UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
  
xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2015MARCH 31, 2016
or
 
¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934   
  
 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                TO               
  
 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-35574
 
EQT Midstream Partners, LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
DELAWARE 37-1661577
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania15222
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip code)
(412) 553-5700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x  No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x  No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 Large Accelerated Filerx  Accelerated Filer¨ 
 Non-Accelerated Filer¨  Smaller reporting company¨ 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).        Yes  ¨  No x
 
As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, there were 71,535,68177,632,449 Common Units and 1,443,015 General Partner Units outstanding.



EQT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Index
 
 
 Page No.
  
  
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
   
   
   
 
   
   
   
   
  
    


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Glossary of Commonly Used Terms, Abbreviations and Measurements

adjusted EBITDA – a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure defined by EQT Midstream Partners, LP (EQM)and subsidiaries (collectively, EQM) as net income plus interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense,  income tax expense (if applicable) and non-cash long-term compensation expense less equity income, other income,AFUDC – equity, capital lease payments Jupiter adjusted EBITDA prior to the Jupiter Acquisition and NWV Gathering adjusted EBITDA prior to the NWV Gathering Acquisition.
 
AFUDC (Allowance for Funds Used During Construction) – carrying costs for the construction of certain long-termlong-lived regulated assets are capitalized and amortized over the related assets’ estimated useful lives. The capitalized amount for construction of regulated assets includes interest cost and a designated cost of equity for financing the construction of these regulated assets.

British thermal unit – a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
 
distributable cash flow – a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure defined by EQM as adjusted EBITDA less interest expense excluding capital lease interest, capitalized interest and AFUDC - debt, and ongoing maintenance capital expenditures net of expected reimbursements.
 
firm contracts – contracts for transmission, storage or gathering services that generally obligate customers to pay a fixed monthly charge to reserve an agreed upon amount of pipeline or storage capacity regardless of the actual capacity used by a customer during each month.

gas – all references to “gas” refer to natural gas.
 
local distribution company or LDC LDCs are companies involved in the delivery of natural gas to consumers within a specific geographic area.

MVP Interest Acquisition – On March 30, 2015, EQM assumed from EQT Corporation and subsidiaries (collectively, EQT) the membership interests in MVP Holdco, LLC (MVP Holdco), the owner of an interest (the MVP Interest) in Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP Joint Venture), which at the time was an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of EQT.

NWV Gathering Acquisition – On March 17, 2015, EQT contributed the Northern West Virginia Marcellus gathering system (NWV Gathering) to EQM Gathering Opco, LLC (EQM Gathering), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of EQM.

omnibus agreement – the agreement, as amended, entered into among EQM, its general partner and EQT Corporation (EQT) in connection with EQM's initial public offering, pursuant to which EQT agreed to provide EQM with, and EQM agreed to reimburse EQT for, certain general and administrative services and a license to use the name “EQT” and related marks in connection with EQM’s business. The omnibus agreement also provides for certain indemnification and reimbursement obligations between EQM and EQT.

Sunrise MergerPreferred Interest Acquisition – On July 22, 2013, Sunrise Pipeline,April 15, 2015, pursuant to the NWV Gathering Acquisition contribution and sale agreement, EQM acquired a preferred interest (the Preferred Interest) in EQT Energy Supply, LLC (Sunrise) merged into Equitrans, L.P. (Equitrans)(EES), awhich at the time was an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of EQM.EQT.

throughput – the volume of natural gas transported or passing through a pipeline, plant, terminal or other facility during a particular period.
 

Abbreviations

FASB Financial Accounting Standards Board
FERC – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
GAAP – United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
IPO – Initial Public Offering
IRS – Internal Revenue Service
NYSE – New York Stock Exchange
SEC – Securities and Exchange Commission


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Measurements
 
Btu = one British thermal unit
BBtu = billion British thermal units
Bcf   = billion cubic feet
Dth =  dekatherm or million British thermal units
MMBtu = million British thermal units
Mcf = thousand cubic feet
MDth = thousand dekatherms
MMcf  = million cubic feet
TBtu = trillion British thermal units
Tcfe = one trillion cubic feet equivalent

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PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.  Financial Statements
 
EQT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Operations (Unaudited)(1) 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
2015 2014 2015 20142016 2015
(Thousands, except per unit amounts)(Thousands, except per unit amounts)
Operating revenues (2)
$148,789
 $120,922
 $448,213
 $338,157
$180,601
 $154,811
Operating expenses: 
  
  
  
 
  
Operating and maintenance (3)
18,456
 13,837
 50,167
 40,202
16,645
 14,479
Selling, general and administrative (3)
14,205
 12,674
 43,585
 38,094
16,292
 15,653
Depreciation and amortization13,217
 12,545
 37,402
 32,978
15,478
 11,927
Total operating expenses45,878
 39,056
 131,154
 111,274
48,415
 42,059
Operating income102,911
 81,866
 317,059
 226,883
132,186
 112,752
Equity income (4)
753
 
 1,147
 
Other income1,716
 806
 3,599
 1,634
Other income (4)
7,137
 714
Interest expense (5)
11,264
 8,660
 34,361
 20,944
10,258
 11,457
Income before income taxes94,116
 74,012
 287,444
 207,573
129,065
 102,009
Income tax expense
 6,311
 6,703
 25,906

 6,703
Net income$94,116
 $67,701
 $280,741
 $181,667
$129,065
 $95,306
          
Calculation of limited partner interest in net income: 
  
  
  
Calculation of limited partners' interest in net income: 
  
Net income$94,116
 $67,701
 $280,741
 $181,667
$129,065
 $95,306
Less pre-acquisition net income allocated to parent
 (11,168) (11,106) (43,701)
 (11,106)
Less general partner interest in net income(14,515) (4,540) (36,153) (9,055)
Limited partner interest in net income$79,601
 $51,993
 $233,482
 $128,911
Less general partner interest in net income – general partner units(2,355) (1,684)
Less general partner interest in net income – incentive distribution rights(18,832) (8,045)
Limited partners' interest in net income$107,878
 $74,471
          
Net income per limited partner unit – basic$1.12
 $0.86
 $3.44
 $2.38
$1.39
 $1.18
Net income per limited partner unit – diluted$1.12
 $0.85
 $3.44
 $2.37
$1.39
 $1.18
          
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding – basic70,929
 60,699
 67,800
 54,259
77,593
 63,211
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding – diluted71,086
 60,827
 67,960
 54,384
77,675
 63,379
          
Cash distributions declared per unit (6)
$0.675
 $0.55
 $1.925
 $1.56
$0.745
 $0.61
 

(1)
Financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and the three months ended September 30, 2014 have been retrospectively recast to reflectMarch 31, 2015 included the inclusion of the Northern West Virginia Marcellus gathering system (NWV Gathering). Financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 have been retrospectively recast to reflect the inclusionresults of NWV Gathering andfor the Jupiter natural gas gathering system (Jupiter).entire period presented as a result of the NWV Gathering Acquisition on March 17, 2015. See Note B.
(2)Operating revenues included affiliate revenues from EQT Corporation and subsidiaries (collectively, EQT) of $111.6$131.4 million and $86.7$106.6 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively, and $325.9 million and $233.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. See Note E.
(3)Operating and maintenance expense included charges from EQT of $9.0$8.0 million and $7.7$7.6 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively, and $25.6 million and $21.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expense included charges from EQT of $12.1$14.8 million and $10.8$12.8 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively, and $37.2 million and $31.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. See Note E.
(4)EquityFor the three months ended March 31, 2016, other income relates to EQM's interest in Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, which is a related party.included distributions received from EES of $2.8 million and equity income from the MVP Joint Venture of $1.6 million. See Note F.
(5)Interest expense included interest on a capital lease with an affiliate of $5.6$5.4 million and $4.7$5.9 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively, and $17.4 million and $15.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
(6)Represents the cash distributions declared related to the period presented. See Note J.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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EQT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows (Unaudited) (1) 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
2015 20142016 2015
(Thousands)(Thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities: 
  
 
  
Net income$280,741
 $181,667
$129,065
 $95,306
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: 
  
 
  
Depreciation and amortization37,402
 32,978
15,478
 11,927
Deferred income taxes2,998
 13,745

 2,998
Equity income(1,147) 
(1,589) 
Other income(3,599) (1,634)
AFUDC – equity(2,472) (714)
Non-cash long-term compensation expense1,133
 2,584
195
 566
Changes in other assets and liabilities: 
  
 
  
Accounts receivable3,306
 (4,241)(593) 32
Accounts payable1,577
 14,440
(835) (4,784)
Due to/from EQT affiliates(3,450) (31,748)(15,959) 12,623
Other assets and liabilities902
 3,938
Other assets and other liabilities(5,036) (3,295)
Net cash provided by operating activities319,863
 211,729
118,254
 114,659
Cash flows from investing activities: 
  
 
  
Capital expenditures(304,567) (230,449)(104,777) (91,415)
MVP Interest Acquisition and capital contributions(76,037) 
MVP Interest Acquisition and capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture(11,430) (54,229)
Sales of interests in the MVP Joint Venture12,533
 
Acquisitions – net assets from EQT(386,791) (168,198)
 (386,791)
Purchase of preferred interest in EQT Energy Supply, LLC(124,317) 
Net cash used in investing activities(891,712) (398,647)(103,674) (532,435)
Cash flows from financing activities: 
  
 
  
Proceeds from the issuance of common units, net of offering costs760,731
 902,467
Proceeds from the issuance of EQM common units, net of offering costs
 698,600
Acquisitions – purchase price in excess of net assets from EQT(486,392) (952,802)
 (486,392)
Proceeds from short-term loans561,500
 450,000
Payments of short-term loans(211,500) (450,000)
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt
 500,000
Discount, debt issuance costs and credit facility fees
 (9,634)
Sunrise Merger payment
 (110,000)
Proceeds from credit facility borrowings71,000
 390,000
Payments of credit facility borrowings(361,000) (91,000)
Distributions paid to unitholders(149,866) (82,089)(72,575) (41,180)
Capital contributions1,781
 382

 33
Net (distributions to) contributions from EQT(23,866) 77,672
Net distributions to EQT
 (23,866)
Capital lease principal payments(5,472) (2,216)(2,451) (4,477)
Net cash provided by financing activities446,916
 323,780
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities(365,026) 441,718
      
Net change in cash and cash equivalents(124,933) 136,862
(350,446) 23,942
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period126,175
 18,363
350,814
 126,175
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$1,242
 $155,225
$368
 $150,117
      
Cash paid during the period for: 
  
 
  
Interest paid$43,026
 $17,581
Interest, net of amount capitalized$16,374
 $17,316
   
Non-cash activity during the period for:
 
  
 
  
Increase in capital lease asset/obligation$19,800
 $7,231
$16,498
 $3,087
Elimination of net deferred tax liabilities80,741
 39,785
Increase in MVP Joint Venture investment/payable for capital contributions (see Note F)13,864
 
Elimination of net current and deferred tax liabilities
 84,446
Limited partner and general partner units issued for acquisitions52,500
 59,000
$
 $52,500
Settlement of current income taxes payable/(receivable) with EQT3,705
 (6,294)

(1)Financial statements for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2015 have been retrospectively recast to reflectincluded the inclusion of NWV Gathering. Financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 have been retrospectively recast to reflect the inclusionresults of NWV Gathering and Jupiter.for the entire period presented as a result of the NWV Gathering Acquisition on March 17, 2015. See Note B.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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EQT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (1)
 
September 30,
2015
 December 31, 2014March 31,
2016
 December 31, 2015
ASSETS
(Thousands, except number of
units)
(Thousands, except number of units)
Current assets: 
  
 
  
Cash and cash equivalents$1,242
 $126,175
$368
 $350,814
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $196 as of September 30, 2015 and $260 as of December 31, 2014)13,186
 16,492
Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $255 as of March 31, 2016 and $238 as of December 31, 2015)17,724
 17,131
Accounts receivable – affiliate68,177
 55,068
81,000
 77,925
Other current assets4,271
 1,710
2,963
 1,680
Total current assets86,876
 199,445
102,055
 447,550
      
Property, plant and equipment2,110,367
 1,821,803
2,362,196
 2,228,967
Less: accumulated depreciation(246,542) (216,486)(274,133) (258,974)
Net property, plant and equipment1,863,825
 1,605,317
2,088,063
 1,969,993
      
Equity in nonconsolidated investments77,184
 
Investments in unconsolidated entities215,995
 201,342
Other assets140,204
 18,057
14,452
 14,950
Total assets$2,168,089
 $1,822,819
$2,420,565
 $2,633,835
      
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ CAPITAL 
  
 
  
Current liabilities: 
  
 
  
Accounts payable$33,952
 $43,785
$46,094
 $35,868
Due to related party17,387
 33,342
20,367
 33,413
Short-term loans350,000
 
Credit facility borrowings9,000
 299,000
Capital contribution payable to MVP Joint Venture13,864
 
Accrued interest3,514
 8,338
3,339
 8,753
Accrued liabilities6,494
 9,055
16,253
 12,194
Total current liabilities411,347
 94,520
108,917
 389,228
      
Deferred income taxes
 78,583
Long-term debt493,209
 492,633
493,594
 493,401
Lease obligation162,523
 143,828
184,765
 175,660
Other long-term liabilities7,242
 7,111
8,730
 7,834
Total liabilities1,074,321
 816,675
796,006
 1,066,123
      
Partners’ capital: 
  
 
  
Predecessor equity
 315,105
Common units (71,535,681 and 43,347,452 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively)1,129,144
 1,647,910
Subordinated units (17,339,718 units issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014)
 (929,374)
General partner interest (1,443,015 and 1,238,514 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively)(35,376) (27,497)
Common units (77,632,449 and 77,520,181 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)1,651,868
 1,598,675
General partner interest (1,443,015 units issued and outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015)(27,309) (30,963)
Total partners’ capital1,093,768
 1,006,144
1,624,559
 1,567,712
Total liabilities and partners’ capital$2,168,089
 $1,822,819
$2,420,565
 $2,633,835
 
(1)Financial statements as of December 31, 2014 have been retrospectively recast to reflect the inclusion of NWV Gathering. See Note B.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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EQT MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Partners’ Capital (Unaudited) (1) 
 
  Partners’ Capital    Partners’ Capital  
Predecessor Limited Partners General  Predecessor Limited Partners General  
Equity Common Subordinated Partner TotalEquity Common Subordinated Partner Total
(Thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2014$310,861
 $818,431
 $(175,996) $1,753
 $955,049
Net income43,701
 88,903
 40,008
 9,055
 181,667
Capital contributions
 338
 152
 10
 500
Equity-based compensation plans
 2,828
 
 
 2,828
Distributions to unitholders
 (51,487) (25,489) (5,113) (82,089)
Net contributions from EQT59,350
 
 
 
 59,350
Proceeds from issuance of common units, net of offering costs
 902,467
 
 
 902,467
Elimination of net current and deferred income tax liabilities51,813
 
 
 
 51,813
Jupiter net assets from EQT(168,198) 
 
 
 (168,198)
Issuance of units
 39,091
 
 19,909
 59,000
Purchase price in excess of net assets from EQT
 (177,773) (778,429) (55,600) (1,011,802)
Balance at September 30, 2014$297,527
 $1,622,798
 $(939,754) $(29,986) $950,585
         (Thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2015$315,105
 $1,647,910
 $(929,374) $(27,497) $1,006,144
$315,105
 $1,647,910
 $(929,374) $(27,497) $1,006,144
Net income11,106
 233,482
 
 36,153
 280,741
11,106
 74,471
 
 9,729
 95,306
Capital contributions
 7,260
 
 148
 7,408

 209
 
 4
 213
Equity-based compensation plans
 1,180
 
 33
 1,213

 571
 
 33
 604
Distributions to unitholders
 (113,527) (10,057) (26,282) (149,866)
 (25,142) (10,057) (5,981) (41,180)
Conversion of subordinated units to common units (2)

 (939,431) 939,431
 
 

 (939,431) 939,431
 
 
Net distributions to EQT(23,866) 
 
 
 (23,866)(23,866) 
 
 
 (23,866)
Proceeds from issuance of common units, net of offering costs
 758,812
 
 1,919
 760,731

 696,681
 
 1,919
 698,600
Elimination of net current and deferred tax liabilities84,446
 
 
 
 84,446
84,446
 
 
 
 84,446
NWV Gathering net assets from EQT(386,791) 
 
 
 (386,791)(386,791) 
 
 
 (386,791)
Issuance of units
 38,910
 
 13,590
 52,500

 38,910
 
 13,590
 52,500
Purchase price in excess of net assets from EQT
 (505,452) 
 (33,440) (538,892)
 (505,452) 
 (33,440) (538,892)
Balance at September 30, 2015$
 $1,129,144
 $
 $(35,376) $1,093,768
Balance at March 31, 2015$
 $988,727
 $
 $(41,643) $947,084
         
Balance at January 1, 2016$
 $1,598,675
 $
 $(30,963) $1,567,712
Net income
 107,878
 
 21,187
 129,065
Capital contributions
 159
 
 3
 162
Equity-based compensation plans
 195
 
 
 195
Distributions to unitholders
 (55,039) 
 (17,536) (72,575)
Balance at March 31, 2016$
 $1,651,868
 $
 $(27,309) $1,624,559
 
(1)Financial statements for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2015 have been retrospectively recast to reflectincluded the inclusion of NWV Gathering. Financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 have been retrospectively recast to reflect the inclusionresults of NWV Gathering and Jupiter.for the entire period presented as a result of the NWV Gathering Acquisition on March 17, 2015. See Note B.

(2)All subordinated units were converted to common units on a one-for-one basis on February 17, 2015. For purposes of calculating net income per common and subordinated unit, the conversion of the subordinated units is deemed to have occurred on January 1, 2015. See Note I.

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


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EQT Midstream Partners, LP and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

A.Financial Statements
A.Financial Statements

Organization
 
EQT Midstream Partners, LP (EQM)EQM is a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership. EQT Midstream Services, LLC (EQM General Partner), a direct wholly owned subsidiary of EQT GP Holdings, LP (EQGP), is EQM’sthe general partner. EQT Corporation (EQT) formed EQGP to own EQT's partnership interests inpartner of EQM. References in these consolidated financial statements to EQT refer collectively to EQT Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the requirements of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of EQM as of September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014,2015, and the results of its operations, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 and its cash flows and partners' capital for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and 2014.2015. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
The balance sheet at December 31, 20142015 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.
 
NWV Gathering and Jupiter were businesseswas a business and the NWV Gathering and Jupiter Acquisitions (defined in Note B) were transactionsAcquisition was a transaction between entities under common control; therefore, EQM recorded the assets and liabilities of NWV Gathering and Jupiter at their carrying amounts to EQT on the date of the respective transactions.transaction. The difference between EQT’s net carrying amount and the total consideration paid to EQT was recorded as a capital transaction with EQT, which resulted in a reduction in partners’ capital. EQM recast its consolidated financial statements to retrospectively reflect the NWV Gathering Acquisition and Jupiter Acquisition as if the entities werebusiness was owned for all periods presented; however, the consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred if EQM had owned themit during the periods reported.
 
Due to the seasonal nature of EQM’s utility customer contracts, the interim statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015.2016.
 
For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in EQM’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 included in EQM’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed on April 1, 2015 as well as “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained therein.
 
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
 
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard requires an entity to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. ASU No. 2014-09 will supersede most of the existing revenue recognition requirements in GAAP when it becomes effective and is required to be adopted using one of two retrospective application methods. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers - Deferral of the Effective Date which approved a one year deferral of ASU 2014-09 for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is permitted as of the original effective date for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. EQM is currently evaluating the method of adoption and impact this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-02, Consolidation. The standard changes the analysis that a reporting entity
must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. EQM adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2016 which had no significant impact on reported results or disclosures.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The changes primarily affect the accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. This standard will eliminate the cost method of accounting for equity investments. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, including interim periods therein. EQM has evaluated this standard and determined the adoption of it will have no significant impact on reported results or disclosures.

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In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-05, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement. The ASU adds guidance that will help entities evaluate the accounting for fees paid by a customer in a cloud computing arrangement. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. 2017, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period, with early adoption of certain provisions permitted. EQM is currently evaluating the impact this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.

In August 2015,February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-15,2016-02, Interest - Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit ArrangementsLeases. ThisThe ASU clarifiedrequires, among other things, that lessees recognize theSEC staff would not object following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to an entity deferringmake lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and presenting debt issuance costs as(2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Lessees and subsequently amortizinglessors must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the termbeginning of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings onearliest comparative period presented in the line-of-credit arrangement.financial statements. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. EQM has adoptedis currently evaluating the impact this standard which had no significant impactwill have on reported results orits financial statements and related disclosures.

B.Acquisitions
B.
Acquisitions
 
NWV Gathering Acquisition

On March 10, 2015, EQM entered into a contribution and sale agreement (Contribution Agreement) pursuant to which, on March 17, 2015, EQT contributed NWV Gathering to EQM Gathering Opco, LLC (EQM Gathering), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of EQM (the NWV Gathering Acquisition).Gathering. EQM paid total consideration of approximately $925.7 million to EQT, consisting of approximately $873.2 million in cash, 511,973 EQM common units and 178,816 EQM general partner units. The cash portion of the purchase price was funded with the net proceeds from an equity offering of EQM common units and borrowings under EQM's credit facility.

On April 15, 2015, pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, EQM acquired a preferred interest in EQT Energy Supply, LLC (the Preferred Interest), a subsidiary of EQT that generates revenue from services provided to a local distribution company, from EQT for approximately $124.3 million. EQM accounts for the Preferred Interest as a cost method investment and included it in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. EQT Energy Supply, LLC has been determined to be a variable interest entity because it has insufficient equity to finance its activities. EQM is not the primary beneficiary because it does not have the power to direct the activities of EQT Energy Supply, LLC that most significantly impact its economic performance.

MVP Interest Acquisition

On March 30, 2015, EQM assumed from EQT 100% of the membership interests in MVP Holdco, LLC (MVP Holdco), an indirect wholly owned subsidiarythe owner of EQT that owns a majority ownership interest (thethe MVP Interest)Interest in Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVPthe MVP Joint Venture)Venture, for approximately $54.2 million (MVP Interest Acquisition), whichmillion. The cash payment represented EQM's reimbursement to EQT for 100% of the capital contributions made by EQT to the MVP Joint Venture as of March 30, 2015. The MVP Joint Venture plans to construct the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), an estimated 300-mile natural gas interstate pipeline spanning from northern West Virginia to southern Virginia.  The MVP project is subject to FERC approval.  The voluntary pre-filing process with the FERC began in October 2014 and the pipeline is expected to be placed in-service during the fourth quarter of 2018. The MVP Joint Venture has been determined to be a variable interest entity because the MVP Joint Venture has insufficient equity to finance activities during the construction stage of the MVP. EQM is not the primary beneficiary because it does not have the power to direct the activities of the MVP Joint Venture that most significantly impact its economic performance. EQM accounted for the MVP Interest beginning on the date it was assumed from EQT as an equity method investment.See Note F.

JupiterPreferred Interest Acquisition

On April 30, 2014, EQM entered into a contribution agreement15, 2015, pursuant to which, on May 7, 2014,the NWV Gathering Acquisition contribution and sale agreement, EQM acquired the Preferred Interest in EES from EQT contributedfor approximately $124.3 million. EES generates revenue from services provided to EQM Gathering certain assets constituting the Jupiter natural gas gathering system (Jupiter Acquisition). The aggregate consideration paid by EQM to EQT in connection with the Jupiter Acquisition was approximately $1,180 million, consisting of a $1,121 million cash payment and issuance of 516,050 EQM common units and 262,828 EQM general partner units. The cash portion of the purchase price was funded with the net proceeds from an equity offering of EQM common units and borrowings under EQM’s credit facility.

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Table of Contentslocal distribution company. See Note F.



C.Partners' Capital
C.Partners' Capital and Net Income per Limited Partner Unit

The following table summarizes EQM's common, subordinated and general partner units issued from January 1, 20142015 through September 30, 2015.March 31, 2016.
 Limited Partner Units General  
 Common Subordinated Partner Units Total
Balance at January 1, 201430,468,902
 17,339,718
 975,686
 48,784,306
May 2014 equity offering12,362,500
 
 
 12,362,500
Jupiter Acquisition consideration (see Note B)516,050
 
 262,828
 778,878
Balance at December 31, 201443,347,452
 17,339,718
 1,238,514
 61,925,684
Conversion of subordinated units to common units17,339,718
 (17,339,718) 
 
2014 EQM VDA issuance21,063
 
 430
 21,493
March 2015 equity offering9,487,500
 
 25,255
 9,512,755
NWV Gathering Acquisition consideration (see Note B)511,973
 
 178,816
 690,789
$750 million "At the Market" (ATM) Program827,975
 
 
 827,975
Balance at September 30, 201571,535,681
 
 1,443,015
 72,978,696
 Limited Partner Units General  
 Common Subordinated Partner Units Total
Balance at January 1, 201543,347,452
 17,339,718
 1,238,514
 61,925,684
Conversion of subordinated units to common units17,339,718
 (17,339,718) 
 
2014 EQM VDA issuance21,063
 
 430
 21,493
March 2015 equity offering9,487,500
 
 25,255
 9,512,755
NWV Gathering Acquisition consideration511,973
 
 178,816
 690,789
$750 million "At the Market" (ATM) Program1,162,475
 
 
 1,162,475
November 2015 equity offering5,650,000
 
 
 5,650,000
Balance at December 31, 201577,520,181
 
 1,443,015
 78,963,196
2014 EQM VDA issuance19,796
 
 
 19,796
EQM Total Return Program issuance92,472
 
 
 92,472
Balance at March 31, 201677,632,449
 
 1,443,015
 79,075,464
 
See Note I for discussion of the conversion of the subordinated units in February 2015. In February 2015,2016, EQM issued 21,06319,796 common units under the 2014 EQM Value Driver Award (2014 EQM VDA). In connection with this issuance, and 92,472 common units under the EQM General Partner purchased 430 EQM general partner units to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest.Total Return Program, which were compensation programs for EQT employees performing work for EQM. The awards were granted in January 2014 and July 2012, respectively.

On March 17, 2015, EQM completed an underwritten public offering
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During the third quarter of 2015, EQM entered into an equity distribution agreement that established an ATM common unit offering program, pursuant to which a group of managers, acting as EQM's sales agents, may sell EQM common units having an aggregate offering price of up to $750 million (the $750 million ATM Program). During the three months ended September 30, 2015, EQM issued 827,975 common units at an average price per unit of $76.58. EQM received net proceeds of approximately $62.2 million after deducting commissions of approximately $0.7 million and other offering expenses of approximately $0.5 million. EQM used the net proceeds from the sales for general partnership purposes. The EQM General Partner elected not to maintain its general partner ownership percentage at the previous level of 2.0%. From October 1, 2015 to October 22, 2015, EQM issued 334,500 common units at an average price per unit of $70.82 and received net proceeds of approximately $23.5 million.

As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, EQGP and its subsidiaries owned 21,811,643 EQM common units, representing a 29.89%27.6% limited partner interest, 1,443,015 EQM general partner units, representing a 1.98%1.8% general partner interest, and all of the incentive distribution rights in EQM. As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, EQT owned a100% of the non-economic general partner interest and a 90.1% limited partner interest in EQGP.

D.Financial Information by Business SegmentNet Income per Limited Partner Unit

Operating segments are revenue-producing componentsNet income attributable to NWV Gathering for periods prior to March 17, 2015 was not allocated to the limited partners for purposes of the enterprise for which separate financial information is produced internally and is subject to evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources. EQM reports its operations in two segments, which reflect its lines of business. Transmission and storage includes EQM’s FERC-regulated interstate pipeline and storage business. Gathering includes EQM's high-pressure gathering lines and FERC-regulated low pressure gathering system.calculating net income per limited partner unit. The operating segments are evaluated on their contribution to EQM’s operating income. All of EQM’s operating revenues, income from operations and assets are generated or locatedweighted average phantom unit awards included in the United States.

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 Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 2015 2014 2015 2014
 (Thousands)
Revenues from external customers (including affiliates): 
  
  
  
Transmission and storage$69,906
 $62,436
 $217,407
 $180,878
Gathering78,883
 58,486
 230,806
 157,279
Total$148,789
 $120,922
 $448,213
 $338,157
        
Operating income: 
  
  
  
Transmission and storage$45,048
 $42,515
 $148,255
 $126,534
Gathering57,863
 39,351
 168,804
 100,349
Total operating income$102,911
 $81,866
 $317,059
 $226,883
        
Reconciliation of operating income to net income:   
  
  
Equity income753
 
 1,147
 
Other income1,716
 806
 3,599
 1,634
Interest expense11,264
 8,660
 34,361
 20,944
Income tax expense
 6,311
 6,703
 25,906
Net income$94,116
 $67,701
 $280,741
 $181,667
 September 30, 2015 December 31, 2014
 (Thousands)
Segment assets: 
  
Transmission and storage$1,042,615
 $928,864
Gathering914,875
 765,090
Total operating segments1,957,490
 1,693,954
Headquarters, including cash210,599
 128,865
Total assets$2,168,089
 $1,822,819

 Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 2015 2014 2015 2014
 (Thousands)
Depreciation and amortization: 
  
  
  
Transmission and storage$7,776
 $7,195
 $21,561
 $19,676
Gathering5,441
 5,350
 15,841
 13,302
Total$13,217
 $12,545
 $37,402
 $32,978
        
Expenditures for segment assets:       
Transmission and storage$36,788
 $39,826
 $116,270
 $78,907
Gathering55,387
 64,321
 160,685
 155,176
Total (1)
$92,175
 $104,147
 $276,955
 $234,083
 (1)  EQM accrues capital expenditures when work has been completed but the associated bills have not yet been paid.  These accrued amounts are excluded from capital expenditures on the statements of consolidated cash flows until they are paid in a subsequent period. Accrued capital expenditures were $23.5 millionbasic weighted average limited partner units outstanding was 16,480 and $19.6 million at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Additionally, EQM capitalizes certain labor overhead costs which include a portion of non-cash equity-based compensation. These non-cash capital expenditures in the table above were less than $0.1 million and approximately $0.1 million13,470 for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Potentially dilutive securities included in the calculation of diluted weighted average limited partner units outstanding totaled 82,190 and 2014, respectively, and less than $0.1 million and approximately $0.2 million168,169 for the ninethree months ended September 30,March 31, 2016 and 2015, and 2014, respectively.

D.Financial Information by Business Segment
 Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 2016 2015
 (Thousands)
Revenues from external customers (including affiliates): 
  
Gathering$93,316
 $75,450
Transmission and storage87,285
 79,361
Total$180,601
 $154,811
    
Operating income: 
  
Gathering$70,055
 $55,462
Transmission and storage62,131
 57,290
Total operating income$132,186
 $112,752
    
Reconciliation of operating income to net income:   
Other income7,137
 714
Interest expense10,258
 11,457
Income tax expense
 6,703
Net income$129,065
 $95,306

 March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015
 (Thousands)
Segment assets: 
  
Gathering$1,028,169
 $963,877
Transmission and storage1,168,248
 1,110,027
Total operating segments2,196,417
 2,073,904
Headquarters, including cash224,148
 559,931
Total assets$2,420,565
 $2,633,835


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E.Related-Party Transactions
 Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
 2016 2015
 (Thousands)
Depreciation and amortization: 
  
Gathering$6,769
 $5,159
Transmission and storage8,709
 6,768
Total$15,478
 $11,927
    
Expenditures for segment assets:   
Gathering$69,431
 $36,269
Transmission and storage46,407
 21,462
Total (1)
$115,838
 $57,731
 
 (1)EQM accrues capital expenditures when work has been completed but the associated bills have not yet been paid.  These accrued amounts are excluded from capital expenditures on the statements of consolidated cash flows until they are paid in a subsequent period. Accrued capital expenditures were approximately $29.4 million and $17.4 million at March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

E.Related Party Transactions
In the ordinary course of business, EQM has transactions with EQT and its affiliates including, but not limited to, transportation service and precedent agreements, storage agreements and gas gathering agreements.
Pursuant to an omnibus agreement, EQT performs centralized corporate, general and administrative services for EQM, such as legal, corporate recordkeeping, planning, budgeting, regulatory, accounting, billing, business development, treasury, insurance administration and claims processing, risk management, health, safety and environmental, information technology, human resources, investor relations, cash management and banking, payroll, internal audit, taxes and engineering.EQM. In exchange, EQM reimburses EQT for the expenses incurred in providing these services. The omnibus agreement further requires that EQM reimburse EQT for EQM’s allocable portion of the premiums on any insurance policies covering EQM’s assets. Effective January 1, 2015, EQM amended the omnibus agreement to provide for reimbursement by EQM ofservices, including direct and indirect costs and expenses attributable to EQT's long-term incentive programs as these plans will be utilized to compensate and retain EQT employees who provide services to EQM.
programs.Pursuant to an operation and management services agreement, EQT Gathering, LLC (EQT Gathering), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of EQT, provides EQM’s pipelines and storage facilities with certain operational and management services.  EQM reimburses EQT Gathering for such services pursuant to the terms of the omnibus agreement.  The expenses for which EQM reimburses EQT and its subsidiaries may not necessarily reflect the actual expenses that EQM would incur on a stand-alone basis and EQM is unable to estimate what those expenses would be on a stand-alone basis.

See also Note B, Note C and Note F for further discussion of related party transactions.
F.Investments in Unconsolidated Entities

MVP Joint Venture

The MVP Joint Venture plans to construct the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), an estimated 300-mile natural gas interstate pipeline spanning from northern West Virginia to southern Virginia. EQM is the operator of the MVP and owned a discussion45.5% interest in the MVP Joint Venture as of March 31, 2016. The MVP Joint Venture has been determined to be a variable interest entity because the MVP Joint Venture has insufficient equity to finance activities during the construction stage of the project. EQM is not the primary beneficiary because it does not have the power to direct the activities of the MVP Joint Venture that most significantly impact its economic performance. Certain business decisions, including, but not limited to, decisions about operating and construction budgets, project construction schedule, material contracts or precedent agreements, indebtedness, significant acquisitions or dispositions, material regulatory filings and strategic decisions require the approval of owners holding more than a 66 2/3% interest in the joint venture and no one member owns more than a 66 2/3% interest. EQM accounted for the MVP Interest as an equity method investment as EQM has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the MVP Joint Venture.

The value of the equity method investment recorded on the consolidated balance sheets was approximately $91.7 million and $77.0 million as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. On February 15, 2016, the MVP Joint Venture issued a capital call notice to MVP Holdco for a total amount of $13.9 million, of which $9.4 million was paid on April 15, 2016 and the remaining $4.5 million is expected to be paid on May 16, 2016. The capital contribution payable has been reflected on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2016 with a corresponding increase to EQM's investment in the MVP Joint Venture.




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For the three months ended March 31, 2016, equity income of $1.6 million was reported in other income in the statements of consolidated operations related to EQM's portion of the MVP Joint Venture's AFUDC on construction of the MVP.

On January 21, 2016, an affiliate of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ConEd) acquired a 12.5% interest in the MVP Joint Venture, 8.5% of which was purchased from EQM. EQM received a cash payment of approximately $12.5 million which represented EQM's proportional capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture through the date of the transaction. ConEd has the right to terminate its purchase of the interest in the MVP Joint Venture and be reimbursed for the purchase price and all capital contributions it makes to the MVP Joint Venture for a period ending no later than December 31, 2016.

As of March 31, 2016, EQM had issued a $91 million performance guarantee in favor of the MVP Joint Venture to provide performance assurances for MVP Holdco's obligations to fund its proportionate share of the construction budget for the MVP. Upon the FERC’s initial release to begin construction of the MVP, EQM's guarantee will terminate and EQM will be obligated to issue a new guarantee in an amount equal to 33% of MVP Holdco’s remaining obligations to make capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture in connection with the then remaining construction budget, less, subject to certain limits, any credit assurances issued by any affiliate of EQM under such affiliate's precedent agreement with the MVP Joint Venture.

As of March 31, 2016, EQM's maximum financial statement exposure related to the MVP Joint Venture was approximately $183 million, which included the investment balance on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2016 and amounts which could have become due under the performance guarantee as of that date.

Preferred Interest

EES was determined to be a variable interest entity because it has insufficient equity to finance its activities. EQM is not the primary beneficiary because it does not have the power to direct the activities of EES that most significantly impact its economic performance. The Preferred Interest was determined to be a cost method investment as EQM does not have the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of EES.

EQM received cash distributions from EES of approximately $3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2016 which were included in EQT Energy Supply, LLC.other income in the accompanying statements of consolidated operations. EQM expects to receive cash distributions of approximately $11 million during the year ended December 31, 2016. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the estimated fair value of EQM's Preferred Interest was approximately $145 million and $140 million, respectively, and the carrying value of EQM's Preferred Interest was approximately $124 million at both dates. The fair value of EQM's Preferred Interest is a Level 3 fair value measurement. As of March 31, 2016, the carrying value represents EQM's maximum exposure to loss.

G.Credit Facility Borrowings
 
EQM has a $750 million credit facility that expires in February 2019. The credit facility is available to fund working capital requirements and capital expenditures, to purchase assets, to pay distributions, to repurchase units and for general partnership purposes.

F.EQM had $9 million and $299 million outstanding on its credit facility as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The maximum amount of EQM’s outstanding credit facility borrowings at any time during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 was $299 million and $390 million, respectively. The average daily balance of credit facility borrowings outstanding was approximately $134 million and $60 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Interest was incurred on the credit facility borrowings at a weighted average annual interest rate of approximately 1.9% and 1.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 Income Taxesand 2015, respectively.

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H.Fair Value Measurements

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, amounts due to/from related parties and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short maturity of the instruments; these are considered Level 1 fair values. The carrying value of credit facility borrowings approximates fair value as the interest rates are based on prevailing market rates; this is considered a Level 1 fair value. As of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the estimated fair value of EQM's long-term debt was approximately $433 million and $414 million, respectively, and the carrying value of EQM's long-term debt was approximately $494 million and $493 million, respectively. The fair value of EQM's long-term debt is a Level 2 fair value measurement. See Note F for the fair value of the Preferred Interest.

I.Income Taxes
 
As a result of its limited partnership structure, EQM is not subject to federal and state income taxes. For federal and state income tax purposes, all income, expenses, gains, losses and tax credits generated by EQM flow through to the unitholders; accordingly, EQM does not record a provision for income taxes.

As discussed in Note B, EQM completed the NWV Gathering Acquisition on March 17, 2015, and the Jupiter Acquisition on May 7, 2014, each of which was a transaction between entities under common control. Prior to these transactions,this transaction, the income from NWV Gathering and Jupiter was included in EQT’s consolidated federal tax return; therefore, the NWV Gathering and Jupiter financial statements included U.S. federal and stateoperations were subject to income tax.  Thetaxes. Accordingly, the income tax effects associated with the operations of NWV Gathering and Jupiter prior to the NWV Gathering and Jupiter Acquisitions areAcquisition were reflected in EQM’s consolidated financial statements for those periods.statements. In conjunction with the NWV Gathering Acquisition, approximately $84.4 million of net current and deferred income tax liabilities were eliminated through equity.
 
G.Short-term Loans
EQM has a $750 million credit facility that expires in February 2019. The credit facility is available to fund working capital requirements and capital expenditures, to purchase assets, to pay distributions, to repurchase units and for general partnership purposes.

As of September 30, 2015, EQM had $350 million outstanding on the credit facility. There were no amounts outstanding as of December 31, 2014. The maximum amount of EQM’s outstanding short-term loans at any time during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $404 million and $330 million, respectively, and during the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 was $404 million and $450 million, respectively. The average daily balance of short-term loans outstanding was approximately $357 million and $133 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and was approximately $241 million and $159 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Interest was incurred on the loans at a weighted average annual interest rate of approximately 1.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015and 2014.

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H.Fair Value Measurements
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, amounts due to/from related parties and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short maturity of the instruments. The carrying value of short-term loans under EQM's credit facility approximates fair value as the interest rates are based on prevailing market rates. As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the estimated fair value of EQM's long-term debt was approximately $441 million and $496 million, respectively, and the carrying value of EQM's long-term debt was approximately $493 million at both dates.

I.Net Income per Limited Partner Unit
The table below presents EQM’s calculation of net income per limited partner unit for common and subordinated limited partner units. Net income attributable to NWV Gathering for periods prior to March 17, 2015 and to Jupiter for periods prior to May 7, 2014 were not allocated to the limited partners for purposes of calculating net income per limited partner unit.

The phantom units granted to the independent directors of the EQM General Partner will be paid in common units on a director’s termination of service on the EQM General Partner's Board of Directors. As there are no remaining service, performance or market conditions related to these awards, the weighted average phantom unit awards included in the calculation of basic weighted average limited partner units outstanding was 14,233 and 11,654 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 13,906 and 11,323 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Potentially dilutive securities included in the calculation of diluted weighted average limited partner units outstanding totaled 157,386 and 128,588 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 160,043 and 125,124 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Conversion of subordinated units. From its inception through December 31, 2014, EQM paid equal distributions on common, subordinated and general partner units, excluding payments on the incentive distribution rights. Upon payment of the cash distribution for the fourth quarter of 2014, the financial requirements for the conversion of all subordinated units were satisfied. As a result, on February 17, 2015, the 17,339,718 subordinated units converted into common units on a one-for-one basis. For purposes of calculating net income per common and subordinated unit, the conversion of the subordinated units is deemed to have occurred on January 1, 2015. The conversion did not impact the amount of the cash distribution paid or the total number of EQM’s outstanding units representing limited partner interests.


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 Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 2015 2014 2015 2014
 (Thousands, except per unit data)
Net income$94,116
 $67,701
 $280,741
 $181,667
Less:       
Pre-acquisition net income allocated to parent
 (11,168) (11,106) (43,701)
General partner interest in net income – general partner units(1,860) (1,130) (5,370) (2,759)
General partner interest in net income – incentive distribution rights(12,655) (3,410) (30,783) (6,296)
Limited partner interest in net income$79,601
 $51,993
 $233,482
 $128,911
        
Net income allocable to common units - basic$79,601
 $37,138
 $233,482
 $88,903
Net income allocable to subordinated units - basic
 14,855
 
 40,008
Limited partner interest in net income - basic$79,601
 $51,993
 $233,482
 $128,911
        
Net income allocable to common units – diluted$79,601
 $37,150
 $233,482
 $88,932
Net income allocable to subordinated units – diluted
 14,843
 
 39,979
Limited partner interest in net income – diluted$79,601
 $51,993
 $233,482
 $128,911
        
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding – basic       
Common units70,929
 43,359
 67,800
 36,919
Subordinated units
 17,340
 
 17,340
Total70,929
 60,699
 67,800
 54,259
        
Weighted average limited partner units outstanding – diluted       
Common units71,086
 43,487
 67,960
 37,044
Subordinated units
 17,340
 
 17,340
Total71,086
 60,827
 67,960
 54,384
        
Net income per limited partner unit – basic       
Common units$1.12
 $0.86
 $3.44
 $2.41
Subordinated units
 0.86
 
 2.31
Total$1.12
 $0.86
 $3.44
 $2.38
        
Net income per limited partner unit – diluted       
Common units$1.12
 $0.85
 $3.44
 $2.40
Subordinated units
 0.86
 
 2.31
Total$1.12
 $0.85
 $3.44
 $2.37
J.Distributions
J.Distributions
 
On October 20, 2015,April 26, 2016, the Board of Directors of the EQM General Partner declared a cash distribution to EQM’s unitholders for the thirdfirst quarter of 20152016 of $0.675$0.745 per common unit. The cash distribution will be paid on NovemberMay 13, 20152016 to unitholders of record, including EQGP, at the close of business on November 2, 2015.May 6, 2016. Based on the 71,870,18177,632,449 EQM common units outstanding on October 22, 2015, the correspondingApril 27, 2016, cash distributions to EQGP in respect ofrelated to its general partner interest and incentive distribution rights in EQM wouldwill be $1.2$1.4 million and $12.7$18.8 million, respectively. These distribution amounts to EQGP are subject to change if EQM issues additional common units on or prior to the record date for the thirdfirst quarter 20152016 distribution.

14




EQT Midstream Partners, LP and Subsidiaries
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
EQT Midstream Partners, LP (EQM) is a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership. EQM’sEQM's consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively recast for all periods presented to include the historical results of NWV Gathering, which was acquired on March 17, 2015, and Jupiter, whichas NWV Gathering was acquired on May 7, 2014, as these were businessesa business and the transactions weretransaction was between entities under common control. You should read the following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this report. References in the following discussion and analysis to ‘‘EQT’’ refer collectively to EQT Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.
 
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
 
Disclosures in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking and usually identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “may,” “forecast,” “approximate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial matters.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include the matters discussed in the section captioned “Outlook” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives, and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance of EQM and its subsidiaries, including guidance regarding EQM’s gathering and transmission and storage and gathering revenue and volume growth; revenue projections; infrastructure programs (including the timing, cost, capacity and sources of funding with respect to transmissiongathering and gatheringtransmission expansion projects); the timing, cost, capacity and expected interconnections with facilities and pipelines of the Ohio Valley Connector (OVC) and Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP)MVP projects; the ultimate terms, partners and structure of the MVP Joint Venture; natural gas production growth in EQM’s operating areas for EQT and third parties; asset acquisitions, including EQM’s ability to complete asset acquisitions from EQT or third parties; the amount and timing of distributions, including expected increases; the effect of the Allegheny Valley Connector (AVC) facilities lease on distributableexpected cash flow; future projected AVC lease payments;distributions from EES; projected operating and capital expenditures, including the amount of capital expenditures reimbursable by EQT; the impact of commodity prices on EQM's business; liquidity and financing requirements, including sources and availability; the effects of government regulation and litigation; and tax position. The forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results.  Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.  EQM has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events.  While EQM considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond EQM’s control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of EQM’s business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in EQM’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.2015.
 
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and EQM does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
In reviewing any agreements incorporated by reference in or filed with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, please remember that such agreements are included to provide information regarding the terms of such agreements and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about EQM. The agreements may contain representations and warranties by EQM, which should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties to such agreements should those statements prove to be inaccurate. The representations and warranties were made only as of the date of the relevant agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in such agreement and are subject to more recent developments.  Accordingly, these representations and warranties alone may not describe the actual state of affairs of EQM or its affiliates as of the date they were made or at any other time.

15





EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, EQM reported net income of $94.1$129.1 million compared to $67.7$95.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014.March 31, 2015. The increase resulted from higher gathering revenues of $20.4$17.9 million and increased transmission and storage revenues of $7.5$7.9 million, both of which related towere driven by affiliate production development in the Marcellus Shale, as well asShale. The increase in net income was also driven by lower income tax expense.expense and increased other income. These items were partly offset by a $6.8$6.4 million increase in operating expenses and higher interest expense.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, EQM reported net income of $280.7 million compared to $181.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014. The increase resulted from higher gathering revenues of $73.5 million and increased transmission and storage revenues of $36.5 million, both of which related to production development in the Marcellus Shale, as well as lower income tax expense.  These items were partly offset by a $19.9 million increase in operating expenses and higher interest expense of $13.4 million.

During the third quarter of 2015, EQM entered into an equity distribution agreement that established an "At the Market" common unit offering program, pursuant to which a group of managers, acting as EQM's sales agents, may sell EQM common units having an aggregate offering price of up to $750 million (the $750 million ATM Program). During the three months ended September 30, 2015, EQM issued 827,975 common units at an average price per unit of $76.58. EQM received net proceeds of approximately $62.2 million which were used for general partnership purposes.expenses.

EQM declared a cash distribution to unitholders of $0.675$0.745 per unit on October 20, 2015,April 26, 2016, which was 5% higher than the secondfourth quarter 2015 distribution of $0.64$0.71 per unit and 23%22% higher than the thirdfirst quarter 20142015 distribution of $0.55$0.61 per unit.

Business Segment Results of Operations
 
Operating segments are revenue-producing components of the enterprise for which separate financial information is produced internally and is subject to evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources. Interest, equityOther income and other incomeinterest are managed on a consolidated basis. EQM has presented each segment’s operating income and various operational measures in the sections below. Management believes that the presentation of this information provides useful information to management and investors regarding the financial condition, results of operations and trends of segments. EQM has reconciled each segment’s operating income to EQM’s consolidated operating income and net income in Note D to the consolidated financial statements.
 
GATHERING

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 Three Months Ended March 31,
 2016 2015 % Change
FINANCIAL DATA(Thousands, other than per day amounts)
Firm reservation fee revenues$79,182
 $54,258
 45.9
Volumetric based fee revenues:     
Usage fees under firm contracts(1)
10,467
 9,432
 11.0
Usage fees under interruptible contracts3,667
 11,760
 (68.8)
Total volumetric based fee revenues14,134
 21,192
 (33.3)
Total operating revenues93,316
 75,450
 23.7
Operating expenses:     
Operating and maintenance8,478
 7,223
 17.4
Selling, general and administrative8,014
 7,606
 5.4
Depreciation and amortization6,769
 5,159
 31.2
Total operating expenses23,261
 19,988
 16.4
Operating income$70,055
 $55,462
 26.3
      
OPERATIONAL DATA 
  
  
Gathering volumes (BBtu per day)     
Firm reservation1,380
 1,046
 31.9
Volumetric based services(2)
384
 441
 (12.9)
Total gathered volumes1,764
 1,487
 18.6
      
Capital expenditures$69,431
 $36,269
 91.4

(1)Includes fees on volumes gathered in excess of firm contracted capacity.

(2)Includes volumes gathered under interruptible contracts and volumes in excess of firm contracted capacity.

16



Three Months Ended March 31, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
Gathering revenues increased by $17.9 million primarily as a result of higher affiliate volumes gathered for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015, driven by production development in the Marcellus Shale. EQM leases the AVC facilities from EQT and operates the facilitiesincreased firm reservation fee revenues as parta result of its transmission and storage system under the rates, terms and conditions of its FERC-approved tariff. The AVC facilities include an approximately 200 mile pipeline that interconnects with EQM’s transmission and storage system and provides approximately 450 MMcf per day ofaffiliates contracting for additional capacity under firm contracts. The decrease in usage fees under interruptible contracts was primarily due to EQM’s system. affiliates contracting for additional firm capacity.

Operating expenses increased by $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015. Operating and maintenance expense increased primarily as a result of higher repairs and maintenance expenses associated with increased throughput. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense resulted from additional assets placed in-service.

TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE

Operating revenues and operating expenses related to the AVC facilities do not have an impact on adjusted EBITDA or distributable cash flow as the excess of the AVC revenues over operating and maintenance and selling, general and administrative expenses is paid to EQT as the current monthly lease payment. All revenues related to the AVC facilities are from third parties.

16



TRANSMISSION AND STORAGE

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended March 31,
2015 2014 % Change 2015 2014 % Change2016 2015 % Change
FINANCIAL DATA(Thousands, other than per day amounts)(Thousands, other than per day amounts)
Firm reservation fee revenues$57,238
 $45,731
 25.2
 $182,092
 $138,898
 31.1
$70,109
 $68,183
 2.8
Volumetric based fee revenues:                
Usage fees under firm contracts(1)
11,200
 13,698
 (18.2) 30,217
 33,983
 (11.1)13,429
 8,933
 50.3
Usage fees under interruptible contracts1,468
 3,007
 (51.2) 5,098
 7,997
 (36.3)3,747
 2,245
 66.9
Total volumetric based fee revenues12,668
 16,705
 (24.2) 35,315
 41,980
 (15.9)17,176
 11,178
 53.7
Total operating revenues69,906
 62,436
 12.0
 217,407
 180,878
 20.2
87,285
 79,361
 10.0
Operating expenses:                
Operating and maintenance8,910
 6,776
 31.5
 23,604
 17,226
 37.0
8,167
 7,256
 12.6
Selling, general and administrative8,172
 5,950
 37.3
 23,987
 17,442
 37.5
8,278
 8,047
 2.9
Depreciation and amortization7,776
 7,195
 8.1
 21,561
 19,676
 9.6
8,709
 6,768
 28.7
Total operating expenses24,858
 19,921
 24.8
 69,152
 54,344
 27.2
25,154
 22,071
 14.0
Operating income$45,048
 $42,515
 6.0
 $148,255
 $126,534
 17.2
$62,131
 $57,290
 8.4
                
OPERATIONAL DATA 
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
Transmission pipeline throughput (BBtu per day)                
Firm capacity reservation1,751
 1,219
 43.6
 1,866
 1,265
 47.5
1,622
 2,025
 (19.9)
Volumetric based services(2)
300
 598
 (49.8) 257
 435
 (40.9)487
 213
 128.6
Total transmission pipeline throughput2,051 1,817 12.9
 2,123 1,700 24.9
2,109
 2,238
 (5.8)
                
Average contracted firm transmission reservation commitments (BBtu per day)2,390
 1,784
 34.0
 2,567
 1,847
 39.0
3,005
 2,947
 2.0
                
Capital expenditures$36,788
 $39,826
 (7.6) $116,270
 $78,907
 47.4
$46,407
 $21,462
 116.2

(1)Includes commodity charges and fees on volumes transported in excess of firm contracted capacity.
(1) Includes commodity charges and fees on volumes transported in excess of firm contracted capacity.
(2) Includes volumes transported under interruptible contracts and volumes in excess of firm contracted capacity.
(2)Includes volumes transported under interruptible contracts and volumes in excess of firm contracted capacity.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2014March 31, 2015
 
Transmission and storage revenues increased by $7.5$7.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014, reflectingMarch 31, 2015, driven by production development in the Marcellus Shale by affiliate and third party producers. The increase primarily resulted from higher firm reservation fees of $11.5 million partly offset by lower usage fees under both firm and interruptible contracts. The decrease in usage fees was primarily due to customers contracting for additional firm capacity.producers

Operating expenses increased by $4.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014. The increase in operating and maintenance expense resulted from higher repairs and maintenance expenses of $1.4 million associated with increased throughput and higher allocations, including personnel costs, from EQT. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily as a result of higher allocations and personnel costs from EQT, including incentive compensation.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
Transmission and storage revenues increased by $36.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014, reflecting production development in the Marcellus Shale by affiliate and third party producers. The increase primarily resulted from higher firm reservation fees of $43.2 million partly offset by lower usage fees under both firm and interruptible contracts. The decrease in usage fees was primarily due to customers contracting for additional firm capacity.


17



which resulted in higher usage fees under firm and interruptible contracts and higher contracted firm capacity. Reduced firm capacity reservation throughput for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2015 reflected both reduced volumes from third party producers and warmer weather during the the three months ended March 31, 2016. This reduction did not have a significant impact on firm reservation fee revenues.

Operating expenses increased by $14.8$3.1 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 compared to the ninethree months ended September 30, 2014. The increase in operating and maintenance expense resulted from higher repairs and maintenance expenses of $3.4 million associated with increased throughput, higher property taxes of $1.3 million and higher allocations, including personnel costs, from EQT. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily as a result of higher allocations and personnel costs from EQT, including incentive compensation.March 31, 2015. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was primarily a result of higher depreciation on the increased investment in transmission infrastructure.

GATHERING

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2015 2014 % Change 2015 2014 % Change
FINANCIAL DATA(Thousands, other than per day amounts)
Firm reservation fee revenues$64,091
 $12,647
 406.8
 $182,440
 $21,079
 765.5
Volumetric based fee revenues:           
Usage fees under firm contracts(1)
8,562
 16,385
 (47.7) 25,176
 27,492
 (8.4)
Usage fees under interruptible contracts6,230
 29,454
 (78.8) 23,190
 108,708
 (78.7)
Total volumetric based fee revenues14,792
 45,839
 (67.7) 48,366
 136,200
 (64.5)
Total operating revenues78,883
 58,486
 34.9
 230,806
 157,279
 46.7
Operating expenses:           
Operating and maintenance9,546
 7,061
 35.2
 26,563
 22,976
 15.6
Selling, general and administrative6,033
 6,724
 (10.3) 19,598
 20,652
 (5.1)
Depreciation and amortization5,441
 5,350
 1.7
 15,841
 13,302
 19.1
Total operating expenses21,020
 19,135
 9.9
 62,002
 56,930
 8.9
Operating income$57,863
 $39,351
 47.0
 $168,804
 $100,349
 68.2
            
OPERATIONAL DATA 
  
  
  
  
  
Gathering volumes (BBtu per day)           
Firm reservation1,120
 231
 384.8
 1,059
 130
 714.6
Volumetric based services(2)
386
 978
 (60.5) 409
 935
 (56.3)
Total gathered volumes1,506 1,209 24.6
 1,468 1,065 37.8
            
Capital expenditures$55,387
 $64,321
 (13.9) $160,685
 $155,176
 3.6

(1) Includes fees on volumes gathered in excess of firm contracted capacity.
(2) Includes volumes gathered under interruptible contracts and volumes in excess of firm contracted capacity.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2015 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2014
Gathering revenues increased by $20.4 million primarily as a result of higher affiliate volumes gathered for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014, driven by production development in the Marcellus Shale. EQM significantly increased firm reservation fee revenues in 2015 compared to 2014 as a result of increased capacity under firm contracts with affiliates. The decrease in usage fees was primarily due to affiliates contracting for additional firm capacity.

Operating expenses increased by $1.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014. Operating and maintenance expense increased as a result of higher repairs and maintenance expenses of $1.6 million associated with increased throughput and higher allocations, including personnel costs, from EQT.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014
Gathering revenues increased by $73.5 million primarily as a result of higher affiliate volumes gathered for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014, driven by production development in the Marcellus Shale. EQM significantly increased firm reservation fee revenues in 2015 compared to 2014 as a result of increased capacity under firm contracts with affiliates. The decrease in usage fees was primarily due to affiliates contracting for additional firm capacity.

18




Operating expenses increased by $5.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014. Operating and maintenance expense increased as a result of higher allocations, including personnel costs, from EQT of $2.8 million and higher repairs and maintenance expenses associated with increased throughput. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense resulted from additional assets placed in-service.AVC facilities.

Other Income Statement Items
 
EquityOther income relatesincreased by $6.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 compared to EQM's interestthe three months ended March 31, 2015 primarily driven by distributions received from EES of $2.8 million which began in Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (MVP Joint Venture)January 2016, increased AFUDC - equity of $1.8 million mainly attributable to increased spending on the OVC project and representshigher equity income related to EQM's portion of the MVP Joint Venture's AFUDC related to construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP).

Other income primarily represents the equity portion of AFUDC on EQM's regulated projects, which generally increases during periods of increased construction and decreases during periods of reduced construction. Other income increased $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015, compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. These increases are primarily related to increased spending on the OVC project.MVP.

Interest expense increased by $2.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014, primarily related to increased interest of $1.7 million incurred on EQM's long-term debt issued in August 2014 and increased borrowings under EQM's credit facility in 2015. Interest expense increased by $13.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily related to increased interest of $11.7 million incurred on EQM's long-term debt issued in August 2014, increased interest of $2.4 million related to the AVC facilities capital lease and increased borrowings under EQM's credit facility in 2015.
EQM is not subject to U.S. federal and state income taxes. As previously noted, the NWV Gathering Acquisition (as defined in Note B) on March 17, 2015 and the Jupiter Acquisition (as defined in Note B) on May 7, 2014 were transactionswas a transaction between entities under common control for which the consolidated financial statements of EQM have been retrospectively recast to reflect the combined entities.  Accordingly, the income tax effects associated with NWV Gathering and JupiterGathering's operations prior to the NWV Gathering Acquisition and the Jupiter Acquisition arewere reflected in the consolidated financial statements as NWV Gathering and Jupiter werewas previously part of EQT’s consolidated federal tax return. The decrease in income tax expense resulted from the timing of the acquisitions.NWV Gathering Acquisition.
 
See “Investing Activities” and “Capital Requirements” in the “Capital Resources and Liquidity” section below for a discussion of capital expenditures.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
EQM defines adjusted EBITDA as EQM's net income plus interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, income tax expense (if applicable) and non-cash long-term compensation expense less equity income, other income,AFUDC - equity, capital lease payments Jupiter adjusted EBITDA prior to the Jupiter Acquisition and NWV Gathering adjusted EBITDA prior to the NWV Gathering Acquisition. EQM defines distributable cash flow as adjusted EBITDA less interest expense excluding capital lease interest, capitalized interest and AFUDC - debt, and ongoing maintenance capital expenditures net of expected reimbursements.  Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are non-GAAP supplemental financial measures that management and external users of EQM’s consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies, use to assess:

EQM’s operating performance as compared to other publicly traded partnerships in the midstream energy industry without regard to historical cost basis or, in the case of adjusted EBITDA, financing methods;
the ability of EQM’s assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to EQM’s unitholders;
EQM’s ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; and
the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities.
 
EQM believes that adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow provide useful information to investors in assessing EQM’sits financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities. Additionally, because adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may be defined differently by other companies in its industry, EQM’s adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled

19



measures of other companies, thereby diminishing their utility.the utility of the measures. Distributable cash flow should not be viewed as indicative of the actual amount of cash that EQM has available for distributions from operating surplus or that EQM plans to distribute.


18



Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
 
The following table presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow with the most directly comparable EQM GAAP financial measures of net income and net cash provided by operating activities.
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
2015 2014 2015 20142016 2015
(Thousands)(Thousands)
Net income$94,116
 $67,701
 $280,741
 $181,667
$129,065
 $95,306
Add:          
Interest expense11,264
 8,660
 34,361
 20,944
10,258
 11,457
Depreciation and amortization expense13,217
 12,545
 37,402
 32,978
15,478
 11,927
Income tax expense
 6,311
 6,703
 25,906

 6,703
Non-cash long-term compensation expense328
 779
 1,133
 2,584
195
 566
Less:          
Equity income(753) 
 (1,147) 
(1,589) 
Other income(1,716) (806) (3,599) (1,634)
AFUDC – equity(2,472) (714)
Capital lease payments for AVC (1)
(3,078) (3,565) (15,349) (14,760)(9,364) (8,844)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Jupiter prior to acquisition (2)

 
 
 (34,733)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV Gathering prior to acquisition (3)

 (20,178) (19,841) (43,236)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV Gathering prior to acquisition (2)

 (19,841)
Adjusted EBITDA$113,378
 $71,447
 $320,404
 $169,716
$141,571
 $96,560
Less:          
Interest expense, excluding capital lease interest(5,697) (3,939) (16,971) (5,931)
Ongoing maintenance capital expenditures, net of expected reimbursements (4)
(5,902) (5,718) (8,827) (10,539)
Interest expense excluding capital lease interest(4,857) (5,532)
Capitalized interest and AFUDC - debt (3)
(1,430) 
Ongoing maintenance capital expenditures net of expected reimbursements (4)
(1,969) (1,047)
Distributable cash flow$101,779
 $61,790
 $294,606
 $153,246
$133,315
 $89,981
          
Net cash provided by operating activities$80,761
 $76,397
 $319,863
 $211,729
$118,254
 $114,659
Adjustments:          
Interest expense11,264
 8,660
 34,361
 20,944
10,258
 11,457
Current tax expense
 343
 3,705
 12,161

 3,705
Capital lease payments for AVC (1)
(3,078) (3,565) (15,349) (14,760)(9,364) (8,844)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Jupiter prior to acquisition (2)

 
 
 (34,733)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV Gathering prior to acquisition (3)

 (20,178) (19,841) (43,236)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV Gathering prior to acquisition (2)

 (19,841)
Other, including changes in working capital24,431
 9,790
 (2,335) 17,611
22,423
 (4,576)
Adjusted EBITDA$113,378
 $71,447
 $320,404
 $169,716
$141,571
 $96,560
 
(1)   Capital lease payments presented are the amounts incurred on an accrual basis and do not reflect the timing of actual cash payments. These lease payments are generally made monthly on a one month lag.
(1)Reflects capital lease payments due under the lease. These lease payments are generally made monthly on a one month lag.

(2)   Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Jupiter prior to acquisition for the periods presented was excluded from EQM’s adjusted EBITDA calculations as these amounts were generated by Jupiter prior to EQM’s acquisition; therefore, they were not amounts that could have been distributed to EQM’s unitholders.  Adjusted EBITDA attributable to Jupiter for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 was calculated as net income of $20.1 million plus depreciation and amortization expense of $2.1 million plus income tax expense of $12.5 million.
(2)Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV Gathering prior to acquisition for the periods presented was excluded from EQM’s adjusted EBITDA calculations as these amounts were generated by NWV Gathering prior to EQM’s acquisition; therefore, they were not amounts that could have been distributed to EQM’s unitholders. Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV Gathering for the three months ended March 31, 2015 was calculated as net income of $11.1 million plus depreciation and amortization expense of $2.0 million plus income tax expense of $6.7 million.

(3)   Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV Gathering prior to acquisition for the periods presented was excluded from EQM’s adjusted EBITDA calculations as these amounts were generated by NWV Gathering prior to EQM’s acquisition;  therefore, they were not amounts that could have been distributed to EQM’s unitholders.  Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV

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Gathering for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was calculated as net income of $11.1 million plus depreciation and amortization expense of $2.0 million plus income tax expense of $6.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA attributable to NWV Gathering for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 was calculated as net income of $11.2 million and $23.6 million, respectively, plus depreciation and amortization expense of $2.7 million and $6.2 million, respectively, plus income tax expense of $6.3 million and $13.4 million, respectively.
(3)Capitalized interest and AFUDC - debt was added as an adjustment to the calculation of distributable cash flow during the three months ended March 31, 2016. The impact for the three months ended March 31, 2015 of $0.5 million is immaterial.

(4)Ongoing maintenance capital expenditures, net of expected reimbursements excludes ongoing maintenance attributable to NWV Gathering prior to acquisition of $0.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014. Additionally, it excludes ongoing maintenance capital expenditures that EQM expects to be reimbursed or that was reimbursed by EQT under the terms of EQM's omnibus agreement of $5.7$0.2 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, it excludes ongoing maintenance attributable to NWV Gathering prior to acquisition of $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and $7.4 million and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.March 31, 2015.
 
EQM's adjusted EBITDA increased by $41.9$45.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $150.7 million for the nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014, primarily as a result of higher operating income due to increased firm reservation fee revenues related to driven by

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production development in the Marcellus Shale and the acquisitions,NWV Gathering Acquisition, which resulted in EBITDA subsequent to the transactionstransaction being reflected in adjusted EBITDA. Distributable cash flow increased by $40.0$43.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $141.4 million for the nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014, mainly attributable to the increase in adjusted EBITDA which was partly offset by an increase in interest expense, excluding capital lease interest.EBITDA. 

Outlook

EQM’s principal business objective is to increase the quarterly cash distributions that it pays to its unitholders over time while ensuring the ongoing growth of its business. EQM believes that it is well positioned to achieve growth based on the combination of its relationship with EQT and its strategically located assets, which cover portions of the Marcellus and Utica Shales that lack substantial natural gas pipeline infrastructure. EQM believes it will havehas a competitive advantage in pursuing economically attractive organic expansion projects in its areas of operations, which EQM believes will be a key driver of growth in the future. EQM is also currently pursuing organic growth projects that are expected to provide access to markets in the Midwest, Gulf Coast and Southeast regions. Additionally, EQM may acquire additional midstream assets from EQT or pursue asset acquisitions from third parties. Should EQT choose to pursue midstream asset sales, it is under no contractual obligation to offer the assets to EQM.

EQM expects that the following expansion projects will allow it to capitalize on drilling activity by EQT and other third party producers:

Third Party Projects. In July 2015, EQM announced its agreement with Range Resources - Appalachia, LLC to construct a natural gas header pipeline in southwestern Pennsylvania to support Marcellus and Utica development at a cost of approximately $250 million (the Range Resources project). The pipeline is contracted to provide 550 MDth per day of firm capacity and is backed by a ten-year firm capacity reservation commitment. EQM plans to complete the project in two phases, with phase one expected to be in-service by the third quarter of 2016 and phase two by mid-year 2017. The majority of EQM's capital investment for the project is expected throughout 2016 and the first half of 2017. EQM expects to invest approximately $30 million to $40 million on this and other gathering infrastructure projects for third party producers during 2015.

Gathering System Expansions. EQM expects capital expenditures of approximately $100 million in 2015 related to expansion in the Jupiter development area that will raise total firm gathering capacity in that area to 775 MMcf per day. The Jupiter expansion is fully subscribed and was recently placed into service. In addition, EQM expects to invest a total of approximately $370 million, of which approximately $65 million is expected to be spent during 2015, related to expansion in the NWV Gathering development area. These expenditures are part of an additional fully subscribed expansion project expected to raise total firm gathering capacity in the NWV Gathering development area from the current 460 MMcf per day to 640 MMcf per day by year-end 2017.

Ohio Valley Connector. The OVC includesis a 36-mile37-mile pipeline that will extend EQM's transmission and storage system from northern West Virginia to Clarington, Ohio, at which point it will interconnect with the Rockies Express Pipeline and the Texas Eastern Pipeline. EQM submitted the OVC certificate application, which also includes related transmission expansion projects described below, to the FERC in December of 2014may interconnect with other pipelines and anticipates receiving the certificate in the fourth quarter of 2015. Subject to FERC approval, construction is scheduled to begin shortly thereafter and the pipeline is expected to be in-service in the third quarter of 2016.liquidity points. The

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OVC will provide approximately 850 BBtu per day of transmission capacity with an aggregate compression of approximately 38,000 horsepower and the greenfield portion is estimated to cost approximately $300$350 million to $380 million, of which $100$210 million to $110$220 million is expected to be spent in 2015. EQM2016. EQT has entered into a 20-year precedenttransportation service agreement with EQM for a total of 650 BBtu per day of firm transmission capacity on the OVC. EQM received its FERC certificate to construct and operate the OVC on December 30, 2015 and construction began in January 2016. EQM expects the OVC to be in-service by year-end 2016.

Range Resources Header Pipeline Project. EQM is constructing a natural gas header pipeline for a subsidiary of Range Resources Corporation (Range Resources) in southwestern Pennsylvania to support Marcellus and Utica development. The pipeline is expected to cost approximately $250 million and is contracted to provide 600 MMcf per day of firm capacity backed by a ten-year firm capacity reservation commitment. EQM plans to complete the project in two phases, with phase one expected to be in-service during the second half of 2016 and phase two during the first half of 2017. EQM expects to invest approximately $195 million to $205 million on the project in 2016.

NWV Gathering and Jupiter Development Areas. EQM expects to invest a total of approximately $370 million, of which approximately $95 million to $105 million is expected to be spent during 2016, related to expansion in the NWV Gathering development area. These expenditures are part of a fully subscribed expansion project expected to raise total firm gathering capacity in the NWV Gathering development area to 640 MMcf per day by mid-year 2017. EQM also plans to invest approximately $20 million in the Jupiter development area to install a gathering pipeline that will extend the gathering system to include additional EQT Production development areas in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Transmission Expansion Projects. EQM also plans to beginis evaluating several multi-year transmission capacity expansion projects to support the continuedproduction growth ofin the Marcellus and Utica development.Shales that could total an additional 1.5 Bcf per day of capacity by year-end 2018. The projects may include additional compression, pipeline looping compression installation and new pipeline segments, which combined are expected to increase transmission capacity by approximately 1.0 Bcf per day by year-end 2017. Combined with the Antero Resources (Antero) transmission project which was completed in the second quarter of 2015,header pipelines. EQM expects to spend approximately $50$25 million on these transmissionexpansion projects during 2015.2016.

Mountain Valley Pipeline. On March 30, 2015, EQM assumed EQT's majority interest in theThe MVP Joint Venture is a joint venture with affiliates of each of NextEra Energy, Inc., Consolidated Edison, Inc., WGL Holdings, Inc.,Vega Energy Partners, Ltd. and RGC Resources, Inc. EQM which currently ownsis the operator of the MVP and owned a majority45.5% interest in the MVP Joint Venture also assumed the roleas of operator of the MVP to be constructed by the joint venture.April 28, 2016. The estimated 300-mile MVP is currently targeted at 42"42 inches in diameter and a minimum capacity of 2.0 Bcf per day and will extend from EQM's existing transmission and storage system in Wetzel County, West Virginia to Pittsylvania County, Virginia. As currently designed, the MVP is estimated to cost a total of $3.0 billion to $3.5 billion, excluding AFUDC, with EQM funding its proportionate share through capital contributions made to the joint venture. In 2015,2016, EQM expects to spendprovide capital contributions of approximately $105$150 million to $115 million for its acquisition of the MVP Interest from EQT and capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture, primarily in support of material orders, environmental and land assessments and engineering design work and materials.work. Expenditures are expected to increase substantially as construction commences, with the bulk of the expenditures expected to be made in 2017 and 2018.

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The MVP Joint Venture has secured a total of 2.0 Bcf per day of 20-year firm capacity commitments, including an approximately 1.3a 1.29 Bcf per day firm capacity commitment by EQT, and is currently in negotiation with additional shippers who have expressed interest in the MVP project. As a result,The MVP Joint Venture submitted the final project scope and total capacity has not yet been determined; however,MVP certificate application to the voluntary pre-filingFERC in October 2015, is currently in the regulatory review process with the FERC beganand anticipates receiving the certificate in October 2014. The pipeline, which is subjectthe fourth quarter of 2016. Subject to FERC approval, construction is scheduled to begin shortly thereafter and the pipeline is expected to be in-service during the fourth quarter of 2018.

See further discussion of capital expenditures in the “Capital Requirements” section below.

Commodity Prices

EQM’s business is dependent on the continued availability of natural gas production and reserves in its areas of operation. Low prices for natural gas, including those resulting from regional basis differentials, could adversely affect development of additional reserves and production that is accessible by EQM’s pipeline and storage assets.

The average daily price for NYMEX Henry Hub natural gas ranged from a high of $3.23 per MMBtu to a low of $1.64 per MMBtu from January 1, 2015 through April 27, 2016. The natural gas market will likely continue to be volatile in the future. Lower natural gas prices could cause producers to determine in the future that drilling activities in areas outside of EQM’s current areas of operation are strategically more attractive to them. In response to recent commodity price decreases, a number of large natural gas producers have announced their intention to re-evaluate and/or reduce their drilling programs in certain areas, including the Appalachian Basin. EQT's 2016 capital expenditure forecast for well development of $820 million is 51% lower than EQT's 2015 capital expenditures for well development. EQT, or third party customers on EQM's systems, may reduce capital spending in the future based on commodity prices or other factors. Unless EQM is successful in attracting and retaining unaffiliated third party customers, which accounted for 53% of transmission and storage revenues and 3% of gathering revenues for the first quarter of 2016, its ability to maintain or increase the capacity subscribed and volumes transported under service arrangements on its transmission and storage system as well as the volumes gathered on its gathering systems will be dependent on receiving consistent or increasing commitments from EQT. While EQT has dedicated acreage to EQM, and has entered into long-term firm transmission and gathering contracts on EQM's systems, EQT may determine in the future that drilling in areas outside of EQM's current areas of operations is strategically more attractive to it, and it is under no contractual obligation to continue to develop its acreage dedicated to EQM.

EQM believes the high percentage of its revenues derived from reservation charges under long-term, fixed-fee contracts will mitigate the risk of revenue fluctuations due to changes in near-term supply and demand conditions and commodity prices. For more information see “Risk Factors-Risks Inherent in Our Business - Any significant decrease in production of natural gas in our areas of operation could adversely affect our business and operating results and reduce our distributable cash flow" included in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of EQM's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Capital Resources and Liquidity
 
EQM’s principal liquidity requirements are to finance its operations, fund capital expenditures and acquisitions, make cash distributions and satisfy any indebtedness obligations. EQM’s ability to meet these liquidity requirements will depend on its ability to generate cash in the future as well as its ability to raise capital in banking, capital and other markets. EQM’s available sources of liquidity include cash generated from operations, borrowing under EQM's credit facility, cash on hand, debt offerings and issuances of additional EQM partnership units.
 
Operating Activities
 
The increase in net cash provided by operating activities of $108.1$3.6 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 compared to the ninethree months ended September 30, 2014March 31, 2015 was driven by higher operating income for which contributing factors are discussed in the “Executive Overview” and "Business Segment Results of Operations" sections herein, and timing of payments between the two periods.
 
Investing Activities
 
The increasedecrease in net cash used in investing activities of $493.1$428.8 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 compared to the ninethree months ended September 30, 2014March 31, 2015 was primarily attributable to the acquisition of the NWV Gathering net assets from EQT the purchase of the preferred interest in EQT Energy Supply, LLC, increased capital expenditures and the acquisitionMVP Interest Acquisition, both of EQT's interest inwhich occurred during the MVP Joint Venture (MVP Interest Acquisition) as well as the capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture in the third quarterthree months ended March 31, 2015.

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Table of 2015. See discussion of capital expenditures in the “Capital Requirements” section below.Contents


Financing Activities
 
Net cash used in financing activities totaled $365.0 million for the first three months of 2016 compared to net cash provided by financing activities totaled $446.9of $441.7 million for the first ninethree months of 2015 compared to $323.8 million2015. Cash payments for the first ninethree months of 2014.2016 primarily related to net credit facility repayments and distributions to unitholders. Cash inflows for the first ninethree months of 2015 from the equity offeringsoffering and net short-term loanscredit facility borrowings were partly offset by cash payments for the NWV Gathering Acquisition in excess of net assets acquired and distributions to

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unitholders. Cash inflows for the first nine months of 2014 related to the equity and debt offerings which were partly offset by cash payments for the Jupiter Acquisition in excess of net assets acquired, the Sunrise Merger payment and distributions to unitholders.

Capital Requirements
 
The gathering, transmission storage and gatheringstorage businesses are capital intensive, requiring significant investment to develop new facilities and to maintain and upgrade existing operations. CapitalThe following table presents capital expenditures for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 and 2014 were as follows:
2015. 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
Three Months Ended 
 March 31,
2015 2014 2015 20142016 2015
(Thousands)(Thousands)
Expansion capital expenditures (1)
$80,078
 $95,582
 $257,932
 $216,761
$113,532
 $55,494
Maintenance capital expenditures:          
Ongoing maintenance11,562
 5,702
 16,572
 11,373
2,131
 1,597
Funded regulatory compliance535
 2,863
 2,451
 5,949
175
 640
Total maintenance capital expenditures12,097
 8,565
 19,023
 17,322
2,306
 2,237
Total capital expenditures (2)
$92,175
 $104,147
 $276,955
 $234,083
$115,838
 $57,731
 
(1)
Expansion capital expenditures do not include capital contributions made to the MVP Joint Venture. During the first quarter of 2016, capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture were $11.4 million. In the first quarter of 2015, EQM paid approximately $54.2 million for its acquisition of EQT's ownership interest in the MVP Joint Venture as described in Note B.
(1)
(2)EQM accrues capital expenditures when work has been completed but the associated bills have not yet been paid. These accrued amounts are excluded from capital expenditures on the statements of consolidated cash flows until they are paid in a subsequent period. Accrued capital expenditures were approximately $29.4 million and $17.4 million at March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Expansion capital expenditures do not include capital contributions made to the MVP Joint Venture. During the third quarter of 2015, EQM made capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture of approximately $30 million. In addition, in conjunction with EQM's acquisition of EQT's majority ownership interest in the MVP Joint Venture, EQM reimbursed EQT for EQT's capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture as described in Note B.

(2)EQM accrues capital expenditures when work has been completed but the associated bills have not yet been paid.  These accrued amounts are excluded from capital expenditures on the statements of consolidated cash flows until they are paid in a subsequent period. Accrued capital expenditures were $23.5 million and $19.6 million at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Additionally, EQM capitalizes certain labor overhead costs which include a portion of non-cash equity-based compensation. These non-cash capital expenditures in the table above were less than $0.1 million and approximately $0.1increased by $58.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and less than $0.1 million and approximately $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Expansion capital expenditures decreased by $15.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015March 31, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014March 31, 2015 as a result of the timing of spending on projects. In the thirdfirst quarter of 2016, expansion capital expenditures primarily related to the Range Resources Header Pipeline project, the OVC and the NWV Gathering expansion. In the first quarter of 2015, expansion capital expenditures primarily related to the following projects: Jupiter gathering expansion, the OVC and NWV Gathering expansion. In the third quarter of 2014, expansion capital expenditures primarily related to the following projects: the NWV Gathering and Jupiter expansions, the OVC, the Jefferson compressor station expansion, third party projects and the Antero transmission projects. The Jefferson compressor station expansion project was placed into service in September 2014. Third party projects were completed in the fourth quarter of 2014. The first Antero transmission project was placed into service during the fourth quarter of 2014 and the second Antero transmission project was placed into service in the second quarter of 2015.

Expansion capital expenditures increased by $41.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 as a result of the timing of spending on projects. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, expansion capital expenditures primarily related to the following projects: the OVC, the Jupiter and NWV Gathering expansions, and the Antero transmission project. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, expansion capital expenditures primarily related to the following projects: the NWV Gathering and Jupiter expansions, third party projects, the Jefferson compressor station expansion, the OVC and the Antero transmission projects.project. EQM completed the Antero transmission project in the second quarter of 2015 and the Jupiter gathering expansion in the fourth quarter of 2015.

OngoingIn 2016, expansion capital expenditures and capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture are expected to be $695 million to $725 million and ongoing maintenance capital expenditures are cash expenditures made to maintain, over the long term, EQM operating capacity or operating income. Ongoing maintenance capital expenditures increased by $5.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2014 and $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2014 primarily related to the timing of projects.

Funded regulatory compliance capital expenditures decreased by $2.3 million and $3.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively. EQM identified two

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specific regulatory compliance initiatives prior to its IPO in 2012 for which it retained approximately $32 million from the net proceeds of the IPO. EQM has spent approximately $28.9 million since the IPO on these initiatives.

In 2015, expansion capital expenditures and MVP capital contributions, including the MVP Interest Acquisition, are expected to total $450be approximately $25 million, to $480 million.net of reimbursements. EQM’s future capital investments may vary significantly from period to period based on the available investment opportunities and will grow substantially in future periods for the OVC project, MVP capital contributions and the Range Resources project.Header Pipeline project, the NWV Gathering expansion and capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture. Maintenance related capital expenditures are also expected to vary quarter to quarter. EQM expects to fund future capital expenditures primarily through cash on hand, cash generated from operations, availability under its credit facility, debt offerings and the issuanceissuances of additional EQM partnership units. EQM does not forecast capital expenditures associated with potential midstream projects not committed as of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
Short-termCredit Facility Borrowings

EQM has a $750 million credit facility that expires in February 2019 and had $350$9 million outstanding as of September 30, 2015.March 31, 2016. The credit facility is available to fund working capital requirements and capital expenditures, to purchase assets, to pay distributions, and to repurchase units and for general partnership purposes. Subject to certain terms and conditions, the credit facility has an accordion feature that allows EQM to increase the available revolving borrowings under the facility by up to an

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additional $250 million. In addition, the credit facility includes a sublimit up to $75 million for same-day swing line advances and a sublimit up to $150 million for letters of credit. EQM has the right to request that one or more lenders make term loans to it under the credit facility subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, which term loans will be secured by cash and qualifying investment grade securities. EQM’s obligations under the revolving portion of the credit facility are unsecured.

EQM’s credit facility contains various provisions that, if not complied with, could result in termination of the credit facility, require early payment of amounts outstanding or similar actions. The covenants and events of default under the credit facility relate to maintenance of permitted leverage ratio, limitations on transactions with affiliates, limitations on restricted payments, insolvency events, nonpayment of scheduled principal or interest payments, acceleration of and certain other defaults under other financial obligations and change of control provisions. Under the credit facility, EQM is required to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio of not more than 5.00 to 1.00 (or not more than 5.50 to 1.00 for certain measurement periods following the consummation of certain acquisitions). As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, EQM was in compliance with all credit facilitydebt provisions and covenants.

Security Ratings

The table below sets forth the credit ratings for debt instruments of EQM at September 30, 2015. Changes in credit ratings may affect EQM’s cost of future borrowings (including interest rates and fees under its credit facility), collateral requirements under joint venture arrangements and construction contracts and access to the credit markets.March 31, 2016.
Rating Service Senior Notes Outlook
Moody’s Investors Service (Moody's) Ba1 Stable
Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) BBB- Stable
Fitch Ratings (Fitch) BBB- Stable

EQM’s credit ratings are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. EQM cannot ensure that a rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a credit rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant. If theany credit rating agencies downgradeagency downgrades EQM’s ratings, particularly below investment grade, EQM’s access to the capital markets may be limited, borrowing costs could increase, counterpartiesEQM may requestbe required to provide additional credit assurances in support of commercial agreements such as joint venture agreements and construction contracts, the amount of which may be substantial, and the potential pool of investors and funding sources may decrease. In order to be considered investment grade, a company must be rated Baa3 or higher by Moody’s, BBB- or higher by S&P, Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or BBB- or higher by Fitch. Anything below these ratings, including EQM's current credit rating of Ba1 by Moody's, is considered non-investment grade. Having a non-investment grade rating may result in greater borrowing costs and collateral requirements than would be available to EQM if all its credit ratings were investment grade.


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EQM At the Market Equity Program

During the third quarter of 2015, EQM established the $750 million ATM Program. As of October 22, 2015,April 27, 2016, EQM had approximately $663 million in remaining capacity under the program.

Distributions
 
On October 20, 2015,April 26, 2016, the Board of Directors of EQT Midstream Services, LLC (EQMthe EQM General Partner)Partner declared a cash distribution to EQM’s unitholders for the thirdfirst quarter of 20152016 of $0.675$0.745 per common unit. The cash distribution will be paid on NovemberMay 13, 20152016 to unitholders of record, including EQGP, at the close of business on November 2, 2015.May 6, 2016. Based on the 71,870,18177,632,449 EQM common units outstanding on October 22, 2015, the correspondingApril 27, 2016, cash distributions to EQGP in respect ofrelated to its general partner interest and incentive distribution rights in EQM wouldwill be $1.2$1.4 million and $12.7$18.8 million, respectively. These distribution amounts to EQGP are subject to change if EQM issues additional common units on or prior to the record date for the thirdfirst quarter 20152016 distribution.

Commitments and Contingencies
 
In the ordinary course of business, various legal and regulatory claims and proceedings are pending or threatened against EQM.  While the amounts claimed may be substantial, EQM is unable to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of such claims and proceedings. EQM accrues legal and other direct costs related to loss contingencies when actually incurred. EQM has established reserves it believes to be appropriate for pending matters, and after consultation with counsel and giving appropriate consideration to available insurance, EQM believes that the ultimate outcome of any matter currently pending against it will not materially affect its business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or ability to make distributions.


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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, EQM hashad issued a $110$91 million performance guarantee in favor of the MVP Joint Venture to provide performance assurances for MVP Holdco's obligations to fund its proportionate share of the construction budget for the MVP. Upon the FERC’s initial release to begin construction of the MVP, EQM's guarantee will terminate and EQM will be obligated to issue a new guarantee in an amount equal to 33% of MVP Holdco’s remaining obligations to make capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture in connection with the then remaining construction budget.budget, less, subject to certain limits, any credit assurances issued by any affiliate of EQM under such affiliate's precedent agreement with the MVP Joint Venture.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
EQM’s critical accounting policies are described in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in EQM’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 contained in EQM’s Current Report on Form 8-K as filed on April 1, 2015 and are incorporated herein by reference.2015.  Any new accounting policies or updates to existing accounting policies as a result of new accounting pronouncements have been included in the notes to EQM’s consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 onof this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015.March 31, 2016. The application of EQM’s critical accounting policies may require management to make judgments and estimates about the amounts reflected in the consolidated financial statements.  Management uses historical experience and all available information to make these estimates and judgments.  Different amounts could be reported using different assumptions and estimates.

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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
Changes in interest rates affect the amount of interest EQM earns on cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and the interest rates EQM pays on borrowings on its credit facility. EQM's long-term borrowings are fixed rate and thus do not expose EQM to fluctuations in its results of operations or liquidity from changes in market interest rates. Changes in interest rates do affect the fair value of EQM's fixed rate debt. See Note G to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of EQM's borrowings and Note H to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of fair value measurements. EQM may from time to time hedge the interest on portions of its borrowings under the credit facility in order to manage risks associated with floating interest rates.
 
Credit Risk
 
EQM is exposed to credit risk. Credit risk is the risk that EQM may incur a loss if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract. EQM manages its exposure to credit risk associated with customers through credit analysis, credit approval, credit limits and monitoring procedures. For certain transactions, EQM may request letters of credit, cash collateral, prepayments or guarantees as forms of credit support. EQM’s FERC tariff requires tariff customers that do not meet specified credit standards to provide three months of credit support; however, EQM is exposed to credit risk beyond this three month period when its tariff does not require its customers to provide additional credit support. For some of EQM’s more recent long-term contracts associated with system expansions, it has entered into negotiated credit agreements that provide for enhanced forms of credit support if certain credit standards are not met. EQM has historically experienced only minimal credit losses in connection with its receivables. For the three months ended March 31, 2016, approximately 90% of revenues were from investment grade counterparties. EQM is also exposed to the credit risk of EQT, its largest customer. In connection with EQM's IPO in 2012, EQT guaranteed all payment obligations, up to a maximum of $50 million, due and payable to Equitrans, L.P. (Equitrans), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of EQM, by EQT Energy, LLC, one of Equitrans’ largest customers. The EQT guaranty will terminate on November 30, 2023 unless terminated earlier by EQT upon 10 days written notice. At September 30, 2015,March 31, 2016, EQT’s public senior debt had an investment grade credit rating.
 
Other Market Risks
 
EQM's credit facility is underwritten by a syndicate of financial institutions, each of which is obligated to fund its pro-rata portion of any borrowings by EQM. No one lender of the large group of18 financial institutions in the syndicate holds more than 10% of the facility. EQM’s large syndicate group and relatively low percentage of participation by each lender is expected to limit EQM’s exposure to problems or consolidation in the banking industry.

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
Under the supervision and with the participation of management of the EQM General Partner, including the EQM General Partner’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, an evaluation of EQM’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in RulesRule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)) was conducted as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the EQM General Partner concluded that EQM’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
There were no changes in internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in RulesRule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the thirdfirst quarter of 20152016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, EQM’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
In the ordinary course of business, various legal and regulatory claims and proceedings are pending or threatened against EQM. While the amounts claimed may be substantial, EQM is unable to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of such claims and proceedings. EQM accrues legal and other direct costs related to loss contingencies when actually incurred. EQM has established reserves it believes to be appropriate for pending matters and, after consultation with counsel and giving appropriate consideration to available insurance, EQM believes that the ultimate outcome of any matter currently pending against it will not materially affect its business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or ability to make distributions.
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
Information regardingOn April 8, 2016, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing new requirements applicable to natural gas transmission and gathering lines. As a result of the publication of the NPRM, EQM determined to replace in its entirety the second paragraph of the risk factors is discussedfactor entitled “We may incur significant costs and liabilities as a result of pipeline integrity management program testing and related repairs” in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of EQM’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.  There2015, as follows:

Changes to pipeline safety laws and regulations that result in more stringent or costly safety standards could have been no materiala significant adverse effect on us and similarly situated midstream operators.  For example, in August 2011, PHMSA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (2011 Notice) in which the agency was seeking public comment on a number of changes fromto regulations governing the safety of gas transmission pipelines and gathering lines, including, for example, revising the definitions of “high consequence areas” and “gathering lines” and strengthening integrity management requirements as they apply to existing regulated operators and to currently exempt operators should certain exemptions be removed. In April 2016, PHMSA published a notice of proposed rulemaking responding to several of the integrity management topics raised in the 2011 Notice and proposing new requirements to address safety issues for natural gas transmission and gathering lines that have arisen since the issuance of the 2011 Notice.  The proposed rule, which is subject to a public comment period, would strengthen existing integrity management requirements, expand assessment and repair requirements to pipelines in areas with medium population densities and extend regulatory requirements to onshore gas gathering lines that are currently exempt. We are monitoring and evaluating the effect of these proposed requirements on our operations.

Except as set forth above, as of the date of this report, our risk factors previously disclosedhave not changed materially from those discussed in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of EQM’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
 

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Item 5. Other Information

Change in Principal Financial Officer

In a Form 8-K filed on March 17, 2016 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (for the event reported March 10, 2016), EQM reported that Robert J. McNally would assume the role of principal financial officer of the EQM General Partner, and Philip P. Conti would step down from that role, on the date after the filing of EQM’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ending March 31, 2016 or on such earlier date as EQT may request.  EQT made this earlier request and on April 22, 2016, Mr. McNally became the principal financial officer of the EQM General Partner.

Item 6. Exhibits
 
10.1
Exhibit AFirst Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, dated as of January 21, 2016, by and among MVP Holdco, LLC, US Marcellus Gas Infrastructure, LLC and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC. Specific items in this exhibit have been redacted, as marked by three asterisks [***], because confidential treatment for those items has been requested from the SEC. The redacted material has been separately filed with the SEC.
10.2
Exhibit A to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, dated as of March 10, 2015, by and among MVP Holdco, LLC, US Marcellus Gas Infrastructure, LLC, Con Edison Gas Midstream, LLC, WGL Midstream, Inc., Vega Midstream MVP LLC, VED NPI IV, LLC, RGC Midstream, LLC and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (as amended effective as of October 1, 2015)January 21, 2016).
10.2
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of August 27, 2015, by and among EQT Midstream Partners, LP and the Managers named therein.
10.3
Amended and Restated Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement, dated July 29, 2015, between EQT Corporation and Theresa Z. Bone.
10.4
Termination of Amended and Restated Change of Control Agreement, dated July 29, 2015, between EQT Corporation and Theresa Z. Bone.
10.5
Transportation Service Agreement Applicable to Firm Transportation Service Under Rate Schedule FTS, Contract No. EQTR20242-852, dated September 24, 2014, between Equitrans, L.P. and EQT Energy, LLC.
31.1
Rule 13(a)-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer.
31.2
Rule 13(a)-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer.
32
Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer.
101
Interactive Data File.


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Signature
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 EQT Midstream Partners, LP
 (Registrant)
   
 By:EQT Midstream Services, LLC, its General Partner
   
   
   
 By:/s/ Philip P. ContiRobert J. McNally
  Philip P. ContiRobert J. McNally
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:  October 22, 2015April 28, 2016

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit No. Document Description Method of Filing
10.1
 Exhibit AFirst Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, dated as of January 21, 2016, by and among MVP Holdco, LLC, US Marcellus Gas Infrastructure, LLC and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC. Specific items in this exhibit have been redacted, as marked by three asterisks [***], because confidential treatment for those items has been requested from the SEC. The redacted material has been separately filed with the SEC.Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1.
10.2
Exhibit A to the Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC, dated as of March 10, 2015, by and among MVP Holdco, LLC, US Marcellus Gas Infrastructure, LLC, Con Edison Gas Midstream, LLC, WGL Midstream, Inc., Vega Midstream MVP LLC, VED NPI IV, LLC, RGC Midstream, LLC and Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (as amended effective as of October 1, 2015)January 21, 2016). Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1.
10.2
Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of August 27, 2015, by and among EQT Midstream Partners, LP and the Managers named therein.Filed as Exhibit 1.1 to Form 8-K (#001-35574) filed on August 27, 2015.
10.3
Amended and Restated Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition Agreement, dated July 29, 2015, between EQT Corporation and Theresa Z. Bone.Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.3.
10.4
Termination of Amended and Restated Change of Control Agreement, dated July 29, 2015, between EQT Corporation and Theresa Z. Bone.Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.4.
10.5
Transportation Service Agreement Applicable to Firm Transportation Service Under Rate Schedule FTS, Contract No. EQTR20242-852, dated September 24, 2014, between Equitrans, L.P. and EQT Energy, LLC.Filed herewith as Exhibit 10.5.10.2.
31.1
 Rule 13(a)-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer. Filed herewith as Exhibit 31.1.
31.2
 Rule 13(a)-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer. Filed herewith as Exhibit 31.2.
32
 Section 1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer. Furnished herewith as Exhibit 32.
101
 Interactive Data File. Filed herewith as Exhibit 101.


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