e424b3
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-123408
333-123408-01
PROSPECTUS
2,500,000 Shares
Representing Limited Liability Company Interests
The selling shareholder identified in this prospectus is
offering to sell up to an aggregate of 2,500,000 of our shares
representing limited liability company interests. The shares
offered are the same class as listed on the New York Stock
Exchange. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the
shareholders sale of the shares offered by this prospectus.
Our shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol KMR. The last reported sale price of our
shares on April 4, 2005, as reported on the NYSE, was
$41.70 per share.
Investing in our shares involves risks. See Risk
Factors beginning on page 3.
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.
The date of this prospectus is April 5, 2005.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Where You Can Find More Information
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Summary
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1 |
Risk Factors
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Use of Proceeds
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Selling Shareholder
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Description of Our Shares
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Modification of Fiduciary Duties Owed to Our Shareholders and to
the Owners of Units
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Material Tax Considerations
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ERISA Considerations
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Plan of Distribution
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Validity of the Shares
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Experts
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Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Kinder Morgan
Management, LLC and Kinder Morgan, Inc. have not authorized
anyone to provide you with different information. This
prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell the
offered securities. You should not assume that the information
in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the
date on the front cover of this prospectus. You should not
assume that the information incorporated by reference in this
prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date the
respective information was filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The business, financial condition, results
of operations and prospects of Kinder Morgan Management, LLC and
Kinder Morgan, Inc. may have changed since those dates.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on
Form S-3 that we and Kinder Morgan, Inc. have filed with
the SEC under the Securities Act using a shelf registration
process. This prospectus does not contain all of the information
set forth in the registration statement, or the exhibits that
are part of the registration statement, parts of which are
omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC.
For further information about us and Kinder Morgan, Inc. and
about the securities to be sold in this offering, please refer
to the information below and to the registration statement and
the exhibits which are part of the registration statement.
Kinder Morgan Management, LLC and Kinder Morgan, Inc. file
annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. Their current SEC filings are
available to the public over the Internet at the SECs web
site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any
document they file at the SECs public reference room
located at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on the public reference room and its copy charges.
Because Kinder Morgan Management, LLCs shares and Kinder
Morgan, Inc.s common stock are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange, their reports, proxy statements and other
information can be reviewed and copied at the office of that
exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
The SEC allows Kinder Morgan Management, LLC and Kinder Morgan,
Inc. to incorporate by reference the information
they file with it, which means that Kinder Morgan Management,
LLC and Kinder Morgan, Inc. can disclose important information
to you by referring you to those documents. The information
incorporated by reference is an important part of this
prospectus, and information that Kinder Morgan Management, LLC
and Kinder Morgan, Inc. file later with the SEC will
automatically update and supersede this information as well as
the information included in this prospectus. Kinder Morgan
Management, LLC and Kinder Morgan, Inc. incorporate by reference
the documents listed below and any future filings made with the
SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until the termination of the
offering:
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Kinder Morgan Management, LLC |
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SEC Filings (File No. 1-16459) |
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Period |
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Annual Report on Form 10-K
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Year Ended December 31, 2004 |
Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A
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Filed July 24, 2002 |
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Kinder Morgan, Inc. |
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SEC Filings (File No. 1-6446) |
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Period |
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Annual Report on Form 10-K
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Year Ended December 31, 2004 |
Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A
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Filed March 28, 2003 |
Should you want more information regarding Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. please refer to the annual, quarterly and special
reports and proxy statements, as applicable, filed by Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. with the SEC.
Kinder Morgan Management, LLC and Kinder Morgan, Inc.,
respectively, will provide a copy of any document incorporated
by reference in this prospectus and any exhibit specifically
incorporated by reference in those documents at no cost by
request directed to them at the following address and telephone
number:
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Kinder Morgan Management, LLC |
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Kinder Morgan, Inc. |
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Investor Relations Department |
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500 Dallas Street, Suite 1000 |
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Houston, Texas 77002 |
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(713) 369-9000 |
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The information concerning Kinder Morgan Management, LLC
contained or incorporated by reference in this document has been
provided by Kinder Morgan Management, LLC, and the information
concerning Kinder Morgan, Inc. contained or incorporated by
reference in this document has been provided by Kinder Morgan,
Inc.
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SUMMARY
Kinder Morgan Management, LLC
We are a limited liability company that has elected to be
treated as a corporation for United States income tax purposes.
Our shares trade on the NYSE under the symbol KMR.
We are a limited partner in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
and manage and control its business and affairs. The outstanding
shares of the class that votes to elect our directors are owned
by Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc., the general partner of Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc. has
delegated to us, to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware
law and the Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. partnership
agreement, all of its rights and powers to manage and control
the business and affairs of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
and its subsidiary operating limited partnerships and their
subsidiaries, subject to Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc.s right
to approve specified actions. We were formed in Delaware on
February 14, 2001.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., a limited partnership with
its common units traded on the NYSE under the symbol
KMP, was formed in Delaware in August 1992. Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. is one of the largest
publicly-traded pipeline limited partnerships in the United
States in terms of market capitalization and the largest
independent refined petroleum products pipeline system in the
United States in terms of volumes delivered. Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P.s operations are conducted through
its subsidiary operating limited partnerships and their
subsidiaries and are grouped into the following business
segments: Products Pipelines, Natural Gas Pipelines,
CO2 and Terminals.
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
Kinder Morgan, Inc. is a Kansas corporation incorporated in 1927
with its common stock traded on the NYSE under the symbol
KMI. Kinder Morgan, Inc. is one of the largest
energy transportation and storage companies in the United
States, operating, either for itself or on behalf of Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., over 35,000 miles of natural
gas and petroleum products pipelines and approximately 135
terminals. Kinder Morgan, Inc. also has retail distribution and
electric generation assets. In addition, Kinder Morgan, Inc.
owns the general partner of, and a significant limited partner
interest in, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
The principal executive office of each company is located at 500
Dallas, Suite 1000, Houston, Texas 77002, and the phone
number at this address is (713) 369-9000.
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Organizational Structure
The following chart depicts the current organizational structure
of Kinder Morgan LLC, Kinder Morgan, Inc. and Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P.
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RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks described below, in
addition to the other information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. Specifically, please see
Risk Factors included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and in
the Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004
included in our Form 10-K as Annex A, for a discussion
of risk factors that may affect our business. Realization of any
of those risks could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, cash flows and results of
operations. Realization of any of those or the following risks
could result in a decline in the trading price of our shares,
and you might lose all or part of your investment.
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Because our only assets are the i-units in Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P., our success is dependent solely upon our
operation and management of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
and its resulting performance. |
We are a limited partner in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
In the event that Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. decreases
its cash distributions to its common unitholders, distributions
of i-units on the i-units that we own will decrease
correspondingly, and distributions of additional shares to
owners of our shares will decrease as well. Furthermore, we may
establish cash reserves at Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
that in our reasonable discretion are necessary to fund Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s future operating and capital
expenditures, provide for the proper conduct of business, comply
with applicable laws or agreements to which Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. is a party, or provide funds for future
distributions to partners. These cash reserves affect the amount
of cash available for distribution to holders of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P.s common units and, consequently, the
distributions on your shares.
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The value of the quarterly distribution of an additional
fractional share may be less than the cash distribution on a
common unit of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. |
The fraction of a share to be issued per share outstanding with
each quarterly distribution is based on the average closing
price of the shares for the ten consecutive trading days
preceding the ex-dividend date for our shares. Because the
market price of our shares may vary substantially over time, the
market value of our shares on the date you receive a
distribution of additional shares may vary substantially from
the cash you would have received had you owned common units
instead of our shares.
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Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. could be treated as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. The
treatment of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. as a
corporation would substantially reduce the cash distributions on
the common units and the value of i-units that Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. will distribute quarterly to us and the
value of our shares that we will distribute quarterly to you. |
The anticipated benefit of an investment in our shares depends
largely on the treatment of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. has not requested, and does
not plan to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service
on this or any other matter affecting Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. Current law requires Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. to derive at least 90% of its annual gross income
from specific activities to continue to be treated as a
partnership for United States federal income tax purposes.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. may not find it possible,
regardless of its efforts, to meet this income requirement or
may inadvertently fail to meet this income requirement. Current
law may change so as to cause Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. to be treated as a corporation for United States federal
income tax purposes without regard to its sources of income or
otherwise subject Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. to
entity-level taxation.
If Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. were to be treated as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, it
would pay United States federal income tax on its income at the
corporate tax
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rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and would pay state
income taxes at varying rates. Distributions to us of additional
i-units would generally be taxed as a corporate distribution.
Because a tax would be imposed upon Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. as a corporation, the cash available for
distribution to common unitholders would be substantially
reduced, which would reduce the values of i-units distributed
quarterly to us and our shares distributed quarterly to our
shareholders. Treatment of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
as a corporation would cause a substantial reduction in the
value of our shares.
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Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. may issue additional
common or other units and we may issue additional shares, which
would dilute your ownership interest. |
The issuance of additional common or other units by Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. or shares by us other than in our
quarterly distributions to you may have the following effects:
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the amount available for distributions on each share may
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the relative voting power of each previously outstanding share
will be decreased; and |
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the market price of shares may decline. |
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The market price of our shares on any given day generally is
less than the market price of the common units of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. |
Since our initial public offering, our shares have generally
traded on the New York Stock Exchange at prices at a discount
to, but in general proximity to, the prices of common units of
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. Thus, the market price of
our shares on any given day generally is less than the market
price of the common units of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
The market price of our shares will depend, as does the market
price of the common units of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P., on many factors, including our operation and management of
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., the future performance of
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., conditions in the energy
transportation and storage industry, general market conditions,
and conditions relating to businesses that are similar to that
of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
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Your shares are subject to optional and mandatory purchase
provisions which could result in your having to sell your shares
at a time or price you do not like. |
If either of the optional purchase rights are exercised by
Kinder Morgan, Inc., or if there is a mandatory purchase event,
you will be required to sell your shares at a time or price that
may be undesirable, and could receive less than you paid for
your shares. Any sale of our shares for cash, to Kinder Morgan,
Inc. or otherwise, will be a taxable transaction to the owner of
the shares sold. Accordingly, a gain or loss will be recognized
on the sale equal to the difference between the cash received
and the owners tax basis in the shares sold. For further
information regarding the optional and mandatory purchase
rights, please read Description of Our Shares
Optional Purchase and Description of Our
Shares Mandatory Purchase.
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Our board of directors has the power to change the terms of
the shares in ways our board determines, in its sole discretion,
are not materially adverse to the owners of our shares. You may
not like the changes, and even if you believe the changes are
materially adverse to the owners of shares, you have no recourse
to prevent them. |
As an owner of our shares, you may not like the changes made to
the terms of the shares and you may disagree with the
boards decision that the changes are not materially
adverse to you as a shareholder. Your recourse if you disagree
will be limited because our limited liability company agreement
gives broad latitude and discretion to the board of directors
and eliminates or reduces the fiduciary duties that our board of
directors would otherwise owe to you. For further information
regarding amendments to the
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shares, our limited liability company agreement and other
agreements, please read Description of Our
Shares Limited Voting Rights.
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Kinder Morgan, Inc. may be unable to purchase shares upon the
occurrence of the mandatory purchase events, resulting in a loss
in value of your shares. |
The satisfaction of the obligation of Kinder Morgan, Inc. to
purchase shares following a purchase event is dependent on
Kinder Morgan, Inc.s financial ability to meet its
obligations. There is no requirement for Kinder Morgan, Inc. to
secure its obligation or comply with financial covenants to
ensure its performance of these obligations. If Kinder Morgan,
Inc. is unable to meet its obligations upon the occurrence of a
mandatory purchase event, you may not receive cash for your
shares.
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As an owner of i-units, we may not receive value equivalent
to the common unit value for our i-unit interest in Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. if Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. is liquidated. As a result, you may receive less per share
in our liquidation than is received by an owner of a common unit
in a liquidation of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. |
If Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. is liquidated and Kinder
Morgan, Inc. does not satisfy its obligation to purchase your
shares, which is triggered by a liquidation, then the value of
your shares will depend on the after-tax amount of the
liquidating distribution received by us as the owner of i-units.
The terms of the i-units provide that no allocations of income,
gain, loss or deduction will be made in respect of the i-units
until such time as there is a liquidation of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. If there is a liquidation of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P., it is intended that we will receive
allocations of income and gain in an amount necessary for the
capital account attributable to each i-unit to be equal to that
of a common unit. As a result, we will likely realize taxable
income upon the liquidation of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. However, there may not be sufficient amounts of income and
gain to cause the capital account attributable to each i-unit to
be equal to that of a common unit. If they are not equal, we,
and therefore you, will receive less value than would be
received by an owner of common units.
Further, the tax indemnity provided to us by Kinder Morgan, Inc.
only indemnifies us for our tax liabilities to the extent we
have not received sufficient cash in the transaction generating
the tax liability to pay the associated tax. Prior to any
liquidation of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., we do not
expect to receive cash in a taxable transaction. If a
liquidation of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. occurs,
however, we likely would receive cash which would need to be
used at least in part to pay taxes. As a result, our residual
value and the value of our shares likely will be less than the
value of the common units upon the liquidation of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P.
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A person or group owning 20% or more of the aggregate number
of issued and outstanding common units and our shares, other
than Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates, may not vote common
units or shares; as a result, you are less likely to receive a
premium for your shares in a hostile takeover. |
Any common units and shares owned by a person or group that owns
20% or more of the aggregate number of issued and outstanding
common units and shares cannot be voted. This limitation does
not apply to Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates. This
provision may:
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discourage a person or group from attempting to take over
control of us or Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.; and |
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reduce the price at which the common units will trade under
certain circumstances. |
For example, a third party will probably not attempt to remove
the general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. and
take over our management of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
by making a tender offer for the common units at a price above
their trading market price.
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The exercise of the mandatory or optional purchase right
associated with our shares is a taxable event to the owners of
shares purchased pursuant to that exercise. |
Any sale of our shares, to Kinder Morgan, Inc. or otherwise, for
cash will be a taxable transaction to the owner of the shares
sold. Accordingly, a gain or loss will be recognized on the sale
equal to the difference between the cash received and the
owners tax basis in the shares sold.
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Owners of our shares have limited voting rights and therefore
have little or no opportunity to influence or change our
management. |
Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc. owns all of our shares eligible to vote
on the election of our directors and, therefore, is entitled to
elect all of the members of our board of directors. For a
description of the limited voting rights you will have as an
owner of shares, see Description of Our Shares
Limited Voting Rights.
Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc. has delegated to us, to the fullest
extent permitted under Delaware law and the Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. partnership agreement, all of its rights and
powers to manage and control the business and affairs of Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., subject to Kinder Morgan G.P.,
Inc.s right to approve specified actions.
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The interests of Kinder Morgan, Inc. may differ from our
interests, the interests of our shareholders and the interests
of unitholders of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. |
Kinder Morgan, Inc. owns all of the stock of the general partner
of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. and elects all of its
directors. The general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. owns all of our voting shares and elects all of our
directors. Furthermore, some of our directors and officers are
also directors and officers of Kinder Morgan, Inc. and the
general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. and have
fiduciary duties to manage the businesses of Kinder Morgan, Inc.
and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. in a manner that may not
be in the best interest of our shareholders. Kinder Morgan, Inc.
has a number of interests that differ from the interests of our
shareholders and the interests of the unitholders. As a result,
there is a risk that important business decisions will not be
made in your best interest as one of our shareholders.
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Our limited liability company agreement restricts or
eliminates a number of the fiduciary duties that would otherwise
be owed by our board of directors to our shareholders, and the
partnership agreement of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
restricts or eliminates a number of the fiduciary duties that
would otherwise be owed by the general partner to the
unitholders. |
Modifications of state law standards of fiduciary duties may
significantly limit the ability of our shareholders and the
unitholders to successfully challenge the actions of our board
of directors and the general partner, respectively, in the event
of a breach of their fiduciary duties. These state law standards
include the duties of care and loyalty. The duty of loyalty, in
the absence of a provision in the limited liability company
agreement or the limited partnership agreement to the contrary,
would generally prohibit our board of directors or the general
partner from taking any action or engaging in any transaction as
to which it has a conflict of interest. Our limited liability
company agreement and the limited partnership agreement of
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. contain provisions that
prohibit our shareholders and the limited partners,
respectively, from advancing claims that otherwise might raise
issues as to compliance with fiduciary duties or applicable law.
For example, the limited partnership agreement of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. provides that the general partner may take
into account the interests of parties other than Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. in resolving conflicts of interest.
Further, it provides that in the absence of bad faith by the
general partner, the resolution of a conflict by the general
partner will not be a breach of any duty. The provisions
relating to the general partner apply equally to us as its
delegate. Our limited liability company agreement provides that
none of our directors or officers will be liable to us or any
other person for any acts or omissions if they acted in good
faith. See Modification of Fiduciary Duties Owed to Our
Shareholders and to the Owners of Units.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
Because the shares covered by this prospectus are being sold by
the selling shareholder and not us, we will not receive any
proceeds from the sale of the shares pursuant to this
prospectus. Unless otherwise described in a prospectus
supplement, Kinder Morgan, Inc., the selling shareholder,
intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of shares under
this prospectus for general corporate purposes. This may
include, among other things, additions to working capital,
repayment or refinancing of existing indebtedness or other
corporate obligations, financing of capital expenditures and
acquisitions, investment in existing and future projects, and
repurchases and redemptions of securities. Pending any specific
application, Kinder Morgan, Inc. may initially invest funds in
short-term marketable securities or apply them to the reduction
of indebtedness.
SELLING SHAREHOLDER
This prospectus relates to shares of the class that are listed
on the NYSE, which we call our listed shares. It does not relate
to our voting shares, which, pursuant to our limited liability
company agreement, are owned solely by a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Kinder Morgan, Inc. Kinder Morgan, Inc. is offering a portion
of our listed shares that it owns. It may from time to time
offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus or a supplement
hereto any or all of those listed shares.
As disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus, Kinder Morgan G.P.,
Inc. is the sole owner of our voting shares, which are the only
shares entitled to vote on the election of our directors. Kinder
Morgan, Inc. indirectly owns all of the voting stock of Kinder
Morgan G.P., Inc. Even if Kinder Morgan, Inc. were to sell all
of the listed shares it owns, it will still own indirectly all
of our voting shares.
As of March 1, 2005, Kinder Morgan, Inc. beneficially owned
13,546,095, or 24.58%, of our outstanding listed shares. The
calculation of the percentage of beneficial ownership is based
on Rule 13d-3(d)(i) of the Securities Exchange Act and uses
55,113,575 shares outstanding as of March 1, 2005. So
long as Kinder Morgan, Inc. owns listed shares, each time we
make a distribution in additional listed shares or fractional
listed shares, Kinder Morgan, Inc. will receive its pro rata
portion of the listed shares distributed. Kinder Morgan, Inc.
may offer all, some or none of the 2,500,000 listed shares
offered by this prospectus. Because Kinder Morgan, Inc. may
offer all or some portion of the listed shares it owns, and
because of listed share distributions that it may receive, no
estimate can be given as to the amount of the listed shares that
will be held by Kinder Morgan, Inc. upon termination of any
sales. In addition, Kinder Morgan, Inc. may have sold,
transferred or otherwise disposed of all or a portion of the
listed shares since the date of this prospectus in transactions
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR SHARES
Number of Shares
All of our voting shares are held by Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc.
The shares offered pursuant to this prospectus are the same
class we have previously sold to the public, which we call our
listed shares, and do not entitle owners of such shares to vote
on the election of our directors. Other than our voting shares,
as of March 1, 2005, we had 55,113,575 shares
outstanding, including approximately 13,546,095 shares held
by Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its controlled affiliates. Our
limited liability company agreement does not limit the number of
shares we may issue.
Where Shares are Traded
Except for our voting shares, all of which are held by Kinder
Morgan G.P., Inc., our outstanding shares are listed on the New
York Stock Exchange under the symbol KMR.
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General
The following is a summary of the principal documents which
relate to our shares. Copies of those documents are on file with
the SEC as part of our registration statement. See Where
You Can Find More Information for information on how to
obtain copies. You should refer to the provisions of each of the
following agreements because they, and not this summary, will
govern your rights as a holder of our shares. These agreements
include:
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our limited liability company agreement, which provides for the
issuance of our shares, distributions and limited voting rights
attributable to our shares and which establishes the rights,
obligations and limited circumstances for the mandatory and
optional purchase of our shares by Kinder Morgan, Inc. as
provided in the Kinder Morgan, Inc. purchase provisions; |
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the Kinder Morgan, Inc. purchase provisions, which are part of
our limited liability company agreement and which provide for
the optional and mandatory purchase of our shares in the limited
circumstances set forth in our limited liability company
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the Kinder Morgan, Inc. tax indemnification agreement, which
provides that Kinder Morgan, Inc. will indemnify us for any tax
liability attributable to our formation or our management and
control of the business and affairs of Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P., and for any taxes arising out of a transaction
involving our i-units to the extent the transaction does not
generate sufficient cash to pay our taxes; and |
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the delegation of control agreement among us, Kinder Morgan
G.P., Inc. and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. and its
operating partnerships, which delegates to us, to the fullest
extent permitted under Delaware law and the Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. partnership agreement, the power and authority to
manage and control the business and affairs of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. and its operating partnerships, subject to
Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc.s right to approve specified
actions. |
Distributions
General. Under the terms of our limited liability company
agreement, except in connection with our liquidation, we do not
pay distributions on our shares in cash. Instead, we make
distributions on our shares in additional shares or fractions of
shares. At the same time that Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. makes any cash distribution on its common units, we
distribute on each of our shares that fraction of a share
determined by dividing the amount of the cash distribution to be
made by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. on each common unit
by the average market price of a share determined for the ten
consecutive trading days immediately prior to the ex-dividend
date for our shares.
We also will distribute to owners of our shares additional
shares if owners of common units receive a cash distribution or
other cash payment on their common units other than a regular
quarterly distribution. In that event, we will distribute on
each share that fraction of a share determined by dividing the
cash distribution declared by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. on each common unit by the average market price of a share
determined for a ten consecutive trading day period ending on
the trading day immediately prior to the ex-dividend date for
the shares.
Our limited liability company agreement provides that a
shareholders right to a distribution that has been
declared (or for which a record date has been set) but that has
not yet been made ceases on the purchase date if the funds for
Kinder Morgan, Inc.s optional or mandatory purchase of the
shares are deposited with the transfer agent and the notice of
purchase has been given.
There is no public market for trading fractional shares. We
issue fractional shares in payment of the distribution to owners
of our shares. No fraction of a share can be traded on any
exchange on which our shares are traded until a holder acquires
the remainder of the fraction and has a whole share.
The term average market price is used above in connection with
the share distributions and it is used below in connection with
the optional and mandatory purchase of our shares. When we refer
to the
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average market price of a share or a common unit, we mean the
average closing price of a share or common unit during the ten
consecutive trading days prior to the determination date but not
including that date, unless a longer or shorter number of
trading days is expressly noted.
The closing price of securities on any day means:
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for securities listed on a national securities exchange, the
last sale price for that day, regular way, or, if there are no
sales on that day, the average of the closing bid and asked
prices for that day, regular way, in either case as reported in
the principal composite transactions reporting system for the
principal national securities exchange on which the securities
are listed; |
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if the securities are not listed on a national securities
exchange |
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the last quoted price on that day, or, if no price is quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices on that day,
each as reported by NASDAQ; |
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if on that day the securities are not so quoted, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices on that day furnished by a
professional market maker in the securities selected by our
board of directors in its sole discretion (or, in the cases of
mandatory or optional purchases, by the board of directors of
Kinder Morgan, Inc.); or |
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if on that day no market maker is making a market in the
securities, the fair value of the securities as determined by
our board of directors in its sole discretion (or, in the cases
of mandatory or optional purchases, by the board of directors of
Kinder Morgan, Inc.). |
A trading day for securities means a day on which:
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the principal national securities exchange on which the
securities are listed is open for business, or |
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if the securities are not listed on any national securities
exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York, New
York generally are open. |
Distributions are made in accordance with the New York Stock
Exchanges distribution standards.
Limited Voting Rights
The shares offered pursuant to this prospectus are the same
class we have previously sold to the public, and do not entitle
owners of such shares to vote on the election of our directors.
Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc. owns all shares eligible to elect our
directors and elects all of our directors. Owners of our shares
are entitled to vote on the specified matters described under
the following caption.
Actions Requiring Vote of Owners of Our Shares. Our
limited liability company agreement provides that we will not,
without the approval of a majority of the shares owned by
persons other than Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates,
amend, alter or repeal any of the provisions of our limited
liability company agreement, including the Kinder Morgan, Inc.
purchase provisions, the Kinder Morgan, Inc. tax indemnification
agreement or the delegation of control agreement, in a manner
that materially adversely affects the preferences or rights of
the owners of our shares as determined in the sole discretion of
our board of directors, or reduces the time for any notice to
which the holders of our shares may be entitled, except as
provided below under Actions Not Requiring the Vote of
Holders.
Under the terms of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s
partnership agreement, the i-units it issues to us are entitled
to vote on all matters on which the common units are entitled to
vote. We will submit to a vote of our shareholders any matter
submitted to us by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. for a
vote of i-units. We will vote our i-units in the same way that
our shareholders vote their shares for or against a matter,
including non-votes or abstentions. In general, the i-units,
common units and Class B units will
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vote together as a single class, with each i-unit, common unit
and Class B unit having one vote. The i-units vote
separately as a class on:
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amendments to the Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
partnership agreement that would have a material adverse effect
on the rights or preferences of holders of the i-units in
relation to the other outstanding classes of units; |
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the approval of the withdrawal of Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc. as
the general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. in
some circumstances; and |
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the transfer to a non-affiliate by Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc. of
all its interest as a general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. |
Our limited liability company agreement also provides that we
will not, without the approval of a majority of our shares owned
by persons other than Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates,
take an action that we have covenanted not to take without
shareholder approval, as summarized below, or issue any shares
of classes other than the two classes of shares that are
currently outstanding.
Limitations on Voting Rights of Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its
Affiliates. The shares owned by Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its
affiliates, generally, are entitled to vote on any matter
submitted to us as the owner of i-units. Shares owned by Kinder
Morgan, Inc. or its affiliates will not, however, be entitled to
vote on the matters described below when submitted to a vote of
shareholders to determine how the i-units should be voted as
long as Kinder Morgan, Inc. or its affiliates owns our voting
shares:
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any matters on which the i-units vote as a separate class; |
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a proposed removal of the general partner of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P.; |
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some proposed transfers of all of the general partners
interest as the general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. and the admission of any successor transferee as
a successor general partner; and |
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a proposed withdrawal of the general partner of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. in some circumstances. |
When any shares, including voting shares, owned by Kinder
Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates are not entitled to vote as
described above, they will be treated as not outstanding.
Therefore, they will not be included in the numerator of the
number of shares voting for approval or the denominator of the
number of shares outstanding in determining whether the required
percentage has been voted to approve a matter. Similarly, a
number of i-units equal to the number of our shares, including
voting shares, owned by Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates
will be treated as not being outstanding and will not be
included in the numerator or denominator in determining if the
required percentage of i-units or total units has been voted to
approve a matter.
Limitations on Voting Rights of 20% or More Holders. A
person or group owning 20% or more of the aggregate number of
issued and outstanding common units and shares is not entitled
to vote its shares. Therefore, such shares will not be included
in the numerator of the number of shares voting for approval or
the denominator of the numbers of shares outstanding in
determining whether the required percentage has been voted to
approve a matter. This limitation does not apply to Kinder
Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates, including Kinder Morgan G.P.,
Inc., although, as described above, there are a number of
matters on which Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates may not
vote.
Actions Not Requiring the Vote of Holders. The relevant
agreements provide that notwithstanding the voting provisions
described above, we may make changes in the terms of our shares,
our limited liability company agreement (including the purchase
provisions), the tax indemnification agreement and the
delegation of control agreement without any approval of holders
of our shares, in order to meet the requirements of applicable
securities and other laws and regulations and exchange rules, to
effect the intent of the provisions of the limited liability
company agreement and to make other changes which our board of
directors determines in its sole discretion will not have a
material adverse effect on the preferences or
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rights associated with our shares or reduce the time for any
notice to which the holders of our shares may be entitled. The
agreements provide that we are also permitted, in the good faith
discretion of our board of directors, to amend the terms of the
shares and these agreements without the approval of holders of
shares to accommodate the assumption of the obligations of
Kinder Morgan, Inc. by a person, other than Kinder Morgan, Inc.
and its affiliates, who becomes the beneficial owner of more
than 50% of the total voting power of all shares of capital
stock of the general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. in a transaction that does not constitute a mandatory
purchase event but that requires the vote of the holders of the
outstanding common units and shares, or to accommodate changes
resulting from a merger, recapitalization, reorganization or
similar transaction involving Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. which in each case does not constitute a mandatory purchase
event but that requires the vote of the holders of the
outstanding common units and shares. We believe that amendments
made pursuant to these agreements, except in some cases in the
context of a merger, recapitalization, reorganization or similar
transaction, would not be significant enough to constitute the
issuance of a new security; but, if an amendment constituted the
issuance of a new security, we would have to register the
issuance of the securities with the SEC or rely on an exemption
from registration.
Anti-Dilution Adjustments
The partnership agreement of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
provides that Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. will adjust
proportionately the number of i-units held by us through the
payment to us of an i-unit distribution or by causing an i-unit
subdivision, split or combination if various events occur,
including:
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the payment of a common unit distribution on the common
units; and |
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a subdivision, split or combination of the common units. |
Our limited liability company agreement provides that the number
of all of our outstanding shares, including the voting shares,
shall at all times equal the number of i-units we own. If there
is a change in the number of i-units we own, we will make to all
our shareholders a share distribution or effect a share split or
combination to provide that at all times the number of shares
outstanding equals the number of i-units we own. Through the
combined effect of the provisions in the Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners. L.P. partnership agreement and the provisions of our
limited liability company agreement, the number of outstanding
shares and i-units always will be equal.
Covenants
Our limited liability company agreement provides that our
activities will be limited to being a limited partner in, and
controlling and managing the business and affairs of, Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. and its operating partnerships and
engaging in any lawful business, purpose or activity related
thereto. It also includes provisions that are intended to
maintain a one-to-one relationship between the number of i-units
we own and our outstanding shares, including provisions:
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prohibiting our sale, pledge or other transfer of i-units; |
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prohibiting our issuance of options, warrants or other
securities entitling the holder to subscribe for or purchase our
shares; |
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prohibiting us from borrowing money or issuing debt; |
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prohibiting a liquidation, merger or recapitalization or similar
transactions involving us; and |
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prohibiting our purchase of any of our shares, including voting
shares. |
Under the terms of the Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
partnership agreement, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
agrees that it will not:
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except in liquidation, make a distribution on an i-unit other
than in additional i-units or a security that has in all
material respects the same rights and privileges as the i-units; |
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make a distribution on a common unit other than in cash, in
additional common units or a security that has in all material
respects the same rights and privileges as the common units; |
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allow an owner of common units to receive any consideration
other than cash, common units or a security that has in all
material respects the same rights and privileges as the common
units, or allow us, as the owner of the i-units, to receive any
consideration other than i-units or a security that has in all
material respects the same rights and privileges as the i-units
in a: |
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merger in which Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. is not the
survivor, if the unitholders of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. immediately prior to the transaction own more than 50% of
the residual common equity securities of the survivor
immediately after the transaction; |
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merger in which Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. is the
survivor, if the unitholders of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. immediately prior to the transaction own more than 50% of
the limited partner interests in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. immediately after the transaction; or |
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recapitalization, reorganization or similar transaction; |
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be a party to a merger in which Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. is not the survivor, sell substantially all of its assets
to another person or enter into similar transactions if: |
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the survivor of the merger or the other person is to be
controlled by Kinder Morgan, Inc. or its affiliates after the
transaction; and |
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the transaction would be a mandatory purchase event; |
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make a tender offer for common units unless the consideration: |
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is exclusively cash; and |
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together with any cash payable in respect of any tender offer by
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. for the common units
concluded within the preceding 360 days and the aggregate
amount of any cash distributions to all owners of common units
made within the preceding 360-day period is less than 12% of the
aggregate average market value of all classes of units of Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. determined on the trading day
immediately preceding the commencement of the tender
offer; or |
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issue any of its i-units to any person other than us. |
The Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. partnership agreement
provides that when any cash is to be received by a common
unitholder as a result of a consolidation or merger of Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. with or into another person, other
than a consolidation or merger in which Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. is a survivor and which does not result in any
reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of
outstanding common units, or as a result of the sale or other
disposition to another person of all or substantially all of the
assets of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., that payment will
require Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. to issue additional
i-units or fractions of i-units to us except in liquidation. The
distribution of additional i-units or fractions of i-units will
be equal to the cash distribution on each common unit divided by
the average market price of one of our shares determined for a
consecutive ten day trading period ending immediately prior to
the effective date of the transaction. This will result in us
also issuing an equal number of shares to the holders of our
shares.
Optional Purchase
The Kinder Morgan, Inc. purchase provisions, which are part of
our limited liability company agreement, provide that if at any
time Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates own 80% or more of
our outstanding shares, then Kinder Morgan, Inc. has the right,
but not the obligation, to purchase for cash all of our
outstanding shares that Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates
do not own. Kinder Morgan, Inc. can exercise its right to make
that purchase by delivering notice to the transfer agent for the
shares of its
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election to make the purchase not less than ten days and not
more than 60 days prior to the date which it selects for
the purchase. We will use reasonable efforts to cause the
transfer agent to mail the notice of the purchase to the record
holders of the shares.
The price at which Kinder Morgan, Inc. may make the optional
purchase is equal to 110% of the higher of:
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the average market price for the shares for the ten consecutive
trading days ending on the fifth trading day prior to the date
the notice of the purchase is given; and |
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the highest price Kinder Morgan, Inc. or its affiliates paid for
the shares during the 90-day period ending on the day prior to
the date the notice of purchase is given. |
The Kinder Morgan, Inc. purchase provisions, which are a part of
our limited liability company agreement, and Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P.s partnership agreement each provides
that if at any time Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates own
80% or more of the outstanding common units and the outstanding
shares on a combined basis, then Kinder Morgan, Inc. has the
right to purchase all of our shares that Kinder Morgan Inc. and
its affiliates do not own, but only if the general partner of
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., elects to purchase all of
the common units that Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates do
not own. The price at which Kinder Morgan, Inc. and the general
partner may make the optional purchase is equal to the highest
of:
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the average market price of our shares or the common units,
whichever is higher, for the 20 consecutive trading days ending
five days prior to the date on which the notice of the purchase
is given; and |
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the highest price Kinder Morgan, Inc. or its affiliates paid for
such shares or common units, whichever is higher, during the
90-day period ending on the day prior to the date the notice of
purchase is given. |
Kinder Morgan, Inc. or the general partner, as the case may be,
may exercise its right to make the optional purchase by giving
notice to the transfer agent for the shares and for the common
units of its election to make the optional purchase not less
than ten days and not more than 60 days prior to the date
which it selects for the purchase. We will use reasonable
efforts to cause the transfer agent also to mail that notice of
the purchase to the record holders of our shares.
If either elects to purchase either our shares or the
combination of the common units and our shares, Kinder Morgan,
Inc. and, if applicable, the general partner, will deposit the
aggregate purchase price for the shares and the common units, as
the case may be, with the respective transfer agents. On and
after the date set for the purchase, the holders of the shares
or the common units, as the case may be, will have no rights as
holders of shares or common units, except to receive the
purchase price, and their shares or common units will be deemed
to be transferred to Kinder Morgan, Inc., or the general partner
in the case of the common units, for all purposes.
Kinder Morgan, Inc. will comply with Rule 13e-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act if it makes an optional purchase.
Mandatory Purchase
General. Under the terms of the Kinder Morgan, Inc.
purchase provisions, upon the occurrence of any of the following
mandatory purchase events, Kinder Morgan, Inc. will be required
to purchase for cash all of our shares that it and its
affiliates do not own at a purchase price equal to the higher of
the average market price for the shares and the average market
price for common units as determined for the ten-day trading
period immediately prior to the date of the applicable event.
A mandatory purchase event means any of the following:
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the first day on which the aggregate distributions or other
payments by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. on the common
units, other than distributions or payments made in common units
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in securities which have in all material respects the same
rights and privileges as common units but including
distributions or payments made pursuant to an issuer tender
offer by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., during the
immediately preceding 360-day period exceed 50% of the average
market price of a common unit during the ten consecutive trading
day period ending on the last trading day prior to the first day
of that 360-day period. |
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the occurrence of an event resulting in Kinder Morgan, Inc. and
its affiliates ceasing to be the beneficial owner, as defined in
Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, of more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares
of capital stock of the general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P., unless: |
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the event results in another person becoming the beneficial
owner of more than 50% of the total voting power of all shares
of capital stock of the general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P.; |
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that other person is organized under the laws of a state in the
United States; |
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that other person has long term unsecured debt with an
investment grade credit rating, as determined by Moodys
Investor Services, Inc. and Standard & Poors
Rating Service, immediately prior to the event; and |
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that other person assumes all obligations of Kinder Morgan, Inc.
to us and to the owners of the shares under the purchase
provisions and the tax indemnification agreement. |
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the merger of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. with or into
another person in any case where Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. is not the surviving entity, or the sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to
another person, unless in the transaction: |
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the owners of common units receive in exchange for their common
units a security of such other person that has in all material
respects the same rights and privileges as the common units; |
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we receive in exchange for all of the i-units a security of such
other person that has in all material respects the same rights
and privileges as the i-units; |
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no consideration is received by an owner of common units other
than securities that have in all material respects the same
rights and privileges as the common units and/or cash, and the
amount of cash received per common unit does not exceed
331/3%
of the average market price of a common unit during the ten
trading day period ending immediately prior to the date of
execution of the definitive agreement for the
transaction; and |
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no consideration is received by the owners of i-units other than
securities of such other person that have in all material
respects the same rights and privileges as the i-units. |
Procedure. Within three business days following any event
requiring a mandatory purchase by Kinder Morgan, Inc., Kinder
Morgan, Inc. will mail or deliver to the transfer agent for
mailing to each holder of record of the shares on the earlier of
the date of the purchase event and the most recent practicable
date, a notice stating:
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that a mandatory purchase event has occurred and that Kinder
Morgan, Inc. will purchase such holders shares for the
purchase price described above; |
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the circumstances and relevant facts regarding the mandatory
purchase event; |
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the dollar amount per share of the purchase price; |
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the purchase date, which shall be no later than five business
days from the date such notice is mailed; and |
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the instructions a holder must follow in order to have the
holders shares purchased. |
On or prior to the date of the purchase, Kinder Morgan, Inc.
will irrevocably deposit with the transfer agent funds
sufficient to pay the purchase price. Following the purchase
date, a share owned by any person other than Kinder Morgan, Inc.
and its affiliates will only represent the right to receive the
purchase price.
For purposes of the optional and mandatory purchase provisions,
including the definitions of the mandatory purchase events,
Kinder Morgan, Inc. will be deemed to include Kinder Morgan,
Inc., its successors by merger, and any entity that succeeds to
Kinder Morgan, Inc.s obligations under the purchase
provisions and the tax indemnification agreement in connection
with an acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of
Kinder Morgan, Inc.
Kinder Morgan, Inc. will comply with Rule 13e-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act in connection with the occurrence of a
mandatory purchase event.
Tax Indemnity of Kinder Morgan, Inc.
We have a tax indemnification agreement with Kinder Morgan, Inc.
Pursuant to this agreement, Kinder Morgan, Inc. agreed to
indemnify us for any tax liability attributable to our formation
or our management and control of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P., and for any taxes arising out of a transaction involving
our i-units to the extent the transaction does not generate
sufficient cash to pay our taxes.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Our transfer agent and registrar for the shares is EquiServe
Trust Company, N.A. It may be contacted at 525 Washington
Blvd., Jersey City, New Jersey 07310.
The transfer agent and registrar may at any time resign, by
notice to us, or be removed by us. That resignation or removal
would become effective upon the appointment by us of a successor
transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of that
appointment. If no successor has been appointed and accepted
that appointment within 30 days after notice of that
resignation or removal, we are authorized to act as the transfer
agent and registrar until a successor is appointed.
Replacement of Share Certificates
We will replace any mutilated certificate at your expense upon
surrender of that certificate to the transfer agent. We will
replace certificates that become destroyed, lost or stolen at
your expense upon delivery to us and the transfer agent of
satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed,
lost or stolen, together with any indemnity that may be required
by us or by the transfer agent.
Fractional Shares
We will make distributions of additional shares, including
fractional shares. Records of fractional interests held by the
holders of shares will be maintained by the Depositary Trust
Company or the broker or other nominees through whom you hold
your shares. You will be able to sell such fractional shares on
the New York Stock Exchange only when they equal, in the
aggregate, whole shares. Certificates representing fractional
shares will not be issued under any circumstances. Fractional
shares will receive distributions when distributions are made on
our shares. All fractional shares will be rounded down, if
necessary, and stated in six decimal places.
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MODIFICATION OF FIDUCIARY DUTIES OWED TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS
AND TO THE OWNERS OF UNITS
The fiduciary duties owed to you by our board of directors are
prescribed by Delaware law and our limited liability company
agreement. Similarly, the fiduciary duties owed to the owners of
units of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., by the general
partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. are prescribed by
Delaware law and its partnership agreement. The Delaware Limited
Liability Company Act and the Delaware Limited Partnership Act
provide that Delaware limited liability companies and Delaware
limited partnerships, respectively, may, in their limited
liability company agreements and partnership agreements, as
applicable, restrict the fiduciary duties owed by the board of
directors to us and our shareholders and by the general partner
to the limited partnership and the limited partners.
Our limited liability company agreement and the Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. partnership agreement contain various
provisions restricting the fiduciary duties that might otherwise
be owed. The following is a summary of the material restrictions
of the fiduciary duties owed by our board of directors to us and
our shareholders and by Kinder Morgan G.P., Inc., the general
partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., to the
partnership and its limited partners. Any fiduciary duties owed
to you by Kinder Morgan, Inc. and its affiliates, as the
beneficial owner of all our voting shares, are similarly
restricted or eliminated.
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State-law fiduciary duty standards |
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Fiduciary duties are generally considered to include an
obligation to act with due care and loyalty. The duty of care,
unless the limited liability company agreement or partnership
agreement provides otherwise, would generally require a manager
or general partner to act for the limited liability company or
limited partnership, as applicable, in the same manner as a
prudent person would act on his own behalf. The duty of loyalty,
in the absence of a provision in a limited liability company
agreement or partnership agreement providing otherwise, would
generally prohibit a manager of a Delaware limited liability
company or a general partner of a Delaware limited partnership
from taking any action or engaging in any transaction where a
conflict of interest is present. |
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Our limited liability company agreement modifies these standards |
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Our limited liability company agreement contains provisions that
prohibit the shareholders from advancing claims arising from
conduct by our board of directors that might otherwise raise
issues as to compliance with fiduciary duties or applicable law.
For example, our limited liability company agreement permits the
board of directors to make a number of decisions in its
sole discretion. This entitles the board of
directors to consider only the interests and factors that it
desires, and it has no duty or obligation to give any
consideration to any interest of, or factors affecting, us, our
affiliates or any shareholder. Kinder Morgan, Inc., its
affiliates, and their officers and directors who are also our
officers or directors are not required to offer to us any
business opportunity. |
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Except as set out in our limited liability company agreement,
our directors, Kinder Morgan, Inc. and their affiliates have no
obligations, by virtue of the relationships established pursuant
to that agreement, to take or refrain from taking any action
that may impact us or our shareholders. In addition to the other
more specific provisions limiting the obligations of our board of |
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directors, our limited liability company agreement further
provides that our board of directors will not be liable for
monetary damages to us, our shareholders or any other person for
any acts or omissions if our board of directors acted in good
faith. |
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Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s limited partnership
agreement modifies these standards |
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The limited partnership agreement of Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. contains provisions that prohibit its limited
partners from advancing claims arising from conduct by Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s general partner that might
otherwise raise issues as to compliance with fiduciary duties or
applicable law. For example, the limited partnership agreement
of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. permits the general
partner of the partnership to make a number of decisions in its
sole discretion. This entitles the general partner
to consider only the interests and factors that it desires, and
it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any
interest of, or factors affecting, the partnership, its
affiliates or any limited partner. Kinder Morgan, Inc., its
affiliates and their officers and directors who are also our
officers or directors or officers or directors of the general
partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. are not required
to offer to the partnership any business opportunity. The
general partner of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. is
permitted to attempt to avoid personal liability in connection
with the management of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.,
pursuant to the partnership agreement. The partnership agreement
provides that the general partner does not breach its fiduciary
duty even if the partnership could have obtained more favorable
terms without limitations on the general partners
liability. |
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The partnership agreement of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.
contains provisions that allow the general partner to take into
account the interests of parties in addition to Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P. in resolving conflicts of interest,
thereby limiting its fiduciary duty to the partnership and the
limited partners. The partnership agreement also provides that
in the absence of bad faith by the general partner, the
resolution of a conflict by the general partner will not be a
breach of any duty. Also, the partnership agreement contains
provisions that may restrict the remedies available to limited
partners for actions taken that might, without such limitations,
constitute breaches of fiduciary duty. In addition to the other
more specific provisions limiting the obligations of the general
partner, the partnership agreement provides that the general
partner, its affiliates and their respective officers and
directors will not be liable for monetary damages to the
partnership, its limited partners or any other person for acts
or omissions if the general partner, affiliate or officer or
director acted in good faith. We or the general partner may
request that the conflicts and audit committee of the general
partners board of directors review and approve the
resolution of conflicts of interest that may arise between Kinder |
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Morgan, Inc. or its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., on the other hand. |
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All of these provisions in the Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. partnership agreement relating to the general partner apply
equally to us as the delegate of the general partner. |
By becoming one of our shareholders, a shareholder agrees to be
bound by the provisions in our limited liability company
agreement, including the provisions discussed above. This is in
accordance with the policy of the Delaware Limited Liability
Company Act favoring the principle of freedom of contract and
the enforceability of limited liability company agreements. It
is not necessary for a shareholder to sign our limited liability
company agreement in order for the limited liability company
agreement to be enforceable against that person.
MATERIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section is a summary of material United States federal
income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective
owners of shares and, unless otherwise noted in the following
discussion, expresses the opinion of our counsel,
Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P., insofar as it relates to
legal conclusions with respect to United States federal income
tax law. This section is based upon current provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code, existing and proposed regulations and
current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which
are subject to change. Later 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 us or
we are references to Kinder Morgan Management, LLC.
No attempt has been made in the following discussion to comment
on all United States federal income tax matters affecting us or
the owners of shares. Moreover, the discussion does not address
the United States federal income tax consequences that may be
relevant to certain types of investors subject to specialized
tax treatment, such as non-U.S. persons, financial
institutions, insurance companies, real estate investment
trusts, estates, trusts, dealers and persons entering into
hedging transactions. Accordingly, each prospective owner of
shares is urged to consult with, and is urged to depend on, his
own tax advisor in analyzing the United States federal, state,
local and foreign tax consequences particular to him of the
ownership or disposition of shares.
All statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions, but
not as to factual matters, contained in this section, unless
otherwise noted, are the opinion of Bracewell &
Patterson, L.L.P. and are based on the accuracy of the
representations made by us.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding
any matter affecting us or prospective owners of shares. Unlike
a ruling, the opinion of Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.
represents only that firms best legal judgment and does
not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and
statements made here may not be sustained by a court if
contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may
materially and adversely impact the market for shares and the
prices at which shares trade. In addition, the cost of any
contest with the IRS will be borne directly or indirectly by us
and the owners of shares. Furthermore, the tax treatment of us
or of an investment in us may be significantly modified by
future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions.
Any modifications may or may not be retroactively applied.
U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations Associated with
the Ownership and Disposition of Shares
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Kinder Morgan Management, LLCs Status as a
Corporation For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes |
An election has been made with the IRS to treat us as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes. Thus,
we are subject to United States federal income tax on our
taxable income at tax rates up to 35%. Additionally, in certain
instances we could be subject to the alternative minimum tax of
20%
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on our alternative minimum taxable income to the extent that the
alternative minimum tax exceeds our regular tax.
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Tax Consequences of Share Ownership |
No Flow-Through of Our Taxable Income. Because we are
treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes, an owner of shares will not report on its United
States federal income tax return any of our items of income,
gain, loss and deduction.
Distributions of Additional Shares. Under the terms of
our limited liability company agreement, except in connection
with our liquidation, we will not make distributions of cash in
respect of shares but rather will make distributions of
additional shares. Because these distributions of additional
shares will be made proportionately to all owners of shares, the
receipt of these additional shares will not be includable in the
gross income of an owner of shares for United States federal
income tax purposes. As each owner of shares receives additional
shares, he will be required to allocate his basis in his shares
in the manner described below. Please read
Basis of Shares.
Basis of Shares. An owners initial tax basis for
his shares will be the amount paid for them. As additional
shares are distributed to an owner of shares, he will be
required to allocate his tax basis in his shares equally between
the old shares and the new shares received. If the old shares
were acquired for different prices, and the owner can identify
each separate lot, then the basis of each old lot of shares can
be used separately in the allocation to the new shares received
with respect to the identified old lot. If an owner of shares
cannot identify each lot, then he must use the first-in
first-out tracing approach. A shareholder cannot use the average
cost for all lots for this purpose.
Disposition of Shares. Gain or loss will be recognized on
a sale or other disposition of shares, whether to a third party
or to Kinder Morgan, Inc. pursuant to the Kinder Morgan, Inc.
purchase provisions or in connection with the liquidation of us,
equal to the difference between the amount realized and the
owners tax basis for the shares sold or otherwise disposed
of. An owners amount realized will be measured by the sum
of the cash and the fair market value of other property received
by him.
Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by an owner of
shares, other than a dealer in shares, on the sale
or other disposition of a share will generally be taxable as
capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual
on the sale of shares held more than 12 months will
generally be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%, subject to the
discussion below relating to straddles. Capital gain recognized
by a corporation on the sale of shares will generally be taxed
at a maximum rate of 35%. Net capital loss may offset capital
gains and no more than $3,000 of ordinary income, in the case of
individuals, and may only be used to offset capital gains in the
case of corporations.
Capital gain treatment may not result from a sale of shares to
Kinder Morgan, Inc. pursuant to the Kinder Morgan, Inc. purchase
provisions or otherwise if a single shareholder of us or our
shareholders as a group own 50% or more of the stock of Kinder
Morgan, Inc. In that case, if either we or Kinder Morgan, Inc.
has earnings and profits, then the amount received by a seller
of shares may be taxed as ordinary income to the extent of his
portion of those earnings and profits, but only if the seller
sells less than all of his shares or is a shareholder of Kinder
Morgan, Inc. after applying the ownership attribution rules.
For purposes of determining whether capital gains or losses on
the disposition of shares are long or short term, subject to the
discussion below relating to straddles, an owners holding
period begins on his acquisition of shares. As additional shares
are distributed to him, the holding period of each new share
received will also include the period for which the owner held
the old shares to which the new share relates.
Because the purchase rights in respect of the shares arise as a
result of an agreement other than solely with us, these rights
do not appear to constitute inherent features of the shares for
tax purposes. Please read Description of Our
Shares Optional Purchase, and
Mandatory Purchase. As such, it is
possible that the IRS would assert that shares and the related
purchase rights constitute a straddle for United States federal
income tax purposes to the extent that those rights are viewed
as resulting in a
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substantial diminution of a share purchasers risk of loss
from owning his shares. In that case, any owner of shares who
incurs interest or other carrying charges that are allocable to
the shares (as would be the case if the owner finances his
acquisition of shares with debt) would have to capitalize those
interest or carrying charges to the basis of the related shares
and purchase rights rather than deducting those interest or
carrying charges currently. In addition, the holding period of
the shares would be suspended, resulting in short-term capital
gain or loss (generally taxed at ordinary income rates) upon a
taxable disposition even if the shares were held for more than
12 months. However, we believe that the purchase rights
have minimal value and do not result in a substantial diminution
of a share purchasers risk of loss from owning shares.
Based on that, the shares and the related purchase rights should
not constitute a straddle for United States federal income tax
purposes and therefore should not result in any suspension of an
owners holding period or interest and carrying charge
capitalization, although there can be no assurance that the IRS
or the courts would agree with this conclusion.
Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from
United States federal income tax, including individual
retirement accounts, known as IRAs, and other retirement plans,
are subject to United States federal income tax on unrelated
business taxable income. Because we will be treated as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, an
owner of shares will not report on its United States federal
income tax return any of our items of income, gain, loss and
deduction. Therefore, a tax-exempt investor will not have
unrelated business taxable income attributable to its ownership
or sale of shares unless its ownership of the shares is debt
financed. In general, a share would be debt financed if the
tax-exempt owner of shares incurs debt to acquire a share or
otherwise incurs or maintains a debt that would not have been
incurred or maintained if that share had not been acquired.
A regulated investment company, or mutual fund, is
required to derive at least 90% of its gross income for every
taxable year from qualifying income. As stated above, an owner
of shares will not report on its United States federal income
tax return any of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction.
Thus, ownership of shares will not result in income which is not
qualifying income to a mutual fund. Furthermore, any gain from
the sale or other disposition of the shares, and the associated
purchase rights, will qualify for purposes of that 90% test.
Finally, shares, and the associated purchase rights, will
constitute qualifying assets to mutual funds which also must own
at least 50% qualifying assets at the end of each quarter.
Because distributions of additional shares will be made
proportionately to all owners of shares, the receipt of these
additional shares will not be includable in the gross income of
an owner of shares for United States federal income tax
purposes. Therefore, no withholding taxes will be imposed on
distributions of additional shares to non-resident alien
individuals and foreign corporations, trusts or estates. A
non-United States owner of shares generally will not be subject
to United States federal income tax or subject to withholding on
any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of shares
unless:
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the gain is considered effectively connected with the conduct of
a trade or business by the non-United States owner within the
United States and, where a tax treaty applies, is attributable
to a United States permanent establishment of that owner (and,
in which case, if the owner is a foreign corporation, it may be
subject to an additional branch profits tax equal to 30% or a
lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax
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the non-United States owner is an individual who holds the
shares as a capital asset and is present in the United States
for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale or other
disposition and other conditions are met; or |
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we are or have been a United States real property holding
corporation, or a USRPHC, for United States federal income
tax purposes. |
We believe that we are a USRPHC for United States federal income
tax purposes. Therefore, any gain on the sale or other
disposition of shares by a non-United States owner will be
subject to United States federal income tax unless the shares
are regularly traded on an established securities market and the
non-United States owner has not actually or constructively held
more than 5% of the shares at any time
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during the shorter of the five-year period preceding the
disposition or that owners holding period. Our shares
currently trade on an established securities market.
ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of material considerations arising
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, commonly known as ERISA, and the prohibited
transaction provisions of section 4975 of the Internal
Revenue Code that may be relevant to a prospective purchaser of
shares. The discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects
of ERISA or section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code that
may be relevant to particular shareholders in light of their
particular circumstances.
The discussion is based on current provisions of ERISA and the
Internal Revenue Code, existing and currently proposed
regulations under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code, the
legislative history of ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code,
existing administrative rulings of the Department of Labor
(DOL) and reported judicial decisions. No assurance
can be given that legislative, judicial, or administrative
changes will not affect the accuracy of any statements herein
with respect to transactions entered into or contemplated prior
to the effective date of such changes.
A fiduciary making a decision to invest in the shares on
behalf of a prospective purchaser that is an employee benefit
plan, a tax-qualified retirement plan, or an individual
retirement account, commonly called an IRA, is
advised to consult its own legal advisor regarding the specific
considerations arising under ERISA, section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code, and state law with respect to the
purchase, ownership, sale or exchange of the shares by such plan
or IRA.
Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing, or other employee
benefit plan, known as an ERISA Plan, subject to
Title I of ERISA should consider carefully whether an
investment in the shares is consistent with his fiduciary
responsibilities under ERISA. In particular, the fiduciary
requirements of Part 4 of Title I of ERISA require an
ERISA Plans investments to be (1) prudent and in the
best interests of the ERISA Plan, its participants, and its
beneficiaries, (2) diversified in order to minimize the
risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is
clearly prudent not to do so, and (3) authorized under the
terms of the ERISA Plans governing documents (provided the
documents are consistent with ERISA). In determining whether an
investment in the shares is prudent for purposes of ERISA, the
appropriate fiduciary of an ERISA Plan should consider all of
the facts and circumstances, including whether the investment is
reasonably designed, as a part of the ERISA Plans
portfolio for which the fiduciary has investment responsibility,
to meet the objectives of the ERISA Plan, taking into
consideration the risk of loss and opportunity for gain (or
other return) from the investment, the diversification, cash
flow, and funding requirements of the ERISA Plans
portfolio.
The fiduciary of an IRA, or of a qualified retirement plan not
subject to Title I of ERISA because it is a governmental or
church plan or because it does not cover common law employees (a
Non-ERISA Plan) should consider that such an IRA or
Non-ERISA Plan may only make investments that are authorized by
the appropriate governing documents and under applicable state
law.
Fiduciaries of ERISA Plans and persons making the investment
decision for an IRA or other Non-ERISA Plan should consider the
application of the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA
and the Internal Revenue Code in making their investment
decision. A party in interest or disqualified
person with respect to an ERISA Plan or with respect to a
Non-ERISA Plan or IRA subject to Internal Revenue Code
section 4975 is subject to (1) an initial 15% excise
tax on the amount involved in any prohibited transaction
involving the assets of the plan or IRA and (2) an excise
tax equal to 100% of the amount involved if any prohibited
transaction is not corrected. If the disqualified person who
engages in the transaction is the individual on behalf of whom
an IRA is maintained (or his beneficiary), the IRA will lose its
tax-exempt status and its assets will be deemed to have been
distributed to such individual in a taxable distribution (and no
excise tax will be imposed on account of the prohibited
transaction). In addition, a fiduciary who permits an ERISA Plan
to engage in a transaction that the fiduciary knows or
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should know is a prohibited transaction may be liable to the
ERISA Plan for any loss the ERISA Plan incurs as a result of the
transaction or for any profits earned by the fiduciary in the
transaction.
The following section discusses certain principles that apply in
determining whether the fiduciary requirements of ERISA and the
prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and the Internal
Revenue Code apply to an entity because one or more investors in
the equity interests in the entity is an ERISA Plan or is a
Non-ERISA Plan or IRA subject to section 4975 of the
Internal Revenue Code. An ERISA Plan fiduciary also should
consider the relevance of those principles to ERISAs
prohibition on improper delegation of control over or
responsibility for plan assets and ERISAs
imposition of co-fiduciary liability on a fiduciary who
participates in, permits (by action or inaction) the occurrence
of, or fails to remedy a known breach by another fiduciary.
Regulations of the DOL defining plan assets (the
Plan Asset Regulations) generally provide that when
an ERISA Plan or Non-ERISA Plan or IRA acquires a security that
is an equity interest in an entity and the security is neither a
publicly-offered security nor a security issued by
an investment company registered under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, unless one or more exceptions specified in the Plan
Asset Regulations are satisfied, the ERISA or Non-ERISA
Plans or IRAs assets include both the equity
interest and an undivided interest in each of the underlying
assets of the issuer of such equity interest, and therefore any
person who exercises authority or control respecting the
management or disposition of such underlying assets, and any
person who provides investment advice with respect to such
assets for a fee (direct or indirect), is a fiduciary of the
investing plan.
The Plan Asset Regulations define a publicly-offered security as
a security that is freely transferable, part of a
class of securities that is widely held and either
part of a class of securities registered under the Exchange Act,
or sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act, provided the securities are registered under
the Exchange Act within 120 days after the end of the
fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering occurred.
The Plan Asset Regulations provide that a class of securities is
widely held only if it is a class of securities that
is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and
of one another. A class of securities will not fail to be widely
held because the number of independent investors falls below 100
subsequent to the initial public offering as a result of events
beyond the issuers control. The Plan Asset Regulations
provide that whether a security is freely
transferable is a factual question to be determined on the
basis of all relevant facts and circumstances.
We believe that the shares meet the criteria of publicly offered
securities under the Plan Asset Regulations. We believe the
shares are held beneficially by more than 100 independent
persons. There are no restrictions, within the meaning of the
Plan Asset Regulations, imposed on the transfer of shares and
the shares are registered under the Exchange Act.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the shares on behalf of the selling
shareholder. We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in
connection with the registration of the shares. The selling
shareholder will bear its own costs, including brokerage
commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable
to the sale of its shares. All or part of the shares may be
offered by the selling shareholder from time to time in
transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, at fixed prices
that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of
sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at
negotiated prices. The methods by which the shares may be sold
or distributed may include, but not be limited to, the following:
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purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such
broker or dealer for its account; |
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an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of such
exchange; |
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ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker solicits purchasers; |
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privately negotiated transactions; |
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a cross or block trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged
will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and
resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the
transaction; |
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short sales, short sales against the box, puts and calls and
other transactions in our securities or derivatives thereof, in
connection with which the selling shareholder may sell and
deliver the shares; |
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short sales or borrowings, returns and reborrowings of the
shares pursuant to stock loan agreements to settle short sales; |
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delivery in connection with the issuance of securities by
issuers, other than us, that are exchangeable for (whether
optional or mandatory), or payable in, such shares (whether such
securities are listed on a national securities exchange or
otherwise) or pursuant to which such shares may be
distributed; and |
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a combination of such methods of sale or distribution. |
The selling shareholder may also sell the shares in accordance
with Rule 144 under the Securities Act. To the extent
required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from
time to time to describe a plan of distribution not described
above.
In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the selling
shareholder may arrange for other brokers or dealers to
participate. Brokers or dealers may receive commissions or
discounts from the selling shareholder or from the purchasers in
amounts to be negotiated immediately prior to the sale.
If underwriters are used in the sale, the shares will be
acquired by the underwriters for their own account. The
underwriters may resell the shares in one or more transactions,
including negotiated transactions at a fixed public offering
price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any
public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed
or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to
time. If we are notified that underwriters are involved, the
names of the underwriters, if any, with respect to any such
offering and the terms of the transactions, including any
underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions and other
items constituting compensation of the underwriters and
broker-dealers, if any, will be set forth in a supplement to
this prospectus relating to that offering. The obligations of
the underwriters to purchase the shares will be subject to
specified conditions, and the underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all of the shares specified in such supplement if any
are purchased.
The selling shareholder and any broker-dealers who act in
connection with the sale of shares hereunder may be deemed to be
underwriters as that term is defined in the
Securities Act, and any commissions received by them and any
profit on the resale of the shares as principal might be deemed
to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act. We have advised the selling shareholder that
because it may be deemed to be an underwriter, the
anti-manipulative provisions of Regulation M promulgated
under the Exchange Act may apply to its sales.
We have agreed to indemnify the selling shareholder and its
affiliates against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may
be required to make because of those liabilities. The selling
shareholder has agreed to indemnify us and our affiliates
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or to contribute to payments we and our
affiliates may be required to make because of those liabilities,
based on information supplied to us by the selling shareholder.
VALIDITY OF THE SHARES
The validity of the shares offered by this prospectus will be
passed upon for us by Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.,
Houston, Texas.
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EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting (which is included in Managements
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting) of Kinder
Morgan Management, LLC incorporated in this prospectus by
reference to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2004 have been so incorporated in
reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, given on the
authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting (which is included in Managements
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting) of Kinder
Morgan, Inc. incorporated in this prospectus by reference to its
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004 have been so incorporated in reliance on
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting (which is included in Managements
Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting) of Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. incorporated in this prospectus by
reference to Kinder Morgan Management, LLCs Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting.
The description of the review performed by Netherland,
Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent petroleum
consultants, included in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P.s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference.
INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and our documents and the documents of Kinder
Morgan, Inc. incorporated in this prospectus by reference
include forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are identified as any statement that does not relate
strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as
anticipate, believe, intend,
plan, projection, forecast,
strategy, position,
continue, estimate, expect,
may, or the negative of those terms or other
variations of them or comparable terminology. In particular,
statements, express or implied, concerning future actions,
conditions or events, future operating results or the ability to
generate sales, income or cash flow or to make distributions are
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and
assumptions. Future actions, conditions or events and future
results of our operations and those of Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. may differ materially from those expressed in
these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will
determine these results are beyond our ability to control or
predict. Specific factors which could cause actual results to
differ from those in the forward-looking statements include:
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price trends and overall demand for natural gas liquids, refined
petroleum products, oil, carbon dioxide, natural gas, coal and
other bulk materials and chemicals in the United States; |
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economic activity, weather, alternative energy sources,
conservation and technological advances that may affect price
trends and demand; |
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changes in Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s tariff
rates implemented by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or
the California Public Utilities Commission; |
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Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s ability to acquire
new businesses and assets and integrate those operations into
its existing operations, as well as its ability to make
expansions to its facilities; |
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difficulties or delays experienced by railroads, barges, trucks,
ships or pipelines in delivering products to or from Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s terminals or pipelines; |
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Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s ability to
successfully identify and close acquisitions and make
cost-saving changes in operations; |
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shut-downs or cutbacks at major refineries, petrochemical or
chemical plants, ports, utilities, military bases or other
businesses that use Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s
services or provide services or products to Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P.; |
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changes in laws or regulations, third-party relations and
approvals, decisions of courts, regulators and governmental
bodies that may adversely affect Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P.s business or its ability to compete; |
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our ability to offer and sell equity securities, and Kinder
Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s ability to offer and sell
equity securities and debt securities or obtain debt financing
in sufficient amounts to implement that portion of Kinder Morgan
Energy Partners, L.P.s business plan that contemplates
growth through acquisitions of operating businesses and assets
and expansions of its facilities; |
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Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s indebtedness could
make it vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry
conditions, limit its ability to borrow additional funds and/or
place it at competitive disadvantages compared to its
competitors that have less debt or have other adverse
consequences; |
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interruptions of electric power supply to Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P.s facilities due to natural disasters, power
shortages, strikes, riots, terrorism, war or other causes; |
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our ability to obtain insurance coverage without a significant
level of self-retention of risk; |
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acts of nature, sabotage, terrorism or other similar acts
causing damage greater than Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P.s insurance coverage limits; |
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capital markets conditions; |
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the political and economic stability of the oil producing
nations of the world; |
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national, international, regional and local economic,
competitive and regulatory conditions and developments; |
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the ability of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. to achieve
cost savings and revenue growth; |
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inflation; |
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interest rates; |
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the pace of deregulation of retail natural gas and electricity; |
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foreign exchange fluctuations; |
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the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices for oil,
natural gas, electricity and certain agricultural products; |
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the extent of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P.s success
in discovering, developing and producing oil and gas reserves,
including the risks inherent in exploration and development
drilling, well completion and other development activities; |
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engineering and mechanical or technological difficulties that
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. may experience with
operational equipment, in well completions and workovers, and in
drilling new wells; |
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the uncertainty inherent in estimating future oil and natural
gas production or reserves that Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P. may experience; |
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the timing and success of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners,
L.P.s business development efforts; and |
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unfavorable results of litigation involving Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P. and the fruition of contingencies. |
You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking
statements. We disclaim any obligation to update the above list
or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to any of
the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or
developments.
When considering forward-looking statements, please review the
risk factors described in the Annual Reports of Kinder Morgan
Management, LLC and Kinder Morgan, Inc. on Form 10-K and
their other filings with the SEC that are incorporated by
reference into this prospectus. We encourage you also to
consider the risk factors described in Kinder Morgan Energy
Partners, L.P.s Annual Report on Form 10-K and their
other filings with the SEC.
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