repurchase all or a portion of the notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the 2024 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

(5)Equity-Based Compensation

Our general and administrative expenses include equity-based compensation costs allocated to us by Antero for grants made pursuant to Antero’s long‑term incentive plan and the Midstream LTIP. Equity‑based compensation expense allocated to us was $5.3 million and $6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2016, respectively, and $17.7 million and $19.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2016, respectively. These expenses were allocated to us based on our proportionate share of Antero’s labor costs. Antero has unamortized expense totaling approximately $210.2

million as of September 30, 2016 related to its various equity-based compensation plans, which includes the Midstream LTIP. A portion of this will be allocated to us as it is amortized over the remaining service period of the related awards.

Midstream LTIP

Our general partner manages our operations and activities and Antero employs the personnel who provide support to our operations. In connection with the IPO, our general partner adopted the Midstream LTIP, pursuant to which non‑employee directors of our general partner and certain officers, employees and consultants of our general partner and its affiliates are eligible to receive awards representing ownership interests in the Partnership. An aggregate of 10,000,000 common units may be delivered pursuant to awards under the Midstream LTIP, subject to customary adjustments. A total of 7,737,934 common units are available for future grant under the Midstream LTIP as of September 30, 2016. Restricted units and phantom units granted under the Midstream LTIP vest subject to the satisfaction of service requirements, upon the completion of which common units in the Partnership and distribution equivalent rights are delivered to the holder of the restricted units or phantom units. Compensation related to each restricted unit and phantom unit award is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the entire award. The grant date fair values of these awards are determined based on the closing price of the Partnership’s common units on the date of grant. These units are accounted for as if they are distributed by the Partnership to Antero. Antero recognizes compensation expense for the units awarded and a portion of that expense is allocated to the Partnership. Antero allocates equity-based compensation expense to the Partnership based on our proportionate share of Antero’s labor costs. The Partnership’s portion of the equity-based compensation expense is included in general and administrative expenses, and recorded as a credit to the applicable classes of partners’ capital.

A summary of restricted unit and phantom unit awards activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2016 is as follows:

 

 

Intrinsic values are based on the closing price of the Partnership’s common units on the referenced dates. Midstream LTIP unamortized expense of $37.5 million at September 30, 2016 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately 2.3 years and our proportionate share will be allocated to us as it is recognized.

 

 

(6)Partnership Equity and Distributions

Our Minimum Quarterly Distribution

Our partnership agreement provides for a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.17 per unit for each quarter, or $0.68 per unit on an annualized basis.

Our partnership agreement generally provides that we distribute cash each quarter during the subordination period in the following manner:

If cash distributions to our unitholders exceed $0.1955 per common unit and subordinated unit in any quarter, our unitholders and our general partner, as the holder of our incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”), will receive distributions according to the following percentage allocations:

 

General Partner Interest

Our general partner does not own any limited partner or subordinated limited partner interests in us. However, our general partner owns the IDRs and may in the future own common units or other equity interests in us and will be entitled to receive cash distributions on such interests.

Subordinated Units

Antero owns all of our subordinated units. The principal difference between our common units and subordinated units is that, for any quarter during the subordination period, holders of the subordinated units are not entitled to receive any distribution from operating surplus until the common units have received the minimum quarterly distribution from operating surplus for such quarter plus any arrearages in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution from prior quarters. Subordinated units will not accrue arrearages. When the subordination period ends, all of the subordinated units will convert into an equal number of common units. The subordination period will end on the first business day after we have earned and paid at least $0.68 (the minimum quarterly distribution on an annualized basis) on each outstanding common unit and subordinated unit for each of three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods ending on or after September 30, 2017 and there are no outstanding arrearages on our common units.

To the extent we do not pay the minimum quarterly distribution on our common units, our common unitholders will not be entitled to receive such arrearage payments in the future except during the subordination period. To the extent we have cash available for distribution from operating surplus in any future quarter during the subordination period in excess of the amount necessary to pay the minimum quarterly distribution to holders of our common units, we will use this excess cash to pay any distribution arrearages on common units related to prior quarters before any cash distribution is made to holders of subordinated units.

Cash Distributions

The board of directors of our general partner has declared a cash distribution of $0.265 per unit for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. The distribution will be payable on November 24, 2016 to unitholders of record as of November 10, 2016.

The following table details the distributions paid during or pertaining to the periods presented below (in thousands, except per unit data):

* Distribution equivalent rights on units that vested under the Midstream LTIP.

 

 

(7)Net Income Per Limited Partner Unit

The Partnership’s net income is attributed to the general partner and limited partners, including subordinated unitholders, in accordance with their respective ownership percentages, and when applicable, giving effect to incentive distributions paid to the general partner. Basic and diluted net income per limited partner unit is calculated by dividing limited partners’ interest in net income, less general partner incentive distributions, by the weighted average number of outstanding limited partner units during the period.

We compute earnings per unit using the two-class method for master limited partnerships. Under the two-class method, earnings per unit is calculated as if all of the earnings for the period were distributed under the terms of the partnership agreement, regardless of whether the general partner has discretion over the amount of distributions to be made in any particular period, whether those earnings would actually be distributed during a particular period from an economic or practical perspective, or whether the general partner has other legal or contractual limitations on its ability to pay distributions that would prevent it from distributing all of the earnings for a particular period.

We calculate net income available to limited partners based on the distributions pertaining to the current period’s net income. After adjusting for the appropriate period’s distributions, the remaining undistributed earnings or excess distributions over earnings, if any, are attributed to the general partner and limited partners in accordance with the contractual terms of the partnership agreement under the two-class method.

Basic earnings per unit is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to unitholders by the weighted average number of units outstanding during each period. Diluted net income per limited partner unit reflects the potential dilution that could occur if agreements to issue common units, such as awards under long-term incentive plans, were exercised, settled or converted into common units. When it is determined that potential common units resulting from an award should be included in the diluted net income per limited partner unit calculation, the impact is reflected by applying the treasury stock method. Earnings per common unit assuming dilution for the three months ended September 30, 2016 was calculated based on the diluted weighted average number of units outstanding of 100,824,582, including 370,594 dilutive units attributable to non-vested restricted unit and phantom unit awards. Earnings per common unit assuming dilution for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was calculated based on the diluted weighted average number of units outstanding of 100,364,955, including 62,647 dilutive units attributable to non-vested restricted unit and phantom unit awards. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, zero and 1,562,669 non-vested phantom unit and restricted unit awards, respectively, were anti-dilutive.

The Partnership’s calculation of net income per common and subordinated unit for the periods indicated is as follows (in thousands, except per unit data):

 

 

 

 

 

(8) Sale of Common Units Under Equity Distribution Agreement

During the third quarter of 2016, the Partnership entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Distribution Agreement”), pursuant to which the Partnership may sell, from time to time through brokers acting as its sales agents, common units representing distribution limited partner interests having an aggregate offering price of up to $250 million.  The program is registered with the SEC on an effective registration statement on Form S-3. Sales of the common units may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, at market prices, in block transactions, or as otherwise agreed to between the Partnership and the sales agents.  Proceeds are expected to be used for general partnership purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness and funding working capital or capital expenditures.  The Partnership is under no obligation to offer and sell common units under the Distribution Agreement.