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NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
NONCONTROLLING INTEREST  
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

 

20.NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

 

December 31,

 

2015 

 

2014 

 

(millions of Canadian dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P.

 

412 

 

748 

 

Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (EEM)

 

203 

 

790 

 

Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. preferred shares

 

100 

 

100 

 

Renewable energy assets

 

561 

 

351 

 

Other

 

24 

 

26 

 

 

 

1,300 

 

2,015 

 

 

ENBRIDGE ENERGY PARTNERS, L.P.

Noncontrolling interests in EEP represented the 80.0% (2014 - 79.5%) interest in EEP held by public unitholders, as well as interests of third parties in subsidiaries of EEP, including MEP. The net decrease in the carrying value of Noncontrolling interests in EEP was due to the transactions described below, which were partially offset by comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests in EEP during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

On January 2, 2015, Enbridge transferred its 66.7% interest in the United States segment of the Alberta Clipper pipeline, held through a wholly-owned Enbridge subsidiary in the United States, to EEP for aggregate consideration of $1.1 billion (US$1 billion), consisting of approximately $814 million (US$694 million) of Class E equity units issued to Enbridge by EEP and the repayment of approximately $359 million (US$306 million) of indebtedness owed to Enbridge. Prior to the transfer, EEP owned the remaining 33.3% interest in the United States segment of the Alberta Clipper pipeline.

 

The Class E units issued to Enbridge are entitled to the same distributions as the Class A units held by the public and are convertible into Class A units on a one-for-one basis at Enbridge’s option. The transaction applies to all distributions declared subsequent to the transfer. The Class E units are redeemable at EEP’s option after 30 years, if not converted by Enbridge prior to that time. The units have a liquidation preference equal to their notional value at December 23, 2014 of US$38.31 per unit, which was determined based on the trailing five-day volume-weighted average price of EEP’s Class A common units. EEP recorded the Class E units at fair value. As a result, the Company recorded a decrease in Noncontrolling interests of $304 million and increases in Additional paid-in capital and Deferred income tax liabilities of $218 million and $86 million, respectively.

 

On March 13, 2015, EEP completed a listed share issuance. The Company participated only to the extent to maintain its 2% General Partner (GP) interest. The listed share issuance resulted in contributions of $366 million (US$289 million) from noncontrolling interest holders. Enbridge’s noncontrolling interests in EEP increased from 79.5% to 80.0% as a result of the listed share issuance.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, EEP distributed $630 million (2014 - $504 million; 2013 - $463 million) to its noncontrolling interest holders in line with EEP’s objective to make quarterly distributions in an amount equal to its available cash, as defined in its partnership agreement and as approved by EEP’s Board of Directors.

 

Effective July 1, 2014, Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enbridge and the GP of EEP, entered into an equity restructuring transaction in which the Company irrevocably waived its right to receive cash distributions and allocations in excess of 2% in respect of its GP interest in the existing incentive distribution rights (IDR) in exchange for the issuance of (i) 66.1 million units of a new class of EEP units designated as Class D Units, and (ii) 1,000 units of a new class of EEP units designated as Incentive Distribution Units (IDU). The Class D Units entitle the Company to receive quarterly distributions equal to the distribution paid on EEP’s common units. This restructuring decreases the Company’s share of incremental cash distributions from 48% of all distributions in excess of US$0.495 per unit per quarter down to 23% of all distributions in excess of EEP’s current quarterly distribution of US$0.5435 per unit per quarter. The transaction applies to all distributions declared subsequent to the effective date. EEP recorded the Class D Units and IDU at fair value, which resulted in a reduction to the carrying amounts of the GP and limited partner capital accounts on a pro-rata basis. As a result, the Company recorded a decrease in Noncontrolling interests of $2,363 million inclusive of CTA and increases in Additional paid-in capital and Deferred income tax liabilities of $1,601 million and $762 million, respectively.

 

In May 2013, EEP formed MEP as its wholly-owned subsidiary. Subsequently, on November 13, 2013, MEP completed its initial public offering of 18.5 million Class A common units representing limited partner interests and subsequently issued an additional 2.8 million Class A common units pursuant to an underwriters’ over-allotment option. MEP received proceeds of approximately $372 million (US$355 million). Upon finalization of the offering, MEP’s initial assets consisted of an approximate 39% ownership interest in EEP’s natural gas and NGL midstream business. EEP retained a 2% GP interest, an approximate 52% limited partner interest and all IDR in MEP, in addition to its 61% direct interest in the natural gas and NGL midstream assets. On July 1, 2014, EEP completed the sale of an additional 12.6% limited partnership interest in its natural gas and NGL midstream business to MEP for cash proceeds of $376 million (US$350 million). Upon finalization of this transaction, EEP continued to retain a 2% GP interest, an approximate 52% limited partner interest and all IDR in MEP. However, EEP’s direct interest in entities or partnerships holding the natural gas and NGL midstream operations reduced from 61% to 48%, with the remaining ownership held by MEP.

 

ENBRIDGE ENERGY MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.

Noncontrolling interests in EEM represented the 88.3% (2014 - 88.3%) of the listed shares of EEM not held by the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the decrease in the carrying value of Noncontrolling interests in EEM is primarily due to comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in EEM, along with the fair value allocation attributable to EEM as a result of the Class E equity units issued to Enbridge by EEP as discussed above.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the decrease in the carrying value of Noncontrolling interests in EEM is due to the fair value allocation attributable to EEM as a result of the EEP equity restructuring as discussed above. During the year ended December 31, 2013, EEM completed a listed share issuance in which the Company did not participate and which resulted in contributions of $523 million from noncontrolling interest holders.

 

ENBRIDGE GAS DISTRIBUTION INC.

The Company owns 100% of the outstanding common shares of EGD; however, the four million Cumulative Redeemable EGD Preferred Shares held by third parties are entitled to a claim on the assets of EGD prior to the common shareholder. The preferred shares have no fixed maturity date and have floating adjustable cash dividends that are payable at 80% of the prime rate. EGD may, at its option, redeem all or a portion of the outstanding shares for $25 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends to the redemption date. As at December 31, 2015, no preferred shares have been redeemed.

 

RENEWABLE ENERGY ASSETS

Renewable energy assets include Magic Valley and Wildcat wind farms acquired on December 31, 2014 (Note 6) and Keechi Wind Project, a VIE (Note 10).  During the year ended December 31, 2015, the net increase in the carrying value of Noncontrolling interests in Renewable energy assets is primarily due to contributions, net of distributions, received from noncontrolling interests, along with comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

Year ended December 31,

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

(millions of Canadian dollars)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at beginning of year

 

2,249

 

1,053

 

1,000

 

Loss

 

(3

)

(11

)

(24

)

Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in unrealized gains/(loss) on cash flow hedges

 

(7

)

(15

)

4

 

Other comprehensive loss from equity investees

 

(12

)

-

 

-

 

Reclassification to earnings of realized cash flow hedges

 

2

 

-

 

-

 

Reclassification to earnings of unrealized cash flow hedges

 

2

 

-

 

-

 

Change in foreign currency translation adjustment

 

18

 

5

 

-

 

Other comprehensive income/(loss)

 

3

 

(10

)

4

 

Distributions to unitholders

 

(114

)

(79

)

(72

)

Contributions from unitholders

 

670

 

323

 

92

 

Reversal of cumulative redemption value adjustment attributable to ECT preferred units

 

(541

)

-

 

-

 

Dilution loss on Enbridge Income Fund issuance of trust units

 

(355

)

-

 

-

 

Dilution loss on Enbridge Income Fund equity investment

 

(132

)

-

 

-

 

Dilution gain on Enbridge Income Fund indirect equity investment

 

5

 

-

 

-

 

Redemption value adjustment

 

359

 

973

 

53

 

Balance at end of year

 

2,141

 

2,249

 

1,053

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interests in the Fund at December 31, 2015 represented 40.7% (2014 - 70.6%; 2013 - 68.6%) of interests in the Fund’s trust units that are held by third parties.

 

In September 2015, Enbridge’s unitholdings in the Fund increased upon closing of the Canadian Restructuring Plan (Note 1), resulting in a decrease in redeemable noncontrolling interests from 70.6% to 34.3%.

 

Upon closing of the Canadian Restructuring Plan, ECT, an equity investment of the Fund, reclassified its Preferred Units from mezzanine equity to liabilities. Accordingly, ECT reduced the recorded redemption value of its Preferred Units to their aggregate par value, resulting in an increase to the Fund’s equity investment in ECT. This resulted in an adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests of approximately $541 million.

 

Upon closing of the Canadian Restructuring Plan, EIPLP, an indirect equity investment of the Fund, issues Temporary Performance Distribution Rights (TPDR) to Enbridge each month in the form of Class D units of EIPLP. The Class D unitholders receive a distribution each month equal to the per unit amount paid on Class C units of EIPLP, but to be paid in kind in additional Class D units. The issuances of TPDR and additional Class D units result in a dilution gain for the Fund’s indirect equity investment in EIPLP. A dilution gain for redeemable noncontrolling interests of $5 million was recorded for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

In November 2015, ENF completed a bought deal public offering of common shares for approximately $700 million and issued additional common shares to Enbridge for approximately $174 million in order for Enbridge to maintain its 19.9% in ENF. ENF used the aggregate proceeds of $874 million to subscribe for additional trust units of the Fund. Enbridge did not participate in this offering, resulting in an increase in redeemable noncontrolling interests from 34.3% to 40.7%. This resulted in contributions of $670 million, net of share issue costs, from redeemable noncontrolling interest holders and a dilution loss for redeemable noncontrolling interests of $355 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

In November 2015, the Fund used the aggregate proceeds of $874 million from the issuance of trust units to ENF to purchase additional common units of ECT, and ECT used the aggregate proceeds of $874 million to purchase additional Class A units of EIPLP, resulting in a dilution loss for ECT. This dilution loss resulted in a dilution loss for Fund’s equity investment in ECT and a dilution loss for redeemable noncontrolling interests of $132 million for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

In November 2014, the Fund Group acquired Enbridge’s 50% interest in Alliance Pipeline US and subscribed for and purchased Class A units of Enbridge’s subsidiaries that indirectly own the Canadian and United States segments of the Southern Lights Pipeline for a total consideration of approximately $1.8 billion, including $421 million in cash, $878 million in the form of a long-term note payable by the Fund, bearing interest of 5.5% per annum and was fully repaid at December 31, 2015, and $461 million in the form of preferred units of ECT, which at the time of the transfer was a subsidiary of the Fund. To fund the cash component of the consideration, the Fund issued approximately $421 million of trust units to ENF. To purchase the trust units from the Fund, ENF completed a bought deal public offering of common shares for approximately $337 million and issued additional common shares to Enbridge for approximately $84 million in order for Enbridge to maintain its 19.9% interest in ENF. As a result of the transfer, redeemable noncontrolling interests in the Fund increased from 68.6% to 70.6% and contributions of $323 million, net of share issue costs, were received from redeemable noncontrolling interest holders.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Fund completed a unit issuance in which the Company did not participate, resulting in an increase in the redeemable noncontrolling interests from 67.7% to 68.6%. This resulted in contributions of $92 million from redeemable noncontrolling interest holders.

 

Distributions to noncontrolling unitholders were made on a monthly basis for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 in line with the Fund’s objective of distributing a high proportion of its cash available for distribution, as approved by its Board of Trustees.