UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 10-K

xANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

2022

or

oTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from        to        

Commission file number: 001-35666

Summit Midstream Partners, LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

45-5200503

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

910 Louisiana Street, Suite 4200

Houston, TX

(Address of principal executive offices)

77002

(Zip Code)

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
910 Louisiana Street, Suite 4200
Houston, TX
(Address of principal executive offices)
45-5200503
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

77002
(Zip Code)
(832) 413-4770

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Units

SMLP

New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. o    Yes      x    No

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act. o    Yes      x    No

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. x    Yes      Yeso    No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).x    Yes     Yeso     No

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

Large accelerated filer

o

Accelerated filer

x

Non-accelerated filer

o

Smaller reporting company

x

Emerging growth company

o

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. 
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. o

Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). ☐    Yes    �� x    Yes      No

The aggregate market value of the common units held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2020,2022 was $45,998,000.

$129,415,408.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

Class

ClassAs of February 26, 2021

24, 2023

Common Units

6,110,092 units

10,182,763

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

None

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to its 2023 Annual Meeting of Limited Partners, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of December 31, 2022, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K where indicated.


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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Investors are cautioned that certain statements contained in this report as well as in periodic press releases and certain oral statements made by our officers and employees during our presentations are “forward-looking” statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements and may contain the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions, or future conditional verbs such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” and “could.” In addition, any statement concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions taken by us or our subsidiaries are also forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in Item 1A. Risk Factors included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Annual Report”).

Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events and are inherently subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of our management team. All forward-looking statements in this report and subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or to persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph. These risks and uncertainties include, among others:

our decision whether to pay, or our ability to grow, our cash distributions;

our decision whether to pay, or our ability to grow, our cash distributions;

fluctuations in natural gas, NGLs and crude oil prices, including as a result of political or economic measures taken by various countries or OPEC;

fluctuations in natural gas, NGLs and crude oil prices, including as a result of political or economic measures taken by various countries or OPEC;

the extent and success of our customers' drilling efforts, as well as the quantity of natural gas, crude oil and produced water volumes produced within proximity of our assets;

the extent and success of our customers' drilling and completion efforts, as well as the quantity of natural gas, crude oil, fresh water deliveries, and produced water volumes produced within proximity of our assets;

the current and potential future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations, financial position or cash flows;

the current and potential future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, results of operations, financial position or cash flows;

failure or delays by our customers in achieving expected production in their natural gas, crude oil and produced water projects;

failure or delays by our customers in achieving expected production in their natural gas, crude oil and produced water projects;

competitive conditions in our industry and their impact on our ability to connect hydrocarbon supplies to our gathering and processing assets or systems;

competitive conditions in our industry and their impact on our ability to connect hydrocarbon supplies to our gathering and processing assets or systems;

actions or inactions taken or nonperformance by third parties, including suppliers, contractors, operators, processors, transporters and customers, including the inability or failure of our shipper customers to meet their financial obligations under our gathering agreements and our ability to enforce the terms and conditions of certain of our gathering agreements in the event of a bankruptcy of one or more of our customers;

actions or inactions taken or nonperformance by third parties, including suppliers, contractors, operators, processors, transporters and customers, including the inability or failure of our shipper customers to meet their financial obligations under our gathering agreements and our ability to enforce the terms and conditions of certain of our gathering agreements in the event of a bankruptcy of one or more of our customers;

our ability to divest of certain of our assets to third parties on attractive terms, which is subject to a number of factors, including prevailing conditions and outlook in the natural gas, NGL and crude oil industries and markets;

our ability to divest of certain of our assets to third parties on attractive terms, which is subject to a number of factors, including prevailing conditions and outlook in the natural gas, NGL and crude oil industries and markets;

the ability to attract and retain key management personnel;

the ability to attract and retain key management personnel;

commercial bank and capital market conditions and the potential impact of changes or disruptions in the credit and/or capital markets;

changes in the availability and cost of capital and the results of our financing efforts, including availability of fundscommercial bank and capital market conditions and the potential impact of changes or disruptions in the credit and/or capital markets;

changes in the availability and cost of capital and the results of our financing efforts, including availability of funds in the credit and/or capital markets;

restrictions placed on us by the agreements governing our debt and preferred equity instruments;

restrictions placed on us by the agreements governing our debt and preferred equity instruments;

the availability, terms and cost of downstream transportation and processing services;

the availability, terms and cost of downstream transportation and processing services;

natural disasters, accidents, weather-related delays, casualty losses and other matters beyond our control;

natural disasters, accidents, weather-related delays, casualty losses and other matters beyond our control;

operational risks and hazards inherent in the gathering, compression, treating and/or processing of natural gas, crude oil and produced water;

operational risks and hazards inherent in the gathering, compression, treating and/or processing of natural gas, crude oil and produced water;

weather conditions and terrain in certain areas in which we operate;

our ability to comply with the terms of the agreements comprising the Global Settlement;

any other issues that can result in deficiencies in the design, installation or operation of our gathering, compression, treating and processing facilities;

weather conditions and terrain in certain areas in which we operate;

timely receipt of necessary government approvals and permits, our ability to control the costs of construction, including costs of materials, labor and rights-of-way and other factors that may impact our ability to complete projects within budget and on schedule;

physical and financial risks associated with climate change;

our ability to finance our obligations related to capital expenditures, including through opportunistic asset divestitures or joint ventures and the impact any such divestitures or joint ventures could have on our results;

any other issues that can result in deficiencies in the design, installation or operation of our gathering, compression, treating, processing and freshwater facilities;
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the effects of existing and future laws and governmental regulations, including environmental, safety and climate change requirements and federal, state and local restrictions or requirements applicable to oil and/or gas drilling, production or transportation;

timely receipt of necessary government approvals and permits, our ability to control the costs of construction, including costs of materials, labor and rights-of-way and other factors that may impact our ability to complete projects within budget and on schedule;

changes in tax status;

our ability to finance our obligations related to capital expenditures, including through opportunistic asset divestitures or joint ventures and the impact any such divestitures or joint ventures could have on our results;

the effects of litigation;

the effects of existing and future laws and governmental regulations, including environmental, safety and climate change requirements and federal, state and local restrictions or requirements applicable to oil and/or gas drilling, production or transportation;

changes in general economic conditions; and

changes in tax status;

certain factors discussed elsewhere in this report.

the effects of litigation;
interest rates;
changes in general economic conditions; and
certain factors discussed elsewhere in this report.
Developments in any of these areas could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected or cause a significant reduction in the market price of our common units, preferred units and senior notes.

The foregoing list of risks and uncertainties may not contain all of the risks and uncertainties that could affect us. In addition, in light of these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this document may not in fact occur. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law.

Risk Factors Summary

This summary briefly lists the principal risks and uncertainties facing our business, which are only a select portion of those risks. A more complete discussion of those risks and uncertainties is set forth in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect us. If any of these risks occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Our business is subject to the following principal risks and uncertainties:

Risks Related to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with other current pressures on oil and gas prices resulting from the OPEC price war, has had, and is expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Risks Related to Our Operations

We may not have sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses to enable us to pay distributions to holders of our common units.

We may not have sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses to enable us to pay distributions to holders of our preferred units and common units.

We depend on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues. The loss of, or material nonpayment or nonperformance by, or the curtailment of production by, any one or more of our customers could materially adversely affect our revenues, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

We depend on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues.

We are exposed to the creditworthiness and performance of our customers, suppliers and contract counterparties and any material nonpayment or nonperformance by one or more of these parties could materially adversely affect our financial and operating results.

We are exposed to the creditworthiness and performance of our customers, suppliers and contract counterparties and any material nonpayment or nonperformance by one or more of these parties could materially adversely affect our financial and operating results.

Adverse developments in our areas of operation could materially adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Significant prolonged weakness in natural gas, NGL and crude oil prices could reduce throughput on our systems and materially adversely affect our revenuesAdverse developments in our areas of operation could materially adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Significant prolonged weakness in natural gas, NGL and crude oil prices could reduce throughput on our systems and materially adversely affect our revenues and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Any significant decrease in the demand for natural gas and crude oil could reduce the volumes of natural gas and crude oil that we gather and process, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

Because of the natural decline in production from our customers' existing wells, our success depends in part on our customers replacing declining production and also on our ability to maintain levels of throughput on our systems.

Our industry is highly competitive, and increased competitive pressure could materially adversely affect our business and operating results.

Customers may not drill and complete wells on the acreage behind our systems, which could adversely impact the levels of throughput on our systems.

We may not be able to renew or replace expiring contracts at favorable rates or on a long term basis.

We may not be able to renew or replace expiring contracts at favorable rates or on a long term basis.

Interruptions in operations at any of our facilities may adversely affect our operations and cash flows and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Our ability to operate our business effectively could be impaired if we fail to attract and retain key personnel.

Our construction of new assets may not result in revenue increases and will be subject to regulatory, environmental, political, legal and economic risks, which could materially adversely affect our operational and financial results.

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We do not own allA transition from hydrocarbon energy sources to alternative energy sources could lead to changes in demand, technology and public sentiment which could have material adverse effects on our business and results of the land on which our pipelines and facilities are located, which could result in disruptions to our operations.

Risks Related to Our Financing

Limited access to and/or availability of the commercial bank market, debt and equity capital markets could impair our ability to grow or cause us to be unable to meet future capital requirements.

Finances

Limited access to and/or availability of the commercial bank market, debt and equity capital markets could impair our ability to grow or cause us to be unable to meet future capital requirements.

We have a significant amount of indebtedness. Our leverage and debt service obligations may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects, and may limit our flexibility to obtain financing.

Our leverage and debt service obligations may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects, and may limit our flexibility to obtain financing and to pursue other business opportunities.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness or to refinance, which may not be successful.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness or to refinance, which may not be successful.

A portion of our revenues are directly exposed to changes in crude oil, natural gas and NGL prices, and our exposure may increase in the future.

Restrictions in our debt instruments could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, our ability to make cash distributions to unitholders and the value of our common units.
Inflation could have adverse effects on our results of operation.
An increase in interest rates will cause our debt service obligations to increase.
The phase-out of LIBOR could have adverse effects on our hedging strategies, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
A downgrade of our credit rating could impact our liquidity, access to capital and our costs of doing business, and independent third parties determine our credit ratings outside of our control.
We have in the past and may in the future incur losses due to an impairment in the carrying value of our long-lived assets or equity method investments.
Regulatory and Environmental Policy Risks

We are under investigation by federal and state regulatory agencies over a pipeline rupture and release of produced water by one of our subsidiaries. The resolution of this matter could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows.

A change in laws and regulations applicable to our assets or services, or the interpretation or implementation of existing laws and regulations may cause our revenues to decline or our operation and maintenance expenses to increase.

We may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business. As a result, we may be required to expend significant funds for legal defense or to settle claims. Any such loss, if incurred, could be material.

Increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing could result in reductions or delays in customer production, which could materially adversely impact our revenues.

A change in laws and regulations applicable to our assets or services, or the interpretation or implementation of existing laws and regulations may cause our revenues to decline or our operation and maintenance expenses to increase.

We are subject to FERC jurisdiction, federal anti-market manipulation laws and regulations, potentially other federal regulatory requirements and state and local regulation, and could be materially affected by changes in such laws and regulations, or in the way they are interpreted and enforced.

Increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing could result in reductions or delays in customer production, which could materially adversely impact our revenues.

We are subject to stringent environmental laws and regulations that may expose us to significant costs and liabilities.

We are subject to FERC jurisdiction, federal anti-market manipulation laws and regulations, potentially other federal regulatory requirements and state and local regulation, and could be materially affected by changes in such laws and regulations, or in the way they are interpreted and enforced.

Climate change legislation, regulatory initiatives and litigation could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the services we provide.

We are subject to stringent environmental laws and regulations that may expose us to significant costs and liabilities.

We may face opposition to the development, permitting, construction or operation of our pipelines and facilities from various groups.

Our business is subject to complex and evolving U.S. and international laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection.
Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us

Because our common units are yield-oriented securities, increases in interest rates could materially adversely impact our unit price, our ability to issue equity or incur debt and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Our Partnership Agreement replaces our General Partner’s fiduciary duties to unitholders and those of our officers and directors with contractual standards governing their duties.

The market price of our common units may fluctuate significantly and, due to limited daily trading volumes, an investor could lose all or part of its investment in us.

We may issue additional units without unitholder approval, which would dilute existing ownership interests.

Tax Risks

Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. If the IRS were to treat us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, which would subject us to entity-level taxation, then our cash available for distribution to our unitholders would be substantially reduced.

The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes and differing interpretations of applicable law, possibly on a retroactive basis.

5

We have engaged in recent transactions that generated substantial cancellation of debt (“COD”) income on a per unit basis relative to the trading price of our common units. We may engage in other transactions that result in substantial COD income or other gains in the future, and such events may cause a unitholder to be allocated income with respect to our units with no corresponding distribution of cash to fund the payment of the resulting tax liability to the unitholder.

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Tax Risks
If the IRS were to treat us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, which would subject us to entity-level taxation, then our cash available for distribution to our unitholders would be substantially reduced.
If we were subjected to a material amount of additional entity-level taxation by individual states, it would reduce our cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Our unitholders are required to pay income taxes on their share of our taxable income even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us.
In 2020, we engaged in transactions that generated substantial cancellation of debt (“COD”) income on a per unit basis relative to the trading price of our common units. We may engage in other transactions that result in substantial COD income or other gains in the future, and such events may cause a unitholder to be allocated income with respect to our units with no corresponding distribution of cash to fund the payment of the resulting tax liability to the unitholder.
Risks Related to Terrorism and Cyberterrorism
Terrorist attacks and threats, escalation of military activity in response to these attacks or acts of war could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our operations depend on the use of information technology and operational technology systems that could be the target of a cyberattack.
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ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

The following chart provides a summarized view of our legal entity structure at December 31, 2020:

6

2022:
smlp-20221231_g1.gif
7


COMMONLY USED OR DEFINED TERMS

2016 Drop Down

the Partnership's March 3, 2016 acquisition from SMP Holdings of substantially all

    of (i) the issued and outstanding membership interests in Summit Utica,

    Meadowlark Midstream and Tioga Midstream and (ii) SMP Holdings’ 40%

    ownership interest in Ohio Gathering

2022 Senior Notes

2015 Blacktail Release

Summit Holdings' and Finance Corp.’s 5.5% senior unsecured notes due August

    2022

a 2015 rupture of our four-inch produced water gathering pipeline near Williston, North Dakota

2022 DJ Acquisitions
the acquisition of Outrigger DJ Midstream LLC from Outrigger Energy II LLC, and each of Sterling Energy Investments LLC, Grasslands Energy Marketing LLC and Centennial Water Pipelines LLC from Sterling Investment Holdings LLC

2025 Senior Notes

Summit Holdings' and Finance Corp.’s 5.75% senior unsecured notes due April

2025


AMI

2026 Secured Notes

Summit Holdings' and Finance Corp.’s 8.500% senior secured second lien notes due 2026

2026 Secured Notes IndentureIndenture, dated as of November 2, 2021, by and among Summit Holdings, Finance Corp., the guarantors party thereto and Regions Bank, as trustee
ABL Facilitythe asset-based lending credit facility governed by the ABL Agreement
ABL Agreement
Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2021, among Summit Holdings, as borrower, SMLP and certain subsidiaries from time to time party thereto, as guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, ING Capital LLC, Royal Bank of Canada and Regions Bank, as co-syndication agents, and Bank of America, N.A., ING Capital LLC, RBC Capital Markets and Regions Capital Markets, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners

Additional 2026 Secured Notesthe additional $85.0 million of 2026 Secured Notes issued in November 2022 in connection with the 2022 DJ Acquisitions
AMIarea of mutual interest; AMIs require that any production from wells drilled by our

customers within the AMI be shipped on and/or processed by our gathering

systems


associated natural gas

a form of natural gas which is found with deposits of petroleum, either dissolved

in the crude oil or as a free gas cap above the crude oil in the reservoir


ASC

Accounting Standards Codification


ASU

Accounting Standards Update


Audit Committee

the audit committee of the Board of Directors

Bbl

one barrel; used for crude oil and produced water and equivalent to 42 U.S. gallons


Bcf

one billion cubic feet


Bcfe/d

the equivalent of one billion cubic feet per day; generally calculated when liquids are

converted into natural gas; determined using a ratio of six thousand cubic feet of

natural gas to one barrel of liquids


Bison Midstream

Bison Midstream, LLC


Board of Directors

the board of directors of our General Partner


CAA

Clean Air Act


CEA

Commodity Exchange Act


8

CERCLA

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act


CFTC

Commodity Futures Trading Commission


Compensation

    Committee

COD

cancellation of debt

Collateral AgreementCollateral Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2021, by and among SMLP, as a pledgor, Summit Holdings and Finance Corp., as pledgors and grantors, the subsidiary guarantors party therein, and Regions Bank, as collateral agent
Compensation Committeethe compensation committee of the Board of Directors


Compensation

    Consultant

condensate

Willis Towers Watson

condensate

a natural gas liquid with a low vapor pressure, mainly composed of propane, butane,

pentane and heavier hydrocarbon fractions


Conflicts Committee

the conflicts committee of the Board of Directors,

if established

CWA

Co-Issuers

Summit Holdings and Finance Corp.

CWAClean Water Act


Deferred Purchase Price

    Obligation

the deferred payment liability recognized in connection with the 2016 Drop Down, as

    subsequently amended; also referred to as DPPO

DFW Midstream

DFW Midstream Services LLC


DJ Basin

Denver-Julesburg Basin


Dodd-Frank Act

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010


DOT

U.S. Department of Transportation


Double E

Double E Pipeline, LLC


Double E Project

Pipeline

the development and construction of

a long-haul1.35 Bcf per day, FERC-regulated interstate natural gas transmission pipeline with an

    initial throughput capacity of 1.35 billion cubic feet per day that will provide

commenced operations in November 2021 and provides transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin

to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hubhub in Texas


Double E Project

the development and construction of the Double E Pipeline
dry gas

natural gas primarily composed of methane where heavy hydrocarbons and water

either do not exist or have been removed through processing or treating


Energy Capital Partners

Dth/d

one million British Thermal Units per day

ECPEnergy Capital Partners II, LLC and its parallel and co-investment funds


EPA

Environmental Protection Agency


Epping

Epping Transmission Company, LLC


EPU

Epping Pipeline

an interstate crude oil pipeline in North Dakota, owned and operated by Epping

EPUearnings or loss per unit


Equity Restructuring

a series of transactions consummated on March 22, 2019, pursuant to which the

    Partnership cancelled its IDRs and converted its 2% economic GP interest

    to a non-economic GP interest in exchange for 8,750,000 SMLP common

    units, which were issued to SMP Holdings

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9

Exchange Act

Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended


FASB

Financial Accounting Standards Board


FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission


Finance Corp.

Summit Midstream Finance Corp.


FTC

Federal Trade Commission


GAAP

accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America


General Partner

Summit Midstream GP, LLC


GHG

greenhouse gas(es)


GP

general partner


GP interest

2.0% general partner interest of GP in the Partnership prior to the Equity

    Restructuring and a non-economic general partner interest after the Equity

    Restructuring

Grand River

Grand River Gathering, LLC


Guarantor Subsidiaries

Bison Midstream and its subsidiaries, Grand River and its subsidiaries, DFW

Midstream, Summit Marketing, Summit Permian, Permian Finance, OpCo,

Summit Utica, Meadowlark Midstream, Summit Permian II, Mountaineer Midstream, Epping, Red Rock, Polar Midstream and Mountaineer

    Midstream

Summit Niobrara

hub

geographic location of a storage facility and multiple pipeline interconnections


ICA

Interstate Commerce Act


IDRs

incentive distribution rights

IPO

Intercreditor Agreement

Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2021, by and among Bank of America, N.A., as first lien representative and collateral agent for the initial public offering

first lien claimholders, Regions Bank, as second lien representative for the initial second lien claimholders and as collateral agent for the initial second lien claimholders, acknowledged and agreed to by Summit Holdings and the other grantors referred to therein

IRS

Internal Revenue Service


LIBOR

London Interbank Offered Rate


Mbbl

Mbbl/d

one thousand barrels

Mbbl/d

one thousand barrels per day


Mcf

MD&A

one thousand cubic feet

MD&A

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of

Operations


MDTQ

maximum daily transportation quantity
Meadowlark Midstream

Meadowlark Midstream Company, LLC


MMBtu

one million British Thermal Units


MMcf

one million cubic feet


MMcf/d

one million cubic feet per day


10

MMcfe/d

the equivalent of one million cubic feet per day; determined using a ratio of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of liquids

Mountaineer Midstream

Mountaineer Midstream Company, LLC


MVC

minimum volume commitment


NAAQS

national ambient air quality standard


NEPA

National Environmental Policy Act


NGA

NDIC

North Dakota Industrial Commission

NGANatural Gas Act


NGLs

natural gas liquids; the combination of ethane, propane, normal butane,

iso-butane and natural gasolines that when removed from unprocessed

natural gas streams become liquid under various levels of higher

pressure and lower temperature


NGPA

Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978


Niobrara G&P

Niobrara Gathering and Processing system


Non-Guarantor

Subsidiaries

Permian Holdco and Summit Permian Transmission


NYSE

New York Stock Exchange


OCC

Obligor Group

the Co-Issuers and the Guarantor Subsidiaries

OCCOhio Condensate Company, L.L.C.


OGC

Ohio Gathering Company, L.L.C.


Ohio Gathering

Ohio Gathering Company, L.L.C. and Ohio Condensate Company, L.L.C.


OPA

Oil Pollution Control Act


OpCo

Summit Midstream OpCo, LP


PHMSA

PHMSAPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration


play

a proven geological formation that contains commercial amounts of hydrocarbons


Permian Finance

Summit Midstream Permian Finance, LLC


Permian Holdco

Summit Permian Transmission Holdco, LLC


Permian Term Loan Facility

the term loan governed by the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 8, 2021, among Summit Permian Transmission, LLC, as borrower, MUFG Bank Ltd., as administrative agent, Mizuho Bank (USA), as collateral agent, ING Capital LLC, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as L/C issuers, coordinating lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and the lenders from time to time party thereto

11

Permian Transmission Credit Facilitythe credit facility governed by the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 8, 2021, among Summit Permian Transmission, LLC, as borrower, MUFG Bank Ltd., as administrative agent, Mizuho Bank (USA), as collateral agent, ING Capital LLC, Mizuho Bank, Ltd. and MUFG Union Bank, N.A., as L/C issuers, coordinating lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, and the lenders from time-to-time party thereto
Polar and Divide

the Polar and Divide system; collectively Polar Midstream and Epping


Polar Midstream

Polar Midstream, LLC

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produced water

water from underground geologic formations that is a by-product of natural gas and

crude oil production


PSD

Prevention of Significant Deterioration


RCRA

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act


Red Rock Gathering

Red Rock Gathering Company, LLC


Revolving Credit Facility

the senior secured revolving credit facility governed by the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of December 18,2020,

as amended by the Third   Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of

May 26, 2017, as amended by the First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated

Credit Agreement dated as of September 22, 2017, the Second Amendment to Third

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 26, 2019 and the Third

Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of

December 24, 2019


SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission


Securities Act

Securities Act of 1933, as amended


segment adjusted

EBITDA

total revenues less total costs and expenses; plus (i) other income excluding interest

income, (ii) our proportional adjusted EBITDA for equity method investees, (iii)

depreciation and amortization, (iv) adjustments related to MVC shortfall

payments, (v) adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity, (vi) unit-

based and noncash compensation, (vii) impairments and (viii) other noncash expenses

or losses, less other noncash income or gains


Senior Notes

The 5.5% Senior Notes and the 5.75% Senior Notes, collectively

Series A Preferred Units

Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units

issued by the Partnership

shortfall payment

the payment received from a counterparty when its volume throughput does not

meet its MVC for the applicable period


SMLP

Summit Midstream Partners, LP


SMLP Holdings

SMLP Holdings, LLC


SMLP LTIP

SMLP Long-Term Incentive Plan


SMP Holdings

Summit Midstream Partners Holdings, LLC, also known as SMPH


SPCC

SMPH Term Loan

SMPH Holdings’ term loan, governed by the Term Loan Agreement, dated as of March 21, 2017, among SMP Holdings, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent

12

SPCCSpill Prevention Control and Countermeasure


Sponsor

Energy Capital Partners II, LLC and its parallel and co-investment funds; also known

    as Energy Capital Partners

Subsidiary Series A

Preferred Units

Series A Fixed Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units issued by Permian

Holdco


Summit Holdings

Summit Midstream Holdings, LLC


Summit Investments

Summit Midstream Partners, LLC


Summit Niobrara

Summit Midstream Niobrara, LLC


Summit Marketing

Summit Midstream Marketing, LLC


Summit Permian

Summit Midstream Permian, LLC


Summit Permian II

Summit Midstream Permian II, LLC


Summit Permian

Transmission

Summit Permian Transmission, LLC


Summit Utica

Summit Midstream Utica, LLC


Tcfe

Tax Reform Legislation

the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017

Tcfethe equivalent of one trillion cubic feet


the Partnership

Summit Midstream Partners, LP and its subsidiaries


the Partnership
Agreement

the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the
Partnership dated May 28, 2020, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership, dated February 23, 2023

throughput volume

the volume of natural gas, crude oil or produced water gathered, transported or

passing through a pipeline, plant or other facility during a particular period;

also referred to as volume throughput


Tioga Midstream

Tioga Midstream, LLC


unconventional resource

basin

a basin where natural gas or crude oil production is developed from unconventional

sources that require hydraulic fracturing as part of the completion process, for

instance, natural gas produced from shale formations and coalbeds; also

referred to as an unconventional resource play


VOC

volatile organic compound(s)


wellhead

the equipment at the surface of a well, used to control the well's pressure; also, the

point at which the hydrocarbons and water exit the ground


9


13

PART I

Under GAAP, the GP Buy-In Transaction (as defined below) whereby the Partnership acquired Summit Investments, the parent company of the General Partner, and the General Partner became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership, the GP Buy-In Transaction was deemed a transaction between entities under common control with a change in reporting entity. As a result, the Partnership recast its financial statements for the periods preceding the GP Buy-In Transaction, during which the entities were under the common control of Summit Investments, to retrospectively reflect the GP Buy-In Transaction. Although the Partnership is the surviving entity for legal purposes, Summit Investments is the surviving entity for accounting purposes; therefore, the historical financial results of the Partnership prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction are those of Summit Investments. Prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, Summit Investments controlled the Partnership and the Partnership’s financial statements were consolidated into Summit Investments.

The financial data included in this Annual Report includes periods prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction. Consequently, the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively recast for all periods presented in order to present the financial results of the surviving entity, Summit Investments, for accounting purposes.

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Summit Midstream Partners, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (including its subsidiaries, collectively, “we”, “our”, “us”, "SMLP"“SMLP”, or “the Partnership”), is a value-driven limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. Our common units are listed and traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “SMLP.”

The Partnership was formed in May 2012. The Partnership’s executive offices are located at 910 Louisiana Street, Suite 4200, Houston, Texas 77002, and can be reached by phone at 832-413-4770. The Partnership also maintains regional field offices in close proximity to our areas of operation to support the operation and development of our midstream assets.

As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction (as described below), the Partnership indirectly owns its General Partner, and the General Partner’s Board of Directors is comprised of a majority of independent directors. The Partnership’s Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”) provides the Partnership’s common unitholders with voting rights in the election of the members of the Board of Directors on a staggered basis beginning in 2022.

Our Business Strategies

We operate a differentiated midstream platform that is built for long-term, sustainable value creation. Our integrated assets are strategically located in premier production basins and core demand centers, including the Williston Basin, DJ Basin, Utica Shale, Marcellus Shale, Barnett Shale, Piceance Basin and Permian Basin. Our primary business objective is to maximize cash flow and provide cash flow stability for our stakeholders while growing prudently and profitably. We intend to accomplish this objective by executing the following strategies:

Liability management. We seek to maximize unitholder value by reducing and extending, where appropriate, the Partnership’s indebtedness and other fixed capital obligations through a combination of opportunistic liability management transactions, operating cash flow, and other corporate transactions.

Capital structure optimization. We seek to maximize unitholder value. Our capital structure currently consists of common equity, preferred equity, and indebtedness that is comprised of debt securities and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities, a portion of which is secured by substantially all of the Partnership's assets. We intend to optimize our capital structure in the future by reducing our indebtedness with free cash flow, and when appropriate, we may pursue opportunistic capital markets transactions with the objective of increasing long-term unitholder value.

Portfolio management. We seek to maximize unitholder value by strategically managing our portfolio of midstream assets and allocating capital based on appropriate risk-informed cash flow assumptions. This may include opportunistic divestitures, re-allocation of capital to new or existing areas, and development of joint ventures involving our existing midstream assets or new investment opportunities.

Portfolio management. We seek to maximize unitholder value by strategically managing our portfolio of midstream assets and allocating capital based on appropriate risk-informed cash flow assumptions. This may include opportunistic divestitures, re-allocation of capital to new or existing areas, and development of joint ventures involving our existing midstream assets or new investment opportunities.

Maintaining our focus on fee-based revenue with minimal direct commodity price exposure. We intend to maintain our focus on providing midstream services under primarily long-term and fee-based contracts. We believe that our focus on fee-based revenues with minimal direct commodity price exposure is essential to maintaining stable cash flows.

Maintaining our focus on fee-based revenue with minimal direct commodity price exposure. We intend to maintain our focus on providing midstream services under primarily long-term and fee-based contracts. We believe that our focus on fee-based revenues with minimal direct commodity price exposure is essential to maintaining stable cash flows.

Maintaining strong producer relationships to maximize utilization of all of our midstream assets. We have cultivated strong producer relationships by focusing on customer service, reliable project execution and by operating our assets safely and reliably over time. We believe that our strong producer relationships will create future opportunities to optimize the utilization of the gathering systems in our Legacy Areas and develop new midstream infrastructure in our Core Focus Areas.

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Table of Contentsall of our midstream assets

. We have cultivated strong producer relationships by focusing on customer service and reliable project execution and by operating our assets safely and reliably over time. We believe that our strong producer relationships will create future opportunities to expand our midstream services reach and optimize the utilization of our midstream assets for our customers.

Continuing to prioritize safe and reliable operations. Continuing to prioritize safe and reliable operations. We believe that providing safe, reliable and efficient operations is a key component of our business strategy. We place a strong emphasis on employee training, operational procedures and enterprise technology, and we intend to continue promoting a high standard with respect to the efficiency of our operations and the safety of all of our constituents.

Recent Developments and Highlights

The following is a brief listing of significant developments sinceand highlights for the year ended December 31, 2019.2022. Additional information regarding these items may be found elsewhere in this Annual Report.

GP Buy-In Transaction. In May 2020, the Partnership completed a simplification transaction (the “GP Buy-In Transaction”) whereby the Partnership acquired from its then private equity sponsor, Energy Capital Partners (“ECP”), (i) Summit Midstream Partners, LLC (“Summit Investments”), which owned the Partnership’s General Partner, (ii) through its indirect ownership of Summit Midstream Partners Holdings, LLC (“SMP Holdings”), 3,415,646 of its common units and (iii) the Deferred Purchase Price obligation receivable owed by the Partnership. Consideration paid to ECP included a $35.0 million cash payment and the issuance of warrants to purchase up to 666,667 common units. In connection with the closing of the GP Buy-In Transaction, ECP’s management resigned from the Board of Directors and ECP fully exited its investment in the Partnership (other than retaining the aforementioned warrants).

Simultaneously completed the strategic 2022 DJ Acquisitions for $305.0 million. In December 2022, we acquired Outrigger DJ for cash consideration of $165.0 million, subject to post-closing adjustments, and Sterling DJ for cash consideration of $140.0 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. These acquisitions were a strategic step in our overall corporate strategy to establish a franchise position in the DJ Basin and expand our footprint for the benefit of our customers. The 2022 DJ Acquisitions significantly increased our gas processing capacity in the DJ Basin and diversified our customer base with a combination of long-term fixed fee and percentage-of-proceeds contracts. We funded these acquisitions through a combination of borrowings under the credit facility and the issuance of $85.0 million of Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due in 2026.

Suspension of common and preferred unit distributions.In May 2020, and in conjunction with the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership suspended distributions to holders of its common units and its Series A Preferred Units, commencing with respect to the quarter ending March 31, 2020. The suspension of distributions enabled the Partnership to retain an incremental $76.0 million per annum of operating cash flow and reallocate this retained cash to indebtedness reduction, liability management transactions and other corporate initiatives. The unpaid cash distributions on the Series A Preferred Units continue to accrue semi-annually, until paid.

Liability Management - Open Market Repurchases. Throughout 2020, the Partnership completed multiple open market repurchases of the 2022 Senior Notes and 2025 Senior Notes that resulted in the extinguishment of $32.4 million of face value of the 2022 Senior Notes and $201.8 million of face value of the 2025 Senior Notes (the “Open Market Repurchases”). Total cash consideration paid to repurchase the principal amounts outstanding of the 2022 Senior Notes and 2025 Senior Notes, plus accrued interest totaled $150.3 million and the Partnership recognized an $86.5 million gain on the extinguishment of debt related to these Open Market Repurchases during 2020.  

14

Liability Management - Debt Tender Offers. In September 2020, Summit Holdings and Finance Corp. (together with Summit Holdings, the “Co-Issuers”) completed cash tender offers (the “Debt Tender Offers”) to purchase a portion of their 2022 Senior Notes and 2025 Senior Notes. Upon completion of the Debt Tender Offers, the Co-Issuers repurchased $33.5 million principal amount of the 2022 Senior Notes and $38.7 million principal amount of the 2025 Senior Notes. Total cash consideration paid to repurchase the principal amounts outstanding of the 2022 and 2025 Senior Notes, plus accrued interest, totaled $48.7 million, and the Partnership recognized a $23.3 million gain on the extinguishment of debt related to the Debt Tender Offers during 2020.

Liability Management - SMPH Term Loan Restructuring. In November 2020, the Partnership completed a consensual debt discharge and restructuring (the “TL Restructuring”) of SMP Holdings’ $155.2 million term loan (“SMPH Term Loan”). All of the lenders under the SMPH Term Loan (the “Term Loan Lenders”) participated in the TL Restructuring. As part of the TL Restructuring, the Partnership paid SMP Holdings $26.5 million in cash as consideration to fully settle the deferred purchase price obligation, which SMP Holdings then paid to the Term Loan Lenders. In addition, the Term Loan Lenders executed a strict foreclosure (the “Strict Foreclosure”) on the 2,306,972 common units pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan in full satisfaction of SMP Holdings’ outstanding obligations under the SMPH Term Loan.

Reverse Unit Split. On November 9, 2020, after the close of trading on the NYSE, the Partnership effected a 1-for-15 reverse unit split (the “Reverse Unit Split”) of its common units. The common units began trading on a split-adjusted basis on November 10, 2020. Pursuant to the Reverse Unit Split, common unitholders received one common unit for every 15 common units owned at the close of business on November 9, 2020. Immediately prior to the

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Reverse Unit Split, there were 56,624,887 common units issued and outstanding and immediately after the Reverse Unit Split, the number of issued and outstanding common units decreased to 3,774,992. 

Portfolio optimization – Permian Midstream Divestiture. In June 2022, we completed the disposition of all the equity interests in Summit Permian, which owns the Lane Gathering and Processing System (“Lane G&P System”), and Permian Finance to Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems, LP (“Longwood”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Matador ͏Resources Company (“Matador”), for cash consideration of $75.0 million. In connection with the transaction, we released, to a subsidiary of Matador, and Matador agreed to assume, take or-pay firm capacity on the Double E Pipeline.

July 2020 Series A Preferred Unit Exchange. In July 2020, the Partnership completed an offer to exchange its Series A Preferred Units for newly issued common units (the “Preferred Exchange Offer”), whereby it issued 837,547 SMLP common units in exchange for 62,816 Series A Preferred Units. Upon closing the Preferred Exchange Offer, it eliminated $66.5 million of the Series A Preferred Unit liquidation preference amount due as of the settlement date.

Portfolio optimization – Bison Midstream Divestiture. In September 2022, we completed the sale of Bison Midstream, LLC (“Bison Midstream”) and its gas gathering system in Burke and Mountrail Counties, North Dakota to a subsidiary of Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp. (“Steel Reef”) for cash consideration of $40.0 million.

December 2020 Series A Preferred Unit Tender. In December 2020, the Partnership completed a cash tender offer for its Series A Preferred Units (the “Preferred Tender Offer”) whereby it accepted 75,075 Series A Preferred Units for a purchase price of $333.00 per Series A Preferred Unit and an aggregate purchase price of $25.0 million. Upon closing the Preferred Tender Offer, it eliminated $82.7 million of the Series A Preferred Unit liquidation preference amount due as of the settlement date.

Issued inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance Report (“ESG Report”). In June 2022, we published our initial ESG Report. The report showcases our commitment to core principles that drive operational excellence, sustainability and value for our business. These principles include prioritizing safe and reliable operations, minimizing our environmental impact, protecting our employees’ health and wellbeing, and following responsible and ethical business practices. The ESG Report can be found at www.summitmidstream.com/esg but is not incorporated by reference and is not a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Double E Project FERC approval. In January 2021, Double E, a joint venture focused on the development of an interstate natural gas pipeline in which the Partnership indirectly owns a 70% equity interest and serves as the pipeline's operator and construction manager, received its Notice to Proceed (“NTP”) with construction, as well as approval of its implementation plan, from FERC. Prior to this, in October 2020, Double E received FERC approval of its application to construct and operate the Double E Project, pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act. With the receipt of the 7(c) certificate and the NTP, construction on the Double E pipeline commenced in February 2021, and the pipeline is expected to be in-service by the end of 2021.

Our Midstream Assets

Our systemsmidstream assets primarily gather natural gas produced from pad sites, wells and central receipt points connected to our systems. Gathered natural gas volumes are then compressed, dehydrated, treated and/or processed for delivery to downstream pipelines serving processing plants and/or end users. We also contract with producers to gather crude oil and produced water from wells connected to our systems for delivery to downstream pipelines and to third-party rail terminals in the case of crude oil and to third-party disposal wells in the case of produced water. We generally refer to allmost of the services our systems provide as gathering services.

We classifyalso provide natural gas transmission services via Double E, a long-haul natural gas pipeline in which we indirectly own a 70% equity interest and serve as the pipeline’s operator. Double E provides natural gas transportation services from multiple receipt points in the Permian Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha hub in Texas.

Reportable Segments. As of December 31, 2022, our reportable segments are below along with management’s categorization of the primary commodity driving customer drilling and completion decisions for each segment:
Oil price driven. Our cash flows in the Rockies and Permian segments are primarily influenced by the prevailing price of crude oil because the drilling and completion decisions by our customers in these segments are based on well economics most heavily tied to crude oil prices. Our customers’ decisions to drill and complete wells in these segments therefore result in higher volume throughput and cash flows for our midstream energy infrastructure assets into two categories,in which we collect fixed fees for gathering or processing hydrocarbons, gathering produced water, or transporting residue natural gas.
Rockies Includes our Core Focus Areaswholly owned midstream assets located in the Williston Basin and the DJ Basin.
Permian – Includes our equity method investment in Double E.
Natural gas price driven. Our cash flows in the Northeast, Piceance and Barnett segments are primarily influenced by the prevailing price of natural gas because the drilling, completion and recompletion decisions by our customers in these segments are based on well economics most heavily tied to natural gas and NGL prices. Our customers’ decisions to drill, complete or recomplete wells in these segments therefore result in higher throughput and cash flows for those segments in which we collect fixed fees for gathering natural gas.
Northeast Includes our wholly owned midstream assets located in the Utica and Marcellus shale plays and our Legacy Areas. Further detailsequity method investment in Ohio Gathering that is focused on the Utica Shale.
Piceance – Includes our Focus Areas and Legacy Areas are summarized below.

wholly owned midstream assets located in the Piceance Basin.

Core Focus Areas. Core producing areas of basins in which we expect our gathering systems to experience greater long-term growth, driven by our customers’ ability to generate more favorable returns and support sustained drilling and completion activity in varying commodity price environments. In the near-term, we expect to concentrate the majority of our capital expenditures in our Core Focus Areas. Our Utica Shale, Ohio Gathering, Williston Basin, DJ Basin and Permian Basin reportable segments comprise our Core Focus Areas.

Barnett – Includes our wholly owned midstream assets located in the Barnett Shale.

Legacy Areas. Production basins in which we expect volume throughput on our gathering systems to experience relatively lower long-term growth compared to our Core Focus Areas, given that our customers require relatively higher commodity prices to support drilling and completion activities in these basins. Upstream production served by our gathering systems in our Legacy Areas is generally more mature, as compared to our Core Focus Areas, and the decline rates for volume throughput on our gathering systems in the Legacy Areas are typically lower as a result. We expect to continue to decrease our near-term capital expenditures in these Legacy Areas. Our Piceance Basin, Barnett Shale and Marcellus Shale reportable segments comprise our Legacy Areas.

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Industry Overview and Commercial Arrangements

We compete with other midstream companies, producers and intrastate and interstate pipelines. Competition for volumes is primarily based on reputation, commercial terms, acreage dedications, service levels, access to end-use markets, geographic proximity of existing assets to a producer's acreage and available gathering and processing capacity. We may also face competition to gather production outside of our AMIs and attract producer volumes to our gathering systems. Additionally, we could face incremental competition to the extent we make acquisitions.

We earn revenue by providing gathering, compression, treating and/or processing services pursuant to primarily long-term and fee-based gathering and processing agreements with some of the largest and most active producers in North America. Through
15

our equity method investment in the Double E Pipeline, we earn revenue by providing high pressure transportation services, as both firm and interruptible service, for residue natural gas in the Permian Basin. The fee-based nature of these agreements enhances the stability of our cash flows by limiting our direct commodity price exposure.

The significant features of our transportation and gathering and processing agreements, and the gathering and transportation systems to which they relate, are discussed in more detail below. For additional operating and financial performance information, on a consolidated basis and by reportable segment, see the "Results of Operations" section in Item 7. MD&A.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Areas of Mutual Interest. The vast majority of our gathering and processing agreements contain AMIs, some of which extend through 2036.2039. The AMIs generally require that any production by our customers within the AMIs will be shipped ongathered and/or processed by our assets. In general, our customers have not leased acreage that cover our entire AMIs but, to the extent that they have leased acreage within our AMI, or lease additional acreage in the future, within our AMIs, any production from wells drilled by them within that AMI will be dedicated to our systems.

Under certain of our gathering agreements, we have agreed to construct pipeline laterals to connect our gathering systems to producer pad sites located within the AMI. However, in certain circumstances we may choose not to fundpursue a pad connection opportunity presented by a customer or we may choose not to fund capital calls in Ohio Gathering if we believe that the investment would not meet our internal return expectations. Under this scenario, the customer may, in certain circumstances, construct the gathering infrastructure itself and sell it to us at a price equal to their cost plus an applicable profit margin, or, in some cases, we may release the relevant acreage dedication from the AMI. For
Our AMIs cover approximately 3.9 million surface acres in the aggregate, which includes more than 0.8 million surface acres associated with Ohio Gathering, our joint venture partner may elect to fund 100% of the capital calls, if we choose not to fund our proportionate share of a given capital call, which could reduce our ownership interests in OGC and/or OCC. For example, in 2020, we chose not to fund capital calls at OGC and OCC, and as a result, our ownership interest in those ventures was reduced from 40% to 38.2% and 40% to 38.2%, respectively, as of December 31, 2020.

Gathering.

Minimum Volume Commitments. Certain of our gathering and/or processing agreements contain MVCs which, like AMIs, benefit from the development and ongoing operation of a gathering system because they provide a minimum contracted monthly or annual revenue stream. Some of our MVCs, including those of affiliates, extend through 2031. To the extent a customer does not meet its contractual MVC, it is obligated to make an MVC shortfall payment to us to cover the shortfall of required volume throughput not shipped or processed, either on a monthly or annual basis. We have designed our MVC provisions to ensure that we will generate a minimum amount of revenue from each customer over the life of the associated gathering and/or processing agreement, by either collecting gathering or processing fees on actual throughput or from cash payments to cover any MVC shortfall.
As of December 31, 2020,2022, we had remaining MVCs totaling 1.4 Tcfe. Our0.7 Tcfe, our MVCs had a weighted-average remaining life of 4.94.1 years, (assuming contracted MVCs for the remainder of the term) and these MVC's average approximately 0.9 Bcfe/408 MMcfe/d through 2023. In addition, certain of our customers have an aggregate MVC, which is a total amount of volume throughput that the customer has agreed to ship and/or process on our systems (or an equivalent monetary amount) over the MVC term. In these cases, once a customer achieves its aggregate MVC, any remaining future MVCs will terminate and the customer will then simply pay the applicable gathering or processing rate multiplied by the actual throughput volumes shipped or processed, pursuant to the contract. As a result of this mechanism, in many cases, the weighted-average remaining period for which our MVCs apply is less than the weighted-average of the remaining contract life. 2027.
For additional information on our MVCs, see Notes 3Note 4 Revenue and Note 8 Deferred Revenue to the consolidated financial statements.

Throughput and Commodity Price Exposure. Our financial results are primarily driven by volume throughput across our gathering systems and by expense management. During 2020,2022, aggregate natural gas volume throughput averaged 1,3751,208 MMcf/d and crude oil and produced water volume throughput averaged 7962 Mbbl/d. A majority of the volumes that we gather, compress, treat and/or process have a fixed-fee rate structure, which enhances the stability of our cash flows by providing a revenue stream that is not subject to direct commodity price risk or volatility. We also earn a portion of our revenues from the following activities that directly expose us to fluctuations in commodity prices: (i) the sale of physical natural gas and/or NGLs purchased under percentage-of-proceeds or other processing arrangements with certain of our customers in the Williston Basin,Rockies, Permian and Piceance Basin, and Permian Basin segments, (ii) the sale of natural gas we retain from certain Barnett Shale customers, and (iii) the sale of condensate we retain from our gathering services in the Rockies and Piceance Basin segment.segments and (iv) additional gathering fees that are tied to performance of certain commodity price indexes, which are then added to the fixed gathering rates. During the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, these additional activities accounted for approximately 13%18% of total revenues.

13

Equity Method Investment – Ohio Gathering. We have an equity method investment in Ohio Gathering, which comprises a natural gas gathering system and condensate stabilization facility located in the core of the Utica Shale in southeastern Ohio. Our joint venture partner in Ohio Gathering may elect to fund 100% of a capital call if we choose not to fund our proportionate share of such capital call. In 2022 and 2021, we chose to not fund capital calls in Ohio Gathering because the investment did not meet our corporate objectives and as a result, our ownership interest in that venture was reduced to 37.2% as of December 31, 2022 from 37.8% as of December 31, 2021. MPLX LP (“MPLX”) is the operator of the Ohio Gathering joint venture and our joint venture partner.
Equity Method Investment – Double E. We have an equity method investment in Double E, a 1.35 Bcf/d FERC-regulated interstate natural gas transmission pipeline that commenced operations in November 2021 and provides transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha hub in Texas. We are the
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In addition, the vast majority of our gathering and/or processing agreements in both our Core Focus Areas and our Legacy Areas include AMIs. Our AMIs cover approximately 2.8 million surface acres in the aggregate, which includes more than 0.8 million surface acres associated with Ohio Gathering. Certain of our gathering and processing agreements also include MVCs. To the extent the customer does not meet its MVC, it is contractually obligated to make an MVC shortfall payment to cover the shortfall of required volume throughput not shipped or processed, either on a monthly or annual basis. We have designed our MVC provisions to ensure that we will generate a minimum amount of revenue from each customer over the life

operator of the associated gathering and/or processing agreement, by collecting gathering or processing fees on actual throughput or from cash paymentsjoint venture and have made all required capital contributions to cover any MVC shortfall.Double E. As of December 31, 2020, we had remaining MVCs totaling 1.4 Tcfe. Our MVCs have2022, the Partnership owns a weighted-average remaining life70% interest in Double E. A subsidiary of 4.9 years (assuming contracted MVCs for the remainder of the term) and average approximately 0.9 Bcfe/d through 2023.

We use a variety of financial and operational metrics to analyzeExxonMobil Corporation is our performance, including among others, throughput volume, revenues, operation and maintenance expenses and segment adjusted EBITDA. We view each of these operational and/or GAAP metrics as important factors in evaluating our profitability and determining whether, and what amount of cash distributions, we pay to our unitholders. For additional information on our results of operations, see the “Results of Operations” section included in Item 7. MD&A.


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joint venture partner.
17

Overview of Core Focus Areas and Legacy Areas

Utica Shale (Core Focus Area).

our Segments

Northeast.
The following table provides operating information regarding our Utica ShaleNortheast reportable segment as of December 31, 2020.

2022.

 

 

Aggregate throughput capacity (MMcf/d)

 

 

Average daily MVCs through 2023 (MMcf/d)

 

Remaining MVCs (Bcf)

 

Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)

 

Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)

Utica Shale

 

 

720

 

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

12.2

 

n/a

Aggregate throughput capacity (MMcf/d)Average daily MVCs through 2027 (MMcf/d)Remaining MVCs (Bcf)Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)
Northeast (1)
1,7702214037.24.0
Ohio Gathering (2)
1,100 n/an/a9.1n/a
______________________________________________

(1) Includes our wholly owned assets, Summit Utica system and Mountaineer Midstream system
(2) Presented on a gross basis. As of December 31, 2022, we owned approximately a 37.2% interest in OGC and approximately a 38.2% interest in OCC.
Our Northeast segment is comprised of our Summit Utica system, our Mountaineer Midstream system, and our equity method investments in Ohio Gathering.
Summit Utica system.The Summit Utica system is a natural gas gathering system located in Belmont and Monroe counties in southeastern Ohio and serves producers targeting the dry gas windowreserves of the Utica and Point Pleasant shale formations. The Summit Utica system gathers and delivers natural gas, primarily under long-term, fee-based gathering agreements, which include acreage dedications. XTO and Ascent areResources is the key customerscustomer of Summit Utica.

Utica, and the AMIs from our customers for this system cover approximately 115,000 surface acres in the aggregate.

We have connected a substantial number of our customers’ pad sites to our gatheringSummit Utica system and we expect to benefit in the near-term from incremental volumes arising from drilling and completion activity that is occurring and will continue to occur on new and previously connected pad sites.sites in our service area. Over time, we intend to expand our midstream service offeringofferings for the Summit Utica system to connect additional customer pad sites and install centralized compression facilities. Centralized compression services have been dedicated to us in our gathering agreements and will eventually constitute a new revenue stream from our customers; however, to date, this service has not been required given the relatively high downhole pressures exhibited by dry gas wells in the Utica Shale compared to other unconventional shale plays.

The Summit Utica system interconnects with the Ohio River System pipeline, which provides access to the Clarington Hub and Rover Pipeline.
Mountaineer Midstream system. The Summit UticaMountaineer Midstream system, currently provideswithin the Marcellus shale, is located in Doddridge and Harrison counties in West Virginia where it gathers natural gas midstream servicesunder a long-term, fee-based contract with Antero Resources Corporation (“Antero”), which is targeting liquids-rich natural gas production from the Marcellus shale in the Appalachian Basin. Volume throughput on the Mountaineer Midstream system is underpinned by minimum revenue commitments from Antero.
The Mountaineer Midstream system consists of a high-pressure natural gas gathering system and two compressor stations. This system gathers high-pressure natural gas received from upstream pipeline interconnections with Antero Midstream. Mountaineer Midstream serves as a critical inlet to the Sherwood Processing Complex, a primary destination for liquids-rich natural gas in northern West Virginia and one of the Utica Shale reportable segment.

largest natural gas processing facilities in the United States.

Ohio Gathering (Core Focus Area).

Ohio Gathering comprises a natural gas gathering system and condensate stabilization facility located in the core of the Utica Shale in southeastern Ohio. The gathering system spans the condensate, liquids-rich and dry gas windows of the Utica Shale for multiple producers that are targeting production from the Utica and Point Pleasant shale formations across Belmont, Monroe, Guernsey, Harrison and Noble counties in southeastern Ohio. Ohio andGathering is operated by our partner, MPLX LP (“MPLX”).MPLX. Substantially all gathering services on the Ohio Gathering system are provided pursuant to long-term, fee-based gathering agreements. Ascent Resources and Gulfport Energy Corporation are Ohio Gathering's key customers.customers and the AMIs from our customers for Ohio Gathering totalthis system cover approximately 825,000830,000 surface acres in the aggregate.

Condensate and liquids-rich natural gas production is gathered, compressed, dehydrated and delivered to the Cadiz and Seneca processing complexes, which offer approximately 1.3 Bcf/d of processing capacity and are owned by a joint venture between MPLX and The Energy and Minerals Group. Dry gas production is gathered, dehydrated, compressed, and delivered to third-party pipelines serving the northeast and midwest markets.

As of December 31, 2020,2022, we owned approximately a 38.2% ownership37.2% interest in Ohio Gathering, which includes our ownership in OGC and approximately a 38.2% interest in OCC. For additional information, see Note 7 - Equity Method Investments to the consolidated financial statements.


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Williston Basin (Core Focus Area).

Rockies.
The following table provides operating information regarding our Williston BasinRockies reportable segment as of December 31, 2020.2022.
Aggregate throughput capacity -
liquids (Mbbl/d)
Aggregate throughput capacity -
natural gas (MMcf/d)
Average daily MVCs through 2027 (MMcf/d)Remaining MVCs (Bcfe)Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)
Rockies - Williston225n/an/an/a5.2n/a
Rockies - DJ (1)
5022013268.45.4

 

 

Aggregate throughput capacity -

liquids (Mbbl/d)

 

 

Aggregate throughput capacity -

natural gas (MMcf/d)

 

 

Average daily MVCs through 2023 (MMcfe/d)(1)

 

 

Remaining MVCs (Bcfe)(1)

 

 

Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)(1)(2)

 

 

Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)(1)(2)

 

Williston Basin

 

 

255

 

 

 

34

 

 

 

64

 

 

 

70

 

 

 

5.4

 

 

 

2.0

 

(1)Capacity of 220 MMcf/d represents nameplate processing capacity. Operational capacity is estimated at approximately 190 MMcf/d.

(1) Contract terms related to MVCs are presented for liquids and natural gas on a combined basis.

(2) Weighted average based on total remaining MVC (total remaining MVCs multiplied by average rate).

AMIs for the Williston BasinRockies reportable segment total approximately 1.22.4 million surface acres in the aggregate.

Our Rockies reportable segment is comprised of our Polar and Divide.Divide system and the Niobrara G&P system.
Polar and Divide system. The Polar and Divide system, collectively Polar Midstream and Epping, which is located primarily in Williams and Divide counties in northwestern North Dakota, owns, operates and is currently developing crude oil and produced water gathering systems and transmission pipelines serving multiple customers that are targeting crude oil production from the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations. The Polar and Divide system is underpinned by long-term, fee-based gathering agreements, which include acreage dedications.dedications and MVCs. Chord Energy Corporation (formerly Whiting Petroleum Corporation), Zavanna LLC, Crescent Point Energy Corp, Enerplus Corporation and BruinKraken Resources are the key customers of the Polar and Divide system.

Crude oil that is gathered by the Polar and Divide system is delivered to interconnects with (i) the Dakota Access Pipeline, (ii) the COLT Hub rail facility, (iii) Enbridge Inc’s North Dakota Pipeline System and (iv) Global Partners LP's Basin Transload rail terminal. Produced water is delivered to third-party disposal facilities.

The Polar and Divide

Niobrara G&P system currently provides crude oil and produced water midstream services for the Williston Basin reportable segment.

Bison Midstream.The Bison Midstream system is located in Mountrail and Burke counties in northwestern North Dakota. Bison Midstream gathers, compresses and treats associated natural gas that exists in the crude oil stream produced from the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations. Our gathering agreements for the Bison Midstream system include long-term, fee-based or percent-of-proceeds contracts. Volume throughput on the Bison Midstream system is underpinned by acreage dedications and MVCs from its key customers. A large U.S. independent crude oil and natural gas company and Oasis are the key customers of Bison Midstream.

Natural gas gathered on the Bison Midstream system is delivered to Aux Sable Midstream LLC's (“Aux Sable”) Palermo Conditioning Plant in Palermo, North Dakota and then delivered to downstream pipelines serving Aux Sable’s 2.1 Bcf/d natural gas processing plant in Channahon, Illinois.

The Bison Midstream system currently provides associated natural gas midstream services for the Williston Basin reportable segment.


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DJ Basin (Core Focus Area).

The following table provides operating information regarding our DJ Basin reportable segment as of December 31, 2020.

 

 

Aggregate throughput capacity (MMcf/d)

 

 

Average daily MVCs through 2023 (MMcf/d)

 

 

Remaining MVCs (Bcf)

 

 

Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)(1)

 

 

Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)(1)

 

DJ Basin

 

 

60

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

9

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

2.2

 

(1) Weighted average based on total remaining MVC (total remaining MVCs multiplied by average rate).

AMIs for the DJ Basin reportable segment total approximately 185,000 surface acres in the aggregate.

The Niobrara G&P system is located near Hereford, Colorado, in rural Weld, Morgan and Logan Counties, and in Cheyenne County of Nebraska. Weld County is the largest crude oil and natural gas producing county in the state.Colorado. Gathering and processing services on the Niobrara G&P system are provided pursuant to long-term, fee-based gatheringand percentage of proceeds agreements with producers that are primarily targeting crude oil production from the Niobrara and Codell shale formations. HighPoint andChevron Corporation, Civitas Resources, Inc., a large U.S. independent crude oil and natural gas company, Mallard Exploration (recently acquired by Bison Oil and Gas IV in January 2023), and Verdad Resources are the key customers of the Niobrara G&P system and have underpinned our volume throughput with acreage dedications and MVCs.

The Niobrara G&P system operates a low-pressure associated natural gas gathering system, and a cryogenic natural gas processing plantplants with processing capacity of 60up to 220 MMcf/d. The Niobrara G&P system also processes liquids-rich natural gas that is produced by a customer in Laramie County, Wyoming and is delivered to the inlet of our processing plant by a third-party gathering system.

Residue gas is delivered to the Cheyenne Plains, Colorado Interstate Gas, and Trailblazer Pipeline and Southern Star and processed NGLs are delivered to the Overland Pass Pipeline.

The Niobrara G&PPipeline and the P66 NGL System.

Additionally, the system currently provides midstream serviceshas discrete freshwater infrastructure that consists of 19 water wells and other infrastructure to provide its customers with up to approximately 55,000 barrels per day of fresh water for well completion activities, and the DJ Basin reportable segment.


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system includes approximately 30 miles of crude oil gathering pipeline with delivery into the Pony Express pipeline.
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Permian Basin (Core Focus Area).

Permian.
The following table provides operating information regarding our Permian Basin reportable segment as of December 31, 2020.

2022.

 

 

Aggregate throughput capacity (MMcf/d)

 

 

Average daily MVCs through 2023 (MMcf/d)

 

Remaining MVCs (Bcf)

 

Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)

 

Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)

Permian Basin(1)

 

 

60

 

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

7.5

 

n/a

Aggregate throughput capacity (MMcf/d)Average daily MVCs through 2027 (MMcf/d)Remaining MVCs (Bcf)Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)
Double E (1)
1,3509643,1778.88.8
______________________________________________

(1) Contract terms related Presented on a gross basis. Existing MVC’s contractually increase to MVCs are excluded for confidentiality purposes.

AMIs for the Permian Basin reportable segment total approximately 89,000 surface acres1.0 Bcf/d beginning in the aggregate.

The Summit Permian system is an associated natural gas gathering and processing system operatingNovember 2024. As of December 31, 2022, we owned a 70% interest in the northern Delaware Basin in Eddy and Lea counties in New Mexico. Gathering and processing services on the Summit Permian system are provided pursuant to long-term, fee-based gathering agreements with producers that are primarily targeting crude oil production from the Bone Spring and Wolfcamp shale formations. XTO is the key customer of the Summit Permian system.

The Summit Permian system operates a low-pressure natural gas gathering system and a 60 MMcf/d cryogenic processing plant. Residue natural gas is delivered to the Transwestern Pipeline and processed NGLs are delivered to the Lone Star NGL Pipeline. Summit Permian provides services for the Permian Basin reportable segment.

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Table of ContentsDouble E.

Double E (Core Focus Area).

Double E is a 135 mile, 1.35 Bcf/d, FERC-regulated interstate natural gas transmission pipeline that is under developmentcommenced operations in November 2021 and will provideprovides transportation service from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and around the Waha Hubhub in Texas. Double E is underpinned by 1.0 Bcf/d of long-term take-or-pay contracts with ExxonMobil Corporation, Marathon Oil and Matador Resources Company (“Matador”). In 2021, we entered into negotiated rate agreements with an average term of 10 years from the in-service date of the pipeline, which occurred on November 18, 2021 and with total MDTQ’s that increase from 585,000 Dth/d during the first year of the agreement to 1,000,000 Dth/d in the fourth year, which equates to approximately 74% of its certificated capacity of 1,350,000 Dth/d. Volume throughput is received from multiple processing plants, including Matador’s Marlan plant, XTO’s Cowboy plant, Targa’s Roadrunner plant, San Mateo’s Black River plant and Crestwood’s Carlsbad plant. Double E is in the process of connecting EnLink’s Lobo plant and expects that connection to be operational in 2023. The Partnership owns 70% of Double E is leadingand operates the development, permitting and construction of the pipeline, and will operate Double E upon commissioning. In January 2021, Double E received its Notice to Proceed with construction, as well as approval of its implementation plan, from FERC and expects the pipeline will be in-service by the end of 2021. Due to Double E’s early development status, its assets and operations are not included in a reportable segment.pipeline.


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Piceance Basin (Legacy Area).

Piceance.
The following table provides operating information regarding our Piceance Basin reportable segment as of December 31, 2020.

2022.

 

 

Aggregate throughput capacity (MMcf/d)

 

 

Average daily MVCs through 2023 (MMcf/d)

 

 

Remaining MVCs (Bcf)

 

 

Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)(1)

 

 

Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)(1)

 

Piceance Basin

 

 

1,151

 

 

 

369

 

 

 

603

 

 

 

9.1

 

 

 

4.9

 

Aggregate throughput capacity (MMcf/d)Average daily MVCs through 2027 (MMcf/d)Remaining MVCs (Bcf)Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)
Piceance1,1511753199.73.4

(1) Weighted average based on total remaining MVC (total remaining MVCs multiplied by average rate).

AMIs for the Piceance Basin reportable segment totalcover approximately 654,000434,000 surface acres in the aggregate.

Our Piceance reportable segment is comprised of our Grand River gathering system.
Grand River system.Grand River is primarily located in Garfield County, one of the largest natural gas producing counties in Colorado. The Grand River system provides natural gas gathering services pursuant to primarily long-term and fee-based agreements with multiple producers, including its key customers, Caerus Oil and Gas and Terra Energy Partners. Volume throughput on the Grand River system is underpinned with acreage dedications and MVCs.

The Grand River system is primarily a low-pressure gathering system located in western Colorado that gathers natural gas produced from directional wells targeting the liquids-rich Mesaverde formation. The Grand River system also gathers natural gas produced from the Mancos and Niobrara shale formations.

Natural gas gathered and/or processed on the Grand River system is compressed, dehydrated, processed and/or discharged to downstream pipelines serving (i) the Meeker Processing Complex, (ii) the Williams Processing Complex and (iii) the TransColorado Pipeline system. Processed NGLs from Grand River are injected into the Mid-America Pipeline system or delivered to local markets. Residue gas has access to multiple pipelines and end markets. In addition, certain of our gathering agreements with our customers on the Grand River system permit us to retain, and monetize for our own account, condensate volumes that naturally discharge from the liquids-rich natural gas as it moves across our system.

The Grand River system currently provides midstream services for the Piceance Basin reportable segment.


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Barnett Shale (Legacy Area).

Barnett.
The following table provides operating information regarding our Barnett Shale reportable segment as of December 31, 2020.

2022.

 

 

Throughput capacity (MMcf/d)

 

 

Average daily MVCs through 2023 (MMcf/d)

 

Remaining MVCs (Bcf)

 

Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)(1)

 

Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)(1)

Barnett Shale

 

 

450

 

 

n/a

 

n/a

 

6.1

 

n/a

Throughput capacity (MMcf/d)Average daily MVCs through 2027 (MMcf/d)Remaining MVCs (Bcf)Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)
Barnett450n/an/a4n/a

(1) Weighted average based on total remaining MVC (total remaining MVCs multiplied by average rate).

AMIs for the Barnett Shale reportable segment totalcover approximately 124,000 surface acres.

Our Barnett reportable segment is comprised of DFW Midstream system.
DFW Midstream system.The DFW Midstream system is primarily located in southeastern Tarrant County, in north-central Texas. We consider this area to be the core of the core of the Barnett Shale because of the quality of the geology and the high production profile of the wells drilled to date.date in our service area. The DFW Midstream system is underpinned by a long-term, fee-based gathering agreementagreements with Total Gas & Power North America, Inc. (“Total”) and additionalother customers.

Total is the key customer for DFW Midstream.

The DFW Midstream system includes natural gas gathering pipelines located under both private and public property and is partially located along existing electric transmission corridors. Compression on the system is powered by electricity. To offset the costs we incur to operate the system's electric-drive compressors, we either pass through a portion of the power expense to our customers or retain and sell a fixed percentage of the natural gas that we gather.

The DFW Midstream system currently has sixfive primary interconnections with third-party, primarily intrastate pipelines. These interconnections enable us to connect our customers, directly or indirectly, with the major natural gas market hubs in Texas and Louisiana. Total Gas & Power North America, Inc. ("Total") is the key customer for DFW Midstream.

The DFW Midstream system currently provides midstream services for the Barnett Shale reportable segment.


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Marcellus Shale (Legacy Area).

The following table provides operating information regarding our Marcellus Shale reportable segment as of December 31, 2020.

Throughput capacity (MMcf/d)

Average daily MVCs through 2023 (MMcf/d)

Remaining MVCs (Bcf)

Weighted-average remaining contract life (Years)

Weighted-average remaining MVC life (Years)

Marcellus Shale(1)

1,050

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

(1) Contract terms related to MVCs are excluded for confidentiality purposes.

The Mountaineer Midstream system is located in Doddridge and Harrison counties in West Virginia where it gathers natural gas under a long-term, fee-based contract with Antero, which is targeting liquids-rich natural gas production from the Marcellus Shale formation in the Appalachian Basin. Volume throughput on the Mountaineer Midstream system is underpinned by minimum revenue commitments from Antero.

The Mountaineer Midstream system consists of a high-pressure natural gas gathering system and two compressor stations. This system gathers high-pressure natural gas received from upstream pipeline interconnections with Antero Midstream Corporation and Crestwood Equity Partners LP. Mountaineer Midstream serves as a critical inlet to the Sherwood Processing Complex, a primary destination for liquids-rich natural gas in northern West Virginia and one of the largest natural gas processing facilities in the United States.

The Mountaineer Midstream system currently provides midstream services for the Marcellus Shale reportable segment.

For additional information relating to our business and gathering systems, see the "Trends and Outlook" and "Results of Operations" sections in Item 7. MD&A.

Our Customers

The systems that we operate and/or have significant ownership interests in have a diverse group of customers and counterparties comprising affiliates and/or subsidiaries of some of the largest natural gas and crude oil producers in North America.

We believe that our gathering systems in the Core Focus Areas are positioned for long-term growth through further development by our customers and increased utilization of our gathering systems. We intend to continue expanding our operations and creating additional scale in our Core Focus Areas through the execution of new, and the expansion of existing, strategic partnerships with our existing and prospective customers.

We believe that our customers in our Legacy Areas will pursue a slower pace of drilling and completion activity than customers in our Core Focus Areas. As a result, volume throughput in our Legacy Areas could decline or experience a lower rate of growth than our gathering systems in our Core Focus Areas. In general, our gathering systems in our Legacy Areas have a more mature base of connected wells, larger and longer-lived MVCs and experience lower volume throughput decline rates as compared to our gathering systems in our Core Focus Areas. We will continue to evaluate divestitures or joint ventures of certain of our gathering systems included in our Core Focus Areas or our Legacy Areas, which could result in a reallocation of capital or other resources to repay outstanding debt and other liabilities and fixed capital obligations, or re-invest in our Core Focus Areas.

Regulation of the Natural Gas and Crude Oil Industries

General. Sales by producers of natural gas, crude oil, condensate and NGLs are currently made at market prices. However, gathering and transportation services are subject to various types of regulation, which may affect certain aspects of our business and the market for our services. FERC regulates the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce and the interstate transportation of crude oil, petroleum products and NGLs. FERC regulation includes reviewing and accepting or approving rates and other terms and conditions for such transportation services and authorizing and regulating the construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines. FERC is also authorized to prevent and sanction market manipulation in natural gas markets while the FTC is authorized to prevent and sanction market manipulation in petroleum markets and the CFTC is authorized to prevent and sanction fraud and price manipulations in the commodity and futures markets, including the energy futures markets. State and municipal regulations may apply to the production and gathering of certain natural gas, the construction and operation of natural gas and crude oil facilities and the rates and practices of gathering systems and intrastate pipelines.

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Regulation of Crude Oil and Natural Gas Exploration, Production and Sales. Sales of crude oil and NGLs are not currently regulated and are transacted at market prices. In 1989, the U.S. Congress enacted the Natural Gas Wellhead Decontrol Act, which removed all remaining price and non-price controls affecting wellhead sales of natural gas. FERC, which has the authority under the NGA to regulate the prices and other terms and conditions of the sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce, has issued blanket authorizations for all gas resellers subject to its regulation, except interstate pipelines, to resell natural gas at market prices. Either Congress or FERC (with respect to the resale of gas in interstate commerce), however, could re-impose price controls in the future.

Exploration and production operations are subject to various types of federal, state and local regulation, including, but not limited to, permitting, well location, methods of drilling, well operations and conservation of resources. While these regulations do not directly apply to our business, they may affect our customers' ability to produce natural gas.

Regulation of the Gathering and Transportation of Natural Gas and Crude Oil. We believe that the majority of our natural gas pipeline facilities qualify as gathering facilities that are exempt from the jurisdiction of FERC. Our Double E Pipeline, which is an interstate natural gas pipeline located in New Mexico and Texas, and Epping Pipeline interstate crude oil pipeline, which is located in North Dakota which isand owned and operated by Epping, isare subject to FERC’s jurisdiction and oversight pursuant to FERC's authority under the NGA and the ICA, respectively. Epping and Epping hasDouble E have tariffs on file with FERC a tariff for interstate movements of crude oil on the pipeline. Additionally, in October 2020, Double E received FERC approval of its application to construct and operate the Double E Project, pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act. The Double E Project is anticipated to provide interstate natural gas transmission service from the Delaware Basin in southeastern New Mexico to delivery points in and around the Waha Hub in Texas, will be subject to FERC jurisdiction. In 2018, FERC solicited public comment on its current policy on the certification of construction of new pipeline facilities, although it has not made any determinations yet on whether to make any changes to that policy. FERC.
In addition to approving and regulating the construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines, FERC also regulates such pipelines’ rates and terms and conditions of service, including transportation service agreements and negotiated rate agreements.

Under FERC’s ICA jurisdiction, rates for interstate movements of liquids by pipeline are currently regulated primarily through an annual indexing methodology, under which pipelines increase or decrease their existing rates in accordance with a FERC-specified adjustment that sets a rate ceiling. This adjustment, which may be positive or negative in a given year, is subject to review every five years. For the five-year period beginning on July 1, 2016,2021, FERC established an annual index adjustment equal to the change in the producer price index for finished goods plus 1.23%minus 0.21%. In 2016, FERC proposed a policy change that would deny proposed index increases for pipelines under certain circumstances where revenues exceed cost-of-service by a certain percentage or where the proposed index increases exceed certain annual cost changes reported to FERC. FERC terminatedFERC’s orders establishing this rulemaking on February 20, 2020 without adopting any part of the proposal. FERC completed its five-year review of its index adjustment by issuing an order on December 17, 2020 adopting a new annual index adjustment of the producer price index for finished goods plus 0.78% to become effective starting July 1, 2021. FERC’s order isare subject to rehearing and possiblepending judicial review.

Under current FERC regulations, liquids pipelines can request a rate increase that exceeds the rate obtained through the indexing methodology by using a cost-of-service approach, but a pipeline must establish that a substantial divergence exists between its actual costs and the rates resulting from the indexing methodology. The rates charged by Epping may also be affected by FERC’s March 15, 2018 announcement of a revised policy eliminating the recovery of an income tax allowance in cost-of-service-based rates by FERC-jurisdictional crude oil and natural gas pipelines owned by master limited partnerships. FERC has not required oil pipelines on an industry-wide basis to decrease their rates to implement the new policy, but FERC has stated that the effects of the revised policy statement must be incorporated in annual FERC financial reports made by oil pipelines. The effect of the elimination of the income tax allowance for MLP pipelines, as well as the reduction in the corporate income tax rate resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Reform Legislation”), was considered in FERC’s five-year review of index rate adjustments which resulted in the December 17, 2020 order adopting a new annual index adjustment for the five-year period starting July 1, 2021.

The ICA permits interested persons to challenge proposed new or changed rates and authorizes FERC to suspend the effectiveness of such rates for up to seven months and investigate such rates. If, upon completion of an investigation, FERC finds that the new or changed rate is unlawful, it is authorized to require the pipeline to refund revenues collected in excess of the just and reasonable rate during the term of the investigation. FERC may also investigate, upon complaint or on its own motion, rates that are already in effect and may order a carrier to change its rates prospectively. Under certain circumstances, FERC could limit

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Epping’s ability to set rates based on costs or could order reduced rates and reparations to complaining shippers for up to two years prior to the date of a complaint. FERC also has the authority to change terms and conditions of service if it determines that they are unjust and unreasonable or unduly discriminatory or preferential. The ICA also imposes potential criminal liability for certain violations of the statute.

FERC has jurisdiction over, among other things, the construction, ownership and commercial operation of pipelines and related facilities used in the transportation and storage of natural gas in interstate commerce, including the modification, extension,
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enlargement, and abandonment of such facilities. FERC also has jurisdiction over the rates, charges, and term and conditions of service for the transportation and storage of natural gas in interstate commerce. With respect to transportation rates, FERC exercises its ratemaking authority by applying cost-of-service principles to limit the maximum and minimum levels of tariff-based recourse rates; however, it also allows for discounted or negotiated rates as an alternative to cost-based rates. In addition, FERC regulations also restrict interstate natural gas pipelines from sharing certain transportation or customer information with marketing affiliates and require that the transmission function personnel of interstate natural gas pipelines operate independently of the marketing function personnel of the pipeline or its affiliates.
Pursuant to the NGA, existing interstate natural gas transportation and storage rates and terms and conditions of service may be challenged by complaint and are subject to prospective change by FERC. Additionally, rate changes and changes to terms and conditions of service proposed by a regulated natural gas interstate pipeline may be protested and such changes can be delayed and may ultimately be rejected by FERC. FERC may also initiate reviews of an interstate pipeline’s rates. Double E currently holds authority from the FERC to charge and collect (i) “recourse rates,” which are the maximum cost-based rates an interstate natural gas pipeline may charge for its services under its tariff; (ii) “discount rates,” which are rates offered by the natural gas pipeline to shippers at discounts vis-à-vis the recourse rates and that fall within the cost-based maximum and minimum rate levels set forth in the natural gas pipeline's tariff; and (iii) “negotiated rates,” which are rates negotiated and agreed to by the pipeline and the shipper for the contract term that may fall within or outside of the cost-based maximum and minimum rate levels set forth in the tariff, and which are individually filed with the FERC for review and acceptance.On November 18, 2021, we entered into negotiated rate agreements with an average term of 10 years from the in-service date of the pipeline and with total MDTQ’s that increase from 585,000 Dth/d during the first year of the agreement to 1,000,000 Dth/d in the fourth year, which equates to approximately 74% of its certificated capacity of 1,350,000 Dth/d. When capacity is available and offered for sale, the rates (which include reservation, commodity, surcharges, and fixed fuel and lost and unaccounted for charges) and the terms and conditions at which such capacity is sold are subject to regulatory approval and oversight.Any successful challenge by a regulator or shipper in any of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Intrastate pipelines, which may include some pipelines that perform gathering functions, may be subject to safety regulation by the DOT, although typically state regulatory authorities (operating under a federal certification) perform this function. State regulatory authorities also have jurisdiction over the rates and practices of intrastate pipelines and gathering systems, including requirements for ratable takes or non-discriminatory access to pipeline services. The basis for state regulation and the degree of regulatory oversight of gathering systems and intrastate pipelines varies from state to state. In Texas, we are regulated as a gas utility and have filed tariffs with the Railroad Commission of Texas to establish rates and terms of service for our DFW Midstream system assets. We have not been required to file tariffs in the other states in which we operate, although we are required to submit shape files and other information regarding the location and construction of underground gathering pipelines in North Dakota. The states in which we operate have adopted complaint-based regulation that allows natural gas producers and shippers to file complaints with state regulators in an effort to resolve access issues and rate grievances, among other matters. State authorities in the states in which we operate generally have not initiated investigations of the rates or practices of gathering systems or intrastate pipelines in the absence of a complaint. State regulation of intrastate pipelines continues to evolve and may become more stringent in the future. For example, in 2016, the North Dakota Industrial Commission (“NDIC”) recently adopted rule changes that resulted in additional construction and monitoring requirements for all pipelines, including, but not limited to, those that transport produced water, andwater. The NDIC has recentlyalso adopted reclamation bonding requirements for certain underground gathering pipelines in North Dakota.

Natural gas, crude oil and produced water production, gathering and transportation, including the construction of new gathering facilities and expansion of existing gathering facilities may also be subject to local regulation, such as approval and permit requirements.

Statutory Compliance and Anti-Market Manipulation Rules. We are subject to the anti-market manipulation and penalty provisions in the NGA and the NGPA, as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which authorize FERC to impose fines of up to $1,307,164approximately $1.5 million per day per violation of the NGA, the NGPA, or their implementing rules, regulations, and orders subject to future adjustments for inflation. In addition, the FTC holds statutory authority under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to prevent market manipulation in petroleum markets, including the authority to request that a court impose fines of up to $1,246,249approximately $1.4 million per violation, subject to future adjustment for inflation. These agencies have promulgated broad rules and regulations prohibiting fraud and manipulation in oil and gas markets. The CFTC is directed under the CEA to prevent price manipulations in the commodity and futures markets, including the energy futures markets. Pursuant to statutory authority, the CFTC has adopted anti-market manipulation regulations that prohibit fraud and price manipulation in the commodity and futures markets. The CFTC also has statutory authority to seek civil penalties of up to the greater of $1,227,202approximately $1.4 million per day per violation, subject to future adjustment for inflation, or triple the monetary gain to the violator for violations of the anti-market manipulation sections of the CEA. We are also subject to various reporting requirements that are designed to facilitate transparency and prevent market manipulation.

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Safety and Maintenance. We are subject to regulation by the DOT, which establishes federal safety standards for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of natural gas and crude oil pipeline facilities. In the Pipeline Safety Act of 1992, Congress expanded the DOT's regulatory authority to include regulated gathering lines that had previously been exempt from federal jurisdiction. Additional legislation has been passed over the years to reauthorize federal funding for federal pipeline programs, increase penalties for safety violations and establish additional safety requirements. For example, in December 2020, the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 became law, reauthorizing PHMSA for funding through 2023 and requiring, among other things, rulemaking to amend the integrity management program, emergency response plan, operation and maintenance manual, and pressure control recordkeeping requirements for gas distribution operators; to create new leak detection and repair program obligations; and to set new minimum federal safety standards for onshore gas gathering lines.

The DOT has delegated the implementation of pipeline safety requirements to PHMSA, which has adopted and enforces safety standards and procedures applicable to a limited number of our pipelines. In addition, many states, including the states in which we operate, have adopted regulations that are identical to or more restrictive than existing PHMSA regulations for intrastate pipelines. Among the regulations applicable to us, PHMSA requires pipeline operators to develop integrity management

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programs for certain pipelines located in high consequence areas, which include high-population areas such as the Dallas-Fort Worth greater metropolitan area where our DFW Midstream system is located. While the majority of our pipelines meethave historically met the DOT definition of gathering lines and arewere thus currently exempt from the integrity management requirements of PHMSA, we also operate a limited number of pipelines that are subject to the integrity management requirements. Those regulations require operators, including us, to:

perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity;

perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity;

identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact a high consequence area;

identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact a high consequence area;

maintain processes for data collection, integration and analysis;

maintain processes for data collection, integration and analysis;

repair and remediate pipelines as necessary;

repair and remediate pipelines as necessary;

adopt and maintain procedures, standards and training programs for control room operations; and

adopt and maintain procedures, standards and training programs for control room operations; and

implement preventive and mitigating actions.

implement preventive and mitigating actions.
In addition, PHMSA has taken recent action to regulate gathering systems, which includes integrity management requirements. In November 2021, PHMSA issued a final rule that extended pipeline safety requirements to onshore gas gathering pipelines. The rule requires all onshore gas gathering pipeline operators to comply with PHMSA’s incident and annual reporting requirements.It also extends existing pipeline safety requirements to a new category of gas gathering pipelines, “Type C” lines, which generally include high-pressure pipelines that are larger than 8.625 inches in diameter. Safety requirements applicable to Type C lines vary based on pipeline diameter and potential failure consequences. The final rule became effective in May 2022 and operators were required to comply with the applicable safety requirements by November 2022.
PHMSA has also imposed additional requirements on onshore gas transmission systems and hazardous liquids pipelines in recent years. In October 2019, the PHMSA issued three new final rules. One rule, which became effective in December 2019, establishes procedures to implement the expanded emergency order enforcement authority set forth in an October 2016 interim final rule. Among other things, this rule allows the PHMSA to issue an emergency order without advance notice or opportunity for a hearing. The other two rules, which became effective in July 2020, imposeimposed several new requirements on operators of onshore gas transmission systems and hazardous liquids pipelines. The rule concerning gas transmission extendsextended the requirement to conduct integrity assessments beyond “high consequence areas” (“HCAs”) to pipelines in “moderate consequence areas” (“MCAs”). It also includesincluded requirements to reconfirm Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (“MAOP”), report MAOP exceedances, consider seismicity as a risk factor in integrity management, and use certain safety features on in-line inspection equipment. PHMSA modified the rule in July 2020, in response to a petition for reconsideration, to limit the rule’s recordkeeping requirement related to class location changes to gas transmission pipelines (not gas distribution pipelines) and to clarify that the rule’s reconfirmation requirements related to MAOP is limited to segments without traceable, verifiable and complete pressure test records. The rule concerning hazardous liquids extendsextended the required use of leak detection systems beyond HCAs to all regulated non-gathering hazardous liquid pipelines, requires reporting for gravity fed lines and unregulated gathering lines, requires periodic inspection of all lines not in HCAs, calls for inspections of lines after extreme weather events, and addsadded a requirement to make all lines in or affecting HCAs capable of accommodating in-line inspection tools over the next 20 years.

In addition, in August 2022, PHMSA issued a final rule that established new or additional requirements for natural gas transmission lines related to the management of change process, integrity management, corrosion control standards, and pipeline inspections and repairs.

Gathering systems like ours are also subject to a number of other federal and state laws and regulations, including the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and comparable state statutes, the purposes of which are to protect the health and safety of
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workers, both generally and within the pipeline industry. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration hazard communication standard, EPA community right-to-know regulations under Title III of the federal Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act and comparable state statutes require that information be maintained concerning hazardous materials used or produced in our operations and that such information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and the public.

Environmental Matters

General. Our operation of pipelines and other assets for the gathering, treating, transportation and/or processing of natural gas and the gathering of crude oil and produced water is subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. As an owner or operator of these assets, we must comply with these laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels. These laws and regulations can restrict or impact our business activities in many ways, such as:

requiring the installation of pollution-control equipment or otherwise restricting the way we operate;

requiring the installation of pollution-control equipment or otherwise restricting the way we operate;

limiting or prohibiting construction activities in sensitive areas, such as wetlands, coastal regions or areas inhabited by endangered or threatened species;

limiting or prohibiting construction activities in sensitive areas, such as wetlands, coastal regions or areas inhabited by endangered or threatened species;

delaying system modification or upgrades during permit reviews;

delaying system modification or upgrades during permit reviews;

requiring investigatory and remedial actions to mitigate pollution conditions caused by our operations or attributable to former operations; and

enjoining the operations or attributable to former operations; and

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Table of Contentsfacilities deemed to be in non-compliance with permits or permit requirements issued pursuant to or imposed by such environmental laws and regulations.

enjoining the operations of facilities deemed to be in non-compliance with permits or permit requirements issued pursuant to or imposed by such environmental laws and regulations.

Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may trigger administrative, civil and criminal enforcement measures, including the assessment of monetary penalties. Certain environmental statutes impose strict joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where substances, hydrocarbons or wastes have been disposed or otherwise released. Moreover, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hazardous substances, hydrocarbons or other waste products into the environment.

The trend in environmental regulation is to place more stringent requirements, resulting in more restrictions and limitations, on activities that may affect the environment. Thus, there can be no assurance as to the amount or timing of future expenditures for environmental compliance or remediation and actual future expenditures may be different from the amounts we currently anticipate. We try to anticipate future regulatory requirements that might be imposed and plan accordingly to remain in compliance with changing environmental laws and regulations and to minimize the costs of such compliance. We also actively participate in industry groups that help formulate recommendations for addressing existing and future regulations.

The following is a discussion of the material environmental laws and regulations that relate to our business.

Hazardous Substances and Waste. Our operations are subject to environmental laws and regulations relating to the management and release of solid and hazardous wastes and other substances, including hydrocarbons. These laws generally regulate the generation, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of solid and hazardous waste and may impose strict joint and several liability for the investigation and remediation of affected areas where hazardous substances may have been released or disposed. Furthermore, the Toxic Substances Control Act and analogous state laws, impose requirements on the use, storage and disposal of various chemicals and chemical substances at our facilities. CERCLA and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons that contributed to the release of a hazardous substance into the environment. We may handle hazardous substances within the meaning of CERCLA, or similar state statutes, in the course of our ordinary operations and, as a result, may be jointly and severally liable under CERCLA for all or part of the costs required to clean up sites at which these hazardous substances have been released into the environment.

We also generate industrial wastes that are subject to the requirements of the RCRA and comparable state statutes. While the RCRA regulates both solid and hazardous wastes, it imposes strict requirements on the generation, storage, treatment, transportation and disposal of hazardous wastes. Although we generate minimal hazardous waste, it is possible that non-hazardous wastes, which could include wastes currently generated during our operations, will in the future be designated as hazardous wastes and, therefore, be subject to more rigorous and costly disposal requirements. Moreover, from time to time, the EPA and state regulatory agencies have considered the adoption of stricter disposal standards for non-hazardous wastes, including natural gas wastes.

We currently own or lease properties where hydrocarbons are being or have been handled for many years. Although we believe that the previous operators utilized operating and disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hydrocarbons or other wastes may have been disposed of or released on or under the properties owned or leased by us or on or under the other
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locations where these hydrocarbons and wastes have been transported for treatment or disposal, without our knowledge. These properties and the wastes disposed thereon may be subject to CERCLA, the RCRA and analogous state laws. Under these laws, we could be required to remove or remediate previously disposed wastes (including wastes disposed of or released by prior owners or operators), to clean up contaminated property (including contaminated groundwater) or to perform remedial operations to prevent future contamination. We are not currently aware of any facts, events or conditions relating to such requirements that could materially impact our operations or financial condition.

Air Emissions. Our operations are subject to the federal CAA and comparable state and local laws and regulations. These laws and regulations regulate emissions of air pollutants from various industrial sources, including our facilities, and also impose various monitoring, control and reporting requirements. Such laws and regulations may require that we obtain pre-approval for the construction or modification of certain projects or facilities expected to produce or significantly increase air emissions, obtain and strictly comply with air permits containing various emissions and operational limitations and utilize specific emission control technologies to limit emissions. Our failure to comply with these requirements could subject us to monetary penalties, injunctions, conditions or restrictions on operations and criminal enforcement actions. Furthermore, we may be required to incur certain capital expenditures in the future to obtain and maintain operating permits and approvals for air pollutant emitting sources.

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In October 2015, the EPA issued a new lower NAAQS for ozone. The previous ozone standard was set at 75 parts per billion ("ppb"(“ppb”). The revised standard has been lowered to 70 ppb. The lowered ozone NAAQS could subject us to increased regulatory burdens in the form of more stringent emission controls, emission offset requirements and increased permitting delays and costs. Impacts fromIn October 2022, EPA reclassified the Dallas Fort Worth area as severe nonattainment under the 75 ppb standard and moderate nonattainment under the 70 ppb standard. As part of the same action, EPA also reclassified portions of Weld County, Colorado as severe nonattainment under the 75 ppb standard. In July 2022, EPA notified the State of Texas that it was considering redesignating an area comprising several Texas and New Mexico counties in the Permian Basin as a new ozone nonattainment area. These reclassifications and redesignations in areas where we operate could result in additional fees and more stringent permitting requirements for our operations, among other things. In addition, the EPA reviewed the 2015 70 ppb standard have not yet been determined, as states are still in 2020, but retained the process of incorporatingstandard without revision. However, EPA has announced that it will reconsider the new2020 decision to retain the 2015 standards. Future actions to lower the standard into their respective state implementation plans. We will continue to monitor developments to determine if any adverse effects on our operations can be expected.could similarly result in additional fees or more stringent permitting.

On June 3, 2016, the EPA finalized revisions to its 2012 New Source Performance Standard ("NSPS"(“NSPS”) OOOO for the oil and gas industry, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases - most notably methane - along with smog-forming VOCs. The revisions, which are published in the Federal Register under Subpart OOOOa, included the addition of methane to the pollutants covered by the rule, along with requirements for detecting and repairing leaks at gathering and boosting stations. The revised rule applies to sources that have been modified, constructed, or reconstructed after September 18, 2015. In August 2020,Further, in November 2021, the EPA issued two final rulesa new proposed rule targeting methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas sources.The proposed rule would: (1) update NSPS OOOOa; (2) adopt a new NSPS OOOOb for sources that rescindedcommence construction, modification or reconstruction after the methane-specific requirements of NSPS OOOO and OOOOa applicable to sourcesdate the proposed rule is published in the productionFederal Register; and processing segments and removed the transmission and storage segment from the source category. However, these 2020 rules are being challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In addition, President Biden’s January 20, 2021 Executive Order on “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science(3) adopt a new NSPS OOOOc to Tackle the Climate Crisis” directed EPAestablish emissions guidelines, which will inform state plans to consider publishing a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding the 2020 rules, as well as to consider establishing methane and VOC emissionestablish standards for existing sources.The EPA issued a supplemental proposal in November 2022 to update and expand the proposed NSPS OOOOb and OOOOc rules. This supplemental proposal would impose more stringent requirements and include sources not previously regulated under this source category.If finalized, these increasingly stringent requirements, or the application of new requirements to existing facilities, could result in the oiladditional restrictions on operations and gas sector, including the transportation and storage segments.

increased compliance costs for us or our customers.

On November 16, 2016 the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"(“BLM”) issued a final rule to reduce venting and flaring of natural gas on public and Indian lands. The final rule mirrorsmirrored many of the requirements found in NSPS OOOOa, with additional natural gas royalty requirements for flared volumes at sites already connected to gas capture infrastructure. In September 2018, the BLM published a finalThe rule that rescinded several requirements of this rule. However, in July 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Californiawas vacated BLM’s 2018 revision rule. In addition, in October 2020,by a Wyoming federal district judge vacatedin 2020. However, BLM proposed a new rule in November 2022, similarly designed to reduce the 2016waste of natural gas from venting, flaring and flaring rule. Environmental groups appealed the October 2020 decision in December 2020leaks during oil and litigation is ongoing.gas production activities on federal and Indian leases. While the rule, if implemented,finalized, is expected to have little or no direct impact on our operations, our customers that are primarily upstream wellhead operators may be impacted by the requirements in this rule.

In recent years, the EPA has also demonstrated an increased focus on CAA compliance for natural gas gathering operations. For example, in September 2019, EPA issued an enforcement alert noting that EPA identified CAA noncompliance caused by unauthorized and/or excess emissions from depressurizing pig launchers and receivers in natural gas gathering operations. The alert discussed engineering, design, operations, and maintenance practices that EPA found that can cause noncompliance and summarizes engineering solutions to reduce emissions. This increased focus on natural gas gathering operations and any resulting enforcement actions by the EPA or state agencies could subject us to monetary penalties, injunctions, conditions or restrictions on operations.

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Water Discharges. The CWA and analogous state laws impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants into regulated waters, which impacts our ability to conduct construction activities in waters and wetlands. Certain state regulations and the general permits issued under the Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program prohibit the discharge of pollutants and chemicals. In addition, the CWA and analogous state laws require individual permits or coverage under general permits for discharges of storm water runoff from certain types of facilities. These permits require us to control storm water runoff from some of our facilities. Some states also maintain groundwater protection programs that require permits for discharges or operations that may impact groundwater conditions. Federal and state regulatory agencies can impose administrative, civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance with discharge permits or other requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws and regulations. Except as otherwise disclosed in this annual report, we believe that we are in substantial compliance with all applicable requirements of the CWA and analogous state laws and regulations relating to water discharges.

Oil Pollution Control Act. The OPA requires the preparation of an SPCC plan for facilities engaged in drilling, producing, gathering, storing, processing, refining, transferring, distributing, using, or consuming oil and oil products, and which due to their location, could reasonably be expected to discharge oil in harmful quantities into or upon the navigable waters of the United States. The owner or operator of an SPCC-regulated facility is required to prepare a written, site-specific spill prevention plan, which details how a facility's operations comply with the requirements. To be in compliance, the facility's SPCC plan must satisfy all of the applicable requirements for drainage, bulk storage tanks, tank car and truck loading and unloading, transfer operations

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(intrafacility (intrafacility piping), inspections and records, security and training. Certain of our facilities are classified as SPCC-regulated facilities. We believe that they are in substantial compliance with all applicable requirements of OPA.

Hydraulic Fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is an important and increasingly common practice that is used to stimulate production of natural gas and/or crude oil from dense subsurface rock formations, and is primarily presently regulated by state agencies. However, Congress has in the past and may in the future consider legislation to regulate hydraulic fracturing by federal agencies or limit the ability of companies to engage in hydraulic fracturing. Many states have already adopted laws and/or regulations that require disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. A number of states – such as Colorado, as discussed above – have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, legal requirements that could impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well construction requirements on crude oil and/or natural gas drilling activities. For example, during the 2021-2022 election cycle, Colorado representatives proposed a Colorado ballot initiative Proposition 112, would have substantially increased setback distances for various upstream activities, thereby substantially restricting new oil and gas development into ban hydraulic fracturing on all non-federal land, but the state. Although Proposition 112 was defeated in the November 2018 elections, similar ballot initiatives have been circulated by interested groups for potential consideration in elections. Further, Colorado Senate Bill 19-181, signed into law in April 2019, changed the mandate of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (“COGCC”), the state’s oil and gas regulator from fostering oil and gas developmentproposed initiative failed to regulating oil and gas development in a reasonable manner to protect public health and the environment. The new law also allows local governments to impose more restrictive requirements on oil and gas operations than those issued by the state and reduced the oil and gas representation on the COGCC. Further, in November 2020, the COGCC adopted new regulations that increase oil and gas setbacks to a minimum of 2,000 feet from schools and childcare facilities, prohibit routine venting and flaring, increase wildlife protections, and alter certain aspects of the permitting process. These regulations and similar efforts in Colorado and elsewhere could restrict oil and gas development in the future. garner significant support. States also could elect to prohibit hydraulic fracturing altogether, as New York, Maryland, Oregon, and Vermont have done. In addition, certain local governments have adopted, and additional local governments may adopt, ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular. These initiatives and similar efforts in Colorado and elsewhere could restrict oil and gas development in the future.

The EPA has also moved forward with various regulatory actions, including approvinga proposal to issue new regulations requiring green completions of hydraulically-fractured wellsunder the NSPS to expand and corresponding reportingstrengthen emissions reduction requirements that went into effect in 2015. Revisions to the green completion regulations were finalized in June 2016under NSPS OOOOa for new, modified and include additional requirementsreconstructed oil and natural gas sources, and require states to reduce methane emissions from existing sources nationwide. For further discussion of NSPS OOOOa and VOCs. In August 2020,subsequent actions by the EPA, issued two final rules that rescindedsee the methane-specific requirements of these regulations applicable to sources in the production and processing segments and removed the transmission and storage segment from the source category. However, these 2020 rules are being challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In addition, President Biden’s January 20, 2021 Executive Order on “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis” directed EPA to consider publishing a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding the 2020 rules as well as to consider establishing methane and VOC emission standards for existing sources in the oil and gas sector, including the transportation and storage segments.“Air Emissions” section above. The BLM has also asserted regulatory authority over aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process, and issued a final rule in March 2015 that established more stringent standards for performing hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands.lands, including requirements relating to well construction and integrity, handling of wastewater and chemical disclosure. However, in December 2017, the BLM published a final rule rescinding the 2015 rule. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California upheld the December 2017 rescission rule in a March 2020 decision. Thedecision, and the State of California and environmental plaintiffs then appealed the decisionappealed. The parties remain in June 2020. Litigation is currently ongoing.

settlement discussions.

Further, several federal governmental agencies (including the EPA) have conducted reviews and studies on the environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing, including the EPA. The results of such reviews or studies could spur initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing.

State and federal regulatory agencies recently have also focused on a possible connection between the hydraulic fracturing related activities and the increased occurrence of seismic activity. When caused by human activity, such events are called induced seismicity. Some state regulatory agencies, including those in Colorado, Ohio, and Texas, have modified their regulations or guidance to account for induced seismicity. These developments could result in additional regulation and restrictions on the use of injection disposal wells and hydraulic fracturing. Such regulations and restrictions could cause delays and impose additional costs and restrictions on our customers.

Additionally, certain of our customers produce oil and gas on federal lands. On January 20, 2021, the Acting Secretary for the Department of the Interior signed an order effectively suspending new fossil fuel leasing and permitting on federal lands for 60 days. Then on January 27, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order indefinitely suspending new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or in offshore waters pending completion of a comprehensive review and reconsideration of federal oil and gas permitting and leasing practices.

Several states filed lawsuits challenging the suspension, and on June 15, 2021, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a nationwide temporary injunction blocking the suspension. Although the injunction was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, on remand the US District Court issued a permanent injunction as requested by the plaintiff states in August 2022. The Department of the

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Interior has since resumed leasing.However, the Biden Administration continues to evaluate federal leasing and could impose additional restrictions in the future.
If new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions relating to drilling activities or to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted, this could result in a reduction in the supply of natural gas and/or crude oil that our customers produce, and could thereby adversely affect our revenues and results of operations. Compliance with such rules could also generally result in additional costs, including increased capital expenditures and operating costs, for our customers, which could ultimately decrease end-user demand for our services and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act restricts activities that may affect endangered or threatened species or their habitats. Some of our pipelines may be located in areas that are designated as habitats for endangered or threatened species.

National Environmental Policy Act. The NEPA establishes a national environmental policy and goals for the protection, maintenance and enhancement of the environment and provides a process for implementing these goals within federal agencies. Major projects havingrequiring federal permits or involving federal funding that have the potential to significantly impact the environment require review under NEPA. Many of our activities are covered under categorical exclusions which resultsresult in an expedited NEPA review process. Large upstream and downstream projects with significant cumulative impacts may be subject to longer NEPA review processes, which could impact the timing of those projects and our services associated with them.

Climate Change. The EPA has adopted regulations under the CAA that, among other things, establish GHG emission limits from motor vehicles as well as establish PSD construction and Title V operating permit reviews for certain large stationary sources that are potential major sources of GHG emissions. Facilities required to obtain PSD permits for their GHG emissions also will be required to meet “best available control technology” standards that will be established by the states or, in some cases, by the EPA on a case-by-case basis.

EPA rules also require the reporting of GHG emissions from specified large GHG-emitting sources in the United States, including onshore and offshore oil and natural gas systems. We are required to report under these rules for our assets that have GHG emissions above the reporting thresholds. In October 2015, the EPA issued revisions to Subpart W of the GHG reporting rule to include reporting requirements for gathering and booster stations, onshore natural gas transmission pipelines, and completions and workovers of oil wells with hydraulic fracturing. This development resulted in increased monitoring and reporting for our operations and for upstream producers for whom we provide midstream services.

Further, the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in August 2022, includes a Methane Emissions Reduction Program to incentivize methane emission reductions and impose a fee on GHG emissions from certain oil and gas facilities.

In addition, almost half of the states, either individually or through multi-state regional initiatives, have begun to address GHG emissions, primarily through the planned development of emission inventories or regional GHG cap and trade programs. Most of these cap and trade programs work by requiring either major sources of emissions, such as electric power plants, or major producers of fuels, such as refineries and gas processing plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances. In general, the number of allowances available for purchase is reduced each year until the overall GHG emission reduction goal is achieved. Depending on the scope of a particular program, we could be required to purchase and surrender allowances for GHG emissions resulting from our operations (e.g., at compressor stations). Although most of the state-level initiatives have to date been focused on large sources of GHG emissions, such as electric power plants, it is possible that certain components of our operations, such as our gas-fired compressors, could become subject to state-level GHG-related regulation.

Further, in December 2015, over 190 countries, including the United States, reached an agreement to reduce global GHG emissions. The agreement entered into force in November 2016 after over 70 countries, including the United States, ratified or otherwise consented to be bound by the agreement. In November 2019, the United States submitted formal notification to the United Nations that it intended to withdraw from the agreement. However, on January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an “Acceptance on Behalf of the United States of America” that reversed the prior withdrawal, and the United States officially rejoined the Paris Agreement on February 19, 2021. In addition, shortly after taking office in January 2021,As part of rejoining the Paris Agreement, President Biden issuedannounced that the United States would commit to a 50 to 52 percent reduction from 2005 levels of GHG emissions by 2030 and set the goal of reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. In November 2021, the Biden Administration expanded on this commitment and announced “The Long-Term Strategy of the United States: Pathways to Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050,” establishing a roadmap to net zero emissions in the United States by 2050 through, among other things, improvements in energy efficiency; decarbonization of energy sources via electricity, hydrogen, and sustainable biofuels; and reductions in non-CO2 GHG emissions, such as methane and nitrous oxide.These initiatives followed a series of executive orders by President Biden designed to address climate change. For example, the Executive Order on “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis” called for new regulations and policies to address climate change and suspend, revise, or rescind, prior agency actions that were identified as conflicting with the Biden Administration’s climate policies. Reentry into the Paris Agreement, andnew legislation, or President Biden’s executive orders may result in the development of
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additional regulations or changes to existing regulations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and that of our customers.

Legislation or regulations that may be adopted to address climate change could also affect the markets for our products, and those of our customers, by making our products more or less desirable than competing sources of energy. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act includes a variety of tax credits to incentivize the development and use of solar, wind, and other alternative energy sources while imposing several new requirements on oil and gas operators. Furthermore, a number of local governments across the country have banned or considered instituting bans on gas-fired appliances in newly constructed homes and other buildings, and federal agencies are considering more stringent safety or efficiency standards that could impact the availability of, access to or demand for gas-fired appliances. To the extent that our products are competing with higher GHG-emitting energy sources, our products would become more desirable in the market with more stringent limitations on GHG emissions. Conversely, to the extent that our products are competing with lower GHG-emitting energy sources such as solar and wind, our products would become less desirable in the market with more stringent limitations on GHG emissions.

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Other Information

Human Capital Resources. We recognize that our continued ability to attract, retain and motivate exceptional employees is vital to ensuring our long-term competitive advantage and the ability to create value for our unitholders. Our employees are critical to our long-term success and are essential to helping us meet our goals. Among other things, we support and incentivize our employees in the following ways:

Talent development, compensation and retention – We strive to provide our employees with a rewarding work environment, including the opportunity for success and a platform for personal and professional development. We provide a competitive benefits package designed to attract and retain a skilled and diverse workforce. We offer our employees a comprehensive benefits package, which includes company funded health plan options, vision and dental coverage, healthcare savings account, paid time off, parental leave and flexible spending accounts. We also provide professional training and development opportunities as well as education reimbursement. We also offer employees immediate eligibility in our 401(k) plan with company matching program.

Talent development, compensation and retention – We strive to provide our employees with a rewarding work environment, including the opportunity for success and a platform for personal and professional development. We provide a competitive benefits package designed to attract and retain a skilled and diverse workforce. We offer our employees a comprehensive benefits package, which includes company funded health plan options, vision and dental coverage, healthcare savings account, paid time off, parental leave and flexible spending accounts. We also provide professional training and development opportunities as well as education reimbursement. We also offer employees immediate eligibility in our 401(k) plan with company matching program.

Health and safety – Employee health and safety in the workplace is one of our core values. Some of the ways in which we support the health and safety of our employees include wellness programs with incentives and employee assistance programs.

Inclusion and diversity – We are committed to efforts to increase diversity and foster an inclusive work environment that supports our workforce.

In addition to the variety of support services we provide to our employees under normal circumstances, our top priority during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic remains protecting the health and well-beingsafety of our employees customers, partnersinclude wellness programs with incentives and communities. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have maintained a work-from-home policy for substantially allemployee assistance programs.

Inclusion and diversity – We are committed to efforts to increase diversity and foster an inclusive work environment that supports our employees, significantly limited business travel, and we have taken an integrated approach to helping our employees manage their work and personal responsibilities, with a strong focus on employee physical and mental health.

workforce.

As of December 31, 2020,2022, the Partnership employed 220252 people who provide direct, full-time support to our operations. None of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and we have nevernot experienced any business interruption as a result of any labor disputes.

Availability of Reports. We make certain filings with the SEC, including, among other filings, ourthis annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments and exhibits to those reports, available free of charge through our website, www.summitmidstream.com, as soon as reasonably practicable after the date they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. We also post announcements, updates, events, investor information and presentations on our website in addition to copies of all recent news releases. We may use the Investors section of our website to communicate with investors. It is possible that the financial and other information posted there could be deemed to be material information. Documents and information on our website are not incorporated by reference herein. The SEC maintains an Internet sitea website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC through the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. Our press releases and recent investor presentations are also available on our website.


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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

You should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition to the other information included in this Annual Report. Each of these risk factors could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in our common units:

Risks Related to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with other current pressures on oil and gas prices resulting from the OPEC price war, has had, and is expected to continue to have, an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

The ongoing COVID-19 outbreak continues to be a rapidly evolving situation. As of February 20, 2021, the CDC had recorded over 27.8 million cases in the United States and over 490,000 deaths. The pandemic has resulted in widespread adverse impacts on the global economy and on our business, including our customers, employees, supply chain, and distribution network. We are currently unable to predict the ultimate impact that it may have on our business, future results of operations, financial position or cash flows. The extent to which our operations may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted, including changes in the severity of the pandemic, countermeasures taken by governments, businesses and individuals to slow the spread of the pandemic, and the development and availability of treatments and vaccines and the extent to which these treatments and vaccines may remain effective as potential new strains of the coronavirus emerge. Furthermore, the impacts of a potential worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain unknown.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have modified our business practices, including restricting employee travel, modifying employee work locations, implementing social distancing and enhancing sanitary measures in our facilities. Many of our suppliers, vendors and service providers have made similar modifications. The resources available to employees working remotely may not enable them to maintain the same level of productivity and efficiency, and these and other employees may face additional demands on their time. Our increased reliance on remote access to our information systems increases our exposure to potential cybersecurity breaches. We may take further actions as government authorities require or recommend or as we determine to be in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners and suppliers. There is no certainty that such measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by the virus, in which case our employees may become sick, our ability to perform critical functions could be impaired, and we may be unable to respond to the needs of our business. The resumption of normal business operations after such interruptions may be delayed or constrained by lingering effects of COVID-19 on our suppliers, third-party service providers, and/or customers.

In the first half of 2020, oil prices declined significantly due to increases in supply emanating from a disagreement on production cuts among members of OPEC and certain non-OPEC, oil-producing countries and subsequent hydrocarbon commodity price declines. The resulting supply and demand imbalance disrupted the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry and other industries that serve exploration and production companies. These industry conditions, coupled with those resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, could lead to significant global economic contraction generally and in our industry in particular. Although OPEC agreed in April 2020 to cut oil production and extended such production cuts through December 2020, there is no assurance that the agreement will continue to be observed by its members, and the responses of oil and gas producers to the lower demand for, and price of, natural gas, NGLs and crude oil are constantly evolving and remain uncertain. Continued pressure on demand. Such responses could cause our pipelines and storage tanks to reach capacity, thereby forcing producers to experience shut-ins or look to alternative methods of transportation for their products. In addition, the dramatic decrease in oil and gas prices could have substantial negative implications for our revenue sources that are related to or underpinned by commodity prices. As a result, these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, future results of operations, financial position or cash flows. At this point, we cannot accurately predict the long-term effects current market conditions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and failed OPEC negotiations will have on our business, which will depend on, among other factors, the duration of the outbreak and the extent and overall economic effects of the governmental response to the pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 and the OPEC price war may also exacerbate other risks discussed below, any of which could have a material effect on us. This situation is changing rapidly, and additional impacts may arise that we are not aware of currently.

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Risks Related to Our Operations

We may not have sufficient cash from operations following the establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, to enable us to pay distributions to holders of our common units.

We may not have sufficient available cash from operating surplus each quarter to pay the distributions to holders of our common units. In May 2020, we suspended distributions to holders of our common units and our Series A Preferred Units, commencing with respect to the quarter ending March 31, 2020. We didhave not makemade a distribution on our common units or Series A Preferred Units since we announced suspension of those distributions on May 3, 2020. Because our Series A Preferred Units rank senior to our common units with respect to distribution rights, any quarter in 2020, nor did we make a distributionaccrued amounts on our Series A Preferred Units must first be paid prior to our resumption of distributions to our common unitholders. As of December 31, 2022, the amount of accrued and unpaid distributions on June 15, 2020 or December 15, 2020. the Series A Preferred Units totaled $21.5 million.
Further, we maydo not expect to pay distributions on the common units or Series A Preferred Units in the foreseeable future, and there are restrictions on our ability to pay distributions under our outstanding indebtedness that restrict our ability to pay cash distributions on any of our equity securities. We intend to use our cash flow to reduce debt and invest in our business.
The amount of cash we can distribute on our units principally depends upon the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:

the volumes we gather, treat and process;

the volumes we gather, transport, treat and process;

the level of production of natural gas and crude oil (and associated volumes of produced water) from wells connected to our gathering systems, which is dependent in part on the demand for, and the market prices of, crude oil, natural gas and NGLs;

the level of production of natural gas and crude oil (and associated volumes of produced water) from wells connected to our gathering systems, which is dependent in part on the demand for, and the market prices of, crude oil, natural gas and NGLs;

damage to pipelines, facilities, related equipment and surrounding properties caused by earthquakes, floods, fires, severe weather, explosions and other natural disasters, accidents and acts of terrorism;

damage to pipelines, facilities, related equipment and surrounding properties caused by earthquakes, floods, fires, severe weather, explosions and other natural disasters, accidents and acts of terrorism;

leaks or accidental releases of hazardous materials into the environment;

leaks or accidental releases of hazardous materials into the environment;

weather conditions and seasonal trends;

weather conditions and seasonal trends;

changes in the fees we charge for our services;

changes in the fees we charge for our services;

changes in contractual MVCs and our customer’s capacity to make MVC shortfall payments when due;

changes in contractual MVCs and our customer’s capacity to make MVC shortfall payments when due;

the level of competition from other midstream energy companies in our areas of operation;

the level of competition from other midstream energy companies in our areas of operation;

changes in the level of our operating, maintenance and general and administrative expenses;

changes in the level of our operating, maintenance and general and administrative expenses;

regulatory action affecting the supply of, or demand for, crude oil, natural gas and NGLs, the fees we can charge, how we contract for services, our existing contracts, our operating and maintenance costs or our operating flexibility; and

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regulatory action affecting the supply of, or demand for, crude oil, natural gas and NGLs, the fees we can charge, how we contract for services, our existing contracts, our operating and maintenance costs or our operating flexibility; and

prevailing economic and market conditions.

prevailing economic and market conditions.
In addition, the actual amount of cash we have available for distribution to our common unitholders depends on other factors, some of which are beyond our control, including:

the level and timing of capital expenditures we make;

the level and timing of capital expenditures we make;

the level of our operating, maintenance and general and administrative expenses, including reimbursements of expenses incurred on our behalf by our General Partner;

the level of our operating, maintenance and general and administrative expenses;

the cost of acquisitions, if any;

the cost of acquisitions, if any;

our ability to sell assets, if any, and the price that we may receive for such assets;

our ability to sell assets, if any, and the price that we may receive for such assets;

our debt service requirements and other liabilities;

our debt service requirements and other liabilities;

fluctuations in our working capital needs;

fluctuations in our working capital needs;

our ability to borrow funds and access the debt and equity capital markets;

our ability to borrow funds and access the debt and equity capital markets;

restrictions contained in our debt agreements;

restrictions contained in our debt agreements;

the amount of cash reserves established by our General Partner;

the amount of cash reserves established by our General Partner;

not receiving anticipated shortfall payments from our customers;

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adverse legal judgments, fines and settlements;

not receiving anticipated shortfall payments from our customers;

distributions paid on our Series A Preferred Units, if any, or on the preferred stock of our subsidiaries; and

adverse legal judgments, fines and settlements;

other business risks affecting our cash levels.

distributions paid on our Series A Preferred Units, if any, or on the preferred stock of our subsidiaries, including our Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units; and
other business risks affecting our cash levels.
We depend on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues. For example, Caerus, a customer on our Piceance Basin gathering systemsegment accounts for over 10% of our aggregatedconsolidated revenue. The loss of, or material nonpayment or nonperformance by, or the curtailment of production by, any one or more of our customers could materially adversely affect our revenues, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Our top five customers or counterparties accounted for 26% of our total accounts receivable at December 31, 2022. Certain of our customers may have material financial and liquidity issues or may, as a result of operational incidents or other events, be disproportionately affected as compared to larger, better-capitalized companies. Any material nonpayment or nonperformance by any of our customers could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and cash flows and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. We expect our exposure to concentrated risk of nonpayment or nonperformance to continue as long as we remain substantially dependent on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues.

If any of our customers curtail or reduce production in our areas of operation, it could reduce throughput on our systems and, therefore, materially adversely affect our revenues, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Further, we are subject to the risk of non-payment or non-performance by our larger customers. We cannot predict the extent to which our customers’ businesses would be impacted if conditions in the energy industry deteriorate, nor can we estimate the impact such conditions would have on any of our customers’ abilities to execute their drilling and development programs or perform under our gathering and processing agreements. TheAn extended low commodity price environment has negatively impactedimpacts natural gas producers causing some producers in the industry significant economic stress, including, in certain cases, to file for bankruptcy protection or to renegotiate contracts. To the extent that any customer is in financial distress or commences bankruptcy proceedings, contracts with these customers may be subject to renegotiation or rejection under applicable provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Any material non-payment or non-performance by our customers could adversely affect our business and operating results.

We are exposed to the creditworthiness and performance of our customers, suppliers and contract counterparties and any material nonpayment or nonperformance by one or more of these parties could materially adversely affect our financial and operating results.

Although we attempt to assess the creditworthiness and associated liquidity of our customers, suppliers and contract counterparties, there can be no assurance that our assessments will be accurate or that there will not be a rapid or unanticipated deterioration in their creditworthiness, which may have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. In addition, there can be no assurance that our contract counterparties will perform or adhere to existing or future contractual arrangements, including making any required shortfall payments or other payments due under their respective contracts.

The policies and procedures we use to manage our exposure to credit risk, such as credit analysis, credit monitoring and, if necessary, requiring credit support, cannot fully eliminate counterparty credit risks. To the extent our policies and procedures prove to be inadequate, our financial and operational results may be negatively impacted.

Some of our counterparties may be highly leveraged, have limited financial resources and/or have recently experienced a rating agency downgrade and will be subject to their own operating and regulatory risks. Even if our credit review and analysis mechanisms work properly, we may experience financial losses in our dealings with such parties. In addition, volatility in commodity prices could have a negative impact on our counterparties, which, in turn, could have a negative impact on their ability to meet their obligations to us.

Any material nonpayment or nonperformance by any of our counterparties or suppliers could require us to pursue substitute counterparties or suppliers for the affected operations or reduce our operations. There can be no assurance that any such efforts would be successful or would provide similar financial and operational results.

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Adverse developments in our areas of operation could materially adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Our operations are focused on gathering, treating, transporting and processing services in the following unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations: the Utica Shale, the Williston Basin, the DJ Basin, the Permian Basin, the Piceance Basin, the Barnett Shale and the Marcellus Shale. Due to our limited industry diversity, adverse developments in the natural gas
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and crude oil industries or in our existing areas of operation could have a significantly greater impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows than if we did not have such limited diversity.

Significant prolonged weakness in natural gas, NGL and crude oil prices could reduce throughput on our systems and materially adversely affect our revenues and cash available to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Lower natural gas, NGL and crude oil prices could negatively impact exploration, development and production of natural gas and crude oil, thereby resulting in reduced throughput on our gathering systems. Additionally, certain of our customers in each of our areas of operations have reduced, and others could reduce, drilling activity and capital expenditure budgets. If natural gas, NGL and/or crude oil prices remain at current levels or decrease, it could cause sustained reductions in exploration or production activity in our areas of operation and result in a further reduction in throughput on our systems, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

In the latter half of 2022, the Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot Price declined from a monthly average of $8.81 per MMBtu in August 2022 to a monthly average of $5.53 per MMBtu in December 2022, closing the year at $3.52 per MMBtu on December 30, 2022. As of January 31, 2023, Henry Hub 12-month strip pricing closed at $3.41 per MMBtu. Cushing, Oklahoma West Texas Intermediate crude oil spot prices similarly trended down in the latter half of 2022, from a monthly average of $114.84 per barrel in June 2022 to a monthly average of $76.44 per barrel in December 2022, closing the year at $80.16 per barrel on December 30, 2022. As of January 31, 2023, West Texas Intermediate 12-month strip pricing closed at $78.03 per barrel.

Because of the natural decline in production from our customers' existing wells, our success depends in part on our customers replacing declining production and also on our ability to maintain levels of throughput on our systems. Any decrease in the volumes that we gather and process could materially adversely affect our business and operating results.

The customer volumes that support our business depend on the level of production from natural gas and crude oil wells connected to our systems, the production from which may be less than expected and will naturally decline over time. As a result, our cash flows associated with these wells will also decline over time. To maintain or increase throughput levels on our systems, we must obtain new sources of volume throughput. The primary factors affecting our ability to obtain new sources of volume throughput include (i) the level of successful drilling activity in our areas of operation and (ii) our ability to compete for new volumes on our systems.

We have no control over the level of drilling activity in our areas of operation, the amount of reserves associated with wells connected to our systems or the rate at which production from a well declines. In addition, we have no control over producers or their drilling and production decisions, which are affected by, among other things:

the availability and cost of capital;

the availability and cost of capital;

prevailing and projected hydrocarbon commodity prices;

prevailing and projected hydrocarbon commodity prices;

demand for crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbon products, including NGLs;

demand for crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbon products, including NGLs;

levels of reserves;

levels of reserves;

geological considerations;

geological considerations;

environmental or other governmental regulations, including the availability of drilling permits and the regulation of hydraulic fracturing; and

environmental or other governmental regulations, including the availability of drilling rigs and other costs of production and equipment.

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Table of Contentsdrilling permits and the regulation of hydraulic fracturing; and

the availability of drilling rigs and other costs of production and equipment.
Fluctuations in energy prices can also greatly affect the development of new crude oil and natural gas reserves. Drilling and production activities generally decrease as commodity prices decrease. In general terms, the prices of crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbon products fluctuate in response to changes in supply and demand, market uncertainty and a variety of additional factors that are beyond our control. These factors include:

worldwide economic and geopolitical conditions;

worldwide economic and geopolitical conditions;

global or national health concerns, including the outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease, such as COVID-19, which may continue to reduce demand for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs because of reduced global or national economic activity;

global or national health concerns, including the outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease, such as COVID-19, which may reduce demand for crude oil, natural gas and NGLs because of reduced global or national economic activity;

weather conditions and seasonal trends;

weather conditions and seasonal trends;

the levels of domestic production and consumer demand;

the levels of domestic production and consumer demand;

the availability of imported liquefied natural gas (“LNG”);

the availability of imported liquefied natural gas (“LNG”);

the ability to export LNG;

the ability to export LNG;

the availability of transportation and storage systems with adequate capacity;

the availability of transportation and storage systems with adequate capacity;

the volatility and uncertainty of regional pricing differentials and premiums;

the price and availability of alternative fuels, including alternative fuels that benefit from government subsidies;

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the volatility and uncertainty of regional pricing differentials and premiums;

the effect of energy conservation measures;

the price and availability of alternative fuels, including alternative fuels that benefit from government subsidies;

the nature and extent of governmental regulation and taxation; and

the effect of energy conservation measures;

the anticipated future prices of crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbon products, including NGLs.

the nature and extent of governmental regulation and taxation; and
the anticipated future prices of crude oil, natural gas and other hydrocarbon products, including NGLs.
Because of these factors, even if new crude oil or natural gas reserves are known to exist in areas served by our assets, producers may choose not to develop those reserves. If reductions in drilling activity result in our inability to maintain the current levels of throughput on our systems, those reductions could reduce our revenues and cash flows and materially adversely affect our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

In addition, it may be more difficult to maintain or increase the current volumes on our gathering systems, as several of the formations in the unconventional resource plays in which we operate generally have higher initial production rates and steeper production decline curves than wells in more conventional basins and may have steeper production decline curves than initially anticipated. Should we determine that the economics of our gathering, treating, transportation and processing assets do not justify the capital expenditures needed to grow or maintain volumes associated therewith, revenues associated with these assets will decline over time. In addition to capital expenditures to support growth, the steeper production decline curves associated with unconventional resource plays may require us to incur higher maintenance capital expenditures over time, which will reduce our cash available for distribution.

Many of our costs are fixed and do not vary with our throughput. These costs will not decline ratably or at all should we experience a reduction in throughput, which could result in a decline in our revenues and cash flows and materially adversely affect our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Any significant decrease in the demand for natural gas and crude oil could reduce the volumes of natural gas and crude oil that we gather and process, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

The volumes of natural gas and crude oil that we gather and process depend on the supply and demand for natural gas and crude oil and other hydrocarbon products in the areas served by our assets. Natural gas and crude oil compete with other forms of energy available to users, including electricity, coal, other fuels and alternative energy sources. Increased demand for such forms of energy at the expense of natural gas and crude oil could lead to a reduction in demand for our services. Any such reduction could result in a decline in our revenues and cash flows and materially adversely affect our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

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If our customers do not increase the volumes they provide to our gathering systems, our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders may be materially adversely affected.

If we are unsuccessful in attracting new customers and/or new gathering opportunities with existing customers, our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders will be impaired. Our customers are not obligated to provide additional volumes to our gathering systems, and they may determine in the future that drilling activities in areas outside of our current areas of operation are strategically more attractive to them. Reductions by our customers in our areas of mutual interest could result in reductions in throughput on our systems and materially adversely impact our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Certain of our gathering and processing agreements contain provisions that can reduce the cash flow stability that the agreements were designed to achieve.

We designed those gathering and processing agreements that contain MVC provisions to generate stable cash flows for us over the life of the MVC contract term while also minimizing our direct commodity price risk. Under certain of these MVCs, our customers agree to ship a minimum volume on our gathering systems or send a minimum volume to our processing plants or, in some cases, to pay a minimum monetary amount, over certain periods during the term of the MVC. In addition, our gathering and processing agreements may also include an aggregate MVC, which represents the total amount that the customer must flow on our gathering system or send to our processing plants (or an equivalent monetary amount) over the MVC term. If such customer’s actual throughput volumes are less than its MVC for the contracted measurement period, it must make a shortfall payment to us at the end of the applicable measurement period. The amount of the shortfall payment is based on the difference between the actual throughput volume shipped or processed for the applicable period and the MVC for the applicable period, multiplied by the applicable fee. To the extent that a customer’s actual throughput volumes are above or below its MVC for the applicable contracted measurement period, certain of our gathering agreements contain provisions that allow the customer to use the excess volumes or the shortfall payment to credit against future excess volumes or future shortfall payments, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

We have not obtained independent evaluations of all of the reserves connected to our gathering systems; therefore, in the future, customer volumes on our systems could be less than we anticipate.

We do not routinely obtain or update independent evaluations of the reserves connected to our systems. Moreover, even if we did obtain independent evaluations of all of the reserves connected to our systems, such evaluations may prove to be incorrect. Crude oil and natural gas reserve engineering requires subjective estimates of underground accumulations of crude oil and natural gas and assumptions concerning future crude oil and natural gas prices, future production levels and operating and development costs.

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Accordingly, we may not have accurate estimates of total reserves dedicated to our systems or the anticipated life of such reserves. If the total reserves or estimated life of the reserves connected to our gathering systems are less than we anticipate and we are unable to secure additional volumes, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Our industry is highly competitive, and increased competitive pressure could materially adversely affect our business and operating results.

We compete with other midstream companies in our areas of operations, some of which are large companies that have greater financial, managerial and other resources than we do. In addition, some of our competitors may have assets in closer proximity to natural gas and crude oil supplies and may have available idle capacity in existing assets that would not require new capital investments for use. Our competitors may expand or construct gathering systems that would create additional competition for the services we provide to our customers. Because our customers do not have leases that cover the entirety of our areas of mutual interest, non-customer producers that lease acreage within any of our areas of mutual interest may choose to use one of our competitors for their gathering and/or processing service needs.

In addition, our customers may develop their own gathering systems outside of our areas of mutual interest. Our ability to renew or replace existing contracts with our customers at rates sufficient to maintain current revenues and cash flows could be materially adversely affected by the activities of our competitors and our customers. All of these competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

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We may not be able to renew or replace expiring contracts at favorable rates or on a long-term basis.

Our gathering, treating, transportation and processing contracts have terms of various durations. As these contracts expire, we may have to negotiate extensions or renewals with existing customers or enter into new contracts with other customers. We may be unable to obtain new contracts on favorable commercial terms, if at all. We also may be unable to maintain the economic structure of a particular contract with an existing customer or the overall mix of our contract portfolio. Moreover, we may be unable to obtain areas of mutual interest from new customers in the future, and we may be unable to renew existing areas of mutual interest with current customers as and when they expire. The extension or replacement of existing contracts depends on a number of factors beyond our control, including:

the level of existing and new competition to provide gathering and/or processing services in our areas of operation;

the level of existing and new competition to provide gathering and/or processing services in our areas of operation;

the macroeconomic factors affecting gathering, treating and processing economics for our current and potential customers;

the macroeconomic factors affecting gathering, treating, transporting and processing economics for our current and potential customers;

the balance of supply and demand, on a short-term, seasonal and long-term basis, in our markets;

the balance of supply and demand, on a short-term, seasonal and long-term basis, in our markets;

the extent to which the customers in our areas of operation are willing to contract on a long-term basis; and

the extent to which the customers in our areas of operation are willing to contract on a long-term basis; and

the effects of federal, state or local regulations on the contracting practices of our customers.

the effects of federal, state or local regulations on the contracting practices of our customers.
To the extent we are unable to renew our existing contracts on terms that are favorable to us or successfully manage our overall contract mix over time, our revenues and cash flows could decline and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders could be materially adversely affected.

If third-party pipelines or other midstream facilities interconnected to our gathering systems become partially or fully unavailable, our revenues and cash flows and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders could be materially adversely affected.

Our gathering systems connect to third-party pipelines and other midstream facilities, such as processing plants, rail terminals and produced water disposal facilities. The continuing operation of such third-party pipelines and other midstream facilities is not within our control. These pipelines and other midstream facilities may become unavailable due to issues including, but not limited to, testing, turnarounds, line repair, reduced operating pressure, lack of operating capacity, regulatory requirements, curtailments of receipt or deliveries due to insufficient capacity or because of damage from other hazards. In addition, we do not have interconnect agreements with all of these pipelines and other facilities and the agreements we do have may be terminated in certain circumstances and/or on short notice. If any of these pipelines or other midstream facilities become unavailable for any reason, or, if these third parties are otherwise unwilling to receive or transport the natural gas, crude oil and produced water that we gather and/or process, our revenues, cash flows and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders could be materially adversely affected.

We have a relatively limited ownership history with respect to certain

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Crude oil and natural gas production and gathering may be adversely affected by weather conditions and terrain, which in turn could negatively impact the operations of our gathering, treating, transportation and processing facilities and our construction of additional facilities.

Extended periods of below freezing weather and unseasonably wet weather conditions, especially in North Dakota, Colorado, Ohio and West Virginia, can be severe and can adversely affect crude oil and natural gas operations due to the potential shut-in of producing wells or decreased drilling activities. These types of interruptions could result in a decrease in the volumes supplied to our gathering systems. Further, delays and shutdowns caused by severe weather may have a material negative impact on the

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continuous operations of our gathering, treating, transporting and processing systems, including interruptions in service. These types of interruptions could negatively impact our ability to meet our contractual obligations to our customers and thereby give rise to certain termination rights and/or the release of dedicated acreage. Any resulting terminations or releases could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We also may be required to incur additional costs and expenses in connection with the design and installation of our facilities due to their locations and surrounding terrain. We may be required to install additional facilities, incur additional capital and operating expenditures, or experience interruptions in or impairments of our operations to the extent that the facilities are not designed or installed correctly. For example, certain of our pipeline facilities are located in mountainous areas such as our Utica Shale and Marcellus Shale operations, which may require specially designed facilities and special installation considerations. If such facilities are not designed or installed correctly, do not perform as intended, or fail, we may be required to incur significant expenditures to correct or repair the deficiencies, or may incur significant damages to or loss of facilities, and our operations may be interrupted as a result of deficiencies or failures. In addition, such deficiencies may cause damage to the surrounding environment, including slope failures, stream impacts and other natural resource damages, and we may as a result also be subject to increased operating expenses or environmental penalties and fines.

Interruptions in operations at any of our facilities may adversely affect our operations and cash flows available for distribution to our unitholders.

Our operations depend upon the infrastructure that we have developed and constructed. Any significant interruption at any of our gathering, treating, transporting or processing facilities, or in our ability to provide gathering, treating, transporting or processing services, could adversely affect our operations and cash flows available for distribution to our unitholders. Operations at our facilities could be partially or completely shut down, temporarily or permanently, as the result of circumstances not within our control, such as:

unscheduled turnarounds or catastrophic events at our physical plants or pipeline facilities;

unscheduled turnarounds or catastrophic events at our physical plants or pipeline facilities;

restrictions imposed by governmental authorities or court proceedings;

restrictions imposed by governmental authorities or court proceedings;

labor difficulties that result in a work stoppage or slowdown;

labor difficulties that result in a work stoppage or slowdown;

a disruption in the supply of resources necessary to operate our midstream facilities;

a disruption in the supply of resources necessary to operate our midstream facilities;

damage to our facilities resulting from production volumes that do not comply with applicable specifications; and

damage to our facilities resulting from production volumes that do not comply with applicable specifications; and

inadequate transportation and/or market access to support production volumes, including lack of pipeline, rail terminals, produced water disposal facilities and/or third-party processing capacity.

inadequate transportation and/or market access to support production volumes, including lack of pipeline, rail terminals, produced water disposal facilities and/or third-party processing capacity.
Any significant interruption at any of our gathering, treating, transporting or processing facilities, or in our ability to provide gathering, treating, transporting or processing services, could adversely affect our operations and cash flows available for distribution to our unitholders.

Our business involves many hazards and operational risks, some of which may not be fully covered by insurance. If a significant incident or event occurs for which we are not adequately insured or if we fail to recover all anticipated insurance proceeds for significant incidents or events for which we are insured, our operations and financial results could be materially adversely affected.

Our operations are subject to all of the risks and hazards inherent in the operation of gathering, treating, transporting and processing systems, including:

damage to pipelines, processing plants, compression assets, related equipment and surrounding properties caused by tornadoes, floods, fires and other natural disasters and acts of terrorism;

damage to pipelines, processing plants, compression assets, related equipment and surrounding properties caused by tornadoes, floods, freezes, fires and other natural disasters and acts of terrorism;

inadvertent damage from construction, vehicles, farm and utility equipment;

inadvertent damage from construction, vehicles, farm and utility equipment;

leaks or losses resulting from the malfunction of equipment or facilities;

leaks or losses resulting from the malfunction of equipment or facilities;

ruptures, fires and explosions; and

ruptures, fires and explosions; and

other hazards that could also result in personal injury and loss of life, pollution and suspension of operations.

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other hazards that could also result in personal injury and loss of life, pollution and suspension of operations.
These risks could result in substantial losses due to personal injury and/or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment and pollution or other environmental damage. The location of certain of our systems in or near populated areas, including residential areas, commercial business centers and industrial sites, could increase the damages resulting from such events.

These events may also result in curtailment or suspension of our operations. A natural disaster or any event such as those described above affecting the areas in which we and our customers operate could have a material adverse effect on our operations. Accidents or other operating risks could further result in loss of service available to our customers. Such circumstances, including those arising from maintenance and repair activities, could result in service interruptions on portions or all of our gathering systems. Potential customer impacts arising from service interruptions on segments of our gathering systems could include limitations on our ability to satisfy customer requirements, obligations to temporarily waive MVCs during times of constrained capacity, temporary or permanent release of production dedications, and solicitation of existing customers by others for potential new projects that would compete directly with our existing services. Such circumstances could materially adversely impact our ability to meet contractual obligations and retain customers, with a resulting negative impact on our business and results of operations and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Although we have a range of insurance programs providing varying levels of protection for public liability, damage to property, loss of income and certain environmental hazards, we may not be insured against all causes of loss, claims or damage that may occur. If a significant incident or event occurs for which we are not fully insured, it could materially adversely affect our operations and financial condition. Furthermore, we may not be able to maintain or obtain insurance of the type and amount we desire at reasonable rates. As a result of industry or market conditions, some of which are beyond our control, premiums and deductibles for certain of our insurance policies may substantially increase. In some instances, certain insurance could become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. Additionally, with regard to the assets we have acquired, we have limited indemnification rights to recover from the seller of the assets in the event of any potential environmental liabilities.

We may fail to successfully integrate gathering system acquisitions into our existing business in a timely manner, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders, or fail to realize all of the expected benefits of the acquisitions, which could negatively impact our future results of operations.

Integration of future gathering system acquisitions, couldsuch as the 2022 DJ Acquisitions, can be a complex, time-consuming and costly process, particularly if the acquired assets significantly increase our size and/or (i) diversify the geographic areas in which we operate or (ii) the service offerings that we provide.

The failure to successfully integrate the acquired assets with our existing business in a timely manner may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders. If any of the risks described above or in the immediately preceding risk factor or unanticipated liabilities or costs were to materialize with respect to future acquisitions or if the acquired assets were to perform at levels below the forecasts we used to evaluate them, then the anticipated benefits from the acquisition may not be fully realized, if at all, and our future results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to unitholders could be negatively impacted.

Our construction of new assets may not result in revenue increases and will be subject to regulatory, environmental, political, legal and economic risks, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

The construction of new assets, including for example, the Double E Pipeline, which was placed into service in November 2021, involve numerous regulatory, environmental, political, legal and economic uncertainties that are beyond our control.

Such construction projects may also require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital and financing, traditional or otherwise, that may not be available on economically acceptable terms or at all. If we undertake these projects, our revenue may not increase immediately upon the expenditure of funds for a particular project and they may not be completed on schedule, at the budgeted cost, or at all.

Moreover, we could construct facilities to capture anticipated future production growth in a region where such growth does not materialize or only materializes over a period materially longer than expected. To the extent we rely on estimates of future production in our decision to construct additions to our systems, such estimates may prove to be inaccurate due to the numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of future production. As a result, new facilities may not attract enough throughput

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to achieve our expected investment return, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, the construction of additions or modifications to our existing gathering, treating, transporting and processing assets and the construction of new midstream assets may require us to obtain federal, state and local regulatory environmental or other authorizations. The approval process for gathering, treating, transporting and processing activities has become increasingly
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challenging, due in part to state and local concerns related to unregulated exploration and production and gathering, treating, transporting and processing activities in new production areas. Such authorization may not be granted or, if granted, such authorization may include burdensome or expensive conditions. As a result, we may be unable to obtain such authorizations and may, therefore, be unable to connect new volumes to our systems or capitalize on other attractive expansion opportunities. A future government shutdown could delay the receipt of any federal regulatory approvals. Additionally, it may become more expensive for us to obtain authorizations or to renew existing authorizations. If the cost of renewing or obtaining new authorizations increases materially, our cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

We do not own all of the land on which our pipelines and facilities are located, which could result in disruptions to our operations.

We do not own all of the land on which our pipelines and facilities have been constructed, and we are, therefore, subject to the possibility of more onerous terms and/or increased costs to retain necessary land use if we do not have valid rights-of-way or if such rights-of-way lapse or terminate or if our pipelines are not properly located within the boundaries of such rights-of-way. We obtain the rights to construct and operate our pipelines on land owned by third parties and governmental agencies either perpetually or for a specific period of time. If we were to be unsuccessful in renegotiating rights-of-way, we might have to relocate our facilities. Our loss of these rights, through our inability to renew right-of-way contracts or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Our ability to operate our business effectively could be impaired if we fail to attract and retain key personnel.

personnel, and a shortage of skilled labor in the midstream energy industry could reduce employee productivity and increase costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

Our ability to operate our business and implement our strategies depends on our continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel with midstream energy industry experience and competition for these persons in the midstream energy industry is intense. Given our size, we may be at a disadvantage, relative to our larger competitors, in the competition for these personnel. We may not be able to continue to employ our senior executives and key personnel or attract and retain qualified personnel in the future, and our failure to retain or attract our senior executives and key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our ability to effectively operate our business.

A shortage

Furthermore, as a result of labor shortages we have experienced difficulty in recruiting and hiring skilled labor in the midstream energy industry could reduce employee productivity and increase costs, which could have a material adverse effect onthroughout our business and results of operations.

organization. The operation of gathering, treating, transporting and processing systems requires skilled laborers in multiple disciplines such as equipment operators, mechanics and engineers, among others. We have from time to time encountered shortages for these types of skilled labor. If we continue to experience shortages of skilled labor in the future, our labor and overall productivity or costs could be materially adversely affected. If our labor prices increase or if we experience materially increased health and benefit costs with respect to our General Partner's employees, our business and results of operations and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders could be materially adversely affected.

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A transition from hydrocarbon energy sources to alternative energy sources could lead to changes in demand, technology and public sentiment which could have material adverse effects on our business and results of operations.
Increased public attention on climate change and corresponding changes in consumer, commercial and industrial preferences and behavior regarding energy use and generation may result in:
technological advances with respect to the generation, transmission, storage and consumption of energy (including advances in wind, solar and hydrogen power, as well as battery technology);
increased availability of, and increased demand from consumers and industry for, energy sources other than crude oil and natural gas (including wind, solar, nuclear, and geothermal sources as well as electric vehicles); and
development of, and increased demand from consumers and industry for, lower-emission products and services (including electric vehicles and renewable residential and commercial power supplies) as well as more efficient products and services.
Such developments relating to a transition from oil and gas to alternative energy sources and a lower-carbon economy may reduce the demand for natural gas and crude oil and other products made from hydrocarbons. Any significant decrease in the demand for natural gas and crude oil could reduce the volumes of natural gas and crude oil that we gather and process, which could adversely affect our business and operating results.
Furthermore, if any such developments reduce the desirability of participating in the midstream oil and gas industry, then such developments could also reduce the availability to us of necessary third-party services or facilities that we rely on, which could increase our operational costs and have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
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Such developments and accompanying societal expectations on companies to address climate change, investor and societal expectations regarding voluntary ESG initiatives and disclosures could, among other things, increase costs related to compliance and stakeholder engagement, increase reputational risk and negatively impact our access to and cost of accessing capital. For example, some prominent investors have announced their intention to no longer invest in the oil and gas sector, citing climate change concerns. If other financial institutions and investors refuse to invest in or provide capital to the oil and gas sector in the future because of these reputational risks, that could result in capital being unavailable to us, or only at significantly increased cost.
The COVID-19 pandemic or other epidemics may have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial position and cash flows.
The outbreak of COVID-19 and its variants continues to be a rapidly evolving situation. The pandemic has resulted in widespread adverse impacts on the global economy and on our business, including our customers, employees, supply chain, and distribution network. Our business may be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to:
Disruptions in demand for oil, natural gas and other petroleum products;
Decreased productivity resulting from illness, travel restrictions, quarantine, or government mandates;
Supply chain disruptions resulting from quarantine requirements, government restrictions, or reduced economic activity as a result of increases in COVID-19 cases;
Increased challenges in retention of personnel caused by vaccine hesitancy and the resistance of some in our workforce to comply with workplace protocols necessary to ensure the health and safety of our workforce and minimize disruptions to the business, such as vaccine and testing requirements, or the use of personal protective equipment.
Additionally, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic might worsen the likelihood or the impact of other risks already inherent in our business. The extent to which our operations are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which remain highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted.
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Risks Related to Our Finances

Limited access to and/or availability of the commercial bank market, debt and equity capital markets could impair our ability to grow or cause us to be unable to meet future capital requirements.

To expand our asset base, whether through acquisitions or organic growth, we will need to make expansion capital expenditures. We also frequently consider and enter into discussions with third parties regarding potential acquisitions. In addition, the terms of certain of our gathering and processing agreements also require us to spend significant amounts of capital, over a short period of time, to construct and develop additional midstream assets to support our customers' development projects. Depending on our customers' future development plans, it is possible that the capital required to construct and develop such assets could exceed our ability to finance those expenditures using our cash reserves or available capacity under our Revolvingthe ABL Facility or the Permian Transmission Credit Facility.

We plan to use cash from operations, incur borrowings and/or sell additional common units or other securities to fund our future expansion capital expenditures. Using cash from operations to fund expansion capital expenditures will directly reduce any cash available for distribution to unitholders.unitholders, if any. Our ability to obtain financing or to access the capital markets for future debt or equity offerings may be limited by (i) our financial condition at the time of any such financing or offering, (ii) covenants in our debt agreements, (iii) restrictions imposed by our Series A Preferred Units, (iv) general economic conditions and contingencies, (v) increasing disfavor among many investors towards investments in fossil fuel companies and (vi) general weakness in the debt and equity capital markets and other uncertainties that are beyond our control. In addition, lenders are facing increasing pressure to curtail their lending activities to companies in the oil and natural gas industry. Furthermore, market demand for equity issued by master limited partnerships has been significantly lower in recent years than it has been historically, which may make it more challenging for us to finance our expansion capital expenditures and acquisition capital expenditures with the issuance of additional equity.
We didhave not makemade a distribution on our common units with respect to any quarter in 2020, nor did we make a distribution on ouror Series A Preferred Units since we announced suspension of those distributions on June 15, 2020 or December 15,May 3, 2020, and these suspensions of distributions may further reduce demand for our common units or Series A Preferred Units. Because our Series A Preferred Units rank senior to our common units with respect to distribution rights, any accrued amounts on our Series A Preferred Units must first be paid prior to our resumption of distributions to our common unitholders. As of December 31, 2022, the amount of accrued and unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units totaled $21.5 million. Further, we maydo not expect to pay distributions on the common units or Series A Preferred Units in the foreseeable future, and there are restrictions on our ability to pay distributions under our outstanding indebtedness that restrict our ability to pay cash distributions on any of our equity securities. As such, if we are unable to raise expansion capital, we may lose the opportunity to make acquisitions, pursue new organic development projects, or to gather, treat and process new production volumes from our customers with whom we have agreed to construct and develop midstream assets in the future. Even if we are successful in obtaining external funds for expansion capital expenditures through the capital markets, the terms thereof could limit our ability to pay distributions to our common unitholders. In addition, incurring additional debt may significantly increase our interest expense and financial leverage, and issuing additional units representing limited partner interests may result in significant common unitholder dilution and increase the aggregate amount of cash required to pay distributions to our unitholders, which could materially decrease our ability to pay such distributions.

We have a significant amount of indebtedness. Our leverage and debt service obligations may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and business prospects, and may limit our flexibility to obtain financing and to pursue other business opportunities.

At December 31, 2020,2022, we had $1.3$1.5 billion of indebtedness outstanding and the unused portion of our $1.1 billion Revolving Creditthe ABL Facility totaled $238.9$64.1 million subjectafter giving effect to an issuedthe issuance of $5.9 million in outstanding but undrawn letterirrevocable standby letters of credit. Based on covenant limits, our available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility as of December 31, 2020 was approximately $105 million. See Note 9 - Debt of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this reportAnnual Report for further discussion of our debt obligations, including debt maturities for the next five years and thereafter.obligations. Our existing and future debt services obligations could have significant consequences, including among other things:

limiting our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes and/or obtaining such financing on favorable terms;

limiting our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes and/or obtaining such financing on favorable terms;

reducing our funds available for operations, future business opportunities and cash distributions to unitholders by that portion of our cash flow required to make interest payments on our debt;

reducing our funds available for operations, future business opportunities and cash distributions to unitholders by that portion of our cash flow required to make interest payments on our debt;

increasing our vulnerability to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy generally; and

increasing our vulnerability to competitive pressures or a downturn in our business or the economy generally; and

limiting our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions.

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limiting our flexibility in responding to changing business and economic conditions.

Our ability to service our debt will depend upon, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, such as commodity prices and governmental regulation.

Restrictions in our Revolving Credit Facility and Senior Notes indentures could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results

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make certain cash distributions on or redeem or repurchase certain units;

make certain investments and acquisitions;

make certain capital expenditures;

incur certain liens or permit them to exist;

enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates;

enter into sale and lease-back transactions and certain operating leases;

merge or consolidate with another company or otherwise engage in a change of control transaction; and

transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of certain assets.

Our Revolving Credit Facility and Senior Notes indentures also contain covenants requiring us to maintain certain financial ratios and meet certain tests. Our ability to meet those financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot guarantee that we will meet those ratios and tests. Based upon the terms of our Revolving Credit Facility and total outstanding debt of $1.3 billion (inclusive of $494 million of senior unsecured notes, net of debt issuance costs), our total leverage ratio first lien secured leverage ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) as of December 31, 2020, were 5.1 to 1.0 and 3.2 to 1.0, respectively, relative to maximum threshold limits of 5.75x and 3.5x.

The provisions of our Revolving Credit Facility and Senior Notes indentures may affect our ability to obtain future financing and pursue attractive business opportunities as well as affect our flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in business conditions. In addition, a failure to comply with the provisions of our Revolving Credit Facility or Senior Notes indentures could result in a default or an event of default that could enable our lenders and/or senior noteholders to declare the outstanding principal of that debt, together with accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay the accelerated amounts, the lenders under our Revolving Credit Facility could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure such debt. If the payment of our debt is accelerated, our assets may be insufficient to repay such debt in full, and our unitholders could experience a partial or total loss of their investment. The Revolving Credit Facility also has cross default provisions that apply to any other indebtedness we may have and the Senior Notes indentures have cross default provisions that apply to certain other indebtedness. Any of these restrictions in our Revolving Credit Facility and Senior Notes indentures could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness or to refinance, which may not be successful.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on, or to refinance, our indebtedness obligations, including our Revolving Creditthe ABL Facility, the 2026 Secured Notes and ourthe 2025 Senior Notes, depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and certain financial, business and other factors beyond our control. We may not be able to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness.

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If our operating cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to adopt alternative financing strategies, such as reducing or delaying investments and capital expenditures, selling assets, seeking additional capital or restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness, some or all of which may not be available to us on terms acceptable to us, if at all, or such alternative strategies may yield insufficient funds to make required payments on our indebtedness.

The 2025 Senior Notes will mature on April 15, 2025. The 2026 Secured Notes will mature on October 15, 2026; provided that, if the outstanding amount of the 2025 Senior Notes (or any refinancing indebtedness in respect thereof that has a final maturity on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Initial Maturity Date (as defined in the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture)) is greater than or equal to $50.0 million on January 14, 2025, which is 91 days prior to the scheduled maturity date of the 2025 Senior Notes, then the 2026 Secured Notes will mature on January 14, 2025.
The ABL Facility will mature on May 1, 2026, provided that the maturity date of the ABL Facility will spring forward to December 13, 2024, if the outstanding amount of the 2025 Senior Notes on such date equals or exceeds $50.0 million, or to January 14, 2025, if any amount of the 2025 Senior Notes is outstanding on such date and Liquidity (as defined in the ABL Agreement) is less than the sum of the outstanding principal amount of the 2025 Senior Notes and the Threshold Amount (as defined in the ABL Agreement).
Our ability to restructure or refinance our indebtedness will depend on the condition of the capital markets, including the market for senior secured or unsecured notes, and our financial condition at the time. Any refinancing of our indebtedness could be at higher interest rates, may require the pledging of collateral and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants than we are currently subject to, which could further restrict our business operations. The terms of existing or future debt instruments may restrict us from adopting some of these alternatives. In addition, any failure to make payments of interest and principal on our outstanding indebtedness on a timely basis would likely result in a reduction of our credit rating, which could harm our ability to incur additional indebtedness on acceptable terms. In the absence of sufficient cash flows and capital resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. Our Revolving Credit Facility and the
The indentures governing our 2026 Secured Notes and the 2025 Senior Notes and the ABL Facility place certain restrictions on our ability to dispose of assets and our use of the proceeds from such dispositions. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions on terms acceptable to us,it, if at all, and the proceeds of any such dispositions may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due.

Further, if for any reason we are unable to meet our debt service and principal repayment obligations, or if we fail to comply with the financial covenants in the documents governing our debt, we would be in default under the terms of the agreements governing our debt, which would allow our creditors under those agreements to declare all outstanding indebtedness thereunder to be due and payable (which would in turn trigger cross-acceleration or cross-default rights between the relevantamong our other debt agreements), the lenders under our Revolving Creditthe ABL Facility could terminate their commitments to extend credit, and the lenders could foreclose against our assets securing their borrowings and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. If the amounts outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility or our Senior Notesdebt agreements were to be accelerated, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full the amounts owed to our creditors.

Restrictions in the Permian Transmission Credit Facility, the indenture governing the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes and the ABL Facility could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, ability to satisfy these obligations to make cash distributions to unitholders and value of our common units.
We are dependent upon the earnings and cash flows generated by our operations to meet our debt service obligations and to make cash distributions to our unitholders, if any. The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in the Permian Transmission Credit Facility, the indenture governing the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes, the ABL Facility and any future financing agreements could restrict our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to expand or pursue our business activities, which may, in turn, limit our ability to satisfy our obligations and make cash distributions to our unitholders. For example, the ABL Facility, the Permian Transmission Credit Facility and the indentures governing the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes, taken together, restrict our ability to, among other things:
incur or guarantee certain additional debt;
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make certain cash distributions on or redeem or repurchase certain units;
make payments on certain other indebtedness;
make certain investments and acquisitions;
make certain capital expenditures;
incur certain liens or other encumbrances or permit them to exist;
enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates;
enter into sale and lease-back transactions and certain operating leases;
merge or consolidate with another company or otherwise engage in a change of control transaction; and
transfer, sell or otherwise dispose of certain assets.
The ABL Facility also contains covenants requiring Summit Holdings to maintain certain financial ratios and meet certain tests. Summit Holdings’ ability to meet those financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond its control, and we cannot guarantee that Summit Holdings will meet those ratios and tests.
The provisions of the Permian Transmission Credit Facility, the indentures governing the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes and the ABL Facility may affect our ability to obtain future financing and pursue attractive business opportunities as well as affect our flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in business conditions. In addition, a failure to comply with the provisions of the Permian Transmission Credit Facility, the indentures governing the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes and the ABL Facility could result in a default or an event of default that could enable our lenders and/or senior noteholders to declare the outstanding principal of that debt, together with accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay the accelerated amounts, the lenders under the ABL Facility could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure such debt. If the payment of the debt is accelerated, our assets may be insufficient to repay such debt in full, and our unitholders could experience a partial or total loss of their investment. The ABL Facility also has cross default provisions that apply to any other indebtedness we may have and the indentures governing the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes have cross default provisions that apply to certain other indebtedness. Any of these restrictions in the ABL Facility, the Permian Transmission Credit Facility and the indentures governing the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
The interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes will be increased if the Partnership fails to make certain offers to purchase 2026 Secured Notes.
Under the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture, the Partnership is required, starting in the first quarter of 2023 with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and continuing annually through the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, subject to its ability to do so under the ABL Facility, to purchase an amount of 2026 Secured Notes equal to 100% of the Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture) minus certain agreed amounts, if any, generated in the prior year at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. Excess Cash Flow is generally defined as consolidated cash flow minus the sum of capital expenditures and cash payments in respect of permitted investments and permitted restricted payments. Generally, if the Partnership does not offer to purchase designated annual amounts of its 2026 Secured Notes for the Excess Cash Flow periods ending 2022, 2023 or 2024, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes is subject to certain rate escalations. If the Partnership has not offered to purchase at least $50.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2026 Secured Notes by April 1, 2023, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes shall automatically increase by 50 basis points per annum. If the Partnership has not offered to purchase $100.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2026 Secured Notes by April 1, 2024, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes shall automatically increase by 100 basis points per annum (minus any amount previously increased). If the Partnership has not offered to purchase at least $200.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 2026 Secured Notes by April 1, 2025, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes shall automatically increase by 200 basis points per annum (minus any amount previously increased). Based on the amount of our Excess Cash Flow for the fiscal year ended 2022, we will not be able to make offers to purchase in the designated amount for the fiscal year ended 2022; as a result, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes will increase 50 basis points to 9.00% effective April 1, 2023, resulting in increased annual interest expense of approximately $3.9 million. An increase in the interest rates associated with our 2026 Secured Notes would adversely affect our results of operations and reduce cash flow available for other purposes, including making other required payments of our debt obligations or capital expenditures. In addition, an increase in interest rates on the 2026 Secured Notes could adversely affect our future ability to obtain financing on attractive terms or materially increase the cost of any additional financing.
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Inflation could have adverse effects on our results of operation.
Although inflation in the United States had been relatively low for many years, there was a significant increase in inflation beginning in the second half of 2021, which has continued into 2023, due to a substantial increase in money supply, a stimulative fiscal policy, a significant rebound in consumer demand as COVID-19 restrictions were relaxed, the Russia-Ukraine war and worldwide supply chain disruptions resulting from the economic contraction caused by COVID-19 and lockdowns followed by a rapid recovery. Inflation rose from 5.4% in June 2021 to 7.0% in December 2021 to 8.2% in September 2022. As of December 31, 2022, inflation was at 6.5%.
We expect that inflation in 2023 will increase our labor and other operating costs and the overall cost of capital projects we undertake. An increase in inflation rates could negatively affect the Partnership’s profitability and cash flows, due to higher wages, higher operating costs, higher financing costs, and/or higher supplier prices. The Partnership may be unable to pass along such higher costs to its customers. In addition, inflation may adversely affect customers’ financing costs, cash flows, and profitability, which could adversely impact their operations and the Partnership’s ability to offer credit and collect receivables.
An increase in interest rates will cause our debt service obligations to increase.
Since March 2022, the Federal Reserve has raised its target range for the federal funds rate eight times, for a total increase of 4.25%. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve has signaled that additional rate increases are likely to occur for the foreseeable future. Borrowings under the Permian Transmission Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus margin. The interest rate is subject to adjustment based on fluctuations in LIBOR (or successor rates thereto), as applicable. An increase in the interest rates associated with our floating rate debt would increase our debt service costs and affect our results of operations and cash flow available for payments of our debt obligations. In addition, an increase in interest rates could adversely affect our future ability to obtain financing or materially increase the cost of any additional financing.
The phase-out of LIBOR could have adverse effects on our hedging strategies, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom has phased out LIBOR as a benchmark for one-week and two-month tenors and announced that it will cease to publish all other LIBOR tenors on June 30, 2023. Even where we have entered into interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments for purposes of managing our interest rate exposure, our hedging strategies may not be effective as a result of the replacement or phasing out of LIBOR, and we may incur losses as a result. In addition, the overall financial markets may be disrupted as a result of the phase-out or replacement of LIBOR. The potential increase in our interest expense as a result of the phase-out of LIBOR and uncertainty as to the nature of such potential phase-out and alternative reference rates or disruption in the financial market could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
A downgrade of our credit rating could impact our liquidity, access to capital and our costs of doing business, and independent third parties determine our credit ratings outside of our control.

Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or Fitch Ratings, Inc. assign ratings to our senior unsecured credit from time to time. A downgrade of our credit rating could increase our future cost of borrowing under our Revolving Credit Facility and could require us to post collateral with third parties, including our hedging arrangements, which could negatively impact our available liquidity and increase our cost of debt. If a credit rating downgrade and the resultant cash collateral requirement were to occur at a time when we are experiencing significant working capital requirements or otherwise lacking liquidity, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be adversely affected.

We have in the past and may in the future incur losses due to an impairment in the carrying value of our long-lived assets or equity method investments.

We recorded long-lived asset impairments of $13.1 million and $60.5$91.6 million in 20202022 and 2019, respectively. In 2019, we also recorded an impairment of our equity method investment$10.2 million in Ohio Gathering of $329.7 million and a loss of $6.3 million related to a long-lived asset impairment on OCC.2021. When evidence exists that we will not be able to recover a long-lived asset's carrying value through future cash flows, we write down the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value. We test long-lived assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. With respect to property, plant and equipment and our amortizing intangible assets, the carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if the carrying value exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the asset's use and eventual disposal. In this situation, we recognize an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the asset's fair value. We determine fair value using either a market-based approach, an income-based approach in which we discount the asset's expected future cash flows to reflect the risk associated with achieving the underlying cash flows, or a mixture of both market- andmarket-and income-based approaches. We evaluate our equity method investmentinvestments for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that a decline in fair value is other than temporary. Any impairment determinations involve significant assumptions and judgments. If actual results are not consistent with our assumptions and estimates, or our assumptions and estimates change due to new information, we may be exposed to impairment charges. Adverse changes in our business or the overall operating environment, such as lower
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commodity prices, may affect our estimate of future operating results, which could result in future impairment due to the potential impact on our operations and cash flows.

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A portion of our revenues are directly exposed to changes in crude oil, natural gas and NGL prices, and our exposure may increase in the future.

During the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, we derived 13%18% of our revenues from (i) the sale of physical natural gas and/or NGLs purchased under percentage-of-proceeds or other processing arrangements with certain of our customers onin the Williston Basin,Rockies, Permian and Piceance Basin, and Permian Basin segments, (ii) natural gas and crude oil marketing services in and around our gathering systems, (iii) the sale of natural gas we retain from certain Barnett Shale customers, and (iv)(iii) the sale of condensate we retain from our gathering services in the Piceance Basin segment.segment and (iv) additional gathering fees that are tied to performance of certain commodity price indexes, which are then added to the fixed gathering rates. Consequently, our existing operations and cash flows have direct exposure to commodity price risk. Although we will seek to limit our commodity price exposure with new customers in the future, our efforts to obtain fee-based contractual terms may not be successful or the local market for our services may not support fee-based gathering and processing agreements. For example, we have percent-of-proceeds contracts with certain natural gas producer customers and we may, in the future, enter into additional percent-of-proceeds contracts with these customers or other customers or enter into keep-whole arrangements, which would increase our exposure to commodity price risk, as the revenues generated from those contracts directly correlate with the fluctuating price of the underlying commodities.

Furthermore, we may acquire or develop additional midstream assets in the future that have a greater exposure to fluctuations in commodity price risk than our current operations. Future exposure to the volatility of natural gas and crude oil prices could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. For example, for a small portion of the natural gas gathered on our systems, we purchase natural gas from producers prior to delivering the natural gas to pipelines where we typically resell the natural gas under arrangements including sales at index prices. Generally, the gross margins we realize under these arrangements decrease in periods of low natural gas prices. If we expand the implementation of such natural gas purchase and sale arrangements within our business, such fluctuations could materially affect our business.

If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, we may not be able to report our financial results timely and accurately or prevent fraud, which would likely have a negative impact on the market price of our common units.

As a publicly traded partnership, we are subject to the public reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, including the rules thereunder that will require our management to certify financial and other information in our quarterly and annual reports and provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable and timely financial reports, prevent fraud and to operate successfully as a publicly traded partnership. We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP. Our efforts to maintain our internal controls may not be successful and we may be unable to maintain effective controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future or to comply with our obligations under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Given the difficulties inherent in the design and operation of internal controls over financial reporting, in addition to our limited accounting personnel and management resources, we can provide no assurance as to our or our independent registered public accounting firm’s future conclusions about the effectiveness of our internal controls, and we may incur significant costs in our efforts to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Any failure to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting could subject us to regulatory scrutiny and a loss of confidence in our reported financial information, which could have an adverse effect on our business and would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of our common units.

Regulatory and Environmental Policy Risks

We aresettled a matter that was previously under investigation by federal and state regulatory agencies overregarding a pipeline rupture and release of produced water by one of our subsidiaries. The resolutionresulting compliance requirements of this matter could have a material adverse effect onthe settlement may impact our results of operations or cash flows.

As further described in Item 3. Legal Proceedings, on August 4, 2021, we settled an incident involving a produced water disposal pipeline owned by our subsidiary Meadowlark Midstream that resulted in a discharge of materials into the environment is under investigationwhich was investigated by federal and state agencies pursuantagencies. This settlement resulted in losses amounting to various laws that$36.3 million and will be paid over six years, of which we have paid $8.0 million as of December 31, 2022 and requires compliance with certain conditions and terms and conditions which may give rise to criminal and civil liability. A loss arising from this incident is probable, and the ultimate outcome could have a material ‎adverse effect onimpact our results of operations or cash flows. We have accrued a loss contingency for this incident but cannot predict whether any actual loss, if one were to occur, would be materially higher or lower than such accrual.

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We may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business. As a result, we may be required to expend significant funds for legal defense or to settle claims. Any such loss, if incurred, could be material.

Expenditures made by the Partnership for the payment of litigation related costs, including legal defense costs and settlement payments, if any, reduce our cash flows available for debt service and distributions to our unitholders, if any. Any such expenditures, if incurred, could be material. See Item 3. Legal Proceedings for additional disclosure by the Partnership regarding its ongoing litigation and claims.

A change in laws and regulations applicable to our assets or services, or the interpretation or implementation of existing laws and regulations may cause our revenues to decline or our operation and maintenance expenses to increase.

Various aspects of our operations are subject to regulation by the various federal, state and local departments and agencies that have jurisdiction over participants in the energy industry. The regulation of our activities and the natural gas and crude oil industries frequently change as they are reviewed by legislators and regulators. In 2016, the NDIC adopted rule changes that resulted in additional construction and monitoring requirements for certain underground gathering pipelines, including, but not limited to, those that transport produced water. The NDIC also adopted reclamation bonding requirements for certain underground gathering pipelines. At the federal level,For example, PHMSA has issued new proposed and final rules concerning pipeline safety in recent years. In November 2021, PHMSA issued a final rule that extended pipeline safety requirements to onshore gas gathering pipelines. The rule requires all onshore gas gathering pipeline operators to comply with PHMSA’s incident and annual reporting requirements. It also extends existing pipeline safety requirements to a new category of gas gathering pipelines, “Type C” lines, which generally include high-pressure pipelines that are larger than 8.625 inches in diameter. Safety requirements applicable to Type C lines vary based on pipeline diameter and potential failure consequences. The final rule became effective in May 2022 and operators were required to comply with the applicable safety requirements by November 2022. In addition, in August 2022, PHMSA issued a final rule that established new or additional requirements for natural gas transmission lines related to the management of change process, integrity management, corrosion control standards, and pipeline inspections and repairs. To thatthe extent these or other new proposed or final rules create additional
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requirements for our pipelines, they could have a material adverse effect on our operations, operating and maintenance expenses and revenues. For additional information on the potential risks associated with PHMSA requirements, see the “We may incur greater than anticipated costs and liabilities as a result of pipeline safety requirements” section of Item 1.A.1A. Risk Factors.

In addition, the adoption of proposals for more stringent legislation, regulation or taxation of drilling activity could directly curtail such activity or increase the cost of drilling, resulting in reduced levels of drilling activity and therefore reduced demand for our services. For example, in 2018 the Colorado state ballot included a proposed 2,500 foot setback for oil and gas development from occupied structures and certain other areas. While the proposal did not pass, Colorado Senate Bill 19-181, signed into law in April 2019, changed the mandate of the COGCC from fostering oil and gas development to regulating oil and gas development in a reasonable manner to protect public health and the environment. The new law also allows local governments to impose more restrictive requirements on oil and gas operations than those issued by the state. Further,As part of its implementation of this new law, in November 2020 the COGCC adopted new regulations that increase oil and gas setbacks to a minimum of 2,000 feet from schools and childcare facilities, prohibit routine venting and flaring, increase wildlife protections, and alter certain aspects of the permitting process. These regulations and similar efforts in Colorado and elsewhere could restrict oil and gas development in the future. Regulatory agencies establish and, from time to time, change priorities, which may result in additional burdens on us, such as additional reporting requirements and more frequent audits of operations. Our operations and the markets in which we participate are affected by these laws, regulations and interpretations and may be affected by changes to them or their implementation, which may cause us to realize materially lower revenues or incur materially increased operation and maintenance costs or both.

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Increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing could result in reductions or delays in customer production, which could materially adversely impact our revenues.

Hydraulic fracturing is an important and increasingly common practice that is used to stimulate production of natural gas and/or crude oil from dense subsurface rock formations, and is primarily regulated by state agencies. However, Congress has in the past, and may in the future consider legislation to regulate hydraulic fracturing by federal agencies. Many states have already adopted laws and/or regulations that require disclosure of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. A number of states – such as Colorado, as discussed above – have adopted, and other states are considering adopting, legal requirements that could impose more stringent permitting, disclosure and well construction requirements on crude oil and/or natural gas drilling activities. For example, during the 2021-2022 election cycle, Colorado representatives proposed a Colorado ballot initiative Proposition 112, would have substantially increased setback distances for various upstream activities, thereby substantially restricting new oil and gas development into ban hydraulic fracturing on all non-federal land, but the state. Although Proposition 112 was defeated in the November 2018 elections, similar ballot initiatives have been circulated by interested groups for potential consideration in elections. Further, Colorado Senate Bill 19-181, signed into law in April 2019, changed the mandate of the COGCC from fostering oil and gas developmentproposed initiative failed to regulating oil and gas development in a reasonable manner to protect public health and the environment. The new law also allows local governments to impose more restrictive requirements on oil and gas operations than those issued by the state. Further, in November 2020, the COGCC adopted new regulations that increase oil and gas setbacks to a minimum of 2,000 feet from schools and childcare facilities, prohibit routine venting and flaring, increase wildlife protections, and alter certain aspects of the permitting process. These regulations and similar efforts in Colorado and elsewhere could restrict oil and gas development in the future.garner significant support. States also could elect to prohibit hydraulic fracturing altogether, as New York, Maryland, Oregon and Vermont have done. In addition, certain local governments have adopted, and additional local governments may adopt, ordinances within their jurisdictions regulating the time, place and manner of drilling activities in general or hydraulic fracturing activities in particular.

These initiatives and similar efforts in Colorado and elsewhere could restrict oil and gas development in the future.

The EPA has also moved forward with various regulatory actions, including approvinga proposal to issue new regulations requiring green completions of hydraulically-fractured wellsunder the NSPS to expand and corresponding reportingstrengthen emissions reduction requirements (NSPS OOOO) that went into effect in 2015. Revisions to the green completion regulations (NSPS OOOOa) were finalized in June 2016under NSPS OOOOa for new, modified and include additional requirementsreconstructed oil and natural gas sources, and require states to reduce methane emissions from existing sources nationwide. For further discussion of NSPS OOOOa and VOCs. In August 2020,subsequent actions by the EPA, issued two final rules that rescindedsee the methane-specific requirements“Environmental Matters—Air Emissions” section of NSPS OOOO and OOOOa applicable to sources in the production and processing segments and removed the transmission and storage segment from the source category. However, these 2020 rules are being challenged in the U.S. CourtItem 1. Business of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In addition, President Biden’s January 20, 2021 Executive Order on “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis” directed EPA to consider publishing a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding the 2020 rules, as well as to consider establishing methane and VOC emission standards for existing sources in the oil and gas sector, including the transportation and storage segments.this Annual Report. The BLM has also asserted regulatory authority over aspects of the hydraulic fracturing process, and issued a final rule in March 2015 that established more stringent standards for performing hydraulic fracturing on federal and Indian lands.lands, including requirements relating to well construction and integrity, handling of wastewater and chemical disclosure. However, in December 2017, the BLM published a final rule rescinding the 2015 rule. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California upheld the December 2017 rescission rule in a March 2020 decision. Thedecision, and the State of California and environmental plaintiffs then appealed the decisionappealed. The parties remain in June 2020. Litigation is currently ongoing.

settlement discussion.

Further, several federal governmental agencies (including the EPA) have conducted reviews and studies on the environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing includingin the EPA.past. The results of such reviews or studies could spur initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing.

State and federal regulatory agencies recently have also focused on a possible connection between the hydraulic fracturing related activities and the increased occurrence of seismic activity. When caused by human activity, such events are called induced seismicity. Some state regulatory agencies, including those in Colorado, Ohio, and Texas, have modified their regulations or guidance to account for induced seismicity. These developments could result in additional regulation and restrictions on the use of injection disposal wells and hydraulic fracturing. Such regulations and restrictions could cause delays and impose additional costs and restrictions on our customers.

Additionally, certain of our customers produce oil and gas on federal lands. On January 20, 2021, the Acting Secretary for the Department of the Interior signed an order effectively suspending new fossil fuel leasing and permitting on federal lands for 60 days. Then on January 27, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order indefinitely suspending new oil and natural gas leases on public lands or in offshore waters pending completion of a comprehensive review and reconsideration of federal oil and gas permitting and leasing practices.

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Several states filed lawsuits challenging the suspension, and on June 15, 2021, a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued a nationwide temporary injunction blocking the
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suspension in July 2021. Although the injunction was subsequently overturned by the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, on remand the U.S. District Court issued a permanent injunction as requested by the plaintiff states in August 2022. The Department of the Interior has since resumed leasing. However, the Biden Administration continues to evaluate federal leasing and could impose additional restrictions in the future.
If new or more stringent federal, state or local legal restrictions relating to drilling activities or to the hydraulic fracturing process are adopted, this could result in a reduction in the supply of natural gas and/or crude oil that our customers produce, and could thereby adversely affect our revenues and results of operations. Compliance with such rules could also generally result in additional costs, including increased capital expenditures and operating costs, for our customers, which could ultimately decrease end-user demand for our services and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We are subject to FERC jurisdiction, federal anti-market manipulation laws and regulations, potentially other federal regulatory requirements and state and local regulation and could be materially affected by changes in such laws and regulations, or in the way they are interpreted and enforced.

We believe that our natural gas pipeline facilities qualify as gathering facilities that are exempt from the jurisdiction of FERC under the NGA and the NGPA. Interstate movements of crude oil on the Epping Pipeline in North Dakota are subject to FERC jurisdiction under the ICA, and the rates, terms and conditions of service, and practices on the pipeline are subject to review and challenge before FERC.
Additionally, our proposedthe Double E Project, for which FERC approved the implementation plan in January 2021, and which is anticipated to provideprovides interstate natural gas transmission service from southeastern New Mexico to the Waha Hubhub in Texas, will beis subject to FERC jurisdiction once completed. FERC may includeunder the NGA with respect to post-construction remediation activities, operations, and rates and terms and conditions on its issuance of service. Pursuant to the certificate that make a project impracticable or too costly, or may ultimately determine not to issue the certificate required for us to pursue the project. Typically, a pipeline project requires review by a number of governmental agencies, including FERC, and other federal, state and local agencies, whose cooperation is important in completing the regulatory process on schedule. Any delay or refusal by an agency to issue authorizations or permits as requested for the project may mean that they will be constructed in a manner or with capital requirements that we did not anticipate or that we will not be able to pursue the project. Such delay, modification or refusal could materially and negatively impact the additional revenues expected from the project. In addition to approving and regulating the construction and operation ofNGA, Double E Pipeline’s existing interstate natural gas pipelines, FERC also regulates such pipelines’transportation rates and terms and conditions of service includingmay be challenged by complaint and are subject to prospective change by FERC. Additionally, rate changes and changes to terms and conditions of service proposed by a regulated natural gas interstate pipeline may be protested and such changes can be delayed and may ultimately be rejected by FERC. FERC may also initiate reviews of an interstate pipeline’s rates. We cannot guarantee that any new or existing tariff rate for service on our FERC-regulated pipelines would not be rejected or modified by the FERC or subjected to refunds. Any successful challenge by a regulator or shipper in any of these matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have certain long-term fixed priced natural gas and crude oil transportation contracts that cannot be adjusted even if our costs increase. As a result, our costs could exceed our revenues. In 2021, we entered into negotiated rate agreements with an average term of 10 years from the in-service date of the pipeline, which occurred on November 18, 2021 and with total MDTQ’s that increases from 585,000 Dth/d during the first year of the agreement to 1,000,000 Dth/d in the fourth year, which equates to approximately 74% of its certificated capacity of 1,350,000 Dth/d, these contracts are not subject to adjustment, even if our cost to perform such services exceeds the revenues received from such contracts, and, as a result, our costs could exceed our revenues received under such contracts. It is possible that costs to perform services under our “negotiated or discount rate” contracts will exceed the negotiated or discounted rates. It is also possible with respect to discounted rates that if our filed “recourse rates” should ever be reduced below applicable discounted rates, we would only be allowed by FERC to charge the lower recourse rates, since FERC policy does not allow discount rates to be charged to the extent that they exceed applicable recourse rates. If these events were to occur, it could decrease the cash flow realized by our assets.
Under FERC policy, a regulated service agreementsprovider and a customer may mutually agree to sign a contract for service at a “negotiated rate,” which is generally fixed between the natural gas pipeline and the shipper for the contract term and does not necessarily vary with changes in the level of cost-based “recourse rates,” provided that the affected customer is willing to agree to such rates and that the FERC has accepted the negotiated rate agreement. These “negotiated or discount rate” contracts are not generally subject to adjustment for increased costs which could be caused by inflation or other factors relating to the specific facilities being used to perform the services. Any shortfall of revenue, representing the difference between “recourse rates” (if higher) and negotiated or discounted rates, under current FERC policy, may be recoverable from other shippers in certain circumstances. For example, the FERC may recognize this shortfall in the determination of prospective rates in a future rate agreements.

case. However, if the FERC were to disallow the recovery of such costs from other customers, it could decrease the cash flow realized by our assets.

We are also generally subject to the anti-market manipulation provisions in the NGA, as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to FERC’s regulations thereunder, which authorizeand also must comply with the other applicable provisions of the NGA and NGPA and FERC’s rules, regulations, and orders concerning the Double E Pipeline’s interstate natural gas pipeline business, including those that require us to provide firm and interruptible transportation service on an open access basis that is not unduly discriminatory or preferential. Violations of the NGA or NGPA, or the rules, regulations, and orders issued by FERC to impose finesthereunder could result in the imposition of administrative and criminal remedies, including without limitation, revocation of certain authorities, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and civil penalties of up to $1,307,164approximately $1.5 million per day per violation of the NGA or its implementing regulations, subject to future adjustment for inflation. In addition, the FTC holds
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statutory authority under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to prevent market manipulation in oil markets, and has adopted broad rules and regulations prohibiting fraud and market manipulation. The FTC is also authorized to seek fines of up to $1,246,249approximately $1.4 million per violation, subject to future adjustment for inflation. The CFTC is directed under the CEA to prevent price manipulation in the commodity, futures and swaps markets, including the energy markets. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, and other authority, the CFTC has adopted additional anti-market manipulation regulations that prohibit fraud and price manipulation in the commodity, futures and swaps markets. The CFTC also has statutory authority to seek civil penalties of up to the greater of $1,227,202approximately $1.4 million per violation, subject to future adjustment for inflation, or triple the monetary gain to the violator for each violation of the anti-market manipulation provisions of the CEA.

The distinction between federally unregulated natural gas and crude oil pipelines and FERC-regulated natural gas and crude oil pipelines has been the subject of extensive litigation and is determined by FERC on a case-by-case basis. FERC has made no determinations as to the status of our facilities. Consequently, the classification and regulation of some of our pipelines could change based on future determinations by FERC, Congress or the courts. If our natural gas gathering operations or crude oil operations beyond the Epping Pipeline become subject to FERC jurisdiction under the NGA, the NGPA or the ICA, the result may materially adversely affect the rates we are able to charge and the services we currently provide, and may include the potential for a termination of our gathering agreements with our customers. In addition, if any of our facilities were found to have provided services or otherwise operated in violation of the NGA, the NGPA or the ICA, this could result in the imposition of civil penalties, as well as a requirement to disgorge charges collected for such services in excess of the rate established by FERC.

We are subject to state and local regulation regarding the construction and operation of our gathering, treating, transporting and processing systems, as well as state ratable take statutes and regulations. Regulation of the construction and operation of our facilities may affect our ability to expand our facilities or build new facilities and such regulation may cause us to incur additional operating costs or limit the quantities of natural gas and crude oil we may gather, treat and process. Ratable take statutes and regulations generally require gatherers to take natural gas and crude oil production that may be tendered for gathering without undue discrimination. These requirements restrict our right to decide whose production we gather, treat and process. Many states have adopted complaint-based regulation of gathering, treating, transporting and processing activities, which allows producers and shippers to file

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complaints with state regulators in an effort to resolve access issues, rate grievances and other matters. Other state and municipal regulations do not directly apply to our business, but may nonetheless affect the availability of natural gas and crude oil for gathering, treating, transporting and processing, including state regulation of production rates, maximum daily production allowable from wells, and other activities related to drilling and operating wells. While our facilities currently are subject to limited state and local regulation, there is a risk that state or local laws will be changed or reinterpreted, which may materially affect our operations, operating costs and revenues.

Recent actions by the FERC may affect rates on Epping Pipeline, Double E Pipeline and other future FERC-regulated pipelines.

On March 15, 2018, FERC announced a revised policy prohibiting FERC-jurisdictional natural gas and liquids pipelines owned by master limited partnerships from including an allowance for income taxes in the cost of service used to calculate tariff rates. Most of our pipelines are not subject to FERC regulation and so will not be affected by the revised policy statement. However, rates for interstate movements of crude oil on our Epping Pipeline in North Dakota and any future FERC-regulated pipelines may be affected by the application of the revised policy statement in subsequent FERC proceedings.

FERC has not required regulated interstate oil pipelines to decrease their rates on an industry-wide basis to implement the new policy. However, FERC stated that the effects of the revised policy statement must be incorporated in annual FERC financial reports made by regulated interstate oil pipelines. These reports, which also reflected the impact of the corporate income tax reduction enacted as part of the Tax Reform Legislation, were considered by FERC in its five-year review and determination of the index rate adjustment, which resulted in the December 17, 2020 order adopting a new annual index adjustment for the five-year period starting July 1, 2021. FERC ultimately removed the effect of the income tax allowance policy change from its index calculation, although the December 17, 2020 order is subject to rehearing and possible judicial review. The impact of these future proceedings on Epping Pipeline and any future FERC-regulated pipelines is uncertain at this time.

Until FERC sets the next index rate adjustment, Epping Pipeline and any future FERC-regulated pipelines may face an increased risk of shipper complaints seeking FERC review of its rates. FERC can also initiate review of rates on its own initiative. We could also propose new cost-of-service rates or changes to our existing rates that would be subject to review by FERC under its new policy. No such proceedings have occurred at this time, however, and the potential outcome of any such proceedings, should any materialize, is uncertain. As a result of any such proceedings, Epping Pipeline and any future FERC-regulated pipelines may be required to modify their rates, which could affect the revenues we generate with our Epping Pipeline and any future FERC-regulated pipelines. At this time, we do not expect any such proceedings would have a material adverse effect, but we intend to monitor FERC developments and provide updated disclosure, as necessary.

necessary.

We are subject to stringent environmental laws and regulations that may expose us to significant costs and liabilities.

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Our gathering, treating, transporting and processing operations are subject to stringent and complex federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations, including laws and regulations regarding the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection, including, for example, the CAA, CERCLA, the CWA, the OPA, the RCRA, the Endangered Species Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act.

These laws and regulations may impose numerous obligations that are applicable to our operations, including the acquisition of permits to conduct regulated activities, the incurrence of capital or operating expenditures to limit or prevent releases of materials from our pipelines and facilities, and the imposition of substantial liabilities and remedial obligations for pollution resulting from our operations or at locations currently or previously owned or operated by us. For additional information on specific laws and regulations, see the "Environmental Matters "“Environmental Matters” section of Item 1. Business. Numerous governmental authorities, such as the EPA and analogous state agencies, have the power to enforce compliance with these laws and regulations and the permits issued under them, oftentimes requiring difficult and costly corrective actions or costly pollution control measures. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and requisite permits may result in the assessment of significant administrative, civil and criminal penalties, the imposition of remedial obligations and the issuance of injunctions limiting or preventing some or all of our operations. In addition, we may experience a delay in obtaining or be unable to obtain required permits or regulatory authorizations, which may cause us to lose potential and current customers, interrupt our operations and limit our growth and revenue.

There is a risk that we may incur significant environmental costs and liabilities in connection with our operations due to historical industry operations and waste disposal practices, our handling of hydrocarbons and other wastes and potential emissions and

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discharges related to our operations. Joint and several, strict liability may be incurred, without regard to fault, under certain of these environmental laws and regulations in connection with discharges or releases of hydrocarbon wastes on, under or from our properties and facilities, many of which have been used for midstream activities for a number of years, oftentimes by third parties not under our control. Private parties, including the owners of the properties through which our gathering systems pass, and on which certain of our facilities are located, may also have the right to pursue legal actions to enforce compliance as well as to seek damages for non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations or for personal injury or property damage. For example, an accidental release from one of our pipelines could subject us to substantial liabilities arising from environmental cleanup and restoration costs, claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage and fines or penalties for related violations of environmental laws or regulations. In addition, changes in environmental laws occur frequently, and any such changes that result in additional permitting obligations or more stringent and costly waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or remediation requirements could have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial position. We may not be able to recover all or any of these costs from insurance.

The new presidential administrationBiden Administration is considering revisions to the leasing and Democratic control of Congress resulting from the 2020 elections may result in increased restrictions onpermitting programs for oil and gas production activities, development on federal lands, which could materially adversely affect our industry and our financial condition and results of operations.

operations.

We may incur greater than anticipated costs and liabilities as a result of pipeline safety requirements.

The DOT, through PHMSA, has adopted and enforces safety standards and procedures applicable to our pipelines. In addition, many states, including the states in which we operate, have adopted regulations that are identical to or more restrictive than existing DOT regulations for intrastate pipelines. Among the regulations applicable to us, PHMSA requires pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs for certain pipelines located in high consequence areas, which include high population areas such as the Dallas-Fort Worth greater metropolitan area where our DFW Midstream system is located. While the majority of our pipelines meethave historically met the DOT definition of gathering lines and arewere thus currently exempt from PHMSA's integrity management requirements, we also operate a limited number of pipelines that are subject to the integrity management requirements. The regulations require operators, including us, to:

perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity;

perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity;

identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact a high consequence area;

identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact a high consequence area;

maintain processes for data collection, integration and analysis;

maintain processes for data collection, integration and analysis;

repair and remediate pipelines as necessary;

repair and remediate pipelines as necessary;

adopt and maintain procedures, standards and training programs for control room operations; and

adopt and maintain procedures, standards and training programs for control room operations; and

implement preventive and mitigating actions.

implement preventive and mitigating actions.
In addition, PHMSA has taken recent action to regulate gathering systems, which includes integrity management requirements. In November 2021, PHMSA issued a final rule that extended pipeline safety requirements to onshore gas gathering pipelines. The rule requires all onshore gas gathering pipeline operators to comply with PHMSA’s incident and annual reporting requirements. It also extends existing pipeline safety requirements to a new category of gas gathering pipelines, “Type C”
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lines, which generally include high-pressure pipelines that are larger than 8.625 inches in diameter. Safety requirements applicable to Type C lines vary based on pipeline diameter and potential failure consequences. The final rule became effective in May 2022 and compliance with the applicable safety requirements was required by November 2022.
For additional information on PHMSA regulations relating to pipeline safety, see the "Regulation“Regulation of the Natural Gas and Crude Oil Industries—Safety and Maintenance"Maintenance” section of Item 1. Business.

In July 2018,Business and the PHMSA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeking comment on the class location requirements for natural gas transmission pipelines, and particularly the actions operators must take when class locations change due to population growth or building construction near the pipeline. The associated notice of proposed rulemaking, issued October 14, 2020, proposes to amend the requirements for gas transmission pipeline segments that experience a“A change in class location by offering an alternative setlaws and regulations applicable to our assets or services, or the interpretation or implementation of requirements operators could use, based on implementing integrity management principlesexisting laws and pipe eligibility criteria,regulations may cause our revenues to manage certain pipeline segments where the class location has changed from a Class 1 location to a Class 3 location. In October 2019, the PHMSA issued three new final rules. One rule, which became effective in December 2019, establishes procedures to implement the expanded emergency order enforcement authority set forth in an October 2016 interim final rule. Among other things, this rule allows the PHMSA to issue an emergency order without advance noticedecline or opportunity for a hearing. The other two rules, which became effective in July 2020, impose several new requirements on operators of onshore gas transmission systems and hazardous liquids pipelines. The rule concerning gas transmission extends the requirement to conduct integrity assessments beyond “high consequence areas” (HCAs) to pipelines in “moderate consequence areas” (MCAs). It also includes requirements to reconfirm Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP), report MAOP exceedances, consider seismicity as a risk factor in integrity management, and use certain safety features on in-line inspection equipment. The

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rule concerning hazardous liquids extends the required use of leak detection systems beyond HCAs to all regulated non-gathering hazardous liquid pipelines, requires reporting for gravity fed lines and unregulated gathering lines, requires periodic inspection of all lines not in HCAs, calls for inspections of lines after extreme weather events, and adds a requirement to make all lines in or affecting HCAs capable of accommodating in-line inspection tools over the next 20 years. Further, in December 2020, the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2020 became law, reauthorizing PHMSA for funding through 2023 and requiring, among other things, rulemaking to amend the integrity management program, emergency response plan, operation and maintenance manual, and pressure control recordkeeping requirements for gas distribution operators;expenses to create new leak detection and repair program obligations; and to set new minimum federal safety standards for onshore gas gathering lines. While we believe that we are in compliance with existing safety laws and regulations, increased penalties for safety violations and potential regulatory changes could have a material adverse effect on our operations, operating and maintenance expenses and revenues.

increase” section of Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Climate change legislation, regulatory initiatives and litigation could result in increased operating costs and reduced demand for the services we provide.

In recent years, the U.S. Congress has considered legislation to restrict or regulate emissions of GHGs, such as carbon dioxide and methane that may be contributing to global warming and energy legislation and other initiatives are expected to be proposed that may be relevant to GHG emissions issues. For example, the revisionsInflation Reduction Act, signed into law in August 2022, includes a Methane Emissions Reduction Program to the NSPS found in 40 CFR 60 subpart OOOO (and OOOOa) includeincentivize methane emission reduction requirements. In August 2020, the EPA issued two final rules that rescinded the methane-specific requirements of NSPS OOOOreductions and OOOOa applicable to sources in the production and processing segments and removed the transmission and storage segmentimpose a fee on GHG emissions from the source category. However, these 2020 rules are being challenged in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In addition, President Biden’s January 20, 2021 Executive Order on “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis” directed EPA to consider publishing a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding the 2020 rules, as well as to consider establishing methane and VOC emission standards for existing sources in thecertain oil and gas sector, including the transportation and storage segments.

facilities.

In addition, almost half of the states, either individually or through multi-state regional initiatives, have begun to address GHG emissions, primarily through the planned development of emission inventories or regional GHG cap and trade programs. Most of these cap and trade programs work by requiring either major sources of emissions, such as electric power plants, or major producers of fuels, such as refineries and gas processing plants, to acquire and surrender emission allowances. In general, the number of allowances available for purchase is reduced each year until the overall GHG emission reduction goal is achieved. Depending on the scope of a particular program, we could be required to purchase and surrender allowances for GHG emissions resulting from our operations (e.g., at compressor stations). It is possible that certain components of our operations, such as our gas-fired compressors, could become subject to state-level GHG-related regulation. For example, in January 2019, the governorJune 2022, as part of New Mexico signed an executive order that includes a goal of reducingGovernor-directed statewide initiative to reduce GHG emissions by at least 45% by 2030. The executive order directs the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (“EMNRD”) and2030, the New Mexico Environment Department (“NMED”) to jointly develop a statewide, enforceable regulatory framework to secure reductions in oil and gas sector methane emissions. The executive order also creates a Climate Change Task Force to evaluate and develop regulatory strategies to reach the 45% reduction goal. In July 2020, NMED released draftfinalized new rules that would establish emissions standards for VOCs and nitrogen oxides for oil and gas production and processing sources located in certain areas of the state with high ozone concentrations. We cannot currently determine the effect of these proposed regulations and other regulatory initiatives to implement the Governor’s directive to reduce GHG emissions, that could, if implemented, impact the business, reputation, financial condition or results of our operations in New Mexico or that of our customers upstream of the Double E Pipeline. Similarly, EMNRD released draftin April 2021, the New Mexico Department of Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources (“EMNRD”) finalized new rules concerning venting and flaring of natural gas. Neither agency has yet issued aEMNRD’s final rule. Although we cannot currently determine the effectrule could impose new or increased costs and obligations on our customers upstream of the proposed regulations developed by the EMNRD and the NMED or other potential regulatory strategies that may be suggested by the Climate Change Task Force, if implemented they could be material to the business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations of our Summit Permian system.

Double E Pipeline.

Independent of Congress, the EPA has adopted regulations under its existing CAA authority. In 2009, the EPA published its findings that emissions of GHGs present an endangerment to public health and the environment because emissions of such gases are contributing to warming of the earth's atmosphere and other climatic changes. Based on these findings, the EPA adopted regulations that, among other things, establish PSD construction and Title V operating permit reviews for certain large stationary sources of GHG emissions. For additional information on EPA regulations adopted under the CAA, see the "Environmental“Environmental Matters—Climate Change" sectionChange” and “Environmental Matters—Air Emissions” sections of Item 1. Business.
Further, in December 2015, over 190 countries, including the United States, reached an agreement to reduce global GHG emissions. The agreement entered into force in November 2016 after over 70

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countries, including the United States, ratified or otherwise consented to be bound by the agreement. In November 2019, the United States submitted formal notification to the United Nations that it intended to withdraw from the agreement. However, on January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an “Acceptance on Behalf of the United States of America” that, reversed the prior withdrawal, and the United States officially rejoined the Paris Agreement on February 19, 2021. In addition, shortly after taking office in January 2021,As part of rejoining the Paris Agreement, President Biden issuedannounced that the United States would commit to a 50 to 52 percent reduction from 2005 levels of GHG emissions by 2030 and set the goal of reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. In November 2021, the Biden Administration expanded on this commitment and announced “The Long-Term Strategy of the United States: Pathways to Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050,” establishing a roadmap to net zero emissions in the United States by 2050 through, among other things, improvements in energy efficiency; decarbonization of energy sources via electricity, hydrogen, and sustainable biofuels; and reductions in non-CO2 GHG emissions, such as methane and nitrous oxide. These initiatives followed a series of executive orders by President Biden designed to address climate change. Reentry into the Paris Agreement, andnew legislation, or President Biden’s executive orders may result in the development of additional regulations or changes to existing regulations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and that of our customers.

Additionally, the SEC has proposed new rules relating to the disclosure of climate-related risks. The proposed rule contains several new disclosure obligations, including (i) disclosure on an annual basis of a registrant’s scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, (ii) third-party independent attestation of the same for accelerated and large accelerated filers, (iii) for some
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registrants, disclosure on an annual basis of a registrant’s scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions for accelerated and large accelerated filers, (iv) disclosure on how the board of directors and management oversee climate-related risks and certain climate-related governance items, (v) disclosure of information related to a registrant’s climate-related targets, goals and/or transitions plans and (vi) disclosure on whether and how climate-related events and transition activities impact line items above a threshold amount on a registrant’s consolidated financial statements, including the impact of the financial estimates and the assumptions used. While we would likely be subject to the longer proposed phase-in for the reporting requirements as a smaller reporting company, and while the SEC may revise the proposed rule in response to comments to make the rule less onerous, we cannot predict the costs of implementation or any potential adverse impacts resulting from the rule should it be adopted. However, these costs may be substantial. In addition, enhanced climate disclosure requirements could accelerate the trend of certain stakeholders and lenders restricting or seeking more stringent conditions with respect to their investments in certain carbon intensive sectors.
Although it is not possible at this time to accurately estimate how potential future laws or regulations addressing GHG emissions would impact our business, either directly or indirectly, any future federal or state laws or implementing regulations that may be adopted to address GHG emissions could require us to incur increased operating costs and could materially adversely affect demand for our services. The potential increase in the costs of our operations resulting from any legislation or regulation to restrict emissions of GHG could include new or increased costs to operate and maintain our facilities, install new emission controls on our facilities, acquire allowances to authorize our GHG emissions, pay any taxes related to our GHG emissions, adhere to alternative energy requirements and administer and manage a GHG emissions program. While we may be able to include some or all of such increased costs in the rates we charge, such recovery of costs is uncertain. Moreover, incentives to conserve energy or use alternative energy sources could reduce demand for our services. We cannot predict with any certainty at this time how these possibilities may affect our operations. Finally, most scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHGs in the Earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts and floods and other climatic events. We cannot predict with any certainty at this time how these possibilities may affect our operations.

The implementation

Implementation of statutory and regulatory requirements for swap transactions could have an adverse impact on our ability to hedge risks associated with our business and increase the working capital requirements to conduct these activities.

In the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress adopted comprehensive financial reform legislation under the Dodd-Frank Act that establishes federal oversight over and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities, such as us, that participate in that market. This legislation requires the CFTC and the SEC and other regulatory authorities to promulgate certain rules and regulations, including rules and regulations relating to the regulation of certain swaps market participants, such as swap dealers, the clearing of certain swaps through central counterparties, the execution of certain swaps on designated contract markets or swap execution facilities, mandatory margin requirements for uncleared swaps, and the reporting and recordkeeping of swaps. While most of the regulations have been promulgated and are already in effect, the rulemaking and implementation process is still ongoing. Moreover, CFTC continues to refine its initial rulemakings under the Dodd-Frank Act. As a result, we cannot yet predict the ultimate effect of the rules and regulations on our business and while most of the regulations have been adopted, any new regulations or modifications to existing regulations could increase the cost of derivative contracts, limit the availability of derivatives to protect against risks that we encounter, reduce our ability to monetize or restructure our existing derivative contracts and increase our exposure to less creditworthy counterparties.

The

In October 2020, the CFTC has proposed federal positionadopted rules that place limits on positions in certain core futures and equivalent swaps contracts in the major energy and other markets, withfor or linked to certain physical commodities, subject to exceptions for certain bona fide hedging transactions provided that various conditions are satisfied. If finalized, the position limits rule and itstransactions. We do not expect these regulations to materially impede our hedging activity at this time, but a companion rule on aggregation among entities under common ownership or control may have an impact on our ability to hedge our exposure to certain enumerated commodities.

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In 2013, the

The CFTC has implemented final rules regarding mandatory clearing of certain classes of interest rate swaps and certain classes of index credit default swaps. Mandatory trading on designated contract markets or swap execution facilities of certain interest rate swaps and index credit default swaps also began in 2014. At this time, the CFTC has not proposed any rules designating other classes of swaps, including physical commodity swaps, for mandatory clearing. The CFTC and prudential banking regulators also recently adopted mandatory margin requirements on uncleared swaps between swap dealers and certain other counterparties. Although we may qualify for a commercial end-user exception from the mandatory clearing, trade execution and certain uncleared swaps margin requirements, mandatory clearing and trade execution requirements and uncleared swaps margin requirements applicable to other market participants, such as swap dealers, may affect the cost and availability of the swaps that we use for hedging.

Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC is also directed generally to prevent price manipulation and fraud in the following two markets: (a) physical commodities traded in interstate commerce, including physical energy and other commodities, as well as (b) financial instruments, such as futures, options and swaps. Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act, the CFTC has adopted additional
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anti-market manipulation, anti-fraud and disruptive trading practices regulations that prohibit, among other things, fraud and price manipulation in the physical commodities, futures, options and swaps markets. Should we violate these laws and regulations, we could be subject to CFTC enforcement action and material penalties, and sanctions.

We currently enter into forward contracts with third parties to buy power and sell natural gas in an attempt to mitigate our exposure to fluctuations in the price of natural gas with respect to those volumes. The CFTC has finalized an interpretation clarifying whether and when certain forwards with volumetric optionality are to be regulated as forwards or qualify as options on commodities and therefore swaps. ThisThe application of this interpretation may have an impact on our ability to enter into certain forwards or may impose additional requirements with respect to certain transactions.

In addition to the Dodd-Frank Act, the European Union and other foreign regulators have adopted and are implementing local reforms generally comparable with the reforms under the Dodd-Frank Act. Implementation and enforcement of these regulatory provisions may reduce our ability to hedge our market risks with non-U.S. counterparties and may make any transactions involving cross-border swaps more expensive and burdensome. Additionally, the lacklingering absence of regulatory equivalency across jurisdictions may increase compliance costs and make it more costly to satisfy regulatory obligations.

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We may face opposition to the development, permitting, construction or operation of our pipelines and facilities from various groups.

We may face opposition to the development, permitting, construction or operation of our pipelines and facilities from environmental groups, landowners, local groups and other advocates. Such opposition could take many forms, including organized protests, attempts to block or sabotage our operations, intervention in regulatory or administrative proceedings involving our assets, or lawsuits or other actions designed to prevent, disrupt or delay the development or operation of our assets and business. For example, repairing our pipelines often involves securing consent from individual landowners to access their property; one or more landowners may resist our efforts to make needed repairs, which could lead to an interruption in the operation of the affected pipeline or other facility for a period of time that is significantly longer than would have otherwise been the case. In addition, acts of sabotage or eco-terrorism could cause significant damage or injury to people, property or the environment or lead to extended interruptions of our operations. Any such event that interrupts the revenues generated by our operations, or which causes us to make significant expenditures not covered by insurance, could reduce our cash available for paying distributions to our unitholders and, accordingly, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, governmental authorities exercise considerable discretion in the timing and scope of permit issuance and the public may engage in the permitting process, including through intervention in the courts. Negative public perception could cause the permits we require to conduct our operations to be withheld, delayed or burdened by requirements that restrict our ability to profitably conduct our business.

For example, in an April 15, 2020 ruling, amended May 11, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana issued an order invalidating the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) 2017 reissuance of Nationwide Permit 12 (“NWP 12”), the general permit governing dredge-and-fill activities fordischarges of dredged or fill material associated with pipeline and other utility line construction projects, to the extent it was used to authorize construction of new oil and gas pipelines. Environmental groups had alleged that the Corps failed to consult with federal wildlife agencies as required by the Endangered Species Act. The court’s decision vacated NWP 12 until the Corps completes consultation with the applicable federal wildlife agencies. On July 6, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court granted in part the Corps’ request to stay the U.S. District Court’s decision to allow the use of NWP 12 for utility line activities, including new oil and gas pipelines, pending the outcome of the appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and any subsequent petition for review to the U.S. Supreme Court. Litigation is currently ongoing. In addition,Act (“ESA”). However, in January 2021, the EPA and Corps reissued NWP 12 as a general permit specific to oil and gas pipelines, moving other utility line activities into separate general permits. However,The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit subsequently held that the Corps’ January 2021 reissuance rendered the prior challenge moot. In May 2021, environmental groups once again filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, seeking vacatur of the reissued NWP 12. Environmental groups allege that the reissuance isof NWP 12 violated the ESA, National Environmental Policy Act, and Clean Water Act, among other things. In September 2022, the agency actions listedU.S. District Court for reviewMontana dismissed the ESA consultation challenges as moot and dismissed the remainder of the lawsuit without prejudice. The Corps has announced that it will be reviewing all the nationwide permits for consistency with Administration policies, which could result in accordance withadditional limitations on the January 20, 2021 Executive Order: “Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis.”use of nationwide permits. Limitations on the use of NWP 12 may make it more difficult to permit our projects, require consideration of alternative construction or siting, which may impose additional costs and delays, and could cause us to lose potential and current customers and limit our growth and revenue.

In addition, on July 6, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued an order vacating a Corps Mineral Leasing Act easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline in a lawsuit filed by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and other Native American Indian Tribes.tribes. The court’s decision requires the pipeline to shut down operations by August 5, 2020 but was stayed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. On January 26, 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a decision affirming the district court’s holding that the easement should be vacated but reversing the requirement to shut down the pipeline. The Court of Appeals left it to the Corps to determine how to proceed after the loss of the easement, and while the District Court has received briefing on whetherCorps declined to enjoin the operation ofshut down the pipeline, asit did not formally approve the pipeline’s ongoing operation without an easement. Dakota Access filed for rehearing en banc on April 12, 2021, which the Court of Appeals
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denied. On September 20, 2021, Dakota Access filed a result. petition with the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. Oppositions were filed by the Solicitor General and plaintiffs, and Dakota Access has filed its reply.
The Dakota Access Pipeline continues to operate pending the Corps’ ongoing development of a court-ordered environmental impact statement for the project. On June 22, 2021, the District Court’s ruling orCourt terminated the consolidated lawsuits and dismissed all remaining outstanding counts without prejudice. On January 20, 2022, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe withdrew as a decision bycooperating agency on the Corpsdraft EIS, prompting the USACE to ordertemporarily pause on the pipeline to shut down.draft EIS. The USACE now estimates that the draft EIS will be published sometime in the spring of 2023. If the Dakota Access Pipeline is forced to shut down, this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations associated with the Polar and Divide System,system, which interconnects with the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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Recently, activists concerned about the potential effects of climate change have directed their attention towards sources of funding for fossil-fuel energy companies, which has resulted in an increasing number of financial institutions, funds, individual investors and other sources of capital restricting or eliminating their investment in fossil fuel-related activities. In addition, financial institutions have begun to screen companies such as ours for sustainability performance, including practices related to GHGs and climate change, before providing loans or investing in our common units. There is also a risk that financial institutions may adopt policies that have the effect of reducing the funding provided to the fossil fuel sector, such as the adoption of net zero financed emissions targets. Such policies may be hastened by actions under the Biden Administration, including the implementation by the Federal Reserve of any recommendations made by the Network for Greening the Financial System, a consortium of financial regulators focused on addressing climate-related risks in the financial sector. Ultimately, this could make it more difficult to secure funding for exploration and production activities or energy infrastructure related projects, and consequently could both indirectly affect demand for our services and directly affect our ability to fund construction or other capital projects. Any efforts to improve our sustainability practices in response to these pressures may increase our costs, and we may be forced to implement technologies that are not economically viable in order to improve our sustainability performance and to meet the specific requirements to maintain access to capital or perform services for certain customers.

Our business is subject to complex and evolving U.S. and Internationalinternational laws and regulations regarding privacy and data protection (“data protection laws”). Many of these data protection laws and regulations are subject to change and uncertain interpretation, and could result in claims, increased cost of operations or otherwise harm our business.

Along with our own data and information that we collect and retain in the normal course of our business, we and our business partners collect and retain significant volumes of certain types of data, some of which are subject to specific lawsdata protection laws. The collection, use, and regulations. The transfer and use of this data, both domestically and across international bordersinternationally, is becoming increasingly complex. The regulatory environment surrounding and the collection, use, transfer and protection of such data is constantly evolving and can be subject to significant change. New data protection laws at the federal, state, international, national, provincial and local levels, including recent Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia and Utah legislation, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) and the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (“CCPA”), pose increasingly complex compliance challenges and potentially elevate our costs.

Complying with these jurisdictional requirements could increase the costs and complexity of compliance, and violations of applicable data protection laws can result in significant penalties. For example, the GDPR applies to activities regarding personal data that may be conducted by us, directly or indirectly through vendors and subcontractors, from an establishment in the European Union.business partners. Failure to comply could result in significant penalties of up to a maximum of 4% of our global turnover that may materially adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations, and cash flows. Similarly, the CCPA, which came into effect on January 1, 2020, givesimposes specific obligations on businesses that collect personal data from California residents and provides California residents specific rights in relation to their personal information, requiresdata that companies take certain actions, including notifications for security incidentswe or our business partners collect and may apply to activities regarding personal information that is collected by us, directly or indirectly, from California residents.use. As interpretation and enforcement of the CCPA evolves, it creates a range of new compliance obligations, which could cause us to change our business practices, withand carries the possibility for significant financial penalties for noncompliance that may materially adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operations, and cash flows.

As noted above, we are also subject to the possibility of information security breaches, which themselves may result in a violation of these data protection laws. Additionally, if we acquire a company that has violated or is not in compliance with applicable data protection laws, we may incur significant liabilities and penalties as a result.

Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us

Because our common units are yield-oriented securities, increases in interest rates could materially adversely impact our unit price, our ability to issue equity or incur debt for acquisitions or other purposes and our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Interest rates are generally near historic lows and may increase in the future. As with other yield-oriented securities, our unit price is impacted by the level of our cash distributions and implied distribution yield. The distribution yield is often used by investors to compare and rank yield-oriented securities for investment decision-making purposes. Therefore, changes in interest rates, either positive or negative, may affect the yield requirements of investors who invest in our common units, and a rising interest rate environment could have a material adverse impact on our unit price, our ability to issue equity or incur debt for acquisitions or other purposes and our ability to make cash distributions at our intended levels.

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The amount of cash we have available for distribution to holders of our units depends primarily on our cash flows rather than on our profitability, which may prevent us from making distributions, even during periods in which we record net income.

The amount of cash we have available for distribution depends primarily upon our cash flows and not solely on profitability, which will be affected by non-cash items. AsAlthough we have not made a distribution on our common units or Series A Preferred Units since we announced suspension of those distributions on May 3, 2020 and do not expect to pay distributions on the
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common units or Series A Preferred Units in the foreseeable future, we may, as a result, we may make cash distributions during periods when we report net losses for GAAP purposes and may notbe unable to make cash distributions during periods when we report net income for GAAP purposes.

The market price of our common units may fluctuate significantly and, due to limited daily trading volumes, an investor could lose all or part of its investment in us.

An investor may not be able to resell its common units at or above its acquisition price. Additionally, limited liquidity may result in wide bid-ask spreads, contribute to significant fluctuations in the market price of the common units and limit the number of investors who are able to buy the common units.

The market price of our common units may decline and be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including among others:

our quarterly distributions, if any;

our quarterly distributions, if any;

our quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in our industry;

our quarterly or annual earnings or those of other companies in our industry;

the loss of a large customer;

the loss of a large customer;

announcements by our customers or others regarding our customers or changes in our customers’ credit ratings, liquidity position, leverage profile and/or other financial or credit-related metrics;

announcements by our customers or others regarding our customers or changes in our customers’ credit ratings, liquidity position, leverage profile and/or other financial or credit-related metrics;

announcements by our competitors of significant contracts or acquisitions;

announcements by our competitors of significant contracts or acquisitions;

changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles;

changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles;

general economic and geopolitical conditions;

general economic and geopolitical conditions;

the failure of securities analysts to cover our common units or changes in financial estimates by analysts; and

the failure of securities analysts to cover our common units or changes in financial estimates by analysts; and

other factors described in these Risk Factors.

other factors described in these Risk Factors.
Our Partnership Agreement replaces our General Partner’s fiduciary duties to unitholders and those of our officers and directors with contractual standards governing their duties.

Our Partnership Agreement contains provisions that eliminate fiduciary duties to which our General Partner and its officers and directors would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty law and replaces those duties with several different contractual standards.

By purchasing a common unit, a common unitholder agrees to become bound by the provisions in the Partnership Agreement, including the provisions discussed above.

Our Partnership Agreement limits the liabilities of our General Partner and its officers and directors and the rights of our unitholders with respect to actions taken by our General Partner and its officers and directors that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.

Our Partnership Agreement contains provisions that limit the liability of our General Partner and the rights of our unitholders with respect to actions taken by our General Partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty under state fiduciary duty law. For example, our Partnership Agreement provides that:

whenever our General Partner makes a determination or takes, or declines to take, any other action in its capacity as our General Partner, our General Partner is required to make such determination, or take or decline to take such other action, in good faith, meaning that it subjectively believed that the decision was in our best interests, and will not be subject to any other or different standard imposed by our Partnership Agreement, Delaware law, or any other law, rule or regulation, or at equity;

whenever our General Partner makes a determination or takes, or declines to take, any other action in its capacity as our General Partner, our General Partner is required to make such determination, or take or decline to take such other action, in good faith, meaning that it subjectively believed that the decision was in our best interests, and those determinations and actions will not be subject to any other or different standard imposed by our Partnership Agreement, Delaware law, or any other law, rule or regulation, or at equity;

our General Partner will not have any liability to us or our unitholders for decisions made in its capacity as a General Partner so long as such decisions are made in good faith;

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our General Partner will not have any liability to us or our unitholders for decisions made in its capacity as a General Partner so long as such decisions are made in good faith;
our General Partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us, our limited partners or their assignees resulting from any act or omission unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our General Partner or its officers and directors, as the case may be, acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the conduct was criminal; and
our General Partner will not be in breach of its obligations under the Partnership Agreement or its duties to us or our unitholders if a transaction with an affiliate or the resolution of a conflict of interest is:
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our General Partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us, our limited partners or their assignees resulting from any act or omission unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that our General Partner or its officers and directors, as the case may be, acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct or, in the case of a criminal matter, acted with knowledge that the conduct was criminal; and

i.approved by the Conflicts Committee, if established, although our General Partner is not obligated to seek such approval;

our General Partner will not be in breach of its obligations under the Partnership Agreement or its duties to us or our unitholders if a transaction with an affiliate or the resolution of a conflict of interest is:

i.ii.approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by our General Partner and its affiliates;

approved by the Conflicts Committee, although our General Partner is not obligated to seek such approval;

ii.iii.on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or

approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by our General Partner and its affiliates;

iii.iv.fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships among the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us.

on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties; or

iv.

fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships among the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us.

In connection with a situation involving a transaction with an affiliate or a conflict of interest, any determination by our General Partner or the Conflicts Committee must be made in good faith. If an affiliate transaction or the resolution of a conflict of interest is not approved by our common unitholders or the Conflicts Committee and the Board of Directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the affiliate transaction or conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the final two subclauses above, then it will be presumed that, in making its decision, the Board of Directors acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of any limited partner or the partnership, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption.

Our Partnership Agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of our common units.

Unitholders' voting rights are further restricted by a provision of our Partnership Agreement providing that any person or group that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding cannot vote on any matter, other than our General Partner, its affiliates, their transferees and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the Board of Directors.

We may issue additional units without unitholder approval, which would dilute existing ownership interests.

Except in the case of the issuance of units that rank equal to or senior to the Series A Preferred Units, our Partnership Agreement does not limit the number of additional limited partner interests, including limited partner interests that rank senior to the common units that we may issue at any time without the approval of our unitholders.

We may issue additional

As of December 31, 2022, we have outstanding Series A Preferred Units and anyhaving an issue price of less than $100.0 million. As a result, under our Partnership Agreement, we may now issue additional securities in parity with the Series A Preferred Units without any vote of the holders of the Series A Preferred Units (except where the cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Units or any parity securities are in arrears and in certain other circumstances)arrears) and without the approval of holders of our common unitholders.

units.

The issuance by us of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank will decrease our existing unitholders' proportionate ownership interest in us. In addition, the issuance by us of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank may have the following effects:

decreasing the amount of cash available for distribution on each unit;

decreasing the amount of cash available for distribution on each unit;

increasing the ratio of taxable income to distributions;

increasing the ratio of taxable income to distributions;

diminishing the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit; and

diminishing the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit; and

causing the market price of the common units to decline.

causing the market price of the common units to decline.
Future issuances and sales of parity securities, or the perception that such issuances and sales could occur, may cause prevailing market prices for our common units and the Series A Preferred Units to decline and may adversely affect our ability to raise additional capital in the financial markets at times and prices favorable to us.

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Furthermore, the payment of distributions on any additional units may increase the risk that we will not be able to make distributions at our prior per unit distribution levels. ToAlthough we have not made a distribution on our common units or Series A Preferred Units since we announced suspension of those distributions on May 3, 2020 and do not expect to pay distributions on the common units or Series A Preferred Units in the foreseeable future, to the extent new units are senior to our common units, including units issued to third parties at a subsidiary level, their issuance will increase the uncertainty of the payment of distributions on our common units.

Holders of Series A Preferred Units have limited voting rights, which may be diluted.

Although holders of the Series A Preferred Units are entitled to limited voting rights with respect to certain matters, the Series A Preferred Units generally vote separately as a class along with any other series of our parity securities that we may issue upon whichwith like voting rights that have been conferred and are exercisable. As a result, the voting rights of holders of Series A Preferred Units may be significantly diluted, and the holders of such other series of parity securities that we may issue may be able to control or significantly influence the outcome of any vote.

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Our General Partner has a limited call right that may require an investor to sell its units at an undesirable time or price.

If at any time our General Partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of our outstanding common units, our General Partner will have the right, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price that is not less than their then-current market price, as calculated pursuant to the terms of our Partnership Agreement. As a result, an investor may be required to sell its common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return on its investment. An investor may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of its units.

The Partnership Agreement does not require our General Partner to obtain a fairness opinion regarding the value of the common units to be repurchased by it upon exercise of the limited call right. There is no restriction in our Partnership Agreement that prevents our General Partner from causing us to issue additional common units and then exercising its call right. If our General Partner exercised its limited call right, the effect would be to take us private and, if the units were subsequently deregistered, we would no longer be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.

An investor's liability may not be limited if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of our business.

A General Partner of a partnership generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership, except for those contractual obligations of the partnership that are expressly made without recourse to the General Partner. Our partnership is organized under Delaware law, and we conduct business in a number of other states. The limitations on the liability of holders of limited partner interests for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in some of the other states in which we do business. An investor could be liable for any and all of our obligations as if it was a General Partner if a court or government agency were to determine that:

we were conducting business in a state but had not complied with that particular state's partnership statute; or

we were conducting business in a state but had not complied with that particular state's partnership statute; or

an investor's right to act with other unitholders to remove or replace our General Partner, to approve some amendments to our Partnership Agreement or to take other actions under our Partnership Agreement constitute control of our business.

an investor's right to act with other unitholders to remove or replace our General Partner, to approve some amendments to our Partnership Agreement or to take other actions under our Partnership Agreement constitute control of our business.
Our Partnership Agreement designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our unitholders, which limits our unitholders’ ability to choose the judicial forum for disputes with us or our General Partner’s directors, officers or other employees.

Our Partnership Agreement provides that, with certain limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for any claims, suits, actions or proceedings (1) arising out of or relating in any way to our Partnership Agreement (including any claims, suits or actions to interpret, apply or enforce the provisions of our Partnership Agreement or the duties, obligations or liabilities among our partners, or obligations or liabilities of our partners to us, or the rights or powers of, or restrictions on, our partners or us), (2) brought in a derivative manner on our behalf, (3) asserting a claim of breach of a duty (including a fiduciary duty) owed by any of our, or our General Partner’s, directors, officers, or other employees, or owed by our General Partner, to us or our partners, (4) asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act or (5) asserting a claim against us governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in our common units is deemed to have received notice of and consented to the foregoing provisions. This exclusive forum provision does not apply to a cause of action brought under federal or state securities laws. Although management believes this choice of forum provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us and our General Partner’s directors and officers. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ certificates of incorporation or similar governing documents has been challenged in legal proceedings and it is possible that in connection with any action a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our Partnership Agreement to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action. If a court were to find this choice of forum provision inapplicable

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to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.

Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions that were wrongfully distributed to them.

Under certain circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under Delaware law, we may not make a distribution if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Delaware law provides that for a period of three years from the date of an impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Substituted limited partners are liable both for the obligations of the assignor to make contributions to the partnership that were known to the substituted limited partner at the time it became a limited partner and for those obligations that were unknown if the liabilities could have been determined from the Partnership Agreement. Neither liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest nor liabilities that are non-recourse to the partnership are counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.

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If an investor is not an eligible holder, it may not receive distributions or allocations of income or loss on those common units and those common units will be subject to redemption.

We have adopted certain requirements regarding those investors who may own our common units and Series A Preferred Units. Eligible holders are U.S. individuals or entities subject to U.S. federal income taxation on the income generated by us or entities not subject to U.S. federal income taxation on the income generated by us, so long as all of the entity's owners are U.S. individuals or entities subject to such taxation. If an investor is not an eligible holder, our General Partner may elect not to make distributions or allocate income or loss on that investor's units, and it runs the risk of having its units redeemed by us at the lower of purchase price cost or the then-current market price. The redemption price may be paid in cash or by delivery of a promissory note, as determined by our General Partner.

Our Series A Preferred Units and Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units have rights, preferences and privileges that are not held by, and are preferential to the rights of, holders of our common units.

The Series A Preferred Units rank senior to our common units with respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation. These preferences could adversely affect the market price for our common units or could make it more difficult for us to sell our common units in the future.

In addition, (i) prior to December 15, 2022, distributions on the Series A Preferred Units accumulateaccumulated and arewere cumulative at the rate of 9.50% per annum of $1,000, the liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred Units and (ii) on and after December 15, 2022, distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of $1,000 equal to the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 7.43%. On May 3, 2020, we announced the suspension of distributions payable on both our common units and our Series A Preferred Units. We didhave not makemade a distribution on our common units with respect to any quarter in 2020, nor did we make a distribution on ouror Series A Preferred Units since we announced suspension of those distributions on June 15,May 3, 2020 and do not expect to pay distributions on the common units or December 15, 2020. Series A Preferred Units in the foreseeable future. As of December 31, 2020,2022, the amount of accrued and unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units was $15.8$21.5 million. Unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will continue to accrue.

In addition, our Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units issued by Permian Holdco have priority over the common unitholders with respect to the cash flow from Permian Holdco. The distribution rate of the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units is 7.00% per annum of the $1,000 issue amount per outstanding Subsidiary Series A Preferred Unit. Permian Holdco has the option to pay this distribution in-kind until the earlierfirst quarter of June 30, 2022, orwhich is the first full quarter following the date the Double E pipeline isPipeline was placed in service.

The Partnership elected to pay distributions in-kind during 2022, 2021 and 2020, except for the periods ended September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022 in which it made cash distributions.

Our obligation to pay distributions on our Series A Preferred Units and Permian Holdco’s obligation to pay the distributions on the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units could impact our liquidity and reduce the amount of cash flow available for working capital, capital expenditures, growth opportunities, acquisitions, and other general partnership purposes. Our obligations to the holders of the Series A Preferred Units and Permian Holdco’s obligations to the holders of the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units could also limit our ability to obtain additional financing or increase our borrowing costs, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition.

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Our Series A Preferred Units contain covenants that may limit our business flexibility.

Our Series A Preferred Units contain covenants preventing us from taking certain actions without the approval of the holders of 66 2/3% of the Series A Preferred Units. The need to obtain the approval of holders of the Series A Preferred Units before taking these actions could impede our ability to take certain actions that management or the Board of Directors may consider to be in the best interests of our unitholders. The affirmative vote of 66 2/3% of the outstanding Series A Preferred Units, voting as a single class, is necessary to amend the Partnership Agreement in any manner that would have a material adverse effect on the existing preferences, rights, powers, duties or obligations of the Series A Preferred Units. The affirmative vote of 66 2/3% of the outstanding Series A Preferred Units and any outstanding series of other preferred units, voting as a single class, is necessary to (A) under certain circumstances, create or issue certain equity securities that are senior to our common units, (B) declare or pay any distribution to common unitholders out of capital surplus or (C) take any action that would result in an event of default for failure to comply with any covenant in the indentures governing the 5.5%2025 Senior Notes or the 2025 Senior2026 Secured Notes co-issued by Summit Holdings and its 100% owned finance subsidiary, Finance Corp.

Although holders of the Series A Preferred Units are entitled to limited voting rights with respect to certain matters, the Series A Preferred Units generally vote as a class, separate from our common unitholders, along with any other series of our parity securities that we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable.

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Tax Risks

Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. If the IRS were to treat us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, which would subject us to entity-level taxation, then our cash available for distribution to our unitholders would be substantially reduced.

The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in our units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

Despite the fact that we are a limited partnership under Delaware law, it is possible in certain circumstances for a partnership such as ours to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. A change in our business or a change in current law could cause us to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to taxation as an entity.

If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently 21%, and would likely pay state and local income tax at varying rates. Distributions to our unitholders would generally be taxed again as corporate dividends (to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits), and no income, gains, losses, deductions, or credits would flow through to our unitholders. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for distribution would be substantially reduced. Therefore, if we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, there would be material reductions in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to our unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our units. This could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and ability to make distributions to our unitholders.

If we were subjected to a material amount of additional entity-level taxation by individual states, it would reduce our cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

Changes in current state law may subject us to additional entity-level taxation by individual states. Because of widespread state budget deficits and other reasons, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise and other forms of taxation. Imposition of any such taxes may substantially reduce the cash available for distribution.

The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes and differing interpretations of applicable law, possibly on a retroactive basis.

The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial changes or differing interpretations at any time. From time to time, the President and members of the U.S. Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships.

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partnerships, including proposals that would eliminate our ability to quality for partnership tax treatment.

Any modification to the U.S. federal income tax laws and interpretations could make it more difficult or impossible to meet the exception for us to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We are unable to predict whether any such changes will ultimately be enacted, but it is possible that a change in law could affect us and may, if enacted, be applied retroactively. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.

Our unitholders are required to pay income taxes on their share of our taxable income even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us. A unitholder’s share of our taxable income, and its relationship to any distributions we make, may be affected by a variety of factors, including our economic performance, transactions in which we engage or changes in law and may be substantially different from any estimate we make in connection with a unit offering.

A unitholder’s allocable share of our taxable income will be taxable to it, which may require the unitholder to pay federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes, even if the unitholder receives cash distributions from us that are less than the actual tax liability that results from that income or no cash distributions at all.

A unitholder’s share of our taxable income, and its relationship to any distributions we make, may be affected by a variety of factors, including our economic performance, which may be affected by numerous business, economic, regulatory, legislative, competitive and political uncertainties beyond our control, and certain transactions in which we might engage. For example, we may engage in transactions that produce substantial taxable income allocations to some or all of our unitholders without a corresponding increase in cash distributions to our unitholders, such as a sale or exchange of assets, the proceeds of which are reinvested in our business or used to reduce our debt, or an actual or deemed satisfaction of our indebtedness for an amount less than the adjusted issue price of the debt. A unitholder’s ratio of its share of taxable income to the cash received by it may also be affected by changes in law. For instance under Tax Reform Legislation, the net interest expense deductions of certain business entities, including us, are limited to 30% of such entity’s “adjusted taxable income,” which is generally taxable income with certain modifications. If the limit applies, a unitholder’s taxable income allocations will be more (or its net loss allocations will be less) than would have been the case absent the limitation.

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From time to time, in connection with an offering of our common units, we may state an estimate of the ratio of federal taxable income to cash distributions that a purchaser of common units in that offering may receive in a given period. These estimates depend in part on factors that are unique to the offering with respect to which the estimate is stated, so the expected ratio applicable to other common units will be different, and in many cases less favorable, than these estimates. Moreover, even in the case of common units purchased in the offering to which the estimate relates, the estimate may be incorrect, due to the uncertainties described above, challenges by the IRS to tax reporting positions which we adopt, or other factors. The actual ratio of taxable income to cash distributions could be higher or lower than expected, and any differences could be material and could materially affect the value of the common units.

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We have

In 2020, we engaged in recent transactions that generated substantial COD income on a per unit basis relative to the trading price of our common units. We may engage in other transactions that result in substantial COD income or other gains in the future, and such events may cause a unitholder to be allocated income with respect to our units with no corresponding distribution of cash to fund the payment of the resulting tax liability to the unitholder.

A unitholder’s share of our taxable income will include any COD income recognized upon the satisfaction of our outstanding indebtedness for total consideration less than the adjusted issue price (and any accrued but unpaid interest) of such indebtedness. In 2020, we engaged in various liability management transactions that resulted in substantial COD income. We may engage in other transactions that result in substantial COD income or other gains, such as gains upon assets sales, in the future. Depending upon the net amount of other items related to our loss (or income) allocable to a unitholder, any COD income or other gains may cause a unitholder to be allocated income with respect to our units with no corresponding distribution of cash to fund the payment of the resulting tax liability to the unitholder. Furthermore, such COD income event or other gain event may not be fully offset, either now or in the future, by capital losses, which are subject to significant limitations, or other losses. Accordingly, a COD income event or other gain event could cause a unitholder to realize taxable income without corresponding future economic benefits or offsetting tax deductions.

If the IRS contests the federal income tax positions we take, the market for our units may be adversely impacted and the cost of any IRS contest would likely reduce our cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the conclusions of our counsel expressed in a prospectus or from the positions we take, and the IRS's positions may ultimately be sustained. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of our counsel’s conclusions or the positions we take and such positions may not ultimately be sustained. A court may not agree with some or all of our counsel’s conclusions or the positions we take. Any contest with the IRS, and the outcome of any IRS contest, may have a materially adverse effect on the market for our units and the price at which they trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS would be borne indirectly by our unitholders because the costs would likely reduce our cash available for distribution.

Unitholders may be subject to limitation on their ability to deduct interest expense incurred by us.

In general, we are entitled to a deduction for interest paid or accrued on indebtedness properly allocable to our trade or business during our taxable year. However, under the Tax Reform Legislation, our deduction for “business interest” is limited to the sum of our business interest income and 30% of our “adjusted taxable income.” For purposes of this limitation, our adjusted taxable income is computed without regard to any business interest expense or business interest income, and inincome. In the case of taxable years beginning before January 1, 2022, our adjusted taxable income is computed by taking into account any deduction allowable for depreciation, amortization, or depletion. For our 2020 taxable year, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act increases the 30% adjusted taxable income limitation to 50%, unless we elect not to apply such increase, and for purposes of determining our 50% adjusted taxable income limitation, we may elect to substitute our 2020 adjusted taxable income with our 2019 adjusted taxable income.

Tax gain or loss on the disposition of our units could be more or less than expected.

If a unitholder sells its units, a gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax purposes equal to the difference between the amount realized and the unitholder's tax basis in those units. Because distributions in excess of a unitholder's allocable share of its net taxable income decrease its tax basis in its units, the amount, if any, of such prior excess distributions with respect to the units it sells will, in effect, become taxable income to the unitholder if it sells such units at a price greater than its tax basis in those units, even if the price it receives is less than its original cost. Furthermore, a substantial portion of the amount realized on any sale or other disposition of a unitholder's units, whether or not representing gain, may be taxed as ordinary income due to potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. In addition, because the amount realized includes a unitholder's share of our nonrecourse liabilities, if a unitholder sells its units, it may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash it receives from the sale.

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Tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons face unique tax issues from owning our units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.

Investment in our units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to an organization that is exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income
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(“UBTI”) and will be taxable to the exempt organization as UBTI on the exempt organization’s tax return in the year the exempt organization is allocated the income. Under the Tax Reform Legislation, anAn exempt organization is required to independently compute its UBTI from each separate unrelated trade or business which may prevent an exempt organization from utilizing losses we allocate to the organization against the organization’s UBTI from other sources and vice versa. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes at the highest applicable effective tax rate, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file federal income tax returns and applicable state tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income.

Under

Non-U.S. unitholders are generally taxed and subject to income tax filing requirements by the Tax Reform Legislation,United States on income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Income allocated to our unitholders and any gain from the sale of our units will generally be considered to be “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business. As a result, distributions to a non-U.S. unitholder will be subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate and a non-U.S. unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will also be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit.
In addition to the withholding tax imposed on distributions of effectively connected income, distributions to a non-U.S. unitholder will also be subject to a 10% withholding tax on the amount of any distribution in excess of our cumulative net income. As we do not compute our cumulative net income for such purposes due to the complexity of the calculation and lack of clarity in how it would apply to us, we intend to treat all of our distributions as being in excess of our cumulative net income for such purposes and subject to such 10% withholding tax. Accordingly, distributions to a non-U.S. unitholder will be subject to a combined withholding tax rate equal to the sum of the highest applicable effective tax rate and 10%.
Additionally, if a unitholder sells or otherwise disposes of a unit, the transferee is required to withhold 10.0% of the amount realized by the transferor unless the transferor certifies that it is not a foreign person, and we are required to deduct and withhold from the transferee amounts that should have been withheld by the transferee but were not withheld. However,Under the U.S. Treasury and the IRS have suspended these rules for transfers of certain publicly traded partnership interests, including transfers of our common units, that occur before January 1, 2022. Under recently finalized Treasury Regulations, such withholding will be required on open market transactions, but in the case of a transfer made through a broker, a partner’s share of liabilities will be excluded from the amount realized. In addition, the obligation to withhold will be imposed on the broker instead of the transferee (and we will generally not be required to withhold from the transferee amounts that should have been withheld by the transferee but were not withheld). These withholding obligations will apply to transfers of our common units occurring on or after January 1, 2022.

2023. Current and prospective non-U.S. unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the impact of these rules on an investment in our common units.

We treat each holder of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the actual common units held. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the common units.

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units and because of other reasons, we will adopt depreciation and amortization positions that may not conform to all aspects of existing Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to our unitholders. A successful IRS challenge also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from a unitholder’s sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit adjustments to the unitholder’s tax returns.

Treatment of distributions on our Series A Preferred Units as guaranteed payments for the use of capital creates a different tax treatment for the holders of our Series A Preferred Units than the holders of our common units and such distributions are not eligible for the 20% deduction for qualified publicly traded partnership income.

The tax treatment of distributions on our Series A Preferred Units is uncertain. We will treat the holders of Series A Preferred Units as partners for tax purposes and will treat distributions on the Series A Preferred Units as guaranteed payments for the use of capital that will generally be taxable to the holders of Series A Preferred Units as ordinary income. Although aA holder of Series A Preferred Units couldmay recognize taxable income from the accrual of such a guaranteed payment even in the absence of a contemporaneous distribution, and we anticipate accruing and making the guaranteed payment distributions semi-annually on the 15th day of June and December through December 15, 2022, and quarterly on the 15th day of March, June, September and December thereafter.December. Because the guaranteed payment for each unit must accrue as income to a holder during the taxable year of the accrual, the guaranteed payment attributable to the period beginning December 15th and ending December 31st will accrue to the holder of record of a Series A Preferred Unit on December 31st for such period. Otherwise, except in the case of our liquidation, the holders of Series A Preferred Units are generally not anticipated to share in our items of income, gain, loss or deduction. We will not allocate any share of its nonrecourse liabilities to the holders of Series A Preferred Units.

Treasury Regulations provide that a guaranteed payment for the use of capital generally is not taken into account for purposes of computing qualified business income for purposes of the 20% deduction for qualified publicly traded partnership will not constitute an allocable or distributive share of such income. As a result, the guaranteed payment for use of capital received by holders of our Series A Preferred Units may not be eligible for the 20% deduction for qualified publicly traded partnership income.

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A holder of Series A Preferred Units will be required to recognize gain or loss on a sale of units equal to the difference between the holder’s amount realized and tax basis in the units sold. The amount realized generally will equal the sum of the cash and the fair market value of other property such holder receives in exchange for such Series A Preferred Units. Subject to general rules requiring a blended basis among multiple partnership interests, the tax basis of a Series A Preferred Unit will generally be equal to the sum of the cash and the fair market value of other property paid by the holder to acquire such Series A Preferred Unit. Gain or loss recognized by a holder on the sale or exchange of a Series A Preferred Unit held for more than one year generally will be taxable as long-term capital gain or loss. Because holders of Series A Preferred Units will not generally be allocated a share of our items of depreciation, depletion or amortization, it is not anticipated that such holders would be required to recharacterize any portion of their gain as ordinary income as a result of the recapture rules.

Investment in the Series A Preferred Units by tax-exempt investors, such as employee benefit plans and IRAs, and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. Although the issue is not free from doubt, we will treat distributions to non-U.S. holders of the Series A Preferred Units as “effectively connected income” (which will subject holders to U.S. net income taxation and possibly the branch profits tax) that are subject to withholding taxes imposed at the highest effective tax rate applicable to such non-U.S. holders. If the amount of withholding exceeds the amount of U.S. federal income tax actually due, non-U.S. holders may be required to file U.S. federal income tax returns in order to seek a refund of such excess. The treatment of guaranteed payments for the use of capital to tax-exempt investors is not certain and such payments may be treated as unrelated business taxable income for federal income tax purposes.

All holders of our Series A Preferred Units are urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to the consequences of owning our Series A Preferred Units.

We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction for U.S, federal income tax purposes between transferors and transferees of our units each month based upon the ownership of our units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular unit is transferred. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.

We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction for U.S. federal income tax purposes between transferors and transferees of our units each month based upon the ownership of our units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular unit is transferred. Treasury Regulations allow a similar monthly simplifying convention, but do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. If the IRS were to challenge our proration method, or if new Treasury Regulations were issued, we may be required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.

A unitholder whose units are loaned to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of units may be considered as having disposed of those units. If so, the unitholder would no longer be treated for federal income tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition.

Because a unitholder whose units are loaned to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of units may be considered as having disposed of the loaned units, the unitholder may no longer be treated for federal income tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan to the short seller and the unitholder may recognize gain or loss from such disposition. Moreover, during the period of the loan to the short seller, any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units may not be reportable by the unitholder and any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units could be fully taxable as ordinary income. Therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to consult a tax advisor to discuss whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from loaning their units.

We have adopted certain valuation methodologies and monthly conventions for U.S. federal income tax purposes that may result in a shift of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our units.

When we issue additional units or engage in certain other transactions, we will determine the fair market value of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we make many fair market value estimates using a methodology based on the market value of our units as a means to measure the fair market value of our assets. The IRS may challenge these valuation methods and the resulting allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction.

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A successful IRS challenge to these methods or allocations could adversely affect the amount, character and timing of taxable income or loss being allocated to our unitholders. It also could affect the amount of taxable gain from our unitholders' sale of units and could have a negative impact on the value of the units or result in audit adjustments to our unitholders' tax returns without the benefit of additional deductions.

If the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns, the IRS (and some states) may collect any resulting taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from us, in which case
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we may require our unitholders and former unitholders to reimburse us for such taxes (including any applicable penalties or interest) or, if we are required to bear such payment, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders could be substantially reduced.

If the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns, it may collect any resulting taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) directly from us. We will generally have the ability to shift any such tax liability to our unitholders in accordance with their interests in us during the year under audit, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so (and will choose to do so) under all circumstances, or that we will be able to (or choose to) effect corresponding shifts in state income or similar tax liability resulting from the IRS adjustment in states in which we do business in the year under audit or in the adjustment year. If, we make payments of taxes, penalties and interest resulting from audit adjustments, we may require our unitholders and former unitholders to reimburse us for such taxes (including any applicable penalties or interest) or, if we are required to bear such payment, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders could be substantially reduced. Additionally, we may be required to allocate an adjustment disproportionately among our unitholders, causing the publicly traded units to have different capital accounts, unless the IRS issues further guidance.

In the event the IRS makes an audit adjustment to our income tax returns and we do not or cannot shift the liability to our unitholders in accordance with their interests in us during the year under audit, we will generally have the ability to request that the IRS reduce the determined underpayment by reducing the suspended passive loss carryovers of our unitholders (without any compensation from us to such unitholders), to the extent such underpayment is attributable to a net decrease in passive activity losses allocable to certain partners. Such reduction, if approved by the IRS, will be binding on any affected unitholders.

As a result of investing in our units, our unitholders will likely be subject to state and local taxes and return filing requirements in jurisdictions where we operate or own or acquire properties.

In addition to federal income taxes, our unitholders will likely be subject to other taxes, including state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or control property now or in the future, even if the unitholders do not live in any of those jurisdictions. Our unitholders will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of these various jurisdictions. Further, our unitholders may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. Some of the states in which we conduct business currently impose a personal income tax on individuals. As we make acquisitions or expand our business, we may control assets or conduct business in additional states that impose a personal income tax. It is the unitholder's responsibility to file all federal, state and local tax returns.

Compliance with and changes in tax laws could adversely affect our performance.

We are subject to extensive tax laws and regulations, including federal and state income taxes and transactional taxes such as excise, sales/use, payroll, franchise and ad valorem taxes. New tax laws and regulations and changes in existing tax laws and regulations are continuously being enacted that could result in increased tax expenditures in the future. Many of these tax liabilities are subject to audits by the respective taxing authority. These audits may result in additional taxes as well as interest and penalties.

Risks Related to Terrorism and Cyberterrorism

Terrorist attacks and threats, escalation of military activity in response to these attacks or acts of war could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Terrorist attacks and threats, escalation of military activity or acts of war may have significant effects on general economic conditions, fluctuations in consumer confidence and spending and market liquidity, each of which could materially and adversely affect our business. Future terrorist attacks, rumors or threats of war, actual conflicts involving the United States or its allies, or

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military or trade disruptions may significantly affect our operations and those of our customers. Strategic targets, such as energy-related assets, may be at greater risk of future attacks than other targets in the United States. Disruption or significant increases in energy prices could result in government-imposed price controls. It is possible that any of these occurrences, or a combination of them, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Our insurance may not protect us against such occurrences.

Our operations depend on the use of information technology (“IT”) and operational technology (“OT”) systems that could be the target of a cyberattack.

The oil and gas industry has become increasingly dependent on digital technologies to conduct day-to-day operations, including certain midstream activities. For example, software programs are used to manage gathering and transportation systems and for compliance reporting. The use of mobile communication devices has increased rapidly. Industrial control systems now control large scale processes that can include multiple sites andover long distances, such as oil and gas pipelines.

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Our operations depend on the use of sophisticated IT and OT systems. Our ITThese systems, and networks, as well as those of our customers, vendorsbusiness partners and counterparties, may become the target of cyber-attacks or information security breaches, which in turn could result in the unauthorized release and misuse of sensitivebreaches. Any such cyber-attacks or proprietary information as well as disrupt our operations, damage our reputation or damage our facilities or those of third parties, whichsecurity breaches could have a material adverse effect on our revenues and increase our operating and capital costs whichand could reduce the amount of cash otherwise available for distribution. In addition, certain cyber-incidents, such as surveillance, may remain undetected for an extended period. We may be required to incur additional costs to modify or enhance our IT systems or to prevent or remediate any such attacks.

A cyber-incident involving our IT or OT systems, and related infrastructure, or that of our customers, venders andbusiness partners or counterparties, could disrupt our business plans and negatively impact our operations in the following ways, among others:

a cyber-attack on a vendor or service provider could result in supply chain disruptions, which could delay or halt development of additional infrastructure, effectively delaying the start of cash flows from the project;

a cyber-attack on a vendor or service provider could result in supply chain disruptions, which could delay or halt development of additional infrastructure, effectively delaying the start of cash flows from the project;

a cyber-attack on downstream pipelines could prevent us from delivering product at the tailgate of our facilities, resulting in a loss of revenues;

a cyber-attack on a communications network or power grid could cause operational disruption,a cyber-attack on downstream pipelines could prevent us from delivering product at the tailgate of our facilities, resulting in a loss of revenues;

a cyber-attack on a communications network or power grid could cause operational disruption, resulting in loss of revenues;

a deliberate corruption of our financial or operational data could result in events of non-compliance, which could lead to regulatory fines or penalties; and

a deliberate corruption of our financial or operational data could result in events of non-compliance, which could lead to regulatory fines or penalties; and

business interruptions could result in expensive remediation efforts, distraction of management, damage to our reputation or a negative impact on the price of our units.

business interruptions could result in expensive remediation efforts, distraction of management, damage to our reputation or a negative impact on the price of our units.
Cyber-incidents and related business interruptions could result in expensive remediation efforts, distraction of management, damage to our reputation or a negative impact on the price of our units. In addition, certain cyberattacks and related incidents, such as reconnaissance or surveillance by threat actors, may remain undetected for an extended period notwithstanding our monitoring and detection efforts. As a result, we may be required to incur additional costs to modify or enhance our IT or OT systems to prevent or remediate any such attacks. Finally, laws and regulations governing cybersecurity pose increasingly complex compliance challenges, and failure to comply with these laws could result in penalties and legal liability.





















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Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

Not applicable.

Item 2. Properties.

A description of our properties is included in Item 1. Business, and is incorporated herein by reference. For additional information on our midstream assets and their capacities, see Item 1. Business.

Our real property falls into two categories: (i) parcels that we own in fee and (ii) parcels in which our interest derives from leases, easements, rights-of-way, permits or licenses from landowners or governmental authorities, permitting the use of such land for our operations. Portions of the land on which our gathering systems and other major facilities are located are owned by us in fee title, and we believe that we have valid title to these lands. The remainder of the land on which our major facilities are located are held by us pursuant to long-term leases or easements between us and the underlying fee owner or permits with governmental authorities. We believe that we have valid leasehold estates or fee ownership in such lands or valid permits with governmental authorities. We have no knowledge of any material challenge to the underlying fee title of any material lease, easement, right-of-way, permit or license held by us or to our title to any material lease, easement, right-of-way, permit or license. We believe that we have satisfactory title to all of our material leases, easements, rights-of-way, permits and licenses with the

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exception of certain ordinary course encumbrances and permits with governmental entities that have been applied for, but not yet issued.

In addition, we lease various office space under leases to support our operations.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

Although we may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business, we are not currently a party to any significant legal or governmental proceedings, except as noted below. In addition, we are not aware of any significant legal or governmental proceeding contemplated to be brought against us, under the various environmental protection statutes to which we are subject, except as noted below.

Beginning

Fiberspar Corporation. On May 3, 2022, Fiberspar Corporation filed a petition in 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued grand jury subpoenas to Summit Investments,state court alleging that the Partnership our General Partnerowes Fiberspar $5.0 million or more for orders of pipeline product from Fiberspar. The petition asserts causes of action for breach of contract and Meadowlark Midstream requesting certain materials relatedsuit on sworn account. A civil action on the same claims had been filed by Fiberspar in 2016 but was dismissed without prejudice pursuant to a standstill and tolling agreement that expired in 2021. We filed an incident involvinganswer on September 6, 2022 denying Fiberspar’s claims and asserting counter claims. The case is pending in the District Court of Harris County, Texas. We are unable to predict the final outcome of this matter.
Global Settlement. On August 4, 2021, the Partnership and several of its subsidiaries entered into agreements to resolve government investigations into the previously disclosed 2015 Blacktail Release, from a produced water disposal pipeline owned and operated by Meadowlark Midstream, that resulted inwhich at the time was a dischargewholly owned subsidiary of materialsSummit Investments, (together with Meadowlark Midstream, the “Companies”). The Companies entered into the environment (“Meadowlark Rupture”). On June 19, 2015, Meadowlark Midstreamfollowing agreements to resolve the U.S. federal and Summit Investments received a complaint from the North Dakota Industrial Commission seeking approximately $2.5 million in fines and other fees relatedstate governments’ environmental claims against the Companies with respect to the incident. This matter is also under investigation by2015 Blacktail Release: (i) a Consent Decree with (a) the DOJ, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Interior, and (b) the State of North Dakota, Officeon behalf of the Attorney General, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. The government’s investigation is still ongoing. During this time,Department, lodged with the Partnership has entered ‎into tolling agreementsU.S. District Court; (ii) a Plea Agreement with both the DOJUnited States, by and through the U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota, and the Environmental Crimes Section of the DOJ; and (iii) a Consent Agreement with the North Dakota attorney general,Industrial Commission.
The Consent Decree provides for, among other requirements and subject to the conditions therein, (i) payment of total civil penalties and reimbursement of assessment costs of $21.25 million, with the federal portion of penalties payable over up to five years and the state portion of penalties payable over up to six years, with interest accruing at a fixed rate of 3.25%; (ii) continuation of remediation efforts at the site of the 2015 Blacktail Release; (iii) other injunctive relief including but not limited to control room management, an environmental management system audit, training, and reporting; and (iv) no admission of liability to the U.S. or North Dakota. The Consent Decree was entered by the U.S. District Court on September 28, 2021.
The Consent Agreement settles a complaint brought by the NDIC in an administrative action against the Companies for alleged violations of the North Dakota Administrative Code (“NDAC”) arising from the 2015 Blacktail Release on the following terms: (i) the Companies admit to three counts of violating the NDAC; (ii) the Companies agree to follow the terms and conditions of the Consent Decree, including payment of penalty and reimbursement amounts set forth in the Consent Decree; and (iii) specified conditions in the Consent Decree regarding operation and testing of certain existing produced water pipelines shall survive until those pipelines are properly abandoned.
Under the Plea Agreement, the Companies agreed to, among other requirements and subject to the conditions therein, (i) enter guilty pleas for one charge of negligent discharge of a harmful quantity of oil and one charge of knowing failure to immediately
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report a discharge of oil; (ii) sentencing that includes payment of a fine of $15.0 million plus mandatory special assessments over a period of up to five years with interest accruing at the federal statutory rate; (iii) organizational probation for a minimum period of three years from sentencing, which ‎were most recently extendedwill include payment in full of certain components of the fines and penalty amounts; and (iv) compliance with the remedial measures in the Consent Decree.
On December 6, 2021, the U.S. District Court accepted the Plea Agreement. This settlement resulted in losses amounting to May 7, 2021. There can be no assurance that these tolling agreements$36.3 million and will be extended. Discussions with the DOJ and other agencies regarding a resolutionpaid over six years, of this matter are ongoing. Liability for this incident could arise under civil and misdemeanor and felony criminal statutes, including under the Clean Water Act. In accordance with GAAP, the Partnership has accrued a $17.0which we have paid $8.0 million loss contingency for this matter as of December 31, 2020. While the Partnership believes a loss for claims and/or actions arising from the Meadowlark Rupture, whether in a negotiated settlement or as a result of litigation, is probable, due to the complexity of resolving the numerous issues surrounding this matter, at this time we cannot reasonably predict whether any actual loss, if incurred, would be materially higher or lower than the accrued amount.

The following additional matters are disclosed pursuant to requirements of Item 103 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K. We do not currently believe that the eventual outcome of such matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. A petition was filed in the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, by Samuel Engineering, Inc. against Meadowlark Midstream and Summit Niobrara. The matter was later transferred to the District Court of Denver County, Colorado, where it is currently pending. The plaintiff was a contractor hired to perform engineering, procurement, and construction services for Summit Niobrara’s gas processing plant located in Weld County, Colorado. The plaintiff is seeking damages for alleged non-payment for such services. Separately, a demand for arbitration was filed in Houston, Texas by 2022.

Moore Control Systems. Moore Control Systems, Inc. against Summit Permian. The claimant(“MCSI”) initiated an arbitration in that matter was a contractor hiredDecember 2020 related to perform engineering, procurement, andthe construction services for Summit Permian’s gas processing plant locatedof Summit’s Lane Gas Processing Plant in Eddy County, New Mexico.Mexico (the “Lane Plant”). MCSI was the EPC contractor on the Lane Plant under a lump sum contract. This matter has been resolved as of the date of this filing with no material impact to the Partnership.
Verdad Resources. Verdad Resources LLC (“Verdad”) filed a complaint in Colorado state court for the district of Weld County against Sterling Energy Investments LLC (“Sterling”), Golden Resources, Inc., and Grasslands Energy Marketing LLC (“Grasslands”) on October 20, 2022, and amended on December 6, 2022 to exclude Golden Resources, Inc. as a defendant. In connection with the 2022 DJ Acquisitions, Sterling and Grasslands became subsidiaries of the Partnership. Verdad claims that Sterling did not have the right to assess marketing fees passed through from Grasslands’ purchase and resale of residue natural gas and natural gas liquids from Sterling. The claimant isrelief requested by Verdad includes an unspecified amount of damages as well as declaratory relief. We are unable to predict the final outcome of this matter.
Highpoint Operating Corporation. Sterling and Highpoint Operating Corporation (“Highpoint”) are parties to a gas gathering agreement (the “Highpoint Agreement”). Sterling sued Highpoint in Colorado state court for the district of Denver County on June 15, 2020, alleging that Highpoint breached the Highpoint Agreement and seeking damages for alleged non-payment for such services.

We previously discloseddamages. Highpoint asserted counterclaims alleging that Sterling breached the Highpoint Agreement. In October 2021, after a legal proceeding initiatedbench trial, the court found against Sterling and in favor of Highpoint’s counterclaims. The court awarded Highpoint $2.4 million in damages. In December 2021, Sterling posted an appeal bond and filed its Notice of Appeal. In February 2022, the DistrictColorado Court of Tarrant County, Texas by Sage Natural Resources, LLC against us and certainAppeals granted Sterling’s Motion to Stay Execution of our affiliates. That legal proceeding was terminated byJudgment. The case remains pending before the court’s dismissalappeals court. We are unable to predict the final outcome of the lawsuit with prejudice.

this matter.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

Not applicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Our limited partner common units ticker symbol “SMLP,” trade on the NYSE.NYSE under the ticker symbol “SMLP”. As of December 31, 2020,2022, there were approximately 8,4897,196 common unitholders, including beneficial owners of common units held in street name.

On January 29, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a distribution of $0.125 per unit (an amount before giving effect to the Reverse Unit Split) for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2019. The distribution, which totaled $11.7 million, was paid on February 14, 2020, prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, to unitholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2020. In May 2020, the Partnership suspended distributions to holders of its common units and its Series A Preferred Units, commencing with respect to the quarter ending March 31, 2020. per our tax records.

We didhave not makemade a distribution on our common units with respect to any quarter in 2020, nor did we make a distribution on ouror Series A Preferred Units since we announced a suspension of those distributions on June 15,May 3, 2020. We paid distributions in-kind on our Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units in 2020, or December 15, 2020.

2021 and portions of 2022, and paid distributions on our Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units totaling $3.3 million in 2022 and accrued an additional $1.6 million in 2022 which was subsequently paid in 2023.

Our Cash Distribution Policy and Restrictions on Distributions

General

Suspension of Distributions. InOn May 3, 2020, the Partnershipwe suspended distributions to holders of itsour common units and suspended payments of distributions to holders of itsour Series A Preferred Units, commencing with respect to the quarter ending March 31, 2020. Because our Series A Preferred Units rank senior to our common units with respect to distribution rights, any accrued amounts on our Series A Preferred Units must first be paid prior to our resumption of distributions to our common unitholders. As of December 31, 2020,2022, the amount of accrued and unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units totaled $15.8$21.5 million. 
At this time, the Partnership is unablewe do not expect to forecast when it will resumepay distributions to holders of itsour common units andor Series A Preferred Units.

Units in the foreseeable future.

Our Cash Distribution Policy. Our Partnership Agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash quarterly, subject to reserves established by our General Partner. Generally, our available cash is our (i) cash on hand at the end of a quarter after the payment of our expenses and the establishment of cash reserves and (ii) cash on hand resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter. Because we are not subject to an entity-level federal income tax, we have more cash to distribute to our unitholders than would be the case were we subject to federal income tax.

Upon a resumption of the Partnership’s distributions on the common units, we will pay our distributions on or about the 15th of each of February, May, August and November to holders of record on or about seven days prior to such distribution date. We make the distribution on the business day immediately preceding the indicated distribution date if the distribution date falls on a holiday or non-business day.

The Board of Directors plans on making decisions with respect to payment of distributions on the common units and Series A Preferred Units on a semi-annual or quarterly basis, as applicable, based on the required payment date. We mayHowever, we do not intend to pay distributions on the common units or Series A Preferred Units in the foreseeable future, and there are restrictions onin the agreements for our ability to pay distributions under our outstanding indebtedness that restrictlimiting our ability to pay cash distributions on any of our equity securities.

Limitations on Cash Distributions and Our Ability to Change Our Cash Distribution Policy. There is no guarantee that our unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us. We do not have a legal obligation to pay any distribution except to the extent we have available cash as defined in our Partnership Agreement. Our cash distribution policy may be changed at any time and is subject to certain restrictions, including the following:

Our cash distribution policy is subject to restrictions on distributions under our ABL Facility and the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture and the indenture governing the 2025 Senior Notes. These agreements contain financial tests, excess cash flow sweep mechanisms, and covenants that we must satisfy. Should we be unable to satisfy these restrictions, we may be prohibited from making cash distributions notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy.

Our cash distribution policy is subject to restrictions on distributions under our Revolving Credit Facility. Our Revolving Credit Facility contains financial tests and covenants that we must satisfy. Should we be unable to satisfy these restrictions, we may be prohibited from making cash distributions notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy.

Our cash distribution policy is subject to restrictions on distributions under our Series A Preferred Units. Our Series A Preferred Units contain covenants that we must satisfy. Should we be unable to satisfy these restrictions, we may be prohibited from making cash distributions notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy.

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Our General Partner has the authority to establish cash reserves for the prudent conduct of our business and for future cash distributions to our unitholders, and the establishment or increase of those cash reserves could result in a reduction in cash distributions to our unitholders from the levels we currently anticipate pursuant to our stated distribution policy. Any determination to establish cash reserves made by our General Partner in good faith will be binding on our unitholders.

Although our Partnership Agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash, our Partnership Agreement, including the provisions requiring us to distribute all of our available cash, may be amended. We can amend our Partnership Agreement with the consent of our General Partner and the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units.

Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our General Partner, taking into consideration the terms of our Partnership Agreement.

Under Delaware law, we may not make a distribution if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets.

We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to cash flow shortfalls attributable to a number of operational, commercial or other factors as well as increases in our operating or general and administrative expenses, principal and interest payments on our debt, tax expenses, working capital requirements and anticipated cash needs. Our cash available for distribution to unitholders is directly impacted by our cash expenses necessary to run our business and will be reduced dollar-for-dollar to the extent such uses of cash increase.

If and to the extent our cash available for distribution materially declines, we may elect to reduce our quarterly distribution rate to service or repay our debt or fund expansion capital expenditures.

Preferred Unit Distributions

Series A Preferred Units

contain covenants that we must satisfy. Should we be unable to satisfy these restrictions, we may be prohibited from making cash distributions notwithstanding our stated cash distribution policy.

Our General Partner has the authority to establish cash reserves for the prudent conduct of our business and for future cash distributions to our unitholders, and the establishment or increase of those cash reserves could result in a reduction in cash distributions to our unitholders from the levels we currently anticipate pursuant to our stated distribution policy. Any determination to establish cash reserves made by our General Partner in good faith will be binding on our unitholders.
Although our Partnership Agreement requires us to distribute all of our available cash, our Partnership Agreement, including the provisions requiring us to distribute all of our available cash, may be amended. We can amend our
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Partnership Agreement with the consent of our General Partner and the approval of a majority of the outstanding common units.
Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions we pay under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our General Partner, taking into consideration the terms of our Partnership Agreement.
Under Delaware law, we may not make a distribution if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets.
We may lack sufficient cash to pay distributions to our unitholders due to cash flow shortfalls attributable to a number of operational, commercial or other factors as well as increases in our operating or general and administrative expenses, principal and interest payments on our debt, tax expenses, working capital requirements and anticipated cash needs. Our cash available for distribution to unitholders is directly impacted by our cash expenses necessary to run our business and will be reduced dollar-for-dollar to the extent such uses of cash increase.
If and to the extent our cash available for distribution materially declines, we may elect to reduce our quarterly distribution rate to service or repay our debt or fund expansion capital expenditures.
Preferred Unit Distributions
Series A Preferred Units
In November 2017, we issued 300,000 Series A Preferred Units at a price to the public of $1,000. During$1,000 per Series A Preferred Unit and as a result of exchange transactions completed in 2020, 2021 and 2022, the year ended December 31, 2020, we exchanged 62,816Partnership had 65,508 Series A Preferred Units for 837,547 SMLP common units and completed a cash tender offer whereby we tendered 75,075 Series A Preferred Units for $25.0 million in cash. Asoutstanding as of December 31, 2020, we have 162,109 Series A Preferred Units outstanding.

31,2022 and $21.5 million of accrued and unpaid distributions.

In May 2020, the Partnershipwe suspended payments of distributions to holders of itsour Series A Preferred Units, and we did not make a distribution on our Series A Preferred Units on June 15, 2020in 2022 or 2021.
During the year ended December 15, 2020.

31, 2021, we completed an offer to exchange our Series A Preferred Units for newly issued common units (the “2021 Preferred Exchange Offer”), whereby we issued 538,715 SMLP common units, net of units withheld for withholding taxes, in exchange for 18,662 Series A Preferred Units.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, we completed an offer to exchange our Series A Preferred Units for newly issued common units (the “2022 Preferred Exchange Offer”), whereby we issued 2,853,875 SMLP common units, net of units withheld for withholding taxes, in exchange for 77,939 Series A Preferred Units.
Distributions on the Series A Preferred Units are cumulative and compounding and arewere payable semi-annually in arrears on the 15th day of each June and December through and including December 15, 2022, and, thereafter,after December 15, 2022, are payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (each, a “Distribution Payment Date”) to holders of record as of the close of business on the first business day of the month of the applicable Distribution Payment Date, in each case, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner out of legally available funds for such purpose.

The initial distribution rate for the Series A Preferred Units iswas 9.50% per annum of the $1,000 liquidation preference per Series A Preferred Unit. On and afterBeginning December 15, 2022, distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the liquidation preference equal to the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 7.43%. See Note 1312 - Partners' Capital and Mezzanine Capital to the consolidated financial statements for additional details.

Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units

In December 2019 and during the year ended December 31, 2020, Permian Holdco issued 30,00030,057 and 55,251 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units, respectively, representing limited partner interests in Permian Holdco at a price of $1,000 per unit. Permian Holdco usedDuring the net proceedsyears ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, we elected to make PIK distributions and issued 1,600 and 6,131 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units, respectively, to the holders of $48.7the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units.
As of December 31, 2022, we had 93,039 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units outstanding and during fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 we made $3.3 million of cash distributions to holders of the Subsidiary A Preferred Units and $27.4accrued an additional $1.6 million respectively, (after deducting offering expenses) to fund capital calls associated with the Double E Project.

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in 2022 which was subsequently paid in 2023Table. Additionally, we paid distributions in-kind on our Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units in 2020, 2021 and portions of Contents2022.

Distributions on the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units are cumulative and compounding and are payable quarterly in arrears 21 days after the quarter ending March, June, September and December of each year (each, a “Subsidiary Series A Preferred Distribution Payment Date”) to holders of record as of the close of business on the first business day of the month of the applicable Subsidiary Series A Preferred Distribution Payment Date, in each case, when, as, and if declared by the board of directors of Permian Holdco out of legally available funds for such purpose.
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The distribution rate is 7.00% per annum of the $1,000 issue amount per outstanding Permian Holdco Subsidiary Series A Preferred Unit. Permian Holdco hashad the option to pay this distribution in-kind until the earlierfirst quarter of June 30, 2022, orwhich is the first full quarter following the date the Double E pipeline isPipeline was placed in service. See Note 1312 - Partners' Capital and Mezzanine Capital to the consolidated financial statements for additional details.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

In July 2020, the PartnershipJanuary 2022, we completed the Preferred Exchange Offer. The2022 Preferred Exchange Offer, expired on July 28, 2020, and on July 31, 2020, the Partnershipwhereby we issued 837,5472,853,875 SMLP common units, net of units withheld for withholding taxes, in exchange for 62,81677,939 Series A Preferred Units. Upon closing the settlement of the 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer, we eliminated $66.5$92.6 million of the Series A Preferred Unit liquidation preference amount, inclusive of accrued distributions due as of the settlement date. The PartnershipWe did not receive any cash proceeds from the 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer.

The Partnership relied on Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act to exempt the 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Section 3(a)(9) offers exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act for exchange offers in which (i) the issuer of the securities offered is the same as the issuer of the securities being surrendered, (ii) the holders are not being asked to surrender anything of value other than the outstanding securities, (iii) the exchange offer is made exclusively to existing holders of the issuer’s outstanding securities, and (iv) the issuer does not pay any commission or remuneration for solicitation of the exchange. Because the Partnership offered only its own common units exclusively to the holders of and in exchange for its outstanding Series A Preferred Units, and because it neither paid nor received anything of value other than the subject securities, the Partnership was able to rely on the exemption afforded by Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

In May 2020,

We made no repurchases of our common units during the Partnership closed the GP Buy-In Transaction whereby the Partnership acquired from its then private equity sponsor, ECP, (i) Summit Investments, which owned the Partnership’s General Partner, and (ii) through its indirect ownership of SMP Holdings, 3,415,646 of its common units. Consideration paid to ECP included a $35.0 million cash payment and warrants to purchase up to 666,667 common units.

Equity Compensation Plans

The information relating to SMLP’s equity compensation plans required by Item 5 is included in Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

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quarter or year ended December 31, 2022.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

MD&A is intended to inform the reader about matters affecting the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership and its subsidiaries. As a result, the following discussion for the year ended December 31, 20202022 should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this Annual Report. Among other things, the consolidated financial statements and the related notes include more detailed information regarding the basis of presentation for the following information. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that constitute our plans, estimates and beliefs. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those discussed in Forward-Looking Statements. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. The discussion of our financial condition and results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 included in Exhibit 99.2, Updated 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K - Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of our Form 8-K dated August 7, 2020, is incorporated by reference into this MD&A.

Overview

We are a value-driven limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States.

We classify our midstream energy infrastructure assets into two categories, our Core Focus Areas and our Legacy Areas. Further details on our Focus Areas and Legacy Areas are summarized below.

Core Focus Areas. Core producing areas of basins in which we expect our gathering systems to experience greater long-term growth, driven by our customers’ ability to generate more favorable returns and support sustained drilling and completion activity in varying commodity price environments. In the near-term, we expect to concentrate the majority of our capital expenditures in our Core Focus Areas. Our Utica Shale, Ohio Gathering, Williston Basin, DJ Basin and Permian Basin reportable segments (as described below) comprise our Core Focus Areas.

Legacy Areas. Production basins in which we expect volume throughput on our gathering systems to experience relatively lower long-term growth compared to our Core Focus Areas, given that our customers require relatively higher commodity prices to support drilling and completion activities in these basins. Upstream production served by our gathering systems in our Legacy Areas is generally more mature, as compared to our Core Focus Areas, and the decline rates for volume throughput on our gathering systems in the Legacy Areas are typically lower as a result. We expect to continue to decrease our near-term capital expenditures in these Legacy Areas. Our Piceance Basin, Barnett Shale and Marcellus Shale reportable segments (as described below) comprise our Legacy Areas.

Our financial results are driven primarily by volume throughput across our gathering systems and by expense management. We generate the majority of our revenues from the gathering, compression, treating and processing services that we provide to our customers. A majority of the volumes that we gather, compress, treat and/or process have a fixed-fee rate structure which enhances the stability of our cash flows by providing a revenue stream that is not subject to direct commodity price risk. We also earn a portion of our revenues from the following activities that directly expose us to fluctuations in commodity prices: (i) the sale of physical natural gas and/or NGLs purchased under percentage-of-proceeds or other processing arrangements with certain of our customers in the Williston Basin,Rockies, Permian and Piceance Basin, and Permian Basin segments, (ii) the sale of natural gas we retain from certain Barnett Shalesegment customers, and (iii) the sale of condensate we retain from our gathering services in the Piceance Basin segment.segment and (iv) additional gathering fees that are tied to the performance of certain commodity price indexes which are then added to the fixed gathering rates. During the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, these additional activities accounted for approximately 13%18% of our total revenues.

We also have indirect exposure to changes in commodity prices in that persistently low commodity prices may cause our customers to delay and/or cancel drilling and/or completion activities or temporarily shut-in production, which would reduce the volumes of natural gas and crude oil (and associated volumes of produced water) that we gather. If certain of our customers cancel or delay drilling and/or completion activities or temporarily shut-in production, the associated MVCs, if any, ensure that we will earn a minimum amount of revenue.

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The following table presents certain consolidated and reportable segment financial data. For additional information on our reportable segments, see the "Segment“Segment Overview for the Years Ended December 31, 20202022 and 2019”2021” section herein.
Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Net loss$(123,461)$(19,949)
Reportable segment adjusted EBITDA
Northeast$77,046 $83,287 
Rockies57,810 64,517 
Permian18,051 6,614 
Piceance60,055 76,131 
Barnett31,624 36,729 
Net cash provided by operating activities$98,744 $165,099 
Capital expenditures(1)
30,472 25,030 
Cash consideration paid for the acquisition of Outrigger DJ, net of cash acquired(166,631)— 
Cash consideration paid for the acquisition of Sterling DJ, net of cash acquired(139,896)— 
Proceeds from the disposition of the Lane G&P System, net of cash sold in the transaction75,020 — 
Proceeds from the disposition of Bison Midstream, net of cash sold in the transaction38,920 — 
Investment in Double E equity method investee8,444 148,699 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
Borrowings from ABL Facility293,000 300,000 
Repayments of ABL Facility(230,000)(33,000)
Repayments of Revolving Credit Facility— (857,000)
Repayments of Permian Transmission Term Loan(4,647)— 
Borrowings from 2026 Secured Notes84,371 689,500 
Borrowings from Permian Transmission Credit Facility— 160,000 
Repayment of 2022 Senior Notes— (234,047)

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

189,078

 

 

$

(393,726

)

Reportable segment adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utica Shale

 

$

32,783

 

 

$

29,292

 

Ohio Gathering

 

 

31,056

 

 

 

39,126

 

Williston Basin

 

 

52,060

 

 

 

69,437

 

DJ Basin

 

 

19,449

 

 

 

18,668

 

Permian Basin

 

 

4,426

 

 

 

(879

)

Piceance Basin

 

 

88,820

 

 

 

98,765

 

Barnett Shale

 

 

32,093

 

 

 

43,043

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

22,015

 

 

 

20,051

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

198,589

 

 

$

161,741

 

Capital expenditures(1)

 

 

43,128

 

 

 

182,291

 

Investment in Double E equity method investee

 

 

99,927

 

 

 

18,316

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash distributions to noncontrolling interest

    SMLP unitholders

 

$

6,037

 

 

$

68,874

 

Series A Preferred Unit distributions

 

 

 

 

 

28,500

 

Net borrowings under Revolving

    Credit Facility

 

 

180,000

 

 

 

211,000

 

Repayments on SMPH term loan

 

 

(6,300

)

 

 

(65,250

)

Open Market Repurchases of 2022 and

    2025 Senior Notes (Note 9)

 

 

(145,567

)

 

 

 

Tender Offers of 2022 and 2025 Senior Notes (Note 9)

 

 

(47,530

)

 

 

 

TL Restructuring (Note 9)

 

 

(26,500

)

 

 

 

Proceeds from issuance of Subsidiary Series A preferred units,

    net of issuance costs

 

 

48,710

 

 

 

27,392

 

Preferred Tender (Note 9)

 

 

(25,000

)

 

 

 

Purchase of common units in GP Buy-In

    Transaction

 

 

(41,778

)

 

 

 

(1)See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" herein and Note 2017 - Segment Information to the consolidated financial statements for additional information on capital expenditures.

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Key Matters for the Year ended December 31, 2020.2022. The following items are reflected in our financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020:2022:

GP Buy-In Transaction. In May 2020, the Partnership completed the GP Buy-In Transaction whereby the Partnership acquired from its then private equity sponsor, ECP, (i) Summit Investments, which indirectly owned the Partnership’s General Partner, (ii) through its ownership of SMP Holdings, 3,415,646 of its common units and (iii) a deferred purchase price obligation receivable owed by the Partnership. Consideration paid to ECP included a $35.0 million cash payment and warrants to purchase up to 666,667 common units. In connection with the closing of the GP Buy-In Transaction, ECP’s management resigned from the Board of Directors and fully exited its investment in the Partnership (other than retaining the aforementioned warrants). Refer to Note 1 – Organization, Business Operations and Presentation and Consolidation for details.

Strategic DJ Acquisitions. On December 1, 2022, we completed the acquisition of 100% of the membership interests in Outrigger DJ from Outrigger Energy II LLC for cash consideration of $165 million, subject to post-closing adjustments, and 100% of the membership interests in each of Sterling Energy Investments LLC, Grasslands Energy Marketing LLC and Centennial Water Pipelines LLC from Sterling Investment Holdings LLC for cash consideration of $140 million, subject to post-closing adjustments, respectively, pursuant to definitive agreements, each dated October 14, 2022.

Suspension of common and preferred unit distributions. In May 2020, and in conjunction with the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership suspended distributions to holders of its common units and its Series A Preferred Units, commencing with respect to the quarter ending March 31, 2020. The suspension of distributions enabled the Partnership to retain an incremental $76 million per annum of operating cash flow and reallocate this retained cash to indebtedness reduction, liability management transactions and other corporate initiatives. The unpaid cash distributions on the Series A Preferred Units continue to accrue semi-annually, until paid.

July 2020 Series A Preferred Unit Exchange. In July 2020, the Partnership completed the Preferred Exchange Offer, whereby it issued 837,547 SMLP common units in exchange for 62,816 Series A Preferred Units. Upon closing the Preferred Exchange Offer, it eliminated $66.5 million of the Series A Preferred Unit liquidation preference amount, inclusive of $3.7 million of accrued distributions due as of the settlement date.

As a result of the 2022 DJ Acquisitions, we acquired natural gas gathering and processing systems, a crude oil gathering system, freshwater rights, and a subsurface freshwater delivery system in the DJ Basin. The acquired assets of Outrigger DJ and Sterling DJ are located in Weld, Morgan, and Logan Counties, Colorado and Cheyenne County, Nebraska.

Open Market Repurchase of SeniorFinancing of 2022 DJ Acquisitions. The 2022 DJ Acquisitions were financed through a combination of cash on hand, borrowings under Summit’s ABL Facility and the issuance of $85.0 million aggregate principal amount of Additional 2026 Secured Notes. Throughout 2020, the Partnership completed its Open Market Repurchases, which resulted in the extinguishment of $32.4 million of face value of the 2022 Senior Notes and $201.8 million of face value of the 2025 Senior Notes. Total cash consideration paid to repurchase the principal amounts outstanding of the 2022 Senior Notes and 2025 Senior Notes, plus accrued interest totaled $150.3 million and the Partnership recognized a $86.4 million gain on the extinguishment of debt related to these Open Market Repurchases during 2020.

Sale of Non-Core Assets. On September 19, 2022, we completed the sale of Bison Midstream, LLC (“Bison Midstream”) and its gas gathering system in Burke and Mountrail Counties, North Dakota to a subsidiary of Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp., an integrated owner and operator of associated gas capture, gathering and processing assets in North Dakota and Saskatchewan. Additionally, on June 30, 2022, we completed the sale of Summit Permian, which owns the Lane Gathering and Processing System (“Lane G&P System”), to Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems, LP (“Longwood”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Matador ͏Resources Company (“Matador”).

Debt Tender Offers. In September 2020, the Co-Issuers completed the Debt Tender Offers to purchase a portion of their 2022 Senior Notes and 2025 Senior Notes. Upon completion of the Debt Tender Offers, the Co-Issuers repurchased $33.5 million principal amount of the 2022 Senior Notes and $38.7 million principal amount of the 2025 Senior Notes. Total cash consideration paid to repurchase the principal amounts outstanding of the 2022 and 2025 Senior Notes, plus accrued interest, totaled $48.7 million, and the Partnership recognized a $23.3 million gain on the extinguishment of debt related to the Debt Tender Offers during 2020.

January 2022 Series A Preferred Unit Exchange. In January 2022, we completed the 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer, whereby we issued 2,853,875 SMLP common units, net of units withheld for withholding taxes, in exchange for 77,939 Series A Preferred Units. Upon the settlement of the 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer, we eliminated $92.6 million of the Series A Preferred Unit liquidation preference amount, inclusive of accrued distributions due as of the settlement date. See Note 12 – Partners' Capital and Mezzanine Capital for additional information.

TL Restructuring. In November 2020, the Partnership completed the TL Restructuring. All of the Term Loan Lenders participated in the TL Restructuring. As part of the TL Restructuring, the Partnership paid SMP Holdings $26.5 million in cash as consideration to fully settle the deferred purchase price obligation, which SMP Holdings then paid to the Term Loan Lenders. In addition, the Term Loan Lenders executed the Strict Foreclosure on the 2,306,972 common units pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan in full satisfaction of SMP Holdings’ outstanding obligations under the SMPH Term Loan.

December 2020 Series A Preferred Unit Tender. On December 29, 2020, the Partnership completed the Preferred Tender Offer, whereby it accepted 75,075 Series A Preferred Units for a purchase price of $333.00 per Series A Preferred Unit and an aggregate purchase price of $25.0 million. Upon closing the Preferred Tender Offer, it eliminated $82.7 million of the Series A Preferred Unit liquidation preference due as of the settlement date, inclusive of $7.6 million of accrued distributions.

Double E Project. For the year ended December 2020, the Partnership’s proportionate share of capital calls due in 2020 totaled $99.9 million, which includes $2.7 million in capitalized interest, and was funded with $20.6 million of Partnership generated funds and the issuance of $85.3 million of Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units.

2020 Restructuring Costs. In the fourth quarter of 2020, we completed an internal initiative to evaluate and transform our cost structure, enhance margins and improve our competitive position in response to COVID-19 and the related weakening of the economy. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we incurred approximately $5.6 million in restructuring costs relating to this initiative (included in general and administrative expense).

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2020 Impairments. In the fourth quarter of 2020, we recorded $8.6 million of impairments related to certain long-lived assets, of which $5.1 million related to a January 2021 sale of compressor equipment for a total cash purchase price of $8.0 million.

Key Matters for the Year ended December 31, 2019.2021. The following items are reflected in our financial results for the fiscal year ended 2019:2021:

Equity Method Investment Impairment. In December 2019, we identified certain triggering events which indicated that our equity method investment in Ohio Gathering could be impaired. We completed an other-than-temporary impairment analysis to determine the potential equity method impairment charge to be recorded on our consolidated financial statements. As a result, an impairment charge of approximately $329.7 million was recorded in the loss from equity method investees caption on the consolidated statement of operations.

Refinancing debt obligations with near-term maturities. On November 2, 2021, the Co-Issuers issued $700.0 million of the 2026 Secured Notes. We used the net proceeds from the offering of the 2026 Secured Notes, together with cash on hand and borrowings under the ABL Facility, to repay in full all of Summit Holdings’ obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility. Additionally, the Co-Issuers redeemed all of the outstanding 2022 Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to 100.0% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.

Goodwill Impairment. In September 2019, in connection with our annual impairment evaluation, we determined that the fair value of the Mountaineer Midstream reporting unit did not exceed its carrying value and we recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $16.2 million.

Global Settlement. We were the subject of multiple investigations stemming from the 2015 Blacktail Release. On August 4, 2021, we entered into a Global Settlement to resolve these legal matters that includes the payment of penalties and fines of $36.3 million over six years. As a result of the settlement, we recognized an additional loss for this matter during 2021 and had $33.2 million accrued for this matter as of December 31, 2021. See Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements and Item 3. Legal Proceedings for additional information.

Disposition. In March 2019, we identified certain triggering events which indicated that certain long-lived assets in the DJ Basin and Barnett Shale reporting segments could be impaired. Consequently, we performed a recoverability assessment of certain assets within these reporting segments. In the DJ Basin, we determined certain processing plant assets related to our 20 MMcf/d plant would no longer be operational due to our expansion plans for the Niobrara G&P system and we recorded an impairment charge of $34.7 million related to these assets. In the Barnett Shale, we determined certain compressor station assets would be shut down and de-commissioned and we recorded an impairment charge of $9.7 million related to these assets.

April 2021 Series A Preferred Unit Exchange. In April 2021, the Partnership completed the 2021 Preferred Exchange Offer, whereby it issued 538,715 common units, net of units withheld for withholding taxes, in exchange for 18,662 Series A Preferred Units. Upon settlement of the 2021 Preferred Exchange Offer, the Partnership eliminated $20.7 million of the Series A Preferred Unit liquidation preference amount, inclusive of $2.5 million of accrued distributions due as of the settlement date. See Note 12 – Partners' Capital and Mezzanine Capital for additional information.

Double E Project. In June 2019, we continued development of the Double E Project after securing firm 10-year commitments under binding precedent agreements for a substantial majority of the pipeline’s initial throughput capacity of 1.35 Bcf of gas per day and executing the joint venture agreement (described below) with an affiliate of Double E’s foundation shipper. The Double E Project, which consists of an approximately 116-mile mainline and related facilities, will provide interstate natural gas transportation service from the Delaware Basin production area to the Waha Hub in Texas.

Double E Project. In November 2021, the Partnership placed the Double E Pipeline in service. As a result, our investment in Double E recognized positive equity in earnings from Double E beginning in the quarter ended December 31, 2021. Capital contributions to Double E in 2021 totaled $148.7 million and were funded primarily from our Permian Transmission Credit Facility and cash on hand.

Summit Permian Transmission. In connection with the Double E Project, Summit Permian Transmission contributed total assets of approximately $23.6 million for a 70% ownership interest in Double E. Concurrent with this contribution, Double E distributed $7.3 million to the Partnership.

Double E Financing. In December 2019, as part of our financing for the Double E Project, we formed Permian Holdco, a newly created, unrestricted subsidiary of SMLP that indirectly owns SMLP’s 70% interest in Double E. In connection with the formation of Permian Holdco, we entered into an agreement with TPG Energy Solutions Anthem, L.P. (“TPG”) on December 24, 2019 to fund up to $80 million of Permian Holdco’s future capital calls associated with the Double E Project. Simultaneously, on December 24, 2019, Permian Holdco issued 30,000 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units to TPG for net proceeds of $27.4 million.

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Red Rock. In December 2019, Red Rock Gathering and certain affiliates of SMLP (collectively, “the Red Rock Parties”) entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Red Rock PSA”) pursuant to which the Red Rock Parties agreed to sell certain Red Rock Gathering system assets for a cash purchase price of $12.0 million (the “Red Rock Sale”). Prior to closing, we recorded an impairment charge of $14.2 million based on the expected consideration and the carrying value for the Red Rock Gathering system assets. On December 2, 2019, we closed the Red Rock Sale. The impairment is included in the Long-lived asset impairment caption on the consolidated statement of operations. The financial contribution of these assets (a component of the Piceance Basin reportable segment) are included in our consolidated financial statements and footnotes for the period from January 1, 2019 through December 1, 2019.

Tioga Midstream. Until March 22, 2019, we owned Tioga Midstream, a crude oil, produced water and associated natural gas gathering system in the Williston Basin. On March 22, 2019, we sold the Tioga Midstream system to affiliates of Hess Infrastructure Partners LP for a combined cash purchase price of approximately $90 million and recorded a gain on sale of $0.9 million based on the difference between the consideration received and the carrying value for Tioga Midstream at closing. The gain is included in the Gain on asset sales, net caption on the consolidated statement of operations. The financial results of Tioga Midstream (a component of the Williston Basin reportable segment) are included in our consolidated financial statements and footnotes for the historical periods through March 22, 2019. Refer to Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for details on the sale of Tioga Midstream.

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Loss on ECP Warrants. On August 5, 2021, the ECP Entities cashlessly exercised all of their ECP Warrants for an aggregate of 414,447 SMLP common units, net of the exercise price, as calculated pursuant to Section 3(c) of the ECP Warrants (the “ECP Warrant Exercise"). During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Partnership recognized a $13.6 million non-cash loss related to the ECP Warrants.




































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2019 Restructuring Costs. In the third quarter of 2019, we began an internal initiative to evaluate and transform our cost structure, enhance margins and improve our competitive position in response to a weakening commodity price backdrop. For the year ended December 31, 2019, we incurred approximately $5.0 million in restructuring costs relating to this initiative (included in general and administrative expense). For the year ended December 31, 2020, we incurred an additional $3.5 million related to this initiative.

Our business has been, and we expect our future business to continue to be, affected by the following key trends:

Ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and reduced demand and prices for oil;

Ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and fluctuations in demand for oil and natural gas;

Natural gas, NGL and crude oil supply and demand dynamics;

Ongoing impact of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict and the international sanctions against Russia on commodity prices;

Production from U.S. shale plays;

Natural gas, NGL and crude oil supply and demand dynamics;

Capital markets availability and cost of capital; and

Production from U.S. shale plays;

Shifts in operating costs and inflation.

Capital markets availability and cost of capital; and
Inflation and shifts in operating costs.
Our expectations are based on assumptions made by us and information currently available to us. To the extent our underlying assumptions about, or interpretations of, available information prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from our expected results.
Strategic DJ Acquisitions.

On December 1, 2022, we completed the 2022 DJ Acquisitions for total cash consideration of $305.0 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. As a result of the 2022 DJ Acquisitions, we acquired natural gas gathering and processing systems, a crude oil gathering system, freshwater rights, and a subsurface freshwater delivery system in the DJ Basin. The acquired assets of Outrigger DJ and Sterling DJ are located in Weld, Morgan, and Logan Counties, Colorado and Cheyenne County, Nebraska. In 2023, we will spend time and resources integrating the 2022 DJ Acquisitions into our existing DJ Basin assets and expect to attain capital and operating synergies in the future.

Cost structure optimization and portfolio management. The Partnership intends to optimize its capital structure in the future by reducing its indebtedness with free cash flow, and when appropriate, it may pursue opportunistic transactions with the objective of increasing long term unitholder value. This may include opportunistic acquisitions (such as the 2022 DJ Acquisitions), divestitures (such as the disposition of the Lane G&P System and of Bison Midstream), re-allocation of capital to new or existing areas, and development of joint ventures involving our existing midstream assets or new investment opportunities. We believe that our internally generated cash flow, our ABL Facility, the Permian Term Loan Facility, and access to debt (such as the Additional 2026 Secured Notes) or equity will be adequate to finance our strategic initiatives. To attain our overall corporate strategic objectives, we may conduct an asset divestiture, or divestitures, at a transaction valuation that is less than the net book value of the divested asset.
Ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and reducedfluctuations in demand for oil and prices for oil. natural gas. We arecontinue to closely monitoringmonitor the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, including its variants, on all aspects of our business, including how it has impacted and will impact our customers, employees, supply chain and distribution network. We are unable to predict the ultimate impact that COVID-19 and related factors may have on our business, future results of operations, financial position or cash flows. Given the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and related market conditions, we cannot reasonably estimate the period of time that these events will persist or the full extent of the impact they will have on our business. The extent to which our operations may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted, including changes in the severity of the pandemic, countermeasures taken by governments, businesses and individuals to slow the spread of the pandemic, and the development and availability of treatments and vaccines and the extent to which these treatments and vaccines may remain effective as potential new strains of the coronavirus emerge. Furthermore, the impacts of a potential worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain unknown.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have modified our business practices, including restricting employee travel modifying employee work locations, implementing social distancing and enhancing sanitary measuresutilizing COVID-19 pandemic tax relief in our facilities. Many of our suppliers, vendors and service providers have made similar modifications. The resources available to employees working remotely may not enable them to maintain the same level of productivity and efficiency, and these and other employees may face additional demands on their time. Our increased reliance on remote access to our information systems increases our exposure to potential cybersecurity breaches. We may take further actions as government authorities require or recommend or as we determine to be in the best interests of our employees, customers, partners and suppliers. There is no certainty that such measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed2021 (as allowed by the virus, in which case our employees may become sick, our ability to perform critical functions could be impaired, and we may be unable to respond toConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the needs of our business. The resumption of normal business operations after such interruptions may be delayed or constrained by lingering effects of COVID-19 on our suppliers, third-party service providers, and/or customers.

In addition to the significant reduction in global demand for oil and natural gas caused by the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were also volatile oil prices during 2020 largely due to a supply and demand imbalance and actions by members of OPEC and other foreign, oil-exporting countries. This disrupted the oil and natural gas exploration and production industry and other industries that serve exploration and production companies. These industry conditions, coupled with those resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, could lead to significant global economic contraction generally and in our industry in particular. 

Over the past several months, we have collaborated extensively with our customer base regarding production reductions and delays to drilling and completion activities in light of the current commodity price backdrop and COVID-19 pandemic. Given

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Table of Contents"ERC Tax Credit").

continued volatility in market conditions since March 2020, and based

Based on recently updated production forecasts and 20212023 development plans from our customers, we currently expect that 2023 activity will be higher than 2022 and be at an activity level near our 2021 resultshistorical periods prior to be affected by decreased drilling activity.COVID-19.
Ongoing impact of the current Russia-Ukraine conflict and the international sanctions against Russia on commodity prices. Although the Partnership does not operate in Ukraine, Russia or other parts of Europe, there are certain impacts arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that could have a potential effect on the Partnership, including, but not limited to, volatility in currencies and commodity prices, higher inflation, cost and supply chain pressures and availability and disruptions in banking systems and capital markets. As of the date of filing, there have been no material impacts on the Partnership.

Natural gas, NGL and crude oil supply and demand dynamics. Natural gas continues to be a critical component of energy supply and demand in the United States. The average spot price of natural gas decreasedincreased by approximately 21%66% from 20202021 to 2019,2022, primarily due to natural gas supplydemand exceeding demand.supply. The average daily Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot Price was $2.03$6.45 per MMBtu during 2020,2022, compared with $2.56$3.89 per MMBtu during 2019. Henry Hub closed at $2.36 per MMBtu on December 31, 2020.2021. As of February 18, 2021,January 31, 2023, Henry Hub 12-month strip pricing closed at $3.11$3.41 per MMBtu. Natural gas prices continue to trade at lower-than-averagehigher-than-average historical prices due in part to increasedstrong power sector demand and relatively modest new production growth. In response to the increasing natural gas production and an elevated levelprices, the number of active natural gas in storagedrilling rigs in the continental United States. TheStates increased from 106 in December 2021 to 156 in December 2022, but still remains below the 2017 through 2019 average amount of working natural gas in underground storage in the continental U.S. was 3.05 Tcfe in 2020, which was 23.4% higher than in 2019. In the near term, we believe that until the supply of natural gas in storage has been reduced, natural gas prices are likely177, according to remain constrained.Baker Hughes. Over the long term, we believe that the prospects for continued natural gas demand are favorable and will be driven primarily by global population and economic growth, as well as the continued displacement of coal-fired electricity generation by natural gas-fired electricity generation. However,generation and increase in U.S. LNG exports. Over the next several years, we expect natural gas prices will support continued upstream industry activity by producers focused on natural gas production.    
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In addition, certain of our gathering systems are directly affected by crude oil supply and demand dynamics. Crude oil prices increased in 2022, with the average daily Cushing, Oklahoma West Texas Intermediate crude oil spot price average of $68.14 per barrel during 2021 increasing to an average of $94.90 per barrel during 2022, representing a 39% increase. As of January 31, 2023, West Texas Intermediate 12-month strip pricing closed at $78.03 per barrel. In response to the increasing crude oil prices, the number of active crude oil drilling rigs in the continental United States increased from 480 in December 2021 to 621 in December 2022, but still remains below the 2017 through 2019 average of 773, according to Baker Hughes. Over the next several years, we expect that crude oil prices will support continued drilling activity and increasing production in the Williston Basin, Permian Basin and, given the current regulatory environment in Colorado, in rural parts of the DJ Basin.
Despite improving fundamentals that should support additional development activities, we note that over the last several years there has been an increasing societal opposition to the production of hydrocarbons generally, which may be reflected in legislation, executive orders or regulations that may significantly restrict the domestic production of fossil fuels, including natural gas.

In addition, certain of our gathering systems are directly affected by crude oil supply and demand dynamics. Crude oil prices decreased in 2020, with the average daily Cushing, Oklahoma West Texas Intermediate crude oil spot price decreasing from an average $56.99 per barrel during 2019 to an average of $39.16 per barrel during 2020, representing a 31.3% decrease, reflecting broader market concerns for global oil supply and demand dynamics. In response to the general decrease in crude oil prices, the number of active crude oil drilling rigs in the continental United States decreased from 677 in December 2019 to 267 in December 2020, according to Baker Hughes. Over the next several years, we expect that crude oil prices will support continued drilling activity and increasing production in the Williston Basin, Permian Basin and, given the current regulatory environment in Colorado, in rural parts of the DJ Basin.

Growth in production from U.S. shale plays. Over the past several years, natural gas production from unconventional shale resources has increased significantly due to advances in technology that allow producers to extract significant volumes of natural gas from unconventional shale plays on favorable economic terms relative to most conventional plays. In recent years, a number of producers and their joint venture partners, including large international operators, industrial manufacturers and private equity sponsors, have committed significant capital to the development of these unconventional resources, including the Piceance, Barnett, Bakken, Marcellus, Utica and Permian Basin shale plays in which we operate, and weoperate. We believe that these long-term capital investments willshould support drilling activity in unconventional shale plays over the long term.

Rate of growth in production from U.S. shale plays. Some of our producer customers have adjusted their drilling and completion activities and schedules to manage drilling and completion costs at levels that are achievable using internally generated cash flow from their underlying operations. Historically, as part of a strategy to accelerate production growth, these producers would raise external capital to fund drilling and completion costs in excess of the cash flows generated from their underlying assets. Producers are experiencing increasing pressure from their investors to focus on returning capital and maximizing free cash flow versus re-investing that cash flow into development. In general, we expect our producer customers to maintain moderate completion and production activities across many of our systems relative to our previous expectations as a result of the commodity price environment and a continuation of the general trend of producers constraining drilling and completion activity to levels that can be satisfied with internally generated cash flow.

Capital markets availability and cost of capital. Credit markets were volatile throughout 2019, as borrowing costs increased and investors assessed the impact of rising rates on broader economic activity. Capital markets conditions, including but not limited to availability and higher borrowing costs, could affect our ability to access the debt and equity capital markets to the extent necessary, to fund our future growth. Furthermore, market demand for equity issued by master limited partnerships has been significantly lower in recent years than it has been historically, which may make it more challenging for us to finance our capital expenditures with the issuance of additional equity. We announced the elimination of our common unit distribution in May 2020 beginning with the distribution paid in respect of the secondfirst quarter of 2020, and this action may further reduce demand for our common units. In addition, interest rates on future credit facilities and debt offerings could be higher than current levels, causing our financing costs to increase accordingly.

75


TableThe borrowings under our ABL Facility, which have a variable interest rate, expose us to the risk of Contentsincreasing interest rates.

ShiftsAdditionally, as a result of the 2022 DJ Acquisitions, we utilized our free cash flow generated in 2022 to partially fund the 2022 DJ Acquisitions. As such we will not make an offer to purchase the $50.0 million amount of our 2026 Secured Notes to avoid a 50 basis point increase in the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes, resulting in increased annual interest expense of approximately $3.9 million.

Inflation and operating costs. The annual rate of inflation in the United States hit 6.5% in December 2022, one of the highest increases in more than three decades, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. We expect that continued inflation in 2023 will increase our operating costs and inflation.the overall cost of capital projects we undertake. Throughout mostWhile some of the last five years, high levels of crude oil and natural gas exploration, development and production activities across the United States resulted in increased competition for personnel and equipment as well as higher prices for labor, supplies, equipment and other services. Beginning in 2015, this dynamic began to shift as prices for crude oil and natural gas-related services decreased in line with overall decline in demand for these goods and services. While we expect lower service-related costs in the near term, we expect that over the longer term, these costs will continue to have a high correlation toour fee arrangements escalate based on changes in the prevailing price of crude oilindexes, these fee escalations may not be sufficient to offset an increase in our expenditures. Furthermore, inflation may impact producers economic decision making, which in turn could impact their willingness to develop acreage in areas that are more susceptible to inflationary pressures and natural gas.labor force shortages.

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73

How We Evaluate Our Operations

We conduct and report our operations in the midstream energy industry through eightfive reportable segments: Utica Shale, Ohio Gathering, Williston Basin, DJ Basin,Northeast, Rockies, Permian, Basin, Piceance Basin, Barnett Shale, and Marcellus Shale.Barnett. Each of our reportable segments provides midstream services in a specific geographic area and our reportable segments reflect the way in which we internally report the financial information used to make decisions and allocate resources in connection with our operations (see Note 2017 - Segment Information to the consolidated financial statements). Our management uses a variety of financial and operational metrics to analyze our consolidated and segment performance and we view these metrics as important factors in evaluating our profitability. These metrics include (i) throughput volume, (ii) revenues, (iii) operation and maintenance expenses, (iv) capital expenditures and (iv)(v) segment adjusted EBITDA.

Throughput Volume

The volume of (i) natural gas that we gather, compress, treat and/or process and (ii) crude oil and produced water that we gather depends on the level of production from natural gas or crude oil wells connected to our gathering systems. Aggregate production volumes are impacted by the overall amount of drilling and completion activity. Furthermore, because the production rate of natural gas and crude oil wells decline over time, production can only be maintained or increased by new drilling or other activity.

As a result, we must continually obtain new supplies of production to maintain or increase the throughput volume on our systems. Our ability to maintain or increase throughput volumes from existing customers and obtain new supplies of throughput is impacted by:

successful drilling activity within our AMIs;

successful drilling activity within our AMIs;

the level of work-overs and recompletions of wells on existing pad sites to which our gathering systems are connected;

the level of work-overs and recompletions of wells on existing pad sites to which our gathering systems are connected;

the number of new pad sites in our AMIs awaiting connections;

the number of new pad sites in our AMIs awaiting connections;

our ability to compete for volumes from successful new wells in the areas in which we operate outside of our existing AMIs; and

our ability to compete for volumes from successful new wells in the areas in which we operate outside of our existing AMIs; and

our ability to gather, treat and/or process production that has been released from commitments with our competitors.

our ability to gather, treat and/or process production that has been released from commitments with our competitors.
We report volumes gathered for natural gas in cubic feet per day. We aggregate crude oil and produced water gathering and report volumes gathered in barrels per day.

Revenues

Our revenues are primarily attributable to the volumes that we gather, compress, treat and/or process and the rates we charge for those services. A majority of our gathering and processing agreements are fee-based, which limits our direct exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices; however, certain of our contracts have rates that are directly impacted by commodity prices. We also have percent-of-proceeds arrangements with certain customers under which the gathering and processing revenues that we earn correlate directly with the fluctuating price of natural gas, condensate and NGLs.

Certain of our gathering and processing agreements contain MVCs pursuant to which our customers agree to ship or process a minimum volume of production on our gathering systems, or, in some cases, to pay a minimum monetary amount, over certain periods during the term of the MVC. These MVCs help us generate stable revenues and serve to mitigate the financial impact associated with declining volumes.

Operation and Maintenance Expenses

We seek to maximize the profitability of our operations in part by minimizing, to the extent appropriate, expenses directly tied to operating our assets. Direct labor costs, compression costs, ad valorem taxes, repair and non-capitalized maintenance costs, integrity management costs, utilities and contract services comprise the most significant portion of our operation and maintenance expense. Other than utilities expense, these expenses are largely independent of volumes delivered through our gathering systems but may fluctuate depending on the activities performed during a specific period.

Our operations and maintenance expenses also include costs that are reimbursed by our customers, which are included in Other revenues.


74

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

Segment adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental financial measure used by management and by external users of our financial statements such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others.

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Segment adjusted EBITDA is used to assess:

the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to make cash distributions and support our indebtedness;

the ability of our assets to generate cash sufficient to make cash distributions and support our indebtedness;

the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;

the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;

our operating performance and return on capital as compared to other companies in the midstream energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structure;

our operating performance and return on capital as compared to other companies in the midstream energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structure;

the attractiveness of capital projects and acquisitions and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities; and

the attractiveness of capital projects and acquisitions and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities; and

the financial performance of our assets without regard to (i) income or loss from equity method investees, (ii) the impact of the timing of MVC shortfall payments under our gathering agreements or (iii) the timing of impairments or other noncash income or expense items.

the financial performance of our assets without regard to (i) income or loss from equity method investees, (ii) the impact of the timing of MVC shortfall payments under our gathering agreements or (iii) the timing of impairments or other noncash income or expense items.

Additional Information. For additional information, see the "Results“Results of Operations"Operations” section herein and the notes to the consolidated financial statements. For information on pending accounting changes that are expected to materially impact our financial results reportedstatements contained in future periods, see Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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75

Results of Operations

Consolidated Overview for the Years Ended December 31, 20202022 and 2019

2021

The following table presents certain consolidated data and volume throughput for the years ended December 31, 20202022 and 2019.2021.
Year ended December 31,
20222021Percentage change
(In thousands)
Revenues:
Gathering services and related fees$248,358 $281,705 (12%)
Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales86,225 82,768 4%
Other revenues35,011 36,145 (3%)
Total revenues369,594 400,618 (8%)
Costs and expenses:
Cost of natural gas and NGLs76,826 81,969 (6%)
Operation and maintenance84,152 74,178 13%
General and administrative44,943 58,166 (23%)
Depreciation and amortization119,055 119,076 —%
Transaction costs6,968 1,677 316%
Gain on asset sales, net(507)(369)37%
Long-lived asset impairment91,644 10,151 803%
Total costs and expenses423,081 344,848 23%
Other expense, net(4)(613)*
Gain on interest rate swaps16,414 — 
Loss on sale of business(1,741)— 
Loss on ECP Warrants— (13,634)N/A
Interest expense(102,459)(66,156)55%
Loss on early extinguishment of debt— (3,523)*
Loss before income taxes and equity method investment income(141,277)(28,156)*
Income tax (expense) benefit(325)327 *
Income from equity method investees18,141 7,880 *
Net loss$(123,461)$(19,949)*
Volume throughput (1):
Aggregate average daily throughput - natural gas (MMcf/d)1,208 1,356 (11%)
Aggregate average daily throughput - liquids (Mbbl/d)62 63 (2%)

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage change

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

302,792

 

 

$

326,747

 

 

(7%)

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

 

 

49,319

 

 

 

86,994

 

 

(43%)

Other revenues

 

 

31,362

 

 

 

29,787

 

 

5%

Total revenues

 

 

383,473

 

 

 

443,528

 

 

(14%)

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of natural gas and NGLs

 

 

36,653

 

 

 

63,438

 

 

(42%)

Operation and maintenance

 

 

86,030

 

 

 

98,719

 

 

(13%)

General and administrative

 

 

73,438

 

 

 

55,947

 

 

31%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

118,132

 

 

 

110,354

 

 

7%

Transaction costs

 

 

2,993

 

 

 

3,017

 

 

(1%)

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(307

)

 

 

(1,536

)

 

(80%)

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

13,089

 

 

 

60,507

 

 

(78%)

Goodwill impairment

 

 

 

 

 

16,211

 

 

*

Total costs and expenses

 

 

330,028

 

 

 

406,657

 

 

(19%)

Other income

 

 

48

 

 

 

451

 

 

(89%)

Interest expense

 

 

(78,894

)

 

 

(91,966

)

 

 

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

203,062

 

 

 

 

 

*

Income (loss) before income taxes and

    equity method investment income (loss)

 

 

177,661

 

 

 

(54,644

)

 

*

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

 

146

 

 

 

(1,231

)

 

*

Income (loss) from equity method investees

 

 

11,271

 

 

 

(337,851

)

 

*

Net income (loss)

 

$

189,078

 

 

$

(393,726

)

 

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume throughput (1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate average daily throughput - natural

    gas (MMcf/d)

 

 

1,375

 

 

 

1,397

 

 

(2%)

Aggregate average daily throughput - liquids

    (Mbbl/d)

 

 

79

 

 

 

105

 

 

(25%)

*Not considered meaningful

(1) Exclusive ofExcludes volume throughput for Ohio Gathering.Gathering and Double E. For additional information, see the "Ohio Gathering" section herein.

Northeast and Permian sections herein under the caption “Segment Overview for the Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021”.

76

Volumes – Gas. Natural gas throughput volumes decreased 22148 MMcf/d for the year ended December 31, 20202022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, primarily reflecting:

a volume throughput increase of 5 MMcf/d for the Marcellus Shale segment.

a volume throughput decrease of 88 MMcf/d for the Piceance Basina volume throughput decrease of 113 MMcf/d for the Northeast segment.

a volume throughput increase of 85 MMcf/d for the Utica Shalea volume throughput decrease of 20 MMcf/d for the Piceance segment.

a volume throughput increase of 14a volume throughput decrease of 12 MMcf/d for the Permian Basin segment.

a volume throughput decrease of 1 MMcf/d for the Barnett segment.

a volume throughput decrease of 2 MMcf/d for the Rockies segment.

a volume throughput decrease of 39 MMcf/d for the Barnett Shale segment.

Volumes – Liquids. Crude oil and produced water volume throughput volumes atfor the WillistonRockies segment decreased 261 Mbbl/d for the year ended December 31, 20202022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.2021, primarily as a result of natural production declines and weather related downtime, offset by 39 new well connections that came online subsequent to December 31, 2021.

For additional information on volumes, see the "Segment“Segment Overview for the Years Ended December 31, 20202022 and 2019"2021” section herein.

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Revenues. Total revenues decreased $60.1$31.0 million during the year ended December 31, 20202022 compared to the prior year primarilyended December 31, 2021 comprised of a $24.0$3.5 million increase in natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales, offset by a $1.1 million decrease in Other revenues, and a $33.3 million decrease in gathering services and related fees and a $37.7 million decrease in natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales.fees.

Gathering services and related fees. Gathering services and related fees decreased $24.0$33.3 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, primarily reflecting:

a $7.2a $14.6 million decrease in gathering services and related fees in the Barnett Shale primarily reflecting $7.5 million in lower gas gathering revenue attributable to a MVC with a customer in 2019 that expired in 2020.

a $14.7 million decrease in gathering services and related fees in the Piceance, Basin relating to lower volume throughput due to a lack of drilling and completion activity and natural production declines.

a $4.6 million increase in gathering services and related fees in the Utica Shale primarily due to the completion of new wells throughout 2019, and in 2020, and a more favorable volume and gathering rate mix from customers, partially offset by natural production declines from existing wells.

a $18.4 million decrease in gathering services and related fees in the Williston Basin primarily reflecting a decrease in gathering services and related fees attributable to the sale of the Tioga Midstream system on March 22, 2019, whose 2019 financial results are included for the period from January 1, 2019 through March 22, 2019 as well as lower liquids volume throughput, partially offset by the completion of new wells through 2019 and 2020.

a $1.9 million increase in gathering services and related fees in the DJ Basin primarily as a result of ongoing drilling and completion activity across our service area, a more favorable volume and gathering rate mix from customers and the commissioning of our new natural gas processing plant in June 2019, partially offset by natural production declines and temporary production curtailments associated with a significant reduction in crude oil prices as a result of a decrease in demand attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.

a $6.5 million increase in gathering services and related fees in the Permian Basin primarily as a result of an uptick in customer volumes, partially offset by natural production declines from wells previously put in service.

Costs and expenses. Total costs and expenses decreased $76.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily reflecting:

a $31.2 million decrease in long-lived asset impairments in the DJ Basin in 2019.

a $16.2 million decrease in goodwill impairment charge relating to the Mountaineer Midstream system in the Marcellus Basin in 2019.

a $14.2 million decrease in long-lived asset impairments relating to the sale of certain Red Rock Gathering system assets in the Piceance Basin in 2019.

Cost of natural gas and NGLs. Cost of natural gas and NGLs decreased $26.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily driven by lower natural gas, NGL and crude oil marketing activity.

Operation and maintenance. Operation and maintenance expense decreased $12.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019.

Depreciation and amortization. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense during 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily due to the assets placed into serviceexpiration of approximately $10.1 million of a customer’s minimum volume commitment and decreased volume throughput;

an $8.2 million decrease in the Northeast, primarily due to decreased volume throughput,
a $7.0 million decrease in the Rockies, primarily due to decreased volume throughput and the expiration of a customer’s minimum volume commitment contract in the DJ Basin; and
a $4.6 million decrease in the Permian, Basin.

Interest Expense. The decrease in interest expense in the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, was primarily a result of our liability management initiatives which included our Open Market Repurchases and Tender Offers, partially offset by a higher outstanding balance on the Revolving Credit Facility.

Gain on early extinguishment of debt. The $203.1 million gain on the early extinguishment of debt is primarily related to liability management initiatives undertaken during 2020 that resulted in a $86.4 million gain from the Open Market Repurchases, a $23.3 million gain from the Debt Tender Offers, and a $93.9 million gain from our TL Restructuring. Further details of our liability management results are summarized below.

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Table of Contents

 

 

ECP Loan

Repayment

 

 

Open Market

Repurchases

 

 

Tender

Offers

 

 

TL

Restructuring

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

2025

 

 

2022

 

2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes

 

Senior Notes

 

 

Senior Notes

 

Senior Notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Gain on Repurchases of Senior Notes and TL Restructuring

 

$

 

 

$

11,554

 

$

76,789

 

 

$

9,223

 

$

15,479

 

 

$

99,175

 

 

$

212,220

 

Debt issue costs

 

 

(361

)

 

 

(143

)

 

(1,541

)

 

 

(125

)

 

(351

)

 

 

(2,724

)

 

 

(5,245

)

Transaction cost

 

 

(249

)

 

 

(105

)

 

(105

)

 

 

(467

)

 

(467

)

 

 

(2,520

)

 

 

(3,913

)

Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment

 

$

(610

)

 

$

11,306

 

$

75,143

 

 

$

8,631

 

$

14,661

 

 

$

93,931

 

 

$

203,062

 


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Table of Contents

Segment Overview for the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

Utica Shale. The Utica Shale reportable segment includes the Summit Utica system. Volume throughput for our Summit Utica system follows.

 

 

Utica Shale

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

Average daily throughput (MMcf/d)

 

 

358

 

 

 

273

 

 

31%

Volume throughput increased compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to new wells that came onlinethe disposition of the Lane G&P System in the fourth quarter of 2019June 2022.

Natural Gas, NGLs and through the first three quarters of 2020. In addition, volume throughput was impacted by an increase in temporary production curtailments, completion activityCondensate Sales. Natural gas, NGLs and other operational downtime associated with customers on existing pad sites.

Financial data for our Utica Shale reportable segment follows.

 

 

Utica Shale

 

 

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

36,509

 

 

$

31,926

 

 

14%

Other revenues

 

 

 

 

$

2,065

 

 

 

Total revenues

 

 

36,509

 

 

 

33,991

 

 

7%

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

3,396

 

 

 

4,151

 

 

(18%)

General and administrative

 

 

301

 

 

 

530

 

 

(43%)

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

7,696

 

 

 

7,659

 

 

0%

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(35

)

 

 

 

 

*

Total costs and expenses

 

 

11,358

 

 

 

12,340

 

 

(8%)

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

7,696

 

 

 

7,659

 

 

 

Adjustments related to capital

    reimbursement activity

 

 

(29

)

 

 

(18

)

 

 

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(35

)

 

 

 

 

 

Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

$

32,783

 

 

$

29,292

 

 

12%

* Not considered meaningful

Year ended December 31, 2020. Segment adjusted EBITDAcondensate sales revenue increased $3.5 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, primarily reflecting:

a $10.9 million increase in the Rockies reportable segment, primarily due to the volume throughput previously discussed.

Ohio Gathering.2022 DJ Acquisitions, partially offset by the disposition of Bison Midstream;

The Ohio Gathering$1.6 million increase in the Piceance reportable segment;
a $2.2 million increase in the Barnett reportable segment; partially offset by
an $11.3 million decrease in the Permian reportable segment, includes OGCprimarily due to the disposition of the Lane G&P System in June 2022.
Costs and OCC. We account for our investment in Ohio Gathering using the equity method. We recognize our proportionate share of earnings or loss in net income on a one-month lag based on the financial information available to usexpenses. Total costs and expenses increased $78.2 million during the reporting period.

Gross volume throughput for Ohio Gathering, based on a one-month lag follows.

 

 

Ohio Gathering

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

Average daily throughput (MMcf/d)

 

 

571

 

 

 

732

 

 

(22%)

* Not considered meaningful

Volume throughput for the Ohio Gathering system in 2020 decreasedyear ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 20192021, primarily reflecting:

Cost of natural gas and NGLs. Cost of natural gas and NGLs decreased $5.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily driven the disposition of the Lane G&P System in June 2022 and the disposition of Bison Midstream in September 2022, partially offset by the 2022 DJ Acquisitions in December 2022 .
Operation and maintenance. Operation and maintenance expense increased $10.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021; primarily as a result of natural production declines on existing wells on the system, fewer well connections, temporary production shut-ins2021 recognition of $10.2 million of certain commercial settlement benefits and wasthe ERC Tax Credit that were not repeated in 2022.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expense decreased $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily related to the nonrecurrence of a $22.4 million loss contingency recognized in 2021 (for the 2015 Blacktail Release), partially offset by $2.5 million of employee severance costs incurred during the completion of new wells.

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Financial data for our Ohio Gathering reportable segment, based on a one-month lag follows.

 

 

Ohio Gathering

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Proportional adjusted EBITDA for equity

    method investees

 

$

31,056

 

 

$

39,126

 

 

(21%)

Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

$

31,056

 

 

$

39,126

 

 

(21%)

Yearfiscal year ended December 31, 20202022 (see Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies for additional information).

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Asset Impairments. The Partnership recognized impairments of $84.5 million related to the disposition of the Lane G&P System and $6.9 million in connection with disposition of Bison Midstream.
Segment adjusted EBITDALoss on ECP Warrants. On August 5, 2021, the ECP Entities cashlessly exercised all of its ECP Warrants for equity method investees decreased $8.1an aggregate of 414,447 SMLP common units, net of the exercise price. During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Partnership recognized a $13.6 million non-cash loss related to the ECP Warrants. There was no comparable non-cash loss during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $36.3 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021 primarily relateddue to lower volume throughput described above.higher interest costs resulting from the higher interest rate resulting from the issuance of the 2026 Secured Notes and borrowings on the Permian Transmission Term Loan, higher amortization expense of debt issuance costs, partially offset by principal reduction payments to our credit facilities (ABL Facility and Revolving Credit Facility) prior to the completion of the 2022 DJ Acquisitions which occurred on December 1, 2022.


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Williston Basin. The Polar and Divide, Tioga Midstream (through March 22, 2019; refer to Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for details on the sale of Tioga Midstream) and Bison Midstream systems provide our midstream services

Segment Overview for the Williston Basin reportable segment. Years Ended December 31, 2022 and 2021
Northeast.
Volume throughput for our Williston Basinthe Northeast reportable segment follows.

 

 

Williston Basin

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

Aggregate average daily throughput -

   natural gas (MMcf/d)

 

 

14

 

 

 

12

 

 

17%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aggregate average daily throughput -

   liquids (Mbbl/d)

 

 

79

 

 

 

105

 

 

(25%)

Northeast
Year ended December 31,
20222021Percentage
Change
Average daily throughput (MMcf/d)652 765 (15)%
Average daily throughput (MMcf/d) (Ohio Gathering)674 526 28%

Natural gas. Natural gas volume

Volume throughput in 2020 increasedfor the Northeast, excluding Ohio Gathering, decreased 15% compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021 primarily reflectingdue to natural production declines as well as maintenance related downtime and frac-protect activities that occurred during the completion of newthree months ended June 30, 2022, partially offset by 13 well connections, including 4 wells directly connected to the Summit Utica system and 9 wells behind our TPL-7 connection, that came online during the Bison Midstreamyear ended December 31, 2022.
Volume throughput for the Ohio Gathering system inincreased 28% compared to the fourth quarteryear ended December 31, 2021, primarily as a result of 2019 and through 202028 new well connections that came online during the year ended December 31, 2022, partially offset by natural production declines and frac-protect activities that occurred during the sale of Tioga Midstream.

Liquids. Liquids volume throughput in 2020 decreased compared to the yearthree months ended December 31, 2019, primarily associated with natural production declines, deferral of completion activities, shut-ins and temporary production curtailments associated with a significant reduction in crude oil prices as a result of a decrease in demand attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic, partially offset by the completion of new wells throughout 2019 and 2020.

June 30, 2022.

Financial data for our Williston BasinNortheast reportable segment follows.

 

Williston Basin

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Northeast

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

Year ended December 31,

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

20222021Percentage
Change

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:(Dollars in thousands)

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

59,239

 

 

$

77,626

 

 

(24%)

Gathering services and related fees$54,392 $62,567 (13)%

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

 

 

20,018

 

 

 

16,461

 

 

22%

Other revenues

 

 

13,438

 

 

 

11,564

 

 

16%

Total revenues

 

 

92,695

 

 

 

105,651

 

 

(12%)

Total revenues54,392 62,567 (13)%

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

Cost of natural gas and NGLs

 

 

12,741

 

 

 

5,821

 

 

119%

Operation and maintenance

 

 

23,793

 

 

 

27,172

 

 

(12%)

Operation and maintenance7,097 5,672 25%

General and administrative

 

 

1,738

 

 

 

1,493

 

 

16%

General and administrative831 599 39%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

25,911

 

 

 

19,829

 

 

31%

Depreciation and amortization17,501 17,054 3%

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(50

)

 

 

(1,177

)

 

(96%)

Gain on asset sales, net(10)(92)(89)%

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

2,421

 

 

 

10

 

 

*

Long-lived asset impairment— 130 N/A

Total costs and expenses

 

 

66,554

 

 

 

53,148

 

 

25%

Total costs and expenses25,419 23,363 9%

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add:

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

25,911

 

 

 

19,829

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization17,501 17,054 

Adjustments related to capital

reimbursement activity

 

 

(2,363

)

 

 

(1,728

)

 

 

Adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity(81)(83)

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(50

)

 

 

(1,177

)

 

 

Gain on asset sales, net(10)(92)

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

2,421

 

 

 

10

 

 

 

Long-lived asset impairment— 130 
Proportional adjusted EBITDA for Ohio GatheringProportional adjusted EBITDA for Ohio Gathering30,656 27,074 
OtherOther— 

Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

$

52,060

 

 

$

69,437

 

 

(25%)

Segment adjusted EBITDA$77,046 $83,287 (7%)

_________________
*Not considered meaningful

Year ended December 31, 20202022. Segment adjusted EBITDA decreased $17.4$6.2 million compared to the year ended December 31, 20192021, primarily associated with the decreased liquid volume throughput described above,as a result of revenue decreases from gathering services and the sale of Tioga Midstream in March of 2019. The decrease wasrelated fees, partially offset by the increased natural gas volume throughput described above.a $3.6 million increase in proportional adjusted EBITDA for Ohio Gathering.

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DJ Basin. The Niobrara G&P system provides midstream services for the DJ Basin reportable segment.

Rockies.
Volume throughput for our DJ BasinRockies reportable segment follows.
Rockies
Year ended December 31,
20222021Percentage Change
Aggregate average daily throughput - natural gas (MMcf/d)3335(6)%
Aggregate average daily throughput - liquids (Mbbl/d)6263(2)%
Natural gas

 

 

DJ Basin

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

Average daily throughput

    (MMcf/d)

 

 

26

 

 

 

27

 

 

(4%)

Volume. Natural gas volume throughput in 20202022 decreased 6% compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, primarily as a resultreflecting the sale of Bison Midstream in September 2022 and the 2022 DJ Acquisitions in December 2022. Volumes were also impacted by natural production declines shut-ins and fewerweather related downtime that occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022, partially offset by 22 new well connection through 2020.

connections in 2022.

Liquids. Liquids volume throughput in 2022 decreased 2% compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily associated with natural production declines and operational and weather related downtime that occurred during the three months ended June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022, partially offset by 39 new well connections that came online in 2022, of which 19 wells were brought online in December 2022.
Financial data for our DJ BasinRockies reportable segment follows.

 

DJ Basin

Rockies

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

20222021Percentage Change

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

23,868

 

 

$

21,940

 

 

9%

Gathering services and related fees$67,838 $74,823 (9%)

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

 

 

245

 

 

 

389

 

 

(37%)

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales59,208 48,279 23%

Other revenues

 

 

3,957

 

 

 

3,721

 

 

6%

Other revenues16,557 21,985 (25%)

Total revenues

 

 

28,070

 

 

 

26,050

 

 

8%

Total revenues143,603 145,087 (1%)

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

Cost of natural gas and NGLs

 

 

67

 

 

 

34

 

 

97%

Cost of natural gas and NGLs52,749 47,984 10%

Operation and maintenance

 

 

9,579

 

 

 

7,616

 

 

26%

Operation and maintenance30,260 29,251 3%

General and administrative

 

 

1,088

 

 

 

315

 

 

245%

General and administrative2,541 1,506 69%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

6,146

 

 

 

3,732

 

 

65%

Depreciation and amortization30,532 29,513 3%

Loss on asset sales, net

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

*

Gain on asset sales, netGain on asset sales, net(63)(56)13%

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

3,692

 

 

 

34,913

 

 

(89%)

Long-lived asset impairment7,068 5,564 27%

Total costs and expenses

 

 

20,592

 

 

 

46,610

 

 

(56%)

Total costs and expenses123,087 113,762 8%

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add:

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

6,146

 

 

 

3,732

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization30,532 29,513 

Adjustments related to capital

reimbursement activity

 

 

2,113

 

 

 

583

 

 

 

Adjustments related to capital
reimbursement activity
(431)(1,885)

Loss on asset sales, net

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on asset sales, netGain on asset sales, net(63)(56)

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

3,692

 

 

 

34,913

 

 

 

Long-lived asset impairment7,068 5,564 
OtherOther188 56 

Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

$

19,449

 

 

$

18,668

 

 

4%

Segment adjusted EBITDA$57,810 $64,517 (10%)

_________________
* Not considered meaningful

Year ended December 31, 20202022. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased $0.8decreased $6.7 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021 primarily associated withdue to lower volume throughput on our natural gas system in the DJ Basin, the expiration of a more favorablecustomer’s minimum volume commitment contract of approximately $2.0 million in the DJ Basin and gathering rate mix from customers.

85

certain commercial
80

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Permian Basin.

settlements that reduced gathering services and related fees by $0.8 million in 2022 that are not expected going forward. The Summit Permian system provides our midstream services forBison Midstream sale closed in September 2022 and the Permian Basin reportable segment. 2022 DJ Acquisitions were completed on December 1, 2022 which generally resulted in a net neutral impact to Adjusted EBITDA.
81

Permian.
Volume throughput for our Permian Basin reportable segment follows.

 

 

Permian Basin

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

Average daily throughput (MMcf/d)

 

 

33

 

 

 

19

 

 

74%

Permian
Year ended December 31,
20222021Percentage Change
Average daily throughput (MMcf/d)14 26 (46%)
Average daily throughput (MMcf/d) (Double E)277 124 n/a

On June 30, 2022, we completed the sale of our Lane G&P System. The volumes above include daily volume throughput data through the date of sale. Subsequent to the date of sale, the Permian reportable segment only includes the results of our equity method investment in Double E.
Double E commenced operations in November 2021. Volume throughput in 2020 increased compared tofor the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily2022 averaged 277 MMcf per day as a resultcompared to 124 MMcf per day for the period from the date of new well connectionscommencement in November 2021 through December 31, 2021.
The following table presents the fourth quarterMVC quantities that Double E’s shippers have contracted to with firm transportation service agreements and related negotiated rate agreements:    
Weighted average MVC quantities for the year ended December 31,(MMBTU/day)
2022612,123 
2023831,096 
2024989,507 
20251,000,000 
20261,000,178 
20271,000,000 
20281,002,562 
20291,000,000 
20301,000,000 
2031879,452 
82

Financial data for our Permian Basin reportable segment follows.

 

Permian Basin

Permian

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

20222021Percentage
Change

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

10,091

 

 

$

3,610

 

 

180%

Gathering services and related fees$3,668 $8,230 (55%)

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

 

 

18,857

 

 

 

16,383

 

 

15%

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales17,382 28,727 (39%)

Other revenues

 

 

585

 

 

 

310

 

 

89%

Other revenues4,101 3,891 5%

Total revenues

 

 

29,533

 

 

 

20,303

 

 

45%

Total revenues25,151 40,848 (38%)

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

Cost of natural gas and NGLs

 

 

18,785

 

 

 

15,113

 

 

24%

Cost of natural gas and NGLs18,007 29,855 (40%)

Operation and maintenance

 

 

6,038

 

 

 

5,755

 

 

5%

Operation and maintenance3,082 5,585 (45%)

General and administrative

 

 

284

 

 

 

314

 

 

(10%)

General and administrative708 757 (6%)

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

5,455

 

 

 

4,868

 

 

12%

Depreciation and amortization2,736 5,858 (53%)

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

 

 

 

(148

)

 

*

Gain on asset sales, net(13)— 

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

324

 

 

 

1,327

 

 

(76%)

Long-lived asset impairment84,516 595 14104%

Total costs and expenses

 

 

30,886

 

 

 

27,229

 

 

13%

Total costs and expenses109,036 42,650 156%

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add:

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

5,455

 

 

 

4,868

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization2,736 5,858 
Adjustments related to capital
reimbursement activity
Adjustments related to capital
reimbursement activity
(63)— 

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

 

 

 

(148

)

 

 

Gain on asset sales, net(13)— 

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

324

 

 

 

1,327

 

 

 

Long-lived asset impairment84,516 595 
Proportional adjusted EBITDA for Double EProportional adjusted EBITDA for Double E14,762 1,948 
OtherOther(2)15 

Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

$

4,426

 

 

$

(879

)

 

*

Segment adjusted EBITDA$18,051 $6,614 *

_________________
* Not considered meaningful

Year ended December 31, 20202022. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased $5.3$11.4 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021 primarily as a result of higher volumes throughput described above.

86

an increase in proportional adjusted EBITDA from our equity method investment in Double E, offset by the reduced activity from the sale of the Lane G&P System in June 2022.
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Piceance Basin. The Grand River system provides midstream services for the Piceance Basin reportable segment.

Piceance.
Volume throughput for our Piceance Basin reportable segment follows.

 

 

Piceance Basin

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

Aggregate average daily throughput

    (MMcf/d)

 

 

364

 

 

 

452

 

 

(19%)

Piceance
Year ended December 31,
20222021Percentage Change
Aggregate average daily throughput (MMcf/d)306 326 (6%)

Volume throughput decreased 6% in 20202022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, as a result of natural production declines.

There were no new well connections in 2022.

Financial data for our Piceance Basin reportable segment follows.

 

Piceance Basin

Piceance

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

20222021Percentage
Change

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

106,657

 

 

$

121,357

 

 

(12%)

Gathering services and related fees$80,630 $95,235 (15%)

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate

sales

 

 

2,612

 

 

 

7,954

 

 

(67%)

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales7,111 5,464 30%

Other revenues

 

 

4,621

 

 

 

4,327

 

 

7%

Other revenues5,608 4,786 17%

Total revenues

 

 

113,890

 

 

 

133,638

 

 

(15%)

Total revenues93,349 105,485 (12%)

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

Cost of natural gas and NGLs

 

 

1,717

 

 

 

5,612

 

 

(69%)

Cost of natural gas and NGLs4,805 3,823 26%

Operation and maintenance

 

 

21,064

 

 

 

27,306

 

 

(23%)

Operation and maintenance23,523 21,664 9%

General and administrative

 

 

1,053

 

 

 

1,009

 

 

4%

General and administrative1,280 1,163 10%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

45,203

 

 

 

47,018

 

 

(4%)

Depreciation and amortization51,352 48,773 5%

(Gain) loss on asset sales, net

 

 

(190

)

 

 

104

 

 

*

(Gain) loss on asset sales, net(311)(119)161%

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

7

 

 

 

14,162

 

 

*

Long-lived asset impairment— 3,239 *

Total costs and expenses

 

 

68,854

 

 

 

95,211

 

 

(28%)

Total costs and expenses80,649 78,543 3%

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add:

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

45,203

 

 

 

47,018

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization51,352 48,773 

Adjustments related to MVC

shortfall payments

 

 

 

 

 

(103

)

 

 

Adjustments related to capital

reimbursement activity

 

 

(1,236

)

 

 

(843

)

 

 

Adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity(4,141)(3,271)

(Gain) loss on asset sales, net

 

 

(190

)

 

 

104

 

 

 

(Gain) loss on asset sales, net(311)(119)

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

7

 

 

 

14,162

 

 

 

Long-lived asset impairment— 3,239 
OtherOther455 567 

Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

$

88,820

 

 

$

98,765

 

 

(10%)

Segment adjusted EBITDA$60,055 $76,131 (21%)

_________________
* Not considered meaningful

Year ended December 31, 20202022. Segment adjusted EBITDA decreased $9.9$16.1 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, primarily associated withreflecting the expiration of a customer’s minimum volume throughput decrease described above,commitment contract of approximately $10.1 million in 2021 and a decrease in operations and maintenance expense primarily due to lower compensation expense associated with lower headcount from our cost cutting initiatives.

volume throughput as a result of natural production declines.


87

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Barnett Shale. The DFW Midstream system provides our midstream services for the Barnett Shale reportable segment.

Barnett.
Volume throughput for our Barnett Shale reportable segment follows.

 

 

Barnett Shale

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

Average daily throughput (MMcf/d)

 

 

212

 

 

 

251

 

 

(16%)

Barnett
Year ended December 31,
20222021Percentage Change
Average daily throughput (MMcf/d)203 204 0%

Volume throughput decreasedremained consistent in 2020during the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 reflecting2021 primarily related to 12 new well connections in 2022, which were offset by natural production declines partially offset by new volumes from well recompletion and workover activity throughout 2020.

declines.

Financial data for our Barnett Shale reportable segment follows.

 

Barnett Shale

Barnett

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

20222021Percentage
Change

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

40,687

 

 

$

47,862

 

 

(15%)

Gathering services and related fees$41,830 $40,850 2%

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

 

 

7,587

 

 

 

17,147

 

 

(56%)

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales2,503 298 740%

Other revenues (1)

 

 

6,185

 

 

 

6,793

 

 

(9%)

Other revenues (1)
7,763 5,443 43%

Total revenues

 

 

54,459

 

 

 

71,802

 

 

(24%)

Total revenues52,096 46,591 12%

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

Cost of natural gas and NGLs

 

 

3,341

 

 

 

10,751

 

 

(69%)

Operation and maintenance

 

 

18,814

 

 

 

21,729

 

 

(13%)

Operation and maintenance18,792 8,497 121%

General and administrative

 

 

1,306

 

 

 

968

 

 

35%

General and administrative1,301 972 34%

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

15,174

 

 

 

15,354

 

 

(1%)

Depreciation and amortization15,178 15,195 0%

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(19

)

 

 

(325

)

 

(94%)

Gain on asset sales, net(85)(101)(16%)

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

4,902

 

 

 

10,095

 

 

(51%)

Long-lived asset impairment60 622 (90%)

Total costs and expenses

 

 

43,518

 

 

 

58,572

 

 

(26%)

Total costs and expenses35,246 25,185 40%

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add:

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

16,112

 

 

 

16,575

 

 

 

Adjustments related to MVC shortfall

payments

 

 

 

 

 

3,579

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization (1)
Depreciation and amortization (1)
16,116 16,133 

Adjustments related to capital

reimbursement activity

 

 

157

 

 

 

(111

)

 

 

Adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity(1,322)(1,331)

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(19

)

 

 

(325

)

 

 

Gain on asset sales, net(85)(101)

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

4,902

 

 

 

10,095

 

 

 

Long-lived asset impairment60 622 
OtherOther— 

Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

$

32,093

 

 

$

43,043

 

 

(25%)

Segment adjusted EBITDA$31,624 $36,729 (14%)

_________________
*Not considered meaningful

(1)Includes the amortization expense associated with our favorable and unfavorable gas gathering contracts as reported in other revenues.

Year ended December 31, 20202022. Segment adjusted EBITDA decreased $10.9$5.1 million compared to the year ended December 31, 20192021 primarily related toas a result of higher general operating expenses in 2022 that resulted from the decreased volume throughput described above.

nonrecurrence of commercial settlements that benefited the segment’s financial results in 2021.


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Marcellus Shale. The Mountaineer Midstream system provides our midstream services for the Marcellus Shale reportable segment.

Volume throughput for the Marcellus Shale reportable segment follows.

 

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

 

Average daily throughput (MMcf/d)

 

 

368

 

 

 

363

 

 

1%

 

Volume throughput increased in 2020 compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily due to new well connection in the third quarter of 2020, partially offset by natural production declines.

Financial data for our Marcellus Shale reportable segment follows.

 

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

25,741

 

 

$

24,471

 

 

5%

Total revenues

 

 

25,741

 

 

 

24,471

 

 

5%

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

3,343

 

 

 

3,861

 

 

(13%)

General and administrative

 

 

345

 

 

 

521

 

 

(34%)

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

9,195

 

 

 

9,141

 

 

1%

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(8

)

 

 

 

 

*

Goodwill impairment

 

 

 

 

 

16,211

 

 

*

Total costs and expenses

 

 

12,875

 

 

 

29,734

 

 

(57%)

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

9,195

 

 

 

9,141

 

 

 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

 

 

 

16,211

 

 

 

Adjustments related to capital

    reimbursement activity

 

 

(38

)

 

 

(38

)

 

 

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(8

)

 

 

 

 

 

Segment adjusted EBITDA

 

$

22,015

 

 

$

20,051

 

 

10%

*Not considered meaningful

Year ended December 31, 2020. Segment adjusted EBITDA increased $2.0 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019, primarily associated with the increased volume throughput described above.


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Table of Contents

Corporate and Other Overview for the Years Ended December 31, 20202022 and 2019

2021

Corporate and Other represents those results that are not specifically attributable to a reportable segment or that have not been allocated to our reportable segments, including certain general and administrative expense items, natural gas and crude oil marketing services, transaction costs, interest expense and gains on early extinguishment of debt.

Corporate and Other includes intercompany eliminations.

 

Corporate and Other

Corporate and Other

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

Percentage

Change

20222021Percentage
Change

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Total revenues

 

$

2,575

 

 

$

27,622

 

 

(91%)

Total revenues$1,003 $40 *

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

Cost of natural gas and NGLs

 

 

 

 

 

26,107

 

 

*

General and administrative

 

 

67,324

 

 

 

50,797

 

 

33%

General and administrative38,282 53,169 (28%)

Transaction costs

 

 

2,993

 

 

 

3,017

 

 

(1%)

Transaction costs6,968 1,677 316%

Interest expense

 

 

78,894

 

 

 

91,966

 

 

(14%)

Interest expense102,459 66,156 55%

Gain on asset sales or disposals

 

 

(21

)

 

 

 

 

*

Gain on asset sales or disposals(26)— *

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

1,740

 

 

 

 

 

*

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

(203,062

)

 

 

 

 

*

Gain on early extinguishment of debt— (3,523)*

_________________
* Not considered meaningful

Total Revenues. Total revenues attributable to Corporate and Other was due to gathering services, natural gas, and condensate sales. The decrease of $25.0 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 was primarily attributable to the wind down of our marketing group in 2020 as well as lower natural gas activity.

Cost of Natural Gas and NGLs. Cost of natural gas and NGLs attributable to Corporate and Other was due to natural gas, NGL and crude oil marketing services in 2019. The decrease of $26.1 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2019 was attributable to the wind down of our marketing group in 2020.

General and administrative. General and administrative expense attributable to Corporate and Other increaseddecreased by $16.5 million, primarily related to a $17.0 million loss contingency accrual in 2020, see note 11 of the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

Transaction costs. Transaction costs recognized during the year ended December 31, 2020 are primarily related to costs associated with our liability management initiatives.

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $13.1$14.9 million compared to the year ended December 31, 20192021, primarily asrelated to the nonrecurrence of a result$22.4 million loss recognized in 2021 (for the 2015 Blacktail Release), $1.0 million of our liability management initiatives which included our Open Market Repurchases and Tender Offers,an ERC Tax Credit benefit during the year ended December 31, 2021, that did not occur during the year ended December 31, 2022, partially offset by a$2.5 million of employee severance costs incurred during the year ended December 31, 2022. (see Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies for additional information regarding the 2015 Blacktail Release).

Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $36.3 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2021 primarily due to higher outstanding balanceinterest costs resulting from the higher interest rate resulting from the issuance of the 2026 Secured Notes and borrowings on the Permian Transmission Term Loan, higher amortization expense of debt issuance costs, partially offset by principal reduction payments to our credit facilities (ABL Facility and Revolving Credit Facility.

GainFacility) prior to the completion of the 2022 DJ Acquisitions which occurred on Early ExtinguishmentDecember 1, 2022.















86

Table of DebtContents. The gain on the early extinguishment of debt is primarily related to liability management initiatives undertaken during 2020 that resulted in a $86.4 million gain from the Open Market Repurchases, a $23.3 million gain from the Debt Tender Offers, and a $93.9 million gain from our TL Restructuring.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We dependrely primarily on fundsinternally generated cash flow as well as external financing sources, including our ABL Facility and the issuance of debt, equity and preferred equity securities, and proceeds from potential asset divestitures to fund our investments. We believe that our ABL Facility and Permian Transmission Credit Facility, together with internally generated cash flow and access to debt or equity capital markets, will be adequate to finance our operations for the next twelve months without adversely impacting our Revolvingliquidity.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. We may enter into off-balance sheet arrangements and transactions that can give rise to material off-balance sheet obligations. As of December 31, 2022, our material off-balance sheet arrangements and transactions include (i) letters of credit outstanding against our ABL Facility aggregating to $5.9 million, (ii) letters of credit outstanding against our Permian Transmission Credit Facility aggregating to $10.5 million and (iii) a $3.9 million appeal bond discussed further in Item 3. Legal Proceedings. There are no other transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that are reasonably likely to materially affect our cashliquidity or availability of our capital resources.
ABL Facility. Summit Holdings has a $400.0 million revolving ABL Facility pursuant to that certain Loan and cash equivalents balance, and capital marketsSecurity Agreement, dated as our primary sources of liquidity. Looking forward toNovember 2, 2021 we will seek to reduce indebtedness and extend our indebtedness maturities. As a result, we expect to fund future expenditures from cash generated by our operations, our Revolving Credit Facility, our cash equivalents on hand. If optimal, we may also consider accessing the capital markets, opportunistic divestitures or joint ventures involving our existing midstream assets.

Debt

Revolving Credit Facility. We have a $1.1 billion senior secured Revolving Credit Facility(the “ABL Agreement”), with a maturity date of May 2022 (see Note 91, 2026. The maturity date of the ABL Facility will spring forward to December 13, 2024 if the consolidated financial statements)outstanding amount of the 2025 Senior Notes on such date equals or exceeds $50.0 million or to January 14, 2025 if any amount of the 2025 Senior Notes is outstanding on such date and Liquidity (as defined in the ABL Agreement) is less than the sum of the outstanding principal amount of the 2025 Senior Notes and the Threshold Amount (as defined in the ABL Agreement). As of December 31, 2020,2022, the outstanding balance of the Revolving CreditABL Facility was $857.0$330.0 million and the unused portion totaled $238.9commitments were $64.1 million, after giving effect to the issuance thereunder of a $4.1$5.9 million

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Table of Contents

outstanding but undrawn irrevocable standby letterletters of credit. BasedThe ABL Facility is secured by a first lien on covenant limits,all of our availableassets and borrowings are subject to a borrowing base comprised of a percentage of eligible accounts receivable of Summit Holdings and its subsidiaries that guarantee the ABL Facility (collectively, the “ABL Facility Guarantors”) and a percentage of eligible above-ground fixed assets including eligible compression units, processing plants, compression stations and related equipment of Summit Holdings and the ABL Facility Guarantors. As of the date of the most recent borrowing base determination, eligible assets totaled $561.0 million, an amount greater than the $400.0 million capacity of the ABL Facility.

On October 14, 2022, we amended the ABL Facility to, among other things, transition the LIBOR based interest rates under the Revolving CreditABL Facility asto term secured overnight financing rates (“SOFR”). As of December 31, 20202022, the applicable margin under the adjusted term SOFR borrowings was approximately $105 million. 3.25%, the interest rate was 7.45% and the unused portion of the ABL Facility totaled $64.1 million after giving effect to the issuance of $5.9 million in outstanding but undrawn irrevocable standby letters of credit.
There were no defaults or events of default under the ABL Facility during 2020,2022, and as of December 31, 2020,2022, we were in compliance with the financial covenants in the Revolving CreditABL Facility. Our total leverage ratio and senior secured leverage ratioThe ABL Facility requires that Summit Holdings not permit (i) the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the RevolvingABL Agreement) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter to be greater than 2.50:1.00, or (ii) the Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the ABL Agreement) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter to be less than 2.00:1.00.
The ABL Facility restricts, among other things, Summit Holdings’ and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ (as defined in the ABL Agreement) ability and the ability of certain of their subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt or issue preferred stock; (ii) make distributions or repurchase equity; (iii) make payments on or redeem junior lien, unsecured or subordinated indebtedness; (iv) create liens or other encumbrances; (v) make investments, loans or other guarantees; (vi) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (viii) make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with another entity. These covenants are subject both to a number of important exceptions and qualifications.
Permian Transmission Credit Agreement) was 5.1 to 1.0 and 3.2 to 1.0, respectively, relative to maximum threshold limitsFacility. On March 8, 2021 (the “Permian Closing Date”), the Partnership’s unrestricted subsidiary, Permian Transmission, entered into a Credit Agreement which allows for $175.0 million of 5.75 to 1.0 and 3.5 to 1.0. Given further deterioration of market conditions, decreased drilling activity, the deferral of well completions from customers, limitations on our ability to access the capital markets at a competitive cost to fund our capital expenditures and, on a limited scale, temporary production curtailments, we could have total leverage and senior secured leverage ratios that are higher than the levels prescribed in the applicable indebtedness agreements. Adverse developments in our areas of operation could materially adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for more information on the Revolvingcredit facilities (the “Permian Transmission Credit Facilities”), including a $160.0 million Term Loan Facility and the issuance of the $4.1a $15.0 million letter of credit.

2022 Senior Notes.In July 2014, Summit HoldingsWorking Capital Facility. The Permian Transmission Credit Facilities can be used to finance Permian Transmission’s capital calls associated with its investment in Double E, debt service and its 100% owned finance subsidiary, Finance Corp. (together with Summit Holdings, the "Co-Issuers") co-issued $300.0 million of 5.5% senior unsecured notes maturing August 15, 2022 (the "2022 Senior Notes" and, together with the 2025 Senior Notes (defined below), the “Senior Notes”). other general corporate purposes.

As of December 31, 2020,2022, the applicable margin under adjusted LIBOR borrowings was 2.375%, the interest rate was 6.05% and the unused portion of the Permian Transmission Credit Facilities totaled $4.5 million, subject to a commitment fee of 0.7% after giving effect to the issuance of $10.5 million in outstanding but undrawn irrevocable standby letters of credit. As of December 31, 2022, the Partnership was in compliance with the financial covenants of the Permian Transmission Credit Facilities.
In January 2022, the Permian Term Loan Facility was converted into a Term Loan (the “Permian Transmission Term Loan”). The Permian Transmission Term Loan is due January 2028. As of December 31, 2022, the applicable margin under adjusted LIBOR borrowings was 2.375% and the interest rate was 6.05%. Summit Permian Transmission, LLC entered into interest rate hedges with notional amounts representing approximately 90% of the Permian Term Loan facility at a fixed LIBOR rate of
87

1.49%. As of ended December 31, 2022, the Partnership was in compliance with the financial covenants governing the Permian Transmission Term Loan.
As of December 31, 2022, the balance of the 2022 Senior Notes is $234.0 million. We pay interest on the 2022 Senior Notes semi-annually in cash in arrears on February 15Permian Transmission Term Loan was $155.4 million, and August 15 of each year. The 2022 Senior Notes are senior, unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior obligations. The 2022 Senior Notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all secured indebtedness, to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Co-Issuers may redeem all or part of the 2022 Senior Notes at a redemption price of 100.000%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. Debt issuance costs of $5.1 million are being amortized over the life of the 2022 Senior Notes. As of and during the year ended December 31, 2020, we were in compliance with the financial covenants governing our 2022of the Permian Transmission Term Loan and Permian Transmission Credit Facility.
2025 Senior Notes.

2025 Senior Notes. In February 2017, the Co-Issuers co-issued $500.0 million of 5.75% senior unsecured notes maturing April 15, 2025 (the “2025 Senior Notes”). As of December 31, 2020,2022, the outstanding balance of the 2025 Senior Notes was $259.5 million. We pay interest on the 2025 Senior Notes semi-annually in cash in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The 2025 Senior Notes are senior, unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior obligations.obligations. The 2025 Senior Notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our secured indebtedness, to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

The Co-Issuers may redeem all or part of the 2025 Senior Notes at a redemption price of 104.313%101.438% (with the redemption price declining ratably each April 15 to 100.000% on April 15, 2023), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date. Debt issuance costs

2026 Secured Notes. In November 2021, we issued $700.0 million of $7.7the 2026 Secured Notes, at a price of 98.5% of face value. Additionally, in November 2022, in connection with the 2022 DJ Acquisitions, we issued an additional $85.0 million of 2026 Secured Notes at a price of 99.26% of their face value. The Co-Issuers pay interest on the 2026 Secured Notes semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year, and the 2026 Secured Notes are being amortized overjointly and severally guaranteed, on a senior second-priority secured basis (subject to permitted liens), by us and each of our restricted subsidiaries that is an obligor under the lifeABL Facility, or under the 2025 Senior Notes on the issue date of the 2026 Secured Notes. As of December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of the 2026 Secured Notes was $785.0 million.
The 2026 Secured Notes will mature on October 15, 2026; provided that, if the outstanding amount of the 2025 Senior Notes. AsNotes (or any refinancing indebtedness in respect thereof that has a final maturity on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Initial Maturity Date (as defined in the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture)) is greater than or equal to $50.0 million on January 14, 2025, which is 91 days prior to the scheduled maturity date of the 2025 Senior Notes, then the 2026 Secured Notes will mature on January 14, 2025.
Starting in the first quarter of 2023 with respect to the fiscal year ended 2022, and duringcontinuing annually through the fiscal year ended 2025, the Partnership is required under the terms of the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture to, if it has Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture), and subject to its ability to make such an offer under the ABL Facility, offer to purchase an amount of the 2026 Secured Notes, at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, equal to 100% of the Excess Cash Flow generated in the prior year. Generally, if the Partnership does not offer to purchase designated annual amounts of its 2026 Secured Notes or reduce its first lien capacity under the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture per annum from 2023 through 2025, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes is subject to certain rate escalations. Per the terms of the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture, the designated amounts are $50.0 million in aggregate by April 1, 2023, otherwise the interest rate shall automatically increase by 50 basis points per annum; $100.0 million in aggregate by April 1, 2024, otherwise the interest rate shall automatically increase by 100 basis points per annum (minus any amount previously increased); and $200.0 million in aggregate by April 1, 2025, otherwise the interest rate shall automatically increase by 200 basis points per annum (minus any amount previously increased).
To the extent the Partnership makes an offer to purchase, and the offer is not fully accepted by the holders of the 2026 Secured Notes, the Partnership may use any remaining amount not accepted for any purpose not prohibited by the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture, or the ABL Facility. Based on the amount of our Excess Cash Flow for the fiscal year ended 2022, we will not be able to make offers to purchase in the designated amount for the fiscal year ended 2022; as a result, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes will increase 50 basis points to 9.00% effective April 1, 2023, resulting in increased annual interest expense of approximately $3.9 million.
Double E distribution waterfall.With the commencement of the first flow of gas on the Double E pipeline in November 2021, distributions from Double E began monthly starting in the first quarter of 2022. Distributions made to Summit Permian Transmission, LLC are used to satisfy interest and principal payments required under the Permian Transmission Term Loan. Any excess cash after these principal and interest payments will then be distributed to Summit Permian Transmission Holdco, LLC to pay the cash distribution due on the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units and to redeem portions of the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units. During the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, Double E made distributions to its investors totaling $17.8 million of which the Partnership received $12.5 million of which all amounts were utilized for payment of interest and principal on the Permian Transmission Term Loan and distributions to the holders of the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units. Currently, we wereexpect Summit Permian Transmission Holdco, LLC will use all of its expected cash receipts in compliance with2023 to pay the financial covenants governing our 2025 Senior Notes.

For additional informationcash distribution due on and to redeem portions of the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units.

Preferred Exchange Offer. In January 2022, we completed the 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer, whereby we issued 2,853,875 SMLP common units, net of units withheld for withholding taxes, in exchange for 77,939 Series A Preferred Units. Upon the settlement of the 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer, we eliminated $92.6 million of the Series A Preferred Unit liquidation
88

preference amount, inclusive of accrued distributions due as of the settlement date. As of December 31, 2022, total liquidation preference on our long-termSeries A Preferred Units was $85.3 million, inclusive of accrued distributions.
We may in the future use a combination of cash, secured or unsecured borrowings and issuances of our common units or other securities and the proceeds from asset sales to retire or refinance our outstanding debt see Note 9or Series A Preferred Units through privately negotiated transactions, open market repurchases, redemptions, exchange offers, tender offers or otherwise, but we are under no obligation to the consolidated financial statements.

do so.

Cash Flows

 

Year ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

20222021

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

$

198,589

 

 

$

161,741

 

Net cash provided by operating activities$98,744 $165,099 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(140,569

)

 

 

(90,870

)

Net cash used in investing activities(226,558)(165,729)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(79,398

)

 

 

(50,122

)

Net cash provided by financing activitiesNet cash provided by financing activities121,773 4,658 

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

$

(21,378

)

 

$

20,749

 

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash$(6,041)$4,028 

The components of the net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were as follows:

Operating activities. Details of cash flows from operating activities follow.

Cash flows from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, primarily reflected:

net income of $189.1 million plus adjustments of $40.5 million for non-cash items; and

net loss of $123.5 million plus adjustments of $235.7 million for non-cash items; and

$50.0 million increase in working capital accounts.

$13.5 million increase in working capital accounts.
Cash flows from operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2019,2021, primarily reflected:

91


Tablenet loss of Contents

a $7.3 million increase in cash interest payments;$19.9 million plus adjustments of $179.2 million for non-cash items; and

$5.9 million increase in working capital accounts.

other changes in working capital.

Investing activities. Details of cash flows from investing activities follow.

Cash flows used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 20202022 primarily reflected:

$99.9 million of investments in our equity method investee; and

$166.6 million of cash consideration paid for the acquisition of Outrigger DJ, net of cash acquired in the transaction;

$43.1 million of capital expenditures primarily attributable to the ongoing development of our Williston, DJ, Utica and Permian segments.

$139.9 million of cash consideration paid for the acquisition of Sterling DJ, net of cash acquired in the transaction;
$30.5 million of capital expenditures primarily attributable to the ongoing development of our Rockies and Northeast segments.
$8.4 million of capital contributions and costs for our equity method investment in Double E; offset by
$75.0 million of cash proceeds from the disposition of the Lane G&P System, net of cash sold in the transaction;
•    $38.9 million of cash proceeds from the disposition of Bison Midstream, net of cash sold in the transaction; and
$4.9 million of cash proceeds from the sale of unused assets and latent inventory.
Cash flows used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 20192021 primarily reflected:

$182.3 million of capital expenditures primarily attributable to the ongoing development of the DJ Basin of $80.5 million, Summit Permian of $45.0 million, the Williston Basin of $30.9 million and Corporate and Other, which includes $17.7 million of capital expenditures relating to the Double E Project;

$148.7 million of capital contributions and costs for our equity method investment in Double E; and

$18.3 million for investments in the Double E joint venture relating to the Double E Project;

$25.0 million of capital expenditures primarily attributable to the ongoing development of our Rockies, Northeast and Permian segments.

$89.5 million of net proceeds from the Tioga Midstream sale and $12.0 million of proceeds from the Red Rock Gathering sale; and

$7.3 million for a distribution from an equity method investment.

Financing activities. Details of cash flows from financing activities follow.

Cash flows provided by financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2022 primarily reflected:
$84.4 million from the additional issuance of the 2026 Secured Notes; offset by
$293.0 million of cash received from borrowing under the ABL Facility; and
89

$230.0 million in repayments on the ABL Facility.
Cash flows used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 20202021 primarily reflected:

$145.6 million paid for open market repurchases of the 2022 and 2025 Notes;

$47.5 million paid for tender offerRefinancing portions of our long-term debt that included proceeds of $300.0 million from the ABL Facility and $689.5 million from the issuance of the 2026 Secured Notes, offset by the repayment of $33.0 million of the ABL Facility and the repayment in full of the $857.0 million Revolving Credit Facility and $234.0 million of the 2022 and 2025 Senior Notes;

$160.0 million of borrowings from the Permian Transmission Credit Facility to fund our capital contributions to our equity method investment in Double E.

$41.8 million for the purchase of common units in the GP Buy-In Transaction;

$35.0 million for the repayment of the ECP Loan;

$26.5 million for cash paid in connection with the TL Restructuring;

$25.0 million of cash paid for in connection with the Preferred Tender Offer;

$6.3 million of cash repayments on the SMPH Term loan; and

$6.0 million of distributions offset by;

$180.0 million of net proceeds from borrowings on our Revolving Credit Facility;

$48.7 million in proceeds from the issuance of our Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units and;

$35.0 million in proceeds from the ECP Loan.

Cash flows used in financing activities during the year ended December 31, 2019 primarily reflected:

$218.1 million of distributions;

$211.0 million of net borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility;

$65.3 million payment on Term Loan B; and

$27.4 of net proceeds from the issuance of Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units.

Contractual Obligations Update

The Partnership'sPartnership’s cash flows generated from operations are also the primary source for funding various contractual obligations. The table below summarizes the Partnership'sPartnership’s major commitments as of December 31, 20202022 through 2027 (in thousands):

 

Total

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

Revolving Credit Facility, due May 2022 (2)

 

$

892,208

 

 

$

24,853

 

 

$

867,355

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

2022 Senior Notes, due August 2022 (2)

 

 

255,502

 

 

 

12,873

 

 

 

242,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total20232024202520262027

2025 Senior Notes, due April 2025 (2)

 

 

309,193

 

 

 

14,919

 

 

 

14,919

 

 

 

14,919

 

 

 

14,919

 

 

 

264,436

 

2025 Senior Notes, due April 2025 (2)
$294,896 $14,919 $14,919 $265,058 $— $— 

Capital contributions to Double E equity method

investment(1)

 

 

172,410

 

 

 

147,710

 

 

 

24,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABL Facility, due May 1, 2026 (2)
ABL Facility, due May 1, 2026 (2)
411,950 24,585 24,585 24,585 338,195 — 
2026 Secured Notes, due October 15, 2026 (1)
2026 Secured Notes, due October 15, 2026 (1)
1,058,769 70,650 70,650 70,650 846,819 — 
Permian Transmission Term Loan, due January 2028 (3)
Permian Transmission Term Loan, due January 2028 (3)
114,224 19,672 23,940 24,035 23,410 23,167 
Global Settlement for 2015 Blacktail release, inclusive of interest (4)
Global Settlement for 2015 Blacktail release, inclusive of interest (4)
28,335 6,667 6,667 6,667 6,667 1,667 

Lease obligations

 

 

5,772

 

 

 

2,405

 

 

 

1,434

 

 

 

896

 

 

 

573

 

 

 

464

 

Lease obligations17,398 4,564 4,139 3,762 2,653 2,280 

Total

 

$

1,635,085

 

 

$

202,760

 

 

$

1,151,037

 

 

$

15,815

 

 

$

15,492

 

 

$

264,900

 

Total$1,925,572 $141,057 $144,900 $394,757 $1,217,744 $27,114 

92


Table(1)Amounts above exclude the impact of Contentsprincipal reductions resulting from offers to purchase the 2026 Secured Notes with excess cash flow tenders required in the 2026 Secured Notes indenture. For illustration purposes, a 9.000% interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes was utilized for the periods 2023 through 2026. If we fail to make certain offers to purchase the 2026 Secured Notes, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes will increase. See Note 9 – Debt to the consolidated financial statements and the “The interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes will be increased if the Partnership fails to make certain offers to purchase 2026 Secured Notes” section of Item 1A. Risk Factors for additional details.

(1)

The Partnership issued a parental guaranty on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary to fund the subsidiary’s pro rata share of required Double E construction project capital calls. As of December 31, 2020, this amount represents the Partnership's best estimate of its remaining obligation to fund Double E for the construction of the Double E Project.

(2)(2)Amounts include an estimate for interest cost based on either the stated interest rate for fixed rate indebtedness or the interest rate in effect as of December 31, 2022 for variable rate indebtedness.

For the purposes of calculating future interest payments we assumed no change in balance or rate from December 31, 2020. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

(3)Amounts include mandatory principal repayments of $10.5 million in 2023, $15.5 million in 2024, $16.6 million in 2025, $17.0 million in 2026, and $17.8 million in 2027.
(4)Global Settlement amounts in the table exclude interest owed on the unpaid portion. See Note 10 - Commitments and Contingencies to the consolidated financial statements for additional details.
Capital Requirements

Our business is capital intensive, requiring significant investment for the maintenance of existing gathering systems and the acquisition or construction and development of new gathering systems and other midstream assets and facilities. Our Partnership Agreement requires that we categorize our capital expenditures as either:

maintenance capital expenditures, which are cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to, or the replacement of, our capital assets or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital assets) made to maintain our long-term operating income or operating capacity; or

maintenance capital expenditures, which are cash expenditures (including expenditures for the addition or improvement to, or the replacement of, our capital assets or for the acquisition of existing, or the construction or development of new, capital assets) made to maintain our long-term operating income or operating capacity; or

expansion capital expenditures, which are cash expenditures incurred for acquisitions or capital improvements that we expect will increase our operating income or operating capacity over the long term.

expansion capital expenditures, which are cash expenditures incurred for acquisitions or capital improvements that we expect will increase our operating income or operating capacity over the long term.
For the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, cash paid for capital expenditures totaled $43.1$30.5 million which included $14.1$11.0 million of maintenance capital expenditures. For the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, we contributed $99.9$8.4 million to Double E.

We rely primarily on internally generated cash flow as well as external financing sources, including commercial bank borrowings and the issuance of debt, equity and preferred equity securities, and proceeds from asset divestitures to fund our capital expenditures. We believe that our Revolving Credit Facility, together with internally generated cash flow and access to debt or equity capital markets, will be adequate to finance our business for the next twelve months without adversely impacting our liquidity.

With the completion of our 60 MMcf/d DJ Basin processing plant and compression expansions in the Permian Basin, capital expenditures began to decline in the third and fourth quarter of 2019 and continued throughout 2020. We will remain disciplined with respect to future capital expenditures, which will be primarily concentrated on the Double E Project and accretive expansions of our existing systems in our Core Focus Areas. We continue to advance our financing plans for our equity interest in Double E, which we intend to be credit positive to Summit. We are currently targeting a financing structure that limits cash payments by us during 2021, and which shifts a substantial majority of our Double E capital commitments to third parties, including commercial banks. On December 24, 2019, we entered into an agreement with TPG to fund up to $80.0 million of Permian Holdco’s future capital calls associated with the Double E Project. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, Permian Holdco issued 55,251 and 30,000 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units to TPG for net proceeds of $48.7 million and $27.4 million, respectively.

We estimate that our 20212023 capital program will range from $20.0$45.0 million to $35.0$65.0 million, including approximatelybetween $10.0 million and $15.0 million of maintenance capital expenditures.

We estimate investment in Double E equity method investee of approximately $5.0 million.

There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our current expectations to change, including, but not limited to, (i) the ability to reach agreement with third parties; (ii) prevailing conditions and outlook in the natural gas, crude oil and NGL
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industries and markets and (iii) our ability to obtain financing from commercial banks, the capital markets, or other financing sources.

Credit and Counterparty Concentration Risks

We examine the creditworthiness of counterparties to whom we extend credit and manage our exposure to credit risk through credit analysis, credit approval, credit limits and monitoring procedures, and for certain transactions, we may request letters of credit, prepayments or guarantees.

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Certain of our customers may be temporarily unable to meet their current obligations. While this may cause a disruption to cash flows, we believe that we are properly positioned to deal with the potential disruption because the vast majority of our gathering assets are strategically positioned at the beginning of the midstream value chain. The majority of our infrastructure is connected directly to our customers’ wellheads and pad sites, which means our gathering systems are typically the first third-party infrastructure through which our customers’ commodities flow and, in many cases, the only way for our customers to get their production to market.

We have exposure due to nonperformance under our MVC contracts whereby a customer, who wasdoes not meetingmeet its MVCs, does not have the wherewithal to make its MVC shortfall payments when they become due. We typically receive payment for all prior-year MVC shortfall billings in the quarter immediately following billing. Therefore, our exposure to risk of nonperformance is limited to and accumulates during the current year-to-date contracted measurement period.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We may enter into off-balance sheet arrangements and transactions that can give rise to material off-balance sheet obligations. As of December 31, 2020, our material off-balance sheet arrangements and transactions include (i) a parental guaranty issued on behalf of a wholly owned subsidiary to fund the subsidiary’s pro rata share of required Double E Project construction related capital calls, with the wholly owned subsidiary having an estimated $172.4 million of remaining capital calls due for construction based on the Partnership’s best estimate at December 31, 2020, (ii) letters of credit outstanding against our Revolving Credit Facility aggregating to $4.1 million, and (iii) outstanding surety bonds aggregating to $7.1 million. There are no other transactions, arrangements or other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that are reasonably likely to materially affect our liquidity or availability of our capital resources.

Summarized Financial Information

On March 2, 2020, the SEC issued Final Rule Release No. 33-10762, Financial Disclosures about Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities and Affiliates Whose Securities Collateralize a Registrant’s Securities (“Release 33-10762”), that amends the disclosure requirements related to certain registered securities that are guaranteed and those that are collateralized by the securities of an affiliate.

Under Release 33-10762, an SEC registrant may continue to omit separate financial statements of subsidiary issuers and guarantors when (1) the subsidiary issuer is consolidated with the parent company and its security is either (a) co-issued jointly and severally with the parent company’s security or (b) the subsidiary issuer’s security is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the parent company and (2) the parent company provides supplemental financial and non-financial disclosure about the subsidiary issuers and/or guarantors and the guarantees.

The rules become effective January 4, 2021, with voluntary compliance permitted immediately. The Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by SMLP and the Guarantor Subsidiaries (see Note 9 - Debt).SMLP has concluded that it is eligible to provide Alternative Disclosures under the amended disclosure requirements and has early adopted Release 33-10762.

The supplemental summarized financial information below reflects SMLP’s separate accounts, the combined accounts of the Co-Issuers and the Guarantor Subsidiaries (the Co-Issuers and, together with the Guarantor Subsidiaries, the “Obligor Group”) for the dates and periods indicated. The financial information of the Obligor Group is presented on a combined basis and intercompany balances and transactions between the Co-Issuers and Guarantor Subsidiaries have been eliminated. There were no reportable transactions between the Co-Issuers and Obligor Group and the subsidiaries that were not issuers or guarantors of the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Senior Notes.

Payments to holders of the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes are affected by the composition of and relationships among the Co-Issuers, the Guarantor Subsidiaries and Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries, who are unrestricted subsidiaries of SMLP and are not issuers or guarantors of the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes. The assets of our unrestricted subsidiaries are not available to satisfy the demands of the holders of the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes. In addition, our unrestricted subsidiaries are subject to certain contractual restrictions related to the payment of dividends, and other rights in favor of their non-affiliated stakeholders, that limit their ability to satisfy the demands of the holders of the 2025 Senior Notes and the 2026 Secured Notes.
On June 30, 2022, we completed the sale of all the equity interests in Summit Permian and Permian Finance to a third party.Additionally, on September 19, 2022, we completed the sale of Bison Midstream to a third party. In connection with these dispositions, the status of Bison Midstream, Summit Permian and Permian Finance as guarantor subsidiaries, was modified prior to the occurrence of each respective disposition.
On December 1, 2022, we completed the acquisition of Outrigger DJ for cash consideration of $165.0 million, subject to post-closing adjustments, and Sterling DJ for cash consideration of $140.0 million, subject to post-closing adjustments. In connection with the acquisitions, Summit DJ - O, LLC (formerly Outrigger DJ Midstream, LLC), Summit DJ - O Operating, LLC (formerly Outrigger DJ Operating, LLC), Summit DJ - S, LLC (formerly Sterling Energy Investments, LLC), Grasslands Energy Marketing, LLC and Centennial Water Pipelines, LLC became newly acquired entities. With the exception of Centennial Water Pipeline, LLC, all acquired entities guarantee our obligations under the 2025 Senior Notes and 2026 Secured Notes.

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The summarized financial information below presents the activities and balances of Contents

Bison Midstream, Summit Permian and Summit Finance as guarantor subsidiaries for all summarized income statement periods and balance sheet dates presented in which they were owned by the Partnership. Bison Midstream, Summit Permian and Permian Finance were not included in the Partnership’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2022 and their assets and liabilities are not included in the December 31, 2022 summarized balance sheet below.

A list of each of SMLP’s subsidiaries that is a guarantor, issuer or co-issuer of our registered securities subject to the reporting requirements in Release 33-10762 is filed as Exhibit 22.1 to this Annual Report.

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Summarized Balance Sheet Information. Summarized balance sheet information as of December 31, 20202022 and December 31, 20192021 follow.

 

December 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2022

 

SMLP

 

 

Obligor Group

 

SMLPObligor Group

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

Current assets

 

$

2,265

 

 

$

78,304

 

Current assets$2,553 $86,443 

Noncurrent assets

 

 

6,952

 

 

 

2,277,807

 

Noncurrent assets8,274 2,130,052 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

Current liabilities

 

$

13,339

 

 

$

50,192

 

Current liabilities$16,345 $79,841 

Noncurrent liabilities

 

 

19,987

 

 

 

1,398,872

 

Noncurrent liabilities2,172 1,410,370 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2021

 

SMLP

 

 

Obligor Group

 

SMLPObligor Group

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assets

Current assets

 

$

2,311

 

 

$

109,664

 

Current assets$2,495 $70,483 

Noncurrent assets

 

 

9,572

 

 

 

2,389,032

 

Noncurrent assets4,776 2,149,300 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities

Current liabilities

 

$

9,662

 

 

$

73,877

 

Current liabilities$12,463 $58,658 

Noncurrent liabilities

 

 

184,088

 

 

 

1,514,250

 

Noncurrent liabilities1,771 1,274,803 

Summarized Statements of Operations Information. For the purposes of the following summarized statements of operations, we allocate a portion of general and administrative expenses recognized at the SMLP parent to the Obligor Group to reflect what those entities' results would have been had they operated on a stand-alone basis. Summarized statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 20202022 and 20192021 follow.

 

Year ended December 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2022

 

SMLP

 

 

Obligor Group

 

SMLPObligor Group

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Total revenues

 

$

 

 

$

383,473

 

Total revenues$— $369,592 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

26,169

 

 

 

302,989

 

Total costs and expenses10,505 411,640 

Income (loss) before income taxes and income from

equity method investees

 

 

(26,000

)

 

 

122,108

 

Loss before income taxes and income from
equity method investees
Loss before income taxes and income from
equity method investees
(10,505)(136,912)

Income from equity method investees

 

 

 

 

 

13,073

 

Income from equity method investees— 13,358 

Net income (loss)

 

$

(26,016

)

 

$

135,181

 

Net lossNet loss$(10,827)$(123,554)

 

Year ended December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2021

 

SMLP

 

 

Obligor Group

 

SMLPObligor Group

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Total revenues

 

$

 

 

$

443,528

 

Total revenues$— $400,619 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

4,401

 

 

 

397,939

 

Total costs and expenses23,989 317,975 

Loss before income taxes and income from

equity method investees

 

 

(1,968

)

 

 

(28,840

)

Income (loss) before income taxes and income from
equity method investees
Income (loss) before income taxes and income from
equity method investees
(37,618)13,931 

Income from equity method investees

 

 

 

 

 

(336,950

)

Income from equity method investees— 9,116 

Net loss

 

$

(3,142

)

 

$

(365,790

)

Net income (loss)Net income (loss)$(37,291)$23,047 

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Critical Accounting Estimates

The discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the amounts of assets, liabilities,

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revenues and expenses and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We evaluate our estimates on an on-going basis, based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following describes significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Impairment of

Long-Lived Assets. Our long-lived assets consist of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets that have been obtained by multiple business combinations and property, plant and equipment that has been constructed in recent years. The initial recording of a majority of these long-lived assets was at fair value, which is estimated by management primarily utilizing market-related information, asset specific information and other projections on the performance of the assets acquired (including an analysis of discounted cash flows which can involve assumptions on weighted average cost of capital and projected cash flows of the assets acquired). Management reviews this information to determine its reasonableness in comparison to the assumptions utilized in determining the purchase price of the assets in addition to other market-based information that was received through the purchase process and other sources. These projections also include projections on potential and contractual obligations assumed in these acquisitions. Due to the imprecise nature of the projections and assumptions utilized in determining fair value, actual results can and often do, differ from our estimates.
As of December 31, 2020,2022, we had net property, plant and equipment with a carrying value of approximately $1.8$1.7 billion and net amortizing intangible assets with a carrying value of approximately $200.0$198.7 million. When evidence exists that we will not be able to recover a long-lived asset's carrying value through future cash flows, we write down the carrying value of the asset to its estimated fair value. We test assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. With respect to property, plant and equipment and our amortizing intangible assets, the carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if the carrying value exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the asset's use and eventual disposal. In this situation, we would recognize an impairment loss equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the asset's fair value. We determine fair value using a combination of approaches, including a market-based approach and an income-based approach in which we discount the asset's expected future cash flows to reflect the risk associated with achieving the underlying cash flows. Any impairment determinations involve significant assumptions and judgments. Differing assumptions regarding any of these inputs could have a significant effect on the various valuations. As such, the fair value measurements utilized within these estimates are classified as non-recurring Level 3 measurements in the fair value hierarchy because they are not observable from objective sources. Due to the volatility of the inputs used, we cannot predict the likelihood of any future impairment.

We evaluate our equity method investments for impairment when we believe the current fair value may be less than the carrying amount and record an impairment if we believe the decline in value is other than temporary.

Adjustments for MVC Shortfall Payments. For our calculation of segment adjusted EBITDA, we estimate the impact of expected MVC shortfall payments based on assumptions that include, but are not limited to, contract terms, historical volume throughput data, and expectations regarding future investment expenditures, customer drilling activities, and customer production volumes.

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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Interest Rate Risk

Our current interest rate risk exposure is largely related to our indebtedness. As of December 31, 2020,2022, we had $493.5 million$1.0 billion principal amount of fixed-rate Senior Notes and $857.0debt, $330.0 million outstanding under our variable rate Revolving Credit Facility.ABL Facility and $155.4 million outstanding under our variable rate Permian Transmission Term Loan. As of December 31, 2022, we had $139.8 million of interest rate exposure hedged to offset the impact of changes in interest rates on our Permian Transmission Term Loan. While existing fixed-rate debt mitigates the downside impact of fluctuations in interest rates, future issuances of long-term debt could be impacted by increases in interest rates, which could result in higher overall interest costs. In addition, the borrowings under our Revolving CreditABL Facility, which have a variable interest rate, also expose us to the risk of increasing interest rates. For the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, a hypothetical 1% increase (decrease) in interest rates on our variable rate debt would have increased (decreased) our interest expense by approximately $7.7$3.6 million assuming no changes in amounts drawn or other variables under our Revolving CreditABL Facility or Senior Notes.

Permian Transmission Term Loan.

Commodity Price Risk

We generate a majority of our revenues pursuant to primarily long-term and fee-based gathering agreements, many of which include MVCs and areas of mutual interest. Our direct commodity price exposure relates to (i) the sale of physical natural gas and/or NGLs purchased under percentage-of-proceeds and other processing arrangements with certain of our customers in the Williston Basin,Rockies, Permian and Piceance Basin, and Permian Basin segments, (ii) the sale of natural gas we retain from certain Barnett Shale segment customers and (iii) the sale of condensate we retain from certain gathering services in the Piceance Basin segment. Our gathering agreements with certain Barnett Shale customers permit us to retain a certain quantity of natural gas that we sell to offset the power costs we incur to operate our electric-drive compression assets. We manage our direct exposure to natural gas and power prices through the use of forward power purchase contracts with wholesale power providers that require us to purchase a fixed quantity of power at a fixed heat rate based on prevailing natural gas prices on the Henry Hub Index. We sell retainage natural gas at prices that are based on the Atmos Zone 3 Index. By basing the power prices on a system and basin-relevant market, we are able to closely associate the relationship between the compression electricity expense and natural gas retainage sales. We do not enter into risk management contracts for speculative purposes.

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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors of Summit Midstream, GP, LLC and the unitholders of Summit Midstream Partners, LP

Houston, Texas

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Summit Midstream Partners, LP and subsidiaries (the "Partnership") as of December 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, the related consolidated statements of operations, partners' capital, and cash flows, for each of the two years thenin the period ended December 31, 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of the other auditors, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the CompanyPartnership as of December 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the two years thenin the period ended December 31, 2022, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We did not audit the financial statements of Ohio Gathering Company, L.L.C. (“Ohio Gathering”) as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, the Partnership’s investment in which is accounted for by use of the equity method. The accompanying financial statements of the Partnership include its equity investment in Ohio Gathering of $275,000,000 as of December 31, 2019, and its loss from equity method investee in Ohio Gathering of $329,736,000 for the year then ended. Those statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Ohio Gathering for 2019, prior to the 2019 impairment loss discussed in Note 7, which was audited by us, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020,2022, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 4, 2021February 28, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Partnership's internal control over financial reporting.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Partnership's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Partnership's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Partnership in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits and the report of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matters

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing a separate opinionopinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

GP Buy-In Transaction

Acquisitions and Divestitures – Purchase Price Accounting — Refer to Notes 1 and 14Note 3 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

As described in Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements, on May 28, 2020,December 1, 2022, the transactions contemplated byPartnership completed the Purchase Agreement (the “GP Buy-In Transaction”acquisitions of Outrigger DJ Midstream LLC (“Outrigger DJ”) closed. As a resultfor cash consideration of $165.0 million, and Sterling Energy Investments LLC, Grasslands Energy Marketing LLC and Centennial Water Pipelines LLC (collectively, “Sterling DJ”) for cash consideration of $140.0 million. The acquisitions of Outrigger DJ and Sterling DJ constituted business combinations and were accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their preliminary estimated fair values at the date of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership now indirectly owns its General Partner, Summit Midstream Partners LLC (“Summit Investments”). Under GAAP, the GP Buy-In Transaction was deemed a transaction among entities under common control with a change in reporting entity. Although the Partnershipacquisition. The valuation of certain assets, including property, are based on preliminary appraisals. The fair value of acquired equipment is the surviving entitybased on both available market data and cost and income approaches. These methods are considered Level 3 fair value estimates and include significant assumptions of future gathering and processing volumes, commodity prices, and operating and capital cost estimates, discounted using weighted average cost of capital for legal purposes, Summit Investments is the surviving entity for accounting purposes; therefore, the historical financial results included herein prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction are those of Summit Investments.

industry peers.

We identified the GP Buy-In Transaction as a significantvaluation of property, plant and unusual transactionequipment and intangible assets related to the Outrigger DJ and Sterling DJ acquisitions as a critical audit matter because of the significant estimates and assumptions made by management. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of effort, including the involvement of our fair value specialists, when performing audit effort necessaryprocedures to perform procedures and evaluate the audit evidence obtained relating to management’s accounting forreasonableness of management's selection of a weighted average cost of capital, and the GP Buy-In Transaction due to the pervasive naturepreliminary appraisal and fair value of the GP Buy-In Transaction on the composition of the Partnership’s consolidated financial statementsacquired property, plant and disclosures, including judgements necessary to combine legacy Summit Investments into the Partnership.

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equipment and intangible assets.
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How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to evaluatingmanagement's selection of a weighted average cost of capital, and the accounting treatmentpreliminary appraisal and fair value of the GP Buy-in Transactionacquired property, plant and equipment and intangible assets included the following, among others:

We tested the effectiveness of controls over the Partnership’s accounting for significant unusual transactions, including management’s controls over the identification and application of relevant GAAP, and over the combination and presentation of the historical carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements.

We tested the effectiveness of controls over the purchase price allocation, including management's controls over the assumptions used in the valuation of the property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, including estimating the preliminary appraisal and fair value of the acquired property, plant and equipment and intangible assets, determination of the weighted average cost of capital, and reviewing the work of third-party specialists.

We read the GP Buy-In Transaction agreements and evaluated the reasonableness of management’s assessment of the accounting associated with the transaction between entities under common control and the completeness and accuracy of the consolidated financial statements, including the retrospective consolidation of Summit Investments within the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

We evaluated the sufficiency of the disclosures in the consolidated financial statements of the Partnership with respect to this matter.

CommitmentsWith the assistance of our fair value specialists, we evaluated the reasonableness of the purchase price allocations of the Outrigger DJ and Contingencies — Environmental Matters —Sterling DJ acquisitions by:

Evaluating the appropriateness of the valuation methodology.
Testing the cost to acquire or construct comparable assets and the remaining useful lives used for the cost approach for property, plant and equipment, including comparing such estimates to independent market information to determine reasonableness.
Testing the methodology used for the valuation of intangible assets, including rights-of-way.
Developing a range of independent estimates of the weighted average cost of capital for industry peers and comparing to the weighted average cost of capital utilized by management.
Evaluated management's use of experts related to the valuation of certain acquired assets including qualifications and methodology.
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net - Determination of Impairment Indicators– Refer to Notes 2 and 115 to the financial statements

Critical Audit Matter Description

In 2015,

As described in Notes 2 and 5 to the Partnership's consolidated financial statements, the Partnership learnedrecorded approximately $1.5 billion of the rupture of a four-inch produced water gathering pipeline on the Meadowlark Midstream Company, LLC (“Meadowlark Midstream”) system near Williston, North Dakota (“Meadowlark Rupture”). The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued grand jury subpoenas to Summit Investments, the Partnership, the Partnership’s General Partnerproperty, plant and Meadowlark Midstream requesting certain materials related to the Meadowlark Rupture. Meadowlark Midstream and Summit Investments received a complaint from the North Dakota Industrial Commission seeking fines and other fees related to the incident, and this matter is also under investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the North Dakota Office of the Attorney General, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Discussions with the DOJ and other agencies regarding a resolution of this matter are ongoing. Liability for this incident could arise under civil and misdemeanor and felony criminal statutes, including the Clean Water Act.

When required, the Partnership records accruals for loss contingencies in accordance with FASB ASC 450, Contingencies. Such determinations are subject to interpretations of current facts and circumstances, forecasts of future events and estimates of the financial impacts of such events. Asequipment, net as of December 31, 2020,2022. The Partnership tests assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If the Partnership has accrued a $17.0 million loss contingency for this matter.  Whileconcludes that an asset’s carrying value will not be recovered through future cash flows, the Partnership believes arecognizes an impairment loss for claims and/or actions arising fromon the Meadowlark Rupture, whether in a negotiated settlement or as a result of litigation, is probable, duelong-lived asset equal to the complexity of resolvingamount by which the numerous issues surrounding this matter, at this time the Partnership cannot reasonably predict whether any actual loss, if incurred, would be materially higher or lower than the accrued amount.  

carrying value exceeds its fair value.

We have identified the accrued loss contingencydetermination of impairment indicators for the Meadowlark Rupturelong-lived assets as a critical audit matter becausedue to the significant judgments management makes when determining whether events or changes in circumstances have occurred indicating that the carrying amounts of the challenges of auditinglong-lived assets may not be recoverable. Auditing management’s judgments applied in determining the accrued loss contingency as of December 31, 2020. Specifically, auditing management’s interpretations of the current facts and circumstances, forecasts of future events and estimates of the financial impacts of such events is subjective and requires significantjudgements involved especially challenging auditor judgment due to the complexitynature and extent of resolvingaudit effort required to address these matters, including the numerous issues surrounding this matter.

degree of auditor judgment and the extent of specialized knowledge needed.

How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit

Our audit procedures related to evaluating the accrued loss contingencyidentification of impairment indicators for the Meadowlark Rupturelong-lived assets included the following, among others:

We evaluated management’s analysis of claims and/or actions arising from the Meadowlark Rupture, read Board of Directors meeting minutes, including relevant sub-committee meeting minutes, and compared to responses from internal and external counsel.

We tested the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting related to management’s identification of possible impairment indicators for long-lived assets that may indicate the carrying amount of long-lived assets may not be recoverable.

We obtained letters from the Partnership’s internal and external legal counsel as it relates to potential claims and/or actions arising from the Meadowlark Rupture.

We evaluated management’s analysis of impairment indicators by:

We evaluated any events subsequent to December 31, 2020, that might impact our evaluation of claims and/or actions arising from the Meadowlark Rupture, including any related accrual or disclosure.

Assessing whether long-lived assets having indicators of impairment were appropriately identified.
Considering industry and analysts reports and the impact of macroeconomic factors, such as adverse changes in the regulatory environment, legislation or other factors that may represent impairment indicators not previously contemplated in management's analysis.
Evaluating management’s judgments around historical trends, macroeconomic and industry conditions, and whether projections are consistent with the Partnership’s operating strategy.
Inquiry of management over whether long-lived assets may be sold or otherwise disposed of significantly before the end of the assets' previously estimated useful life.
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Inspect management’s plans to sell as well as purchase and sale agreements for assets sold.
Inspecting minutes of the board of directors and committees of executive management to understand if there were factors that would represent potential impairment indicators for long-lived assets.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Houston, Texas

March 4, 2021

February 28, 2023
We have served as the Partnership's auditor since 2009.

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SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

December 31,

 

 

December 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

December 31,
2022
December 31,
2021

 

(In thousands, except unit amounts)

 

(In thousands, except unit amounts)

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

15,544

 

 

$

9,530

 

Cash and cash equivalents$11,808 $7,349 

Restricted cash

 

 

 

 

 

27,392

 

Restricted cash1,723 12,223 

Accounts receivable

 

 

61,932

 

 

 

97,418

 

Accounts receivable75,287 62,121 

Other current assets

 

 

4,623

 

 

 

5,521

 

Other current assets8,724 5,676 

Total current assets

 

 

82,099

 

 

 

139,861

 

Total current assets97,542 87,369 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

1,817,546

 

 

 

1,882,489

 

Property, plant and equipment, net1,718,754 1,726,082 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

199,566

 

 

 

232,278

 

Intangible assets, net198,718 172,927 

Investment in equity method investees

 

 

392,740

 

 

 

309,728

 

Investment in equity method investees506,677 523,196 

Other noncurrent assets

 

 

7,866

 

 

 

9,742

 

Other noncurrent assets38,273 12,888 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

2,499,817

 

 

$

2,574,098

 

TOTAL ASSETS$2,559,964 $2,522,462 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL

Trade accounts payable

 

$

11,878

 

 

$

24,415

 

Trade accounts payable$14,052 $10,498 

Accrued expenses

 

 

13,036

 

 

 

11,339

 

Accrued expenses20,601 14,462 

Deferred revenue

 

 

9,988

 

 

 

13,493

 

Deferred revenue9,054 10,374 

Ad valorem taxes payable

 

 

9,086

 

 

 

8,477

 

Ad valorem taxes payable10,245 8,570 

Accrued compensation and employee benefits

 

 

9,658

 

 

 

8,719

 

Accrued compensation and employee benefits16,319 11,019 

Accrued interest

 

 

8,007

 

 

 

12,346

 

Accrued interest17,355 12,737 

Accrued environmental remediation

 

 

1,392

 

 

 

1,725

 

Accrued environmental remediation1,365 3,068 
Accrued settlement payableAccrued settlement payable6,667 4,833 
Current portion of long-term debtCurrent portion of long-term debt10,507 — 

Other current liabilities

 

 

5,363

 

 

 

3,487

 

Other current liabilities11,724 3,676 

Current portion of SMPH term loan

 

 

 

 

 

5,546

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

68,408

 

 

 

89,547

 

Total current liabilities117,889 79,237 

Long-term debt

 

 

1,347,326

 

 

 

1,622,279

 

Long-term debt, netLong-term debt, net1,479,855 1,355,072 

Noncurrent deferred revenue

 

 

48,250

 

 

 

38,709

 

Noncurrent deferred revenue37,694 42,570 

Noncurrent accrued environmental remediation

 

 

1,537

 

 

 

2,926

 

Noncurrent accrued environmental remediation2,340 2,538 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

 

21,747

 

 

 

7,951

 

Other noncurrent liabilities38,784 32,357 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,487,268

 

 

 

1,761,412

 

Total liabilities1,676,562 1,511,774 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)
Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mezzanine Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mezzanine Capital

Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units (55,251 and 30,058 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

89,658

 

 

 

27,450

 

Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units (93,039 and 91,439 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units (93,039 and 91,439 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)118,584 106,325 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A Preferred Units (162,109 and 300,000 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

174,425

 

 

 

293,616

 

Common limited partner capital (6,110,092 and 3,021,258 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)

 

 

748,466

 

 

 

305,550

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

 

 

 

186,070

 

Total partners' capital

 

 

922,891

 

 

 

785,236

 

Partners CapitalPartners Capital
Series A Preferred Units (65,508 and 143,447 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)Series A Preferred Units (65,508 and 143,447 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)85,327 169,769 
Common limited partner capital (10,182,763 and 7,169,834 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)Common limited partner capital (10,182,763 and 7,169,834 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively)679,491 734,594 
Total partners capitalTotal partners capital764,818 904,363 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL

 

$

2,499,817

 

 

$

2,574,098

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL$2,559,964 $2,522,462 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

101

99

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Year ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

20222021

 

(In thousands, except per-unit amount)

 

(In thousands, except per-unit amount)

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues:

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

302,792

 

 

$

326,747

 

Gathering services and related fees$248,358 $281,705 

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

 

 

49,319

 

 

 

86,994

 

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales86,225 82,768 

Other revenues

 

 

31,362

 

 

 

29,787

 

Other revenues35,011 36,145 

Total revenues

 

 

383,473

 

 

 

443,528

 

Total revenues369,594 400,618 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

Cost of natural gas and NGLs

 

 

36,653

 

 

 

63,438

 

Cost of natural gas and NGLs76,826 81,969 

Operation and maintenance

 

 

86,030

 

 

 

98,719

 

Operation and maintenance84,152 74,178 

General and administrative

 

 

73,438

 

 

 

55,947

 

General and administrative44,943 58,166 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

118,132

 

 

 

110,354

 

Depreciation and amortization119,055 119,076 

Transaction costs

 

 

2,993

 

 

 

3,017

 

Transaction costs6,968 1,677 

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(307

)

 

 

(1,536

)

Gain on asset sales, net(507)(369)

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

13,089

 

 

 

60,507

 

Long-lived asset impairment91,644 10,151 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

0

 

 

 

16,211

 

Total costs and expenses

 

 

330,028

 

 

 

406,657

 

Total costs and expenses423,081 344,848 

Other income

 

 

48

 

 

 

451

 

Other expense, netOther expense, net(4)(613)
Gain on interest rate swapsGain on interest rate swaps16,414 — 
Loss on sale of businessLoss on sale of business(1,741)— 
Loss on ECP WarrantsLoss on ECP Warrants— (13,634)

Interest expense

 

 

(78,894

)

 

 

(91,966

)

Interest expense(102,459)(66,156)

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

203,062

 

 

 

0

 

Income (loss) before income taxes and

equity method investment income (loss)

 

 

177,661

 

 

 

(54,644

)

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

 

146

 

 

 

(1,231

)

Income (loss) from equity method investees

 

 

11,271

 

 

 

(337,851

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

189,078

 

 

$

(393,726

)

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(3,274

)

 

 

(209,275

)

Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners

 

 

192,352

 

 

 

(184,451

)

Net income attributable to Series A Preferred Units

 

 

26,529

 

 

 

28,500

 

Net income attributable to Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units

 

 

13,498

 

 

 

58

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deemed contribution from preferred unit exchange and purchase

 

 

110,669

 

 

 

0

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners

 

$

262,994

 

 

$

(213,009

)

Loss on early extinguishment of debtLoss on early extinguishment of debt— (3,523)
Loss before income taxes and equity method investment incomeLoss before income taxes and equity method investment income(141,277)(28,156)
Income tax (expense) benefitIncome tax (expense) benefit(325)327 
Income from equity method investeesIncome from equity method investees18,141 7,880 
Net lossNet loss$(123,461)$(19,949)
Less: Net income attributable to Subsidiary Series A Preferred UnitsLess: Net income attributable to Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units(17,144)(16,667)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (Loss) per limited partner unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Summit Midstream Partners, LPNet loss attributable to Summit Midstream Partners, LP$(140,605)$(36,616)
Less: net income attributable to Series A Preferred UnitsLess: net income attributable to Series A Preferred Units(8,048)(15,998)
Add: deemed capital contributionAdd: deemed capital contribution20,974 8,326 
Net loss attributable to common limited partnersNet loss attributable to common limited partners$(127,679)$(44,288)
Net loss per limited partner unit:Net loss per limited partner unit:

Common unit – basic

 

$

73.22

 

 

$

(70.50

)

Common unit – basic$(12.71)$(6.57)

Common unit – diluted

 

$

71.19

 

 

$

(70.50

)

Common unit – diluted$(12.71)$(6.57)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average limited partner units outstanding:

Common units – basic

 

 

3,592

 

 

 

3,021

 

Common units – basic10,048 6,741 

Common units – diluted

 

 

3,694

 

 

 

3,021

 

Common units – diluted10,048 6,741 


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

102

100

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS'PARTNERS CAPITAL

 

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A Preferred Units

 

 

Common Noncontrolling Interests (1)

 

 

Series A Preferred Units

 

 

Partners' Capital

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Partners' capital, December 31, 2018

 

$

293,616

 

 

$

554,472

 

 

$

 

 

$

543,479

 

 

$

1,391,567

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

28,500

 

 

 

(209,275

)

 

 

 

 

 

(213,009

)

 

 

(393,784

)

Net cash distributions SMLP unitholders

 

 

(28,500

)

 

 

(68,874

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(97,374

)

Net cash distributions to Energy Capital

   Partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(120,730

)

 

 

(120,730

)

Unit-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

8,171

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8,171

 

Effect of common unit issuances under

   SMLP LTIP

 

 

 

 

 

2,664

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,664

)

 

 

 

Tax withholdings and associated

   payments on vested SMLP

   LTIP awards

 

 

 

 

 

(2,614

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,614

)

Conversion of noncontrolling interest

   related to cancellation of subsidiary

   incentive distribution rights

 

 

 

 

 

(48,203

)

 

 

 

 

 

48,203

 

 

 

 

Conversion of noncontrolling interest

   related to partial cancellation of

   subsidiary of payable

 

 

 

 

 

(50,271

)

 

 

 

 

 

50,271

 

 

 

 

Partners' capital, December 31, 2019

 

 

293,616

 

 

 

186,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

305,550

 

 

 

785,236

 

Net income

 

 

11,875

 

 

 

(3,274

)

 

 

14,654

 

 

 

152,325

 

 

 

175,580

 

Unit-based compensation

 

 

 

 

 

4,054

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,057

 

 

 

8,111

 

Tax withholdings and associated

   payments on vested SMLP

   LTIP awards

 

 

 

 

 

(1,018

)

 

 

 

 

 

(438

)

 

 

(1,456

)

Tax withholdings on Series A Preferred

   Unit Exchange

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(237

)

 

 

(237

)

Net cash distribution to SMLP

   unitholders

 

 

 

 

 

(6,037

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(6,037

)

Effect of common issuances under

   SMLP LTIP

 

 

 

 

 

2,322

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2,322

)

 

 

 

GP-Buy-In Transaction assumption of

   noncontrolling interest in SMLP

 

 

(305,491

)

 

 

(182,117

)

 

 

305,491

 

 

 

182,117

 

 

 

 

Repurchase of common units under

   GP Buy-In Transaction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(44,078

)

 

 

(44,078

)

Common unit issuance due to

   TL Restructuring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,521

 

 

 

30,521

 

Effect of Exchange Offer and Preferred

   Tender(2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(145,720

)

 

 

120,720

 

 

 

(25,000

)

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

251

 

 

 

251

 

Partners' capital December 31, 2020

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

174,425

 

 

$

748,466

 

 

$

922,891

 

Partners Capital
Series A Preferred UnitsCommon Limited Partner CapitalTotal
(In thousands)
Partners capital, December 31, 2020$174,425 $748,466 $922,891 
Net income (loss)15,998 (52,614)(36,616)
Unit-based compensation— 4,744 4,744 
Tax withholdings and associated payments on vested SMLP LTIP awards— (1,733)(1,733)
Tax withholdings on Series A Preferred Unit Exchange— (465)(465)
Effect of 2021 Preferred Exchange Offer, inclusive of an $8.3 million deemed contribution to common unit holders(20,654)20,654 — 
Exercise of ECP Warrants— 15,542 15,542 
Partners capital, December 31, 2021169,769 734,594 904,363 
Net income (loss)8,145 (148,743)(140,598)
Unit-based compensation— 3,778 3,778 
Tax withholdings and associated payments on vested SMLP LTIP awards— (1,198)(1,198)
Tax withholdings on 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer— (2,652)(2,652)
LTIP cash to equity conversion— 1,125 1,125 
Effect of 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer, inclusive of a $20.9 million deemed contribution to common unit holders(92,587)92,587 — 
Partners capital, December 31, 2022$85,327 $679,491 $764,818 

(1)Prior to the GP Buy-in Transaction, common noncontrolling interests reported by Summit Investments included equity interests in SMLP that were not owned by Summit Investments.  

(2) Includes deemed contributions of $54.9 million and $55.7 million related to the Exchange Offer and Tender Offer, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

103

101

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

Year ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

20222021

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)

 

$

189,078

 

 

$

(393,726

)

Net lossNet loss$(123,461)$(19,949)

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net

cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

119,070

 

 

 

111,574

 

Depreciation and amortization119,993 119,995 

Noncash lease expense

 

 

3,242

 

 

 

3,086

 

Noncash lease expense885 1,104 

Amortization of debt issuance costs

 

 

6,608

 

 

 

6,313

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs9,326 7,017 

Unit-based and noncash compensation

 

 

8,111

 

 

 

8,171

 

Unit-based and noncash compensation3,778 4,744 

(Income) loss from equity method investees

 

 

(11,271

)

 

 

337,851

 

Income from equity method investeesIncome from equity method investees(18,141)(7,880)

Distributions from equity method investees

 

 

28,185

 

 

 

37,300

 

Distributions from equity method investees43,040 26,760 

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(307

)

 

 

(1,536

)

Gain on asset sales, net(507)(369)

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

(206,975

)

 

 

0

 

Gain on fair value of warrants

 

 

(393

)

 

 

0

 

Settlement of interest rate derivative

 

 

134

 

 

 

0

 

Loss on sale of businessLoss on sale of business1,741 — 
Loss on extinguishment of debtLoss on extinguishment of debt— 3,245 
Loss on ECP Warrants and otherLoss on ECP Warrants and other— 13,635 
Unrealized (gain) loss on interest rate swapsUnrealized (gain) loss on interest rate swaps(16,016)779 

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

13,089

 

 

 

60,507

 

Long-lived asset impairment91,644 10,151 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

0

 

 

 

16,211

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable

 

 

35,352

 

 

 

(5,466

)

Accounts receivable284 (178)

Trade accounts payable

 

 

(4,063

)

 

 

(96

)

Trade accounts payable2,248 (89)

Accrued expenses

 

 

2,841

 

 

 

(10,572

)

Accrued expenses(2,780)1,422 

Deferred revenue, net

 

 

6,036

 

 

 

1,683

 

Deferred revenue, net(6,082)(5,295)

Ad valorem taxes payable

 

 

609

 

 

 

(1,525

)

Ad valorem taxes payable14 (516)

Accrued interest

 

 

(3,343

)

 

 

7

 

Accrued interest4,618 4,730 

Accrued environmental remediation, net

 

 

(1,996

)

 

 

(1,152

)

Accrued environmental remediation, net(1,901)2,676 

Other, net

 

 

14,582

 

 

 

(6,889

)

Other, net(9,939)3,117 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

198,589

 

 

 

161,741

 

Net cash provided by operating activities98,744 165,099 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures

 

 

(43,128

)

 

 

(182,291

)

Capital expenditures(30,472)(25,030)

Proceeds from asset sale (net of cash of $1,475 for the year ended

December 31, 2019)

 

 

0

 

 

 

102,111

 

Distribution from equity method investment

 

 

0

 

 

 

7,313

 

Cash consideration paid for the acquisition of Outrigger DJ, net of cash acquiredCash consideration paid for the acquisition of Outrigger DJ, net of cash acquired(166,631)— 
Cash consideration paid for the acquisition of Sterling DJ, net of cash acquiredCash consideration paid for the acquisition of Sterling DJ, net of cash acquired(139,896)— 
Proceeds from sale of Lane G&P System, net of cash sold in transactionProceeds from sale of Lane G&P System, net of cash sold in transaction75,020 — 
Proceeds from sale of Bison Midstream, net of cash sold in transactionProceeds from sale of Bison Midstream, net of cash sold in transaction38,920 — 
Proceeds from asset saleProceeds from asset sale4,945 8,000 

Investment in Double E equity method investee

 

 

(99,927

)

 

 

(18,316

)

Investment in Double E equity method investee(8,444)(148,699)

Other, net

 

 

2,486

 

 

 

313

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(140,569

)

 

 

(90,870

)

Net cash used in investing activities(226,558)(165,729)

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

Net cash distributions to noncontrolling interest SMLP unitholders

 

 

(6,037

)

 

 

(68,874

)

Series A Preferred Unit distributions

 

 

0

 

 

 

(28,500

)

Net cash distributions to Energy Capital Partners

 

 

0

 

 

 

(120,730

)

Borrowings under Revolving Credit Facility

 

 

249,300

 

 

 

369,000

 

Repayments on Revolving Credit Facility

 

 

(69,300

)

 

 

(158,000

)

Transaction costs

 

 

(4,221

)

 

 

0

 

Repayments on SMPH Term Loan before TL Restructuring

 

 

(6,300

)

 

 

(65,250

)

Open Market Repurchases of 2022 and 2025 Senior Notes

 

 

(145,567

)

 

 

0

 

Tender Offers of 2022 and 2025 Senior Notes

 

 

(47,530

)

 

 

0

 

TL Restructuring

 

 

(26,500

)

 

 

0

 

Proceeds from issuance of Subsidiary Series A preferred units, net of

issuance costs

 

 

48,710

 

 

 

27,392

 

Preferred Tender

 

 

(25,000

)

 

 

0

 

Borrowings under ECP Loans

 

 

35,000

 

 

 

0

 

Repayment of ECP Loans

 

 

(35,000

)

 

 

0

 

Purchase of common units in GP Buy-In Transaction

 

 

(41,778

)

 

 

0

 

Borrowings from 2026 Secured NotesBorrowings from 2026 Secured Notes84,371 689,500 
Repayment of 2022 Senior NotesRepayment of 2022 Senior Notes— (234,047)
Borrowings from Permian Transmission Credit FacilityBorrowings from Permian Transmission Credit Facility— 160,000 
Repayments on Permian Transmission Term LoanRepayments on Permian Transmission Term Loan(4,647)— 
Borrowings from ABL FacilityBorrowings from ABL Facility293,000 300,000 
Repayments of ABL FacilityRepayments of ABL Facility(230,000)(33,000)
Repayments of Revolving Credit FacilityRepayments of Revolving Credit Facility— (857,000)

Debt issuance costs

 

 

(2,558

)

 

 

(673

)

Debt issuance costs(14,409)(20,228)
Distributions on Subsidiary Series A Preferred UnitsDistributions on Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units(3,257)— 

Proceeds from asset sale

 

 

288

 

 

 

0

 

Proceeds from asset sale— 357 

Other, net

 

 

(2,905

)

 

 

(4,487

)

Other, net(3,285)(924)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(79,398

)

 

 

(50,122

)

Net cash provided by financing activitiesNet cash provided by financing activities121,773 4,658 

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

(21,378

)

 

 

20,749

 

Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash(6,041)4,028 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

 

36,922

 

 

 

16,173

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period19,572 15,544 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

 

$

15,544

 

 

$

36,922

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period$13,531 $19,572 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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102

SUMMIT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. ORGANIZATION, BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION

Organization. Summit Midstream Partners, LP (including its subsidiaries, collectively “SMLP” or the “Partnership”) is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed in May 2012 and began operations in October 2012. SMLP is a value-oriented limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. The Partnership’s business activities are primarily conducted through various operating subsidiaries, each of which is owned or controlled by its wholly owned subsidiary holding company, Summit Holdings, a Delaware limited liability company. As of December 31, 2020,2022, the Partnership indirectly owns its General Partner, and the General Partner is a wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of the Partnership. The General Partner has no assets or liabilities and holds the non-economic general partner interest in the Partnership.

GP Buy-In Transaction.

On May 28, 2020, the Partnership closed the transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), dated May 3, 2020, with affiliates of its then private equity sponsor, Energy Capital Partners II, LLC (“ECP”), to acquire Summit Investments. The acquisition of Summit Investments resulted in the Partnership acquiring (a) 2.3 million SMLP common units that were pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan, (b) 0.7 million SMLP common units that were not pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan and (c) a deferred purchase price obligation receivable owed by the Partnership. In addition, the Partnership acquired 0.4 million SMLP common units held by an affiliate of ECP. The total purchase price was $35.0 million in cash and warrants giving ECP the right to purchase up to 0.7 million SMLP common units (refer to Note 13 – Partners’ Capital and Mezzanine Capital for additional details). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Partnership retained any liabilities stemming from the release of produced water from a produced water pipeline operated by Meadowlark Midstream, a subsidiary of the Partnership, that occurred near Williston, North Dakota and was discovered on January 6, 2015. These transactions are collectively referred to as the “GP Buy-In Transaction.”

As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership indirectly owns its General Partner. Following the closing of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership retired 1.1 million SMLP common units it acquired that were not pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan. The 2.3 million SMLP common units that were pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan were not considered outstanding with respect to voting and distributions under the Partnership Agreement until the closing of the TL Restructuring on November 17, 2020 (refer to Note 10).

Under GAAP, the GP Buy-In Transaction was deemed a transaction among entities under common control with a change in reporting entity. Although SMLP is the surviving entity for legal purposes, Summit Investments is the surviving entity for accounting purposes; therefore, the historical financial results included herein, prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction are those of Summit Investments. Prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, Summit Investments controlled SMLP and SMLP’s financial statements were consolidated into Summit Investments.

Reverse Unit Split. On November 9, 2020, after the close of trading on the NYSE, the Partnership effected a 1-for-15 reverse unit split (the “Reverse Unit Split”) of its common units. The common units began trading on a split-adjusted basis on November 10, 2020. Pursuant to the Reverse Unit Split, common unitholders received one common unit for every 15 common units owned at the close of business on November 9, 2020. Immediately prior to the Reverse Unit Split, there were 56,624,887 common units issued and outstanding and immediately after the Reverse Unit Split, the number of issued and outstanding common units decreased to 3,774,992. 

Business Operations. The Partnership provides natural gas gathering, compression, treating and processing services as well as crude oil and produced water gathering services pursuant to primarily long-term, fee-based agreements with its customers. In addition to these services, the Partnership also provides freshwater delivery services pursuant to short-term agreements with customers.The Partnership’s results are primarily driven by the volumes of natural gas that it gathers, compresses, treats and/or processes as well as by the volumes of crude oil and produced water that it gathers. Other than the Partnership’s investments in Double E and Ohio Gathering, all of its business activities are conducted through wholly owned operating subsidiariessubsidiaries.

Presentation and Consolidation. The Partnership prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP as established by the FASB. The Partnership makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet dates, including fair value measurements, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses and the

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disclosure of commitments and contingencies. Although management believes these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from its estimates.

The consolidated financial statements include the assets, liabilities and results of operations of SMLP and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions among the consolidated entities have been eliminated in consolidation. Comprehensive income or loss is the same as net income or loss for all periods presented.

Risks and Uncertainties.The Partnership is closely monitoring the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 on all aspects of its business, including how it has impacted and will impact its customers, employees, supply chain and distribution network. The Partnership is unable to predict the ultimate impact that COVID-19 may have on its business, future results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

Given the dynamic nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and related market conditions, the Partnership cannot reasonably estimate the period of time that these events will persist or the full extent of the impact they will have on its business. The full extent to which the Partnership’s operations may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend largely on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be accurately predicted, including changes in the severity of the pandemic, countermeasures taken by governments, businesses and individuals to slow the spread of the pandemic, and the ability of pharmaceutical companies to develop effective and safe vaccines and therapeutic drugs. Furthermore, the impacts of a potential worsening of global economic conditions and the continued disruptions to and volatility in the financial markets remain unknown.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

AND RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO THE PARTNERSHIP

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash. The Partnership considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash that is held by a major bank and has restrictions on its availability to the Partnership is classified as restricted cash. The restricted cash balance of $1.7 million and $12.2 million at December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively, is related to proceeds which are available to finance Permian Transmission’s debt service or other general corporate purposes of Permian Transmission. See Note 9 - Debt for additional information.

Accounts Receivable. Accounts receivable relate to gathering and other services provided to the Partnership’s customers and other counterparties. The Partnership evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable and the need for an allowance for doubtful accounts based on customer-specific facts and circumstances. To the extent the collectability of a specific customer or counterparty receivable is doubtful, the Partnership recognizes an allowance for doubtful accounts. Uncollectible receivables are written off when a settlement is reached for an amount that is less than the outstanding historical balance or a receivable amount is deemed otherwise unrealizable.

Property, Plant and Equipment. The Partnership records property, plant and equipment at historical cost of construction or fair value of the assets at acquisition. The Partnership capitalizes expenditures that extend the useful life of an asset or enhance its productivity or efficiency from its original design over the expected remaining period of use. For maintenance and repairs that do not add capacity or extend the useful life of an asset, the Partnership recognizes expenditures as an expense as incurred. The Partnership capitalizes project costs incurred during construction, including interest on funds borrowed to finance the construction of facilities and pipelines, as construction in progress. Accrued capital expenditures are reflected in trade accounts payable.

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The Partnership records depreciation on a straight-line basis over an asset’s estimated useful life and bases its estimates for useful life on various factors including age (in the case of acquired assets), manufacturing specifications, technological advances and historical data concerning useful lives of similar assets. Estimates of useful lives follow.

Useful lives


(In years)

(In years)

Gathering and processing systems and related equipment

12-30

Other

4-15

Construction in progress is depreciated consistent with its applicable asset class once it is placed in service. Land and line fill are not depreciated.

The Partnership bases an asset’s carrying value on estimates, assumptions and judgments for useful life and salvage value. Upon sale, retirement or other disposal, the Partnership removes the carrying value of an asset and its accumulated depreciation from its balance sheet and recognizes the related gain or loss, if any.

Asset Retirement Obligations. The Partnership records a liability for asset retirement obligations only if and when a future asset retirement obligation with a determinable life is identified. For identified asset retirement obligations, the Partnership evaluates

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whether the expected retirement date and related costs of retirement can be estimated. The Partnership has concluded that its gathering and processing assets have an indeterminate life because they are owned and will operate for an indeterminate period when properly maintained. Because the Partnership does not have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the amount or timing of such obligations and does not have any current plan to discontinue use of any significant assets, the Partnership did 0tnot provide for any asset retirement obligations as of December 31, 20202022 or 2019.2021.

Amortizing Intangibles. The Partnership has certain acquired gas gathering contracts that had above-market pricing structures at the acquisition date and the Partnership amortizes these favorable contracts using a straight-line method over the contract’s estimated useful life. The Partnership defines useful life as the period over which the contract is expected to contribute to the Partnership’s future cash flows. These favorable contracts have original terms ranging from 10 years to 20 years and the Partnership recognizes the amortization expense associated with these contracts in Other revenues.

The Partnership amortizes all other gas gathering contracts, or contract intangibles, over the period of economic benefit based upon expected revenues over the life of the contract. The useful life of these contracts ranges from 3 years to 25 years. The Partnership recognizes the amortization expense associated with these contracts in Depreciation and amortization expense.

The Partnership also has rights-of-way associated with municipal easements and easements granted within existing rights-of-way. The Partnership amortizes these intangible assets over the shorter of the contractual term of the rights-of-way or the estimated useful life of the gathering system. The contractual terms of the rights-of-way range from 20 years to 30 years and the Partnership recognizes the amortization expense associated with these rights-of-way assets in Depreciation and amortization expense.

Equity Method Investments. The Partnership accounts for investments in which it exercises significant influence using the equity method so long as it (i) does not control the investee and (ii) is not the primary beneficiary. The Partnership reflects these investments in its consolidated balance sheets under the caption titled “investment in equity method investees.”

The Partnership recognizes an other-than-temporary impairment for losses in the value of equity method investees when evidence indicates that the carrying amount is no longer supportable. Evidence of a loss in value might include, but is not limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or an inability of the equity method investee to sustain an earnings capacity that would justify the carrying amount of the investment. A current fair value of an investment that is less than its carrying amount may indicate a loss in value of the investment. The Partnership evaluates its equity method investments for impairment whenever a triggering event exists that would indicate a need to assess the investment for potential impairment.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. The Partnership tests assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate the carrying value of a long-lived asset may not be recoverable. The carrying value of a long-lived asset (except goodwill) is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If the Partnership concludes that an asset'sasset’s carrying value will not be recovered through future cash flows, the Partnership recognizes an impairment loss on the long-lived asset equal to the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value. The Partnership determines fair value using a combination of market-based and income-based approaches.

Environmental Matters. The Partnership is subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Liabilities for loss contingencies, including environmental remediation costs, arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines and penalties and other sources are charged to expense when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the assessment and/or remediation can be reasonably estimated. The Partnership accrues
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for losses associated with environmental remediation obligations when such losses are probable and reasonably estimable. Such accruals are adjusted as further information develops or circumstances change. Recoveries of environmental remediation costs from other parties or insurers are recorded as assets when their realization is assured beyond a reasonable doubt.

Commitments and Contingencies. When required, the Partnership records accruals for loss contingencies in accordance with FASB ASC 450, Contingencies. Such determinations are subject to interpretations of current facts and circumstances, forecasts of future events and estimates of the financial impacts of such events.

Noncontrolling Interest and

Mezzanine Capital. A noncontrolling interest represents the portion of a consolidated subsidiary that is owned by a third party. Amounts are adjusted by the noncontrolling interest holder’s proportionate share of the subsidiary’s earnings or losses each period and any distributions that are paid. A noncontrolling interest is reported as a

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component of equity unless the noncontrolling interest is considered redeemable, in which case the noncontrolling interest is recorded between liabilities and equity (mezzanine or temporary equity) in the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet.

Revenue Recognition.

Revenue. The Partnership provides gathering and/or processing services principally under contracts that contain one or more of the following arrangements described below:

Fee-based arrangements. Under fee-based arrangements, the Partnership receives a fee or fees for one or more of the following services (i) natural gas gathering, treating, transporting, compressing and/or processing and (ii) crude oil and/or produced water gathering and (iii) fresh water delivery services.

Fee-based arrangements. Under fee-based arrangements, the Partnership receives a fee or fees for one or more of the following services (i) natural gas gathering, treating, compressing and/or processing and (ii) crude oil and/or produced water gathering.

Percent-of-proceeds arrangements. Under percent-of-proceeds arrangements, the Partnership generally purchases natural gas from producers at the wellhead, or other receipt points, gathers the wellhead natural gas through its gathering system, treats and compresses the natural gas, processes the natural gas and/or sells the natural gas to a third party for processing. The Partnership then remits to its producers an agreed-upon percentage of the actual proceeds received from sales of the residue natural gas and NGLs. Certain of these arrangements may also result in returning all or a portion of the residue natural gas and/or the NGLs to the producer, in lieu of returning sales proceeds. The margins earned are directly related to the volume of natural gas that flows through the system and the price at which the Partnership is able to sell the residue natural gas and NGLs.

For the contracts described above, the Partnership reflects its revenues in the financial statement captions described below.

Financial statement caption:

Revenue description:

Revenues:

Gathering services and related fees

Revenue earned from fee-based

        gathering, compression, treating

        and processing services;

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

Revenue from the sale of physical

        natural gas purchased from

        customers percent-of-proceeds

        arrangements (Costs are

        presented within cost of natural

        gas and NGLs);

Revenue from sale of condensate

        and NGLs retained from gathering

        services (Costs are presented

        within operation and maintenance

        expense); and

Other revenues

Customer reimbursements to the

        Partnership for costs incurred by the

        Partnership on customer’s behalf

        (Recorded on a gross basis).

Certain of the Partnership’s gathering and/or processing agreements provide for monthly or annual MVCs. Under these MVCs, customers agree to ship and/or process a minimum volume of production on its gathering systems or to pay a minimum monetary amount over certain periods during the term of the MVC. A customer must make a shortfall payment to the Partnership at the end of the contracted measurement period if its actual throughput volumes are less than its contractual MVC for that period. Certain customers are entitled to utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering fees in one or more subsequent contracted measurement periods to the extent that such customer's throughput volumes in a subsequent contracted measurement period exceed its MVC for that contracted measurement period.

The Partnership recognizes customer obligations under their MVCs as revenue and contract assets when (i) it considers it remote that the customer will utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering or processing fees in excess of its MVCs in subsequent periods; (ii) the customer incurs a shortfall in a contract with no banking mechanism or claw back provision; (iii) the customer’s banking mechanism has expired; or (iv) it is remote that the customer will use its unexercised right. In making this determination, the Partnership considers both quantitative and qualitative facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to, contract terms, capacity of the associated pipeline or receipt point and/or expectations regarding future investment, drilling and production.

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Unit-Based Compensation. For awards of unit-based compensation, the Partnership determines a grant date fair value and recognizes the related compensation expense in the statements of operations over the vesting period for each respective award.

Income Taxes. The Partnership is generally not subject to federal and state income taxes, except as noted below. However, its unitholders are individually responsible for paying federal and state income taxes on their share of its taxable income. Net income or loss for GAAP purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to its unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and the GAAP basis of assets and liabilities and the taxable income allocation requirements of the Partnership’s governing documents. The aggregate difference in the basis of the Partnership’s net assets for financial and income tax purposes cannot be readily determined as the Partnership does not have access to the information about each partner’s tax attributes related to the Partnership.

In general, legal entities that are chartered, organized or conducting business in the state of Texas are subject to a franchise tax (the "Texas Margin Tax"). The Texas Margin Tax has the characteristics of an income tax because it is determined by applying a tax rate to a tax base that considers both revenues and expenses. The Partnership’s financial statements reflect provisions for these tax obligations.

New accounting standards implemented in this Annual Report.

ASU No. 2018-13 Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”). ASU 2018-13 updates the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements including new disclosures for the changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 modifies existing disclosures including clarifying the measurement uncertainty disclosure. ASU 2018-13 removes certain existing disclosure requirements including the amount and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and the policy for the timing of transfer between levels. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 on January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

ASU No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (“ASU 2016-13”). ASU 2016-13 requires the use of a current expected loss model for financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain off-balance sheet credit exposures. Under this model, entities will be required to estimate the lifetime expected credit losses on such instruments based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This amended guidance also expands the disclosure requirements to enable users of financial statements to understand an entity’s assumptions, models and methods for estimating expected credit losses. The changes are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and amendments should be applied using a modified retrospective approach. The adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020 did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

New accounting standards not yet implemented in this Annual Report.

ASU No. 2020-06 Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815 – 40) (“ASU 2020-06”). ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. The ASU is part of the FASB’s simplification initiative, which aims to reduce unnecessary complexity in U.S. GAAP. The ASU’s amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Partnership is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2020-06 to determine its impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

ASU No. 2020-04 Reference Rate Reform (“ASU 2020-04”). ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform on financial reporting. The amendments in ASU 2020-04 are effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Partnership is currently evaluating the provisions of ASU 2020-04 to determine its impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements and disclosures.

3. REVENUE

The majority of the Partnership’s revenue is derived from long-term, fee-based contracts with its customers, which include original terms of up to 25 years. The Partnership recognizes revenue earned from fee-based gathering, compression, treating and processing services in gathering services and related fees. The Partnership also earns revenue in the Williston Basin and Permian

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Basin reporting segments from the sale of physical natural gas purchased from its customers under certain percent-of-proceeds arrangements. Under ASC Topic 606, these gathering contracts are presented net within cost of natural gas and NGLs. The Partnership sells natural gas that it retains from certain customers in the Barnett Shale reporting segment to offset the power expenses of the electric-driven compression on the DFW Midstream system. The Partnership also sells condensate and NGLs retained from certain of its gathering services in the Piceance Basin and Permian Basin reporting segments. Revenues from the sale of natural gas and condensate are recognized in Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales; the associated expense is included in Operation and maintenance expense. Certain customers reimburse the Partnership for costs incurred on their behalf. The Partnership records costs incurred and reimbursed by its customers on a gross basis, with the revenue component recognized in Other revenues.

The transaction price in the Partnership’s contracts is primarily based on the volume of natural gas crude oil or produced water transferred by its gathering systems tothat flows through the customer’s agreed upon delivery point multiplied bysystem and the contractual rate. For contracts that include MVCs, variable consideration up to the MVC will be included in the transaction price. For contracts that do not include MVCs,price at which the Partnership does not estimate variable consideration becauseis able to sell the performance obligations are completedresidue natural gas and settled on a daily basis. For contracts containing noncash consideration such as fuel received in-kind, the Partnership measures the transaction price at the point of sale when the volume, mix and market price of the commodities are known.

The Partnership has contracts with MVCs that are variable and constrained. Contracts with longer than monthly MVCs are reviewed on a quarterly basis and adjustments to those estimates are made during each respective reporting period, if necessary.

The transaction price is allocated if the contract contains more than one performance obligation such as contracts that include MVCs. The transaction price allocated is based on the MVC for the applicable measurement period.

Performance obligations. NGLs.

The majority of the Partnership’s contracts have a single performance obligation which is either to provide gathering services (an integrated service) or sell natural gas, NGLs and condensate, which are both satisfied when the related natural gas, crude oil and produced water are received and transferred to an agreed upon delivery point. The Partnership also has certain contracts with multiple performance obligations. They include an option for the customer to acquire additional services such as contracts containing MVCs. These performance obligations would also be satisfied when the related natural gas, crude oil and produced water are received and transferred to an agreed upon delivery point. In these instances, the Partnership allocates the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation using its best estimate of the standalone selling price of each service in the contract.

Performance obligations for gathering services are generally satisfied over time. The Partnership utilizes either an output method (i.e., measure of progress) for guaranteed, stand-ready service contracts or an asset/system delivery time estimate for non-guaranteed, as-available service contracts.

Performance obligations for the sale of natural gas, NGLs and condensate are satisfied at a point in time. There are no significant judgments for these transactions because the customer obtains control based on an agreed upon delivery point.

Services are typically billed on a monthly basis and the Partnership does not offer extended payment terms. The Partnership does not have contracts with financing components.
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For the contracts described above, the Partnership reflects its revenues in the financial statement captions described below.
Financial statement caption:Revenue description:
Revenues:
Gathering services and related fees
Revenue earned from fee-based gathering, compression, treating and processing services;
Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales
Revenue from the sale of physical natural gas purchased from customers percent-of- proceeds arrangements (Costs are presented within cost of natural gas and NGLs);
Revenue from sale of condensate and NGLs retained from gathering services (Costs are presented within operation and maintenance expense);
Other revenues
Reimbursements to the Partnership for costs incurred by the Partnership on customer’s behalf (Recorded on a gross basis with corresponding costs included in operations and maintenance expense);
Revenue for freshwater deliveries; and
Revenue for management fees related to Double E.
Certain of the Partnership’s gathering and/or processing agreements provide for monthly or annual MVCs. Under these MVCs, the Partnership’s customers agree to ship and/or process a minimum volume of production on its gathering systems or to pay a minimum monetary amount over certain periods during the term of the MVC. A customer must make a shortfall payment to the Partnership at the end of the contracted measurement period if its actual throughput volumes are less than its contractual MVC for that period. Certain customers are entitled to utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering fees in one or more subsequent contracted measurement periods to the extent that such customer'scustomers throughput volumes in a subsequent contracted measurement period exceed its MVC for that contracted measurement period.

The Partnership recognizes customer obligations under their MVCs as revenue and contract assets when (i) it is consideredconsiders it remote that the customer will utilize shortfall payments to offset gathering or processing fees in excess of its MVCs in subsequent periods; (ii) the customer incurs a shortfall in a contract with no banking mechanism or claw back provision; (iii) the customer’s banking mechanism has expired; or (iv) it is remote that the customer will use its unexercised right.

Services In making this determination, the Partnership considers both quantitative and qualitative facts and circumstances, including, but not limited to, contract terms, capacity of the associated pipeline or receipt point and/or expectations regarding future investment, drilling and production.

The majority of the Partnership’s revenue is derived from long-term, fee-based contracts with its customers, which include original terms of up to 25 years. The Partnership recognizes revenue earned from fee-based gathering, compression, treating and processing services in gathering services and related fees. The Partnership also earns revenue in the Rockies, Permian and Piceance reporting segments from the sale of physical natural gas purchased from its customers under certain percent-of-proceeds arrangements. Under ASC Topic 606, these gathering contracts are typically billedpresented net within cost of natural gas and NGLs. The Partnership sells natural gas that it retains from certain customers in the Barnett reporting segment to offset the power expenses, included in operations and maintenance expense, of the electric-driven compression on the gathering system. The Partnership also sells condensate and NGLs retained from certain of its gathering services in the Piceance and Rockies reporting segments. Revenues from the sale of natural gas and condensate are recognized in Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales; the associated expense is included in Operation and maintenance expense. Certain customers reimburse the Partnership for costs incurred on their behalf. The Partnership records costs incurred and reimbursed by its customers on a monthlygross basis, with the revenue component recognized in Other revenues and the associated expense included in operations and maintenance expense.
The transaction price in the Partnership’s contracts is primarily based on the volume of natural gas, crude oil or produced water transferred by its gathering systems to the customer’s agreed upon delivery point multiplied by the contractual rate. For contracts that include MVCs, variable consideration up to the MVC will be included in the transaction price. For contracts that do not include MVCs, the Partnership does not offer extended payment terms.estimate variable consideration because the performance obligations are completed and settled on a daily basis. For contracts containing noncash consideration such as fuel received in-kind, the Partnership measures the transaction price at the point of sale when the volume, mix and market price of the commodities are known.
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The Partnership has contracts with MVCs that are variable and constrained. Contracts with longer than monthly MVCs are reviewed on a quarterly basis and adjustments to those estimates are made during each respective reporting period, if necessary.
The transaction price is allocated if the contract contains more than one performance obligation such as contracts that include MVCs. The transaction price allocated is based on the MVC for the applicable measurement period.
Unit-Based Compensation. For awards of unit-based compensation, the Partnership determines a grant date fair value and recognizes the related compensation expense in the statements of operations over the vesting period for each respective award.
Income Taxes. The Partnership is generally not subject to federal and state income taxes, except as noted below. However, its unitholders are individually responsible for paying federal and state income taxes on their share of its taxable income. Net income or loss for GAAP purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to its unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and the GAAP basis of assets and liabilities and the taxable income allocation requirements of the Partnership’s governing documents. The aggregate difference in the basis of the Partnership’s net assets for financial and income tax purposes cannot be readily determined as the Partnership does not have access to the information about each partner’s tax attributes related to the Partnership.
In general, legal entities that are chartered, organized or conducting business in the state of Texas are subject to a franchise tax (the “Texas Margin Tax”). The Texas Margin Tax has the characteristics of an income tax because it is determined by applying a tax rate to a tax base that considers both revenues and expenses. The Partnership’s financial statements reflect provisions for these tax obligations.
Interest Rate Swaps. Interest rate swap agreements are reported as either assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value. Interest rate swap agreements are not designated as cash-flow hedges, and accordingly, the changes in the fair value are recorded in earnings. The Partnership does not use interest rate swap agreements for speculative purposes.
New accounting standards not yet implemented in this Annual Report.
ASU No. 2020-06 Debt – Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging – Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815 – 40) (“ASU 2020-06”). ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. The ASU is part of the FASB’s simplification initiative, which aims to reduce unnecessary complexity in GAAP. The ASU’s amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Partnership does not expect the provisions of ASU 2020-06 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) - Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”) and ASU No. 2022-06, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) - Deferral of the Sunset Date of Topic 848 (“ASU 2022-06”). ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2022-06 provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, with financing components.hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform on financial reporting. The amendments in ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2022-06 are effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2024. The Partnership does not expect the provisions of ASU 2020-04 and ASU 2022-06 will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
3. ACQUISTIONS AND DIVESTITURES
Acquisition of Outrigger DJ.

110

On December 1, 2022, the Partnership completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interests of Outrigger DJ Midstream LLC (“Outrigger DJ”) from Outrigger Energy II LLC for cash consideration of $165.0 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments. The acquisition of Outrigger DJ constituted a business combination and was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. For tax purposes, the acquisition was accounted for as an acquisition of assets. The acquisition significantly increased the Partnership’s gas processing capacity and footprint in the DJ Basin and diversified its customer base.
The estimated fair values of certain assets and liabilities, including property, plant and equipment and other intangible assets required significant judgements and estimates. As a result, the provisional measurements below are preliminary and subject to change during the measurement period and such changes could be material. The Partnership continues to assess the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
The following table sets forth the preliminary fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Certain data and assessments necessary to complete the purchase price allocation are still under evaluation, including, but not limited to, the final actualization of accrued liabilities and receivable balances and the valuation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. The Partnership will finalize the purchase price allocation during the twelve-month period following the acquisition date, during which time the value of the assets and liabilities may be revised as appropriate.
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(in thousands)
Total consideration paid for Outrigger DJ$167,631 
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Cash1,000 
Accounts receivable7,529 
Other current assets190 
Property, plant and equipment, net144,514 
Intangible assets21,447 
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other(7,049)
Net assets acquired and liabilities assumed$167,631 
The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their preliminary estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. Acquired working capital amounts are expected to approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The valuation of certain assets, including property, are based on preliminary appraisals. The fair value of acquired equipment is based on both available market data and cost and income approaches. These methods are considered Level 3 fair value estimates and include significant assumptions of future gathering and processing volumes, commodity prices, and operating and capital cost estimates, discounted using weighted average cost of capital for industry peers.
Intangible assets acquired consist of rights-of-way with a weighted average amortization period of 30 years.
From the date of the Outrigger DJ Acquisition through December 31, 2022, revenues and operating income associated with the operations acquired through the Outrigger DJ Acquisition totaled $8.4 million and $1.8 million, respectively.
Acquisition of Sterling DJ. On December 1, 2022, the Partnership completed the acquisition of 100% of the equity interests in each of Sterling Energy Investments LLC, Grasslands Energy Marketing LLC and Centennial Water Pipelines LLC (collectively, “Sterling DJ”) from Sterling Investment Holdings LLC for cash consideration of $140.0 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments. The acquisition of Sterling DJ constituted a business combination and was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. For tax purposes, the acquisition was accounted for as an acquisition of assets. The acquisition significantly increased the Partnership’s gas processing capacity and footprint in the DJ Basin and diversified its customer base.
The estimated fair values of certain assets and liabilities, including property, plant and equipment, other intangible assets and contingencies required significant judgements and estimates. As a result, the provisional measurements below are preliminary and subject to change during the measurement period and such changes could be material. The Partnership continues to assess the acquired liabilities of Sterling DJ and ongoing assessments primarily relate to outstanding litigation and other legal compliance matters that existed prior to December 1, 2022.
The following table sets forth the preliminary fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition date. Certain data and assessments necessary to complete the purchase price allocation are still under evaluation, including, but not limited to, the final actualization of accrued liabilities and receivable balances and the valuation of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets. The Partnership will finalize the purchase price allocation during the twelve-month period following the acquisition date, during which time the value of the assets and liabilities may be revised as appropriate.
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Contents

(in thousands)
Total consideration paid for Sterling DJ$140,396 
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed:
Cash500 
Accounts receivable16,224 
Other current assets4,557 
Property, plant and equipment, net108,720 
Intangible assets38,678 
Other noncurrent assets9,865 
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other(38,148)
Net assets acquired$140,396 
The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their preliminary estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. Acquired working capital amounts are expected to approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The valuation of certain assets, including property, are based on preliminary appraisals. The fair value of acquired equipment is based on both available market data and cost and income approaches. These methods are considered Level 3 fair value estimates and include significant assumptions of future gathering and processing volumes, commodity prices, and operating and capital cost estimates, discounted using weighted average cost of capital for industry peers.
Intangible assets acquired consist of rights-of-way of $30.2 million with a weighted average amortization period of 30 years and indefinite-lived intangible assets of $8.4 million.
From the date of the Sterling DJ Acquisition through December 31, 2022, revenues and operating income associated with the operations acquired through the Sterling DJ Acquisition totaled $7.9 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
Divestiture of Bison Midstream. On September 19, 2022, the Partnership completed the sale of Bison Midstream, LLC (“Bison Midstream”) and its gas gathering system in Burke and Mountrail Counties, North Dakota to a subsidiary of Steel Reef Infrastructure Corp. (“Steel Reef”), an integrated owner and operator of associated gas capture, gathering and processing assets in North Dakota and Saskatchewan, for cash consideration of $40.0 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Partnership recognized an impairment of $6.9 million related to the disposition of Bison Midstream based on total cash proceeds received of $38.9 million and net assets disposed of totaling $45.8 million. The cash proceeds received were used to reduce amounts outstanding under the ABL.
Divestiture of Lane G&P System. On June 30, 2022, the Partnership completed the sale of Summit Permian, which owns the Lane Gathering and Processing System (“Lane G&P System”), and Permian Finance to Longwood Gathering and Disposal Systems, LP (“Longwood”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Matador ͏Resources Company (“Matador”), for cash consideration of $75.0 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments. In connection with the transaction, the Partnership released, to a subsidiary of Matador, and Matador agreed to assume, take or-pay firm capacity on the Double E Pipeline.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Partnership recognized an impairment of $84.5 million related to the disposition of the Lane G&P System based on total cash proceeds received of $75.0 million, including $2.0 million of cash sold in the transaction, adjusted net assets of $158.3 million, and other costs to sell of $1.2 million. The cash proceeds received were used to reduce amounts outstanding under the ABL Facility.
Pro Forma Information (Unaudited). The following table summarizes the unaudited pro forma condensed financial information of SMLP as if the acquisitions of Outrigger DJ and Sterling DJ, along with the dispositions of Bison Midstream and the Lane G&P System, had occurred on January 1, 2021:
Year Ended
December 31, 2022
Year Ended
December 31, 2021
Revenues$543,024 $471,787 
Net loss$(36,945)$(35,396)
The unaudited pro forma information is for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred had the transactions been completed at January 1, 2021, nor is it necessarily indicative of future
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operating results. The financial data was adjusted to give effect to pro forma events that are i) directly attributable to the transactions, ii) factually supportable, and iii) expected to have a continuing impact on the consolidated results of operations.
Significant adjustments to the pro forma information above include adjustments to interest expense and depreciation based on the purchase price allocated to property, plant, and equipment.
4. REVENUE
The following table presents estimated revenue expected to be recognized over the remaining contract period related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied and are comprised of estimated MVC shortfall payments.

The Partnership applies the practical expedient in paragraph 606-10-50-14 of Topic 606 for certain arrangements that are considered optional purchases (i.e., there is no enforceable obligation for the customer to make purchases) and those amounts are therefore excluded from the table.

 

 

2021

 

 

2022

 

 

2023

 

 

2024

 

 

2025

 

 

Thereafter

 

 

 

 

 

Gathering services and related fees

 

$

100,182

 

 

$

84,215

 

 

$

66,330

 

 

$

49,872

 

 

$

32,996

 

 

$

22,706

 

20232024202520262027Thereafter
(in thousands)
Gathering services and related fees$78,245 $67,079 $46,803 $30,527 $9,038 $6,042 

Revenue by Category. In the following table, revenue is disaggregated by geographic area and major products and services. For more detailed information about reportable segments, see Note 20.17 -Segment Information.

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2020

 

 

 

Gathering services and related fees

 

 

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

 

 

Other revenues

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Reportable Segments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utica Shale

 

$

36,509

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

36,509

 

Williston Basin

 

 

59,239

 

 

 

20,018

 

 

 

13,438

 

 

 

92,695

 

DJ Basin

 

 

23,868

 

 

 

245

 

 

 

3,957

 

 

 

28,070

 

Permian Basin

 

 

10,091

 

 

 

18,857

 

 

 

585

 

 

 

29,533

 

Piceance Basin

 

 

106,657

 

 

 

2,612

 

 

 

4,621

 

 

 

113,890

 

Barnett Shale

 

 

40,687

 

 

 

7,587

 

 

 

6,185

 

 

 

54,459

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

25,741

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

25,741

 

Total reportable segments

 

 

302,792

 

 

 

49,319

 

 

 

28,786

 

 

 

380,897

 

All other segments

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

2,576

 

 

 

2,576

 

Total

 

$

302,792

 

 

$

49,319

 

 

$

31,362

 

 

$

383,473

 

Year ended December 31, 2022
Gathering services and related feesNatural gas, NGLs and condensate salesOther revenuesTotal
(in thousands)
Reportable Segments:
Northeast$54,392 $— $— $54,392 
Rockies67,838 59,208 16,557 143,603 
Permian3,668 17,382 4,101 25,151 
Piceance80,630 7,111 5,608 93,349 
Barnett41,830 2,503 7,763 52,096 
Total reportable segments248,358 86,204 34,029 368,591 
Corporate and other— 21 982 1,003 
Total$248,358 $86,225 $35,011 $369,594 

 

 

Year ended December 31, 2019

 

 

 

Gathering services and related fees

 

 

Natural gas, NGLs and condensate sales

 

 

Other revenues

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Reportable Segments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utica Shale

 

$

31,926

 

 

$

0

 

 

$

2,065

 

 

$

33,991

 

Williston Basin

 

 

77,626

 

 

 

16,461

 

 

 

11,564

 

 

 

105,651

 

DJ Basin

 

 

21,940

 

 

 

389

 

 

 

3,721

 

 

 

26,050

 

Permian Basin

 

 

3,610

 

 

 

16,383

 

 

 

310

 

 

 

20,303

 

Piceance Basin

 

 

121,357

 

 

 

7,954

 

 

 

4,327

 

 

 

133,638

 

Barnett Shale

 

 

47,862

 

 

 

17,147

 

 

 

6,793

 

 

 

71,802

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

24,471

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

 

 

24,471

 

Total reportable segments

 

 

328,792

 

 

 

58,334

 

 

 

28,780

 

 

 

415,906

 

All other segments

 

 

(2,045

)

 

 

28,660

 

 

 

1,007

 

 

 

27,622

 

Total

 

$

326,747

 

 

$

86,994

 

 

$

29,787

 

 

$

443,528

 

Year ended December 31, 2021
Gathering services and related feesNatural gas, NGLs and condensate salesOther revenuesTotal
(in thousands)
Reportable Segments:
Northeast$62,567 $— $— $62,567 
Rockies74,823 48,279 21,985 145,087 
Permian8,230 28,727 3,891 40,848 
Piceance95,235 5,464 4,786 105,485 
Barnett40,850 298 5,443 46,591 
Total reportable segments281,705 82,768 36,105 400,578 
Corporate and other— — 40 40 
Total$281,705 $82,768 $36,145 $400,618 

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Contract balances. Contract assets relate to the Partnership’s rights to consideration for work completed but not billed at the reporting date and consist of the estimated MVC shortfall payments expected from its customers and unbilled activity associated with contributions in aid of construction. Contract assets are transferred to trade receivables when the rights become unconditional. The following table provides information about contract assets from contracts with customers:

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Contract assets, January 1, 2020

 

$

3,902

 

 

$

8,755

 

Additions

 

 

18,834

 

 

 

18,077

 

Transfers out

 

 

(20,710

)

 

 

(22,930

)

Contract assets, December 31, 2020

 

$

2,026

 

 

$

3,902

 

As of December 31, 2020, receivables with customers totaled $57.5 million and contract assets totaled $2.0 million which were included in the Accounts receivable caption on the consolidated balance sheet.

As of December 31, 2019, receivables with customers totaled $90.4 million and contract assets totaled $3.9 million which were included in the Accounts receivable caption on the consolidated balance sheet.

Contract liabilities (deferred revenue) relate to the advance consideration received from customers primarily for contributions in aid of construction. The Partnership recognizes contract liabilities under these arrangements in revenue over the contract period. For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Partnership recognized $4.0 million and $10.1 million, respectively, of gathering services and related fees which was included in the contract liability balance as of the beginning of the period. See Note 8 for additional details.

4.5. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT NET

Details on the Partnership’s property, plant and equipment follow.

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2022December 31, 2021

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Gathering and processing systems and related equipment

 

$

2,213,501

 

 

$

2,182,950

 

Gathering and processing systems and related equipment$2,262,330 $2,225,267 

Construction in progress

 

 

60,443

 

 

 

78,716

 

Construction in progress59,036 49,082 

Land and line fill

 

 

10,440

 

 

 

10,137

 

Land and line fill11,756 10,644 

Other

 

 

61,340

 

 

 

54,595

 

Other62,222 51,863 

Total

 

 

2,345,724

 

 

 

2,326,398

 

Total2,395,344 2,336,856 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(528,178

)

 

 

(443,909

)

Less accumulated depreciation(676,590)(610,774)

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

$

1,817,546

 

 

$

1,882,489

 

Property, plant and equipment, net$1,718,754 $1,726,082 

When the carrying amount of a long-lived asset is not recoverable, an impairment is recognized equal to the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value, which is based on inputs that are not observable in the market, and thus represent Level 3 inputs under GAAP’s fair value hierarchy. The Partnership recognized $13.1$91.6 million and $59.4$10.2 million of impairments during the fiscal years ended December 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, respectively. Due to the volatility of the inputs used, theThe Partnership cannot predict the likelihood of any future impairment. The details on significant impairments, recognized during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 are provided below.

Significant 2020 Impairments. The Partnership recognized a $5.1 million impairment related to the 2021 sale of compressor equipment in which the carrying value of the equipment exceeded the sale price, and a $3.6 million impairment related to the cancellation of a DJ Basin compressor station construction project due to delays in customer drilling plans.

Significant 2019 Impairments. The Partnership recognized a $34.7 million impairment resulting from the expansion of a processing plant in the DJ Basin that caused a significant reduction in the utilization of the original processing plant’s infrastructure, a $14.2 million impairment resulting from the sale of gathering system in the Piceance Basin in which the carrying value of the system exceeded the sale price, and a $9.7 million impairment of compressor equipment in the Barnett Shale.

if any.

Depreciation expense and capitalized interest for the Partnership follow.

112


Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Depreciation expense$93,457 $90,711 
Capitalized interest838 $1,534 
Table of Contents

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Depreciation expense

 

$

86,263

 

 

$

78,489

 

Capitalized interest

 

 

3,878

 

 

$

6,974

 

5. AMORTIZING

6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Details regarding the Partnership’s intangible assets all of which are subject to amortization, follow.

 

December 31, 2020

 

December 31, 2022

 

Gross carrying amount

 

 

Accumulated amortization

 

 

Net

 

Gross carrying amountAccumulated amortizationNet

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Favorable gas gathering contracts

 

$

24,195

 

 

$

(16,064

)

 

$

8,131

 

Favorable gas gathering contracts$21,063 $(14,809)$6,254 

Contract intangibles

 

 

278,448

 

 

 

(195,243

)

 

 

83,205

 

Contract intangibles270,412 (228,143)42,269 

Rights-of-way

 

 

157,271

 

 

 

(49,041

)

 

 

108,230

 

Rights-of-way200,089 (58,330)141,759 
Indefinite-lived intangiblesIndefinite-lived intangibles8,436 — 8,436 

Total intangible assets

 

$

459,914

 

 

$

(260,348

)

 

$

199,566

 

Total intangible assets$500,000 $(301,282)$198,718 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2021

 

Gross carrying amount

 

 

Accumulated amortization

 

 

Net

 

Gross carrying amountAccumulated amortizationNet

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Favorable gas gathering contracts

 

$

24,195

 

 

$

(15,125

)

 

$

9,070

 

Favorable gas gathering contracts$24,195 $(17,002)$7,193 

Contract intangibles

 

 

278,448

 

 

 

(169,549

)

 

 

108,899

 

Contract intangibles278,448 (217,245)61,203 

Rights-of-way

 

 

157,175

 

 

 

(42,866

)

 

 

114,309

 

Rights-of-way159,916 (55,385)104,531 

Total intangible assets

 

$

459,818

 

 

$

(227,540

)

 

$

232,278

 

Total intangible assets$462,559 $(289,632)$172,927 

The Partnership recognized amortization expense of its favorable gas gathering contracts in Other revenues as follows:

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Amortization expense – favorable gas gathering contracts

 

$

(938

)

 

$

(1,220

)

Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Amortization expense – favorable gas gathering contracts$938 $938 

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The Partnership recognized amortization expense of its contract and right of way intangibles in costs and expenses as follows:

 

Year ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

20222021

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Amortization expense – contract intangibles

 

$

25,694

 

 

$

25,587

 

Amortization expense – contract intangibles$18,935 $22,002 

Amortization expense – rights-of-way

 

 

6,175

 

 

 

6,278

 

Amortization expense – rights-of-way6,527 6,344 

The Partnership’s estimated aggregate annual amortization expected to be recognized as of December 31, 2020 for each of the five succeeding fiscal years follows.

 

 

Intangible assets

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

2021

 

$

28,212

 

2022

 

 

25,145

 

2023

 

 

25,091

 

2024

 

 

14,920

 

2025

 

 

14,898

 

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Tableand thereafter, as of Contents

6. GOODWILL

December 31, 2022, follows.

(In thousands)
2023$27,749 
202417,563 
202517,379 
202614,354 
20278,365 
Thereafter104,872 
$190,282 
7. EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS
The Partnership evaluates goodwill whenever events or circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not thathas equity method investments in Double E and Ohio Gathering, the fair valuebalances of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, including goodwill. If the reporting unit’s fair value exceeds its carrying value, including goodwill, the Partnership concludes that the goodwill of the reporting unit has not been impaired and no further work is performed. If it is determined that the reporting unit’s carrying value, including goodwill, exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount of the excess of the carrying value over the fair value. The Partnership’s impairment determinations, in the context of (i) its annual impairment evaluations and (ii) other-than-annual impairment evaluations involved significant assumptions and judgments. Differing assumptions regarding any of these inputs could have a significant effect on the valuations. As such, the fair value measurements utilized within these modelswhich are classified as non-recurring Level 3 measurements in the fair value hierarchy because they are not observable from objective sources.

As of September 30, 2019, the Partnership performed its annual goodwill impairment testing for the Mountaineer Midstream reporting unit, a reporting unit included in the Marcellus Shale reportable segment, using a combinationInvestment in equity method investees caption on the consolidated balance sheets. Details of the incomePartnership’s equity method investments follows.

December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
(In thousands)
Double E$281,640 $280,952 
Ohio Gathering225,037 242,244 
Total$506,677 $523,196 
Double E. The Partnership, through its wholly owned subsidiary Summit Permian Transmission, LLC, has a 70% ownership in Double E Pipeline, LLC (the “Double E”).Double E owns a long-haul natural gas pipeline (the “Double E Pipeline”) that provides transportation service for residue natural gas from multiple receipt points in the Delaware Basin to various delivery points in and market approaches. It was determined thataround the fair valueWaha hub in Texas.The Double E Pipeline commenced operations in November 2021 and during the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Partnership made cash investments of the Mountaineer Midstream reporting unit did not exceed its carrying value,$8.4 million and $148.7 million, respectively, in Double E, with such amounts including goodwill. As a result, a goodwill impairment chargenil and $3.0 million of $16.2 million was recorded forcapitalized interest, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2019 that reduced2022, Double E made distributions to its investors totaling $17.8 millionof which the goodwill balancePartnership received $12.5 million, of which all amounts were utilized for payment of interest and principal on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet to 0. The Partnership did not have a transaction in 2020 that resulted in the establishment of a goodwill balance.

7. EQUITY METHOD INVESTMENTS

Double E. In June 2019, the Partnership formed Double E in connection with (the “Double E Project”). Effective June 26, 2019, Summit Permian Transmission a wholly owned, indirectTerm Loan and consolidated subsidiarydistributions to the holders of the Partnership, and an affiliate of Double E’s foundation shipper (the “JV Partner”), executed a definitive joint venture agreement (“Double E Agreement”) to fund the capital expenditures associated with the development of the Double E Project. In connection with the Double E Agreement and the related Double E Project, the Partnership contributed total assets of approximately $23.6 million in exchange for a 70% ownership interest in Double E and the JV Partner contributed $7.3 million of cash in exchange for a 30% ownership interest in Double E. Concurrent with these contributions, and in accordance with the Double E Agreement, Double E distributed $7.3 million to the Partnership. Subsequent to the formation of Double E, the Partnership made additional cash investments to Double E of $99.9 million, which includes $2.7 million in capitalized interest, and $18.3 million, which includes $1.1 million in capitalized interest and $0.7 million in capitalized legal costs, in 2020 and 2019, respectively.Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units.

Double E is deemed to be a variable interest entity as defined in GAAP. As of the date of the Double E Agreement, Summit Permian Transmission was not deemed to be the primary beneficiary of Double E due to the JV Partner’s voting rights onof Double E’s other owner regarding significant matters. The Partnership accounts for its ownership interest in Double E as an equity method investment because it has significant influence over Double E. The Partnership’s portion

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Summarized balance sheet information for Double E’s net assets, which was $132.9 million and $34.7 million atE follows (amounts represent 100% of investee financial information).

December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
(In thousands)
Current assets$5,121 $12,353 
Noncurrent assets403,594 410,731 
Total assets$408,715 $423,084 
Current liabilities$8,635 $22,836 
Noncurrent liabilities9,137 10,281 
Total liabilities$17,772 $33,117 
Summarized statements of operations information for Double E follows (amounts represent 100% of investee financial information).
Year Ended December 31, 2022Year Ended December 31, 2021
(In thousands)
Total revenues$32,418 $3,579 
Total operating expenses25,685 5,281 
Net income (loss)$6,733 $(1,702)
At December 31, 20202022 and 2019, respectively, is reported under2021, the caption InvestmentPartnership’s carrying amount of its interest in equity method investees on the consolidated balance sheet.

For the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, other than the investment activity noted above, Double E did 0t have any results of operations given that the Double E Project is currently under development.

approximated its underlying investment.

Ohio Gathering. The Partnership has investments in OGC and OCC that itare collectively refersreferred to as Ohio Gathering. Ohio Gathering is accounted for as an equity method investment because it has joint control with non-affiliated owners, which gives the Partnership significant influence.

Ohio Gathering owns, operates and is currently developing midstream infrastructure consisting of a liquids-rich natural gas gathering system, a dry natural gas gathering system and a condensate stabilization facility in the Utica Shale in southeastern Ohio. Ohio Gathering provides gathering services pursuant to primarily long-term, fee-based gathering agreements, which include acreage dedications. The Partnership made its initial investment in Ohio Gathering in 2014 and owned approximately 37.2% of OGC and approximately 38.2% and 38.5% of Ohio GatheringOCC at December 31, 20202022 and 2019, respectively.

Inapproximately 37.8% of OGC and approximately 38.2% of OCC at December 2019, the Partnership identified certain triggering events which indicated that its31, 2021.

Ohio Gathering is accounted for as an equity method investment in Ohio Gathering could be impaired. In accordancebecause it has joint control with ASC Topic 323, an equity method impairment analysis was performed and determined the equity method impairment charge to be recorded on its consolidated financial statements resulting from an

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other-than-temporary impairment. As a result of the analysis, an impairment charge of $329.7 million was recorded in 2019 in Loss from equity method investments on the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

The fair value of the Partnership’s investment in Ohio Gathering was determined based upon applying the discounted cash flow method,non-affiliated owners, which is an income approach, and the guideline public company method, which is a market approach. The discounted cash flow fair value estimate is based on known or knowable information at the measurement date. The significant assumptions that were used to develop the estimate of the fair value under the discounted cash flow method include management’s best estimates of the expected future results using a probability weighted average set of cash flow forecasts and a discount rate of approximately 9.0%. Fair value determinations require considerable judgment and are sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions and factors. As such, the fair value of the Ohio Gathering equity method investment represents a Level 3 measurement. As a result, actual results may differ from the estimates and assumptions made for purposes of this impairment analysis.

Also in December 2019, an impairment loss of long-lived assets was recognized by OCC. Althoughgives the Partnership recognized activity for Ohio Gathering on a one-month lag, an impairment loss of $6.3 million was recorded in Loss from equity method investees in the consolidated statements of operations because the information was available to the Partnership.

significant influence.

A reconciliation of the difference between the carrying amount of the Partnership’s interest in Ohio Gathering and the Partnership’s underlying investment in Ohio Gathering, per Ohio Gathering’s books and records, is shown below.

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

(In thousands)

 

20222021

Investment in Ohio Gathering, December 31,

 

$

259,888

 

 

$

275,000

 

(In thousands)
Investment in Ohio Gathering, December 31Investment in Ohio Gathering, December 31$225,037 $242,244 

December cash distributions

 

 

2,748

 

 

 

2,700

 

December cash distributions2,673 2,222 

Impairment loss(1)

 

 

 

 

 

232,521

 

Impairment lossImpairment loss— 1,971 

Basis difference

 

 

216,591

 

 

 

 

Basis difference199,263 207,927 
OtherOther— 137 

Investment in Ohio Gathering (Books and records), November 30,

 

$

479,227

 

 

$

510,221

 

Investment in Ohio Gathering (Books and records), November 30,$426,973 $454,501 

(1)

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Amount is comprisedTable of (i) a $329.7 million impairment of the Partnership’s equity method investment in Ohio Gathering; (ii) the write-off of the Partnership’s basis difference of $103.5 million in Ohio Gathering as a result of the impairment in the Partnership’s equity method investment in Ohio Gathering; and (iii) a $6.3 million impairment of long-lived assets in OCC.

Contents

Summarized balance sheet information for OGC and OCC follows (amounts represent 100% of investee financial information).

 

November 30, 2020

 

 

November 30, 2019

 

November 30, 2022November 30, 2021

 

OGC

 

 

OCC

 

 

OGC

 

 

OCC

 

OGCOCCOGCOCC

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Current assets

 

$

32,404

 

 

$

4,902

 

 

$

41,972

 

 

$

2,187

 

Current assets$36,062 $5,195 $36,967 $5,300 

Noncurrent assets

 

 

1,240,090

 

 

 

290

 

 

 

1,281,171

 

 

 

28,323

 

Noncurrent assets1,157,530 274 1,189,921 961 

Total assets

 

$

1,272,494

 

 

$

5,192

 

 

$

1,323,143

 

 

$

30,510

 

Total assets$1,193,592 $5,469 $1,226,888 $6,261 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

$

8,424

 

 

$

2,982

 

 

$

21,798

 

 

$

4,016

 

Current liabilities$6,942 $3,588 $7,984 $3,104 

Noncurrent liabilities

 

 

8,441

 

 

 

5,146

 

 

 

4,113

 

 

 

6,683

 

Noncurrent liabilities13,380 3,096 9,854 4,927 

Total liabilities

 

$

16,865

 

 

$

8,128

 

 

$

25,911

 

 

$

10,699

 

Total liabilities$20,322 $6,684 $17,838 $8,031 

Summarized statements of operations information for OGC and OCC followfollows (amounts represent 100% of investee financial information).

 

Twelve months ended

November 30, 2020

 

 

Twelve months ended

November 30, 2019

 

Twelve months ended
November 30, 2022
Twelve months ended
November 30, 2021

 

OGC

 

 

OCC

 

 

OGC

 

 

OCC

 

OGCOCCOGCOCC

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Total revenues

 

$

114,524

 

 

$

12,931

 

 

$

142,138

 

 

$

8,601

 

Total revenues$113,317 $13,340 $102,140 $12,614 

Total operating expenses

 

 

103,020

 

 

 

38,502

 

 

 

108,234

 

 

 

38,815

 

Total operating expenses106,369 12,786 95,399 11,419 

Net income (loss)

 

 

11,496

 

 

 

(25,571

)

 

 

33,897

 

 

 

(30,214

)

Net income (loss)6,948 554 6,742 1,169 

8. DEFERRED REVENUE

Certain of the Partnership’s gathering and/or processing agreements provide for monthly or annual MVCs. The amount of the shortfall payment is based on the difference between the actual throughput volume shipped and/or processed for the applicable period and the MVC for the applicable period, multiplied by the applicable gathering or processing fee.

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Many of the Partnership’s gas gathering agreements contain provisions that can reduce or delay the cash flows that it expects to receive from MVCs to the extent that a customer's actual throughput volumes are above or below its MVC for the applicable contracted measurement period. These provisions include the following: 

To the extent that a customer's throughput volumes are less than its MVC for the applicable period and the customer makes a shortfall payment, it may be entitled to an offset in one or more subsequent periods to the extent that its throughput volumes in subsequent periods exceed its MVC for those periods. In such a situation, the Partnership would not receive gathering fees on throughput in excess of that customer's MVC (depending on the terms of the specific gas gathering agreement) to the extent that the customer had made a shortfall payment with respect to one or more preceding measurement periods (as applicable). 

To the extent that a customer's throughput volumes are less than its MVC for the applicable period and the customer makes a shortfall payment, it may be entitled to an offset in one or more subsequent periods to the extent that its throughput volumes in subsequent periods exceed its MVC for those periods. In such a situation, the Partnership would not receive gathering fees on throughput in excess of that customer's MVC (depending on the terms of the specific gas gathering agreement) to the extent that the customer had made a shortfall payment with respect to one or more preceding measurement periods (as applicable).

To the extent that a customer's throughput volumes exceed its MVC in the applicable contracted measurement period, it may be entitled to apply the excess throughput against its aggregate MVC, thereby reducing the period for which its annual MVC applies. As a result of this mechanism, the weighted-average remaining period for which the Partnership’s MVCs apply will be less than the weighted-average of the originally stated MVC contractual terms.

To the extent that a customer's throughput volumes exceed its MVC in the applicable contracted measurement period, it may be entitled to apply the excess throughput against its aggregate MVC, thereby reducing the period for which its annual MVC applies. As a result of this mechanism, the weighted-average remaining period for which the Partnership’s MVCs apply will be less than the weighted-average of the originally stated MVC contractual terms.

To the extent that certain of the Partnership’s customers' throughput volumes exceed its MVC for the applicable period, there is a crediting mechanism that allows the customer to build a bank of credits that it can utilize in the future to reduce shortfall payments owed in subsequent periods, subject to expiration if there is no shortfall in subsequent periods. The period over which this credit bank can be applied to future shortfall payments varies, depending on the particular gas gathering agreement.

A rollforward

To the extent that certain of the Partnership’s customers' throughput volumes exceed its MVC for the applicable period, there is a crediting mechanism that allows the customer to build a bank of credits that it can utilize in the future to reduce shortfall payments owed in subsequent periods, subject to expiration if there is no shortfall in subsequent periods. The period over which this credit bank can be applied to future shortfall payments varies, depending on the particular gas gathering agreement.
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The balances in deferred revenue as of December 31, 2022 and 2021 are primarily related to contributions in aid of construction which will be recognized as revenue over the life of the contract. An update of current deferred revenue is as follows.

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Current deferred revenue, January 1, 2020

 

$

13,493

 

Additions

 

 

2,731

 

Less: revenue recognized

 

 

6,236

 

Current deferred revenue, December 31, 2020

 

$

9,988

 

(In thousands)
Current deferred revenue, January 1, 2022$10,374 
Additions4,578 
Less: revenue recognized(5,898)
Current deferred revenue, December 31, 2022$9,054 

A rollforward

An update of noncurrent deferred revenue follows.

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Noncurrent deferred revenue, January 1, 2020

 

$

38,709

 

Additions

 

 

19,384

 

Less: reclassification to current deferred revenue

 

 

9,843

 

Noncurrent deferred revenue, December 31, 2020

 

$

48,250

 

(In thousands)
Noncurrent deferred revenue, January 1, 2022$42,570 
Additions269 
Less: reclassification to current deferred revenue and other(5,145)
Noncurrent deferred revenue, December 31, 2022$37,694 

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9. DEBT

Debt for the Partnership at December 31, 20202022 and 20192021 follows.

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Revolving Credit Facility: Summit Holdings' variable rate senior secured

   Revolving Credit Facility (2.90% at December 31, 2020 and 4.55% at

   December 31, 2019) due May 2022

 

$

857,000

 

 

$

677,000

 

ECP Loans: Summit Holdings' 8.00% senior secured term loan obtained in

   May 2020 and fully repaid in August 2020

 

 

0

 

 

 

0

 

2022 Senior Notes: Summit Holdings' 5.5% senior unsecured notes due

   August 2022

 

 

234,047

 

 

 

300,000

 

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs (1)

 

 

(859

)

 

 

(1,686

)

2025 Senior Notes: Summit Holdings' 5.75% senior unsecured notes due

   April 2025

 

 

259,463

 

 

 

500,000

 

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs (1)

 

 

(2,325

)

 

 

(5,015

)

SMPH Term Loan: SMP Holdings' variable rate senior secured term loan

   (7.80% at December 31, 2019) due May 2022 and extinguished in

   November 2020

 

 

0

 

 

 

161,500

 

Less: unamortized debt issuance costs (1)

 

 

0

 

 

 

(3,974

)

Total debt

 

 

1,347,326

 

 

 

1,627,825

 

Less: current portion

 

 

0

 

 

 

(5,546

)

Total long-term debt

 

$

1,347,326

 

 

$

1,622,279

 

December 31, 2022December 31, 2021
(In thousands)
ABL Facility: Summit Holdings' asset based credit facility due May 1, 2026
$330,000 $267,000 
Permian Transmission Credit Facility: Permian Transmission's variable rate senior secured credit facility due March 8, 2028
— 160,000 
Permian Transmission Term Loan: Permian Transmission's variable rate senior
secured term loan due January 2028
155,353 — 
2025 Senior Notes: Summit Holdings' 5.75% senior unsecured notes due April 15, 2025
259,463 259,463 
2026 Secured Notes: Summit Holdings' and Finance Corp's 8.50% senior second lien notes due October 15, 2026
785,000 700,000 
Less: unamortized debt discount and debt issuance costs(39,454)(31,391)
Total debt1,490,362 1,355,072 
Less: current portion of Permian Transmission Credit Facility(10,507)— 
Total long-term debt$1,479,855 $1,355,072 

(1) Issuance costs are being amortized over the life of the notes.  


The aggregate amount of Partnership’s debt maturing during each of the years after December 31, 20202022 are as follows (in thousands):

2021

 

$

0

 

2022

 

 

1,091,047

 

2023

 

 

0

 

2023$10,507 

2024

 

 

0

 

202415,524 

2025

 

 

259,463

 

2025276,043 
202620261,131,967 
2027202717,769 

Thereafter

 

 

0

 

Thereafter78,006 

Total long-term debt

 

$

1,350,510

 

Total long-term debt$1,529,816 

Revolving Credit

ABL Facility. TheOn November 2, 2021, the Partnership, the Partnership’s subsidiary, Summit Holdings, hasand the subsidiaries of
Summit Holdings party thereto entered into a first-lien, senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $400.0 million asset-based revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit“ABL Facility”) which allows for revolving loans, letters, subject to a borrowing base comprised of credita percentage of eligible accounts receivable of Summit Holdings and swingline loans. SMLPits subsidiaries that guarantee the ABL Facility (collectively, the “ABL Facility Subsidiary Guarantors”) and a percentage of eligible above-ground fixed assets including eligible compression units, processing plants, compression stations and related equipment of Summit Holdings and the Guarantor Subsidiaries fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guarantee, and pledge substantially allABL Facility Subsidiary Guarantors. As of their assets in support
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Table of the indebtedness outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility. At Contents
December 31, 2020,2022, the Revolving Credit Facility has a $1.1 billionmost recent borrowing capacity and matures in May 2022.

On December 18, 2020, Summit Holdings entered intobase determination of eligible assets totaled $561.0 million, an amount greater than the Fourth Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which amended the Revolving Credit Facility to: (i) reduce the commitments from $1.25 billion to $1.1 billion; (ii) eliminate the $250.0 million accordion feature; (iii) add a basket for the potential issuance of up to $400.0 million of junior lien indebtedness; (iv) revise restrictions onaggregate commitments.

On October 14, 2022, we amended the Partnership’s abilityABL Facility to, use operating cash flow to repurchase junior debt and equity securities; (v) increaseamong other things, transition the total leverage covenant from 5.50x to 5.75x at all times going forward; (vi) replace the 3.75x senior secured leverage covenant with a new 3.50x first lien leverage covenant; (vii) add a new pricing tier of L + 325 bps if the total leverage ratio is greater than 5.00x; and (viii) restrict the Partnership’s ability to resume distributions on preferred and common units, subject to achieving certain financial and liquidity thresholds.

BorrowingsLIBOR based interest rates under the Revolving CreditABL Facility bear interest, at the electionto term secured overnight financing rates (“SOFR”). As of Summit Holdings, at a rate based on the alternate base rate (as defined in the credit agreement) plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.75% to 2.25% or the adjusted Eurodollar rate (as defined in the credit agreement) plus an applicable margin ranging from 1.75% to 3.25%, with the commitment fee ranging from 0.30% to 0.50% in each case based on the Partnership’s relative leverage at the time of determination. At December 31, 2020,2022, the applicable margin under LIBORthe adjusted term SOFR borrowings was 2.75%3.25%, the interest rate was 2.9%7.45% and the unused portion of the

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ABL Facility totaled $64.1 million after giving effect to the issuance of $5.9 million in outstanding but undrawn irrevocable standby letters of credit.
Summit Holdings entered into that certain Loan and Security Agreement governing the ABL Facility (the “ABL Agreement”), dated as of November 2, 2021, by and among Summit Holdings, as borrower, the Partnership, the ABL Facility Subsidiary Guarantors, Bank of America, N.A., as agent, ING Capital LLC, Royal Bank of Canada and Regions Bank, as co-syndication agents, and Bank of America, N.A., ING Capital LLC, RBC Capital Markets and Regions Capital Markets, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners.
The ABL Facility will mature on May 1, 2026; provided that, (a) if the outstanding amount of the 2025 Senior Notes (or any permitted refinancing indebtedness in respect thereof that has a final maturity, scheduled amortization or any other scheduled repayment, mandatory prepayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation prior to the date that is 120 days after the Termination Date (as defined in the ABL Agreement)) on such date equals or exceeds $50.0 million, then the ABL Facility will mature on December 13, 2024 and (b) if both (i) any amount of the 2025 Senior Notes (or any permitted refinancing indebtedness in respect thereof that has a final maturity, scheduled amortization or any other scheduled repayment, mandatory prepayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation prior to the date that is 120 days after the Termination Date) is outstanding on such date and (ii) Liquidity (as defined in the ABL Agreement) is less than an amount equal to the sum of the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 2025 Senior Notes (or any permitted refinancing indebtedness in respect thereof that has a final maturity, scheduled amortization or any other scheduled repayment, mandatory prepayment, mandatory redemption or sinking fund obligation prior to the date that is 120 days after the Termination Date) plus the Threshold Amount (as defined in the ABL Agreement) on such date, then the ABL Facility will mature on January 14, 2025.
The ABL Facility (together with certain Secured Bank Product Obligations (as defined in the ABL Agreement)) will be jointly and severally guaranteed, on a senior first-priority secured basis (subject to permitted liens), by the Partnership, Summit Holdings and each of the ABL Facility Subsidiary Guarantors.
The ABL Facility restricts, among other things, Summit Holdings’ and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ (as defined in the ABL Agreement) ability and the ability of certain of their subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt or issue preferred stock; (ii) make distributions or repurchase equity; (iii) make payments on or redeem junior lien, unsecured or subordinated indebtedness; (iv) create liens or other encumbrances; (v) make investments, loans or other guarantees; (vi) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (viii) make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with another entity. These covenants are subject both to a number of important exceptions and qualifications.
The ABL Facility requires that Summit Holdings not permit (i) the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio (as defined in the ABL Agreement) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter to be greater than 2.50:1.00, or (ii) the Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the ABL Agreement) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter to be less than 2.00:1.00. As of December 31, 2022, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio was 1.31:1.00 and the Interest Coverage Ratio was 2.52:1.00 and the Partnership was in compliance with the financial covenants of the ABL Facility.
The ABL Facility contains certain events of default customary for instruments of this type. In the case of an event of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to Summit Holdings, all outstanding Obligations (as defined in the ABL Agreement) will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice and all commitments under the ABL Facility will terminate.
Pursuant to the ABL Agreement, the Obligations (as defined in the ABL Agreement) are (or, subject to post-closing periods for certain types of collateral, will be) generally secured by a first priority lien on and security interest in (subject to permitted liens), subject to certain exclusions and limitations set forth in the ABL Agreement, (i) substantially all of the personal property of Summit Holdings and the ABL Facility Subsidiary Guarantors, (ii) all equity interests in Summit Holdings and certain other entities, all debt securities and certain rights related to the foregoing, in each case, owned by the Partnership, (iii) Closing Date Material Gathering Station Real Property and Closing Date Pipeline Material Gathering Station Real Property (each, as defined in the ABL Agreement) and certain other material real property interests (including improvements thereon) of Summit Holdings and the ABL Facility Subsidiary Guarantors as provided in the ABL Agreement and (iv) all proceeds of the foregoing collateral.
Intercreditor Agreement.
On November 2, 2021, in connection with the entry into the ABL Facility and issuance of the 2026 Secured Notes, Summit Holdings and the other guarantors party thereto entered into an Intercreditor Agreement (the “Intercreditor Agreement”) with
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Bank of America, N.A., as first lien representative and collateral agent for the initial first lien claimholders, Regions Bank, as second lien representative for the initial second lien claimholders and collateral agent for the initial second lien claimholders, establishing (i) a first-priority lien (subject to permitted liens) status for the liens on the collateral securing the ABL Facility and any additional first-lien indebtedness and (ii) a junior priority lien (subject to permitted liens) status for the liens on the collateral securing the 2026 Secured Notes and any additional second-lien indebtedness.
RevolvingPermian Transmission Credit Facility. On March 8, 2021 (the “Permian Closing Date”), the Partnership’s unrestricted subsidiary, Permian Transmission, entered into a Credit Agreement which allows for $175.0 million of senior secured credit facilities (the “Permian Transmission Credit Facilities”), including a $160.0 million Term Loan Facility and a $15.0 million Working Capital Facility. The Permian Transmission Credit Facilities can be used to finance Permian Transmission’s capital calls associated with its investment in Double E, debt service and other general corporate purposes. Unexpended proceeds from draws on the Permian Transmission Credit Facilities are classified as restricted cash on the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
As of December 31, 2022, the applicable margin under adjusted LIBOR borrowings was 2.375%, the interest rate was 6.05% and the unused portion of the Permian Transmission Credit Facilities totaled $238.9$4.5 million, subject to a commitment fee of 0.50%,0.7% after giving effect to the issuance thereunder of a $4.1$10.5 million in outstanding but undrawn irrevocable standby letterletters of credit. Based on covenant limits, the available borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility as of December 31, 2020 wasSummit Permian Transmission, LLC entered into interest rate hedges with notional amounts representing approximately $105 million.

At December 31, 2020, the Revolving Credit Facility is secured by the membership interests of Summit Holdings and the membership interests90% of the Guarantor SubsidiariesPermian Term Loan facility at a fixed LIBOR rate of Summit Holdings and by substantially all of the assets of Summit Holdings and its Guarantor Subsidiaries (subject to exclusions set forth in the credit agreement)1.49%. The credit agreement contains affirmative and negative covenants customary for credit facilities of its size and nature that, among other things, limit or restrict the ability (i) to incur additional debt; (ii) to make investments; (iii) to engage in certain mergers, consolidations, acquisitions or sales of assets; (iv) to enter into swap agreements and power purchase agreements; (v) to enter into leases that would cumulatively obligate payments in excess of $50.0 million over any 12 -month period; and (vi) of Summit Holdings to make distributions, with certain exceptions, including the distribution of Available Cash (as defined in the SMLP Partnership Agreement) if no default or event of default then exists or would result therefrom and Summit Holdings is in pro forma compliance with its financial covenants. In addition, the Revolving Credit Facility requires Summit Holdings to maintain (i) a ratio of consolidated trailing 12 -month earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") to net interest expense of not less than 2.5 to 1.0 as defined in the credit agreement, (ii) a ratio of total net indebtedness to consolidated trailing 12 -month EBITDA of not more than 5.75 to 1.00 and, (iii) a ratio of first lien net indebtedness to consolidated trailing 12 -month EBITDA of not more than 3.75 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2020,2022, the Partnership was in compliance with the Revolving Credit Facility's financial covenants and there were no defaults or events of default during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Permian Transmission Credit Facilities.

Permian Transmission Term Loan. As described above, in January 2022, the Permian Term Loan Facility was converted into a Term Loan (the “Permian Transmission Term Loan”). The Permian Transmission Term Loan is due January 2028. As of December 31, 2020,2022, the applicable margin under adjusted LIBOR borrowings was 2.375% and the interest rate was 6.05%. As of December 31, 2022, the Partnership had $7.4was in compliance with the financial covenants governing the Permian Transmission Term Loan.
In accordance with the terms of the Permian Transmission Term Loan, Permian Transmission is required to make mandatory principal repayments. Below is a summary of the remaining mandatory principal repayments as of December 31, 2022:
(In thousands)Total20232024202520262027Thereafter
Amortizing principal repayments$155,353 $10,507 $15,524 $16,580 $16,967 $17,769 $78,006 
2026 Secured Notes. In 2021, the Co-Issuers issued $700.0 million of debt issuance costs attributable8.500% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Secured Notes”) to its Revolving Credit Facilityeligible purchasers pursuant to Rule 144A and related amendments, which are includedRegulation S of the Securities Act, at a price of 98.5% of their face value. Additionally, in Other noncurrent assets on the consolidated balance sheet.

ECP Loans. On May 28, 2020,November 2022, in connection with the closing2022 DJ Acquisitions, the Co-Issuers issued an additional $85.0 million of 2026 Secured Notes at a price of 99.26% of their face value. The 2026 Secured Notes will pay interest semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on April 15, 2022, and are jointly and severally guaranteed, on a senior second-priority secured basis (subject to permitted liens), by the Partnership and each restricted subsidiary of the GP Buy-In Transaction,Partnership (other than the Co-Issuers) that is an obligor under the ABL Agreement, or under the Co-Issuers’ 2025 Senior Notes on the issue date of the 2026 Secured Notes.

The 2026 Secured Notes will mature on October 15, 2026; provided that, if the outstanding amount of the 2025 Senior Notes (or any refinancing indebtedness in respect thereof that has a final maturity on or prior to the date that is 91 days after the Initial Maturity Date (as defined in the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture)) is greater than or equal to $50.0 million on January 14, 2025, which is 91 days prior to the scheduled maturity date of the 2025 Senior Notes, then the 2026 Secured Notes will mature on January 14, 2025.
The Partnership used the net proceeds from the offering of the 2026 Secured Notes, together with cash on hand and borrowings under the ABL Facility, to repay in full all of Summit Holdings, entered into (i)Holdings’ obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility.
2026 Secured Notes Indenture.
The Co-Issuers issued the 2026 Secured Notes pursuant to an indenture (the “2026 Secured Notes Indenture”), dated as of November 2, 2021, by and among the Co-Issuers, the Partnership, any other Restricted Subsidiary (as defined in the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture) of the Partnership that provides a Term Loan Credit AgreementNotes Guarantee (as defined in the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture) and Regions Bank, as trustee (the “ECP NewCo Term Loan Credit Agreement”“Trustee”), with SMP TopCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and affiliate of ECP (“ECP NewCo”), as lender and administrative agent, and Mizuho Bank (USA) (“Mizuho”), as collateral agent, in asetting forth specific terms applicable to the 2026 Secured Notes.
At any time prior to October 15, 2023, the Co-Issuers may on any one or more occasions redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of $28.2 million (the “ECP NewCo Loan”), and (ii)the 2026 Secured Notes (including any additional notes) issued under the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture at a Term Loan Credit Agreement (the “ECP Holdings Term Loan Credit Agreement” and together withredemption price of 108.5% of the ECP NewCo Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ECP Term Loan Credit Agreements”), with ECP Holdings, as lender, and ECP NewCo, as administrative agent and Mizuho, as collateral agent, in a principal amount of $6.8 million (the “ECP Holdings Loan”the 2026 Secured Notes, plus accrued and together withunpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the ECP NewCo Loan,redemption date, in an amount not greater than the “ECP Loans”). The ECP Loans were set to mature on March 31, 2021 and bore interestnet cash proceeds of certain equity offerings by the Partnership, provided that: (i) at a fixed rate of 8.00% per annum, with the interest payment due at maturityleast 65% of the ECP Loans. With borrowings underinitial aggregate principal amount of the Partnership’s Revolving Credit Facility,2026 Secured Notes (including any
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additional notes) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such redemption (excluding notes held by the Partnership fully repaid all amounts outstanding underand its subsidiaries); and (ii) the ECP Loans ($35 millionredemption occurs within 180 days of principal and $0.6 millionthe date of accrued interest) on August 7, 2020.

2022 Senior Notes. In July 2014, the Co-Issuers co-issued the 2022 Senior Notes. The Partnership pays interest on the 2022 Senior Notes semi-annually in cash in arrears on February 15 and August 15closing of each year. The 2022 Senior Notes are senior, unsecured obligationssuch equity offering by the Partnership. On and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior obligations. The 2022 Senior Notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all secured indebtedness, toafter October 15, 2023, the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness. The Co-Issuers may redeem all or part of the 2022 Senior2026 Secured Notes at a redemption priceprices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) equal to: (a) 104.250% for the twelve-month period beginning October 15, 2023; (b) 102.125% for the twelve-month period beginning October 15, 2024; and (c) 100.000%, for the twelve-month period beginning on October 15, 2025 and at any time thereafter, in each case plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. Debt issuance costsany, to, but not including, the redemption date. In certain circumstances, the Co-Issuers will be required to offer to purchase the 2026 Secured Notes with excess proceeds from asset sales, excess cash flow and upon the occurrence of $5.1 millioncertain change of control events.

The 2026 Secured Notes Indenture restricts the Partnership’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ ability and the ability of certain of their subsidiaries to: (i) incur additional debt or issue preferred stock; (ii) make distributions, repurchase equity or redeem junior lien, unsecured or subordinated debt; (iii) make payments on junior lien, unsecured or subordinated indebtedness; (iv) create liens or other encumbrances; (v) make investments, loans or other guarantees; (vi) engage in transactions with affiliates; and (viii) make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with another entity. These covenants are being amortized oversubject both to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. At any time when the life2026 Secured Notes are rated investment grade by at least two of the 2022 Senior Notes.Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or Fitch Ratings, Inc., many of these covenants will terminate. As of and during the year ended December 31, 2020, we were2022, the Partnership was in compliance with the financial covenants governingof the 2026 Secured Notes.
The 2026 Secured Notes Indenture contains certain events of default customary for instruments of this type.
In the case of an event of default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to either Co-Issuer, the Partnership, and certain significant subsidiaries of the Partnership, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other event of default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the 2026 Secured Notes to be due and payable immediately.
Collateral Agreement.
On November 2, 2021, the Co-Issuers, as pledgors and grantors, entered into, in connection with the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture, a Collateral Agreement (Second Lien), with the Partnership, as a pledgor, each subsidiary guarantor listed therein and Regions Bank, as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agreement”). Pursuant to the Collateral Agreement and the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture, the obligations under the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture are (or, subject to post-closing periods for certain types of collateral, will be) generally secured by a second priority lien on and security interest in (subject to permitted liens) the assets of the Partnership, the Co-Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors securing their obligations under the ABL Facility (as described above under “ABL Facility”).
Excess Cash Flow Offers to Purchase.
Starting in the first quarter of 2023 with respect to the fiscal year ended 2022, and continuing annually through the fiscal year 2025, the Partnership is required under the terms of the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture to, if it has Excess Cash Flow (as defined in the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture), and subject to its ability to make such an offer under the ABL Facility, offer to purchase an amount of the 2026 Secured Notes, at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, equal to 100% of the Excess Cash Flow generated in the prior year. Excess Cash Flow is generally defined as consolidated cash flow minus the sum of capital expenditures and cash payments in respect of permitted investments and permitted restricted payments.
Generally, if the Partnership does not offer to purchase designated annual amounts of its 2026 Secured Notes or reduce its first lien capacity under the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture per annum from 2023 through 2025, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes is subject to certain rate escalations.Per the terms of the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture, the designated amounts are to offer to purchase $50.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Secured Notes by April 1, 2023, otherwise the interest rate shall automatically increase by 50 basis points per annum; $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Secured Notes by April 1, 2024, otherwise the interest rate shall automatically increase by 100 basis points per annum (minus any amount previously increased); and $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 2026 Secured Notes by April 1, 2025, otherwise the interest rate shall automatically increase by 200 basis points per annum (minus any amount previously increased).Based on the amount of the Partnership’s Excess Cash Flow for the fiscal year ended 2022, the Partnership does not anticipate making offers to purchase in the designated amount for the fiscal year ended 2022; and as a result, the interest rate on the 2026 Secured Notes will increase 50 basis points to 9.00% effective April 1, 2023, resulting in increased annual interest expense of approximately $3.9 million.
To the extent the Partnership makes an offer to purchase, and the offer is not fully accepted by the holders of the 2026 Secured Notes, the Partnership may use any remaining amount not accepted for any purpose not prohibited by the 2026 Secured Notes Indenture or the ABL Facility.
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2025 Senior Notes.

2025 Senior Notes. In February 2017, the Co-Issuers co-issued the 2025 Senior Notes. The Partnership pays interest on the 2025 Senior Notes semi-annually in cash in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year. The 2025 Senior Notes are senior, unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Partnership’s existing and future senior obligations. The 2025 Senior Notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of the Partnership’s secured indebtedness, to the extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

The Co-Issuers have the right to redeem all or part of the 2025 Senior Notes at a redemption price of 104.313%. On and after April 15, 2021, the Co-Issuers may redeem all or part of the 2025 Senior Notes at a redemption price of 102.875%101.438% (with the redemption price declining ratably each year to 100.000%100.00% on April 15, 2023), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date. Debt issuance costs of $7.7 million are being amortized over the life of the 2025 Senior Notes.

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As of and during the year ended December 31, 2020, that2022, the Partnership was in compliance with the financial covenants governing its 2025 Senior Notes.

SMPH Term Loan and TL Restructuring. Until November 17, 2020, a subsidiary of the Partnership, SMP Holdings, had a senior secured term loan facility with $155.2 million of principal outstanding and a maturity date of May 15, 2022. Borrowings under the SMPH Term Loan bore interest at LIBOR plus 6.00% or ABR plus 5.00%, as defined in the SMPH Term Loan, and were secured by the following collateral: (i) a perfected first-priority lien on, and pledge of (a) all of the capital stock issued by SMP Holdings, (b) 2.3 million SMLP units owned by SMP Holdings, (c) all of the equity interests owned by SMP Holdings in the General Partner, and (ii) substantially all other personal property of SMP Holdings.

On September 29, 2020, SMP Holdings, Summit Investments and, for limited purposes, the Partnership, entered into the TL Restructuring. At the closing of the TL Restructuring on November 17, 2020, the Term Loan Agent executed a Strict Foreclosure on behalf of the Term Loan Lenders on the 2,306,972 common units held by SMP Holdings and pledged as collateral under the SMPH Term Loan, which was then distributed to all SMPH Term Loan Lenders on a pro rata basis. In addition to the Strict Foreclosure, SMP Holdings paid to each of the SMPH Term Loan Lenders its pro rata share of $26.5 million in cash that the Partnership paid to SMP Holdings to fully satisfy its obligation with respect to the deferred purchased price obligation.

As of December 31, 2020, the SMPH Term Loan is fully satisfied and no longer exists.

10. LIABILITY MANAGEMENT TRANSACTIONS

During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Partnership and its subsidiaries completed several liability management transactions, described below, that resulted in the early extinguishment of an aggregate $306.5 million face value of the Partnership’s indebtedness.

Open Market Repurchases. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Partnership made a number of open market repurchases of the 2022 Senior Notes and 2025 Senior Notes that resulted in the extinguishment of $32.4 million of face value of the 2022 Senior Notes and $201.8 million of face value of the 2025 Senior Notes (the “Open Market Repurchases”). Total cash consideration paid to repurchase the principal amounts outstanding of the 2022 Senior Notes and 2025 Senior Notes, plus accrued interest totaled $150.3 million and the Partnership recognized a $86.4 million gain on the early extinguishment of debt during the year ended December 31, 2020.

Debt Tender Offers. In September 2020, the Co-Issuers completed the Debt Tender Offers to purchase a portion of the 2022 Senior Notes and 2025 Senior Notes. Upon concluding the Debt Tender Offers, the Co-Issuers repurchased $33.5 million principal amount of the 2022 Senior Notes and $38.7 million principal amount of the 2025 Senior Notes. Total cash consideration paid to repurchase the principal amounts outstanding of the 2022 andThe 2025 Senior Notes plus accrued interest, totaled $48.7 million, and the Partnership recognized a $23.3 million gainwill mature on the early extinguishment of debt during the year ended December 31, 2020.

SMPH Term Loan Restructuring.April 15, 2025. On November 17, 2020, the Partnership completed the TL Restructuring and recognized a gain of $94.0 million equal to the difference between the face value of the cancelled SMPH Term Loan and the fair value of the total consideration transferred, including unamortized debt issuance costs, and certain direct transaction costs related to the restructuring. The transaction was accounted for under ASC Topic 470-60 “Troubled Debt Restructuring with Debtors” and had a total impact of $26.15 per share.

Summary of gain on extinguishment of debt. The Partnership recognized a $203.1 million gain on extinguishment of debt during the year ended December 31, 2020, the components of which are summarized in the table below.

 

 

ECP Loan

Repayment

 

 

Open Market

Repurchases

 

 

Tender

Offers

 

 

TL

Restructuring

 

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022

 

 

2025

 

 

2022

 

 

2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes

 

 

Senior Notes

 

 

Senior Notes

 

 

Senior Notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on Repurchases of Senior Notes and TL Restructuring

 

$

 

 

$

11,554

 

 

$

76,789

 

 

$

9,223

 

 

$

15,479

 

 

$

99,175

 

 

$

212,220

 

Debt issue costs

 

 

(361

)

 

 

(143

)

 

 

(1,541

)

 

 

(125

)

 

 

(351

)

 

 

(2,724

)

 

 

(5,245

)

Transaction costs

 

 

(249

)

 

 

(105

)

 

 

(105

)

 

 

(467

)

 

 

(467

)

 

 

(2,520

)

 

 

(3,913

)

Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment

 

$

(610

)

 

$

11,306

 

 

$

75,143

 

 

$

8,631

 

 

$

14,661

 

 

$

93,931

 

 

$

203,062

 

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11.

10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Environmental Matters. Although the Partnership believes that it is in material compliance with applicable environmental regulations, the risk of environmental remediation costs and liabilities are inherent in pipeline ownership and operation. Furthermore, the Partnership can provide no assurances that significant environmental remediation costs and liabilities will not be incurred in the future. The Partnership is currently not aware of any material contingent liabilities that exist with respect to environmental matters, except as noted below.

In 2015, the Partnership learned of the rupture of a four-inch produced water gathering pipeline on the Meadowlark Midstream system near Williston, North Dakota (“Meadowlark Rupture”). The Meadowlark Rupture, which was covered by Summit Investments’ insurance policies, was subject to maximum coverage of $25.0 million from its pollution liability insurance policy and $200.0 million from its property and business interruption insurance policy. The pollution liability policy was exhausted in 2015. Prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, Summit Investments and SMP Holdings indemnified the Partnership for certain obligations and liabilities related to the incident. As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership is no longer indemnified for these obligations.

A rollforward of the Partnership’s undiscounted accrued environmental remediation liabilities related to the Meadowlark Rupture follows.

 

 

Total

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Accrued environmental remediation, January 1, 2019

 

$

5,636

 

Payments made

 

 

(2,284

)

Additional accruals

 

 

1,299

 

Accrued environmental remediation, December 31, 2019

 

$

4,651

 

Payments made

 

 

(1,722

)

Accrued environmental remediation, December 31, 2020

 

$

2,929

 

As of December 31, 2020,2022, the Partnership has recognized (i) a current liability for remediation effort expenditures expected to be incurred within the next 12 months and (ii) a noncurrent liability for estimated remediation expenditures expected to be incurred subsequent to December 31, 2021.2022. Each of these amounts represent the Partnership’s best estimate for costs expected to be incurred. Neither of these amounts have been discounted to its present value.

Beginning in

A rollforward of the Partnership’s undiscounted accrued environmental remediation follows and is primarily related to the 2015 Blacktail Release and other environmental remediation activities.
(In thousands)
Accrued environmental remediation, December 31, 2020$2,929 
Payments made(1,972)
Additional accruals4,649 
Accrued environmental remediation, December 31, 2021$5,606 
Payments made(2,746)
Additional accruals845 
Accrued environmental remediation, December 31, 2022$3,705 
In 2015, the Partnership learned of the rupture of a four-inch produced water gathering pipeline on the Meadowlark Midstream system near Williston, North Dakota (“2015 Blacktail Release”). On August 4, 2021, subsidiaries of the Partnership entered into the following agreements to resolve the U.S. federal and North Dakota state governments’ environmental claims with respect to the 2015 Blacktail Release: (i) a Consent Decree with the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued grand jury subpoenas to Summit Investments,, the Partnership, our General PartnerU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), and Meadowlark Midstream requesting certain materials related to the Meadowlark Rupture. On June 19, 2015, Meadowlark MidstreamState of North Dakota (“Consent Decree”); (ii) a Plea Agreement with the United States (“Plea Agreement”); and Summit Investments received(iii) a complaint fromConsent Agreement with the North Dakota Industrial Commission seeking approximately $2.5 million in fines and other fees related to the incident. This matter is also under investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the North Dakota Office of the Attorney General, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, and the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. The government’s investigation is still ongoing. During this time, the Partnership has entered ‎into tolling agreements with both the DOJ and the North Dakota attorney general, which ‎were most recently extended to May 7, 2021. There can be no assurance that these tolling agreements will be extended. Discussions(“Consent Agreement” together with the DOJConsent Decree and other agencies regarding a resolution of this matter are ongoing. Liability for this incident could arise under civil and misdemeanor and felony criminal statutes, includingPlea Agreement, the Clean Water Act. In accordance with GAAP, the Partnership has accrued a $17.0 million loss contingency for this matter as“Global Settlement”). As of December 31, 2020. While2022 and 2021, the accrued loss liability for the 2015 Blacktail Release was $28.3 million and $33.2 million, respectively.
Key terms of the Global Settlement included (i) payment of penalties and fines totaling $36.3 million, consisting of $1.25 million in natural resource damages payable to federal and state governments, a $25.0 million payable to the federal government over five years, and a $10.0 million payable to state governments over six years, with interest applied to unpaid amounts accruing at a fixed rate of 3.25%, and of which $6.7 million is expected to be paid within the next twelve months; (ii) continuation of remediation efforts at the site of the 2015 Blacktail Release; (iii) other injunctive relief including but not limited to control room management, environmental management system audit, training, and reporting; (iv) guilty pleas by Defendant subsidiary for (a) one charge of negligent discharge of a harmful quantity of oil and (b) one charge of knowing failure to immediately report a discharge of oil; and (v) organizational probation for a minimum period of three years from sentencing, including payment in full of certain components of the fines and penalty amounts. The agreements comprising the Global Settlement were subject to the approval of the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota (the “U.S. District Court”). The U.S. District Court entered an order making the civil components of the Global Settlement effective on September 28, 2021. The U.S. District Court accepted the Plea Agreement on December 6, 2021, and approval of the Global Settlement is now complete.
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Subsidiaries of the Partnership believes a loss for claims and/or actions arising fromare also participating in two proceedings before the Meadowlark Rupture, whether in a negotiated settlement orEPA as a result of litigation, is probable, duethe Plea Agreement becoming effective. Following the U.S. District Court’s entering judgment on Defendant subsidiary’s guilty plea to one count of negligent discharge of produced water in violation of the Clean Water Act, Defendant subsidiary was statutorily debarred by operation of law pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1368(a) to participate in federal awards performed at the “violating facility,” which EPA determined to be the Marmon subsystem of the produced water gathering system in North Dakota. The scope and effect of the debarment as defined do not materially affect our operations. Defendant has submitted a petition for reinstatement, which was denied by the EPA’s suspension and debarment office (“SDO”) on July 11, 2022. The SDO determined that the term of probation in the Plea Agreement was the appropriate period of time to demonstrate Defendant subsidiary’s change of corporate attitude, policies, practices, and procedures. The Partnership and certain subsidiaries have also received a show cause notice from the EPA requesting us to “show cause” why SDO should not issue a Notice of Proposed Debarment to the complexity of resolving the numerous issues surrounding this matter, at this timeDefendant subsidiary and certain affiliates under 2 C.F.R. § 180.800(d), to which we cannot reasonably predict whether any actual loss, if incurred, would be materially higher or lower than the accrued amount.

have responded.

Legal Proceedings. The Partnership is involved in various litigation and administrative proceedings arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, any liabilities that may result from these claims or those arising in the normal course of business would not individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Partnership's financial position or results of operations.

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Table As a result of Contentsthe Sterling DJ acquisition, the Partnership assumed an appeal bond outstanding in the amount of $3.9 million related to a litigation matter outstanding prior to December 1, 2022.

12.

11. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Concentrations of Credit Risk. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Partnership to concentrations of credit risk consist of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and accounts receivable. The Partnership maintains its cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash in bank deposit accounts that frequently exceed federally insured limits. The Partnership has not experienced any losses in such accounts and does not believe it is exposed to any significant risk.

Accounts receivable primarily comprise amounts due for the gathering, compression, treating and processing services the Partnership provides to its customers and also the sale of natural gas liquids resulting from its processing services. This industry concentration has the potential to impact its overall exposure to credit risk, either positively or negatively, in that the PartnershipsPartnership’s customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic, industry or other conditions. The Partnership monitors the creditworthiness of its counterparties and can require letters of credit or other forms of credit assurance for receivables from counterparties that are judged to have substandard credit, unless the credit risk can otherwise be mitigated. The PartnershipsPartnership’s top 5five customers or counterparties accounted for 51%26% of its total accounts receivable at December 31, 2020,2022, compared to 46%38% as of December 31, 2019.

2021.

Fair Value. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and trade accounts payable reported on the consolidated balance sheet approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities.

A summary of the estimated fair value of the PartnershipsPartnership’s debt financial instruments follows.

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

 

Carrying

Value, Net

 

 

Estimated

fair value

(Level 2)

 

 

Carrying

Value, Net

 

 

Estimated

fair value

(Level 2)

 

December 31, 2022December 31, 2021

 

(in thousands)

 

Carrying
Value (1)
Estimated
fair value
(Level 2)
Carrying
Value (1)
Estimated
fair value
(Level 2)

2022 Senior Notes

 

$

233,188

 

 

$

215,713

 

 

$

298,314

 

 

$

266,750

 

(in thousands)

2025 Senior Notes

 

 

257,138

 

 

 

168,002

 

 

 

494,985

 

 

 

382,708

 

2025 Senior Notes259,463 221,733 259,463 234,814 
2026 Secured Notes2026 Secured Notes785,000 750,983 700,000 718,083 

(1) Excludes applicable unamortized debt issuance costs and debt discounts.
The carrying value on the balance sheetsheets of the Revolving CreditABL Facility is itsand Permian Transmission Term Loan represent their fair value due to its floating interest rate. The fair value for the 2026 Secured Notes and 2025 Senior Notes is based on an average of nonbinding broker quotes as of December 31, 20202022 and 2019.2021. The use of different market assumptions or valuation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value of the Senior Notes.

13.

Deferred earn-out. As a result of the acquisition of Sterling DJ, the Partnership assumed a deferred earn-out liability, which is remeasured each reporting period. As of December 31, 2022, the estimated fair value of the deferred earn-out liability was $5.2 million and was estimated using a discounted cash flow technique based on estimated future fresh water deliveries and appropriate discount rates. Given the unobservable nature of the inputs, the fair value measurement of the deferred earn-out is deemed to use Level 3 inputs. The deferred earn-out sits within Centennial Water Pipelines LLC, one of the Partnership’s unrestricted subsidiaries.
Interest Rate Swaps. In connection with the Permian Transmission Credit Facility, the Partnership entered into amortizing interest rate swap agreements for a notional amount of $139.8 million. These interest rate swaps manage exposure to variability
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in expected cash flows attributable to interest rate risk. Interest rate swaps convert a portion of the Partnership’s variable rate debt to fixed rate debt. The Partnership chooses counterparties for its derivative instruments that it believes are creditworthy at the time the transactions are entered into, and the Partnership actively monitors the creditworthiness where applicable. However, there can be no assurance that a counterparty will be able to meet its obligations to the Partnership. The Partnership presents its derivative positions on a gross basis and does not net the asset and liability positions.
As of December 31, 2022, the Partnership’s interest rate swap agreements had a fair value of $15.2 million and are recorded within other noncurrent assets, other current liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities within the consolidated balance sheets.
12. PARTNERS' CAPITAL AND MEZZANINE CAPITAL

Noncontrolling Interest.

In March 2019, and prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, a subsidiary of Summit Investments cancelled its incentive distribution rights agreement with SMLP and converted its 2% economic general partner interest to a non-economic general partner interest in exchange for 0.6 million SMLP common units. This exchange is reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital as a reduction to noncontrolling interest and an increase to Partners’ Capital.

Common Units. A rollforward ofAn update on the number of common limited partner units is as follows for the period from December 31, 20182020 to December 31, 2020.2022.

Common Units(2)

Common Units
December 31, 2018

2020

6,110,092 

3,021,258

2019 activity

2021 Preferred Exchange Offer, net of units withheld for taxes

538,715 

0

Units, December 31, 2019

3,021,258

GP Buy-In Transaction(1)

(132,687

)

Common units issued for SMLP LTIP, net

106,580 

95,987

TL Restructuring (Note 9)

ECP Warrant Exercise

414,447 

2,306,972

Series A

December 31, 20217,169,834 
2022 Preferred Unit Exchange Offer, net of sharesunits withheld for taxes

2,853,875 

817,845

Other

Common units issued for SMLP LTIP, net

159,054 

717

Units,

December 31, 2020

2022

10,182,763 

6,110,092

(1) The purchase price for the SMLP common units reflected in the consolidated statement of partners’ capital for the year ended December 31, 2020 is comprised of the (i) the $35.0 million cash payment to ECP, (ii) the $2.3 million fair value for the issuance of 0.7 million warrants, and (iii) $6.8 million of advisory fees and other direct costs related to closing the GP Buy-In Transaction.

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(2) As adjusted for reverse unit split.

Series A Preferred Units. In November 2017, the Partnership issued 300,000 Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units (the “Series A Preferred Units”) representing limited partner interests in the Partnership at a price to the public of $1,000 per unit. The Partnership used the net proceeds of $293.2 million (after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses) to repay outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility. 

The Series A Preferred Units rank senior to (i) common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership and (ii) each other class or series of limited partner interests or other equity securities in the Partnership that may be established in the future that expressly ranks junior to the Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable upon a liquidation event (the “Junior Securities”).event. The Series A Preferred Units rank equal in all respects with each class or series of limited partner interests orother equity securities in the Partnership that may be established in the future that is not expressly made senior or subordinated to the Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable on a liquidation event (the “Parity Securities”).event. The Series A Preferred Units rank junior to (i) all of the Partnership’s existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities with respect to assets available to satisfy claims against the Partnership and (ii) each other class or series of limited partner interests or other equity securities in the Partnership established in the future that is expressly made senior to the Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable upon a liquidation event. Income is allocated to the Series A Preferred Units in an amount equal to the earned distributions (whether these distributions are declared by the General Partner to be paid or not) for the respective reporting period.

Distributions on the Series A Preferred Units are cumulative and compounding and are payable semi-annually in arrears on the 15th day of each June and December through and including December 15, 2022, and, thereafter, quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year (each, a “Distribution Payment Date”) to holders of record as of the close of business on the first business day of the month of the applicable Distribution Payment Date, in each case, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner out of legally available funds for such purpose.

The initial distribution rate for the Series A Preferred Units is 9.50% per annum of the $1,000 liquidation preference per Series A Preferred Unit. On and after December 15, 2022, distributions on the Series A Preferred Units will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the liquidation preference equal to the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 7.43%.

In connection with The floating rate established on December 15, 2022 for the GP Buy-In Transaction,theperiod ending March 31, 2023 was 12.2%.

The Partnership suspended its distributions to be paid to holders of its Series A Preferred Units, commencing with respect to the quarter ending March 31, 2020.

As of December 31, 2022, the amount of accrued and unpaid distributions on the Series A Preferred Units was $21.5 million.

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A rollforward of the number of outstanding Series A Preferred Units follows for the period from December 31, 20182020 to December 31, 2020.

2022.

Series A

Preferred Units

Series A
Preferred Units December 31, 2018

300,000

2019 activity

0

Series A Preferred Units, December 31, 2019

300,000

Series A Preferred Unit Exchange Offer

(62,816

)

Series A Preferred Unit Tender

(75,075

)

Series A Preferred Units, December 31, 2020

162,109 

2021 Preferred Exchange Offer

162,109

(18,662)

December 31, 2021143,447 
2022 Preferred Exchange Offer(77,939)
December 31, 202265,508 

Series A

2021 Preferred Unit Exchange OfferOffers.In July 2020,April 2021, the Partnership completed an offer to exchange its Series A Preferred Units for newly issued common units (the “2021 Preferred Exchange Offer”), whereby it issued 837,547538,715 SMLP common units, net of units withheld for withholding taxes, in exchange for 62,81618,662 Series A Preferred Units.

Upon the settlement of the 2021 Preferred Exchange Offer, the Partnership eliminated $20.7 million of the Series A Preferred Tender Offer.Unit liquidation preference amount, inclusive of accrued distributions due as of the settlement date.

2022 Preferred Exchange Offer. In December 2020,January 2022, the Partnership completed a cash tenderan offer forto exchange its Series A Preferred Units for newly issued common units (the “2022 Preferred Exchange Offer”), whereby it accepted 75,075issued 2,853,875 SMLP common units, net of units withheld for withholding taxes, in exchange for 77,939 Series A Preferred Units for a purchase priceUnits. Upon the settlement of $333.00 perthe 2022 Preferred Exchange Offer, the Partnership eliminated $92.6 million of the Series A Preferred Unit and an aggregate purchase priceliquidation preference amount, inclusive of $25.0 million.accrued distributions due as of the settlement date.

Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units. The Partnership has Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units that ranks senior to each other class or series of limited partner interests or other equity securities in Permian Holdco that may be established in the future that expressly ranks junior to the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable upon a liquidation event (the “Junior Securities”).event. The Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units rank equal in all respects with each class or

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series of limited partner interests or other equity securities in Permian Holdco that may be established in the future that is not expressly made senior or subordinated to the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable on a liquidation event (the “Parity Securities”).event. The Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units rank junior to (i) all of Permian Holdco’s or a subsidiary of Permian Holdco’s future indebtedness and other liabilities with respect to assets available to satisfy claims against Permian Holdco and (ii) each other class or series of limited partner interests or other equity securities in Permian Holdco established in the future that is expressly made senior to the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units as to the payment of distributions and amounts payable upon a liquidation event. Income is allocated to the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units in an amount equal to the earned distributions for the respective reporting period.

Distributions on the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units are cumulative and compounding and are payable 21 days following the quarterly period ended March, June, September and December of each year (each, a “Series A Distribution Payment Date”) to holders of record as of the close of business on the first business day of the month of the applicable Series A Distribution Payment Date, in each case, when, as, and if declared by Permian Holdco out of legally available funds for such purpose.

The distribution rate for the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units is 7.00% per annum of the $1,000 liquidation preference per Subsidiary Series A Preferred Unit. A pro-rated initial distribution on the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units was Paid-in-kind (“PIK”) on January 21, 2020 in an amount equal to 7.00% per Subsidiary Series A Preferred Unit plus 1.00% per annum of the undrawn commitment units.

In 2020, the Partnership issued 55,251 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units at a price of $1,000 per unit for net proceeds of $48.7 million (after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses). All proceeds were used to fund capital expenses associated with the Double E Project.
In 2019, the Partnership issued 30,000 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in Permian Holdco at a price of $1,000 per unit. The net proceeds of $27.4 million (after deducting underwriting discounts and offering expenses) were used to fund capital expenses associated with the Double E Project.

The proceeds associated with the issuance of Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units are classified as restricted cash on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets in accordance with the underlying agreementwith TPG Energy Solutions Anthem, L.P. until the related funding is used for the Double E Project.

These Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units are considered redeemable securities under GAAP due to the existence of certain redemption provisions that are outside of the Partnership’s control. Therefore, the securities are classified as temporary equity in the mezzanine section of the consolidated balance sheets.

The Partnership records its Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units at fair value upon issuance, net of issuance costs, and subsequently records an effective interest method accretion amount each reporting period to accrete the carrying value to a most probable redemption value that is based on a predetermined internal rate of return measure. The Partnership also elected to make payment-in-kind (“PIK”)PIK distributions to holders of the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units during portions of the year ended December 31, 20202022 and these PIK distributionsfor all of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which increase the liquidation preference on each Subsidiary Series A Preferred Unit. Ultimately, Net Income (Loss) Attributable to common limited partners includes adjustments for PIK distributions and redemption accretion.

During the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Partnership issued 1,600 and 6,131 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units, respectively, through PIK transactions. As of December 31, 2022 and 2021, the Partnership had 93,039 and 91,439 Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units outstanding, respectively.

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If the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units were redeemed on December 31, 2020,2022, the redemption amount would be $106.6$119.9 million, when considering the applicable multiple of invested capital metric and make-whole amount provisions contained in the Subsidiary Series A Preferred Unit agreement.
The following table shows the change in the Partnership’s Subsidiary Series A Preferred Unit balance during the year endedfrom January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2020:

 

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance at December 31, 2019

 

$

27,450

 

New issuances

 

 

50,000

 

PIK distributions

 

 

5,251

 

Issuance costs

 

 

(1,290

)

Redemption accretion

 

 

8,247

 

Balance at December 31, 2020(1)

 

$

89,658

 

(1) Amount is2022, net of $2.2 million and $3.9 million of unamortized issuance costs at December 31, 2020.

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2022 and December 31, 2021:

(in thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2021$89,658 
PIK distributions6,131 
Redemption accretion10,536 
Balance at December 31, 2021$106,325 
PIK distributions1,600 
Redemption accretion15,544 
Cash distribution (includes $1.6 million distributions payable as of December 31, 2022)$(4,885)
Balance at December 31, 2022$118,584 
Table of ContentsWarrants.

Warrants. On May 28, 2020, and in connection with the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership issued (i) a warrant to purchase up to 0.5 million537,307 SMLP common units to ECP NewCo (the “ECP NewCo Warrant”) and (ii) a warrant to purchase up to 0.1 million129,360 SMLP common units to ECP Holdings (the “ECP Holdings Warrant” and together with the ECP NewCo Warrant, the “ECP Warrants”). The exercise price under the ECP Warrants iswas $15.35 per SMLP common unit and the Partnership may issue a maximum of 0.7 million SMLP common units under the ECP Warrants.

Upon exercise of the ECP Warrants, each of ECP NewCo and ECP Holdings may receive, at its election: (i) a number of SMLP common units equal to the number of SMLP common units for which the ECP Warrants are being exercised, if exercising the ECP Warrants by cash payment of the exercise price; (ii) a number of SMLP common units equal to the product of the number of common units being exercised multiplied by (a) the difference between the average of the daily volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the SMLP common units on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) on each of the three trading days prior to the delivery of the notice of exercise (the “VWAP Average”) and the exercise price (the “VWAP Difference”), divided by (b) the VWAP Average; and/or (iii) an amount in cash, to the extent that the Partnership’s leverage ratio would be at least 0.5x less than the maximum applicable ratio set forth in the Revolving Credit Facility, equal to the product of (a) the number of SMLP common units exercised and (b) the VWAP Difference, subject to certain adjustments under the ECP Warrants.

The ECP Warrants are subject to standard anti-dilution adjustments for stock dividends, stock splits (including reverse splits) and recapitalizations and are exercisable at any time on or before May 28, 2023. Upon exercise of the ECP Warrants, the proceeds to the holders of the ECP Warrants, whether in the form of cash or common units, will be capped at $30.00 per SMLP common unit above the exercise price.

unit. At issuance the ECP Warrants were valued at $2.3 million using a Black-Scholes model and accounted for as a liability instrument. At December 31, 2020,

On August 5, 2021, the ECP Entities cashlessly exercised all of the ECP Warrants were valued at $1.9 million.

for an aggregate of 414,447 SMLP common units, net of the exercise price, as calculated pursuant to Section 3(c) of the ECP Warrants (the "ECP Warrant Exercise").For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Partnership recognized a $13.6 million loss related to the ECP Warrants.

Cash Distribution Policy. In connection with the GP Buy-In Transaction, theThe Partnership suspended its cash distributions to holders of its common units, commencing with respect to the quarter ending March 31, 2020. Upon the resumption of distributions, the Partnership Agreement requires that it distribute all available cash, subject to reserves established by its General Partner, within 45 days after the end of each quarter to unitholders of record on the applicable record date. The amount of distributions paid under this policy is subject to fluctuations based on the amount of cash the Partnership generates from its business and the decision to make any distribution is determined by the General Partner, taking into consideration the terms of the Partnership Agreement.
123

Cash Distributions Paid and Declared. Prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, SMLPpaid the following per-unit cash distributions to its unitholders during the years ended December 31:

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Per-unit distributions to unitholders

 

$

0.125

 

 

$

1.4375

 

On January 29, 2020, the Board of Directors declared a distribution of $0.125 per unit for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2019. This distribution, which totaled $11.7 million, was paid on February 14, 2020 to unitholders of record at the close of business on February 7, 2020.

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14.

13. EARNINGS PER UNIT

The following table details the components of EPU.

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands, except per-unit amounts)

 

Numerator for basic and diluted EPU:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocation of net income (loss) among limited partner interests:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners

 

$

192,352

 

 

$

(184,451

)

Less:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Series A Preferred Units

 

 

26,529

 

 

 

28,500

 

Net income attributable to Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units

 

 

13,498

 

 

 

58

 

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deemed capital contribution from Series A Preferred Unit Exchange Offer

 

 

54,945

 

 

 

 

Deemed capital contribution from Series A Preferred Tender Offer

 

 

55,724

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners

 

$

262,994

 

 

$

(213,009

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator for basic and diluted EPU:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common units outstanding – basic(1)

 

 

3,592

 

 

 

3,021

 

Effect of nonvested phantom units

 

 

102

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common units outstanding – diluted

 

 

3,694

 

 

 

3,021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income (Loss) per limited partner unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unit – basic

 

$

73.22

 

 

$

(70.50

)

Common unit – diluted

 

$

71.19

 

 

$

(70.50

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nonvested anti-dilutive phantom units excluded from the

    calculation of diluted EPU

 

 

240

 

 

 

12

 

(1)

As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, our historical results are those of Summit Investments. The number of common units of 3.0 million as of December 31, 2019 represents those of Summit Investments and has been used for the earnings per unit calculation presented herein.

Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands, except per-unit amounts)
Numerator for basic and diluted EPU:
Allocation of net income (loss) among limited partner interests:
Net loss$(123,461)$(19,949)
Less: Net income attributable to Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units(17,144)(16,667)
Net loss attributable Summit Midstream Partners, LP(140,605)(36,616)
Less: Net income attributable to Series A Preferred Unit(8,048)(15,998)
Add: Deemed capital contribution20,974 8,326 
Net loss attributable to common limited partners$(127,679)$(44,288)
Denominator for basic and diluted EPU:
Weighted-average common units outstanding – basic10,048 6,741 
Effect of nonvested phantom units— — 
Weighted-average common units outstanding – diluted10,048 6,741 
Net Loss per limited partner unit:
Common unit – basic$(12.71)$(6.57)
Common unit – diluted$(12.71)$(6.57)
Nonvested anti-dilutive phantom units excluded from the calculation of diluted EPU177 203 

15.


14. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

Year ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

20222021

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

Cash interest paid

 

$

79,450

 

 

$

92,536

 

Cash interest paid$89,472 $57,655 

Less capitalized interest

 

 

3,878

 

 

 

6,974

 

Interest paid (net of capitalized interest)

 

$

75,572

 

 

$

85,562

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for taxes

 

$

190

 

 

$

150

 

Cash paid for taxes149 191 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

��

 

 

 

 

Noncash investing and financing activities:

Capital expenditures in trade accounts payable (period-end accruals)

 

$

6,154

 

 

$

19,846

 

Capital expenditures in trade accounts payable (period-end accruals)$6,724 $5,692 

Warrant issuance for GP Buy-In Transaction

 

 

2,300

 

 

 

 

Asset contribution to an equity method investment

 

 

 

 

 

23,643

 

Right-of-use assets relating to ASC Topic 842

 

 

3,685

 

 

 

5,448

 

Fair value of SMLP equity for TL Restructuring

 

 

30,521

 

 

 

 

Accretion of Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units

 

 

8,247

 

 

 

 

Accretion of Subsidiary Series A Preferred Units15,544 10,536 
Exercise of ECP WarrantsExercise of ECP Warrants— 15,542 
2022 Preferred Exchange Offer2022 Preferred Exchange Offer92,587 — 
2021 Preferred Exchange Offer2021 Preferred Exchange Offer— 20,654 

16.


15. UNIT-BASED AND NONCASH COMPENSATION

SMLP Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Partnership’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (“SMLP LTIP”) provides for equity awards to eligible officers, employees, consultants and directors of the Partnership, thereby linking the recipients' compensation directly to SMLP’s performance. The SMLP LTIP provides for the granting, from time to time, of unit-based awards, including common

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units, restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights, profits interest units and other unit-based awards. Grants are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. AInitially, a total of 1.0 million common units was reserved for issuance pursuant to and in accordance with the SMLP LTIP. On June 24, 2022 unitholders of the Partnership approved the Summit Midstream Partners, LP 2022 Long-Term

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Incentive Plan, which increased the number of common units available for issuance to the Partnership’s employees, consultants and directors. As of December 31, 2020,2022, approximately 0.40.9 million common units remained available for future issuance.issuance under the SMLP LTIP, which includes the impact of 0.6 million granted but unvested phantom units.
Significant items for the year ended December 31, 2022:

For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Partnership granted 170,986 phantom units and associated distribution equivalent rights to employees. These awards granted during the year ended December 31, 2022 had fair values of between $13.58 and $20.50 per common unit and vest ratably over periods ranging from a two-year period and three-year period.

For the year ended December 31, 2022, certain employees of the Partnerships exchanged previously granted cash retention awards for 299,981 phantom units. The fair value of the cash retention awards exchanged was equal to the fair value of the phantom units received and the phantom awards vest over same terms of the cash retention awards.
For the year ended December 31, 2022, the Partnership issued 38,664 common units to the Partnership’s six independent directors in connection with their annual compensation plan. These awards had a grant date fair value of $14.21 per common unit and vested immediately.
The following table presents phantom unit activity for the periods presented:

 

Units

 

 

Weighted-average grant date fair value

 

Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2018

 

 

57,608

 

 

$

256.65

 

UnitsWeighted-average grant date fair value
Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2020Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2020291,691 $26.57 

Phantom units granted

 

 

127,540

 

 

 

97.20

 

Phantom units granted199,241 22.33 

Phantom units vested

 

 

(40,174

)

 

 

251.70

 

Phantom units vested(143,768)30.66 

Phantom units forfeited

 

 

(4,574

)

 

 

193.05

 

Phantom units forfeited(13,385)38.85 

Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2019

 

 

140,400

 

 

 

115.35

 

Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2021Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2021333,779 21.78 

Phantom units granted

 

 

345,997

 

 

 

9.20

 

Phantom units granted509,631 17.70 

Phantom units vested

 

 

(193,349

)

 

 

54.07

 

Phantom units vested(229,551)23.61 

Phantom units forfeited

 

 

(1,357

)

 

 

119.24

 

Phantom units forfeited(8,717)22.53 

Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2020

 

 

291,691

 

 

$

26.57

 

Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2022Nonvested phantom units, December 31, 2022605,142 $17.62 

A phantom unit is a notional unit that entitles the grantee to receive a common unit upon the vesting of the phantom unit or on a deferred basis upon specified future dates or events or, in the discretion of the administrator, cash equal to the fair market value of a common unit. Distribution equivalent rights for each phantom unit provide for a lump sum cash amount equal to the accrued distributions from the grant date to be paid in cash upon the vesting date.

Phantom units granted to date generally vest ratably over a three-year period. Grant date fair value is determined based on the closing price of SMLP’s common units on the date of grant multiplied by the number of phantom units awarded to the grantee. Forfeitures are recorded as incurred. Holders of all phantom units granted to date are entitled to receive distribution equivalent rights for each phantom unit, providing for a lump sum cash amount equal to the accrued distributions from the grant date of the phantom units to be paid in cash upon the vesting date. Upon vesting, phantom unit awards may be settled, at the Partnership’s discretion, in cash and/or common units, but the current intention is to settle all phantom unit awards with common units.

The intrinsic value of phantom units that vested during the years ended December 31, follows.

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Intrinsic value of vested LTIP awards

 

$

2,602

 

 

$

5,940

 

Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Intrinsic value of vested LTIP awards$5,420 $4,407 

As of December 31, 2020,2022, the unrecognized unit-based compensation related to the SMLP LTIP was $3.4$6.3 million. Incremental unit-based compensation will be recorded over the remaining weighted-average vesting period of approximately 1.41.62 years.


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Unit-based compensation recognized in general and administrative expense related to awards under the SMLP LTIP follows.

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

SMLP LTIP unit-based compensation

 

$

8,111

 

 

$

8,171

 

Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
SMLP LTIP unit-based compensation$3,778 $4,744 

17.


16. LEASES

Leases. The Partnership leases certain office space and equipment under operating leases. The Partnership leases office space for terms of between 3 and 10 years. Office space leases limit exposure to risks related to ownership, such as fluctuations in real estate prices. The Partnership leases equipment primarily to support its operations in response to the needs of its gathering systems for terms of between 3 and 4 years. The Partnership also leases vehicles under finance leases to support its operations in response to the needs of its gathering systems for a term of 3 years.

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Some of the PartnershipsPartnership’s leases are subject to annual escalations relating to the Consumer Price Index (“CPI”). While lease liabilities are not remeasured as a result of changes to the CPI, changes to the CPI are treated as variable lease payments and recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments was incurred.

In accordance with the provisions in the Revolving Credit Facility, the Partnership’s aggregate finance lease obligations cannot exceed $50.0 million in any period of twelve consecutive calendar months during the life of such leases.

Significant assumptions or judgments include the determination of whether a contract contains a lease and the discount rate used in the lease liabilities.

The rate implicit in the lease contracts are not readily determinable. In determining the discount rate used in for lease liabilities, the Partnership analyzed certain factors in its incremental borrowing rate, including collateral assumptions and the term used. The Partnership’s incremental borrowing rate on the Revolving Credit Facility was 2.90%6.43% at December 31, 2020,2022, which reflects the fixed rate at which the Partnership could borrow a similar amount, for a similar term and with similar collateral as in the lease contracts at the commencement date.

In connection with the adoption of Topic 842, the Partnership elected the package of practical expedients which permits them not to reassess under the new standard its prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company also elected the practical expedient to not separate the nonlease components from the associated lease components for all classes of underlying assets, as well as the short-term lease recognition exemption.

ROU assets (included in the Property, plant and equipment, netother noncurrent assets caption on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet) and lease liabilities (included in the Other current liabilities and Other noncurrent liabilities captions on the Partnership’s consolidated balance sheet) follow:

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

December 31, 2019

 

December 31, 2022December 31, 2021

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROU assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROU assets

Operating

 

$

3,736

 

 

$

3,580

 

Operating$11,633 $2,515 

Finance

 

 

1,748

 

 

 

3,159

 

Finance1,389 792 

 

$

5,484

 

 

$

6,739

 

$13,022 $3,307 

Lease liabilities, current

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease liabilities, current

Operating

 

$

2,298

 

 

$

1,221

 

Operating$2,570 $1,213 

Finance

 

 

618

 

 

 

1,246

 

Finance435 167 

 

$

2,916

 

 

$

2,467

 

$3,005 $1,380 

Lease liabilities, noncurrent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease liabilities, noncurrent

Operating

 

$

3,182

 

 

$

2,513

 

Operating$9,672 $2,272 

Finance

 

 

154

 

 

 

676

 

Finance679 122 

 

$

3,336

 

 

$

3,189

 

$10,351 $2,394 

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Table of Contents
Lease cost and Other information follow:

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

20222021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Lease cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lease cost

Finance lease cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finance lease cost:

Amortization of ROU assets (included in depreciation and amortization)

Amortization of ROU assets (included in depreciation and amortization)

 

$

1,274

 

 

$

1,559

 

Amortization of ROU assets (included in depreciation and amortization)$673 $1,026 

Interest on lease liabilities (included in interest expense)

Interest on lease liabilities (included in interest expense)

 

 

52

 

 

 

102

 

Interest on lease liabilities (included in interest expense)18 20 

Operating lease cost (included in general and administrative expense)

Operating lease cost (included in general and administrative expense)

 

 

2,644

 

 

 

3,345

 

Operating lease cost (included in general and administrative expense)1,815 1,722 

 

 

 

$

3,970

 

 

$

5,006

 

$2,506 $2,768 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

20222021

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

(In thousands)

Other information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other information

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

Operating cash outflows from operating leases

 

 

 

$

1,472

 

 

$

3,396

 

Operating cash outflows from operating leases$1,732 $1,407 

Operating cash outflows from finance leases

 

 

 

 

52

 

 

 

102

 

Operating cash outflows from finance leases18 20 

Financing cash outflows from finance leases

 

 

 

 

1,150

 

 

 

1,873

 

Financing cash outflows from finance leases330 634 

ROU assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease

liabilities

 

 

 

 

3,552

 

 

 

1,218

 

ROU assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities9,865 — 

ROU assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease

liabilities

 

 

 

 

133

 

 

 

1,350

 

ROU assets obtained in exchange for new finance lease liabilities1,298 94 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - operating leases

 

 

 

 

4.9

 

 

 

5.8

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - operating leases4.75.1

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - finance leases

 

 

 

 

1.4

 

 

 

2.0

 

Weighted-average remaining lease term (years) - finance leases2.41.1

Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases

 

 

 

 

5

%

 

 

5

%

Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases%%

Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases

 

 

 

 

4

%

 

 

4

%

Weighted-average discount rate - finance leases%%

The Partnership recognizes total lease expense incurred or allocated to us in general and administrative expenses. Lease expense related to operating leases, including lease expense incurred on the Partnership’s behalf and allocated to us, was as follows:

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Lease expense

 

$

3,436

 

 

$

4,038

 

Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Lease expense$3,162 $2,479 

Future minimum lease payments due under noncancelable leases at December 31, 2020,2022, were as follows:

 

December 31, 2020

 

 

(In thousands)

 

December 31, 2022

 

Operating

 

 

Finance

 

(In thousands)

2021

 

$

1,750

 

 

$

655

 

2022

 

 

1,308

 

 

 

126

 

OperatingFinance

2023

 

 

854

 

 

 

42

 

2023$4,026 $538 

2024

 

 

573

 

 

 

 

20243,650 489 

2025

 

 

464

 

 

 

 

20253,486 276 

2026

 

 

156

 

 

 

 

20262,646 
202720272,280 — 
2028202861 — 

Thereafter

 

 

579

 

 

 

 

Thereafter357 — 

Total future minimum lease payments

 

$

5,684

 

 

$

823

 

Total future minimum lease payments$16,506 $1,310 

18. DISPOSITIONS

In 2019, the Partnership completed two divestitures described in further detail below.

Red Rock Gathering Asset Disposition.

In
17. SEGMENT INFORMATION
As of December 2019, the Partnership completed the sale of certain assets contained in its Piceance Basin reportable segment for a cash purchase price of $12.0 million. Prior to the sale, the Partnership recorded an impairment charge of $14.2 million based on the expected consideration and the carrying value for the disposed assets. The financial contribution of these assets in 2019 (a component of the Piceance Basin reportable segment) are included in31, 2022, the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements and footnotes forcurrent reportable segments are:
Rockies Includes the period from January 1, 2019 through December 1, 2019.

Tioga Midstream Disposition. In March 2019, the Partnership closed on the sale of certainPartnership’s wholly owned midstream assets containedlocated in the Williston Basin reportable segment for a cash purchase priceand the DJ Basin.

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Table of $90.0 million. Upon closingContents
Permian – Includes the salePartnership’s equity method investment in March 2019,Double E.
Northeast Includes the Partnership recorded a gain on sale of $0.9 million basedPartnership’s wholly owned midstream assets located in the Utica and Marcellus shale plays and the equity method investment in Ohio Gathering that is focused on the difference between the consideration received and the carrying value for disposed assets. The gain is included in the Gain on asset sales, net caption on the consolidated statement of operations. The financial contribution of these assets in 2019 (a component of the Williston Basin reportable segment) are included inUtica Shale.
Piceance – Includes the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements and footnotes for the period from January 1, 2019 through March 22, 2019.

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19. RESTRUCTURING

2020 Restructuring Activities. In 2020, management approved and initiated a plan to restructure its operations (“2020 Restructuring Plan”), resulting in certain management, facility and organizational changes. Under the 2020 Restructuring Plan, the Partnership expensed approximately $5.6 million in 2020 of costs associated with its restructuring activities. These activities consisted primarily of employee-related severance costs, and are included within the General and administrative caption on the consolidated statement of operations.

2019 Restructuring Activities. In 2019, management approved and initiated a plan to restructure its operations (“2019 Restructuring Plan”), resulting in certain management, facility and organizational changes. Under the 2019 Restructuring Plan, the Partnership expensed approximately $3.5 million and $4.9 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively, of costs associated with its restructuring activities. These activities consisted primarily of employee-related costs and consulting costs in support of the project. These costs are included within the General and administrative caption on the consolidated statement of operations.

Details for the 2020 Restructuring Plan and the 2019 Restructuring Plan follow.

 

 

Severance Charges

 

 

Other Restructuring Charges

 

 

Total Severance and Other

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

2020 Restructuring Plan

 

$

5,591

 

 

$

 

 

$

56

 

 

$

 

 

$

5,647

 

 

$

 

2019 Restructuring Plan

 

 

2,159

 

 

 

3,767

 

 

 

1,293

 

 

 

1,187

 

 

 

3,452

 

 

 

4,954

 

 

 

$

7,750

 

 

$

3,767

 

 

$

1,349

 

 

$

1,187

 

 

$

9,099

 

 

$

4,954

 

 

 

Accrued  December 31,  2018

 

 

Charges Incurred

 

 

Cash Payments

 

 

Accrued  December 31, 2019

 

 

Charges Incurred

 

 

Cash Payments

 

 

Accrued  December 31, 2020

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Employee-related costs

 

$

 

 

$

3,767

 

 

$

(951

)

 

$

2,816

 

 

$

7,750

 

 

$

(7,018

)

 

$

3,548

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

1,187

 

 

 

(1,187

)

 

 

 

 

 

1,349

 

 

 

(1,349

)

 

 

 

 

Total restructuring costs

 

$

 

 

$

4,954

 

 

$

(2,138

)

 

$

2,816

 

 

$

9,099

 

 

$

(8,367

)

 

$

3,548

 

 

20. SEGMENT INFORMATION

As of December 31, 2020, the Partnership’s reportable segments are:

the Utica Shale, which is served by Summit Utica;

Ohio Gathering, which includes the Partnership’s ownership interest in OGC and OCC;

the Williston Basin, which is served by Polar and Divide, Meadowlark Midstream and Bison Midstream;

the DJ Basin, which is served by Niobrara G&P;

the Permian Basin, which is served by Summit Permian;

the Piceance Basin, which is served by Grand River;

the Barnett Shale, which is served by DFW Midstream; and

the Marcellus Shale, which is served by Mountaineer Midstream.

Until March 22, 2019, the Partnershipwholly owned Tioga Midstream, a crude oil, produced water and associated natural gas gathering system operating in the Williston Basin. Until December 1, 2019, the Partnership owned certainmidstream assets in the Red Rock Gathering system operatinglocated in the Piceance Basin. Refer to Note 16 to

Barnett – Includes the consolidated financial statements for details on the sale of Tioga Midstream and on the sale of certainPartnership’s wholly owned midstream assets located in the Red Rock Gathering system.

Each of the Partnership’s reportable segments provides midstream services in a specific geographic area. Reportable segments reflect the way in which the Partnership internally report’s the financial information used to make decisions and allocate resources in connection with its operations.

The Ohio Gathering reportable segment includes the Partnership’s investment in Ohio Gathering. Income or loss from equity method investees, as reflected on the statements of operations, relates to Ohio Gathering and is recognized and disclosed on a one-month lag see Note 7.

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For the year ended December 31, 2020, other than the investment activity described in Note 7, Double E did not have any results of operations given that the Double E Project is currently under development. The Double E Project is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Corporate and Other represents those results that: (i) are not specifically attributable to a reportable segment; (ii) are not individually reportable (such as Double E);reportable; or (iii) have not been allocated to a reportable segments for the purpose of evaluating their performance, including certain general and administrative expense items, certain natural gas and crude oil marketing services and transaction costs.

Assets by reportable segment follow.

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Assets(1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utica Shale

 

$

209,425

 

 

$

206,368

 

Ohio Gathering

 

 

259,888

 

 

 

275,000

 

Williston Basin

 

 

425,873

 

 

 

452,152

 

DJ Basin

 

 

199,920

 

 

 

205,308

 

Permian Basin

 

 

165,765

 

 

 

185,708

 

Piceance Basin

 

 

579,800

 

 

 

631,140

 

Barnett Shale

 

 

336,629

 

 

 

350,638

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

176,441

 

 

 

184,631

 

Total reportable segment assets

 

 

2,353,741

 

 

 

2,490,945

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

146,076

 

 

 

83,153

 

Total assets

 

$

2,499,817

 

 

$

2,574,098

 

December 31,
20222021
(in thousands)
Assets:
Northeast$591,091 $623,224 
Rockies886,629 592,148 
Permian298,906 458,988 
Piceance475,719 524,218 
Barnett295,473 315,055 
Total reportable segment assets2,547,818 2,513,633 
Corporate and Other12,146 8,829 
Total assets$2,559,964 $2,522,462 

(1) At December 31, 2020, Corporate and Other included $132.9 million relating to the Partnership’s investment in Double E (included in the Investment in equity method investees caption of the consolidated balance sheet). At December 31, 2019, Corporate and Other included $34.7 million relating to the Partnership’s investment in Double E (included in the Investment in equity method investees caption of the consolidated balance sheet).


Revenues by reportable segment follow.

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utica Shale

 

$

36,509

 

 

$

33,991

 

Williston Basin

 

 

92,695

 

 

 

105,651

 

DJ Basin

 

 

28,070

 

 

 

26,050

 

Permian Basin

 

 

29,533

 

 

 

20,303

 

Piceance Basin

 

 

113,890

 

 

 

133,638

 

Barnett Shale

 

 

54,459

 

 

 

71,802

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

25,741

 

 

 

24,471

 

Total reportable segments revenue

 

 

380,897

 

 

 

415,906

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

2,576

 

 

 

30,552

 

Eliminations

 

 

 

 

 

(2,930

)

Total revenues

 

$

383,473

 

 

$

443,528

 

Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Revenues:
Northeast$54,392 $62,567 
Rockies143,603 145,087 
Permian25,151 40,848 
Piceance93,349 105,485 
Barnett52,096 46,591 
Total reportable segments revenue368,591 400,578 
Corporate and Other1,003 40 
Total revenues$369,594 $400,618 

Counterparties accounting for a significant portion of total revenues were as follows:
Year ended December 31,
20222021
Percentage of total revenues(1):
Counterparty A - Piceance13 %12 %

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Percentage of total revenues(1):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Counterparty A - Piceance Basin

 

 

13

%

 

 

11

%

Counterparty B - Williston Basin

 

*

 

 

 

10

%

Counterparty C - Utica Shale

 

 

5

%

 

*

 

Counterparty C - Permian Basin

 

 

5

%

 

*

 

Counterparty C - Barnett Shale

 

 

1

%

 

*

 

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* Less than 10%

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Depreciation and amortization, including the amortization expense associated with the Partnership’s favorable and unfavorable gas gathering contracts as reported in other revenues, by reportable segment follows.follow.
Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Depreciation and amortization:
Northeast$17,501 $17,054 
Rockies30,532 29,513 
Permian2,736 5,858 
Piceance51,352 48,773 
Barnett(1)
16,116 16,133 
Total reportable segment depreciation and amortization118,237 117,331 
Corporate and Other1,756 2,664 
Total depreciation and amortization$119,993 $119,995 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

 

(In thousands)

Depreciation and amortization:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utica Shale

 

$

7,696

 

 

$

7,659

 

 

Williston Basin

 

 

25,911

 

 

 

19,829

 

 

DJ Basin

 

 

6,146

 

 

 

3,732

 

 

Permian Basin

 

 

5,455

 

 

 

4,868

 

 

Piceance Basin

 

 

45,203

 

 

 

47,018

 

 

Barnett Shale(1)

 

 

16,112

 

 

 

16,575

 

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

9,195

 

 

 

9,141

 

 

Total reportable segment depreciation and amortization

 

 

115,718

 

 

 

108,822

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

3,352

 

 

 

2,752

 

 

Total depreciation and amortization

 

$

119,070

 

 

$

111,574

 

 

(1)Includes the amortization expense associated with the Partnership’s favorable and unfavorable gas gathering contracts as reported in Other revenues.

Cash paid for capital expenditures by reportable segment follow.

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Cash paid for capital expenditures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utica Shale

 

$

6,957

 

 

$

3,902

 

Williston Basin

 

 

8,767

 

 

 

30,861

 

DJ Basin

 

 

12,829

 

 

 

80,487

 

Permian Basin

 

 

7,014

 

 

 

44,955

 

Piceance Basin

 

 

1,370

 

 

 

1,946

 

Barnett Shale(1)

 

 

1,878

 

 

 

184

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

700

 

 

 

693

 

Total reportable segment capital expenditures

 

 

39,515

 

 

 

163,028

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

3,613

 

 

 

19,263

 

Total cash paid for capital expenditures

 

$

43,128

 

 

$

182,291

 

Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Cash paid for capital expenditures:
Northeast$8,743 $11,237 
Rockies11,903 9,875 
Permian1,407 2,042 
Piceance6,116 579 
Barnett366 766 
Total reportable segment capital expenditures28,535 24,499 
Corporate and Other1,937 531 
Total cash paid for capital expenditures$30,472 $25,030 

(1) For the year ended December 31, 2019, the amount includes sales tax reimbursements of $1.1 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, Corporate and Other includes cash paid of $1.6 million for corporate purposes; the remainder represents capital expenditures relating to the Double E Project.


The Partnership assesses the performance of its reportable segments based on segment adjusted EBITDA. The Partnership defines segment adjusted EBITDA as total revenues less total costs and expenses; plus (i) other income excluding interest income, (ii) proportional adjusted EBITDA for equity method investees, (iii) depreciation and amortization, (iv) adjustments related to MVC shortfall payments, (v) adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity, (vi) unit-based and noncash compensation, (vii) impairments (vii) other noncash expenses or losses, less other noncash income or gains and (ix) restructuring expenses. Proportional adjusted EBITDA for the Partnership’s equity method investees is defined as the product of (i) total revenues less total expenses, excluding impairments and other noncash income or expense items, and amortization for deferred contract costs; and (ii) ownership interest in Ohio Gathering during the respective period.

For the purpose of evaluating segment performance, the Partnership excludes the effect of Corporate and Other revenues and expenses, such as certain general and administrative expenses (including compensation-related expenses and professional services fees), certain natural gas and crude oil marketing services, transaction costs, interest expense and income tax expense or benefit from segment adjusted EBITDA.

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Segment adjusted EBITDA by reportable segment follows.

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Reportable segment adjusted EBITDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utica Shale

 

$

32,783

 

 

$

29,292

 

Ohio Gathering

 

 

31,056

 

 

 

39,126

 

Williston Basin

 

 

52,060

 

 

 

69,437

 

DJ Basin

 

 

19,449

 

 

 

18,668

 

Permian Basin

 

 

4,426

 

 

 

(879

)

Piceance Basin

 

 

88,820

 

 

 

98,765

 

Barnett Shale

 

 

32,093

 

 

 

43,043

 

Marcellus Shale

 

 

22,015

 

 

 

20,051

 

Total of reportable segments' measures of profit

 

$

282,702

 

 

$

317,503

 

Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Reportable segment adjusted EBITDA
Northeast$77,046 $83,287 
Rockies57,810 64,517 
Permian18,051 6,614 
Piceance60,055 76,131 
Barnett31,624 36,729 
Total of reportable segments' measures of profit$244,586 $267,278 

A reconciliation of income or loss before income taxes and income or loss from equity method investees to total of reportable segments' measures of profit or loss follows.
Year ended December 31,
20222021
(In thousands)
Reconciliation of income (loss) before income taxes and income (loss) from equity method investees to total of reportable segments' measures of profit:
Loss before income taxes and income from equity method investees$(141,277)$(28,156)
Add:
Corporate and Other expense29,118 68,783 
Interest expense102,459 66,156 
Gain on early extinguishment of debt— 3,523 
Depreciation and amortization(1)
119,993 119,995 
Proportional adjusted EBITDA for equity method investees45,419 29,022 
Adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity(6,041)(6,571)
Unit-based and noncash compensation3,778 4,744 
Gain on asset sales, net(507)(369)
Long-lived asset impairment91,644 10,151 
Total of reportable segments' measures of profit$244,586 $267,278 

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Reconciliation of income (loss) before income taxes

    and income (loss) from equity method investees

    to total of reportable segments' measures of

    profit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes and income

    (loss) from equity method investees

 

$

177,661

 

 

$

(54,644

)

Add:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate and Other expense

 

 

59,585

 

 

 

44,808

 

Interest expense

 

 

78,894

 

 

 

91,966

 

Gain on early extinguishment of debt

 

 

(203,062

)

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization(1)

 

 

119,070

 

 

 

111,574

 

Proportional adjusted EBITDA for equity method

   investees

 

 

31,056

 

 

 

39,126

 

Adjustments related to MVC shortfall payments

 

 

 

 

 

3,476

 

Adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity

 

 

(1,395

)

 

 

(2,156

)

Unit-based and noncash compensation

 

 

8,111

 

 

 

8,171

 

Gain on asset sales, net

 

 

(307

)

 

 

(1,536

)

Long-lived asset impairment

 

 

13,089

 

 

 

60,507

 

Goodwill impairment

 

 

 

 

 

16,211

 

Total of reportable segments' measures of profit

 

$

282,702

 

 

$

317,503

 

(1)Includes the amortization expense associated with the Partnership’s favorable gas gathering contracts as reported in other revenues.

For the years ended December 31, 20202022 and 2019,2021, adjustments related to MVC shortfall payments recognize the earnings from MVC shortfall payments ratably over the term of the associated MVC.

Contributions in aid of construction are recognized over the remaining term of the respective contract. The Partnership includes adjustments related to capital reimbursement activity in its calculation of segment adjusted EBITDA to account for revenue recognized from contributions in aid of construction.

21.

130

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In January 2021, Double E received its Notice to Proceed with construction, as well as approval of its implementation plan, from FERC. With the receipt of the 7(c) certificate and the NTP, construction on the Double E pipeline commenced in February 2021, and the pipeline is expected to be in-service by the end of 2021.

In February 2021, Summit Permian Transmission, LLC, received $175.0 million of commitments to finance the development of the Double E Project. The lenders have committed to provide senior secured credit facilities consisting of a $160.0 million delayed draw term loan facility and a $15.0 million working capital facility (the “Credit Facilities”). The Credit Facilities

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are non-recourse to SMLP and mature seven years after the date of initial borrowing. SMLP expects to close and fund on the Credit Facilities shortly and will post a $15.0 million letter of credit under its corporate revolving credit facility to support back-end equity contributions, if needed, upon first funding.


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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

There have been no changes in, or disagreements with, accountants on accounting and financial disclosure matters during the years ended December 31, 20202022 and 2019.

2021.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit to the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission’s rules and forms, and that information is accumulated and communicated to the management of our General Partner, including our General Partner’s principal executive and principal financial officers (whom we refer to as the Certifying Officers), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. SMLP’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of SMLP's General Partner, has evaluated the effectiveness of SMLP’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"“Evaluation Date”). Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of SMLP's General Partner have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, SMLP’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There

During the quarter ended December 31, 2022, the Partnership completed the 2022 DJ Acquisitions. As part of the ongoing integration of the acquired businesses, we are in the process of incorporating the controls and related procedures of the 2022 DJ Acquisitions. Other than incorporating the 2022 DJ Acquisitions controls, there have not been any changes in SMLP’s internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fourth fiscal quarter of 20202022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, SMLP's internal control over financial reporting.

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Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our General Partner is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for the Partnership. With our participation, an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting was conducted as of December 31, 2020,2022, based on the framework and criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020. 2022.
Management’s assessment and conclusion on the effectiveness of the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022 excludes an assessment of the internal control over financial reporting of the 2022 DJ Acquisitions, which were acquired in two separate business combinations on December 1, 2022. The 2022 DJ Acquisitions represented approximately 14% of our consolidated total assets at December 31, 2022 and 4% of our consolidated revenues for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Our independent registered public accounting firm has issued an audit report on our internal control over financial reporting, included below of this report.

/s/ J. HEATH DENEKE

J. Heath Deneke

President and Chief Executive Officer, Summit Midstream GP,
LLC (the General Partner of SMLP)

/s/ MARC D. STRATTON

WILLIAM J. MAULT

Marc D. Stratton

William J. Mault

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Summit
Midstream GP, LLC (the General Partner of SMLP)


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors of Summit Midstream, GP, LLC and the unitholders of Summit Midstream Partners, LP

Houston, Texas

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Summit Midstream Partners, LP and

subsidiaries (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2020,2022, based on criteria established in InternalControl

- Integrated Framework (2013)issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the PartnershipCompany maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022, based on criteria established in overfinancialreportingasofDecember31,2020,basedoncriteriaestablishedinInternalControl

- Integrated Framework (2013)issued by COSO.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2020,2022, of the Partnership and our report dated March 4, 2021,February 28, 2023, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements based on our audit.

Basis for Opinion

The Partnership’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Reporton Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Partnership in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. An entity’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the entity; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recordedas necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the entity are being made only inaccordance with authorizations of management and directors of the entity; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the entity’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Houston, Texas

March 4, 2021

136

February 28, 2023
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Item 9B. Other Information.

None.

137

On February 23, 2023, the Board of Directors approved and adopted the First Amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “LPA Amendment”). Pursuant to the LPA Amendment, Section 13.4 of the Partnership Agreement is amended to subject all directors, including the President or Chief Executive Officer, in his or her capacity as director, to elections at annual meetings of the limited partners.
On February 23, 2023 (the “A&R Employment Agreement Effective Date”), Summit Operating Services Company, LLC, an affiliate of the Partnership, entered into an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement (each, an “A&R Employment Agreement”) with each of J. Heath Deneke, William J. Mault, James D. Johnston, and Matthew B. Sicinski (the “Executives”).
The Employment Agreements (i) eliminate each Executive’s entitlement for equity awards granted after the A&R Employment Agreement Effective Date to vest automatically in connection with a change in control (that is, future awards will no longer be entitled to receive “single-trigger” vesting on a change in control); (ii) increase the severance multiple for Messrs. Deneke, Mault, Johnston, Sicinski; and (iii) allow each Executive to recover attorneys’ fees under certain circumstances. As a result, on a qualifying termination, Mr. Deneke would be entitled to three times the sum of his base salary and the higher of the prior year’s annual bonus or target bonus, Messrs. Johnston and Mault would be entitled to two and one-half times such sum, and Mr. Sicinski would be entitled to two times such sum.
On February 23, 2023, the Compensation Committee also approved new forms of phantom unit agreements, including a new time-based phantom unit agreement and a new performance-based phantom unit agreement (together, the “New Award Agreements”), which the Compensation Committee intends to use when making this year’s annual equity award grants to the Executives. The New Award Agreements are double-trigger, providing for accelerated vesting only when (i) the Executive’s employment is terminated (a) by the Company or Partnership other than for cause (as defined in the Executive’s Employment Agreement), (b) by the Executive for good reason (as defined in the Executive’s Employment Agreement), or (c) by reason of the Executive’s death or disability, or (ii) the equity awards granted under the New Award Agreements are not continued, assumed or replaced by the acquiror or surviving entity in connection with a change in control.
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Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections.
Not applicable.
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Contents

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.

Management

This information is incorporated by reference to the Partnership’s Proxy Statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Summit MidstreamLimited Partners, LP

The Partnership is managed bywhich will be filed with the directors and executive officers of its General Partner, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership asSEC within 120 days of December 31, 2020. The General Partner became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership in May 2020 as a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction. Directors are appointed for a term of three years and hold office until their successors have been elected or qualified or until the earlier of their death, resignation, removal or disqualification. In connection with the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership amended its Partnership Agreement to, among other things, provide its common unitholders with voting rights in the election of the members of the Board on a staggered basis beginning in 2022. The Board is divided into three classes of directors. Two Class I directors will serve for an initial term that expires at the 2022 annual meeting, two Class II directors will serve for an initial term that expires at the 2023 annual meeting, and one Class III director will serve for an initial term that expires at the 2024 annual meeting. J. Heath Deneke, President and Chief Executive Offer of the general partner, serves as Chairman of the Board and will not be subject to public election.

Committees of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, and a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, and may have such other committees as the Board of Directors shall determine from time to time.

The table below shows the current membership of each standing board committee and indicates which directors are independent directors.

Name

Class

Audit Committee

Compensation Committee(1)

Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee(2)

Independent Director

James Cleary

Class III

Member

Member

Yes

Heath Deneke(3)

No

Lee Jacobe

Class I

Member

Member

Yes

Robert McNally

Class II

Member

Yes

Jerry L. Peters

Class I

Chair

Member

Yes

Robert Wohleber(4)

Class III

Chair

Yes

Marguerite Woung-Chapman

Class II

Chair

Yes

(1) In May 2020, the Conflicts Committee ceased to be a standing Committee of the Board.

(2) The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the Board was established in May 2020

(3) Mr. Deneke was appointed Chairman of Board effective May 28, 2020

(4) Mr. Wohleber was appointed as the Lead Director effective May 28, 2020

Each of the standing committees of the Board of Directors will have the composition and responsibilities described below.

Audit Committee. Mr. Jacobe, Mr. McNally and Mr. Peters serve as the members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Peters serves as the chair of the Audit Committee. In this role, Mr. Peters satisfies the SEC and New York Stock Exchange rules regarding independence and qualifies as an Audit Committee financial expert.

The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of the integrity of the Partnership’s financial statements and its compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and corporate policies and controls. The Audit Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate the Partnership’s independent registered public accounting firm, approve all auditing services and related fees and the terms thereof, and pre-approve any non-audit services to be rendered by the Partnership’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee is also responsible for confirming the independence and objectivity of the Partnership’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Partnership’s independent registered public accounting firm has unrestricted access to the Audit Committee.

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The Partnership’s Audit Committee has adopted an audit committee charter, which is publicly available on the Partnership’s website under the "Corporate Governance" subsection of the “Investors” section at www.summitmidstream.com.

Compensation Committee. Mr. Cleary, Mr. Jacobe, and Mr. Wohleber serve as the members of the Compensation Committee, with Mr. Wohleber serving as chair of the committee. The Compensation Committee provides oversight, administers and makes decisions regarding the Partnership’s executive compensation policies and incentive plans. The Compensation Committee has adopted a Compensation Committee charter, which is publicly available on its website under the “Corporate Governance” subsection of the “Investors” section at www.summitmidstream.com.

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Mr. Cleary, Mr. Peters, and Ms. Woung-Chapman serve as the members of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, with Ms. Woung-Chapman serving as the chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, which was established by the Board of Directors on May 28,2020. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee identifies individuals qualified to become board members consistent with criteria approved by the Board of Directors, assists the Board of Directors in selection of directors nominees; oversees corporate governance principles, and oversees the evaluation of the Board of Directors and management. The Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee has adopted a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee charter, which is publicly available on its website under the “Corporate Governance” subsection of the “Investors” section at www.summitmidstream.com.

Directors and Executive Officers

Directors of the General Partner are appointed for a term of three years and hold office until their successors have been elected or qualified or until the earlier of their death, resignation, removal or disqualification. In connection with the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership amended its Partnership Agreement to, among other things, provide its common unitholders with voting rights in the election of the members of the Board on a staggered basis beginning in 2022. Officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

The following table shows information for the directors and executive officers of the General Partner as of February 25, 2021.

Name

Age

Position with Summit Midstream GP, LLC

Heath Deneke

47

President and Chief Executive Officer, Director

Marc D. Stratton

43

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

James D. Johnston

51

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief

Compliance Officer

Robert M. Wohleber

70

Lead Independent Director

Lee Jacobe

53

Director

Robert McNally

50

Director

Jerry Peters

63

Director

James Cleary

66

Director

Marguerite Woung-Chapman

55

Director

Heath Deneke has been President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the General Partner since September 2019. Prior to joining the General Partner, Mr. Deneke served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer for Crestwood Equity Partners LP and Crestwood Midstream Partners LP from August 2017 through April 2019. Previously, Mr. Deneke was the President, Chief Operating Officer of Crestwood’s Pipeline Services Group from June 2015 to August 2017, where he was responsible for the commercial development and operations of Crestwood’s midstream businesses, including assets in the Marcellus, Bakken, PRB Niobrara, Delaware, Permian, Barnett, Granite Wash, Fayetteville and Haynesville shale plays. Prior to that, he served as President of Crestwood’s Natural Gas Business Unit from October 2013 to June 2015 and as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Crestwood’s legacy business from August 2012 until October 2013. Prior to joining Crestwood, Mr. Deneke served in various management positions at El Paso Corporation and its affiliates, including Vice President of Project Development and Engineering for the Pipeline Group, Director of Marketing and Asset Optimization for Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, LLC and Manager of Business Development and Strategy for Southern Natural Gas Company, LLC. Mr. Deneke holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Auburn University.

Marc D. Stratton has been the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner since December 2018. Mr. Stratton joined Summit Investments as a founding member in 2009 and has held various senior management roles at the General Partner including, Senior Vice President of Finance, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations. Prior to joining the General Partner, Mr. Stratton served as a midstream infrastructure investment analyst at ING Investment Management and, prior

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to that, as Vice President of Project Finance at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. Mr. Stratton has over 18 years of oil and gas industry experience in corporate finance and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Denison University.

James Johnston has been the Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of the General Partner since September 2020. Prior to joining the General Partner, Mr. Johnston worked in the corporate legal department for Crestwood Equity Partners as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, after serving as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel at Crestwood. Prior to joining Crestwood in 2013, Mr. Johnston served as Assistant General Counsel for Kinder Morgan and in various legal and commercial roles of increasing responsibility at Kinder Morgan, El Paso Corporation and Sonat, Inc. from 1997 to 2013. Mr. Johnston holds a bachelor's degree from Western University in Ontario, Canada and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama.

James J. Cleary has served as a director of the General Partner since June 2020. Mr. Cleary serves on the Compensation Committee and the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee of the General Partner. Mr. Cleary has served as a Managing Director of Global Infrastructure Partners, a leading private equity infrastructure fund with over $60 billion under management and a focus on the energy, transport and water/waste industries since 2012. Prior to that, from 1999 until its acquisition by Kinder Morgan in 2012, Mr. Cleary served in various leadership roles for El Paso Corporation, a Fortune 500 energy company, including service as the President of Western Pipelines and President of the ANR Pipeline Company. From 1979 until 1999, Mr. Cleary served in various capacities of increasing responsibility with Sonat Inc., a Fortune 500 energy company, including service as the Executive Vice President & General Counsel of Southern Natural Gas Company, which was Sonat’s pipeline business. In addition to his experience as an executive, Mr. Cleary has had significant experience in the boardroom, having served on the board of the general partner of Access Midstream Partners, L.P., a large midstream master limited partnership, and he currently serves on the board of directors of Gibson Energy, Inc., a Canadian public company that transports, stores, processes and markets crude oil and refined products in Canada and the United States. He has a B.A. in Sociology from the College of William & Mary and a J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Lee Jacobe has served as a director of the General Partner since April 2019. Additionally, Mr. Jacobe serves on the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee of the General Partner. Mr. Jacobe currently serves as an advisor with respect to energy investments for Kelso & Company, a New York based private equity firm. From 2008 through 2018, Mr. Jacobe was involved in various capacities at Barclays Investment Banking – Energy Group, including head of the firm’s midstream coverage effort, co-head of its US Oil & Gas group, and Vice Chairman of the firm. From 1993 through 2008, Mr. Jacobe was an investment banker in the energy group at Lehman Brothers, including serving as a managing director from 2001–2008. Mr. Jacobe began his investment banking career at Wasserstein Perella & Co. in 1990. He has a B.B.A., with a major in Finance, from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Jacobe has valuable and extensive experience in the energy banking sector, including a vast array of experience in corporate finance, capital structure, and the evaluation of financial risks associated with publicly traded partnerships that invest in midstream infrastructure.

Robert J. McNally has served as a director of the General Partner since May 2020. Additionally, Mr. McNally serves on the Audit Committee of the General Partner. Mr. McNally also serves as a director of Oasis Petroleum, where he sits on the Audit & Reserves Committee and the Compensation Committee. From 2018 through 2019, Mr. McNally served as President and Chief Executive Officer of EQT Corporation, an NYSE-listed independent natural gas producer with operations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. Prior to that, from 2016 to 2018, Mr. McNally served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of EQT Corporation. From 2010 until 2016, Mr. McNally served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Precision Drilling Corporation, a TSE and NYSE-listed drilling contractor with operations primarily in the United States, Canada and the Middle East. From 2009 to 2010, and for a period in 2007, Mr. McNally served as an Investment Principal for Kenda Capital LLC. In 2008, Mr. McNally served as the Chief Executive Officer of Dalbo Holdings, Inc. In 2006, Mr. McNally served as Executive Vice President of Operations and Finance for Warrior Energy Services Corp. From 2000 to 2005, Mr. McNally worked in corporate finance with Simmons & Company International. Mr. McNally began his career as an engineer with Schlumberger Limited and served in various capacities of increasing responsibility during his tenure from 1994 until 2000. In addition to his experience as an executive, Mr. McNally has had extensive experience in the boardroom, where he has served, at various times, on the boards of Warrior Energy Services, Dalbo Holdings, EQT Midstream Partners, EQT GP Holdings, Rice Midstream Partners and EQT Corporation. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Illinois, a B.A. in Mathematics from Knox College, and an M.B.A. from Tulane University Freeman School of Business. Mr. McNally brings a wealth of executive management, operational, and financial experience in the oil and gas industry to the Board of Directors.

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Jerry L. Peters has served as a director of the General Partner since September 2012. Additionally, Mr. Peters served as the chair of the Conflicts Committee of the General Partner until November 2012 and serves as the chair and financial expert of the Audit Committee of the General Partner. Mr. Peters served as the Chief Financial Officer of Green Plains Inc., a publicly traded vertically integrated ethanol producer, from June 2007 until his retirement in September 2017. In 2015, Mr. Peters was appointed Chief Financial Officer and Director of the General Partner of Green Plains Partners LP, a publicly traded partnership engaged in fuel storage and transportation services. He retired from his role as Chief Financial Officer of the General Partner of Green Plains Partners LP in September 2017 but remains on the Board of Directors. Prior to joining Green Plains, Mr. Peters served as Senior Vice President—Chief Accounting Officer for ONEOK Partners, L.P. from May 2006 to April 2007, as Chief Financial Officer of ONEOK Partners, L.P. from July 1994 to May 2006, and in various senior management roles of ONEOK Partners, L.P. from 1985 to May 2006. Prior to joining ONEOK Partners, Mr. Peters was employed by KPMG LLP as a certified public accountant from 1980 to 1985. In October 2017, Mr. Peters joined the board of the general partner of USA Compression Partners LP and served as chair and financial expert of the audit committee thereof. Mr. Peters resigned from the board of the general partner of USA Compression Partners LP in March 2018. Mr. Peters received an MBA from Creighton University with an emphasis in finance and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln. Mr. Peters' extensive executive, financial and operational experience bring important and necessary skills to the Board of Directors.

Robert M. Wohleber has served as a director of the General Partner since August 2013. Mr. Wohleber also serves as Chairperson of the Compensation committee of the General Partner. Mr. Wohleber served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kerr-McGee Corporation, an oil and gas exploration and production company, from December 1999 to August 2006. From 1996 to 1998, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Freeport-McMoran, Inc., one of the largest phosphate fertilizer producers in the United States. He holds a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh. Mr. Wohleber’s extensive executive and financial experience in the oil and gas industry bring important and necessary skills to the Board of Directors.

Marguerite Woung-Chapman has served as a director of the General Partner since May 2020. Ms. Woung-Chapman also serves as the Chairperson of the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee of the General Partner. In 2018, Ms. Woung-Chapman served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Energy XXI Gulf Coast, Inc., a NASDAQ-listed independent exploration and production company that was engaged in the development, exploitation and acquisition of oil and natural gas properties in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. Prior to that, from 2012 to 2017, Ms. Woung-Chapman served in various capacities at EP Energy Corporation, a private company that subsequently became an NYSE-listed independent oil and gas exploration and production company, including, among others, Senior Vice President, Land Administration, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Ms. Woung-Chapman began her career as a corporate attorney with El Paso Corporation (including its predecessors) and served in various capacities of increasing responsibility during her tenure from 1991 until 2012, including, among others, Vice President, Legal Shared Services, Corporate Secretary and Chief Governance Officer. She has a B.S. in Linguistics from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Woung-Chapman also serves, since June 2020, as the Chair of the Board of Directors and President of the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council, which is the second largest Girl Scout council in the country. Ms. Woung-Chapman has valuable and extensive experience in all aspects of management and strategic direction of publicly-traded energy companies and brings a unique combination of corporate governance, regulatory, compliance, legal and business administration experience to the Board of Directors.

Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics which sets forth the Partnership’s policy with respect to business ethics and conflicts of interest. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is intended to ensure that the employees, officers and directors of the Partnership and its General Partner conduct business with the highest standards of integrity and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. It applies to the employees, officers and directors of the Partnership and its General Partner, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions (the “Senior Financial Officers”). The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics also incorporates expectations of the Senior Financial Officers that enable the Partnership to provide accurate and timely disclosure in its filings with the SEC and other public communications. The Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is publicly available on the Partnership’s website under the “Corporate Governance” subsection of the “Investors” section at www.summitmidstream.com and is also available free of charge on written request to the Secretary at the Houston office address given under the "Contact" section on the Partnership’s website.

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Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Partnership’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available on its website under the “Corporate Governance” subsection of the “Investors” section at www.summitmidstream.com, provide guidelines for the governance of the Partnership. The Corporate Governance Guidelines specifically provide, among other things, that (i) the independent members of the Board will select an independent director to serve as “Lead Director” to preside over any executive sessions at which the Chairman of the Board is not present, and (ii) interested parties may communicate directly with the General Partner’s independent directors by submitting an envelope marked “Confidential” addressed to the “Independent Members of the Board” in care of the Secretary of the General Partner.

Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires SMLP’s directors and executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Partnership’s securities, to file with the SEC initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of SMLP's common units and other equity securities. Based on the Partnership’s records, it believes that all directors, executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of the Partnership’s common units have complied with the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) except for the following. On February 7, 2020, Energy Capital Partners II, LLC and Summit Midstream Partners, LLC filed delinquent Section 16(a) reports relating to the second amendment to that certain Contribution Agreement between SMP Holdings and the Partnership dated February 25, 2016, as amended, pursuant to which the Partnership issued 714,286 common units (as adjusted for the Reverse Unit Split) to SMP Holdings on November 15, 2019.

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Item 11. Executive Compensation.

This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) provides information regarding the compensation of certain of our executive officers as reported in the Summary Compensation Table and other tables in this document. In this CD&A, we review the compensation decisions, and rationale for those decisions, relating to the person who served as our principal executive officer during the past fiscal year, the person who served as our principal financial officer during the past fiscal year, and the Partnership’s next most highly compensated executive officer. (1)

The following describes the material components of the Partnership’s executive compensation program for the following individuals, who are referred to as the “Named Executive Officers” or “NEOs”:

Heath Deneke, President and Chief Executive Officer

Marc D. Stratton, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

James Johnston, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer(2)

Leonard W. Mallett, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer(3)

Louise E. Matthews, Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer(4)

(1) Mr. Deneke, Mr. Stratton, and Mr. Johnston are the only executive officers of the General Partner.

(2) Mr. Johnston was appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer effective September 4, 2020.

(3) Mr. Mallett’s employment terminated effective October 31, 2020.

(4) Ms. Matthews’ employment terminated effective April 1, 2020.

The NEOs are employees of Summit Operating Services Company, LLC (“Summit Operating”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Partnership, and executive officers of the General Partner. Prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, certain of the NEOs split their working time between SMLP's business and their responsibilities for its then affiliate relationships. See Note 1 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this report for further discussion of the GP Buy-In Transaction and the presentation of Partnership’s financial statements for periods prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction. All compensation amounts for the NEOs are reflected in the Partnership’s financial statements included in this Annual Report.

The Compensation Committee provides oversight, administers and makes decisions regarding the Partnership’s compensation policies and plans.

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

We seek to provide reasonable and competitive rewards to executives through compensation and benefit programs structured to:

Attract and retain outstanding talent

Drive achievement of short-term and long-term goals

Reward successful execution of objectives

Reinforce our culture and leadership competencies

Align executives with the interests of the our unitholders

We employ a pay-for-performance philosophy when designing executive compensation opportunities. Thus, a portion of an executive’s target compensation is performance based through linkage to the achievement of financial and other measures deemed to be drivers in the creation of unitholder value. While the Compensation Committee does not set a specific target allocation among the elements of total direct compensation, a portion of the compensation opportunity available to each of our NEOs is,incorporated by design, tiedreference to the Partnership’s annual and long-term performance.

CompensationProxy Statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Named Executive Officers

The Compensation Committee establishes the target total direct compensation of our executives and administers other benefit programs. The Compensation Committee engages an independent compensation consultant (the “Compensation Consultant”) who provides the Compensation Committee with data, analysis and advice on the structure and level of executive compensation. The Compensation Consultant participates in Compensation Committee meetings and executive sessions of the Compensation Committee meetings as requested. The Compensation Consultant may work with our management on various matters forLimited Partners, which

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the Compensation Committee is responsible. However, the Compensation Committee, not management, directs the activities of the Compensation Consultant. We consider the Compensation Consultant to will be independent of the Partnership according to current NYSE listing requirements and SEC guidance. Willis Towers Watson serves as the Compensation Consultant.

Partnership management, in consultationfiled with the Compensation Committee chair and the Compensation Consultant, prepares materials for the Compensation Committee relevant to matters under consideration by the Compensation Committee, including market data provided by the Compensation Consultant and recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer (the "CEO") regarding compensation of the other executives. The Compensation Committee works directly with the Compensation Consultant to determine the compensation of our CEO, as required.

Based on market data which the we use as a reference, we believe compensation for our NEOs is reasonably competitive with opportunities available to officers holding similar positions at comparable midstream companies. We seek to set compensation levels for each component of total direct compensation based on our assessment of market practices at or near the median. The Compensation Committee adjusts target compensation for each NEO above or below the median, taking into consideration experience, performance, internal equity and other relevant circumstances.

During the Compensation Committee’s annual review of executive compensation, the Compensation Consultant provided the Compensation Committee with an analysis of positions comparable to the NEOs at peer companies. To develop these exhibits, information from peer company public filings was compiled, including public company proxy statements and annual reports on Form 10-K. The peer group used for 2020 executive compensation consisted of publicly traded midstream companies with whom we compete for executive talent.

The peer group comprised the following companies:

Altus Midstream Company

Magellen Midstream Partners, L.P.

Archrock, Inc.

NGL Energy Partners LP

Crestwood Equity Partners, LP

NuStar Energy, LP

DCP Midstream, LP

Targa Resources Corp

Enable Midstream Partners, LP

Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd.

EnLink Midstream, LLC

USA Compression Partners, LP

Equitrans Midstream Corporation

USD Partners LP

Genesis Energy, LP

The compensation analysis encompassed the primary components of total direct compensation, including annual base salary, annual short-term incentive and long-term incentive awards for the NEOs of these peer group companies. The Compensation Committee considered the information provided to ascertain whether the compensation of our NEOs is aligned with the its compensation philosophy and competitive with the compensation for executive officers of the peer group companies. The Compensation Committee reviewed the compensation analysis to confirm our compensation programs were supporting a competitive total compensation approach that emphasizes incentive-based compensation and appropriately rewards achievement of our objectives. For 2020, the target total direct compensation for the NEOs as set by the Compensation Committee is summarized below. Each element is further discussed in this CD&A.

Components of Executive Compensation

Name and Principal Position

 

Base Salary

($)

 

 

2020 Target Annual Bonus: Percent of Base Salary

(%)

 

 

2020 Target Annual Bonus Value

($)

 

 

2020 Target LTIP Award: Percent of Base Salary

(%)

 

 

2020 LTIP Target Award Value

($)

 

 

2020 Target Total Direct Compensation

($)

 

Heath Deneke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

600,000

 

 

150%

 

 

 

900,000

 

 

275%

 

 

 

1,650,000

 

 

 

3,150,000

 

Marc D. Stratton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

350,000

 

 

100%

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

165%

 

 

 

577,500

 

 

 

1,277,500

 

James Johnston (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

 

 

350,000

 

 

100%

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

165%

 

 

 

577,500

 

 

 

1,277,500

 

Leonard W. Mallett (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

 

 

400,000

 

 

100%

 

 

 

400,000

 

 

165%

 

 

 

660,000

 

 

 

1,460,000

 

Louise E. Matthews (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer

 

 

300,000

 

 

100%

 

 

 

300,000

 

 

150%

 

 

 

450,000

 

 

 

1,050,000

 

(1)

James Johnston was appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer effective September 4, 2020; his target total direct compensation was approved by the Compensation Committee. Although Mr. Johnston's target annual bonus set forth in his employment agreement is 100% of his base salary, his employment agreement further provides that his 2020 bonus shall be prorated for the period of time he actually served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.

(2)

Mr. Mallett’s employment terminated effective October 31, 2020.

(3)

Ms. Matthews’ employment terminated effective April 1, 2020.

The primary elements of compensation for the NEOs are base salary, annual incentive compensation and long-term equity-based compensation awards. The NEOs also receive certain retirement, health and welfare and additional benefits.

Base Salary. The base salaries for our NEOs are reviewed annually by the Compensation Committee. Base salaries our NEOs have generally been set at levels deemed necessary to attract and retain individuals with superior talent.

The base salaries of our NEOs are set forth in the following table:

Name and Principal Position

2020 Base Salary

($)

Heath Deneke

President and Chief Executive Officer

600,000

Marc D. Stratton

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

350,000

James Johnston (1)

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

350,000

Leonard W. Mallett (2)

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

400,000

Louise E. Matthews (3)

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer

300,000

(1)

James Johnston was appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer effective September 4, 2020.

(2)

Mr. Mallett’s employment terminated effective October 31, 2020.

(3)

Ms. Matthews’ employment terminated effective April 1, 2020.

Annual Incentive Compensation. We provide an annual incentive bonus (“annual bonus”) to drive the achievement of key business results and to recognize NEOs based on their contributions to those results. The annual bonus plan is a cash-based incentive plan. Incentive amounts are intended to provide total cash compensation near the market range for executive officers in comparable positions when target performance is achieved. Annual bonus compensation levels are set above or below the market range to reflect actual performance results as appropriate when performance is greater or less than expectations. Annual bonus payouts may range from 0% to 200% of the target opportunity and may be adjusted at the discretion of the Compensation Committee.

In March 2020, the Compensation Committee established the 2020 annual bonus plan target opportunities as a percentage of base salary for our NEOs other than Mr. Johnston. The 2020 target for Mr. Deneke was 150%. For Messrs. Stratton and Mallett and for Ms. Matthews it was 100% of their base salaries. In August 2020, the Compensation Committee approved Mr. Johnston’s annual bonus plan target opportunity as 100% of his base salary. Although Mr. Johnston's target annual bonus set forth in his employment agreement is 100% of his base salary, his employment agreement further provides that his 2020 bonus shall be prorated for the period of time he actually served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.

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2020 Target Annual Bonus: Percent of Base Salary

 

2020 Target Annual Bonus Value

 

Name and Principal Position

 

(%)

 

($)

 

Heath Deneke

 

 

 

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

150

 

 

900,000

 

Marc D. Stratton

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

100

 

 

350,000

 

James Johnston (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

 

100

 

 

350,000

 

Leonard W. Mallett (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

 

100

 

 

400,000

 

Louise E. Matthews (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer

 

100

 

 

300,000

 

(1)James Johnston was appointed Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer effective September 4, 2020.

(2)Mr. Mallett’s employment terminated effective October 31, 2020.

(3) Ms. Matthews’ employment terminated effective April 1, 2020.

In 2020, quantitative factors, as reflected in the corporate scorecard applicable to the senior leadership team (the "SLT Scorecard") set the baseline for the annual bonuses for our NEOs, which were subject to further adjustments as explained below. The SLT Scorecard contained four factors, which are considered by the Board of Directors and management as key indicators of the successful execution of our business plan. Those factors were (i) adjusted EBITDA, (ii) distributable cash flow per unit, (iii) controllable expense metric and (iv) health, safety, environmental and regulatory goals.

The annual bonuses paid to Messrs. Deneke, Stratton and Johnston were approved by the Board and determined in accordance with their employment agreements, as further described below.

In February 2021, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors reviewed the SLT Scorecards for 2020 and determined the level of achievement of each key factor. We exceeded our health, safety, environmental and regulatory goals and met our (i) controllable expense metric and (ii) distributable cash flow per unit targets. We did not meet our adjusted EBITDA target. These results yielded a calculated SLT Scorecard result of 52% of target. In addition to corporate results, additional considerations are applied at the discretion of the CEO, the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors that may affect the actual annual bonus earned. Those considerations include judgments regarding overall company performance and business events, performance of each NEO’s respective business unit, industry climate and performance, the market for executive talent, demonstrated leadership capabilities and progress on strategic initiatives. Each NEO’s bonus amount, as reflected below, is adjusted up or down in recognition of these additional considerations.

Mr. Deneke’s annual bonus payout reflects his demonstrated leadership capabilities. Mr. Deneke was awarded 75% of his target annual bonus in 2020, or $675,000.

Mr. Stratton’s annual bonus payout reflects consideration for the combined performance of the finance and accounting business units. Mr. Stratton was awarded 75% of his target annual bonus in 2020, or $262,500.

Mr. Johnston’s annual bonus payout reflects consideration for the combined performance of the legal, human resources and health, safety, environmental and regulatory units. Mr. Johnston was awarded 75% of his target annual bonus in 2020, or $87,500, prorated for the period of time he served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer.

In connection with their terminations, Mr. Mallett and Ms. Matthews received prorated annual bonuses for 2020 pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements. Mr. Mallett received a prorated annual bonus of $158,333 and Ms. Matthews received a prorated annual bonus equal to $74,795.

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Based on the foregoing discussion, the annual bonus awards to be paid in March 2021 to our NEOs for 2020 performance are as follows:

Name and Principal Position

2020 Annual Bonus Payout ($)

Heath Deneke

President and Chief Executive Officer

675,000

Marc D. Stratton

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

262,500

James Johnston

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

87,500

Leonard W. Mallett (1)

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

158,333

Louise E. Matthews (1)

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer

74,795

(1) The amounts reflected are prorated annual bonuses paid to Mr. Mallett and Ms. Matthews upon their terminations in accordance with their employment agreements. Mr. Mallett employment terminated on October 31, 2020. Ms. Matthews employment terminated on April 1, 2020.

Long-Term Equity-Based Compensation Awards. The General Partner approved the SMLP LTIP pursuant to which eligible officers (including the NEOs), employees, consultants and directors of the General Partner and its affiliates are eligible to receive awards with respect to our equity interests, thereby linking the recipients’ compensation directly to the value of our common units and enhancing our ability to attract and retain superior talent. The SMLP LTIP provides for the grant, from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors or Compensation Committee, of a dollar-denominated award, unit awards, restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights, profits interest units and other unit-based awards.

The SMLP LTIP is designed to promote our interests, as well as the interests of our unitholders, by aligning the interests of our eligible employees (including the NEOs) and directors with those of common unitholders, as well as by strengthening our ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified individuals to serve as directors and employees.

SMLP LTIP award guidelines for NEOs are designed to attract, retain and motivate the NEOs and were determined using the Compensation Consultant's analysis for individuals in comparable positions and an analysis of the scope of their roles and duties. These guidelines set an annual equity award target in the amount of 275% of salary for Mr. Deneke; 165% for Messrs. Stratton, Johnston and Mallett; 150% of base salary for Ms. Matthews.

Although LTIP is usually granted once per fiscal year (during the quarterly period ended March 31st), in 2020 there were two separate equity grants, described below:

March 2020 Equity Grants. Effective March 20, 2020, based on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors approved a grant of phantom units and cash award to Messrs. Deneke, Stratton, and Mallet. The underlying phantom units and cash award vest ratably over a three-year period. Holders of phantom units are entitled to distribution equivalent rights for each phantom unit, if applicable, providing for a lump sum payment equal to any accrued distributions from the grant date of the phantom units to be paid in cash upon the vesting date. The Compensation Committee selected equity awards that vest contingent on continued service to foster increased unit ownership by the NEOs and as a retention incentive for continued employment with the Partnership.

September 11, 2020 Equity Grant to Mr. Johnston. As an inducement to accept the position of Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of the General Partner, on September 11, 2020, Mr. Johnston received a one-time grant of phantom units and cash award valued at approximately $1,155,000, pursuant to a standalone phantom unit award agreement (the "Award Agreement"). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement, the underlying phantom units will vest ratably over a two-year period, and are entitled to distribution equivalent rights for each phantom unit, if applicable, providing for a lump sum payment equal to any accrued distributions from the grant date of the phantom units to be paid in cash upon the vesting date.

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All SMLP LTIP grants to our NEOs are subject to accelerated vesting on the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a termination of the NEO's employment other than for cause, (ii) a termination of the NEO's employment by the NEO for good reason (as defined in the NEO's employment agreement), (iii) a termination of the NEO's employment by reason of the NEO's death or disability or (iv) a Change in Control (as defined in the applicable award agreement).

To calculate the number of phantom units granted to each eligible NEO in March 2020, the Compensation Committee determined the dollar amount of the long-term incentive compensation award, and then granted the number of phantom units that had a fair market value equal to that amount as of market close on the date of the grant. The same calculation was performed with respect to the September 4, 2020 grant to Mr. Johnston. Phantom unit and Cash awards granted in 2020 were as follows:

Name and Principal Position

 

2020 Target LTIP Award:  Percent of Base Salary (%)

 

 

2020 Phantom Units Awarded (#)

 

 

2020 Cash Awarded ($)

 

 

2020 SMLP LTIP Award Value ($)

 

Heath Deneke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

275

 

 

 

108,882

 

 

 

758,257

 

 

 

1,650,000

 

Marc D. Stratton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

165

 

 

 

25,406

 

 

 

369,427

 

 

 

577,500

 

James Johnston (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

 

 

165

 

 

 

33,333

 

 

 

800,000

 

 

 

1,155,000

 

Leonard W. Mallett

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

 

 

165

 

 

 

29,035

 

 

 

422,202

 

 

 

660,000

 

Louise E. Matthews (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer

 

 

150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Although Mr. Johnston’s employment agreement provides for a target LTIP award valued at 165% of his base salary, in 2020 the value of his initial one-time grant of phantom units and cash award was approved by the Compensation Committee.

(2) Ms. Matthews employment terminated effective April 1, 2020.Ms. Mathews received no grants of phantom unit awards in 2020.

Retirement, Health and Welfare and Additional Benefits. The NEOs are eligible to participate in such employee benefit plans and programs we offer to our employees, subject to the terms and eligibility requirements of those plans.

401(k) Plan. The NEOs are eligible to participate in a tax qualified 401(k) defined contribution plan to the same extent as all of our other employees. In 2020, we made a fully vested matching contribution on behalf of each of the 401(k) plan's participants up to 5% of such participant's eligible salary for the year.

Health Savings Account ("HSA") Program. The NEOs are eligible to participate in a tax qualified health savings account (“HSA”) if they are enrolled in the available high-deductible health plan. The HSA is a tax-free savings account owned by an individual and can be used to pay for current or future qualified medical expenses. Participants determine how much to contribute, when and how to spend the money on eligible medical expenses, and how to invest the balance. The balance remains in the account and is not subject to forfeiture. The Partnership makes annual contributions to all HSA-eligible employees who enroll in and contribute to an HSA. In 2020, we made tax-free HSA contributions of $600 to Mr. Deneke, $600 to Mr. Stratton and $185 to Ms. Matthews.

Deferred Compensation Plan.

Effective May 28, 2020, the Deferred Compensation Plan was terminated. As a result, payment of all remaining amounts deferred thereunder was tendered to participants or their designated beneficiaries, as applicable, in a single lump sum payment.

Additional Benefits. Pursuant to the terms of their employment agreements:

All NEOs are entitled to reimbursement for tax preparation and advisory services expenses of up to $12,000 per year.

Mr. Deneke is entitled to be reimbursed up to $15,000 per year for annual international or local chapter dues associated with his membership in the Young Presidents Organization (“YPO”).

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Expenditures for these benefits are included as “All Other Compensation” in the Summary Compensation Table and further described in the table entitled “All Other Compensation” below.

Employment and Severance Arrangements.

Employment Agreements. Our NEOs each have employment agreements with Summit Operating. Elements of the NEOs’ total direct compensation are subject to periodic review and may be adjusted accordingly by the Compensation Committee.

Mr. Deneke’s employment agreement, which has an effective date of September 1, 2020, has an initial term that expires on September 1, 2022, and is then automatically extended for successive one-year periods, unless either party gives notice of non-extension to the other no later than 30SEC within 120 days prior to the expiration of the then-applicable term. Mr. Deneke’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary of $600,000, and a performance-based bonus ranging from 0% to 300% of base salary, with a target of 150% of base salary. Mr. Deneke is entitled to receive a prorated annual bonus (based on target) if his employment is terminated by Mr. Deneke with good reason, or by us without cause or as a result of a non-extension of the term, or due to death or disability. In addition, Mr. Deneke’s employment agreement also provides for reimbursement of certain business expenses incurred in connection with his employment, including company-paid tax preparation and advisory services of up to $12,000 per year and YPO membership dues of up to $15,000 per year.

Mr. Deneke’s employment agreement provides for a cash severance payment upon a termination resulting from a non-extension of the term by us, or a termination by us without cause or by Mr. Deneke for good reason, which is defined generally as the officer's termination of employment within two years after the occurrence of (i) a material diminution in Mr. Deneke’s authority, duties or responsibilities, (ii) a material diminution in the aggregated total of Mr. Deneke’s base salary, target bonus (as a percentage of base salary) or Annual LTIP Target (as that term is defined in the agreement), (iii) a material change in the geographic location at which Mr. Deneke must perform his services under the agreement, (iv) a change in Mr. Deneke’s reporting relationship resulting in Mr. Deneke no longer reporting directly to the Board of Directors, or (v) any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of the employment agreement by us (each a "Qualifying Termination"). In the event of a Qualifying Termination, Mr. Deneke’s severance payment will be equal to two and one-half times the sum of his annual base salary and the higher of his target annual bonus payable in respect of the immediately preceding year and the annual bonus actually paid to him in respect of that year.

Following any termination of employment other than one resulting from non-extension of the term, his employment agreement provides that Mr. Deneke will be subject to a post-termination non-competition covenant through the severance period, and, following any termination of employment, Mr. Deneke will be subject to a one-year post-termination non-solicitation covenant. If Mr. Deneke’s employment terminates as a result of a non-extension of the term, we may choose to subject him to a non-competition covenant for up to one year post-termination. If we exercise this “noncompete option” following a non-extension of term by Mr. Deneke, then Mr. Deneke would be entitled to a severance payment in an amount equal to two and one-half times the sum of his annual base salary and the higher of his target annual bonus payable in respect of the immediately preceding year and the annual bonus actually paid to him in respect of that year, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days from the date of termination through the expiration of the restricted period (as elected by us) and the denominator of which is 365. In this case, the severance payment will be payable in equal installments over the restricted period. Following any termination of employment, we have agreed to pay the out-of-pocket premium cost to continue Mr. Deneke’s medical and dental coverage for a period not to exceed 18 months, with such coverage terminating if any new employer provides benefits coverage.

Mr. Deneke’s employment agreement also provides that all equity awards granted to him under the SMLP LTIP and held by him as of immediately prior to a change in control of the Partnership or the General Partner will become fully vested immediately prior to the change in control.

Additionally, as an inducement to accept the position as our President and Chief Executive Officer of the General Partner, at the beginning of his employment term, Mr. Deneke received a one-time grant of phantom units valued at $4,000,000, pursuant to standalone phantom unit award agreement (“Deneke Award Agreement”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Deneke Award Agreement, the underlying phantom units will vest ratably over a three-year period, and are entitled to distribution equivalent rights for each phantom unit, providing for a lump sum payment equal to the accrued distributions from the grant date of the phantom units to be paid in cash upon the vesting date. Furthermore, the phantom units will be subject to accelerated vesting on the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) a termination of Mr. Deneke’s employment other than for cause, (ii)

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a termination of employment by Mr. Deneke for good reason (as that term is defined in Mr. Deneke’s employment agreement), (iii) a termination of Mr. Deneke’s employment by reason of death or disability or (iv) a Change in Control (as defined in the Award Agreement).

The remaining NEOs’ employment agreements are substantially the same as Mr. Deneke’s, except for the following:

Each of the other NEOs is entitled to a severance payment in the event of a Qualifying Termination equal to one and one-half times the sum of his or her annual base salary and his or her annual bonus payable in respect of the immediately preceding year.

Each of the other NEOs is entitled to a severance payment in the event the we exercise the “noncompete option” following a non-extension of the term by the NEO equal to the sum of 1.5 times his annual base salary and the higher of his target annual bonus and the annual bonus paid to him in respect of the immediately preceding year.

Each of the other NEOs is entitled to a performance-based bonus ranging from 0% to 200% of base salary, with a target of 100% of base salary.

The other NEOs are not entitled to be reimbursed for membership dues.

Mr. Stratton’s base salary is $350,000, and the initial term of his employment agreement ends on September 1, 2022.

Mr. Johnston’s base salary is $350,000, and the initial term of his employment agreement ends on September 4, 2022.

Retention Bonus Agreements.

Effective June 7, 2019, and prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, Summit Investments, the General Partner, and SMLP jointly entered into retention bonus agreements with certain NEOs for the amounts indicated below:

Mr. Mallett:$420,000

Mr. Stratton:$365,000

Ms. Matthews:$365,000

The agreements provided for a cash payment “Retention Bonus” upon the earlier of a termination without cause or a change in control (as those terms are defined in the executive’s employment agreement). The agreements terminated if the executive officer continued to be employed and a change in control had not occurred on or prior to December 31, 2020.

Mr. Mallett’s employment terminated effective October 31, 2020. According to the terms of his retention bonus agreement, Mr. Mallett received payment of $420,000 upon his termination. Ms. Matthews’ employment terminated effective April 1, 2020. According to the terms of her retention bonus agreement, Ms. Matthews’ received payment of $365,000 upon her termination.

Risk Assessment Relative to Compensation Programs. The Compensation Committee manages risk as it relates to our compensation plans, programs, and structure (collectively, our “Compensation Practices”). The Compensation Committee meets with management to review whether any aspect of our Compensation Practices creates incentives for our employees to take inappropriate risks that could materially adversely affect the Partnership. Accordingly, we believe that the compensation practices for our NEOs and other employees are appropriately structured and do not pose a material risk to the Partnership. We believe these compensation practices are designed and implemented in a manner that does not promote excessive risk-taking that could damage the value of the Partnership or provide compensatory rewards for inappropriate decisions or behavior.

Compensation Committee Report. The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed this CD&A with the our management and, based on such review and discussion, has recommended to the Board of Directors that the CD&A be included in the Annual Report.

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Summary Compensation Table for 2020, 2019 and 2018

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the compensation paid to our NEOs for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

Name and Principal Position

 

Year

 

Salary ($) (1)

 

 

Bonus ($)(1)

 

 

Equity Awards

($) (2)

 

 

Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($) (3)

 

 

All Other Compensation ($) (4)

 

 

Total ($)

 

Heath Deneke

 

2020

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

758,257

 

 

 

891,743

 

 

 

675,000

 

 

 

52,671

 

 

 

2,977,671

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2019

 

 

161,538

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,000,000

 

 

 

300,000

 

 

 

28,822

 

 

 

4,490,360

 

Marc D. Stratton

 

2020

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

369,427

 

 

 

208,073

 

 

 

262,500

 

 

 

34,171

 

 

 

1,224,171

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

2019

 

 

262,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

768,500

 

 

 

170,625

 

 

 

28,800

 

 

 

1,230,425

 

 

 

2018

 

 

231,782

 

 

 

 

 

 

225,000

 

 

 

254,625

 

 

 

31,700

 

 

 

743,107

 

James Johnston (5)

 

2020

 

 

102,308

 

 

 

800,000

 

 

 

355,000

 

 

 

87,500

 

 

 

10,262

 

 

 

1,355,070

 

Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard W. Mallett (6)

 

2020

 

 

346,154

 

 

 

842,202

 

 

 

237,798

 

 

 

158,333

 

 

 

150,700

 

 

 

1,735,187

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

 

2019

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

87,500

 

 

 

843,500

 

 

 

227,500

 

 

 

12,895

 

 

 

1,521,395

 

 

 

2018

 

 

364,800

 

 

 

 

 

 

625,000

 

 

 

364,800

 

 

 

13,773

 

 

 

1,368,373

 

Louise E. Matthews (7)

 

2020

 

 

84,231

 

 

 

365,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

74,795

 

 

 

932,506

 

 

 

1,456,532

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer

 

2019

 

 

285,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

693,500

 

 

 

185,250

 

 

 

35,197

 

 

 

1,198,947

 

(1)

Amounts shown represent the portion of the NEO’s base salary and bonus allocated to the Partnership. Prior to closing the GP Buy-In Transaction in May 2020, compensation amounts for the NEO were allocated between the General Partner and SMLP. As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership now pays for 100% of the NEO’s compensation. For a discussion of the cost allocation methodology, please refer to “Agreements with Affiliates—Reimbursement of Expenses from General Partner” in Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

(2)

Amounts shown reflect the grant date fair value of the phantom unit awards granted to the NEOs in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("FASB ASC Topic 718"). For the assumptions made in valuing these awards, see Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements. For additional information, please refer to "Components of Executive Compensation—Long-Term Equity-Based Compensation Awards" above.

(3)

Amounts shown represent the incentive bonus earned under the Partnership’s annual incentive bonus program in the fiscal year indicated but paid in the following fiscal year. The amounts shown represent that portion of the NEO's annual bonus that has been allocated to SMLP. Prior to closing the GP Buy-In Transaction in May 2020, compensation amounts for the NEO were allocated between the General Partner and SMLP. As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership now pays for 100% of the NEO’s compensation. For a discussion of the cost allocation methodology, please refer to “Agreements with Affiliates—Reimbursement of Expenses from General Partner” in Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

(4)

The table below presents the components of "All Other Compensation" allocated to SMLP for each NEO for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. For additional information, please see "Components of Executive Compensation—Retirement, Health and Welfare and Additional Benefits" above. Prior to closing the GP Buy-In Transaction in May 2020, compensation amounts for the NEO were allocated between the General Partner and SMLP. As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership now pays for 100% of the NEO’s compensation. For a discussion of the cost allocation methodology, please refer to “Agreements with Affiliates—Reimbursement of Expenses from General Partner” in Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

(5)

Mr. Johnston began his employment with the Partnership effective September 4, 2020.

(6)

Mr. Mallett’s employment terminated on October 31, 2020. The portion of the severance payment made to Mr. Mallett in 2020 is included in the “All Other Compensation” column.

(7)

Ms. Matthews’ employment terminated on April 1, 2020. The severance payment made to Ms. Mathews in 2020 is included in the “All Other Compensation” column.

Pay Ratio Disclosure

The following is a reasonable estimate, prepared under applicable SEC rules, of the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of our other employees. Although we previously identified our median employee on December 31, 2019, due to a change in our employee population that we reasonably believe will result in a significant change to our pay ratio disclosure, we identified a new median employee in 2020. For 2020, we determined or median employee by ranking our employees (other than the CEO) employed as of December 31, 2020 (the “determination date”) by the sum of each employee’s annualized base salary, his or her actual cash bonus received in 2020 for 2019 performance, and his or her actual overtime pay received in 2020. In annualizing each employee’s base salary, we used each employee’s base salary rate as of the determination date. We made no full-time equivalent adjustment for any employee, we had no temporary or seasonal workers as of the determination date, and we made no cost-of-living adjustments. The annual total compensation our median

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employee (other than the CEO) for 2020 was $120,592. To determine the annual total compensation of our CEO for purposes of this disclosure, we chose the person who was serving as CEO as of the determination date and used the total compensation he received in 2020 as set forth in the Summary Compensation Table above. Accordingly, for purposes of this disclosure, we determined that the CEO’s annual total compensation for 2020 was $2,510,333. Based on the foregoing, we estimate of the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all other employees was 20.8 to 1. Given the different methodologies that various public companies will use to determine an estimated pay ratio, our estimated pay ratio should not be used as a basis for comparison with ratios disclosed by other companies.

All Other Compensation. The following table sets forth information concerning all other compensation paid to our NEOs in 2020.

Name

 

Medical Insurance Premium ($)

 

 

Individual Tax Preparation ($)

 

 

Health Savings Account (HSA) Employer Contributions ($)

 

 

401(k) Plan Employer Contributions ($)

 

 

Membership Dues ($)

 

 

Severance Paid in 2020 ($)

 

 

Total ($)(1)

 

Heath Deneke

 

 

18,071

 

 

 

12,000

 

 

 

600

 

 

 

14,250

 

 

 

7,750

 

 

 

 

 

 

52,671

 

Marc D. Stratton

 

 

18,071

 

 

 

1,250

 

 

 

600

 

 

 

14,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34,171

 

James Johnston

 

 

6,224

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10,262

 

Leonard W. Mallett

 

 

6,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

144,000

 

 

 

150,700

 

Louise E. Matthews

 

 

18,071

 

 

 

 

 

 

185

 

 

 

14,250

 

 

 

 

 

 

900,000

 

 

 

932,506

 

(1) Amounts shown represent the portion of the NEO’s base salary and bonus allocated to the Partnership. Prior to closing the GP Buy-In Transaction in May 2020, compensation amounts for the NEO were allocated between the General Partner and SMLP. As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership now pays for 100% of the NEO’s compensation. For a discussion of the cost allocation methodology, please refer to “Agreements with Affiliates—Reimbursement of Expenses from General Partner” in Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2020. The following table sets forth information concerning annual incentive awards and phantom unit awards granted to the Partnership’s NEOs in fiscal year 2020.

 

 

 

 

Estimated Possible Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)

 

 

All Other Stock Awards: Number of Shares of Stocks or Units (2)

 

 

Grant Date Fair Value of Stock and Option Awards (3)

 

 

Cash Awards (4)

 

Name

 

Grant Date

 

Threshold ($)

 

 

Target ($)

 

 

Maximum ($)

 

 

(#)

 

 

($)

 

 

($)

 

Heath Deneke

 

3/23/2020

 

 

 

 

 

900,000

 

 

 

1,800,000

 

 

108,882

 

 

891,743

 

 

758,257

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marc D. Stratton

 

3/23/2020

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

700,000

 

 

25,406

 

 

208,073

 

 

369,427

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Johnston

 

9/11/2020

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

700,000

 

 

33,333

 

 

355,000

 

 

800,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard W. Mallett

 

3/23/2020

 

 

 

 

 

400,000

 

 

 

800,000

 

 

29,038

 

 

237,798

 

 

422,202

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louise E. Matthews (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

300,000

 

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2022.

(1)

Represents annual incentive opportunities that may be awarded pursuant to the Partnership’s annual incentive program for the year ended December 31, 2020 with payment based upon the Partnership’s achievement of pre-established performance goals and other factors. For additional information, please see "Components of Executive Compensation—Annual Incentive Compensation" above.

(2)

Represents grants of phantom units with distribution equivalent rights under the SMLP LTIP. For additional information, please see "Components of Executive Compensation—Long-Term Equity-Based Compensation Awards" above.

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(3)

Amounts shown represent the fair value of the award on the date of the grant, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. For the assumptions made in valuing these awards, see Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements.

(4)

Amount shown represent the dollar-denominated cash amount of the LTIP grant award.

(5)

Ms. Matthews’ employment terminated on April 1, 2020. Ms. Mathews received no grants of phantom unit awards in 2020.

Narrative Disclosure to the Summary Compensation Table and Grants of the Plan-Based Awards Table. A description of material factors necessary to understand the information disclosed in the tables above with respect to salaries, bonuses, equity awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation and all other compensation can be found in the CD&A that precedes these tables.

Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2020. The following table presents information regarding the outstanding equity awards held by the Partnership’s NEOs at December 31, 2020.

 

 

 

 

Unit Awards

 

 

Cash Awards

 

Name (1)

 

Grant Date

 

Number of Unearned Phantom Units That Have Not Vested (#) (2)

 

 

Market Value of Unearned Phantom Units That Have Not Vested ($) (3)

 

 

Unearned Cash Awards That Have Not Vested (4) ($)

 

Heath Deneke

 

3/23/2020

 

 

108,882

 

 

 

1,359,935

 

 

 

758,257

 

 

 

9/16/2019

 

 

34,320

 

 

 

428,657

 

 

 

 

Marc D. Stratton (5)

 

3/23/2020

 

 

25,406

 

 

 

317,321

 

 

 

369,427

 

 

 

11/15/2019

 

 

3,333

 

 

 

41,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/15/2019

 

 

2,613

 

 

 

32,636

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/15/2018

 

328

 

 

 

4,097

 

 

 

 

James Johnston (6)

 

9/11/2020

 

 

33,333

 

 

 

416,333

 

 

 

800,000

 

(1)

Ms. Mathews is omitted from this table because her outstanding equity awards vested upon her termination effective April 1, 2020. Mr. Mallet is omitted from this table because his outstanding equity awards vested upon his termination effective October 31, 2020.

(2)

Except in the case of Mr. Johnston, as noted below, phantom units granted to the NEOs vest ratably over a three-year period with the first tranche scheduled to vest on the first anniversary of the grant date, subject to continued employment, and accelerated vesting as provided in the applicable award agreement. The NEOs also receive distribution equivalent rights for each phantom unit, if applicable, providing for a lump sum payment equal to any accrued distributions from the grant date of the phantom units to be paid in cash upon the vesting date.

(3)

Amounts were calculated using the closing price of SMLP's publicly traded common units on December 31, 2020.

(4)

Amounts shown represent the dollar-denominated cash amount of the SMLP LTIP grant award.

(5)

Phantom units granted on November 15, 2019, vest in their entirety on the third anniversary of the grant date.

(6)

One half of the phantom units and cash awards granted on September 11, 2020 vest on March 31, 2021 and the other half vests on March 31, 2022

Phantom Units and Cash Awards Vested. The following table represents information regarding the vesting of phantom units during the year ended December 31, 2020 with respect to the Partnership’s NEOs.

 

 

Phantom Unit

 

 

Cash Award

 

Name

 

Number of Phantom Units  Vested (#) (1)

 

 

Value Realized on Vesting ($) (1)

 

 

Vesting

($)

 

Heath Deneke (1)

 

 

17,160

 

 

 

184,041

 

 

 

 

Marc D. Stratton (2)

 

 

1,842

 

 

 

37,020

 

 

 

 

James Johnston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard W. Mallett (3)

 

 

39,312

 

 

 

439,618

 

 

 

422,202

 

Louise E. Matthews (4)

 

 

7,566

 

 

 

87,258

 

 

 

 

(1)

Mr. Deneke’s amounts represent the number and value of the phantom units that vested on September 16, 2020, plus the distribution equivalent rights earned in tandem. The value of the phantom units that vested was calculated using the closing price of SMLP’s publicly traded common units as of September 15, 2020, the trading day immediately prior to vesting.

(2)

Mr. Stratton amounts represent the number and value of the phantom units that vested on March 16, 2020, plus the distribution equivalent rights earned in tandem. The value of the phantom units that vested was calculated using the closing price of SMLP’s publicly traded common units as of March 13, 2020, the trading day prior to vesting.

(3)

Mr. Mallett’s amounts represent the number and value of the phantom units that vested on March 16, 2020 plus the distribution equivalent rights earned in tandem. The value of the phantom units that vested on March 16, 2020 was calculated using the closing price of SMLP’s publicly traded common units as of March 13, 2020, the trading day prior to vesting. In addition, the amount includes amounts for the phantom units and cash awards

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that vested upon his termination effective October 31, 2020, plus the distribution equivalent rights earned in tandem. The value of Mr. Mallett’s phantom units that vested on October 31, 2020 was calculated using the closing price of SMLP’s units as of October 30, 2020, the trading day immediately prior to vesting.

(4)

Ms. Mathews' amounts represent the number and value of the phantom units that vested on March 16, 2020 and upon her termination effective April 1, 2020, plus the distribution equivalent rights earned in tandem. The value of the phantom units that vested on March 16, 2020 was calculated using the closing price of SMLP's publicly traded common units as of March 13, 2020, the trading day prior to vesting. The value of Ms. Matthews' phantom units that vested on April 1, 2020 was calculated using the closing price of SMLP’s units as of March 31, 2020, the trading day immediately prior to vesting.

Pension Benefits. Currently, the Partnership does not sponsor or maintain a pension or defined benefit program for its NEOs. This policy may change in the future.

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table for 2020. Effective May 28, 2020, the Deferred Compensation was terminated resulting in payment of all remaining amounts deferred thereunder to participants or their designated beneficiaries, as applicable, in a single lump sum payment.

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control. The following table sets forth information concerning potential amounts payable to the NEOs upon termination of employment under various circumstances, and upon a change in control, if such event took place on December 31, 2020.

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Name and Principal Position

 

Triggering Event

 

Salary ($)

 

 

Bonus ($) (1)

 

 

Pro-Rata Bonus ($)

 

 

Health Benefits ($)

 

 

Acceleration of Unvested Equity ($) (2)

 

 

Total ($)

 

Heath Deneke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer (3)

 

Termination by Reason of Death or Disability

 

 

 

 

 

 

900,000

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

2,546,849

 

 

 

3,466,190

 

 

 

Termination Without Cause

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

900,000

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

2,546,849

 

 

 

7,216,190

 

 

 

Resignation for Good Reason

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

900,000

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

2,546,849

 

 

 

7,216,190

 

 

 

Nonextension of Term by Partnership

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

900,000

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

2,546,849

 

 

 

7,216,190

 

 

 

Nonextension of Term by Executive, Partnership Exercises Noncompete

 

 

1,500,000

 

 

 

2,250,000

 

 

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

 

 

3,769,341

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in Control (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,546,849

 

 

 

2,546,849

 

Marc D. Stratton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (5)

 

Termination by Reason of Death or Disability

 

 

 

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

765,110

 

 

 

1,134,451

 

 

 

Termination Without Cause

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

765,110

 

 

 

2,184,451

 

 

 

Resignation for Good Reason

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

765,110

 

 

 

2,184,451

 

 

 

Nonextension of Term by Partnership

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

765,110

 

 

 

2,184,451

 

 

 

Change in Control (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

765,110

 

 

 

765,110

 

 

 

Nonextension of Term by Executive, Partnership Exercises Noncompete

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

 

 

719,341

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Johnston

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer (5)

 

Termination by Reason of Death or Disability

 

 

 

 

 

 

116,667

 

 

 

19,941

 

 

 

1,216,333

 

 

 

1,352,941

 

 

 

Termination Without Cause

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

116,667

 

 

 

19,941

 

 

 

1,216,333

 

 

 

2,402,941

 

 

 

Resignation for Good Reason

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

116,667

 

 

 

19,941

 

 

 

1,216,333

 

 

 

2,402,941

 

 

 

Nonextension of Term by Partnership

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

116,667

 

 

 

19,941

 

 

 

1,216,333

 

 

 

2,402,941

 

 

 

Change in Control (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,216,333

 

 

 

1,216,333

 

 

 

Nonextension of Term by Executive, Partnership Exercises Noncompete

 

 

350,000

 

 

 

525,000

 

 

 

 

 

19,941

 

 

 

 

 

894,941

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leonard W. Mallett

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer (5) (6)

 

Termination Without Cause

 

 

600,000

 

 

 

996,000

 

 

 

400,000

 

 

 

15,285

 

 

 

710,625

 

 

 

2,721,910

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Louise E. Matthews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Executive Vice President and Chief Administration Officer (5) (6)

 

Termination Without Cause

 

 

450,000

 

 

 

815,000

 

 

 

74,795

 

 

 

19,341

 

 

 

54,156

 

 

 

1,413,292

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1)

Where applicable, the amount includes the “Retention Bonus” payable to Mr. Mallett and Ms. Matthews upon a termination without cause or change in control. For more information see “Employment and Severance Arrangements; Retention Bonus Agreements” above.

(2)

Amounts represent the value of the phantom units that vest upon the occurrence of a triggering event plus the earned distribution equivalent rights that vest in tandem. The value of the phantom units was calculated using the closing price of SMLP's publicly traded common units on December 31, 2020.

(3)

Mr. Deneke’s employment agreement provides that upon termination of employment resulting from a non-extension of the term, termination without cause, or by Mr. Deneke’s resignation for good reason (each a "Qualifying Termination"), Mr. Deneke’s severance payment will be equal to two and one-half times the sum of his annual base salary and the higher of his target annual bonus payable in respect of the immediately preceding year and the annual bonus actually paid to him in respect of that year. Mr. Deneke is also entitled to receive a prorated annual bonus (based on target) if his employment is terminated by reason of death or disability or as a result of a Qualifying Termination. If the Partnership exercises the “noncompete option” after Mr. Deneke elects not to extend the term, then Mr. Deneke is entitled to a severance payment in an amount equal to the two and one-half times the sum of his annual base salary and the higher of the target annual bonus payable or the bonus actually paid in respect of the preceding year, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days from the date of termination through the expiration of the restricted period (as elected by the Partnership) and the denominator of which is 365. Any unvested equity awards granted to Mr. Deneke will immediately vest upon a Qualifying Termination, termination by reason of death or disability, or a change in control. If any portion of the payments or benefits provided to Mr. Deneke in connection with a change in control become subject to the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, then the payments and benefits will be reduced to the extent such reduction would result in a greater after-tax benefit to Mr. Deneke. Following any termination

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of employment, the Partnership has agreed to pay the out-of-pocket premium cost to continue Mr. Deneke’s medical and dental coverage for a period not to exceed 18 months, with such coverage terminating if any new employer provides benefits coverage.

(4)

Single-trigger event without a qualifying termination of employment.

(5)

Mr. Stratton’s, Mr. Johnston’s, Mr. Mallett’s, and Ms. Matthews’ employment agreements are substantially identical to Mr. Deneke’s with respect to potential payments upon termination or a change in control, except that (i) in the event of a Qualifying Termination, each of these NEOs is entitled to receive a severance payment equal to one and one-half times the sum of his or her annual base salary and his or her annual bonus payable in respect of the immediately preceding year; and (ii) in the event the Partnership exercises the “noncompete option” after any such NEO elects not to extend the term, then the NEO is entitled to a severance payment equal to the sum of his or her annual base salary and the bonus actually paid in respect of the preceding year, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is equal to the number of days from the date of termination through the expiration of the restricted period (as elected by the Partnership) and the denominator of which is 365.

(6)

Both Mr. Mallett and Ms. Matthews were terminated without cause in 2020. Accordingly, disclosure is limited to the triggering event that occurred. The amounts reflect actual amounts.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee provides oversight, administers and makes decisions regarding the Partnership’s compensation policies and plans. Additionally, the Compensation Committee generally reviews and discusses the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with senior management of the Partnership as a part of the Partnership’s governance practices. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors of the General Partner that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this report for filing with the SEC.

Members of the Compensation Committee of Summit Midstream GP, LLC

Robert M. Wohleber (Chair)

James J. Cleary

James Lee Jacobe

Director Compensation

In 2020, under the director compensation plan, the independent directors, which include Messrs. Peters, Wohleber, Jacobe, McNally, Cleary and Ms. Woung-Chapman each received the following:

an annual cash retainer of $80,000; and

an annual award of common units with a grant date fair value of approximately $100,000.

In addition, under the director compensation plan, the independent directors receive the following for their respective service on the committees of our Board of Directors:

o

the chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional annual retainer of $15,000; each independent member of the Audit Committee received an additional annual retainer of $7,000;

o

the chairman of the Conflicts Committee, which was dissolved in May 2020, received an additional annual retainer of $15,000;

o

the chairman of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee received an additional annual retainer of $10,000;

o

the chairman of the Compensation Committee receives an additional annual retainer of $12,000; and

o

each independent member of any committee (other than the chairman) receives an additional annual retainer of $5,000.

Messrs. Peters, Jacobe and Wohleber were paid their compensation in March 2020, whereas Messrs. McNally, Cleary and Ms. Woung-Chapman were paid upon the commencement of their service on the Board in June 2020.

In addition to their regular compensation described above, the independent directors received the following additional fees for the increased time and effort they expended as chairperson and members, respectively, of the Conflicts Committee, in connection with the review of the GP Buy-In transaction for fairness to the Partnership and its unitholders:

$25,000 to Mr. Wohleber and $20,000 to Mr. Peters and Mr. Jacobe for their work related to the GP Buy-In Transaction.

Board members are reconsidered for appointment on the one-year anniversary of their most recent appointment.

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The Partnership reimburses all directors for travel and other related expenses in connection with attending board and committee meetings and board-related activities.

The following table shows the compensation paid, including amounts deferred, under the Partnership’s director compensation plan in 2020.

Name

 

Fees earned or paid in cash ($)

 

 

Other fees ($)

 

Unit awards

($) (1)

 

 

Compensation deferred ($) (2)

 

Total ($)

 

Heath Deneke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert M. Wohleber

 

 

152,000

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

252,000

 

Jerry L. Peters

 

 

125,000

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

225,000

 

Lee Jacobe

 

 

117,000

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

217,000

 

Robert J. McNally

 

 

87,000

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

187,000

 

Marguerite Woung-Chapman

 

 

90,000

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

190,000

 

James J. Cleary

 

 

90,000

 

 

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

 

190,000

 

(1)

Amount shown represents the grant date fair value of the unit awards as determined in accordance with GAAP. These unit awards were fully vested on the grant date.

(2)

In 2020, no director elected to defer any portion of his compensation related to Board committee service.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Partnership’s Compensation Committee consists of Mr. Jacobe, Mr. Cleary and Mr. Wohleber. Although the Partnership’s common units are listed on the NYSE, the Partnership has taken advantage of the “Limited Partnership” exemption to the NYSE rule that would otherwise require listed companies to have an independent compensation committee with a written charter. During 2020, no member of the Compensation Committee was an executive officer of another entity on whose compensation committee or board of directors any executive officer of the Partnership served. During 2019, no director was an executive officer of another entity on whose compensation committee any executive officer of Summit Investments (and in connection therewith, SMLP) served.

The Partnership’s CEO participated in his capacity as a director in the deliberations of the Board of Directors concerning named executive officer compensation and made recommendations to the Compensation Committee regarding named executive officer compensation but abstained from any decisions regarding his compensation.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.

The following table sets forth certain

This information regarding the beneficial ownership ofis incorporated by reference to the Partnership’s common units of:

each person who is known to us to beneficially own 5% or more of such units toProxy Statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of Limited Partners, which will be outstanding (based solely on Schedules 13D and 13G filed with the SEC prior to February 17, 2021);

the General Partner;

each of the directors and NEOs of the General Partner; and

all of the directors and executive officers of the General Partner as a group.

All information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by the respective directors, officers or 5% or more unitholders as the case may be. The amounts and percentage of units beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of a security if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security.

In computing the number of common units beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person, common units that a person has the right to acquire upon the vesting of phantom units where the units are issuable within 60120 days of February 17, 2021, if any, are deemed outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The percentage of units beneficially owned is based on a total of 6,110,092 common limited partner units outstanding as of February 17, 2021. All common unit amounts reflect the Reverse Unit Split.

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Except as indicated by footnote, the persons named in the following table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all units shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws where applicable.

Name of Beneficial Owner

 

Common Units Beneficially Owned

 

 

Percentage of Common Units Beneficially Owned

 

Ares Management LLC(1)

 

 

312,143

 

 

 

5.1

%

Invesco Ltd. (2)

 

 

914,071

 

 

 

15.0

%

J. Heath Deneke (3) (4)

 

 

53,454

 

 

*

 

James Johnston (3) (4)

 

 

16,666

 

 

*

 

Leonard W. Mallett (3) (5)

 

 

29,035

 

 

*

 

Louise Matthews (3) (5)

 

 

3,361

 

 

*

 

Marc D. Stratton (3) (4)

 

 

7,695

 

 

*

 

Robert J. McNally(3)

 

 

4,166

 

 

*

 

Marguerite Woung-Chapman (3)

 

 

4,166

 

 

*

 

James J. Cleary (3)

 

 

4,166

 

 

*

 

Jerry L. Peters (3)

 

 

14,197

 

 

*

 

Robert M. Wohleber (3)

 

 

14,030

 

 

*

 

James Lee Jacobe (3)

 

 

12,848

 

 

*

 

All directors and executive officers as a group (consisting of 11 persons)

 

 

163,784

 

 

*

 

* An asterisk indicates that the person or entity owns less than one percent.

(1)Ares Management LLC (“Ares”) controls, directly or indirectly, each Ares Lender of Record, as defined in the Form 13G filed by Ares Management LLC on November 27, 2020. The number of common units beneficially owned by Ares represents the collective number of common units beneficially owned by each Ares Lender of Record, as set forth in the Form 13G filed by Ares. The address for this entity is 2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90067.

(2) The address for this entity is 1555 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1800, Atlanta, GA 30309.

(3) The address for this person is 910 Louisiana Street, Suite 4200, Houston, TX 77002.

(4) Includes common units which the individuals have the right to acquire upon vesting of phantom units, where the units are issuable as of February 17, 2021 or within 60 days thereafter. Such units are deemed to be outstanding in calculating the percentage ownership of such individual (and all directors and officers as a group) but are not deemed to be outstanding as to any other person.

(5) This individual’s employment was terminated in 2020, and the common units beneficially owned by this individual are based on the last Form 4 filed by or on behalf of such individual.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information as of December 31, 2020 with respect to the Partnership's common units that may be issued under the SMLP LTIP, as amended.

2022.

Plan category

 

Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (a) (1)

 

 

Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights (b)

 

 

Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (c)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

 

 

291,691

 

 

n/a

 

 

 

440,030

 

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

 

n/a

 

 

n/a

 

 

n/a

 

Total

 

 

291,691

 

 

 

 

 

 

440,030

 

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(1) Amount shown represents phantom unit awards outstanding under the SMLP LTIP at December 31, 2020. The awards are expected to be settled in common units upon the applicable vesting date and are not subject to an exercise price.

2012 SMLP Long-Term Incentive Plan. In connection with the IPO, the Partnership’s General Partner approved the SMLP LTIP, as amended and restated on March 19, 2020, pursuant to which eligible officers, employees, consultants and directors of the Partnership’s General Partner and its affiliates are eligible to receive awards with respect to the Partnership’s equity interests. The SMLP LTIP is designed to promote the Partnership’s interests, as well as the interests of the Partnership’s unitholders, by rewarding eligible officers, employees, consultants and directors for delivering desired performance results, as well as by strengthening the Partnership’s ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified individuals to serve as directors, consultants and employees. A total of 15,000,000 common units was reserved for issuance, pursuant to and in accordance with the SMLP LTIP. Following the Reverse Unit Split, a total of 1,000,000 common units were reserved for issuance under the SMLP LTIP.

The SMLP LTIP is administered by Compensation Committee of the General Partner’s the Board of Directors. The SMLP LTIP provides for the grant, from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors, of unit awards, restricted units, phantom units, unit options, unit appreciation rights, distribution equivalent rights, profits interest units and other unit-based awards. Units that are canceled or forfeited are available for delivery pursuant to other awards.

Common units to be delivered with respect to awards may be newly issued units, common units acquired by the Partnership or the Partnership’s General Partner in the open market, common units already owned by the Partnership or the Partnership’s General Partner, common units acquired by the Partnership’s General Partner directly from the Partnership or any other person or any combination of the foregoing.

The General Partner's Board of Directors, at its discretion, may terminate the SMLP LTIP at any time with respect to the common units for which a grant has not previously been made. The SMLP LTIP will automatically terminate on the 10th anniversary of the amendment effective date, presently set at March 19, 2030. The General Partner's Board of Directors also has the right to alter or amend the SMLP LTIP or any part of it from time to time or to amend any outstanding award made under the SMLP LTIP, provided that no change in any outstanding award may be made that would materially impair the rights of the participant without the consent of the affected participant.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

In May 2020, the Partnership completed the GP Buy-In Transaction, whereby the Partnership acquired from its then private equity sponsor, ECP, (i) Summit Investments, which owned the Partnership’s General Partner, (ii) through its indirect ownership of SMP Holdings, 3,415,646 of its common units and (iii) the Deferred Purchase Price obligation receivable owed

This information is incorporated by the Partnership. Consideration paid to ECP included a $35.0 million cash payment and the issuance of warrants to purchase up to 666,667 common units. In connection with the closing of the GP Buy-In Transaction, ECP’s management resigned from the Board of Directors and ECP fully exited its investment in the Partnership (other than retaining the aforementioned warrants).

As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership indirectly owns its General Partner, and the General Partner’s Board of Directors is comprised of a majority of independent directors. The Partnership Agreement provides the Partnership’s common unitholders with voting rights in the election of the members of the Board of Directions on a staggered basis beginning in 2022.

Distributions and Paymentsreference to the Partnership’s General Partner andProxy Statement for its Affiliates. The following summarizes the distributions and payments made by us to the General Partner and its affiliates in connection2023 Annual Meeting of Limited Partners, which will be filed with the Partnership’s ongoing operations and its liquidation. These distributions and payments were determined by and among affiliated entities and, consequently, are not the resultSEC within 120 days of arm's-length negotiations.

Operational Stage: See "Agreements with Affiliates—Reimbursement of Expenses from General Partner" below.

December 31, 2022.

Liquidation Stage: Upon the Partnership’s liquidation, the Partnership’s partners, including the General Partner, will be entitled to receive liquidating distributions according to their particular capital account balances.

Agreements with Affiliates. The Partnership has various agreements with certain of its affiliates, as described below. These agreements have been negotiated among affiliated parties and, consequently, are not the result of arm's-length negotiations.

Reimbursement of Expenses from General Partner: Prior to the GP Buy-In Transaction, under the then effective Partnership Agreement, SMLP reimbursed its General Partner and its affiliates for certain expenses incurred on SMLP’s behalf, including, without limitation, salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to SMLP’s General

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Partner's employees and executive officers who perform services necessary to run SMLP. The then effective Partnership Agreement provided that SMLP’s General Partner will determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us. Operation and maintenance expenses incurred by the General Partner and reimbursed by SMLP under then then effective Partnership Agreement were $28.6 million in 2019 and $9.0 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to May 28, 2020. General and administrative expenses incurred by the General Partner and reimbursed by SMLP under the then effective Partnership Agreement were $32.2 million in 2019 and $11.9 million for the period from January 1, 2020 to May 28, 2020. As a result of the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Partnership indirectly owns its General Partner and is no longer required to reimburses an affiliate for its expenses.

Expense Allocations: Prior to the completion of the GP Buy-In Transaction in May 2020, certain of Summit Investments’ current and former employees received Class B membership interests, classified as net profits interests, in Summit Investments (the “Net Profits Interests”). The Net Profits Interests participated in distributions upon time vesting and the achievement of certain distribution targets to Class A members or higher priority vested Net Profits Interests. The Net Profits Interests were accounted for as compensatory awards. Concurrent with closing the GP Buy-In Transaction, the Net Profits Interests were settled and are no longer outstanding.

Review, Approval and Ratification of Related-Person Transactions. The Board of Directors has a policy for the identification, review and approval of certain related person transactions. The policy provides for the review and (as appropriate) approval by the Conflicts Committee of transactions between SMLP and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and related persons (as that term is defined in SEC rules), on the other hand. Pursuant to the policy, the General Counsel of SMLP's General Partner is charged with primary responsibility for determining whether, based on the facts and circumstances, a proposed transaction is a related person transaction.

For purposes of the policy, a "related person" is any director or executive officer of SMLP's General Partner, any nominee for director, any unitholder known to SMLP to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of the SMLP's common units, and any immediate family member, affiliate or controlled subsidiary of any such person. A "related person transaction" is generally a transaction in which SMLP is, or SMLP's General Partner or any of SMLP's subsidiaries is, a participant, where the amount involved exceeds the lesser of (i) $120,000 or (ii) 1% of the average of our total assets at year-end for the last two completed fiscal years, and a related person has a direct or indirect material interest. Transactions resolved under the conflicts provision of the Partnership Agreement are not required to be reviewed or approved under the policy.

If, after weighing all of the facts and circumstances, the general counsel of SMLP's General Partner determines that a proposed transaction is a related person transaction that requires review or approval and the transaction meets certain monetary thresholds or involves certain related persons, management must present the proposed transaction to the Conflicts Committee for advance approval. If the transaction does not meet the designated monetary threshold or involve certain related persons, management presents the transaction(s) to the Committee for their review on a quarterly basis.

The policy described above was adopted by the Board of Directors on March 7, 2013, and as a result, certain of the transactions described in "Agreements with Affiliates" above were not reviewed under such policy.

Director Independence. Each of the current members of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance & Nominating Committees have been determined to be independent under the applicable NYSE listing standards and rules of the SEC and the Corporate Governance Guidelines.

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Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.

The Partnership’s Audit Committee has ratified Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm,

This information is incorporated by reference to audit the books, records and accountsPartnership's Proxy Statement for its 2023 Annual Meeting of SMLP forLimited Partners, which will be filed with the year endedSEC within 120 days of December 31, 2020.

Audit Fees.2022.

135

The fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP, as principal accountant, for the audit of the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements and other services rendered for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 follow.

 

 

Year ended December 31,

 

 

 

2020

 

 

2019

 

Audit fees(1)

 

$

1,522,293

 

 

$

1,654,404

 

Audit-related fees(2)

 

 

100,000

 

 

 

20,000

 

Tax fees(3)

 

 

588,156

 

 

 

469,276

 

All other fees

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

2,210,449

 

 

$

2,143,680

 

(1) Audit fees are fees billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP for professional services for the audit and quarterly reviews of the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements, review of other SEC filings, including registration statements, and issuance of comfort letters and consents.

(2) Represents fees related to the Partnership’s At-the-market Program.

(3) Tax fees are billed by Deloitte Tax LLP for tax compliance services, including the preparation of state, federal and Schedule K-1 tax filings and other tax planning and advisory services.

Pre-approval Policy.Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of SMLP's independent auditor (including resolution of disagreements between management and the independent auditor regarding financial reporting). The Audit Committee shall have sole authority to pre-approve all audit, audit-related and permitted non-audit engagements with the independent auditor, including the fees and other terms of such engagements. The independent auditor shall report directly to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee may consult with management but may not delegate these responsibilities to management.

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PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

(a)(1) Financial Statements

Our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying footnotes are included in Part II, Item 8, of this report.

(2) Financial Statement Schedules

All schedules are omitted because the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

(3) Exhibit Index

The exhibits listed on the accompanying Exhibit Index are filed as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report.

Exhibit

number

Description

2.1

Exhibit
number

Description

2.1

3.1

2.2

2.3
2.4***
2.5***
3.1

3.2

***

3.3

3.3

3.4

3.4

3.5

4.1

***

4.2

136

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10.4

10.5

10.6

10.7

10.8

10.9

10.10

10.11

10.12

10.13

10.14

137

163


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10.18

10.19

10.20

10.21

10.22

10.23

10.24

10.25

10.26

10.27

10.28

138

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10.33

10.34

10.35

10.36

10.37

10.38
10.39
10.40
10.41
10.42
139

10.43
10.44
10.45

10.38

10.46

*

10.39

*

Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective March 1, 2017, by and between Summit Midstream Partners, LLC and Brad N. Graves (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to SMLP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016 (Commission File No. 001-35666))

10.40

*

Separation and General Release Agreement, effective as of August 7, 2020, by and between Summit Midstream Partners, LP and Brock Degeyter (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to SMLP’s Form 10-Q dated November 6, 2020 (Commission File No. 001-35666))

10.41

***

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, effective September 1, 2020, by and between Summit Midstream Partners, LLC and Marc D. Stratton

10.42

*

Employment Agreement effective March 1, 2019, by and between Summit Midstream Partners, LLC and Louise E. Matthews (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.110.41 to SMLP’s CurrentAnnual Report on Form 8-K dated February 6, 201910-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 (Commission File NumberNo. 001-35666))

10.43

10.47

*

10.44

10.48

*

10.45

*

Employment Agreement, effective as of September 4, 2020, by and between Summit Midstream Partners, LP and James Johnston (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to SMLP’s Form 10-Q dated November 6, 2020 (Commission File No. 001-35666))

10.46

10.49

*

10.47

10.50

*

10.48

*

Summit Midstream Partners, LP 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan Phantom Unit Agreement (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to SMLP's Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 17, 2014 (Commission File No. 001-35666))

10.49

10.51

*

10.50

10.52

*

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140

10.57
10.58***
10.59***
10.60***
10.61***
10.62***
10.63***
10.64***
10.65***
10.66***
21.1***
22.1***

23.1

***

23.2

31.1

***

31.1

***

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification, executed by Heath Deneke, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

31.2

***

32.1

***

99.1

101.INS

***

Ohio Gathering Company, L.L.C. Financial Statements as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017

101.INS

**

XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document

101.SCH

**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL

**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

101.DEF

**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

101.LAB

**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

101.PRE

**

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 15(b) of this report

† Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to a confidential treatment request. Omitted information has been filed separately with the SEC.

** Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections. The financial information contained in the XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language)-related documents is unaudited and unreviewed.

*** Filed herewith

(c) Financial Statement Schedules

Not applicable.

141

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary.

Not applicable.

166

142

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Summit Midstream Partners, LP

(Registrant)

By:  Summit Midstream GP, LLC (its General Partner)

March 4, 2021

February 28, 2023

/s/ MARC D. STRATTON

WILLIAM J. MAULT

Marc D. Stratton,

William J. Mault, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

Signature

TitleDate
/s/ J. HEATH DENEKE

Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

March 4, 2021

February 28, 2023
J. Heath Deneke

J. Heath Deneke

/s/ WILLIAM J. MAULT

/s/ Marc D. Stratton

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

March 4, 2021

February 28, 2023
William J. Mault

Marc D. Stratton

/s/ MATTHEW B. SICINSKI

Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

February 28, 2023
Matthew B. Sicinski

/s/ JAMES J. CLEARY

Director

Director

March 4, 2021

February 28, 2023
James J. Cleary

James J. Cleary

/s/ LEE JACOBE

Director

February 28, 2023
Lee Jacobe

/s/ Lee Jacobe

Director

March 4, 2021

Lee Jacobe

/s/ ROBERT J. MCNALLY

Director

Director

March 4, 2021

February 28, 2023
Robert J. McNally

Robert J. McNally

/s/ ROMMEL M. OATES

Director

February 28, 2023
Rommel M. Oates

/s/ JERRY L. PETERS

Director

Director

March 4, 2021

February 28, 2023
Jerry L. Peters

Jerry L. Peters

/s/ ROBERT M. WOHLEBER

Director

March 4, 2021

Robert M. Wohleber

/s/ MARGUERITE WOUNG-CHAPMAN

Director

Director

March 4, 2021

February 28, 2023

Marguerite Woung-Chapman

167


143