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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 22, 2013

Registration Statement No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM F-3

 

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Republic of The Marshall Islands   98-0454169

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

4th Floor, Belvedere Building,

69 Pitts Bay Road,

Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda

Telephone: (441) 298-2530

Fax: (441) 292-3931

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive office)

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP

Attention: Daniel C. Rodgers

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

(212) 922-2200

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copy to:

David S. Matheson and M. Christopher Hall

Perkins Coie LLP

1120 N.W. Couch Street, Tenth Floor

Portland, OR 97209-4128

(503) 727-2048

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective, as determined by market conditions.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.   ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.   þ

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
  Amount
to be
Registered (1)
  Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit (2)
  Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
  Amount of
Registration Fee

Common Units, representing limited partner interests

  931,098   $42.13   $39,227,158.74   $5,350.58 (2)

 

 

(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a), the number of common units being registered shall be adjusted to include any additional units that may become issuable as a result of any unit distribution, split, combination or similar transaction.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The price per unit and aggregate offering price are based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the registrant’s common units on August 19, 2013, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The selling securityholder may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED AUGUST 22, 2013

PROSPECTUS

931,098 Common Units

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests

 

 

This prospectus relates solely to the offer or resale of up to 931,098 of our common units, which represent limited partnership interests in Teekay LNG Partners L.P., by the selling securityholder identified in this prospectus. These common units were issued pursuant to a certain purchase agreement dated July 25, 2013, between us and the selling securityholder in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of these common units by the selling securityholder.

The selling securityholder identified in this prospectus, or its donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest, may sell the common units at various times and in various types of transactions, including sales in the open market, sales in negotiated transactions and sales by a combination of these methods. The selling securityholder may sell the common units to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. For additional information on the methods of sale that may be used by the selling securityholder, please read “Plan of Distribution.”

Our common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TGP.”

Limited partnerships are inherently different than corporations. You should carefully consider each of the factors described under “ Risk Factors ” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

August    , 2013


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About This Prospectus

     1   

Forward-Looking Statements

     1   

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

     2   

Risk Factors

     3   

Use of Proceeds

     7   

Description of The Common Units

     10   

Cash Distributions

     13   

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

     19   

Non-United States Tax Considerations

     33   

Plan Of Distribution

     34   

Service of Process and Enforcement of Civil Liabilities

     36   

Legal Matters

     36   

Experts

     36   

Where You Can Find More Information

     37   

Incorporation of Documents by Reference

     37   

Expenses

     38   

 

 

In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus we authorize to be delivered to you. We have not authorized anyone else to give you different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not offering to sell or seeking offers to buy these common units in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than its respective date. Our business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC. The selling securityholder referred to in the prospectus may offer and resell from time to time up to 931,098 of our common units. You should read this prospectus together with additional information described below under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference.”

This prospectus does not cover the issuance of any of our common units by us to the selling securityholder, and we will not receive any of the proceeds from any sale of common units by the selling securityholder. Except for underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any, transfer taxes, if any, and the fees and expenses of their own counsel, if any, which are to be paid by the selling securityholder, we have agreed to pay the expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the common units owned by the selling securityholder covered by this prospectus.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “selling securityholder” as used in this prospectus means ClearBridge America Energy MLP Fund Inc. and its donees, pledgees, transferees and other successors-in-interest. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to “Teekay LNG Partners,” “we,” “us” and “our” and similar terms refer to Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, except that those terms, when used in this prospectus in connection with the common units described herein, shall mean Teekay LNG Partners L.P. References in this prospectus to “Teekay Corporation” refer to Teekay Corporation and/or any one or more of its subsidiaries.

Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this prospectus to “dollars” and “$” are to, and amounts are presented in, U.S. Dollars, and financial information presented in this prospectus is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (or GAAP ).

The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. You should read carefully this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and the additional information described below under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplements are forward-looking statements. In addition, we and our representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that are also forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our operations, cash flows, financial position, plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in our business, and the markets in which we operate. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events affecting us. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited, to those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” set forth in this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and in other reports we file with or furnish to the SEC and that are incorporated into this prospectus by reference.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or events or circumstances that may arise after the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors. In addition, we cannot assess the effect of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

 

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TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is an international provider of marine transportation services for liquefied natural gas (or LNG ), liquefied petroleum gas (or LPG ) and crude oil. We were formed in 2004 by Teekay Corporation (NYSE: TK), a leading provider of marine services to the global oil and natural gas industries, to expand its operations in the LNG shipping sector. We operate a fleet of LNG and LPG carriers and conventional crude oil and product tankers, all of which are double-hulled and generally operate under long-term, fixed-rate time charters.

Our primary growth strategy focuses on expanding our fleet of LNG and LPG carriers under long-term, fixed-rate time charters. In executing our growth strategy, we may engage in vessel or business acquisitions or enter into joint ventures and partnerships with companies that provide increased access to emerging global LNG and LPG opportunities. Although we may acquire additional conventional tankers from time to time, we view our conventional tanker fleet primarily as a source of stable cash flow as we seek to expand our LNG and LPG operations. We seek to leverage the expertise, relationships and reputation of Teekay Corporation and its affiliates to pursue these opportunities in the LNG and LPG sectors and may consider other opportunities to which our competitive strengths are well suited. Teekay Corporation owns and controls our general partner and owns a substantial limited partner interest in us.

Our operations are conducted through, and our operating assets are owned by, our subsidiaries. We own our interests in our subsidiaries through our 100% ownership interest in our operating company, Teekay LNG Operating L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company. Our general partner, Teekay GP L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company, has an economic interest in us and manages our operations and activities. Our general partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation in connection with its management of our business, but it is entitled to be reimbursed for all direct and indirect expenses incurred on our behalf. Pursuant to services agreements between us and our subsidiaries, on the one hand, and other subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation, on the other hand, the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries provide to us substantially all of our administrative services and to our subsidiaries substantially all of their strategic consulting, advisory, ship management, technical and administrative services.

We are a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands. Our principal executive offices are located at 4th Floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda, and our phone number is (441) 298-2530. Our website address is www.teekaylng.com . The information contained in our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our common units involves a significant degree of risk. Although many of our business risks are comparable to those of a corporation engaged in a similar business, limited partner interests are inherently different from the capital stock of a corporation. Before investing in our common units, you should carefully consider the following risk factors together with all other information included in this prospectus, including the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and information included or incorporated by reference in any applicable prospectus supplement.

If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In that case, we might be unable to pay distributions on our common units, the trading price of our common units could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

In addition to the following risk factors, please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in this prospectus for a more complete discussion of expected material U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of our securities.

Risks Inherent in an Investment in our Common Units

Our partnership agreement limits our general partner’s fiduciary duties to our unitholders and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by our general partner.

Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held by Marshall Islands law. For example, our partnership agreement:

 

   

permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner. Where our partnership agreement permits, our general partner may consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and in such cases it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting us, our affiliates or our unitholders. Decisions made by our general partner in its individual capacity are made by its sole owner, Teekay Corporation, and not by the board of directors of our general partner. Examples include the exercise of its call right, its voting rights with respect to the units it owns, its registration rights and its determination whether to consent to any merger or consolidation of the partnership;

 

   

provides that our general partner is entitled to make other decisions in “good faith” if it reasonably believes that the decision is in our best interests;

 

   

generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner and not involving a vote of unitholders must be on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or be “fair and reasonable” to us and that, in determining whether a transaction or resolution is “fair and reasonable,” our general partner may consider the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us; and

 

   

provides that our general partner and its officers and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to us or our limited partners for any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the general partner or those other persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence.

In order to become a limited partner of our partnership, a common unitholder agrees to be bound by the provisions in the partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above.

Fees and cost reimbursements, which our general partner determines for services provided to us, are substantial and reduce our cash available for distribution to our common unitholders.

Prior to making any distribution on the common units, we pay fees for services provided to us and our operating subsidiaries by certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation, and we reimburse our general partner for all expenses it incurs on our behalf. These fees are negotiated on our behalf by our general partner, and our general partner also determines the amounts it is reimbursed. These fees and expenses include all costs incurred in providing certain advisory, ship management, technical and administrative services to us and our operating subsidiaries. The payment of fees to Teekay Corporation and reimbursement of expenses to our general partner could adversely affect our ability to pay cash distributions to our common unitholders.

 

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Our general partner, which is owned and controlled by Teekay Corporation, makes all decisions on our behalf, subject to the limited voting rights of our common unitholders. Even if public unitholders are dissatisfied, they cannot remove our general partner without Teekay Corporation’s consent.

Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our business. Unitholders did not elect our general partner or its board of directors and have no right to elect our general partner or its board of directors on an annual or other continuing basis. Teekay Corporation, which owns and controls our general partner, appoints our general partner’s board of directors. Our general partner makes all decisions on our behalf. If the unitholders are dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they have little ability to remove our general partner. As a result of these limitations, the price at which the common units trade could be diminished because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price.

The vote of the holders of at least 66 2 / 3 % of all outstanding units voting together as a single class is required to remove the general partner. As of the date of this prospectus, Teekay Corporation owned a sufficient number of units to prevent the removal of the general partner.

In addition, unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by our partnership agreement provision providing that any units held by a person that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than our general partner, its affiliates, their transferees, and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner, cannot vote on any matter. Our partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.

The control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.

On or after March 31, 2015, our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the unitholders. In addition, our partnership agreement does not restrict the ability of the members of our general partner from transferring their respective membership interests in our general partner to a third party. In the event of any such transfer, the new members of our general partner would be in a position to replace the board of directors and officers of our general partner with their own choices and to control the decisions taken by the board of directors and officers.

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

Our partnership agreement restricts unitholders’ voting rights by providing that any units held by a person that owns 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than our general partner, its affiliates, their transferees and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner, cannot vote on any matter. The partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.

In establishing cash reserves, our general partner may reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to unitholders.

Our partnership agreement requires our general partner to deduct from our operating surplus cash reserves that it determines are necessary to fund our future operating expenditures. These reserves affect the amount of cash available for distribution by us to our unitholders. Furthermore, our partnership agreement requires our general partner each quarter to deduct from operating surplus estimated maintenance capital expenditures, as opposed to actual expenditures, which could reduce the amount of available cash for distribution.

We can borrow money to pay distributions, which would reduce the amount of credit available to operate our business.

Our partnership agreement allows us to make working capital borrowings to pay distributions. Accordingly, we can make distributions on all our units even though cash generated by our operations may not be sufficient to pay such distributions. Any working capital borrowings by us to make distributions may reduce the amount of working capital borrowings we can make for operating our business.

 

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Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions.

Under certain circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully distributed to them. Under the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act (or Marshall Islands Act ), we may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Marshall Islands law provides that for a period of three years from the date of the impermissible distribution limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Marshall Islands law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Purchasers of units who become limited partners are liable for the obligations of the transferring limited partner to make contributions to the partnership that are known to the purchaser at the time it became a limited partner and for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from the partnership agreement. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interest and liabilities that are non-recourse to the partnership are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.

We may issue additional equity securities without unitholder approval, which would dilute their ownership interests.

Our general partner, without the approval of our unitholders, may cause us to issue an unlimited number of additional units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank. The issuance by us of additional common units or other equity securities will have the following effects:

 

   

our unitholders’ proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease;

 

   

the amount of cash available for distribution on each unit may decrease;

 

   

the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit may be diminished;

 

   

the market price of the common units may decline; and

 

   

the ratio of taxable income to distributions may increase.

Our general partner has a call right that may require common unitholders to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price.

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates hold more than 80% of the then-issued and outstanding partnership securities of any class, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining partnership securities of the class held by unaffiliated persons as of a record date to be selected by our general partner, on at least 10 but not more than 60 days’ notice. The purchase price in this event is the greater of (x) the average of the daily closing prices of the partnership securities of such class over the 20 trading days preceding the date three days before notice of exercise of the call right is first mailed and (y) the highest price paid by our general partner or any of its affiliates for partnership securities of such class during the 90-day period preceding the date such notice is first mailed. As a result of our general partner’s right to purchase outstanding partnership securities, a holder of partnership securities may have the holder’s partnership securities purchased at an undesirable time or price. Common unitholders may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of their units.

Increases in interest rates may cause the market price of our common units to decline.

An increase in interest rates may cause a corresponding decline in demand for equity investments in general, and in particular for yield-based equity investments such as our common units. Any such increase in interest rates or reduction in demand for our common units resulting from other relatively more attractive investment opportunities may cause the trading price of our common units to decline.

We have been organized as a limited partnership under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, which does not have a well-developed body of partnership law.

Our partnership affairs are governed by our partnership agreement and by the Marshall Islands Act. The provisions of the Marshall Islands Act resemble provisions of the limited partnership laws of a number of states in the United States, most notably Delaware. The Marshall Islands Act also provides that it is to be applied and construed to make it uniform with the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and, so long as it does not conflict with the Marshall Islands Act or decisions of the Marshall Islands courts, interpreted according to the non-statutory law (or case law) of the courts of the State of Delaware. There have been, however, few, if any, court cases in the Marshall Islands interpreting the Marshall Islands Act, in contrast to Delaware, which has a fairly well-developed body of case law interpreting its limited partnership statute. Accordingly, we cannot predict whether Marshall Islands courts would reach the same conclusions as Delaware courts. For example, the rights of our unitholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our general partner under Marshall Islands law are not as clearly established as under judicial precedent in existence in Delaware. As a result, unitholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by our general partner and its officers and directors than would unitholders of a limited partnership formed in the United States.

 

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Because we are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands, it may be difficult to serve us with legal process or enforce judgments against our directors or our management.

We are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands, and all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Our business is operated primarily from our offices in Bermuda and Spain. In addition, our general partner is a Marshall Islands limited liability company and many of its directors and officers are non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States if you believe that your rights have been infringed under securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Marshall Islands and of other jurisdictions may prevent or restrict you from enforcing a judgment against our assets or the assets of our general partner or its directors and officers. For more information regarding the relevant laws of the Marshall Islands, please read “Service of Process and Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.”

Tax Risks

The decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Tidewater Inc. v. United States creates some uncertainty as to whether we will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In order for us to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, more than 90% of our gross income each year must be “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code ). For this purpose, “qualifying income” includes income from providing marine transportation services to customers with respect to crude oil, natural gas and certain products thereof but may not include rental income from leasing vessels to customers.

The decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009) held that income derived from certain time chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a foreign sales corporation provision of the Code. However, the Internal Revenue Service (or IRS ) stated in an Action on Decision (AOD 2010-001) that it disagrees with, and will not acquiesce to, the way that the rental versus services framework was applied to the facts in the Tidewater decision, and in its discussion stated that the time charters at issue in Tidewater would be treated as producing services income for purposes of the passive foreign investment company provisions of the Code. The IRS’s statement with respect to Tidewater cannot be relied upon or otherwise cited as precedent by taxpayers. Consequently, in the absence of any binding legal authority specifically relating to the statutory provisions governing “qualifying income” under Section 7704 of the Code, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court would not follow the Tidewater decision in interpreting the “qualifying income” provisions under Section 7704 of the Code. Nevertheless, our counsel, Perkins Coie LLP, is of the opinion that our time charter income should be “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code and that we should (as opposed to will) be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No assurance can be given, however, that the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP would be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. As such, there is some uncertainty regarding the status of our time charter income as “qualifying income” and therefore some uncertainty as to whether we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — Classification as a Partnership.”

Common unitholders may be subject to income tax in one or more non-U.S. countries, including Canada, as a result of owning our common units if, under the laws of any such country, we are considered to be carrying on business there. Such laws may require common unitholders to file a tax return with, and pay taxes to, those countries. Any foreign taxes imposed on us or any of our subsidiaries may not be allowed as a credit against a common unitholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and will reduce our cash available for distribution to common unitholders.

We intend that our affairs and the business of each of our subsidiaries is conducted and operated in a manner that minimizes foreign income taxes imposed upon us and our subsidiaries or which may be imposed upon you as a result of owning our common units. However, there is a risk that common unitholders will be subject to tax in one or more countries, including Canada, as a result of owning our common units if, under the laws of any such country, we are considered to be carrying on business there. If common unitholders are subject to tax in any such country, common unitholders may be required to file a tax return with, and pay taxes to, that country based on their allocable share of our income. We may be required to reduce distributions to common unitholders on account of any withholding obligations imposed upon us by that country in respect of such allocation to common unitholders. The United States may not allow a tax credit for any foreign income taxes that common unitholders directly or indirectly incur. Any foreign taxes imposed on us or any of our subsidiaries will reduce our cash available for common unitholders.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of common units by the selling securityholder under this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. Please read “Selling Securityholder.”

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON UNITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Our common units are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TGP.”

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales price per common unit, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, and the amount of quarterly cash distributions declared per unit. The closing sales price of our common units on the New York Stock Exchange on August 21, 2013 was $41.92 per common unit.

 

     Price ranges      Quarterly cash
distributions(1)
 
     High      Low     

Years Ended

        

December 31, 2012

   $ 42.26       $ 33.50      

December 31, 2011

   $ 41.50       $ 28.61      

December 31, 2010

   $ 38.25       $ 19.75      

December 31, 2009

   $ 26.91       $ 15.02      

December 31, 2008

   $ 32.50       $ 9.10      

Quarters Ended

        

September 30, 2013(2)

   $  45.40       $  41.18      

June 30, 2013

   $ 45.06       $ 38.32       $ 0.6750   

March 31, 2013

   $ 42.60       $ 37.73       $ 0.6750   

December 31, 2012

   $ 38.60       $ 34.50       $ 0.6750   

September 30, 2012

   $ 41.41       $ 37.32       $ 0.6750   

June 30, 2012

   $ 42.26       $ 34.68       $ 0.6750   

March 31, 2012

   $ 40.44       $ 33.50       $ 0.6750   

December 31, 2011

   $ 36.88       $ 28.61       $ 0.6300   

September 30, 2011

   $ 38.40       $ 28.81       $ 0.6300   

June 30, 2011

   $ 41.20       $ 33.55       $ 0.6300   

March 31, 2011

   $ 41.50       $ 34.00       $ 0.6300   

Months Ended

        

August 31, 2013(3)

   $ 43.44       $ 41.26      

July 31, 2013

   $ 45.40       $ 41.18      

June 30, 2013

   $ 44.50       $ 40.60      

May 31, 2013

   $ 45.06       $ 41.34      

April 30, 2013

   $ 42.57       $ 38.32      

March 31, 2013

   $ 41.81       $ 38.12      

February 28, 2013

   $ 42.60       $ 37.73      

 

(1) Distributions are shown for the quarter with respect to which they were declared. Cash distributions were declared and paid within 45 days following the close of each quarter.
(2) Based on trading prices between July 1, 2013 and August 21, 2013.
(3) Based on trading prices between August 1, 2013 and August 21, 2013.

 

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SELLING SECURITYHOLDER

This prospectus covers the offering for resale of up to 931,098 common units by the selling securityholder identified below.

The 931,098 common units were issued to the selling securityholder on July 30, 2013 pursuant to certain that certain Common Unit Purchase Agreement dated July 25, 2013.

The table below sets forth information about the maximum number of common units that may be offered from time to time by the selling securityholder under this prospectus. The selling securityholder identified below may currently hold or acquire at any time common units in addition to those registered hereby. In addition, the selling securityholder identified below may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of its common units in private placement transactions exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Accordingly, we cannot give an estimate as to the amount of common units that will be held by the selling securityholder upon termination of this offering.

Information concerning the selling securityholder may change from time to time and, to the extent required, we will supplement this prospectus accordingly.

To our knowledge, the selling securityholder does not have nor has not had within the past three years, any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates, other than its ownership of common units. Because the selling securityholder may sell all or a portion of the common units registered hereby, we cannot estimate the number or percentage of our common units that the selling securityholder will hold upon completion of the offering. For information on the procedure for sales by the selling securityholder, please read the disclosure set forth under the heading “Plan of Distribution.”

We have prepared the following table and the related notes based on information supplied to us by the selling securityholder on or prior to August 20 , 2013. We have not sought to verify such information. Additionally, the selling securityholder may have sold or transferred some or all of the common units listed below in exempt or non-exempt transactions since the date on which the information was provided to us. Other information about the selling securityholder may change over time.

 

Selling Securityholder   Common Units Owned     Common Units That
May Be Offered Hereby
 

ClearBridge America Energy MLP Fund Inc. (1)

    968,267        931,098   

 

(1) The selling securityholder is managed by ClearBridge Investments, LLC, which is wholly owned by Legg Mason, Inc. Three of ClearBridge Investments, LLC’s affiliates are SEC-registered broker-dealers. They are Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, Royce Fund Services Inc. and Carnes Capital Corporation. The selling securityholder has represented to us that (i) it purchased the common units in the ordinary course of business and (ii) at the time of the purchase of the common units to be resold, it had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the common units.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS

Our common units represent limited partner interests in us. The holders of units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the relative rights and privileges of holders of common units and our general partner in and to partnership distributions, please read “Cash Distributions.”

Number of Units

The number of our common units outstanding, and those held by Teekay Corporation, which owns our general partner, are provided in our Annual Report on Form 20-F and in the quarterly reports we provide on Form 6-K. The common units represent an aggregate 98% limited partner interest and the general partner interest represents a 2% general partner interest in us.

Issuance of Additional Securities

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership securities and rights to buy partnership securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions determined by our general partner without the approval of our unitholders.

We may fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.

In accordance with Marshall Islands law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership securities interests that, as determined by the general partner, have special voting or other rights to which the common units are not entitled.

Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner will be required to make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its 2% general partner interest in us. In addition, our general partner and its affiliates have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units or other equity securities whenever, and on the same terms that, we issue those securities to persons other than our general partner and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain its and its affiliates’ percentage interest, including its interest represented by common units that existed immediately prior to each issuance. Other holders of common units do not have similar preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership securities.

Meetings; Voting

Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, the holders of our units have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. They have no right to elect our general partner (who manages our operations and activities), or the directors of our general partner on an annual or other continuing basis. On those matters that are submitted to a vote of unitholders, each record holder of a unit may vote according to the holder’s percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, or a direct or subsequently approved transferee of our general partner or its affiliates or a transferee approved by the board of directors of our general partner, acquires, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum, or for other similar purposes.

The common units held by our general partner or any of its affiliates are not entitled to vote on approval of the withdrawal of our general partner or the transfer by our general partner of its general partner interest or incentive distribution rights under some circumstances. Removal of our general partner requires:

 

   

a 66 2 / 3 % vote of all outstanding units, voting together as a single class; and

 

   

the election of a successor general partner by the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units.

Except as described above regarding a person or group owning 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, unitholders or assignees who are record holders of units on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited. Common units that are owned by an assignee who is a record holder, but who has not yet been admitted as a limited partner, will be voted by our general partner at the written direction of the record holder. Absent direction of this kind, the common units will not be voted.

 

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Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting if consents in writing describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be the greater percentage.

Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise.

Call Right

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates hold more than 80% of the then-issued and outstanding partnership securities of any class, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining partnership securities of the class held by unaffiliated persons as of a record date to be selected by our general partner, on at least 10 but not more than 60 days’ notice. The purchase price in this event is the greater of (x) the average of the daily closing prices of the partnership securities of such class over the 20 trading days preceding the date three days before notice of exercise of the call right is first mailed and (y) the highest price paid by our general partner or any of its affiliates for partnership securities of such class during the 90-day period preceding the date such notice is first mailed.

As a result of our general partner’s right to purchase outstanding partnership securities, a holder of partnership securities may have the holder’s partnership securities purchased at an undesirable time or price.

Exchange Listing

Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where they trade under the symbol “TGP.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Shareowner Services LLC serves as registrar and transfer agent for our common units. We pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units, except the following, which must be paid by unitholders:

 

   

surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, taxes and other governmental charges;

 

   

special charges for services requested by a holder of a common unit; and

 

   

other similar fees or charges.

There is no charge to unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.

Transfer of Common Units

Transfers of a common unit will not be recorded by the transfer agent or recognized by us unless the transferee executes and delivers a transfer application. By executing and delivering a transfer application, the transferee of common units:

 

   

becomes the record holder of the common units and is an assignee until admitted into our partnership as a substituted limited partner;

 

   

automatically requests admission as a substituted limited partner in the partnership;

 

   

agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of, and executes, our partnership agreement;

 

   

represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into our partnership agreement;

 

   

grants powers of attorney to officers of our general partner and any liquidator of us as specified in our partnership agreement; and

 

   

gives the consents and approvals contained in our partnership agreement.

 

 

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An assignee will become a substituted limited partner of our partnership for the transferred common units automatically upon the recording of the transfer on our books and records. Our general partner will cause any unrecorded transfers for which a completed and duly executed transfer application has been received to be recorded on our books and records no less frequently than quarterly.

A transferee’s broker, agent or nominee may complete, execute and deliver a transfer application. We are entitled to treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holder’s rights are limited solely to those that it has against the nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.

Common units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to request admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common units. A purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application obtains only:

 

   

the right to assign the common unit to a purchaser or other transferee; and

 

   

the right to transfer the right to seek admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common units.

Thus, a purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application:

 

   

will not receive cash distributions or U.S. federal income tax allocations, unless the common units are held in a nominee or “street name” account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application; and

 

   

may not receive some U.S. federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units.

The transferor of common units has a duty to provide the transferee with all information that may be necessary to transfer the common units. The transferor does not have a duty to ensure the execution of the transfer application by the transferee and has no liability or responsibility if the transferee neglects or chooses not to execute and forward the transfer application to the transfer agent.

Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.

Other Matters

Merger, Sale, or Other Disposition of Assets.  A merger or consolidation of us requires the consent of our general partner, in addition to the approval of the holders of units representing a unit majority. However, our general partner will have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger or consolidation and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. In addition, our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without unitholder approval, from causing us to sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. Our general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without unitholder approval. Our general partner may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without unitholder approval. The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal under our partnership agreement or applicable law in the event of a conversion, merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets, or any other transaction or event.

Registration Rights.  Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws any common units or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available or advisable. These registration rights continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of Teekay GP L.L.C. as our general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.

Summary of Additional Important Provisions of Our Partnership Agreement and Conflict of Interest Matters

A copy of our partnership agreement is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A summary of the important provisions of our partnership agreement and the rights and privileges of our unitholders is included in our registration statement on Form 8-A/A as filed with the SEC on May 13, 2011, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. In addition to the partnership agreement summary, the Form 8-A/A also describes (1) conflicts of interest that may arise as a result of the relationship between our general partner and its affiliates, including Teekay Corporation, on the one hand, and us and our unaffiliated limited partners on the other hand, and (2) the fiduciary duties our general partner owes us, and possible limitations on those duties. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

 

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CASH DISTRIBUTIONS

Distribution of Available Cash

General

Within approximately 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.

Available Cash

Available cash generally means, for each fiscal quarter, all cash on hand at the end of the quarter (including our proportionate share of cash on hand of certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own):

 

   

less the amount of cash reserves (including our proportionate share of cash reserves of certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own) established by our general partner to:

 

   

provide for the proper conduct of our business (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for our anticipated credit needs);

 

   

comply with applicable law, any debt instruments, or other agreements; or

 

   

provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and to our general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters;

 

   

plus all cash on hand (including our proportionate share of cash on hand of certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own) on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter. Working capital borrowings are generally borrowings that are made under our credit agreements and in all cases are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay distributions to partners.

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

Common unitholders are entitled under our partnership agreement to receive a quarterly distribution of $0.4125 per unit, or $1.65 per year to the extent we have sufficient available cash from our operations after we establish cash reserves and pay fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner. Our general partner has the authority to determine the amount of our available cash for any quarter. This determination, as well as all determinations made by our general partner, must be made in good faith. There is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution on our common units in any quarter, and we will be prohibited from making any distributions to our unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default is existing, under our credit facilities.

Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus

General

All cash distributed to unitholders is characterized as either “operating surplus” or “capital surplus.” We treat distributions of available cash from operating surplus differently than distributions of available cash from capital surplus.

Definition of Operating Surplus

Operating surplus, for any period, generally means:

 

   

our cash balance (including our proportionate share of cash balances of certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own) on May 10, 2005, the closing date of our initial public offering, other than cash reserved to terminate interest rate swap agreements; plus

 

   

$10 million; plus

 

   

all of our cash receipts (including our proportionate share of cash receipts of certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own) after the closing of our initial public offering, excluding cash from (1) borrowings, other than working capital borrowings, (2) sales of equity and debt securities, (3) sales or other dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business, (4) termination of interest rate swap agreements, (5) capital contributions or (6) corporate reorganizations or restructurings; plus

 

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working capital borrowings (including our proportionate share of working capital borrowings for certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own) made after the end of a quarter but before the date of determination of operating surplus for the quarter; plus

 

   

interest paid on debt incurred (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and cash distributions paid on equity securities issued, in each case (and including our proportionate share of such interest and cash distributions paid by certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own), to finance all or any portion of the construction, replacement or improvement of a capital asset such as vessels during the period from such financing until the earlier to occur of the date the capital asset is put into service or the date that it is abandoned or disposed of; plus

 

   

interest paid on debt incurred (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements) and cash distributions paid on equity securities issued, in each case (and including our proportionate share of such interest and cash distributions paid by certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own), to pay the construction period interest on debt incurred (including periodic net payments under related interest rate swap agreements), or to pay construction period distributions on equity issued, to finance the construction projects described in the immediately preceding bullet; less

 

   

all of our operating expenditures (including our proportionate share of operating expenditures of certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own) after the closing of our initial public offering and the repayment of working capital borrowings, but not (1) the repayment of other borrowings, (2) actual maintenance capital expenditures or expansion capital expenditures, (3) transaction expenses (including taxes) related to interim capital transactions or (4) distributions; less

 

   

estimated maintenance capital expenditures and the amount of cash reserves (including our proportionate share of cash reserves of certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own) established by our general partner to provide funds for future operating expenditures.

As described above, operating surplus includes a provision that enables us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $10 million of cash we have received or will receive from non-operating sources since the time of our initial public offering, such as asset sales, issuances of securities and long-term borrowings, that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. In addition, the effect of including, as described above, certain cash distributions on equity securities or interest payments on debt in operating surplus would also be to increase operating surplus by the amount of any such cash distributions or interest payments. As a result, we may distribute as operating surplus up to the amount of any such cash distributions or interest payments of cash we receive from non-operating sources.

Capital Expenditures

For purposes of determining operating surplus, maintenance capital expenditures are those capital expenditures required to maintain over the long term the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by capital assets, and expansion capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that increase the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by capital assets. To the extent, however, that capital expenditures associated with acquiring a new vessel increase the revenues or the operating capacity of our fleet, those capital expenditures would be classified as expansion capital expenditures.

Examples of maintenance capital expenditures include capital expenditures associated with drydocking a vessel or acquiring a new vessel to the extent such expenditures are incurred to maintain the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by our fleet. Maintenance capital expenditures also include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued to finance the construction of a replacement vessel and paid during the construction period, which we define as the period beginning on the date of entry into a binding construction contract and ending on the earlier of the date that the replacement vessel commences commercial service or the date that the replacement vessel is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or equity issued to fund construction period interest payments, and distributions on such equity, are also considered maintenance capital expenditures.

Because maintenance capital expenditures can be very large and vary significantly in timing, the amount of our actual maintenance capital expenditures may differ substantially from period to period, which could cause similar fluctuations in the amounts of operating surplus, adjusted operating surplus, and available cash for distribution to our unitholders if we subtracted actual maintenance capital expenditures from operating surplus each quarter. Accordingly, to eliminate the effect on operating surplus of these fluctuations, our partnership agreement requires that an amount equal to an estimate of the average quarterly maintenance capital expenditures necessary to maintain the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by our capital assets over the long term be subtracted from operating surplus each quarter, as opposed to the actual amounts spent. The amount of estimated maintenance capital expenditures deducted from operating surplus is subject to review and change by the board of directors of our general partner at least once a year, provided that any change must be approved by the board’s conflicts committee. The estimate is made at least annually and whenever an event occurs that is likely to result in a material adjustment to the amount of our maintenance capital expenditures, such as a major acquisition or the introduction of new governmental regulations that will affect our fleet. For purposes of calculating operating surplus, any adjustment to this estimate is prospective only.

 

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The use of estimated maintenance capital expenditures in calculating operating surplus has the following effects:

 

   

it reduces the risk that actual maintenance capital expenditures in any one quarter will be large enough to make operating surplus less than the minimum quarterly distribution to be paid on all the units for that quarter and subsequent quarters;

 

   

it reduces the need for us to borrow under our working capital facility to pay distributions; and

 

   

it is more difficult for us to raise our distribution on our units above the minimum quarterly distribution and pay incentive distributions to our general partner.

Definition of Capital Surplus

Capital surplus generally is generated only by:

 

   

borrowings other than working capital borrowings;

 

   

sales of debt and equity securities; and

 

   

sales or other dispositions of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other current assets sold in the ordinary course of business or non-current assets sold as part of normal retirements or replacements of assets.

Characterization of Cash Distributions

We treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since we began operations equals the operating surplus as of the most recent date of determination of available cash. We treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. As described above, operating surplus does not reflect actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders. For example, it includes a provision that enables us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $10 million of cash we have received or will receive from non-operating sources since the time of our initial public offering, such as asset sales, issuances of securities and long-term borrowings that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. We do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus.

Distributions of Available Cash From Operating Surplus

We make distributions of available cash from operating surplus in the following manner:

 

   

first, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we distribute for each outstanding unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter; and

 

   

thereafter, in the manner described in “Incentive Distribution Rights” below.

Incentive Distribution Rights

Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Our general partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its general partner interest. Except for transfers of incentive distribution rights to an affiliate or another entity as part of our general partner’s merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to such entity, the approval of a majority of our common units (excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates), voting separately as a class, generally is required for a transfer of the incentive distributions rights to a third party prior to March 31, 2015. Any transfer by our general partner of the incentive distribution rights would not change the percentage allocations of quarterly distributions with respect to such rights.

 

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Percentage Allocations of Available Cash From Operating Surplus

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner up to the various target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of the unitholders and our general partner in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column “Total Quarterly Distribution Target Amount,” until available cash from operating surplus we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the unitholders and our general partner for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests shown for our general partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume our general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

 

          Marginal Percentage Interest in
Distributions
 
     Total Quarterly Distribution Target   
    

Amount

   Unitholders     General Partner  

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

   $0.4125      98     2

First Target Distribution

   up to $0.4625      98        2   

Second Target Distribution

   above $0.4625 up to $0.5375      85        15   

Third Target Distribution

   above $0.5375 up to $0.6500      75        25   

Thereafter

   above $0.6500      50        50   

Distributions From Capital Surplus

How Distributions From Capital Surplus Are Made

We make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following manner:

 

   

first, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we distribute for each common unit an amount of available cash from capital surplus equal to the initial public offering price of our common units; and

 

   

thereafter, we make all distributions of available cash from capital surplus as if they were from operating surplus.

The preceding paragraph is based on the assumption that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

Effect of a Distribution From Capital Surplus

Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from our initial public offering on May 10, 2005, which is a return of capital. That initial public offering price less any distributions of capital surplus per unit is referred to as the “unrecovered initial unit price.” Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as the corresponding reduction in the unrecovered initial unit price. Because distributions of capital surplus will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution, after any of these distributions are made, it may be easier for our general partner to receive incentive distributions. However, any distribution of capital surplus before the unrecovered initial unit price is reduced to zero cannot be applied to the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution.

Once we distribute capital surplus on a unit issued in our initial public offering in an amount equal to the initial unit price, we will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels to zero. We will then make all future distributions from operating surplus, with 50% being paid to the holders of units and 50% to our general partner. The percentage interests shown for our general partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume the general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

In addition to adjusting the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units, we will proportionately adjust:

 

   

the minimum quarterly distribution;

 

   

the target distribution levels; and

 

   

the unrecovered initial unit price.

 

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For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units should occur, the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level. We will not make any adjustment by reason of the issuance of additional units for cash or property.

In addition, if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted by a governmental taxing authority so that we become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, our partnership agreement specifies that the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels for each quarter will be reduced by multiplying each distribution level by a fraction, the numerator of which is available cash for that quarter and the denominator of which is the sum of available cash for that quarter plus our general partner’s estimate of our aggregate liability for the quarter for such income taxes payable by reason of such legislation or interpretation. To the extent that the actual tax liability differs from the estimated tax liability for any quarter, the difference will be accounted for in subsequent quarters.

Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation

General

If we dissolve in accordance with the partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and our general partner, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.

There may not be sufficient gain upon our liquidation to enable the holders of common units to fully recover their initial unit price plus the minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which liquidation occurs. Any further net gain recognized upon liquidation will be allocated in a manner that takes into account the incentive distribution rights of our general partner.

Manner of Adjustments for Gain

The manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in the partnership agreement. We will allocate any gain to the partners in the following manner:

 

   

first, to our general partner and the holders of units who have negative balances in their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to those negative balances;

 

   

second, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until the capital account for each common unit is equal to the sum of:

 

  (1) the unrecovered initial unit price;

 

  (2) the amount of any unpaid minimum quarterly distribution for the quarter during which our liquidation occurs; and

 

   

third, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to:

 

  (1) the first target distribution per unit over the minimum quarterly distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence;

 

  (2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution per unit that we distributed 98% to the unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, for each quarter of our existence;

 

   

fourth, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to:

 

  (1) the sum of the excess of the second target distribution per unit over the first target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less

 

  (2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the first target distribution per unit that we distributed 85% to the unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence;

 

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fifth, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner, until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to:

 

  (1) the sum of the excess of the third target distribution per unit over the second target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence; less

 

  (2) the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of available cash from operating surplus in excess of the second target distribution per unit that we distributed 75% to the unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence; and

 

   

thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to our general partner.

The percentage interests set forth above for our general partner include its 2% general partner interest and assume the general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

Manner of Adjustments for Losses

We will generally allocate any loss to our general partner and the unitholders in the following manner:

 

   

first, 98% to the holders of common units in proportion to the positive balances in their capital accounts and 2% to our general partner, until the capital accounts of the common unitholders have been reduced to zero; and

 

   

thereafter, 100% to our general partner.

Adjustments to Capital Accounts

We will make adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units. In doing so, we will allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the existing unitholders and our general partner in the same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that we make positive adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, we will allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional units or upon our liquidation in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in our general partner’s and unitholders’ capital account balances equaling the amount which they would have been if no earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective common unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States (or U.S. Individual Unitholders ) and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP, counsel to the general partner and us, insofar as it relates to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters. The opinion of our counsel is dependent on the accuracy of representations made by us to them, including descriptions of our operations contained herein.

This discussion is based upon provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the Code ), legislative history, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations (or Treasury Regulations ), court decisions and administrative interpretations, all as in effect on the date of this prospectus, and which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we”, “our” or “us” are references to Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries that have properly elected to be disregarded as entities separate from their owners for U.S. federal tax purposes other than subsidiaries which have properly elected to be disregarded as entities separate from any of our corporate subsidiaries for U.S. federal tax purposes.

This discussion focuses on U.S. Individual Unitholders who hold their common units as a capital asset for tax purposes. This discussion does not address all tax considerations that may be important to a particular unitholder in light of the unitholder’s circumstances, and has only limited application to corporations, estates, trusts, non-U.S. persons or to certain categories of unitholders that may be subject to special tax rules, such as:

 

   

dealers in securities or currencies,

 

   

traders in securities that have elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities,

 

   

persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar,

 

   

persons holding our common units as part of a hedge, straddle, conversion or other “synthetic security” or integrated transaction,

 

   

certain U.S. expatriates,

 

   

financial institutions,

 

   

insurance companies,

 

   

persons subject to the alternative minimum tax,

 

   

persons that actually or under applicable constructive ownership rules own 10% or more of our common units, and

 

   

entities that are tax-exempt for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If a partnership (including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common units, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our common units, you should consult your own tax advisor about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing the common units.

Except as described below under “— Classification as a Partnership” and “— Taxation of our Subsidiary Corporation,” no ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or prospective unitholders. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Perkins Coie LLP. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions of Perkins Coie LLP may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. For the reasons described below, Perkins Coie LLP has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific U.S. federal income tax issues: (1) the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units (please read “ — Consequences of Unit Ownership — Treatment of Short Sales”); (2) whether our method for depreciating Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read “— Consequences of Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election”); and (3) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read “— Disposition of Common Units — Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees”).

 

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This discussion does not address any U.S. estate or alternative minimum tax considerations or tax considerations arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction. Each unitholder is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of our common units.

Classification as a Partnership

For purposes of U.S. federal income taxation, a partnership is not a taxable entity, and although it may be subject to withholding taxes on behalf of its partners under certain circumstances, a partnership itself incurs no U.S. federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take into account his share of items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit of the partnership in computing his U.S. federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a partner generally are not taxable unless the amount of cash distributed exceeds the partner’s adjusted tax basis in his partnership interest.

Section 7704 of the Code provides that publicly traded partnerships generally will be treated as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, an exception, referred to as the “Qualifying Income Exception,” exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships whose “qualifying income” represents 90% or more of their gross income for every taxable year. Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation and storage of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, including liquefied natural gas. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of qualifying income, including stock. We have received a ruling from the IRS that we requested in connection with our initial public offering that the income we derive from transporting LNG and crude oil pursuant to time charters existing at the time of our initial public offering is qualifying income within the meaning of Section 7704. A ruling from the IRS, while generally binding on the IRS, may under certain circumstances be revoked or modified by the IRS retroactively. With respect to income that is not covered by the IRS ruling, we will rely upon the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP as to whether the income is qualifying income.

We estimate that less than 5% of our current income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time for various reasons. Because we have not received an IRS ruling or an opinion of counsel that any (1) income we derive from transporting crude oil, natural gas and products thereof, including LNG, pursuant to bareboat charters or (2) income or gain we recognize from foreign currency transactions, is qualifying income, we are currently treating income from those sources as nonqualifying income. Under some circumstances, such as a significant change in foreign currency rates, the percentage of income or gain from foreign currency transactions in relation to our total gross income could be substantial. We do not expect income or gains from these sources and other income or gains that are not qualifying income to constitute 10% or more of our gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, it is possible that the operation of certain of our vessels pursuant to bareboat charters could, in the future, cause our non-qualifying income to constitute 10% or more of our future gross income if such vessels were held in a pass-through structure. In order to preserve our status as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we have received a ruling from the IRS that effectively allows us to conduct our bareboat charter operations, as well as our LPG operations, in a subsidiary corporation.

Perkins Coie LLP is of the opinion that, based upon the Code, Treasury Regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions, the IRS ruling and representations described below, we should be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In rendering its opinion, Perkins Coie LLP has relied on factual representations made by us and the general partner, including:

 

   

We have not elected and will not elect to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

 

   

For each taxable year, at least 90% of our gross income will be either (a) income to which the IRS ruling described above applies or (b) of a type that Perkins Coie LLP has opined or will opine should be “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code.

The discussion that follows is based on the assumption that we will be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read “— Possible Classification as a Corporation” below for a discussion of the consequences of our failing to be treated as a partnership for such purposes.

 

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Status as a Partner

The treatment of unitholders described in this section applies only to unitholders treated as partners in us for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Unitholders who have been properly admitted as limited partners of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. will be treated as partners in us for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Also:

 

   

assignees of common units who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting admission as limited partners; and

 

   

unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units will be treated as partners in us for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The status of assignees of common units who are entitled to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, is unclear. Therefore, Perkins Coie LLP’s opinion does not extend to these persons. In addition, a purchaser or other transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some U.S. federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units, unless the common units are held in a nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those common units.

Under certain circumstances, a beneficial owner of common units whose units have been loaned to another may lose his status as a partner with respect to those units for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read “— Consequences of Unit Ownership — Treatment of Short Sales” below.

In general, a person who is not a partner in a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not required or permitted to report any share of the partnership’s income, gain, deductions or losses for such purposes, and any cash distributions received by such a person from the partnership therefore may be fully taxable as ordinary income. Unitholders not described here are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to their status as partners in us for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Consequences of Unit Ownership

Flow-through of Taxable Income.  Each unitholder is required to include in computing his taxable income his allocable share of our items of income, gains, loss, deductions and credit for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable year, without regard to whether we make corresponding cash distributions to him. Our taxable year ends on December 31. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder as of December 31 of a given year, and the unitholder will be required to report this income on his tax return for his tax year that ends on or includes such date, even if he has not received a cash distribution from us as of that date.

In addition, certain U.S. Individual Unitholders and estates or trusts that are U.S. persons as defined in the Code are required to pay an additional 3.8% tax on, among other things, the income allocated to them for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, subject to certain exceptions. Unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their ownership of our common units.

Treatment of Distributions.  Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of his tax basis in his common units immediately before the distribution. Our cash distributions in excess of a unitholder’s tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the common units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under “— Disposition of Common Units” below. Any reduction in a unitholder’s share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as “nonrecourse liabilities,” will be treated as a distribution of cash to that unitholder. A decrease in a unitholder’s percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional common units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. To the extent our distributions cause a unitholder’s “at risk” amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years. Please read “— Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.”

A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his common units, if the distribution reduces the unitholder’s share of our “unrealized receivables,” including depreciation recapture, and/or substantially appreciated “inventory items,” both as defined in the Code (or, collectively, Section 751 Assets ). To that extent, he will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the unitholder’s realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the unitholder’s tax basis for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.

Basis of Common Units.  A unitholder’s initial U.S. federal income tax basis for his common units will be the amount he paid for the common units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our tax-exempt income, if any, and decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from us, by the unitholder’s share of our losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that is recourse to the general partner, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities.

 

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Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.  The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our losses will be limited to the tax basis in his units and, in the case of an individual unitholder or a corporate unitholder more than 50% of the value of the stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer individuals or some tax-exempt organizations, to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be “at risk” with respect to our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, reduced by any amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A unitholder must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable to the extent that his tax basis or at risk amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon the taxable disposition of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any excess suspended loss above that gain is no longer utilizable.

The passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from a passive activity only to the extent of the taxpayer’s income from the same passive activity. Passive activities generally are corporate or partnership activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate. The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate only will be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including our investments or investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or salary or active business income. Passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholder’s share of income we generate may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive activity loss rules are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at risk rules and the basis limitation.

Dual consolidated loss restrictions also may apply to limit the deductibility by a corporate unitholder of losses we incur. Corporate unitholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the applicability and effect to them of dual consolidated loss restrictions.

Limitations on Interest Deductions.  The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer’s “investment interest expense” generally is limited to the amount of that taxpayer’s “net investment income.” For this purpose, investment interest expense includes, among other things, a unitholder’s share of our interest expense attributed to portfolio income. The IRS has indicated that net passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be treated as net investment income to its unitholders. As a result, a unitholder’s share of our portfolio income will be treated as investment income.

Entity-Level Collections.  If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any U.S. federal, state or local or foreign income or withholding taxes on behalf of any present or former unitholder or the general partner, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the partner on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. We are authorized to amend the partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under the partnership agreement are maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual partner, in which event the partner would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund of tax paid.

Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss, Deduction and Credit.  In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit will be allocated among the general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that incentive distributions are made to the general partner, gross income will be allocated to the general partner to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss for the entire year, that loss generally will be allocated first to the general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and, second, to the general partner.

Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of any property held by the partnership immediately prior to an offering of common units, referred to in this discussion as “Adjusted Property.” The effect of these allocations to a unitholder purchasing common units in an offering essentially will be the same as if the tax basis of our assets were equal to their fair market value at the time of the offering. In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the partner who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders. Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.

 

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An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss, deduction or credit, other than an allocation required by the Code to eliminate the difference between a partner’s “book” capital account, which is credited with the fair market value of Adjusted Property, and “tax” capital account, which is credited with the tax basis of Adjusted Property, referred to in this discussion as the “Book-Tax Disparity,” generally will be given effect for U.S. federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit only if the allocation has substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partner’s share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including:

 

   

his relative contributions to us;

 

   

the interests of all the partners in profits and losses;

 

   

the interest of all the partners in cash flow; and

 

   

the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation.

A unitholder’s taxable income or loss with respect to a common unit each year will depend upon a number of factors, including (1) the nature and fair market value of our assets at the time the holder acquired the common unit, (2) whether we issue additional units or we engage in certain other transactions and (3) the manner in which our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit are allocated among our partners. For this purpose, we determine the value of our assets and the relative amounts of our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit allocable to our unitholders and our general partner as holder of the incentive distribution rights by reference to the value of our interests, including the incentive distribution rights. The IRS may challenge any valuation determinations that we make, particularly as to the incentive distribution rights, for which there is no public market. Moreover, the IRS could challenge certain other aspects of the manner in which we determine the relative allocations made to our unitholders and to the general partner as holder of our incentive distribution rights. A successful IRS challenge to our valuation or allocation methods could increase the amount of net taxable income and gain realized by a unitholder with respect to a common unit.

Perkins Coie LLP is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in the preceding paragraph and in “— Consequences of Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election,” “— Tax Treatment of Operations — Valuation and Tax Basis of our Assets” and “— Disposition of Common Units — Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees,” allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect for U.S. federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit.

Treatment of Short Sales.  A unitholder whose units are loaned to a “short seller” who sells such units may be considered to have disposed of those units. If so, he would no longer be a partner with respect to those units until the termination of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result:

 

   

any of our income, gain, loss, deduction or credit with respect to the units may not be reportable by the unitholder who loaned them; and

 

   

any cash distributions received by such unitholder with respect to those units may be fully taxable as ordinary income.

Perkins Coie LLP has not rendered an opinion regarding the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller. Therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged to ensure that any applicable brokerage account agreements prohibit their brokers from borrowing their units. Please also read “— Disposition of Common Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

Section 754 Election.  We have made an election under Section 754 of the Code to adjust a common unit purchaser’s U.S. federal income tax basis in our assets (or inside basis ) to reflect the purchaser’s purchase price (or a Section 743(b) adjustment ). The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other unitholders and does not apply to unitholders who acquire their common units directly from us. For purposes of this discussion, a unitholder’s inside basis in our assets will be considered to have two components: (1) his share of our tax basis in our assets (or common basis ) and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.

In general, a purchaser’s common basis is depreciated or amortized according to the existing method utilized by us. A positive Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis generally is depreciated or amortized in the same manner as property of the same type that has been newly placed in service by us. A negative Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis generally is recovered over the remaining useful life of the partnership’s recovery property.

 

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The calculations involved in the Section 743(b) adjustment are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and in accordance with the Code and applicable Treasury Regulations. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our judgment, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek consent from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If such consent is given, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.

Tax Treatment of Operations

Accounting Method and Taxable Year.  We use the calendar year as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss, deduction and credit for our taxable year ending within or with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who disposes of all of his units must include his share of our income, gain, loss, deduction and credit through the date of disposition in income for his taxable year that includes the date of disposition, with the result that a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must include his share of more than one year of our income, gain, loss, deduction and credit in income for the year of the disposition. Please read “—Disposition of Common Units — Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.”

Asset Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization.  The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The U.S. federal income tax burden associated with any difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis immediately prior to an offering of common units is borne by the general partner and the existing limited partners. Please read “— Consequences of Unit Ownership — Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss, Deduction and Credit.”

To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the earliest years after assets are placed in service. Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using any method permitted by the Code.

If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the nature of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own likely will be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. Please read “— Consequences of Unit Ownership — Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss, Deduction and Credit” and “— Disposition of Common Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

Valuation and Tax Basis of our Assets.  The U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values, and the tax bases, of our assets at the time the holder acquired the common units, we issue additional units or we engage in certain other transactions. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss, deductions or credits previously reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

Disposition of Common Units

Recognition of Gain or Loss.  In general, gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of units equal to the difference between the amount realized and the unitholder’s tax basis in the units sold. A unitholder’s amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash, the fair market value of other property received by him and his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash or property received from the sale.

Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit that decreased a unitholder’s tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder’s tax basis in that common unit, even if the price received is less than his original cost. Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder on the sale or exchange of a unit generally will be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held more than one year generally will be taxed at preferential tax rates.

 

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Certain U.S. Individual Unitholders and estates or trusts that are U.S. persons as defined in the Code are subject to a 3.8% tax on, among other things, capital gains from the sale or other disposition of units for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. Unitholders should consult their tax advisors regarding the effect, if any, of this tax on their disposition of our common units.

A portion of a unitholder’s amount realized may be allocable to “unrealized receivables” or to “inventory items” we own. The term “unrealized receivables” includes potential recapture items, including depreciation and amortization recapture. A unitholder will recognize ordinary income or loss to the extent of the difference between the portion of the unitholder’s amount realized allocable to unrealized receivables or inventory items and the unitholder’s share of our basis in such receivables or inventory items. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation or amortization recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if a net taxable loss is realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Net capital losses generally may only be used to offset capital gains. An exception permits individuals to offset up to $3,000 of net capital losses against ordinary income in any given year.

The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an “equitable apportionment” method. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the common units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling, a common unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the regulations, may designate specific common units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of common units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of common units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.

Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.  In general, our taxable income or loss will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month. However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among the unitholders on the first business day of the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result of the foregoing, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss, deduction and credit realized after the date of transfer.

The use of this method for allocating income and deductions among unitholders may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Accordingly, Perkins Coie LLP is unable to opine on its validity. If this method were disallowed or applied only to transfers of less than all of the unitholder’s interest, our taxable income or loss may be reallocated among the unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation to conform to a method permitted under any future Treasury Regulations or administrative guidance.

A unitholder who owns units at any time during a calendar quarter and who disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss, deductions and credits attributable to months within that quarter in which the units were held but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.

Transfer Notification Requirements.  A unitholder who sells any of his units, other than through a broker, generally is required to notify us in writing of that sale within 30 days after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the sale). A unitholder who acquires units generally is required to notify us in writing of that acquisition within 30 days after the purchase, unless a broker or nominee will satisfy such requirement. We are required to notify the IRS of any such transfers of units and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a transfer of units may lead to the imposition of substantial penalties.

Constructive Termination.  We will be considered to have been terminated for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a 12-month period. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than 12 months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. We would be required to make new tax elections after a termination, including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, and a termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, tax legislation applicable to a newly formed partnership.

 

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Foreign Tax Credit Considerations

Subject to detailed limitations set forth in the Code, a unitholder may elect to claim a credit against his liability for U.S. federal income tax imposed on his foreign source income for his share of foreign income taxes (and certain foreign taxes imposed in lieu of a tax based upon income) paid by us on such foreign source income. In general, and subject to the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty, income allocated to unitholders likely will constitute foreign source income, and a unitholder’s gain from the disposition of our units likely will constitute U.S. source income, in each case falling in the passive foreign tax credit category for purposes of the U.S. foreign tax credit limitation. The rules relating to the determination of the foreign tax credit are complex and prospective unitholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine whether or to what extent they would be entitled to such credit. A unitholder who does not elect to claim foreign tax credits may instead claim a deduction for his share of foreign taxes paid by us.

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Non-U.S. Investors

Investments in units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations and non-U.S. persons, including nonresident aliens of the United States, non-U.S. corporations and non-U.S. trusts and estates (collectively, non-U.S. unitholders ) raise issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may result in substantially adverse tax consequences to them.

Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to U.S. federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder that is such a tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income to it subject to U.S. federal income tax. Unitholders that are tax-exempt organizations are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences of an investment in us.

A non-U.S. unitholder may be subject to a 4% U.S. federal income tax on his share of the U.S. source portion of our gross income attributable to transportation that begins or ends (but not both) in the United States, unless either (a) an exemption applies and he files a U.S. federal income tax return to claim that exemption or (b) that income is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (or Effectively Connected Income ). For this purpose, transportation income includes income from the use, hiring or leasing of a vessel to transport cargo, or the performance of services directly related to the use of any vessel to transport cargo. The U.S. source portion of our transportation income is deemed to be 50% of the income attributable to voyages that begin or end in the United States. Generally, no amount of the income from voyages that begin and end outside the United States is treated as U.S. source, and consequently none of our transportation income attributable to such voyages is subject to U.S. federal income tax. Although the entire amount of transportation income from voyages that begin and end in the United States would be fully taxable in the United States as Effectively Connected Income, we currently do not expect to have any transportation income from voyages that begin and end in the United States; however, there is no assurance that such voyages will not occur.

A non-U.S. unitholder may be entitled to an exemption from the 4% U.S. federal income tax or a refund of tax withheld on U.S. Effectively Connected Income that constitutes transportation income if any of the following applies: (1) such non-U.S. unitholder qualifies for an exemption from this tax under an income tax treaty between the United States and the country where such non-U.S. unitholder is resident; (2) in the case of an individual non-U.S. unitholder, he qualifies for the exemption from tax under Section 872(b)(1) of the Code as a resident of a country that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to residents of the United States; or (3) in the case of a corporate non-U.S. unitholder, it qualifies for the exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Code.

We may be required to withhold U.S. federal income tax, computed at the highest statutory rate, from cash distributions to non-U.S. unitholders with respect to their shares of our income that is Effectively Connected Income. Our transportation income generally should not be treated as Effectively Connected Income unless we have a fixed place of business in the United States and substantially all of such transportation income is attributable to either regularly scheduled transportation or, in the case of income derived from bareboat charters, is attributable to the fixed place of business in the United States. While we do not expect to have any regularly scheduled transportation or a fixed place of business in the United States, there can be no guarantee that this will not change.

If we are treated as engaged in a U.S. trade or business for any taxable year, then a non-U.S. unitholder would be deemed to be engaged in such trade or business and, as a consequence, would be required to file a U.S. federal income tax return for such taxable year (whether or not such non-U.S. unitholder earns any Effectively Connected Income for such year). A non-U.S. unitholder would be required to report his Effectively Connected Income (including his share of any such income earned by us) on such return and to pay U.S. federal income tax, or claim a credit or refund for tax withheld on such income. Under a ruling of the IRS, a portion of any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of a unit by a non-U.S. unitholder may be treated as Effectively Connected Income to the extent we have a fixed place of business in the United States and a sale of our assets would have given rise to Effectively Connected Income. Further, unless an exemption applies, a non-U.S. corporation investing in units may be subject to a branch profits tax, at a 30% rate or lower rate prescribed by a treaty, with respect to its Effectively Connected Income.

Non-U.S. unitholders must apply for and obtain a U.S. taxpayer identification number in order to file U.S. federal income tax returns and must provide that identification number to us for purposes of any U.S. federal income tax information returns we may be required to file. Non-U.S. unitholders are encouraged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and other tax consequences of an investment in units and any filing requirements related thereto.

 

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Functional Currency

We are required to determine the functional currency of any of our operations that constitute a separate qualified business unit (or QBU ) for U.S. federal income tax purposes and report the affairs of any QBU in this functional currency to our unitholders. Any transactions conducted by us other than in the U.S. dollar or by a QBU other than in its functional currency may give rise to foreign currency exchange gain or loss. Further, if a QBU is required to maintain a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, a unitholder may be required to recognize foreign currency translation gain or loss upon a distribution of money or property from a QBU or upon the sale of common units, and items or income, gain, loss, deduction or credit allocated to the unitholder in such functional currency must be translated into the unitholder’s functional currency.

For purposes of the foreign currency rules, a QBU includes a separate trade or business owned by a partnership in the event separate books and records are maintained for that separate trade or business. The functional currency of a QBU is determined based upon the economic environment in which the QBU operates. Thus, a QBU whose revenues and expenses are primarily determined in a currency other than the U.S. dollar will have a non-U.S. dollar functional currency. We believe our principal operations constitute a QBU whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar, but certain of our operations constitute separate QBUs whose functional currencies are other than the U.S. dollar.

Proposed regulations (or the Section 987 Proposed Regulations ) provide that the amount of foreign currency translation gain or loss recognized upon a distribution of money or property from a QBU or upon the sale of common units will reflect the appreciation or depreciation in the functional currency value of certain assets and liabilities of the QBU between the time the unitholder purchased his common units and the time we receive distributions from such QBU or the unitholder sells his common units. Foreign currency translation gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss. A unitholder must adjust the U.S. federal income tax basis in his common units to reflect such income or loss prior to determining any other U.S. federal income tax consequences of such distribution or sale. Please read “— Consequences of Unit Ownership — Basis of Common Units.” A unitholder who owns less than a 5% interest in our capital or profits generally may elect not to have these rules apply by attaching a statement to his tax return for the first taxable year the unitholder intends the election to be effective. Further, for purposes of computing his taxable income and U.S. federal income tax basis in his common units, a unitholder will be required to translate into his own functional currency items of income, gain, loss or deduction of such QBU and his share of such QBU’s liabilities. We intend to provide such information based on generally applicable U.S. exchange rates as is necessary for unitholders to comply with the requirements of the Section 987 Proposed Regulations as part of the U.S. federal income tax information we will furnish unitholders each year. Please read “— Administrative Matters — Information Returns and Audit Procedures.” However, a unitholder may be entitled to make an election to apply an alternative exchange rate with respect to the foreign currency translation of certain items. Unitholders who desire to make such an election should consult their own tax advisors.

Based upon our current projections of the capital invested in and profits of the non-U.S. dollar QBUs, we believe that unitholders will be required to recognize only a nominal amount of foreign currency translation gain or loss each year and upon their sale of units. Nonetheless, the rules for determining the amount of translation gain or loss are not entirely clear at present as the Section 987 Proposed Regulations currently are not effective. Unitholders are urged to consult their own tax advisor for specific advice regarding the application of the rules for recognizing foreign currency translation gain or loss under their own circumstances.

In addition to a unitholder’s recognition of foreign currency translation gain or loss, the U.S. dollar QBU will engage in certain transactions denominated in the Euro, which will give rise to a certain amount of foreign currency exchange gain or loss each year. This foreign currency exchange gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss.

Administrative Matters

Information Returns and Audit Procedures.  We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific U.S. federal income tax information, including a document in the form of IRS Form 1065, Schedule K-1, which sets forth the unitholder’s share of our items of income, gain, loss, deductions and credits as computed for U.S. federal income tax purposes for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder’s share of such items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit. We cannot assure you that those positions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor Perkins Coie LLP can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the units.

 

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We will be obligated to file U.S. federal income tax information returns with the IRS for any year in which we earn any U.S. source income or U.S. effectively connected income. In the event we were obligated to file a U.S. federal income tax information return but failed to do so, unitholders would not be entitled to claim any deductions, losses or credits for U.S. federal income tax purposes relating to us. Consequently, we may file U.S. federal income tax information returns for any given year. The IRS may audit any such information returns that we file. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit of our return may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability, and may result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholder’s return could result in adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns. Any IRS audit relating to our items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit for years in which we are not required to file and do not file a U.S. federal income tax information return would be conducted at the partner-level, and each unitholder may be subject to separate audit proceedings relating to such items.

For years in which we file or are required to file U.S. federal income tax information returns, we will be treated as a separate entity for purposes of any U.S. federal income tax audits, as well as for purposes of judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. For such years, the tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit will be determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for these purposes. The partnership agreement names Teekay GP L.L.C. as our Tax Matters Partner.

The Tax Matters Partner will make some U.S. federal tax elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items reported in the information returns we file. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS with respect to these items unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.

A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his U.S. federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on an information return that we file. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.

Special Reporting Requirements for Owners of Non-U.S. Partnerships.  A U.S. person who either contributes property (including cash) valued at more than $100,000 to us (when added to the value of any other property contributed to us by such person or a related person during the previous 12 months), or following any contribution to us owns, directly, indirectly or by attribution from certain related persons, at least a 10% interest in us, is required to file IRS Form 8865 with his U.S. federal income tax return for the year of the contribution to report the contribution and provide certain details about himself and certain related persons, us and any persons that own a 10% or greater direct interest in us. We will provide each unitholder with the necessary information about us and those persons who own a 10% or greater direct interest in us along with the Schedule K-1 information described previously.

In addition to the foregoing, a U.S. person who directly owns at least a 10% interest in us may be required to make additional disclosures on IRS Form 8865 in the event such person acquires, disposes or has his interest in us substantially increased or reduced. Further, a U.S. person who directly, indirectly or by attribution from certain related persons, owns at least a 10% interest in us may be required to make additional disclosures on IRS Form 8865 in the event such person, when considered together with any other U.S. persons who own at least a 10% interest in us, owns a greater than 50% interest in us. For these purposes, an “interest” in us generally is defined to include an interest in our capital or profits or an interest in our deductions or losses.

Significant penalties may apply for failing to satisfy IRS Form 8865 filing requirements and thus unitholders are advised to contact their tax advisors to determine the application of these filing requirements under their own circumstances.

In addition, individual citizens or residents of the United States who hold certain specified foreign financial assets, including units in a foreign partnership not held in an account maintained by a financial institution, with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000, may be required to report such assets on IRS Form 8938 with their U.S. federal income tax return. Penalties apply for failure to properly complete and file Form 8938. You are encouraged to consult with your tax advisor regarding the filing of this form.

Accuracy-related Penalties.  An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of U.S. federal income tax attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations and substantial understatements of income tax, is imposed by the Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.

 

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A substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000. The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return:

 

  (1) for which there is, or was, “substantial authority”; or

 

  (2) as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of that position are disclosed on the return.

More stringent rules, including additional penalties and extended statutes of limitations, may apply as a result of our participation in “listed transactions” or “reportable transactions with a significant tax avoidance purpose.” While we do not anticipate participating in such transactions, if any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit included in the distributive shares of unitholders for a given year might result in an “understatement” of income relating to such a transaction, we will disclose the pertinent facts on a U.S. federal income tax information return for such year. In such event, we also will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on their returns and to take other actions as may be appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid liability for penalties.

Possible Classification as a Corporation

If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception described above with respect to our classification as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery, we will be treated as a non-U.S. corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If previously treated as a partnership, our change in status would be deemed to have been effected by our transfer of all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed non-U.S. corporation, in return for stock in that corporation, and then our distribution of that stock to our unitholders and other owners in liquidation of their interests in us. Unitholders that are U.S. persons would be required to file IRS Form 926 to report these deemed transfers and any other transfers they made to us while we were treated as a corporation and may be required to recognize income or gain for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent of certain prior deductions or losses and other items. Substantial penalties may apply for failure to satisfy these reporting requirements, unless the person otherwise required to report shows such failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.

If we were treated as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit would not pass through to unitholders. Instead, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax based on the rules applicable to foreign corporations, not partnerships, and such items would be treated as our own. In addition, Section 743(b) adjustments to the basis of our assets would no longer be available to purchasers in the marketplace. Please read “— Consequences of Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election.”

Subject to the discussion of passive foreign investment companies (or PFIC s) below, any distribution made to a unitholder generally would be treated as taxable dividend income to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. With respect to U.S. Individual Unitholders and estates or trusts that are U.S. persons as defined in the Code, dividends received from us generally would be “qualified dividend income” that is subject to tax at preferential capital gain rates, provided that (1) we are not a PFIC in the taxable year of the distribution or the preceding taxable year, (2) our ordinary shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, such as the New York Stock Exchange, and (3) certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the unitholder’s tax basis in his common units, and taxable capital gain thereafter. Certain U.S. Individual Unitholders and estates or trusts that are U.S. persons as defined in the Code are subject to a 3.8% tax on certain investment income, including dividends and distributions taxable as capital gain, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012.

Taxation of Operating Income

We expect that substantially all of our gross income and the gross income of our corporate subsidiaries will be attributable to the transportation of LNG, LPG, ammonia, crude oil and related products. For this purpose, gross income attributable to transportation (or Transportation Income ) includes income derived from, or in connection with, the use (or hiring or leasing for use) of a vessel to transport cargo, or the performance of services directly related to the use of any vessel to transport cargo, and thus includes both time-charter and bareboat charter income.

Transportation Income that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States will be considered to be 50% derived from sources within the United States (or U.S. Source International Transportation Income ). Transportation Income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States will be considered to be 100% derived from sources within the United States (or U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income ). Transportation Income attributable to transportation exclusively between non-U.S. destinations will be considered to be 100% derived from sources outside the United States. Transportation Income derived from sources outside the United States generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

 

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Based on our current operations and the operations of our subsidiaries, we expect substantially all of our Transportation Income to be from sources outside the United States and not subject to U.S. federal income tax. However, in the event we were treated as a corporation, if we or any of our subsidiaries does earn U.S. Source International Transportation Income or U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income, our income or our subsidiaries income may be subject to U.S. federal income taxation under one of two alternative tax regimes (the 4% gross basis tax or the net basis tax, as described below), unless the exemption from U.S. taxation under Section 883 of the Code (or the Section 883 Exemption ) applies, as described below.

The Section 883 Exemption

In general, the Section 883 Exemption provides that if a non-U.S. corporation satisfies the requirements of Section 883 of the Code and the regulations thereunder (or the Section 883 Regulations), it will not be subject to the 4% gross basis tax or the net basis tax and branch profits taxes described below on its U.S. Source International Transportation Income. The Section 883 Exemption does not apply to U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income.

A non-U.S. corporation will qualify for the Section 883 Exemption if, among other things, it is organized in a jurisdiction outside the United States that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to corporations organized in the United States (or an Equivalent Exemption ); it meets one of three ownership tests described in the Section 883 Regulations (or the Ownership Test ) and it meets certain substantiation, reporting and other requirements (or the Substantiation Requirements ).

We are organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands. The U.S. Treasury Department has recognized the Republic of The Marshall Islands as a jurisdiction that grants an Equivalent Exemption. We also believe that we would be able to satisfy the Substantiation Requirements. However, we do not believe that we would meet the Ownership Test and therefore we would not qualify for the Section 883 Exemption and our U.S. Source International Transportation Income would not be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation.

The 4% Gross Basis Tax

If we were to be treated as a corporation and if the Section 883 Exemption described above and the net basis tax described below does not apply, we would be subject to a 4% U.S. federal income tax on our U.S. Source International Transportation Income, without benefit of deductions. The amount of such tax for which we would be liable for any year in which we were treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes would depend upon the amount of income we earn from voyages into or out of the United States in such year, which is not within our complete control.

Net Basis Tax and Branch Profits Tax

We currently do not expect to have a fixed place of business in the United States. Nonetheless, if this were to change or we otherwise were treated as having such a fixed place of business in the United States, our U.S. Source International Transportation Income may be treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (or Effectively Connected Income ) if substantially all of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or, in the case of income derived from bareboat charters, is attributable to the fixed place of business in the United States. Based on our current operations, none of our potential U.S. Source International Transportation Income is attributable to regularly scheduled transportation or is derived from bareboat charters attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States. As a result, if we were classified as a corporation, we do not anticipate that any of our U.S. Source International Transportation Income would be treated as Effectively Connected Income. However, there is no assurance that we would not earn income pursuant to regularly scheduled transportation or bareboat charters attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States in the future, which would result in such income being treated as Effectively Connected Income if we were classified as a corporation. U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income generally is treated as Effectively Connected Income. However, none of our income has been, and we currently do not anticipate that any of our income will be, U.S. Source Domestic Transportation Income.

Any income that we earn that is treated as Effectively Connected Income would be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax (the highest statutory rate currently is 35%), unless the Section 883 Exemption (as discussed above) applied. The 4% U.S. federal income tax described above is inapplicable to Effectively Connected Income.

Unless the Section 883 Exemption applied, a 30% branch profits tax imposed under Section 884 of the Code also would apply to our earnings that result from Effectively Connected Income, and a 30% withholding tax could be imposed on certain interest paid or deemed paid by us. Furthermore, on the sale of a vessel that has produced Effectively Connected Income, we could be subject to the

 

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net basis corporate income tax and to the 30% branch profits tax with respect to our gain not in excess of certain prior deductions for depreciation that reduced Effectively Connected Income. Otherwise, we would not expect to be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to the remainder of any gain realized on sale of a vessel because it is expected that any sale of a vessel will be structured so that it is considered to occur outside of the United States and so that it is not attributable to an office or other fixed place of business in the United States.

Consequences of Possible PFIC Classification

A non-United States entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be a passive foreign investment company (or PFIC ) in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to a “look through” rule, either (1) at least 75% of its gross income is “passive” income or (2) at least 50% of the average value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties (other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business). By contrast, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.”

Based upon our current assets and operations, we do not believe that we would be considered to be a PFIC even if we were treated as a corporation. No assurance can be given, however, that the IRS would accept this position or that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if we were treated as a corporation and there were to be changes in our assets, income or operations. In addition, the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.3d 299 (5th Cir. 2009) held that income derived from certain time chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a foreign sales corporation provision of the Code. However, the IRS stated in an Action on Decision (AOD 2010-001) that it disagrees with, and will not acquiesce to, the way that the rental versus services framework was applied to the facts in the Tidewater decision, and in its discussion stated that the time charters at issue in Tidewater would be treated as producing services income for PFIC purposes. The IRS’s statement with respect to Tidewater cannot be relied upon or otherwise cited as precedent by taxpayers. Consequently, in the absence of any binding legal authority specifically relating to the statutory provisions governing PFICs, there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court would not follow the Tidewater decision in interpreting the PFIC provisions under the Code. Nevertheless, based on our current assets and operations, we believe that we would not now be nor have we ever been a PFIC even if we were treated as a corporation.

If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year during which a unitholder owns units, a unitholder generally would be subject to special rules (regardless of whether we continue thereafter to be a PFIC) resulting in increased tax liability with respect to (1) any “excess distribution” (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by a unitholder on our common units in a taxable year in excess of 125% of the average annual distributions received by the unitholder in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the unitholder’s holding period for the units) and (2) any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of units. Under these rules:

 

   

the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the unitholder’s aggregate holding period for the common units;

 

   

the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable year prior to the taxable year we were first treated as a PFIC with respect to the unitholder would be taxed as ordinary income in the current taxable year;

 

   

the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the highest rate in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year; and

 

   

an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year.

If we were treated as a PFIC, a unitholder would be required to file Form 8621 annually with the IRS and would be required to comply with all other applicable filing requirements. In addition, if we were classified as a PFIC for any taxable year in which we pay a dividend (or for the taxable year preceding any taxable year in which we pay a dividend), such dividends would not be treated as “qualified dividend income” and would not be eligible to be taxed at preferential capital gain rates. Please read “—Possible Classification as a Corporation.”

Certain elections, such as a qualified electing fund (or QEF ) election or mark to market election, may be available to a unitholder if we were classified as a PFIC. If we determine that we are or will be a PFIC, we will provide unitholders with information concerning the potential availability of such elections.

 

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Consequences of Possible Controlled Foreign Corporation Classification

If we were to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes and if CFC Shareholders (generally, U.S. unitholders who each own, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of our outstanding shares entitled to vote) own directly, indirectly or constructively more than 50% of either the total combined voting power of our outstanding shares entitled to vote or the total value of all of our outstanding shares, we generally would be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (or a CFC ).

CFC Shareholders are treated as receiving current distributions of their shares of certain income of the CFC without regard to any actual distributions and are subject to other burdensome U.S. federal income tax and administrative requirements but generally are not also subject to the requirements generally applicable to shareholders of a PFIC. In addition, a person who is or has been a CFC Shareholder may recognize dividend income on the disposition of shares of the CFC. Although we do not believe we are or will become a CFC even if we were to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. persons purchasing a substantial interest in us should consider the potential implications of being treated as a CFC Shareholder in the event we become a CFC in the future.

The U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. unitholders who are not CFC Shareholders would not change in the event we become a CFC in the future.

Taxation of Our Subsidiary Corporations

Our subsidiaries Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C., DHJS Hull No. 2007-001 L.L.C and DHJS Hull No. 2007-002 L.L.C. are classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes and are subject to U.S. federal income tax based on the rules applicable to foreign corporations described above under “Possible Classification as a Corporation — Taxation of Operating Income,” including, but not limited to, the 4% gross basis tax or the net basis tax on their U.S. Source International Transportation Income.

As non-U.S. entities classified as corporations for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our subsidiaries Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C., DHJS Hull No. 2007-001 L.L.C and DHJS Hull No. 2007-002 L.L.C could be considered PFICs. However, we received a ruling from the IRS that our subsidiary Teekay LNG Holdco L.L.C. will be classified as a CFC rather than a PFIC as long as it is wholly-owned by a U.S. partnership.

DHJS Hull No. 2007-001 L.L.C and DHJS Hull No. 2007-002 L.L.C. are also owned by our U.S. partnership. We intend to take the position that these subsidiaries should also be treated as CFCs rather than PFICs following this restructuring. No assurance can be given, however, that the IRS, or a court of law, will accept this position or would not follow the Tidewater decision in interpreting the PFIC provisions under the Code (as discussed above).

 

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NON-UNITED STATES TAX CONSIDERATIONS

Marshall Islands Tax Considerations

The following discussion is based upon the opinion of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, our counsel as to matters of the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, and the current laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands applicable to persons who do not reside in, maintain offices in or engage in business in the Republic of The Marshall Islands.

Because we and our subsidiaries do not, and we do not expect that we or any of our subsidiaries will, conduct business or operations in the Republic of The Marshall Islands, and because all documentation related to this offering will be executed outside of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, under current Marshall Islands law holders of our common units will not be subject to Marshall Islands taxation or withholding on distributions, including upon a return of capital, we make to our unitholders. In addition, our unitholders will not be subject to Marshall Islands stamp, capital gains or other taxes on the purchase, ownership or disposition of common units, and they will not be required by the Republic of The Marshall Islands to file a tax return relating to the common units.

It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, including the Marshall Islands, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult its tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal tax returns, that may be required of such unitholder.

Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations

The following discussion is a summary of the material Canadian federal income tax considerations under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (or the Canada Tax Act ), as of the date of this prospectus, that we believe are relevant to holders of common units who, for the purposes of the Canada Tax Act and the Canada-United States Tax Convention 1980 (or the Canada-U.S. Treaty ), are at all relevant times resident in the United States and entitled to all of the benefits of the Canada-U.S. Treaty and who deal at arm’s length with us and Teekay Corporation (or U.S. Resident Holders ). This discussion takes into account all proposed amendments to the Canada Tax Act and the regulations thereunder that have been publicly announced by or on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Canada) prior to the date hereof and assumes that such proposed amendments will be enacted substantially as proposed. However, no assurance can be given that such proposed amendments will be enacted in the form proposed or at all. This discussion assumes that we are, and will continue to be, classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.

We are considered to be a partnership under Canadian federal income tax law and therefore not a taxable entity for Canadian income tax purposes. A U.S. Resident Holder will not be liable to tax under the Canada Tax Act on any income or gains allocated by us to the U.S. Resident Holder in respect of such U.S. Resident Holder’s common units, provided that, for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty, (a) we do not carry on business through a permanent establishment in Canada and (b) such U.S. Resident Holder does not hold such common units in connection with a business carried on by such U.S. Resident Holder through a permanent establishment in Canada.

A U.S. Resident Holder will not be liable to tax under the Canada Tax Act on any income or gain from the sale, redemption or other disposition of such U.S. Resident Holder’s common units, provided that, for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty, such common units do not, and did not at any time in the twelve-month period preceding the date of disposition, form part of the business property of a permanent establishment in Canada of such U.S. Resident Holder.

We believe that our activities and affairs are conducted in such a manner that we are not carrying on business in Canada and that U.S. Resident Holders should not be considered to be carrying on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act or the Canada-U.S. Treaty solely by reason of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of common units. We intend that this is and continues to be the case, notwithstanding that Teekay Shipping Limited (a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation that is resident and based in Bermuda) provides certain services to Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and obtains some or all such services under subcontracts with Canadian service providers. However, although we do not intend to do so, there can be no assurance that the manner in which we carry on our activities will not change from time to time as circumstances dictate or warrant in a manner that may cause U.S. Resident Holders to be carrying on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act. Further, the relevant Canadian federal income tax law may change by legislation or judicial interpretation and the Canadian taxing authorities may take a different view than we have of the current law.

If the arrangements we have entered into result in our being considered to carry on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act, U.S. Resident Holders would be considered to be carrying on business in Canada and may be required to file Canadian tax returns and would be subject to taxation in Canada on any income from such business that is considered to be attributable to a permanent establishment in Canada for purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty.

It is the responsibility of each U.S. Resident Holder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, including Canada, of an investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective U.S. Resident Holder is urged to consult, and depend upon, such unitholder’s tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each U.S. Resident Holder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal tax returns, that may be required of such unitholder.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been advised by the selling securityholder as to any plan of distribution. The selling securityholder may choose not to sell any of its common units. Distributions of the common units by the selling securityholder, or by its partners, pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, may from time to time be offered for sale either directly by the selling securityholder or other person, or through underwriters, dealers or agents or on any exchange on which the common units may from time to time be traded, in the over-the-counter market, in independently negotiated transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at prices otherwise negotiated. The methods by which the common units may be sold include:

 

   

underwritten transactions;

 

   

privately negotiated transactions;

 

   

exchange distributions and/or secondary distributions;

 

   

sales in the over-the-counter market;

 

   

ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchasers;

 

   

broker-dealers may agree with the selling securityholder to sell a specified number of such common units at a stipulated price per unit;

 

   

a block trade (which may involve crosses) in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

   

purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;

 

   

short sales;

 

   

through the writing of options on the units, whether or not the options are listed on an options exchange;

 

   

through the distributions of the units by the selling securityholder to its partners, members or stockholders;

 

   

a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

   

any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

The selling securityholder may effect such transactions by selling the common units to underwriters or to or through broker-dealers, and such underwriters or broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts or commissions from the selling securityholder and may receive commissions from the purchasers of the common units for whom they may act as agent. The selling securityholder may agree to indemnify any underwriter, broker-dealer or agent that participates in transactions involving sales of the units against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. We have agreed to register the common units for sale under the Securities Act and to indemnify the selling securityholder and each person who participates as an underwriter in the offering of the units against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

We will pay the costs and expenses of the registration and offering of the common units offered hereby. We will not pay any underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions allocable to the selling securityholder’s sale of common units, which will be paid by the selling securityholder. Broker-dealers may act as agent or may purchase securities as principal and thereafter resell the securities from time to time:

 

   

in or through one or more transactions (which may involve crosses and block transactions) or distributions;

 

   

on the New York Stock Exchange;

 

   

in the over-the-counter market; or

 

   

in private transactions.

 

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Broker-dealers or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agents. If any broker-dealer purchases the securities as principal, it may effect resales of the securities from time to time to or through other broker-dealers, and other broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of concessions or commissions from the purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents.

In connection with sales of the common units under this prospectus, the selling securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, who may in turn engage in short sales of the common units in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling securityholder also may sell common units short and deliver them to close out the short positions or loan or pledge the common units to broker-dealers that in turn may sell them.

From time to time, the selling securityholder may pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in some or all of the securities owned by it. The pledgees, secured parties or persons to whom the securities have been hypothecated will, upon foreclosure in the event of default, be deemed to be selling securityholder. The number of the selling securityholder’s securities offered under this prospectus will decrease as and when it takes such actions. The plan of distribution for the selling securityholder’s securities will otherwise remain unchanged. In addition, the selling securityholder may, from time to time, sell the securities short, and, in those instances, this prospectus may be delivered in connection with the short sales and the securities offered under this prospectus may be used to cover short sales.

The selling securityholder and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of the common units may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act. To the extent the selling securityholder is a broker-dealer, it is, according to SEC interpretation, an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. Underwriters are subject to the prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act. If the selling securityholder is deemed to be an underwriter, the selling securityholder may be subject to certain statutory liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

To the extent required, the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, as well as other important information, will be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements. In that event, the discounts and commissions the selling securityholder will allow or pay to the underwriters, if any, and the discounts and commissions the underwriters may allow or pay to dealers or agents, if any, will be set forth in, or may be calculated from, the prospectus supplements. Any underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents who participate in any sale of the securities may also engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses. We may indemnify underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents against specific liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

In addition, the selling securityholder may sell common units in compliance with Rule 144, if available, or pursuant to other available exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

The selling securityholder and other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities by the selling securityholder and any other person. The anti-manipulation rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of the selling securityholder and its affiliates. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular securities being distributed for a period of up to five business days before the distribution. These restrictions may affect the marketability of the securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities.

The aggregate maximum compensation the underwriters will receive in connection with the sale of any securities under this prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part will not exceed 10% of the gross proceeds from the sale.

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

In connection with offerings under this shelf registration and in compliance with applicable law, underwriters, brokers or dealers may engage in transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers or dealers may overallot in connection with offerings, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the purpose of covering a syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the securities, the underwriters, brokers or dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other brokers or dealers for distribution of the securities in offerings may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases the previously distributed securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

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SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

Teekay LNG Partners L.P. is organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands as a limited partnership. Our general partner is organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands as a limited liability company. The Republic of The Marshall Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides protections for investors to a significantly lesser extent.

Most of the directors and officers of our general partner and those of our subsidiaries are residents of countries other than the United States. Substantially all of our and our subsidiaries’ assets and a substantial portion of the assets of the directors and officers of our general partner are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for United States investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us, our general partner, our subsidiaries or the directors and officers of our general partner or to realize against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. However, we have expressly submitted to the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts sitting in the City of New York for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding arising under the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States, and we have appointed Watson, Farley & Williams LLP to accept service of process on our behalf in any such action.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, our counsel as to Marshall Islands law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Republic of The Marshall Islands would (1) recognize or enforce against us, our general partner or our general partner’s directors or officers judgments of courts of the United States based on civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws or (2) impose liabilities against us, our general partner or our general partner’s directors and officers in original actions brought in the Republic of The Marshall Islands, based on these laws.

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the common units and certain other legal matters with respect to the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands will be passed upon for us by our counsel as to Marshall Islands law, Watson, Farley & Williams LLP. Certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Perkins Coie LLP, Portland, Oregon. Any underwriter will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by its own legal counsel. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the common units made by this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed on by counsel for the underwriters for such offering, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement related to the offering.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2012, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012 and the consolidated financial statements of MALT LNG Holdings ApS as of and for the year ended December 31, 2012, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated statements of income, changes in total equity and cash flows of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. for the year ended December 31, 2010 appearing in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 regarding the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information found in the registration statement. For further information regarding us and the securities offered in this prospectus, you may wish to review the full registration statement, including its exhibits. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports with and furnish information to the SEC. You may inspect and copy any document we file with or furnish to the SEC at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of this material can also be obtained upon written request from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at that address, at prescribed rates, or from the SEC’s website on the internet at www.sec.gov free of charge. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on public reference rooms. You can also obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or the Exchange Act ) from, among other things, certain rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal unitholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, including the filing of quarterly reports or current reports on Form 8-K. However, we intend to make available quarterly reports containing our unaudited interim financial information for the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year.

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, automatically will update information previously filed with the SEC, and may replace information in this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012;

 

   

all subsequent Annual Reports on Form 20-F filed prior to the termination of this offering;

 

   

our Reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on May 7, 2013, May 17, 2013 and August 15, 2013;

 

   

all subsequent Reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC prior to the termination of this offering that we identify in such Reports as being incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part; and

 

   

the description of our common units contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed on May 13, 2011, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

These reports contain important information about us, our financial condition and our results of operations.

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through its public reference facilities or its website at the addresses provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our internet website at www.teekaylng.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

4th Floor, Belvedere Building,

69 Pitts Bay Road

Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda

Attn: Corporate Secretary

(441) 298-2530

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document. The information contained in our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

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EXPENSES

The following table sets forth costs and expenses, other than any underwriting discounts and commissions, we expect to incur in connection with the issuance and distribution of the common units covered by this prospectus. All amounts are estimated except the SEC registration fee.

 

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

   $  5,350.58   

Legal fees and expenses

     *   

Accounting fees and expenses

     *   

Printing costs

     *   

Transfer agent fees

     *   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ *   
  

 

 

 

 

* To be provided in a prospectus supplement or in a Report on Form 6-K subsequently incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Under its partnership agreement, in most circumstances, Teekay LNG Partners will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or similar events:

 

  (1) its general partner;

 

  (2) any departing general partner;

 

  (3) any person who is or was an affiliate of the general partner or any departing general partner;

 

  (4) any person who is or was an officer, director, member or partner of any entity described in (1), (2) or (3) above;

 

  (5) any person who is or was serving as a director, officer, member, partner, fiduciary or trustee of another person at the request of the general partner or any departing general partner; or

 

  (6) any person designated by the general partner.

Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of the assets of Teekay LNG Partners. Unless it otherwise agrees, Teekay LNG Partners’ general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or lend funds or assets to Teekay LNG Partners to enable it to effectuate, indemnification. Teekay LNG Partners may purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for its activities, regardless of whether Teekay LNG Partners would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under the partnership agreement.

Teekay LNG Partners is authorized to purchase (or to reimburse its general partners for the costs of) insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by its general partner, its affiliates and such other persons as the general partner may determine and described in the paragraph above, whether or not it would have the power to indemnify such person against such liabilities under the provisions described in the paragraphs above. The general partner has purchased insurance covering its officers and directors against liabilities asserted and expenses incurred in connection with their activities as officers and directors of the general partner or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.

 

ITEM 9. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement*
  4.1    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. dated as of May 10, 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 31, 2006 and Amendment No. 2 dated as of January 1, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. on Form 8-A/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2011, File No. 001-32479)
  5.1    Opinion of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, relating to the legality of the securities being registered
  8.1    Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP, relating to tax matters
  8.2    Opinion of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, relating to tax matters
10.1    Registration Rights Agreement by and between Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and the investor named therein, dated as of July 30, 2013
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP
23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.3    Consent of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
23.4    Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (contained in Exhibit 8.1)
24.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page)

 

* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K of the Registrant that is subsequently incorporated by reference into this registration statement.


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(b) Financial Statement Schedules.

All supplemental schedules are omitted because of the absence of conditions under which they are required or because the information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

(c) Reports, Opinions, and Appraisals

The following reports, opinions, and appraisals are included herein: None .

 

ITEM 10. Undertakings

The Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  a. To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

  b. To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

  c. To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs 1(a), 1(b) and 1(c) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

  2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  4. To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph 4 and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Rule 3-19 of this chapter if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3.

 

  5. That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  a. Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  b.

Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract


Table of Contents
  of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

  6. That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  a. Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  b. Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the Registrant or used or referred to by the Registrant;

 

  c. The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the Registrant; and

 

  d. Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the Registrant to the purchaser.

 

  7. The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  8. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Southport, State of Connecticut, United States of America on August 22 , 2013.

 

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

Teekay GP L.L.C., its General Partner

By:   /s/ Peter Evensen
  Name:   Peter Evensen
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer and
    Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below appoints Peter Evensen and C. Sean Day, and each of them, either of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his or her substitute and substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed on August  22 , 2013 by the following persons in the following capacities:

 

Signature

  

Title

/s/ Peter Evensen

Peter Evensen

  

Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Executive, Financial and Accounting Officer),

Director of Teekay GP L.L.C. and Authorized

Representative in the United States

/s/ C. Sean Day

C. Sean Day

   Chairman and Director of Teekay GP L.L.C.

/s/ Robert E. Boyd

Robert E. Boyd

   Director of Teekay GP L.L.C.

/s/ Ida Jane Hinkley

Ida Jane Hinkley

   Director of Teekay GP L.L.C.

/w/ Kenneth Hvid

Kenneth Hvid

   Director of Teekay GP L.L.C.

/s/ Joseph E. McKechnie

Joseph E. McKechnie

   Director of Teekay GP L.L.C.

/s/ George Watson

George Watson

   Director of Teekay GP L.L.C.


Table of Contents

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement*
  4.1    First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. dated as of May 10, 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 31, 2006 and Amendment No. 2 dated as of January 1, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. on Form 8-A/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 13, 2011, File No. 001-32479)
  5.1    Opinion of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, relating to the legality of the securities being registered
  8.1    Opinion of Perkins Coie LLP, relating to tax matters
  8.2    Opinion of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, relating to tax matters
10.1    Registration Rights Agreement by and between Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and the investor named therein, dated as of July 30, 2013
23.1    Consent of KPMG LLP
23.2    Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
23.3    Consent of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)
23.4    Consent of Perkins Coie LLP (contained in Exhibit 8.1)
24.1    Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page)

 

* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Report on Form 6-K of the Registrant that is subsequently incorporated by reference into this registration statement.

Exhibit 5.1

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Tel +1 212 922 2200

Fax +1 212 922 1512

August 22, 2013

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

4th Floor, Belvedere Building

69 Pitts Bay Road

Hamilton HM 08

Bermuda

Dear Sirs:

We have acted as special counsel as to matters of the law of the Republic of The Marshall Islands (“ Marshall Islands Law ”) for Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) in connection with the Partnership’s registration statement on Form F-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to the proposed offer and sale of up to 931,098 common units (the “ Units ”) representing limited partnership interests that may be sold by or on behalf of ClearBridge America Energy MLP Fund Inc. (the “ Selling Securityholder ”) or its donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest. The Units were previously issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), pursuant to a common unit purchase agreement dated July 25, 2013 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) between the Partnership and the Selling Securityholder.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the following:

 

(i) the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended;

 

(ii) the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (the “ Prospectus ”);

 

(iii) the Purchase Agreement;

 

(iv) the registration rights agreement dated July 30, 2013 between the Partnership and the Selling Securityholder; and

 

(v) certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Partnership and the Partnership’s general partner, Teekay GP L.L.C., as we have deemed necessary.

In such examination, we have assumed: (a) the legal capacity of each natural person, (b) the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (c) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies, (d) that the documents reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of the opinion set forth herein are true, correct and complete and (e) the truthfulness of each statement as to all factual matters contained in any document or certificate encompassed within the due diligence review undertaken by us. As to any questions of fact material to our opinion, we have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon the aforesaid certificates. We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership. Any reference to a ‘partner’ means a member of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, or a member or partner in an affiliated undertaking, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualification.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP or an affiliated undertaking has an office in each of the cities listed.

London • New York • Paris • Hamburg • Munich • Frankfurt • Rome • Milan • Madrid • Athens • Piraeus • Singapore • Bangkok • Hong Kong


Teekay LNG Partners L.P.      Page  2   
August 22, 2013   

This opinion letter is limited to Marshall Islands Law and is as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinion expressed herein.

Based on the facts as set forth in the Prospectus and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Units have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP

/s/ Watson, Farley & Williams LLP

Exhibit 8.1

August 22, 2013

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

Teekay GP L.L.C.

4th Floor, Belvedere Building

69 Pitts Bay Road

Hamilton, HM08

Bermuda

Re:        Teekay LNG Partners L.P. Registration Statement on Form F-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Teekay LNG Partners L.P., a Republic of The Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “Partnership”), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of a registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) relating to the offer and resale by a certain securityholder, as described in the Registration Statement, of up to 931,098 common units representing limited partnership interests in the Partnership. The common units were previously issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to a purchase agreement dated as of July 25, 2013 between the Partnership and the purchaser named therein.

You have requested our opinion regarding certain United States federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders. In rendering our opinion, we have examined and relied upon the truth, accuracy, and completeness of the facts, statements and representations contained in (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the certificate of the Partnership, Teekay GP L.L.C., a Republic of The Marshall Islands limited liability company (the “General Partner”) and certain other affiliates of the Partnership (the “Tax Certificate”), (iii) that certain First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Teekay LNG Partners L.P., dated as of May 10, 2005 as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 31, 2006 and Amendment No. 2 dated as of April 15, 2008, but effective as of January 1, 2007 (the “Partnership Agreement”), (iv) those certain letter rulings dated September 20, 2005, June 26, 2009 and August 13, 2009 received by Teekay Corporation, the Partnership and Teekay Holdings Limited from the Internal Revenue Service (the “Rulings”), and (v) such other documents, certificates, records, statements and representations made by the Partnership as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below. We have not, however, undertaken an independent investigation of any factual matter set forth in any of the foregoing.

In addition, we have assumed, with your permission, (i) that the Partnership will operate in full compliance with the terms of the Partnership Agreement without waiver or breach of any material provision thereof, (ii) that the Rulings will not be revoked or modified, (iii) that the statements and representations concerning the Partnership and its operations contained in the Registration Statement and the statements and representations contained in the Tax Certificate are true, correct and complete and will remain true, correct and complete at all relevant times, (iv) the authenticity of original documents submitted to us and


Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

Teekay GP L.L.C.

August 22, 2013

Page 2

 

the conformity to the originals of documents submitted to us as copies and (v) that any statement or representation contained in the Tax Certificate with the qualification “to the knowledge of” or “based on the belief of” or other similar qualification, is true, correct and complete and will remain true, correct and complete at all relevant times, in each case without such qualification.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications, assumptions and caveats set forth herein and in the Registration Statement, we hereby confirm our opinions set forth in, and as of the date of, the Registration Statement under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

This opinion addresses only the matters of United States federal income taxation specifically described under the heading “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Registration Statement. This opinion does not address any other United States federal tax consequences or any state, local or foreign tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders.

We hereby consent to the discussion of this opinion in the Registration Statement, to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the captions “Legal Matters” and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Perkins Coie LLP

Perkins Coie LLP

Exhibit 8.2

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP

1133 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10036

Tel +1 212 922 2200

Fax +1 212 922 1512

August 22, 2013

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

4th Floor, Belvedere Building

69 Pitts Bay Road

Hamilton HM 08

Bermuda

Dear Sirs:

We have acted as special counsel as to matters of the law of the Republic of The Marshall Islands (“ Marshall Islands Law ”) for Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (the “ Partnership ”) in connection with the Partnership’s registration statement on Form F-3 (the “ Registration Statement ”) filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to the proposed offer and sale of up to 931,098 common units (the “ Units ”) representing limited partnership interests that may be sold by or on behalf of ClearBridge America Energy MLP Fund Inc. (the “ Selling Securityholder ”) or its donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest. The Units were previously issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), pursuant to a common unit purchase agreement dated July 25, 2013 (the “ Purchase Agreement ”) between the Partnership and the Selling Securityholder.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined originals or copies (certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction) of the following:

 

(i) the First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, as amended;

 

(ii) the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (the “ Prospectus ”);

 

(iii) the Purchase Agreement; and

 

(iv) certificates of public officials and of representatives of the Partnership and the Partnership’s general partner, Teekay GP L.L.C., as we have deemed necessary.

In such examination, we have assumed: (a) the legal capacity of each natural person, (b) the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (c) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or photostatic copies, (d) that the documents reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of the opinion set forth herein are true, correct and complete and (e) the truthfulness of each statement as to all factual matters contained in any document or certificate encompassed within the due diligence review undertaken by us. As to any questions of fact material to our opinion, we have, when relevant facts were not independently established, relied upon the aforesaid certificates. We have not independently verified the facts so relied on.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP is a Delaware limited liability partnership. Any reference to a ‘partner’ means a member of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, or a member or partner in an affiliated undertaking, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualification.

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP or an affiliated undertaking has an office in each of the cities listed.

London • New York • Paris • Hamburg • Munich • Frankfurt • Rome • Milan • Madrid • Athens • Piraeus • Singapore • Bangkok • Hong Kong


Teekay LNG Partners L.P.      Page  2   
August 22, 2013   

This opinion letter is limited to Marshall Islands Law and is as of the date hereof. We expressly disclaim any responsibility to advise of any development or circumstance of any kind, including any change of law or fact that may occur after the date of this opinion letter that might affect the opinion expressed herein.

Based on the facts as set forth in the Prospectus and having regard to legal considerations which we deem relevant, and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions set forth herein, we hereby confirm that we have reviewed the discussion set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “Non-United States Tax Considerations – Marshall Islands Tax Considerations” and we confirm that the statements in such discussion, to the extent they constitute summaries of law or legal conclusions, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Watson, Farley & Williams LLP with respect to Marshall Islands tax consequences as of the date of the Prospectus (except for the representations and statements of fact of the Partnership included under such caption, as to which we express no opinion).

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the references to our firm in the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder nor do we admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

Watson, Farley & Williams LLP

/s/ Watson, Farley & Williams LLP

Exhibit 10.1

Execution Version

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.

AND

THE INVESTORS NAMED ON SCHEDULE A HERETO


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

     1   

Section 1.01

  

Definitions

     1   

Section 1.02

  

Registrable Securities

     3   

ARTICLE II REGISTRATION RIGHTS

     3   

Section 2.01

  

Registration

     3   

Section 2.02

  

Piggyback Rights

     5   

Section 2.03

  

Delay Rights

     6   

Section 2.04

  

Underwritten Offerings

     8   

Section 2.05

  

Sale Procedures

     8   

Section 2.06

  

Cooperation by Holders

     11   

Section 2.07

  

Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities

     11   

Section 2.08

  

Expenses

     12   

Section 2.09

  

Indemnification

     12   

Section 2.10

  

Rule 144 Reporting

     15   

Section 2.11

  

Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights

     15   

Section 2.12

  

Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights

     15   

ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS

     16   

Section 3.01

  

Communications

     16   

Section 3.02

  

Successor and Assigns

     16   

Section 3.03

  

Assignment of Rights

     16   

Section 3.04

  

Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Units

     16   

Section 3.05

  

Aggregation of Registrable Securities

     17   

Section 3.06

  

Specific Performance

     17   

Section 3.07

  

Counterparts

     17   

Section 3.08

  

Headings

     17   

Section 3.09

  

Governing Law

     17   

Section 3.10

  

Severability of Provisions

     17   

Section 3.11

  

Entire Agreement

     17   

Section 3.12

  

Amendment

     18   

Section 3.13

  

No Presumption

     18   

Section 3.14

  

Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement

     18   

Section 3.15

  

Interpretation

     18   

Schedule A – Investor List; Notice and Contact Information; Opt-Out


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of July 30, 2013, by and among Teekay LNG Partners L.P., a Marshall Islands limited partnership (the “ Partnership ”), and each of the Persons set forth on Schedule A to this Agreement (each, an “ Investor ” and collectively, the “ Investors ”).

WHEREAS, this Agreement is made in connection with the entry into that certain Common Unit Purchase Agreement, dated July 25, 2013, by and among the Partnership and the Investors (the “ Common Unit Purchase Agreement ”); and

WHEREAS, the Partnership has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Investors pursuant to the Common Unit Purchase Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions . Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings given to them in the Common Unit Purchase Agreement. The terms set forth below are used herein as so defined:

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

Agreement ” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Commission ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Unit Purchase Agreement ” has the meaning specified therefor in the recitals of this Agreement.

Effectiveness Period ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

General Partner ” means Teekay GP L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company.

 

1


Holder ” means the record holder of any Registrable Securities.

Included Registrable Securities ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.

Investor ” and “ Investors ” have the meanings specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Liquidated Damages ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement.

Liquidated Damages Multiplier ” means the product of the Common Unit Price times the number of Purchased Units purchased by such Investor and that may not be disposed of without restriction pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act.

Losses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a) of this Agreement.

Managing Underwriter ” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book-running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.

Opt-Out Notice ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(a) of this Agreement.

Parity Securities ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.02(b) of this Agreement.

Partnership ” has the meaning specified therefor in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

Person ” means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, association, government agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

Registrable Securities ” means (i) the Common Units to be acquired by the Investors pursuant to the Common Unit Purchase Agreement and (ii) any Common Units issued as Liquidated Damages pursuant to Section 2.01(b) of this Agreement.

Registration Expenses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(b) of this Agreement.

Registration Statement ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement.

Selling Expenses ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.08(b) of this Agreement.

 

2


Selling Holder ” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration statement.

Selling Holder Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning specified therefor in Section 2.09(a) of this Agreement.

Underwritten Offering ” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Registration Statement) in which Common Units are sold to an underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.

Section 1.02 Registrable Securities . Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security (a) when a registration statement covering such Registrable Security becomes or has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement; (b) when such Registrable Security has been disposed of pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act; (c) when such Registrable Security is held by the Partnership or one of its subsidiaries or Affiliates; (d) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of such securities pursuant to Section 2.11 hereof or (e) one year after the Closing Date.

ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 2.01 Registration .

(a) Effectiveness Deadline . Following the date hereof, but no later than 30 days following the Closing Date, the Partnership shall prepare and file a registration statement (the “ Registration Statement ”) under the Securities Act with respect to all of the Registrable Securities. The Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall be selected by the Partnership. The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective on or as soon as practicable after the Closing Date. Any Registration Statement shall provide for the resale pursuant to any method or combination of methods legally available to, and reasonably requested by, the Holders of any and all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement. The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Section 2.01(a) to be effective, supplemented and amended to the extent necessary to ensure that it is available for the resale of all Registrable Securities by the Holders until all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have ceased to be Registrable Securities (the “ Effectiveness Period ”). The Registration Statement when effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will, when it becomes effective, not contain an untrue

 

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statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made). As soon as practicable following the date that the Registration Statement becomes effective, but in any event within two (2) Business Days of such date, the Partnership shall provide the Holders with written notice of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(b) Failure to Go Effective . If the Registration Statement required by Section 2.01(a) is not declared effective within 90 days after the Closing Date, then each Holder shall be entitled to a payment (with respect to the Purchased Units of each such Holder), as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, of 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period, that shall accrue daily, for the first 60 days following the 90th day after the Closing Date, increasing by an additional 0.25% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period following the 60th date after such 90th day, that shall accrue daily, for each subsequent 30 days, up to a maximum of 1.00% of the Liquidated Damages Multiplier per 30-day period (the “ Liquidated Damages ”); provided, however , that the aggregate amount of Liquidated Damages payable by the Partnership per Purchased Unit may not exceed 5.0% of the Common Unit Price. The Liquidated Damages payable pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall be payable within ten (10) Business Days after the end of each such 30-day period. Any Liquidated Damages shall be paid to each Holder in immediately available funds; provided , however , if the Partnership certifies that it is unable to pay Liquidated Damages in cash because such payment would result in a breach under a credit facility or other debt instrument, then the Partnership may pay the Liquidated Damages in kind in the form of the issuance of additional Common Units. Upon any issuance of Common Units as Liquidated Damages, the Partnership shall promptly (i) prepare and file an amendment to the Registration Statement prior to its effectiveness adding such Common Units to such Registration Statement as additional Registrable Securities and (ii) prepare and file a supplemental listing application with the NYSE to list such additional Common Units. The determination of the number of Common Units to be issued as Liquidated Damages shall be equal to the amount of Liquidated Damages divided by the volume-weighted average closing price of the Common Units on the NYSE for the ten (10) trading days immediately preceding the date on which the Liquidated Damages payment is due, less a discount to such average closing price of 2.00%. The payment of Liquidated Damages to a Holder shall cease at the earlier of (i) the Registration Statement becoming effective or (ii) the Purchased Units of such Holder becoming eligible for resale without restriction under any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, assuming that each Holder is not an Affiliate of the Partnership, and any payment of Liquidated Damages shall be prorated for any period of less than 30 days in which the payment of Liquidated Damages ceases. If the Partnership is unable to cause a Registration Statement to go effective within 180 days after the Closing Date as a result of an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction, then the Partnership may request a waiver of the Liquidated Damages, and each Holder may individually grant or withhold its consent to such request in its discretion. The foregoing Liquidated Damages shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Holders for any failure of the Registration Statement to be declared effective.

 

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Section 2.02 Piggyback Rights

(a) Participation . In the event the Registrable Securities may not be disposed of without restriction pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, if the Partnership proposes to file (i) a prospectus supplement to an effective shelf registration statement, other than the Registration Statement contemplated by Section 2.01(a) of this Agreement and Holders may be included without the filing of a post-effective amendment thereto, or (ii) a registration statement, other than a shelf registration statement, in each case, for the sale of Common Units in an Underwritten Offering for its own account and/or another Person, then as soon as practicable following the engagement of counsel by the Partnership to prepare the documents to be used in connection with an Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall give notice (which may include, without limitation, notification by electronic mail) of such proposed Underwritten Offering to each Holder that, together with its Affiliates, holds in the aggregate at least $5.0 million of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities (based on the Common Unit Price) and such notice shall offer such Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of Registrable Securities (the “ Included Registrable Securities ”) as each such Holder may request in writing; provided, however , that (i) the Partnership shall not be required to provide such opportunity to any such Holder that does not offer a minimum of $5.0 million of Registrable Securities (based on the Common Unit Price), or (ii) if the Partnership has been advised by the Managing Underwriter that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of the Holders will have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units in the Underwritten Offering, then (A) the Partnership shall not be required to offer such opportunity to the Holders or (B) if any Registrable Securities can be included in the Underwritten Offering in the opinion of the Managing Underwriter, then the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(b) . Any notice required to be provided in this Section 2.02(a) to Holders shall be provided on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01 hereof. Each such Holder described in the proviso of the immediately preceding sentence shall then have two (2) Business Days (or one (1) Business Day in connection with any overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after notice has been delivered to request in writing the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering. If no written request for inclusion from such a Holder is received within the specified time, each such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the closing of such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall determine for any reason not to undertake or to delay such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (x) in the case of a determination not to undertake such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to include any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (y) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to the Partnership of such withdrawal at or prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering. Any Holder may deliver written notice (an “ Opt-Out Notice ”) to the Partnership requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Partnership of any proposed Underwritten Offering; provided, however , that such Holder may later revoke any such Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of an Opt-Out Notice from a

 

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Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Partnership shall not be required to deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in Underwritten Offerings by the Partnership pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) . Each of the Holders on Schedule A hereto who has indicated it is delivering an Opt-Out Notice shall be deemed to have delivered an Opt-Out Notice as of the date hereof.

(b) Priority . If the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering advise the Partnership that the total amount of Registrable Securities that the Selling Holders and any other Persons intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Common Units to be included in such Underwritten Offering shall include the number of Registrable Securities that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advise the Partnership can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (i) first, to the Partnership, (ii) second, to Teekay and its Affiliates pursuant to any registration rights existing as of the date of this Agreement and (iii) third, pro rata among the Selling Holders who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering and any other holder of securities of the Partnership (other than Teekay and its Affiliates) having rights of registration that are neither expressly senior nor subordinated to the Registrable Securities (the “ Parity Securities ”). The pro rata allocations pursuant to clause (iii) above for each Selling Holder who has requested participation in such Underwritten Offering shall be the product of (a) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such Underwritten Offering multiplied by (b) the fraction derived by dividing (x) the number of Registrable Securities owned on the Closing Date by such Selling Holder by (y) the aggregate number of Registrable Securities owned on the Closing Date by all Selling Holders who have requested participation in such Underwritten Offering plus the aggregate number of Parity Securities owned on the Closing Date by all holders of Parity Securities that are participating in the Underwritten Offering.

(c) Termination of Piggyback Registration Rights . Each Holder’s rights under Section 2.02 shall terminate upon such Holder (together with its Affiliates) ceasing to hold at least $5.0 million of Registrable Securities (based on the Common Unit Price).

Section 2.03 Delay Rights . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership may, upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement or other registration statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall discontinue sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement but may settle any previously made sales of Registrable Securities) if (i) the Partnership is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Partnership determines in good faith that the Partnership’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in the Registration Statement or other registration statement or (ii)

 

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the Partnership has experienced or is undertaking some other material non-public event the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Partnership, would materially adversely affect the Partnership; provided, however , in no event shall the Selling Holders be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or other registration statement for a period that exceeds an aggregate of 60 days in any 180-day period or 105 days in any 365-day period, in each case, exclusive of days covered by any lock-up agreement executed by a Selling Holder in connection with any Underwritten Offering. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Partnership shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in the Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other reasonable actions to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.

If (i) the Selling Holders shall be prohibited from selling their Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement as a result of a suspension pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph in excess of the periods permitted therein or (ii) the Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement is filed and declared effective but, during the Effectiveness Period, shall thereafter cease to be effective or fail to be usable for its intended purpose without being succeeded within 60 Business Days by a post-effective amendment thereto, a supplement to the prospectus or a report filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or l5(d) of the Exchange Act, then, until the suspension is lifted or a post-effective amendment, supplement or report is filed with the Commission, but not including any day on which a suspension is lifted or such amendment, supplement or report is filed and declared effective, if applicable, the Partnership shall pay the Selling Holders an amount equal to the Liquidated Damages, following the earlier of, as applicable, (x) the date on which the suspension period exceeded the permitted period and (y) the sixty-first (61st) Business Day after the Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement ceased to be effective or failed to be useable for its intended purposes, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty (for purposes of calculation Liquidated Damages, the date in (x) or (y) above shall be deemed the “90th day,” as used in the definition of Liquidated Damages). For purposes of this paragraph, a suspension shall be deemed lifted on the date that notice that the suspension has been terminated is delivered to the Selling Holders. Liquidated Damages pursuant to this paragraph also shall cease upon the Purchased Units of such Holder becoming eligible for resale without restriction under any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, assuming that each Holder is not an Affiliate of the Partnership, and any payment of Liquidated Damages shall be prorated for any period of less than 30 days in which the payment of Liquidated Damages ceases. The foregoing Liquidated Damages shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the Holders for any suspension period or of the registration statement ceasing to be effective or failing to be useable for its intended purposes as described in this Section 2.03.

 

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Section 2.04 Underwritten Offerings

(a) General Procedures . In connection with any Underwritten Offering under this Agreement, the Partnership shall be entitled to select the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters. In connection with an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Agreement in which a Selling Holder participates, each Selling Holder and the Partnership shall be obligated to enter into an underwriting agreement that contains such representations, covenants, indemnities and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwriting agreements for firm commitment offerings of securities. No Selling Holder may participate in such Underwritten Offering unless such Selling Holder agrees to sell its Registrable Securities on the basis provided in such underwriting agreement and completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting agreement. Each Selling Holder may, at its option, require that any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements on the part of, the Partnership to and for the benefit of such underwriters also be made to and for such Selling Holder’s benefit and that any or all of the conditions precedent to the obligations of such underwriters under such underwriting agreement also be conditions precedent to its obligations. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Partnership or the underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder, its authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by Law or customary for such an Underwritten Offering. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an underwriting, such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to the Partnership and the Managing Underwriter; provided, however , that such withdrawal must be made up to and including the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering. No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect the Partnership’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses. The Partnership’s management may but shall not be required to participate in a roadshow or similar marketing effort in connection with any Underwritten Offering.

(b) No Demand Rights . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Holder shall be entitled to any “demand” rights or similar rights that would require the Partnership to effect an Underwritten Offering solely on behalf of the Holders.

Section 2.05 Sale Procedures

(a) In connection with its obligations under this Article II , the Partnership will, as expeditiously as possible:

(b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement;

(c) if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering from the Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify the Partnership in writing that, in the reasonable judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of the Underwritten Offering of such Registrable Securities, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such prospectus supplement;

 

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(d) furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing the Registration Statement or such other registration statement or supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of the Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Selling Holder may reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or other registration statement;

(e) if applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request; provided, however , that the Partnership will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

(f) promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to such Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the Commission with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i)  of this Section 2.05(f) and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;

(g) immediately notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made); (ii) the issuance or express threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction.

 

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Following the provision of such notice, the Partnership agrees to as promptly as practicable amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other commercially reasonable action as is necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;

(h) upon request and subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;

(i) in the case of an Underwritten Offering, furnish upon request, (i) an opinion of counsel for the Partnership dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement and (ii) a “cold comfort” letter, dated the pricing date of such Underwritten Offering and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Partnership’s financial statements included or incorporated by reference into the applicable registration statement, and each of the opinion and the “cold comfort” letter shall be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement included therein) as have been customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel and in accountants’ letters delivered to the underwriters in Underwritten Offerings of securities by the Partnership and such other matters as such underwriters may reasonably request;

(j) otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder;

(k) make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter and Selling Holders access to such information and Partnership personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act; provided, however , that the Partnership need not disclose any non-public information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership;

(l) cause all such Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each securities exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Partnership are then listed;

(m) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Partnership to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

 

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(n) provide a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(o) enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; and

(p) if requested by a Selling Holder, (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Selling Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.

Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (g)  of this Section 2.05 , shall forthwith discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (g)  of this Section 2.05 or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership that the use of the prospectus may be resumed and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Partnership, such Selling Holder will, or will request the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters, if any, to deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnership’s expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

Section 2.06 Cooperation by Holders . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Partnership shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in the Registration Statement or in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.02(a) who has failed to timely furnish such information that the Partnership determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for the registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.

Section 2.07 Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities . Each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees to enter into a customary letter agreement with underwriters providing such Holder will not effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities during the 60 calendar day period beginning on the date of a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission with respect to the pricing of any Underwritten Offering, provided, however, that (i) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction generally imposed by the underwriters on the Partnership or the officers, directors or any other Affiliate of the Partnership on whom a restriction is imposed and (ii) the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.07 shall not apply to any

 

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Registrable Securities that are included in such Underwritten Offering by such Holder. In addition, this Section 2.07 shall not apply to any Holder that is not entitled to participate in such Underwritten Offering, including, without limitation, whether because such Holder delivered an Opt-Out Notice prior to receiving notice of the Underwritten Offering, because such Holder holds less than $5.0 million of the then-outstanding Registrable Securities or because the Registrable Securities held by such Holder may be disposed of without restriction pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act.

Section 2.08 Expenses

(a) Expenses . The Partnership will pay all reasonable Registration Expenses as determined by it in good faith, including, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to such Underwritten Offering. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder. In addition, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.09 hereof, the Partnership shall not be responsible for legal fees incurred by Holders in connection with the exercise of such Holders’ rights hereunder.

(b) Certain Definitions . “ Registration Expenses ” means all expenses incident to the Partnership’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the registration of Registrable Securities on the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.01(a) or an Underwritten Offering covered under this Agreement, and the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and NYSE fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent public accountants for the Partnership, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance. “ Selling Expenses ” means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions or similar fees or arrangements allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities.

Section 2.09 Indemnification

(a) By the Partnership . In the event of a registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement, the Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder thereunder, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees or agents (collectively, the “ Selling Holder Indemnified Persons ”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “ Losses ”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or

 

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threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact (in the case of any prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which such statement is made) contained in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement, issuer free writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however , that the Partnership will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the Registration Statement or such other registration statement, or preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or final prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as applicable. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder Indemnified Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.

(b) By Each Selling Holder . Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner, its directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, employees and agents, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof; provided, however , that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds (net of any Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.

(c) Notice . Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.09 . In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.09 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable out-of-pocket costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however ,

 

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that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnifying party shall settle any action brought against any indemnified party with respect to which such indemnified party is entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnified party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, and includes a complete and unconditional release from all liability of, the indemnified party.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.09 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of such indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however , that in no event shall such Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any Loss that is the subject of this paragraph. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e) Other Indemnification . The provisions of this Section 2.09 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.

 

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Section 2.10 Rule 144 Reporting . With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Partnership agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:

(a) make and keep public information regarding the Partnership available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, at all times from and after the date hereof;

(b) file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Partnership under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and

(c) so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish, unless otherwise available via EDGAR, to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Partnership, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.

Section 2.11 Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights . The rights to cause the Partnership to register Registrable Securities granted to the Investors by the Partnership under this Article II may be transferred or assigned by any Investor to one or more transferees or assignees of Registrable Securities; provided, however, that (a) unless the transferee or assignee is an Affiliate of, and after such transfer or assignment continues to be an Affiliate of, such Investor, the amount of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned to such transferee or assignee shall represent at least $5.0 million of Registrable Securities (based on the Common Unit Price), (b) the Partnership is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee or assignee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned, and (c) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of such Investor under this Agreement.

Section 2.12 Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights . From and after the date hereof, the Partnership shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities, enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of the Partnership that would allow such current or future holder to require the Partnership to include securities in any registration statement filed by the Partnership on a basis other than pari passu with, or expressly subordinate to the rights of, the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder.

 

15


ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 3.01 Communications . All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by facsimile, electronic mail, courier service or personal delivery:

(a) if to an Investor:

To the respective address listed on Schedule A hereof

(b) if to a transferee of an Investor, to such Holder at the address provided pursuant to Section 2.11 above; and

(c) if to the Partnership:

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

4th Floor, Belvedere Building

69 Pitts Bay Road

Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Facsimile: (441) 292-3931

with a copy to:

Perkins Coie LLP

1120 N.W. Couch Street, 10 th Floor

Portland, OR 97209

Attention: David Matheson

Facsimile: 503.346.2008

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; when receipt acknowledged, if sent via facsimile or sent via Internet electronic mail; and when actually received, if sent by courier service or any other means.

Section 3.02 Successor and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein.

Section 3.03 Assignment of Rights . All or any portion of the rights and obligations of any Investor under this Agreement may be transferred or assigned by such Investor only in accordance with Section 2.11 hereof.

Section 3.04 Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting the Units . The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all units of the Partnership or any successor or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, unit splits, recapitalizations, pro rata distributions of units and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.

 

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Section 3.05 Aggregation of Registrable Securities . All Registrable Securities held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights and applicability of any obligations under this Agreement.

Section 3.06 Specific Performance . Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such Person may have.

Section 3.07 Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Agreement.

Section 3.08 Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

Section 3.09 Governing Law . THIS AGREEMENT WILL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, AND GOVERNED BY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 3.10 Severability of Provisions . Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting or impairing the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 3.11 Entire Agreement . This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein with respect to the rights granted by the Partnership set forth herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

 

17


Section 3.12 Amendment . This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the Partnership and the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities; provided, however, that no such amendment shall materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the consent of such Holder.

Section 3.13 No Presumption . If any claim is made by a party relating to any conflict, omission or ambiguity in this Agreement, no presumption or burden of proof or persuasion shall be implied by virtue of the fact that this Agreement was prepared by or at the request of a particular party or its counsel.

Section 3.14 Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement . Each of the Parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that no Person other than the Investors (and their permitted transferees and assignees) and the Partnership shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that one or more of the Investors may be a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, no recourse under this Agreement or under any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the Investors or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable Law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the Investors or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such, for any obligations of the Investors under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or therewith or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation, except in each case for any transferee or assignee of a Investor hereunder.

Section 3.15 Interpretation . Article and Section references to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to.” Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by an Investor under this Agreement, such action shall be in such Investor’s sole discretion unless otherwise specified.

[Signature pages to follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.

 

TEEKAY LNG PARTNERS L.P.
By:   TEEKAY GP L.L.C.,
  (its General Partner)
By:   /s/ Mark Cave
 

Name: Mark Cave

Title: Secretary

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


INVESTOR:

CLEARBRIDGE AMERICA ENERGY MLP

FUND INC.

By:   ClearBridge Investments, LLC
By:   /s/ Scott Glasser
 

Name: Scott Glasser

Title: co-Chief Investment Officer

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement


Schedule A – Investor Name; Notice and Contact Information; Opt Out

 

Investor

  

Notice and Contact Information

  

Opt-Out at Date

Hereof

Clearbridge America Energy MLP Fund Inc.   

ClearBridge Advisors, LLC

620 8th Avenue, 47th FL

New York, New York 10018

Attn: Patrick Collier

Phone: 212-805-2505

Email: pjcollier@clearbridgeadvisors.com

 

with a copy to :

 

ClearBridge Advisors, LLC

620 8th Avenue, 47th FL

New York, New York 10018

Attn: Barbara Brooke Manning, Esq.

Phone: 212-805-2076

Email: bbmanning@clearbridgeadvisors.com

   No

Schedule A to Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors

Teekay LNG Partners L.P.

We consent to the use of our reports dated April 16, 2013, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and subsidiaries (the “Partnership”) as of December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the related consolidated statements of income, cash flows, and changes in equity for each of the years in the two year period ended December 31, 2012, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2012, included in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012, incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form F-3 and related Prospectus for the registration of 931,098 common units and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the same Registration Statement on Form F-3.

We also consent to the use of our report dated March 15, 2013, on the consolidated balance sheet of MALT LNG Holdings ApS as of December 31, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of income (loss), shareholders’ equity (deficiency) and cash flows for the year then ended, included in the Teekay LNG Partners L.P. Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2012.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Chartered Accountants

Vancouver, Canada

August 22, 2013

Exhibit 23.2

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. for the registration of 931,098 common units and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated April 11, 2011, with respect to the consolidated results of the operations, cash flows and changes in total equity of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2010, included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Vancouver, Canada,    /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
August 22, 2013    Chartered Accountants