EQM Midstream Partners, LP - FORM 10-Q - October 25, 2018

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EX-32 - EXHIBIT 32 - EQM Midstream Partners, LPeqm9302018ex32.htm
EX-31.2 - EXHIBIT 31.2 - EQM Midstream Partners, LPeqm9302018ex312.htm
EX-31.1 - EXHIBIT 31.1 - EQM Midstream Partners, LPeqm9302018ex311.htm
EX-10.7 - EXHIBIT 10.7 - EQM Midstream Partners, LPex107-karamnonxcompete.htm
EX-10.6 - EXHIBIT 10.6 - EQM Midstream Partners, LPex106-offerletter.htm
EX-10.3 - EXHIBIT 10.3 - EQM Midstream Partners, LPex103-crackerjackxredacted.htm
EX-10.2 - EXHIBIT 10.2 - EQM Midstream Partners, LPex102-1stamxredacted.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
 
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2018
or
 
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
 
 
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM                TO               
 
 
 
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-35574
 
EQM Midstream Partners, LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
DELAWARE
 
37-1661577
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
 
625 Liberty Avenue, Suite 2000, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15222
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
(412) 553-5700
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x  No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  x  No  ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer   x
 
 
Accelerated Filer                  ¨
 
Emerging Growth Company       ¨
Non-Accelerated Filer     ¨
(Do not check if a
smaller reporting company)
 
Smaller Reporting Company ¨
 
 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).        Yes  ¨  No  x
 
As of September 30, 2018, there were 120,456,425 Common Units and 1,443,015 General Partner Units outstanding.


EQM MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Index
 
 
 
Page No.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2

Glossary of Commonly Used Terms, Abbreviations and Measurements
adjusted EBITDA – a supplemental non-GAAP (as defined below) financial measure defined by EQM Midstream Partners, LP (formerly known as EQT Midstream Partners, LP) and subsidiaries (collectively, EQM) as net income attributable to EQM plus net interest expense, depreciation, amortization of intangible assets, Preferred Interest (as defined below) payments, non-cash long-term compensation expense and transaction costs less equity income, AFUDC – equity (as defined below) and adjusted EBITDA of assets prior to acquisition.
Allowance for Funds Used During Construction or AFUDC – carrying costs for the construction of certain long-lived regulated assets are capitalized and amortized over the related assets' estimated useful lives. The capitalized amount for construction of regulated assets includes interest cost and a designated cost of equity for financing the construction of these regulated assets.
British thermal unit – a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
distributable cash flow – a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure defined by EQM as adjusted EBITDA less net interest expense excluding interest income on the Preferred Interest, capitalized interest and AFUDC – debt, ongoing maintenance capital expenditures net of expected reimbursements and transaction costs.
gas – all references to "gas" refer to natural gas.
Preferred Interest – the preferred interest that EQM has in EQT Energy Supply, LLC (EES).
throughput – the volume of natural gas transported or passing through a pipeline, plant, terminal or other facility during a particular period.
Abbreviations
Measurements
ARO - asset retirement obligations
Btu  = one British thermal unit
ASU – Accounting Standards Update
BBtu = billion British thermal units
FASB – Financial Accounting Standards Board
Bcf   = billion cubic feet
FERC – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Dth  =  dekatherm or million British thermal units
GAAP – United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Mcf = thousand cubic feet
IDRs – incentive distribution rights
MMBtu  = million British thermal units
IPO – Initial Public Offering
MMcf  = million cubic feet
IRS – Internal Revenue Service
MMgal = million gallons
SEC – Securities and Exchange Commission
 

3

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
Item 1.   Financial Statements

EQM MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Operations (Unaudited) (1) 
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Thousands, except per unit amounts)
Operating revenues (2)
$
364,584

 
$
206,293

 
$
1,110,307

 
$
603,180

Operating expenses:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Operating and maintenance (3)
48,092

 
19,589

 
118,534

 
54,721

Selling, general and administrative (3)
29,038

 
18,758

 
88,490

 
51,970

Depreciation
43,567

 
22,244

 
126,957

 
64,191

Amortization of intangible assets
10,387

 
—

 
31,160

 
—

Total operating expenses
131,084

 
60,591

 
365,141

 
170,882

Operating income
233,500

 
145,702

 
745,166

 
432,298

Equity income (4)
16,087

 
6,025

 
35,836

 
15,413

Other income
1,345

 
637

 
3,193

 
3,576

Net interest expense (5)
41,005

 
9,426

 
76,740

 
26,014

Net income
209,927

 
142,938

 
707,455

 
425,273

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

 
—

 
3,346

 
—

Net income attributable to EQM
$
209,927

 
$
142,938

 
$
704,109

 
$
425,273

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Calculation of limited partner interest in net income:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income attributable to EQM
$
209,927

 
$
142,938

 
$
704,109

 
$
425,273

Less pre-acquisition net income allocated to parent
(8,490
)
 
—

 
(164,242
)
 
—

Less general partner interest in net income – general partner units
(2,379
)
 
(2,515
)
 
(7,145
)
 
(7,482
)
Less general partner interest in net income – IDRs
(70,967
)
 
(37,615
)
 
(183,253
)
 
(102,451
)
Limited partner interest in net income
$
128,091

 
$
102,808

 
$
349,469

 
$
315,340

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per limited partner unit – basic and diluted
$
1.14

 
$
1.28

 
$
3.73

 
$
3.91

Weighted average limited partner units outstanding – basic and diluted
111,980

 
80,603

 
93,746

 
80,603

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash distributions declared per unit (6)
$
1.115

 
$
0.98

 
$
3.270

 
$
2.805

 

(1)
As discussed in Note A, the consolidated financial statements of EQM have been retrospectively recast to include the pre-acquisition results of Rice Olympus Midstream LLC (ROM), Strike Force Midstream Holdings LLC (Strike Force) and Rice West Virginia Midstream LLC (Rice WV), which were acquired by EQM effective on May 1, 2018 (the May 2018 Acquisition), and Rice Midstream Partners LP (RMP), which was acquired by EQM effective on July 23, 2018 (the EQM-RMP Merger), because these transactions were between entities under common control.
(2)
Operating revenues included affiliate revenues from EQT Corporation and subsidiaries (collectively, EQT) of $276.9 million and $154.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $827.8 million and $445.8 million for nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. See Note F.
(3)
Operating and maintenance expense included charges from EQT of $14.0 million and $10.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $38.4 million and $29.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Selling, general and administrative expense included charges from EQT of $25.7 million and $18.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $75.1 million and $49.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. See Note F.
(4)
Represents equity income from Mountain Valley Pipeline, LLC (the MVP Joint Venture). See Note G.
(5)
Net interest expense included interest income on the Preferred Interest in EES of $1.6 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $5.0 million and $5.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(6)
Represents the cash distributions declared related to the period presented. See Note J.

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

4

EQM MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows (Unaudited) (1) 
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 

 
 

Net income
$
707,455

 
$
425,273

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 

 
 

Depreciation
126,957

 
64,191

Amortization of intangible assets
31,160

 
—

Equity income
(35,836
)
 
(15,413
)
AFUDC – equity
(3,585
)
 
(4,128
)
Non-cash long-term compensation expense
1,275

 
225

Changes in other assets and liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts receivable
2,193

 
(1,106
)
Accounts payable
28,173

 
1,848

Due to/from EQT affiliates
(14,730
)
 
5,627

Other assets and other liabilities
22,420

 
3,686

Net cash provided by operating activities
865,482

 
480,203

Cash flows from investing activities:
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
(616,365
)
 
(224,591
)
Capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture
(446,049
)
 
(103,448
)
May 2018 Acquisition from EQT
(1,193,160
)
 
—

Principal payments received on the Preferred Interest
3,281

 
3,103

Net cash used in investing activities
(2,252,293
)
 
(324,936
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 

 
 

Proceeds from credit facility borrowings
2,524,000

 
334,000

Payments on credit facility borrowings
(2,968,000
)
 
(229,000
)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
2,500,000

 
—

Debt discount and issuance costs
(34,249
)
 
(2,257
)
Distributions paid to unitholders
(528,410
)
 
(313,515
)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest
(750
)
 
—

Acquisition of 25% of Strike Force Midstream LLC
(175,000
)
 
—

Capital contributions
15,672

 
216

Net contributions from EQT
3,660

 
—

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
1,336,923

 
(210,556
)
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
(49,888
)
 
(55,289
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
54,600

 
60,368

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
4,712

 
$
5,079

 
 
 
 
Cash paid during the period for:
 

 
 

Interest, net of amount capitalized
$
42,652

 
$
31,091

 
 
 
 
Non-cash activity during the period for:
 

 
 

(Decrease) increase in capital contribution receivable from EQT
$
(11,758
)
 
$
758

(1)
As discussed in Note A, the consolidated financial statements of EQM have been retrospectively recast to include the pre-acquisition results of the May 2018 Acquisition and the EQM-RMP Merger because these transactions were between entities under common control.

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

5

EQM MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (1) 
 
 
September 30, 
 2018
 
December 31, 
 2017
 
(Thousands, except number of units)
ASSETS
 
Current assets:
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
4,712

 
$
54,600

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $717 and $446 as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
58,358

 
60,551

Accounts receivable – affiliate
167,481

 
158,720

Other current assets
9,080

 
14,153

Total current assets
239,631

 
288,024

 
 
 
 
Property, plant and equipment
6,127,076

 
5,516,504

Less: accumulated depreciation
(518,718
)
 
(405,665
)
Net property, plant and equipment
5,608,358

 
5,110,839

 
 
 
 
Investment in unconsolidated entity
1,300,430

 
460,546

Goodwill
1,384,872

 
1,384,872

Intangible assets, net
586,500

 
617,660

Other assets
146,400

 
136,894

Total assets
$
9,266,191

 
$
7,998,835

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Accounts payable
$
134,026

 
$
105,271

Due to related party
39,709

 
33,919

Capital contribution payable to MVP Joint Venture
463,733

 
105,734

Accrued interest
46,165

 
11,067

Accrued liabilities
16,401

 
20,995

Total current liabilities
700,034

 
276,986

 
 
 
 
Credit facility borrowings
22,000

 
466,000

Senior notes
3,455,296

 
987,352

Regulatory and other long-term liabilities
31,010

 
29,633

Total liabilities
4,208,340

 
1,759,971

 
 
 
 
Equity:
 

 
 

Predecessor equity
—

 
3,916,434

Noncontrolling interest
—

 
173,472

Common (120,456,425 and 80,581,758 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)
5,026,431

 
2,147,706

General partner (1,443,015 units issued and outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017)
31,420

 
1,252

Total equity
5,057,851

 
6,238,864

Total liabilities and equity
$
9,266,191

 
$
7,998,835

(1)
As discussed in Note A, the consolidated financial statements of EQM have been retrospectively recast to include the pre-acquisition results of the May 2018 Acquisition and the EQM-RMP Merger because these transactions were between entities under common control.


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

6

EQM MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Equity (Unaudited) (1) 

 
Predecessor Equity
 
Noncontrolling Interest
 
Limited Partners
Common
 
General
Partner
 
Total Equity
 
(Thousands)
Balance at January 1, 2017
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2,008,510

 
$
(14,956
)
 
$
1,993,554

Net income
—

 
—

 
315,340

 
109,933

 
425,273

Capital contributions
—

 
—

 
2,576

 
48

 
2,624

Equity-based compensation plans
—

 
—

 
225

 
—

 
225

Distributions paid to unitholders
—

 
—

 
(215,556
)
 
(97,959
)
 
(313,515
)
Balance at September 30, 2017
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2,111,095

 
$
(2,934
)
 
$
2,108,161

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at January 1, 2018
$
3,916,434

 
$
173,472

 
$
2,147,706

 
$
1,252

 
$
6,238,864

Net income
164,242

 
3,346

 
349,469

 
190,398

 
707,455

Capital contributions
—

 
—

 
3,851

 
66

 
3,917

Equity-based compensation plans
922

 
—

 
353

 
—

 
1,275

Distributions paid to unitholders
(68,390
)
 
—

 
(299,724
)
 
(160,296
)
 
(528,410
)
Net contributions from EQT
3,660

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
3,660

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interest
—

 
(750
)
 
—

 
—

 
(750
)
Acquisition of 25% of Strike Force Midstream LLC
—

 
(176,068
)
 
1,068

 
—

 
(175,000
)
May 2018 Acquisition from EQT (2)
(1,436,297
)
 
—

 
243,137

 
—

 
(1,193,160
)
EQM-RMP Merger (2)
(2,580,571
)
 
—

 
2,580,571

 
—

 
—

Balance at September 30, 2018
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
5,026,431

 
$
31,420

 
$
5,057,851

(1)
As discussed in Note A, the consolidated financial statements of EQM have been retrospectively recast to include the pre-acquisition results of the May 2018 Acquisition and the EQM-RMP Merger because these transactions were between entities under common control.
(2)
Under common control accounting, any difference between consideration transferred and the net assets received at historical cost is recorded as an equity transaction. In addition, equity issued in a common control transaction is recorded at an amount equal to the carrying value of the net assets transferred, even if the equity issued has a readily determinable fair value. The EQM common units issued in the May 2018 Acquisition are valued at the excess of the net assets received by EQM over the cash consideration.



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

7

EQM MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
A.
Financial Statements
Organization and Basis of Presentation
EQM is a growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership. EQM Midstream Services, LLC (formerly known as EQT Midstream Services, LLC) (EQM General Partner), is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of EQGP Holdings, LP (formerly known as EQT GP Holdings, LP) (EQGP), and is the general partner of EQM. EQM was formed under the name EQT Midstream Partners, LP and changed its name to EQM Midstream Partners, LP in October 2018.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the requirements of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of EQM as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the results of its operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and its cash flows and equity for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. The balance sheet at December 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements.
EQM's consolidated financial statements have been retrospectively recast to include the pre-acquisition results of the May 2018 Acquisition and the EQM-RMP Merger because these transactions were between entities under common control. The recast is for the period the acquired businesses were under the common control of EQT, which began on November 13, 2017 as a result of EQT's merger with Rice Energy Inc. (Rice) (the Rice Merger). EQM recorded the assets and liabilities acquired in the May 2018 Acquisition and the EQM-RMP Merger at their carrying amounts to EQT on the effective dates of the transactions. The consolidated financial statements are not necessarily indicative of the actual results of operations if EQM and the assets acquired in the May 2018 Acquisition and the EQM-RMP Merger had been operated together during the pre-acquisition periods.
Due to the seasonal nature of EQM's utility customer contracts, the interim statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018.
For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes for the year ended December 31, 2017 and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in each case as included in EQM's Current Report on Form 8-K as filed with the SEC on June 12, 2018.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The standard requires an entity to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of goods or services to customers at an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects in exchange for those goods or services. EQM adopted this standard on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method of adoption. Adoption of the ASU did not require an adjustment to the opening balance of equity. EQM does not expect the standard to have a significant effect on its results of operations, liquidity or financial position. EQM implemented processes and controls to ensure new contracts are reviewed for the appropriate accounting treatment and to generate the disclosures required under the new standard in the first quarter of 2018. For the disclosures required by this ASU, see Note C.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The standard primarily affects accounting for equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, the presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments and eliminates the cost method of accounting for equity investments. EQM adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 with no significant effect on its financial statements or related disclosures.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. The standard requires an entity to record assets and obligations for contracts currently recognized as operating leases. In July 2018, the FASB also targeted improvements to this ASU in ASU 2018-11. This update provides entities with an optional transition method, which permits an entity to initially apply the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. EQM has elected to utilize the optional transition method. The ASU will be effective for annual

8

reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. EQM is utilizing a lease accounting system to document its current population of contracts classified as leases, which will be updated as EQM's lease population changes. EQM continues to evaluate new business processes and related internal controls and is assessing and documenting the accounting impacts related to the new standard. Although the evaluation is ongoing, EQM expects that the adoption will impact its financial statements as the standard requires recognition on the balance sheet of a right of use asset and corresponding lease liability.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, this ASU eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The ASU will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period. EQM is currently evaluating the effect this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Simplifying the Test of Goodwill Impairment. ASU 2017-04 simplifies the quantitative goodwill impairment test requirements by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill. Instead, a company would record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying value over its fair value. The standard’s provisions are to be applied prospectively. EQM adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2018 with no significant effect on its financial statements or related disclosures.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which makes a number of changes to the hierarchy associated with Level 1, 2 and 3 fair value measurements and the related disclosure requirements. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. EQM is currently evaluating the effect this standard will have on its financial statements and related disclosures but does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its financial statements and related disclosures.
B.
Acquisitions and Merger
May 2018 Acquisition
On April 25, 2018, EQT, Rice Midstream Holdings LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EQT, EQM and EQM Gathering Holdings, LLC (EQM Gathering), a wholly owned subsidiary of EQM, entered into a Contribution and Sale Agreement pursuant to which EQM Gathering acquired from EQT all of EQT's interests in ROM, Strike Force and Rice WV in exchange for an aggregate of 5,889,282 EQM common units and aggregate cash consideration of $1.15 billion, plus working capital adjustments. ROM owns a natural gas gathering system that gathers gas from wells located primarily in Belmont County, Ohio. Strike Force owns a 75% limited liability company interest in Strike Force Midstream LLC (Strike Force Midstream). The May 2018 Acquisition closed on May 22, 2018 with an effective date of May 1, 2018.
EQM-RMP Merger
On April 25, 2018, EQM entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) with RMP, Rice Midstream Management LLC, the general partner of RMP (the RMP General Partner), the EQM General Partner, EQM Acquisition Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EQM (Merger Sub), EQM GP Acquisition Sub, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of EQM (GP Merger Sub), and, solely for certain limited purposes set forth therein, EQT. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, on July 23, 2018, Merger Sub and GP Merger Sub merged with and into RMP and the RMP General Partner, respectively, with RMP and the RMP General Partner surviving as wholly owned subsidiaries of EQM. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each RMP common unit issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the EQM-RMP Merger was converted into the right to receive 0.3319 EQM common units (the Merger Consideration), the issued and outstanding IDRs of RMP were canceled and each outstanding award of phantom units in respect of RMP common units fully vested and converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, less applicable tax withholding, in respect of each RMP common unit subject thereto. The aggregate Merger Consideration consisted of approximately 34 million EQM common units of which 9,544,530 EQM common units were received by an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of EQT. As a result of the EQM-RMP Merger, RMP's common units are no longer publicly traded.
As a result of the recast, EQM recognized approximately $1,384.9 million of goodwill. The goodwill value was based on a valuation performed by EQT as of November 13, 2017 with regard to the Rice Merger. EQT recorded goodwill as the excess of the estimated enterprise value of RMP, ROM, Strike Force and Rice WV over the sum of the fair value amounts allocated to the

9

assets and liabilities of RMP, ROM, Strike Force and Rice WV. Goodwill was attributed to additional growth opportunities, synergies and operating leverage within the Gathering segment. Prior to the recast, EQM had no goodwill. The following table summarizes the allocation of the fair value of the assets and liabilities of RMP, ROM, Strike Force and Rice WV as of November 13, 2017 through pushdown accounting from EQT. The preliminary allocation to certain assets and/or liabilities may be adjusted by material amounts as EQT continues to finalize the fair value estimates.
 
 
At November 13, 2017
 
 
(Thousands)
Estimated fair value of RMP, ROM, Strike Force and Rice WV (1)
 
$
4,014,984

 
 

Estimated Fair Value of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed:
 

Current assets (2)
 
132,459

Intangible assets (3)
 
623,200

Property and equipment, net (4)
 
2,265,900

Other non-current assets
 
118

Current liabilities (2)
 
(116,242
)
RMP $850 Million Facility (5)
 
(266,000
)
Other non-current liabilities (5)
 
(9,323
)
Total estimated fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed
 
2,630,112

Goodwill
 
$
1,384,872

(1)
Includes the estimated fair value attributable to noncontrolling interest of $166 million.
(2)
The fair value of current assets and current liabilities were assumed to approximate their carrying values.
(3)
The identifiable intangible assets for customer relationships were estimated by applying a discounted cash flow approach which was adjusted for customer attrition assumptions and projected market conditions.
(4)
The estimated fair value of long-lived property and equipment were determined utilizing estimated replacement cost adjusted for a usage or obsolescence factor.
(5)
The estimated fair value of long-term liabilities was determined utilizing observable market inputs where available or estimated based on their then current carrying values.
As a result of the recast, EQM also recognized approximately $623.2 million in intangible assets. These intangible assets were valued by EQT based upon the estimated fair value of the customer contracts as of November 13, 2017. The customer contracts were assigned a useful life of 15 years and are amortized on a straight-line basis. Amortization expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $10.4 million and $31.2 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, accumulated amortization was $36.7 million and $5.5 million, respectively. There was no amortization expense recognized for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. The estimated annual amortization expense over the next five years is $41.5 million.
As a result of the recast, EQM recognized a liability for AROs related to dismantling, reclaiming and disposing of the water services assets. Based on an estimate of the timing and amount of their settlement, EQM recorded a liability and capitalized a corresponding amount to asset retirement costs. The liability was estimated using the present value of expected future cash flows, adjusted for inflation and discounted at EQM's credit-adjusted, risk-free rate. The current portion of the AROs was recorded in regulatory and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The following table presents a reconciliation of the AROs for the periods from November 13, 2017 through September 30, 2018.
 
 
Asset Retirement Obligations
 
 
(Thousands)
Balance at November 13, 2017
 
$
9,286

Accretion expense
 
35

Balance at December 31, 2017
 
$
9,321

Accretion expense
 
321

Balance at September 30, 2018
 
$
9,642


10

Gulfport Transaction
On May 1, 2018, pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated April 25, 2018, by and among EQM, EQM Gathering, Gulfport Energy Corporation (Gulfport) and an affiliate of Gulfport, EQM Gathering acquired the remaining 25% limited liability company interest in Strike Force Midstream not owned by Strike Force for $175 million (the Gulfport Transaction). As a result, EQM owned 100% of Strike Force Midstream effective as of May 1, 2018.
C. 
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
As discussed in Note A, EQM adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method of adoption. EQM applied the standard to all open contracts as of the date of initial application. Adoption of the standard did not require an adjustment to the opening balance of equity and did not materially change EQM's amount or timing of revenues.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, all revenues recognized on EQM's statements of consolidated operations are from contracts with customers. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all receivables recorded on EQM's consolidated balance sheets represent performance obligations that have been satisfied and for which an unconditional right to consideration exists.
Gathering, Transmission and Storage Service Contracts. EQM provides gathering, transmission and storage services in two manners: firm service and interruptible service. Firm service contracts are typically long-term and include firm reservation fees, which are fixed, monthly charges for the guaranteed reservation of pipeline or storage capacity. Volumetric-based fees can also be charged under firm contracts for each firm volume actually transported, gathered or stored as well as for volumes transported, gathered or stored in excess of the firm contracted volume. Interruptible service contracts include volumetric-based fees, which are charges for the volume of gas gathered, transported or stored and generally do not guarantee access to the pipeline or storage facility. These contracts can be short or long-term. Firm and interruptible contracts are billed at the end of each calendar month, with payment typically due within 21 days.
Under a firm contract, EQM has a stand-ready obligation to provide the service over the life of the contract. The performance obligation for firm reservation fee revenue is satisfied over time as the pipeline capacity is made available to the customer. As such, EQM recognizes firm reservation fee revenue evenly over the contract period, using a time-elapsed output method to measure progress. The performance obligation for volumetric-based fee revenue is generally satisfied upon EQM's monthly billing to the customer for volumes gathered, transported or stored during the month. The amount billed corresponds directly to the value of EQM's performance to date as the customer obtains value as each volume is gathered, transported or stored.
Certain of EQM's gas gathering agreements are structured with minimum volume commitments (MVCs), which specify minimum quantities for which a customer will be charged regardless of quantities gathered under the contract. Revenue is recognized for MVCs when the performance obligation has been met, which is the earlier of when the gas is gathered or when it is remote that the producer will be able to meet its MVC.
Water Service Contracts. EQM's water service revenues represent fees charged by EQM for the delivery of fresh water to a customer at a specified delivery point and for the collection and recycling or disposal of flowback and produced water. All of EQM’s water service revenues are generated pursuant to variable price per volume contracts with customers. For fresh water service contracts, the only performance obligation in each contract is for EQM to provide water (usually a minimum daily volume of water) to the customer at a designated delivery point. For flowback and produced water, the performance obligation is collection and disposition of the water which typically occur within the same day. For all water service arrangements, the customer is typically invoiced on a monthly basis with payment due 21 days after the receipt of the invoice.

11

Summary of Disaggregated Revenues. The tables below provide disaggregated revenue information by EQM business segment.
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
 
Gathering
 
Transmission
 
Water
 
Total
 
 
(Thousands)
Firm reservation fee revenues
 
$
112,598

 
$
82,669

 
$
—

 
$
195,267

Volumetric based fee revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Usage fees under firm contracts (1)
 
8,661

 
5,331

 
—

 
13,992

Usage fees under interruptible contracts (2)
 
131,602

 
1,350

 
—

 
132,952

Total volumetric based fee revenues
 
140,263

 
6,681

 
—

 
146,944

Water service revenues
 
—

 
—

 
22,373

 
22,373

Total operating revenues
 
$
252,861

 
$
89,350

 
$
22,373

 
$
364,584

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 
 
Gathering
 
Transmission
 
Water
 
Total
 
 
(Thousands)
Firm reservation fee revenues
 
$
334,233

 
$
262,666

 
$
—

 
$
596,899

Volumetric based fee revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Usage fees under firm contracts (1)
 
30,725

 
13,981

 
—

 
44,706

Usage fees under interruptible contracts (2)
 
366,482

 
8,782

 
—

 
375,264

Total volumetric based fee revenues
 
397,207

 
22,763

 
—

 
419,970

Water service revenues
 
—

 
—

 
93,438

 
93,438

Total operating revenues
 
$
731,440

 
$
285,429

 
$
93,438

 
$
1,110,307

(1)
Includes fees on volumes gathered and transported in excess of firm contracted capacity as well as usage fees and fees on all volumes transported under firm contracts.
(2)
Includes volumes from contracts under which EQM has agreed to hold capacity available without charging a capacity reservation fee.
Summary of Remaining Performance Obligations. The following table summarizes the transaction price allocated to EQM's remaining performance obligations under all contracts with firm reservation fees and MVCs as of September 30, 2018.
 
 
2018 (1)
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021
 
2022
 
Thereafter
 
Total
 
(Thousands)
Gathering firm reservation fees
 
$
113,018

 
$
476,270

 
$
552,197

 
$
562,196

 
$
562,196

 
$
2,834,111

 
$
5,099,988

Gathering revenues supported by MVCs
 
—

 
65,700

 
71,370

 
71,175

 
71,175

 
136,875

 
416,295

Transmission firm reservation fees
 
94,077

 
346,893

 
344,328

 
339,588

 
334,522

 
2,477,808

 
3,937,216

Total
 
$
207,095

 
$
888,863

 
$
967,895

 
$
972,959

 
$
967,893

 
$
5,448,794

 
$
9,453,499

(1)
October 1 through December 31
Based on total projected contractual revenues, including projected contractual revenues from additional pipeline capacity that will result from expansion projects that are not yet fully constructed, EQM's firm gathering contracts and firm transmission and storage contracts had weighted average remaining terms of approximately 8 and 15 years, respectively, as of December 31, 2017.

12


D.
Equity and Net Income per Limited Partner Unit
The following table summarizes EQM's limited partner common units and general partner units issued from January 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018. There were no issuances in 2017.
 
Limited Partner Common Units
 
General Partner Units
 
Total
Balance at January 1, 2018
80,581,758

 
1,443,015

 
82,024,773

Common units issued (1)
9,608

 
—

 
9,608

May 2018 Acquisition consideration
5,889,282

 
—

 
5,889,282

Common units issued with the EQM-RMP Merger
33,975,777

 
—

 
33,975,777

Balance at September 30, 2018
120,456,425

 
1,443,015

 
121,899,440

(1)
Units issued upon a resignation from the EQM General Partner's Board of Directors in February 2018.
As of September 30, 2018, EQGP owned 21,811,643 EQM common units, representing a 17.9% limited partner interest, 1,443,015 EQM general partner units, representing a 1.2% general partner interest, and all of the IDRs in EQM. As of September 30, 2018, EQT owned 15,433,812 EQM common units, representing a 12.7% limited partner interest in EQM, 100% of the non-economic general partner interest in EQGP and a 91.3% limited partner interest in EQGP.
Net Income per Limited Partner Unit. Net income attributable to the May 2018 Acquisition and the EQM-RMP Merger for the periods prior to May 1, 2018 and July 23, 2018, respectively, was not allocated to the limited partners for purposes of calculating net income per limited partner unit as these pre-acquisition amounts were not available to the EQM unitholders. The weighted average phantom unit awards included in the calculation of basic weighted average limited partner units outstanding was 17,816 and 21,298 for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and 19,699 and 20,757 for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
E.
Financial Information by Business Segment
Prior to the EQM-RMP Merger, all of EQM's operating activities were conducted through two business segments: Gathering and Transmission. Following the EQM-RMP Merger, EQM adjusted its internal reporting structure to incorporate the newly acquired assets consistent with how EQM's chief operating decision maker reviews its business operations. EQM now conducts its business through three business segments: Gathering, Transmission and Water. Gathering primarily includes high pressure gathering lines and the FERC-regulated low pressure gathering system. Transmission includes EQM's FERC-regulated interstate pipeline and storage business. Water includes water pipelines, impoundment facilities, pumping stations, take point facilities and measurement facilities. EQM has recast the corresponding segment information for the period in which RMP was under the common control of EQT, which began on November 13, 2017.

13

 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Thousands)
Revenues from external customers (including affiliates):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gathering
$
252,861

 
$
116,522

 
$
731,440

 
$
330,996

Transmission
89,350

 
89,771

 
285,429

 
272,184

Water
22,373

 
—

 
93,438

 
—

Total operating revenues
$
364,584

 
$
206,293

 
$
1,110,307

 
$
603,180

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss):
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gathering
$
177,902

 
$
85,932

 
$
510,755

 
$
243,061

Transmission
58,691

 
59,770

 
198,784

 
189,237

Water
(3,093
)
 
—

 
35,627

 
—

Total operating income
$
233,500

 
$
145,702

 
$
745,166

 
$
432,298

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Reconciliation of operating income to net income:
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Equity income (1)
16,087

 
6,025

 
35,836

 
15,413

Other income
1,345

 
637

 
3,193

 
3,576

Net interest expense
41,005

 
9,426

 
76,740

 
26,014

Net income
$
209,927


$
142,938


$
707,455


$
425,273

(1)
Equity income is included in the Transmission segment.
 
September 30, 
 2018
 
December 31, 
 2017
 
(Thousands)
Segment assets:
 

 
 

Gathering
$
6,131,380

 
$
5,656,094

Transmission (1)
2,833,519

 
1,947,566

Water
177,126

 
208,273

Total operating segments
9,142,025

 
7,811,933

Headquarters, including cash
124,166

 
186,902

Total assets
$
9,266,191

 
$
7,998,835

(1)
The equity investment in the MVP Joint Venture was included in the headquarters segment prior to June 30, 2018. As of June 30, 2018, the investment in the MVP Joint Venture was included in the Transmission segment and the amount at December 31, 2017 has been recast to conform with this presentation.
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Thousands)
Depreciation:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Gathering
$
25,359

 
$
9,983

 
$
72,309

 
$
28,398

Transmission
12,357

 
12,261

 
37,228

 
35,793

Water
5,851

 
—

 
17,420

 
—

Total
$
43,567

 
$
22,244

 
$
126,957

 
$
64,191

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expenditures for segment assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gathering
$
194,477

 
$
48,182

 
$
515,072

 
$
150,728

Transmission
37,626

 
22,312

 
84,517

 
73,679

Water
7,981

 
—

 
17,358

 
—

Total (1)
$
240,084

 
$
70,494

 
$
616,947

 
$
224,407


14

(1)
EQM accrues capital expenditures when work has been completed but the associated bills have not yet been paid. These accrued amounts are excluded from capital expenditures in the statements of consolidated cash flows until they are paid in a subsequent period. Accrued capital expenditures were approximately $91.3 million, $84.6 million and $90.7 million at September 30, 2018, June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Accrued capital expenditures were approximately $26.5 million, $31.2 million and $26.7 million at September 30, 2017, June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
F.
Related Party Transactions
In the ordinary course of business, EQM engages in transactions with EQT and its affiliates including, but not limited to, gas gathering agreements, transportation service and precedent agreements, storage agreements and water services agreements. Pursuant to an omnibus agreement (the EQM Omnibus Agreement), EQT performs centralized corporate, general and administrative services for EQM. In exchange, EQM reimburses EQT for the expenses incurred by EQT in providing these services. The EQM Omnibus Agreement also provides for certain indemnification obligations between EQM and EQT. Pursuant to a secondment agreement, employees of EQT and its affiliates may be seconded to EQM to provide operating and other services with respect to EQM's business under the direction, supervision and control of EQM. EQM reimburses EQT and its affiliates for the services provided by the seconded employees. The expenses for which EQM reimburses EQT and its affiliates may not necessarily reflect the actual expenses that EQM would incur on a stand-alone basis. EQM is unable to estimate what those expenses would be on a stand-alone basis.
In connection with the completion of the Rice Merger, RMP, EQT and other affiliates entered into an amended and restated omnibus agreement (the Amended RMP Omnibus Agreement). Pursuant to the Amended RMP Omnibus Agreement, EQT performed centralized corporate general and administrative services for RMP. In exchange, RMP reimbursed EQT for the expenses incurred by EQT in providing these services. Following the completion of the EQM-RMP Merger, RMP reimburses EQT for the expenses incurred by EQT providing services to RMP and its subsidiaries under the EQM Omnibus Agreement.  The Amended RMP Omnibus Agreement continues in existence for purposes of certain indemnification obligations that survived the merger.
G.
Investment in Unconsolidated Entity
The MVP Joint Venture is constructing the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP), an estimated 300-mile natural gas interstate pipeline spanning from northern West Virginia to southern Virginia. EQM is the operator of the MVP and owned a 45.5% interest in the MVP Joint Venture as of September 30, 2018. The MVP Joint Venture is a variable interest entity because it has insufficient equity to finance its activities during the construction stage of the project. EQM is not the primary beneficiary because it does not have the power to direct the activities of the MVP Joint Venture that most significantly impact its economic performance. Certain business decisions require the approval of owners holding more than a 66 2/3% interest in the MVP Joint Venture and no one member owns more than a 66 2/3% interest. The MVP Joint Venture is an equity method investment for accounting purposes as EQM has the ability to exercise significant influence over operating and financial policies of the MVP Joint Venture. In April 2018, the MVP Joint Venture announced the MVP Southgate project, a proposed 70-mile interstate pipeline that will extend from the MVP at Pittsylvania County, Virginia to new delivery points in Rockingham and Alamance Counties, North Carolina. As of September 30, 2018, EQM had a 32.7% ownership interest in the MVP Southgate project and will operate the pipeline.
In September 2018, the MVP Joint Venture issued a capital call notice to MVP Holdco, LLC (MVP Holdco), a direct wholly owned subsidiary of EQM, for $456.0 million, of which $175.2 million was paid as of October 2018, and $280.8 million is expected to be paid in the fourth quarter of 2018. In addition, in September 2018, the MVP Joint Venture issued a capital call notice to MVP Holdco for $7.7 million for funding of the MVP Southgate project that is expected to be paid in the fourth quarter of 2018. The capital contribution payables have been reflected on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2018 with corresponding increases to EQM's investment in the MVP Joint Venture.
Equity income is EQM's portion of the MVP Joint Venture's AFUDC on construction of the MVP.
As of September 30, 2018, EQM had issued a $91 million performance guarantee in favor of the MVP Joint Venture. The guarantee provides performance assurances of MVP Holdco's obligations to fund its proportionate share of the MVP construction budget. As of September 30, 2018, EQM's maximum financial statement exposure related to the MVP Joint Venture was approximately $1,391 million, which consists of the investment in unconsolidated entity balance on the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2018 and amounts that could have become due under EQM's performance guarantee as of that date.

15

The following tables summarize the unaudited condensed financial statements for the MVP Joint Venture.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
 
September 30, 
 2018
 
December 31, 
 2017
 
(Thousands)
Current assets
$
1,260,789

 
$
330,271

Noncurrent assets
2,330,467

 
747,728

Total assets
$
3,591,256

 
$
1,077,999

 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
$
726,528

 
$
65,811

Equity
2,864,728

 
1,012,188

Total liabilities and equity
$
3,591,256

 
$
1,077,999

Condensed Statements of Consolidated Operations
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Thousands)
Net interest income
$
11,958

 
$
3,227

 
$
25,873

 
$
8,205

AFUDC - equity
23,417

 
10,055

 
52,906

 
25,710

Net income
$
35,375

 
$
13,282

 
$
78,779

 
$
33,915

H.
Debt
$1 Billion Facility. EQM has a $1 billion credit facility that expires in July 2022. The $1 Billion Facility is available to fund working capital requirements and capital expenditures, to purchase assets, to pay distributions and repurchase units and for general partnership purposes (including purchasing assets from EQT and other third parties). EQM's $1 Billion Facility contains various provisions that, if violated, could result in termination of the credit facility, require early payment of amounts outstanding or similar actions. The most significant covenants and events of default relate to maintenance of a permitted leverage ratio, limitations on transactions with affiliates, limitations on restricted payments, insolvency events, nonpayment of scheduled principal or interest payments, acceleration of and certain other defaults under other financial obligations and change of control provisions. Under the $1 Billion Facility, EQM is required to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio of not more than 5.00 to 1.00 (or not more than 5.50 to 1.00 for certain measurement periods following the consummation of certain acquisitions).
EQM had $22 million in borrowings and $1 million of letters of credit outstanding under its credit facility as of September 30, 2018. EQM had $180 million in borrowings and no letters of credit outstanding under its credit facility as of December 31, 2017. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, the maximum amount of EQM's outstanding borrowings under the credit facility at any time was $74 million and $420 million, respectively, and the average daily balance was approximately $22 million and $147 million, respectively. EQM incurred interest at weighted average annual interest rates of approximately 3.7% and 3.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the maximum amount of EQM's outstanding borrowings under the credit facility at any time was $177 million and the average daily balances were approximately $95 million and $32 million, respectively. Interest was incurred at a weighted average annual interest rate of approximately 2.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017. Prior to the proposed separation of EQT's production and midstream businesses (the Separation), EQM intends to increase its borrowing capacity from $1 billion up to $3 billion.
364-Day Facility. EQM has a $500 million, 364-day, uncommitted revolving loan agreement with EQT. Interest accrues on outstanding borrowings at an interest rate equal to the rate then applicable to similar loans under the $1 Billion Facility, or a successor revolving credit facility, less the sum of (i) the then applicable commitment fee under the $1 Billion Facility and (ii) 10 basis points.
EQM had no borrowings outstanding on the 364-Day Facility as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017. There were no borrowings outstanding at any time during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, the maximum amount of EQM's outstanding borrowings under the credit facility at any

16

time was $40 million and $100 million, respectively, and the average daily balances were approximately $11 million and $30 million, respectively. EQM incurred interest at weighted average annual interest rates of approximately 2.4% and 2.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. EQM expects EQT to terminate the 364-Day Facility at or prior to the Separation.
EQM Term Loan Facility. On April 25, 2018, EQM entered into a $2.5 billion unsecured multi-draw 364-day term loan facility with a syndicate of lenders. The EQM Term Loan Facility was used to fund the cash consideration for the May 2018 Acquisition, to repay borrowings under EQM's $1 Billion Facility and for other general partnership purposes. During the second quarter 2018, the balance outstanding under the EQM Term Loan Facility was repaid, and the EQM Term Loan Facility was terminated on June 25, 2018 in connection with EQM's issuance of the 2018 Senior Notes (defined below). As a result of the termination, EQM expensed $3 million of deferred issuance costs. From April 25, 2018 through June 25, 2018, the maximum amount of EQM's outstanding borrowings under the EQM Term Loan Facility at any time was $1,825 million and the average daily balance was approximately $1,231 million. EQM incurred interest at a weighted average annual interest rate of approximately 3.3% for the period from April 25, 2018 through June 25, 2018.
RMP $850 Million Facility. RM Operating LLC (formerly known as Rice Midstream OpCo LLC) (Rice Midstream OpCo), a wholly owned subsidiary of RMP, had an $850 million credit facility. The RMP $850 Million Facility was available for general partnership purposes, including to purchase assets, and to fund working capital requirements and capital expenditures, pay dividends and repurchase units. The RMP $850 Million Facility was secured by mortgages and other security interests on substantially all of RMP's properties and was guaranteed by RMP and its restricted subsidiaries.
As of December 31, 2017, Rice Midstream OpCo had $286 million of borrowings and $1 million of letters of credit outstanding under the RMP $850 Million Facility. For the periods from July 1, 2018 through July 23, 2018 and from January 1, 2018 through July 23, 2018, the maximum amounts of RMP's outstanding borrowings under the RMP $850 Million Facility at any time were $260 million and $375 million, respectively, and the average daily outstanding balances under the RMP $850 Million Facility were approximately $249 million and $300 million, respectively. Interest was incurred on the RMP $850 Million Facility at weighted average annual interest rates of 4.1% and 3.8% for the periods from July 1, 2018 through July 23, 2018 and from January 1, 2018 through July 23, 2018, respectively.
In connection with the completion of the EQM-RMP Merger, on July 23, 2018, EQM repaid the approximately $260 million of borrowings outstanding under the RMP $850 Million Facility and the RMP $850 Million Facility was terminated.
2018 Senior Notes. During the second quarter of 2018, EQM issued 4.75% senior notes due July 15, 2023 in the aggregate principal amount of $1.1 billion, 5.50% senior notes due July 15, 2028 in the aggregate principal amount of $850 million and 6.50% senior notes due July 15, 2048 in the aggregate principal amount of $550 million (collectively, the 2018 Senior Notes). EQM received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $2,465.8 million, inclusive of a discount of $11.8 million and estimated debt issuance costs of $22.4 million. The net proceeds were used to repay the balances outstanding under the EQM Term Loan Facility and the RMP $850 Million Facility, and the remainder is expected to be used for general partnership purposes. The 2018 Senior Notes were issued pursuant to new supplemental indentures to EQM's existing indenture dated August 1, 2014. The 2018 Senior Notes contain covenants that limit EQM's ability to, among other things, incur certain liens securing indebtedness, engage in certain sale and leaseback transactions, and enter into certain consolidations, mergers, conveyances, transfers or leases of all or substantially all of the EQM's assets.
As of September 30, 2018, EQM was in compliance with all debt provisions and covenants.

17


I.
Fair Value Measurements
The carrying values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, amounts due to/from related parties and accounts payable approximate fair value due to the short maturity of the instruments; these are considered Level 1 fair value measurements. The carrying value of the credit facility borrowings approximates fair value as the interest rates are based on prevailing market rates; this is considered a Level 1 fair value measurement. As EQM's senior notes are not actively traded, their fair values are considered Level 2 fair value measurements and are estimated using a standard industry income approach model that applies a discount rate based on market rates for debt with similar remaining time to maturity and credit risk. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of EQM's senior notes was approximately $3,532 million and $1,006 million, respectively, and the carrying value of EQM's senior notes was approximately $3,455 million and $987 million, respectively. The fair value of the Preferred Interest is a Level 3 fair value measurement and is estimated using an income approach model that applies a market-based discount rate. As of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the estimated fair value of the Preferred Interest was approximately $122 million and $133 million, respectively, and the carrying value of the Preferred Interest was approximately $116 million and $119 million, respectively.
J.
Distributions
EQM Distributions. On October 23, 2018, the Board of Directors of the EQM General Partner declared a cash distribution to EQM's unitholders for the third quarter of 2018 of $1.115 per common unit. The cash distribution will be paid on November 14, 2018 to unitholders of record at the close of business on November 2, 2018. Based on the EQM common units outstanding on October 25, 2018, cash distributions to EQGP will be approximately $24.3 million related to its limited partner interest, $2.5 million related to its general partner interest and $71.0 million related to its IDRs in EQM. The distribution amounts to EQGP related to its general partner interest and IDRs in EQM are subject to change if EQM issues additional common units on or prior to the record date for the third quarter 2018 distribution.
RMP Distributions. Prior to the EQM-RMP Merger, the RMP partnership agreement required RMP to distribute all of its available cash (as defined in the RMP partnership agreement) to RMP unitholders within 45 days of the end of each quarter. Following the completion of the EQM-RMP Merger, RMP ceased to exist as a separate publicly traded entity and any future available cash will be subject to cash distributions under the EQM partnership agreement.

18

EQM MIDSTREAM PARTNERS, LP AND SUBSIDIARIES
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, and the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this report.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS
Disclosures in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  Statements that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts are forward-looking and usually identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "could," "would," "will," "may," "forecast," "approximate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe" and other words of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial matters. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q include the matters discussed in the section captioned "Outlook" in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives, and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance of EQM and its subsidiaries, including guidance regarding EQM's gathering, transmission and storage and water revenue and volume growth; the weighted average contract life of gathering, transmission and storage contracts; infrastructure programs (including the timing, cost, capacity and sources of funding with respect to gathering, transmission and water expansion projects); the cost, capacity, timing of regulatory approvals and anticipated in-service date of the MVP and MVP Southgate projects; the ultimate terms, partners and structure of the MVP Joint Venture; expansion projects in EQM's operating areas and in areas that would provide access to new markets; asset acquisitions, including EQM's ability to complete asset acquisitions; the expected growth of production volumes in EQM's areas of production; the impact and outcome of pending and future litigation; the timing of the proposed separation of EQT's production and midstream businesses (the Separation) and the parties' ability to complete the Separation; the amount and timing of distributions, including expected increases; the structure and timing of any simplification of the midstream structure to address the IDRs, if pursued and implemented; the amounts and timing of projected capital contributions and operating and capital expenditures, including the amount of capital expenditures reimbursable by EQT; the impact of commodity prices on EQM's business; liquidity and financing requirements, including sources and availability and EQM's plan to increase its borrowing capacity up to $3 billion; the effects of government regulation; and tax position. The forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected results. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. EQM has based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and assumptions about future events. While EQM considers these expectations and assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond EQM's control. The risks and uncertainties that may affect the operations, performance and results of EQM's business and forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" in EQM's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as updated by Part II, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made and EQM does not intend to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In reviewing any agreements incorporated by reference in or filed with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, please remember that such agreements are included to provide information regarding the terms of such agreements and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about EQM. The agreements may contain representations and warranties by EQM, which should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of the parties to such agreements should those statements prove to be inaccurate. The representations and warranties were made only as of the date of the relevant agreement or such other date or dates as may be specified in such agreement and are subject to more recent developments. Accordingly, these representations and warranties alone may not describe the actual state of affairs of EQM or its affiliates as of the date they were made or at any other time.
EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW
For the three months ended September 30, 2018, net income attributable to EQM was $209.9 million compared to $142.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. The increase resulted primarily from higher gathering and water revenues, which were driven mainly by the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition, which support production development in the Marcellus and Utica Shales, and higher equity income, partly offset by higher operating expenses and higher net interest expense.

19

For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, net income attributable to EQM was $704.1 million compared to $425.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increase primarily resulted from higher gathering, transmission and water revenues, which were driven mainly by the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition, which support production development in the Marcellus and Utica Shales, and higher equity income, partly offset by an increase in operating expenses and higher net interest expense.
EQM declared a cash distribution to its unitholders of $1.115 per unit on October 23, 2018, which was 2% higher than the second quarter 2018 distribution of $1.09 per unit and 14% higher than the third quarter 2017 distribution of $0.98 per unit.
Business Segment Results
Operating segments are revenue-producing components of the enterprise for which separate financial information is produced internally and is subject to evaluation by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources. Other income and net interest expense are managed on a consolidated basis. EQM has presented each segment's operating income and various operational measures in the following sections. Management believes that the presentation of this information provides useful information to management and investors regarding the financial condition, results of operations and trends of segments. EQM has reconciled each segment's operating income to EQM's consolidated operating income and net income in Note E to the consolidated financial statements.
GATHERING RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018 (1)
 
2017
 
% Change
 
2018 (1)
 
2017
 
% Change
 
(Thousands, except per day amounts)
FINANCIAL DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Firm reservation fee revenues
$
112,598

 
$
104,772

 
7.5
 
$
334,233

 
$
300,901

 
11.1
Volumetric based fee revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Usage fees under firm contracts (2)
8,661

 
7,873

 
10.0
 
30,725

 
19,173

 
60.3
Usage fees under interruptible contracts(3)
131,602

 
3,877

 
3,294.4
 
366,482

 
10,922

 
3,255.4
Total volumetric based fee revenues
140,263

 
11,750

 
1,093.7
 
397,207

 
30,095

 
1,219.8
Total operating revenues
252,861

 
116,522

 
117.0
 
731,440

 
330,996

 
121.0
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating and maintenance
18,850

 
10,104

 
86.6
 
54,551

 
30,737

 
77.5
Selling, general and administrative
20,363

 
10,503

 
93.9
 
62,665

 
28,800

 
117.6
Depreciation
25,359

 
9,983

 
154.0
 
72,309

 
28,398

 
154.6
Amortization of intangible assets
10,387

 
—

 
100.0
 
31,160

 
—

 
100.0
Total operating expenses
74,959

 
30,590

 
145.0
 
220,685

 
87,935

 
151.0
Operating income
$
177,902

 
$
85,932

 
107.0
 
$
510,755

 
$
243,061

 
110.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATIONAL DATA
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Gathered volumes (BBtu per day)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Firm capacity reservation
2,114

 
1,838

 
15.0
 
2,029

 
1,783

 
13.8
Volumetric based services (4)
4,437

 
370

 
1,099.2
 
4,291

 
292

 
1,369.5
Total gathered volumes
6,551

 
2,208

 
196.7
 
6,320

 
2,075

 
204.6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
$
194,477

 
$
48,182

 
303.6
 
$
515,072

 
$
150,728

 
241.7
(1)
Includes the pre-acquisition results of the May 2018 Acquisition and the EQM-RMP Merger, which were effective on May 1, 2018 and July 23, 2018, respectively. The recast is for the period the acquired businesses were under the common control of EQT, which began on November 13, 2017 as a result of the Rice Merger.
(2)
Includes fees on volumes gathered in excess of firm contracted capacity.
(3)
Includes volumes from contracts under which EQM has agreed to hold capacity available without charging a capacity reservation fee.
(4)
Includes volumes gathered under interruptible contracts and volumes gathered in excess of firm contracted capacity.

20

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Gathering revenues increased by $136.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily driven by the EQM-RMP Merger, the May 2018 Acquisition and affiliate and third party production development in the Marcellus and Utica Shales. Firm reservation fee revenues increased primarily as a result of increased affiliate contracted gathering capacity and higher rates on various affiliate wellhead expansion projects in the current period. Usage fees under firm contracts increased due to increased third party volumes gathered in excess of firm contracted capacity. Usage fees under interruptible contracts increased as a result of the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition, which added revenues of $69.7 million and $58.4 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2018.
Operating expenses increased by $44.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017. Operating expenses increased $17.9 million and $24.5 million as a result of the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition, respectively. In addition, operating and maintenance expense increased due to higher repairs and maintenance expense consistent with the growth of the business. Selling, general and administrative also increased due to transaction costs of $2.2 million. Depreciation expense also increased as a result of additional assets placed in-service. Amortization of intangible assets relates to the customer contract intangible associated with the May 2018 Acquisition.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Gathering revenues increased by $400.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily driven by the EQM-RMP Merger, the May 2018 Acquisition and affiliate and third party production development in the Marcellus and Utica Shales. Firm reservation fee revenues increased primarily as a result of increased affiliate and third party contracted gathering capacity and higher rates on various affiliate wellhead expansion projects in the current period. Usage fees under firm contracts increased due to increased third party and affiliate volumes gathered in excess of firm contracted capacity. Usage fees under interruptible contracts increased as a result of the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition, which added revenues of $193.5 million and $161.9 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.
Operating expenses increased by $132.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Operating expenses increased $53.2 million and $72.8 million as a result of the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition, respectively. In addition, operating and maintenance expense increased due to higher repairs and maintenance expense consistent with the growth of the business. Selling, general and administrative also increased due to transaction costs of $7.5 million. Depreciation expense also increased as a result of additional assets placed in-service, including those associated with the Range Resources header pipeline project and various wellhead gathering expansion projects. Amortization of intangible assets relates to customer contract intangible associated with the May 2018 Acquisition.

21

TRANSMISSION RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
% Change
 
2018
 
2017
 
% Change
 
(Thousands, except per day amounts)
FINANCIAL DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Firm reservation fee revenues
$
82,669

 
$
84,438

 
(2.1
)
 
$
262,666

 
$
256,224

 
2.5

Volumetric based fee revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Usage fees under firm contracts (1)
5,331

 
3,427

 
55.6

 
13,981

 
9,787

 
42.9

Usage fees under interruptible contracts
1,350

 
1,906

 
(29.2
)
 
8,782

 
6,173

 
42.3

Total volumetric based fee revenues
6,681

 
5,333

 
25.3

 
22,763

 
15,960

 
42.6

Total operating revenues
89,350

 
89,771

 
(0.5
)
 
285,429

 
272,184

 
4.9

Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating and maintenance
10,721

 
9,485

 
13.0

 
27,082

 
23,984

 
12.9

Selling, general and administrative
7,581

 
8,255

 
(8.2
)
 
22,335

 
23,170

 
(3.6
)
Depreciation
12,357

 
12,261

 
0.8

 
37,228

 
35,793

 
4.0

Total operating expenses
30,659

 
30,001

 
2.2

 
86,645

 
82,947

 
4.5

Operating income
$
58,691

 
$
59,770

 
(1.8
)
 
$
198,784

 
$
189,237

 
5.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity income
$
16,087

 
$
6,025

 
167.0

 
$
35,836

 
$
15,413

 
132.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATIONAL DATA
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Transmission pipeline throughput (BBtu per day)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Firm capacity reservation
2,927

 
2,517

 
16.3

 
2,857

 
2,288

 
24.9

Volumetric based services (2)
104

 
21

 
395.2

 
62

 
22

 
181.8

Total transmission pipeline throughput
3,031

 
2,538

 
19.4

 
2,919

 
2,310

 
26.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average contracted firm transmission reservation commitments (BBtu per day)
3,658

 
3,474

 
5.3

 
3,801

 
3,519

 
8.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
$
37,626

 
$
22,312

 
68.6

 
$
84,517

 
$
73,679

 
14.7

(1)
Includes fees on volumes transported in excess of firm contracted capacity as well as usage fees and fees on all volumes transported under firm contracts.
(2)
Includes volumes transported under interruptible contracts and volumes transported in excess of firm contracted capacity.
Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Transmission and storage revenues decreased by $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017. Firm reservation fee revenues decreased as a result of a third quarter 2017 FERC-approved retroactive negotiated rate adjustment of approximately $3.4 million for the period from October 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 partially offset by increased affiliate firm capacity and higher contractual rates on existing contracts with third parties in the current period. Usage fees under firm contracts increased primarily due to higher affiliate and third party volumes and increased commodity charges on higher firm contracted volumes. The decrease in usage fees under interruptible contracts primarily relates to lower parking revenue, which does not have associated pipeline throughput.
Operating expenses increased by $0.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily as a result of higher operating and maintenance personnel costs partly offset by lower selling, general and administrative expenses resulting from lower allocations from EQT and professional fees.
The increase in equity income of $10.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 was related to the increase in the MVP Joint Venture's AFUDC on the MVP.

22

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Transmission and storage revenues increased by $13.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Firm reservation fee revenues increased due to higher contractual rates on existing contracts with third parties and affiliates in the current period and affiliates contracting for additional firm capacity. Usage fees under firm contracts increased primarily due to increased commodity charges. The increase in usage fees under interruptible contracts primarily relates to higher parking revenue, which does not have associated pipeline throughput.
Operating expenses increased by $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 consistent with the growth of the business.
Equity income increased $20.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 due to the increase in the MVP Joint Venture's AFUDC on the MVP.
WATER RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
% Change
 
2018
 
2017
 
% Change
 
(Thousands)
FINANCIAL DATA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Water services revenues
$
22,373

 
$
—

 
100.0
 
$
93,438

 
$
—

 
100.0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating and maintenance
18,521

 
—

 
100.0
 
36,901

 
—

 
100.0
Selling, general and administrative
1,094

 
—

 
100.0
 
3,490

 
—

 
100.0
Depreciation
5,851

 
—

 
100.0
 
17,420

 
—

 
100.0
Total operating expenses
25,466

 
—

 
100.0
 
57,811

 
—

 
100.0
Operating (loss) income
$
(3,093
)
 
$
—

 
100.0
 
$
35,627

 
$
—

 
100.0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OPERATIONAL DATA
 

 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 
Water services volumes (MMgal)
449

 
—

 
100.0
 
1,740

 
—

 
100.0
Capital expenditures
$
7,981

 
$
—

 
100.0
 
$
17,358

 
$
—

 
100.0
This table sets forth selected financial and operational data for the water segment. EQT acquired the water assets that constitute EQM's water segment on November 13, 2017 as part of the Rice Merger.
The water segment provides fresh water for well completion operations in the Marcellus and Utica Shales and collects flowback and produced water for recycling or disposal. Substantially all of EQM's water services are provided to EQT 's Production business. EQM offers its water services on a volumetric basis, supported by an acreage dedication from EQT for certain drilling areas. The fee EQM charges per gallon of water is tiered and thus is lower on a per gallon basis once certain volumetric thresholds are met. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, operating expenses were composed of customary expenses for a water business, including water procurement costs. The operating loss for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was due to timing of costs related to activities on drilling pads.
Other Income Statement Items
The increase in net interest expense of $31.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily due to increased interest of $33.7 million on the 2018 Senior Notes, partly offset by increased capitalized interest and AFUDC - debt. The increase in net interest expense of $50.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily due to increased interest of $35.9 million on the 2018 Senior Notes, $17.1 million on higher borrowings under the credit facilities as well as interest and deferred issuance costs on the EQM Term Loan, partly offset by higher capitalized interest and AFUDC - debt.
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $3.3 million related to the 25% limited liability interest in Strike Force Midstream acquired from Gulfport. As discussed in Note A, on May 1, 2018, EQM acquired this interest. As a result, EQM owned 100% of Strike Force Midstream effective as of May 1, 2018.

23

See "Investing Activities" and "Capital Requirements" in the "Capital Resources and Liquidity" section below for a discussion of capital expenditures.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow are non-GAAP supplemental financial measures that management and external users of EQM's consolidated financial statements, such as industry analysts, investors, lenders and rating agencies, use to assess:
•
EQM's operating performance as compared to other publicly traded partnerships in the midstream energy industry without regard to historical cost basis or, in the case of adjusted EBITDA, financing methods;
•
the ability of EQM's assets to generate sufficient cash flow to make distributions to EQM's unitholders;
•
EQM's ability to incur and service debt and fund capital expenditures; and
•
the viability of acquisitions and other capital expenditure projects and the returns on investment of various investment opportunities.
EQM believes that adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow provide useful information to investors in assessing its financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income, net cash provided by operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow have important limitations as analytical tools because they exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income and net cash provided by operating activities. Additionally, because adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may be defined differently by other companies in its industry, EQM's adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, thereby diminishing the utility of the measures. Distributable cash flow should not be viewed as indicative of the actual amount of cash that EQM has available for distributions from operating surplus or that it plans to distribute.

24

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The following table presents a reconciliation of EQM's non-GAAP financial measures of adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow with the most directly comparable EQM GAAP financial measures of net income attributable to EQM and net cash provided by operating activities.
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Thousands)
Net income attributable to EQM
$
209,927

 
$
142,938

 
$
704,109

 
$
425,273

Add:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest expense
41,005

 
9,426

 
76,740

 
26,014

Depreciation
43,567

 
22,244

 
126,957

 
64,191

Amortization of intangible assets
10,387

 
—

 
31,160

 
—

Preferred Interest payments
2,746

 
2,746

 
8,238

 
8,238

Non-cash long-term compensation expense
636

 
—

 
1,275

 
225

Transaction costs (1)
2,161

 
—

 
7,511

 
—

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity income
(16,087
)
 
(6,025
)
 
(35,836
)
 
(15,413
)
AFUDC – equity
(1,448
)
 
(831
)
 
(3,585
)
 
(4,128
)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the May 2018 Acquisition(2)
—

 
—

 
(60,507
)
 
—

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to RMP prior to the merger(3)
(12,825
)
 
—

 
(160,128
)
 
—

Adjusted EBITDA
$
280,069

 
$
170,498

 
$
695,934

 
$
504,400

Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net interest expense excluding interest income on the Preferred Interest
(42,921
)
 
(11,123
)
 
(77,757
)
 
(31,149
)
Capitalized interest and AFUDC – debt
(3,202
)
 
(867
)
 
(5,959
)
 
(3,475
)
Ongoing maintenance capital expenditures net of expected reimbursements(4)
(13,181
)
 
(8,110
)
 
(24,161
)
 
(14,180
)
Transaction costs
(2,161
)
 
—

 
(7,511
)
 
—

Distributable cash flow
$
218,604

 
$
150,398

 
$
580,546

 
$
455,596

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
242,575

 
$
159,898

 
$
865,482

 
$
480,203

Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capitalized interest and AFUDC – debt
(3,202
)
 
(867
)
 
(5,959
)
 
(3,475
)
Principal payments received on the Preferred Interest
1,109

 
1,049

 
3,281

 
3,103

Ongoing maintenance capital expenditures net of expected reimbursements(4)
(13,181
)
 
(8,110
)
 
(24,161
)
 
(14,180
)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the May 2018 Acquisition(2)
—

 
—

 
(60,507
)
 
—

Adjusted EBITDA attributable to RMP prior to the merger(3)
(12,825
)
 
—

 
(160,128
)
 
—

Other, including changes in working capital
4,128

 
(1,572
)
 
(37,462
)
 
(10,055
)
Distributable cash flow
$
218,604

 
$
150,398

 
$
580,546

 
$
455,596

(1)
There were no transaction costs for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.
(2)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the May 2018 Acquisition for the period prior to May 1, 2018 was excluded from EQM's adjusted EBITDA calculations as these amounts were generated by assets acquired in the May 2018 Acquisition prior to acquisition by EQM; therefore, the amounts could not have been distributed to EQM's unitholders. Adjusted EBITDA attributable to the May 2018 Acquisition for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was calculated as net income of $41.0 million plus depreciation of $5.8 million and amortization of intangible assets of $13.8 million, less interest income of less than $0.1 million.

25

(3)
Adjusted EBITDA attributable to RMP for the period prior to July 23, 2018 was excluded from EQM's adjusted EBITDA calculations as these amounts were generated by RMP prior to acquisition by EQM. Adjusted EBITDA attributable to RMP for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was calculated as net income of $8.5 million and $123.2 million, respectively, plus net interest expense of $0.3 million and $4.6 million, respectively, depreciation of $3.4 million and $31.4 million, respectively, and non-cash compensation expense of $0.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively.
(4)
Ongoing maintenance capital expenditures net of expected reimbursements excludes ongoing maintenance that EQM expects to be reimbursed or that was reimbursed by EQT under the terms of EQM's omnibus agreement of $0.5 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $3.9 million and $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, it also excludes $0.3 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of ongoing maintenance capital expenditures attributable to RMP prior to the EQM-RMP Merger.
See "Executive Overview" above for a discussion of net income attributable to EQM, the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to adjusted EBITDA. EQM's adjusted EBITDA increased by $109.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 and $191.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily as a result of the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition, which resulted in EBITDA subsequent to the transactions being reflected in adjusted EBITDA.
Net cash provided by operating activities, the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to distributable cash flow, increased by $385.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 as discussed in "Capital Resources and Liquidity." Distributable cash flow increased by $68.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 and $125.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 mainly attributable to the increase in EQM's adjusted EBITDA, partly offset by increased net interest expense.
Outlook
EQM’s strategy is to focus on leveraging its existing and planned asset base to develop organic projects that will further expand and extend its asset footprint. Those organic projects will primarily involve gathering and transporting gas supply from the largest and growing North American basin, providing water and other midstream services to those same producers and increasing access to local and distant markets. EQM’s focus on organic projects, coupled with asset optimization efforts, disciplined capital spend and operating cost control will be complemented by EQM’s focus on strategically aligned acquisition and joint venture opportunities.
EQM’s assets, located in southwestern Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia and southeastern Ohio, are uniquely positioned across the Marcellus, Utica and Upper Devonian Shales. EQM expects that the following expansion projects will allow it to capitalize on drilling activity by EQT and other producers to execute its strategy:
•
Mountain Valley Pipeline. The MVP Joint Venture is a joint venture with affiliates of each of NextEra Energy, Inc., Consolidated Edison, Inc., AltaGas Ltd. and RGC Resources, Inc. EQM is the operator of the MVP and owned a 45.5% interest in the MVP Joint Venture as of September 30, 2018. The 42-inch diameter MVP has a targeted capacity of 2.0 Bcf per day and is estimated to span 300 miles extending from EQM's existing transmission and storage system in Wetzel County, West Virginia to Pittsylvania County, Virginia, providing access to the growing Southeast demand markets. As currently designed, the MVP is estimated to cost a total of approximately $4.6 billion, excluding AFUDC, with EQM funding approximately $2.2 billion through capital contributions made to the joint venture, which includes approximately $65 million in excess of EQM's ownership interest. In 2018, EQM expects to provide capital contributions of $0.8 billion to $1.0 billion to the MVP Joint Venture. The MVP Joint Venture has secured a total of 2.0 Bcf per day of firm capacity commitments at 20-year terms, including an initial 1.29 Bcf per day firm capacity commitment by EQT, and is currently in negotiation with additional shippers that have expressed interest in the MVP project. Although the current targeted capacity of the MVP is fully subscribed, additional shippers have expressed an interest in subscribing to the MVP if the MVP Joint Venture adds compression to the currently planned pipeline system, which would allow additional volumes to be transported without additional pipe in the ground, or extends the pipeline through projects such as the MVP Southgate project.

In October 2017, the FERC issued the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the project. In the first quarter of 2018, the MVP Joint Venture received limited notice to proceed with certain construction activities from the FERC and commenced construction. As discussed under "The regulatory approval process for the construction of new midstream assets is challenging, and recent decisions by regulatory and judicial authorities in pending proceedings could impact our or the MVP Joint Venture's ability to obtain all approvals and authorizations necessary to complete certain projects on the projected time frame or at all or our ability to achieve the expected investment return on the project" under Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, there are

26

several pending challenges to certain aspects of the MVP project that must be resolved before the MVP project can be completed. The MVP Joint Venture is working to respond to the court and agency decisions and restore all permits. The MVP is targeted to be placed in-service during the fourth quarter of 2019, subject to litigation and regulatory-related delay as further discussed under Item 1A, "Risk Factors."

In April 2018, the MVP Joint Venture announced a proposed 70-mile interstate pipeline that will extend from the MVP at Pittsylvania County, Virginia to new delivery points in Rockingham and Alamance Counties, North Carolina. This MVP Southgate project is anchored by a firm capacity commitment from PSNC Energy. The preliminary project cost estimate is $350 million to $500 million, which is expected to be spent in 2019 and 2020. EQM has a 32.7% ownership interest in the project and will operate the pipeline. Subject to approval by the FERC, the MVP Southgate project has a targeted in-service date of the fourth quarter 2020.
•
Wellhead Gathering Expansion. EQM estimates capital expenditures of approximately $750 million during 2018 on gathering expansion projects, primarily driven by wellhead and header projects in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. These gathering projects include approximately $225 million on expansion of the legacy RMP gathering system, approximately $235 million on expansion of the gathering systems acquired in the May 2018 Acquisition and approximately $150 million on commencing construction activities on the Hammerhead project. The Hammerhead project is a 1.2 Bcf per day gathering header pipeline connecting natural gas produced in Pennsylvania and West Virginia to the MVP primarily for EQT that is expected to cost a total of $555 million and be placed in service in the fourth quarter of 2019.
•
Transmission Expansion. In 2018, EQM estimates capital expenditures of approximately $100 million for other transmission expansion projects, primarily attributable to the Equitrans, L.P. Expansion project. The Equitrans, L.P. Expansion project is designed to provide north-to-south capacity on the mainline Equitrans, L.P. system for deliveries to the MVP.
•
Water Projects. In 2018, EQM plans to invest approximately $25 million on water infrastructure projects.
See further discussion of capital expenditures in the "Capital Requirements" section below.
Separation of EQT’s Production and Midstream Businesses
On October 24, 2018, EQT announced that its board of directors approved the completion of the separation of EQT’s upstream and midstream businesses, creating a standalone publicly traded corporation, Equitrans Midstream Corporation (Equitrans Midstream), that will focus on midstream operations. Following the Separation, Equitrans Midstream will own the midstream interests held by EQT, including EQT’s interests in EQGP and EQM. Under the Separation plan, EQT will distribute 80.1% of the outstanding common stock of Equitrans Midstream to EQT’s shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 1, 2018 (the Record Date). After considering that EQT will retain an additional 19.9% of Equitrans Midstream’s common stock, total Equitrans Midstream shares outstanding after the Distribution are expected to be approximately 255 million shares. EQT announced that it plans to dispose of all its retained Equitrans Midstream common stock, which may include dispositions through one or more subsequent exchanges for debt or a sale of its shares for cash. The Separation is expected to be completed on or around November 13, 2018.
The Separation will result in a change of control of the EQM General Partner, and Equitrans Midstream is expected to enter into new omnibus and secondment agreements with EQM in connection with the Separation. EQM expects that, in connection with the pending Separation, Equitrans Midstream will establish a corporate allocation methodology for capital expenditures and operating expenses related to EQGP and EQM, including non-recurring Separation-related costs and expenses, some of which may be allocated to EQGP and EQM. Equitrans Midstream has disclosed that it is expected to record approximately $65 to $75 million of non-recurring Separation-related expenses, a portion of which will be paid prior to the Separation. The Separation-related expenses consist of approximately $35 to $45 million of expense and $30 million in capital expenditures to relocate and/or augment and create Equitrans Midstream’s, EQGP’s and EQM’s information technology systems in connection with the Separation.
EQT has also announced that it expects the Equitrans Midstream board of directors will evaluate the possible simplification of the midstream structure by addressing the IDRs, although the ultimate decision of whether to propose any such changes will be made by the Equitrans Midstream board of directors following the Separation.
EQT announced that it is transitioning from a business strategy focused on volume growth to one focused on capital efficiency and free cash flow generation. In preparation for the Separation, EQT has been evaluating the long-term pace of development of its Upstream Business in order to achieve the optimal balance between free cash flow generation and volume growth. Based

27

on this evaluation, EQT announced that it is currently targeting mid-single digit annual production growth over the next five years.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
EQM's principal liquidity requirements are to finance its operations, fund capital expenditures, potential acquisitions and capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture, make cash distributions and satisfy any indebtedness obligations. EQM's ability to meet these liquidity requirements will depend on its ability to generate cash in the future as well as its ability to raise capital in banking, capital and other markets. EQM's available sources of liquidity include cash generated from operations, borrowing under EQM's credit facilities, cash on hand, debt offerings and issuance of additional EQM partnership units. EQM is not forecasting any public equity issuance for the foreseeable future.
Operating Activities
Net cash flows provided by operating activities was $865.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $480.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increase was primarily driven by higher operating income for which contributing factors are discussed in the "Executive Overview" and "Business Segment Results of Operations" sections herein, partly offset by higher interest payments.
Investing Activities
Net cash flows used in investing activities was $2.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to $324.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The increase was primarily attributable to the net assets acquired from EQT in the May 2018 Acquisition, increased capital expenditures as further described in "Capital Requirements" and increased capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture consistent with the start of construction on the MVP.
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to net cash used in financing activities of $210.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, the primary source of financing cash flows was net proceeds from EQM's 2018 Senior Notes offering, while the primary uses of financing cash flows were distributions paid to unitholders, net repayments on credit facilities and the Gulfport Transaction. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the primary use of financing cash flows was distributions paid to unitholders and the primary source of financing cash flows was net borrowings on EQM's credit facilities.
Capital Requirements
The gathering, transmission and storage and water services businesses are capital intensive, requiring significant investment to develop new facilities and to maintain and upgrade existing operations.
 
Three Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended 
 September 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Thousands)
Expansion capital expenditures (1)
$
226,078

 
$
60,679

 
$
587,783

 
$
207,548

Ongoing maintenance
14,006

 
9,815

 
29,164

 
16,859

Total capital expenditures (2)
$
240,084

 
$
70,494

 
$
616,947

 
$
224,407

(1)
Expansion capital expenditures do not include capital contributions made to the MVP Joint Venture of $263.2 million and $43.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $446.0 million and $103.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(2)
EQM accrues capital expenditures when work has been completed but the associated bills have not yet been paid. These accrued amounts are excluded from capital expenditures in the statements of consolidated cash flows until they are paid in a subsequent period. See Note E to the consolidated financial statements.
Expansion capital expenditures increased by $165.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 and $380.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily as a result of capital expenditures on assets acquired in the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition as well as increased spending on the Hammerhead project, the Equitrans, L.P. Expansion project and various wellhead gathering expansion projects, partly offset by decreased spending on the Range Resources header

28

pipeline project. The final phase of the Range Resources header pipeline project was placed in-service during the second quarter of 2017.
Ongoing maintenance increased by $4.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 and $12.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily as a result of higher assets in service and timing of ongoing maintenance projects.
In 2018, capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture are expected to be $0.8 billion to $1.0 billion, expansion capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $875 million and ongoing maintenance capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $45 million, net of reimbursements. EQM's future capital investments may vary significantly from period to period based on the available investment opportunities and the timing of construction for the MVP. Maintenance related capital expenditures are also expected to vary quarter to quarter. EQM may fund future capital expenditures primarily through cash generated from operations, availability under its credit facilities, debt offerings and issuance of additional EQM partnership units. EQM is not forecasting any public equity issuance for the foreseeable future. EQM does not forecast capital expenditures associated with potential projects not committed as of the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Credit Facility Borrowings
See Note H to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of the credit facilities.
Security Ratings
The table below sets forth the credit ratings for debt instruments of EQM at September 30, 2018.
Rating Service
 
Senior Notes
 
Outlook
Moody's Investors Service (Moody's)
 
Ba1
 
Stable
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services (S&P)
 
BBB-
 
Stable
Fitch Ratings (Fitch)
 
BBB-
 
Stable
EQM's credit ratings are subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. EQM cannot ensure that a rating will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a credit rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances so warrant. If any credit rating agency downgrades EQM's ratings, EQM's access to the capital markets may be limited, borrowing costs could increase, EQM may be required to provide additional credit assurances in support of commercial agreements such as joint venture agreements and construction contracts, the amount of which may be substantial, and the potential pool of investors and funding sources may decrease. In order to be considered investment grade, a company must be rated Baa3 or higher by Moody's, BBB- or higher by S&P or BBB- or higher by Fitch. Anything below these ratings, including EQM's current credit rating of Ba1 by Moody's, is considered non-investment grade.
Distributions
See Note J to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of distributions.
Commitments and Contingencies
In the ordinary course of business, various legal and regulatory claims and proceedings are pending or threatened against EQM. While the amounts claimed may be substantial, EQM is unable to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of such claims and proceedings. EQM accrues legal and other direct costs related to loss contingencies when actually incurred. EQM has established reserves it believes to be appropriate for pending matters and after consultation with counsel and giving appropriate consideration to available insurance, EQM believes that the ultimate outcome of any matter currently pending against it will not materially affect its business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or ability to make distributions.
See also "The regulatory approval process for the construction of new midstream assets is challenging, and recent decisions by regulatory and judicial authorities in pending proceedings could impact our or the MVP Joint Venture's ability to obtain all approvals and authorizations necessary to complete certain projects on the projected time frame or at all or our ability to achieve the expected investment return on the project" under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a discussion of the litigation and regulatory proceedings related to the MVP project.

29

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
See Note G to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of the MVP Joint Venture guarantee. Following the completion of the Separation, EQM expects the MVP Joint Venture guarantee will be approximately $345 million based on MVP Holdco's share of the estimated remaining MVP construction budget and terms of the agreement.
Critical Accounting Policies
EQM's critical accounting policies are described in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained in EQM's recast Current Report on Form 8-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC on June 12, 2018. Any new accounting policies or updates to existing accounting policies as a result of new accounting pronouncements have been included in the notes to EQM's consolidated financial statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018. The application of EQM's critical accounting policies may require management to make judgments and estimates about the amounts reflected in the consolidated financial statements. Management uses historical experience and all available information to make these estimates and judgments. Different amounts could be reported using different assumptions and estimates.
Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk
Changes in interest rates affect the amount of interest EQM earns on cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and the interest rates EQM pays on borrowings under its credit facilities. EQM's senior notes are fixed rate and thus do not expose EQM to fluctuations in its results of operations or liquidity from changes in market interest rates. Changes in interest rates do affect the fair value of EQM's fixed rate debt. See Note H to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of EQM's borrowings and Note I to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of fair value measurements. EQM may from time to time hedge the interest on portions of its borrowings under the credit facilities in order to manage risks associated with floating interest rates.
Credit Risk
EQM is exposed to credit risk, which is the risk that EQM may incur a loss if a counterparty fails to perform under a contract. EQM manages its exposure to credit risk associated with customers through credit analysis, credit approval, credit limits and monitoring procedures. For certain transactions, EQM may request letters of credit, cash collateral, prepayments or guarantees as forms of credit support. EQM's FERC tariffs require tariff customers that do not meet specified credit standards to provide three months of credit support; however, EQM is exposed to credit risk beyond this three-month period when its tariffs do not require its customers to provide additional credit support. For some of EQM's more recent long-term contracts associated with system expansions, it has entered into negotiated credit agreements that provide for enhanced forms of credit support if certain credit standards are not met. EQM has historically experienced only minimal credit losses in connection with its receivables. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, approximately 80% of revenues were from investment grade counterparties. EQM is exposed to the credit risk of EQT, its largest customer. In connection with EQM's IPO in 2012, EQT guaranteed all payment obligations, up to a maximum of $50 million, due and payable to Equitrans, L.P., EQM's wholly owned FERC-regulated subsidiary, by EQT Energy, LLC, one of Equitrans, L.P.'s largest customers and a wholly owned subsidiary of EQT. The EQT guaranty will terminate on November 30, 2023 unless terminated earlier by EQT upon 10 days written notice. At September 30, 2018, EQT's public senior debt had an investment grade credit rating.
Commodity Prices
EQM's business is dependent on the continued availability of natural gas production and reserves in its areas of operation. Low prices for natural gas, including those resulting from regional basis differentials, could adversely affect development of additional reserves and production that is accessible by EQM's pipeline and storage assets, or lower drilling activity, which would decrease demand for EQM's water services. Lower regional natural gas prices could cause producers to determine in the future that drilling activities in areas outside of EQM's current areas of operation are strategically more attractive to them. EQT, or third party customers on EQM's systems, may reduce capital spending in the future based on commodity prices or other factors. Unless EQM is successful in attracting and retaining unaffiliated third party customers, which accounted for 20% of gathering revenues, 45% of transmission and storage revenues and 7% of water service revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, its ability to maintain or increase the capacity subscribed and volumes transported under service arrangements on its transmission and storage system, the volumes gathered on its gathering systems, or the volumes of water provided by its water service business will be dependent on receiving consistent or increasing commitments from EQT. While EQT has dedicated acreage to EQM and has entered into long-term firm transmission and gathering contracts on certain EQM systems, EQT may determine in the future that drilling in EQM's areas of operations does not provide an adequate return or that

30

drilling in areas outside of EQM's current areas of operations is strategically more attractive to it. EQT is under no contractual obligation to continue to develop its acreage dedicated to EQM.
For the year ended December 31, 2017, approximately 84% of EQM’s total revenues were derived from firm reservation fees. On a pro forma basis following the closing of the EQM-RMP Merger, approximately 60% of EQM’s total revenues would have been derived from firm reservation fees for the year ended December 31, 2017. This decrease is primarily driven by the fact that RMP’s gathering systems have not been supported by contracts with firm capacity reservation components. Rather, all of RMP’s gathering and compression revenues were generated under long-term contracts which provide for a fixed price per unit for volumes of natural gas actually gathered. As a result, following the EQM-RMP Merger, EQM has greater exposure to short and medium-term declines in volumes of gas produced and gathered on its systems than it has historically. With respect to its firm contracts, EQM believes that short and medium-term declines in volumes of gas produced, gathered, transported or stored on its systems will have a limited financial impact on EQM because the firm reservation fees associated with these contracts are paid regardless of volumes supplied to the system by customers. Longer term price declines could have an impact on customer creditworthiness and related ability to pay firm reservation fees under long-term contracts, which could impact EQM's results of operations, liquidity, financial position or ability to pay distributions to its unitholders. Additionally, long-term declines in gas production in EQM's areas of operations would limit EQM's growth potential. 
Other Market Risks
EQM's $1 Billion Facility is underwritten by a syndicate of financial institutions, each of which is obligated to fund its pro-rata portion of any borrowings by EQM. No one lender of the financial institutions in the syndicate holds more than 10% of the facility. EQM's large syndicate group and relatively low percentage of participation by each lender is expected to limit EQM's exposure to disruption or consolidation in the banking industry.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of management of the EQM General Partner, including the EQM General Partner's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, an evaluation of EQM's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act)) was conducted as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of the EQM General Partner concluded that EQM's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management’s assessment of, and conclusion on, the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal controls of the entities acquired in the May 2018 Acquisition, which were initially acquired by EQT from Rice on November 13, 2017. Under guidelines established by the SEC, companies are permitted to exclude acquisitions from their assessment of internal control over financial reporting for a period of up to one year following an acquisition while integrating the acquired company. EQM is in the process of integrating its internal controls over financial reporting with those of the entities acquired in the May 2018 Acquisition. As a result of these integration activities, certain controls will be evaluated and may be changed. Except as noted above, there were no changes in EQM's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the third quarter of 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, EQM's internal control over financial reporting.

31

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, various legal and regulatory claims and proceedings are pending or threatened against EQM. While the amounts claimed may be substantial, EQM is unable to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of such claims and proceedings. EQM accrues legal and other direct costs related to loss contingencies when actually incurred. EQM has established reserves it believes to be appropriate for pending matters and after consultation with counsel and giving appropriate consideration to available insurance, EQM believes that the ultimate outcome of any matter currently pending against it will not materially affect its business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or ability to make distributions.
MVP Matters
The MVP Joint Venture is currently defending certain agency actions and judicial challenges to the MVP project that must be resolved before the project can be completed, including the following:
•
In February 2018, the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the use of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit 12 in West Virginia for the MVP project. In May 2018, the Army Corps suspended its Nationwide Permit 12 verifications for four river crossings in West Virginia. Plaintiffs then sought a preliminary injunction staying the Army Corps' approval to proceed under Nationwide Permit 12 for all stream crossings in West Virginia, arguing that the project could not meet one of the express conditions of Nationwide Permit 12 in West Virginia limiting the duration of stream crossings. In June 2018, the Fourth Circuit granted the motion and stayed the Army Corps' verification that Nationwide Permit 12 could be used to authorize stream crossings in West Virginia. Accordingly, the MVP Joint Venture temporarily stopped construction of the portions of the MVP project affected by this ruling. The Army Corps reinstated its verifications for four of the West Virginia stream crossings in July 2018, and then moved for the Fourth Circuit to lift the stay. The court granted the Army Corps' motion, on August 28, 2018, and lifted its stay. Following the court's ruling, MVP has resumed construction of the portions of the MVP affected by the stay. On October 2, 2018, the Fourth Circuit issued a preliminary order vacating the Army Corps’ Nationwide Permit 12 authorizations in West Virginia. As a result of the preliminary order, MVP cannot perform construction activities in waters and wetlands along the 160 mile route that is covered by the Huntington District. In August, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) initiated a regulatory process to revise West Virginia’s Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification of the Army Corps Nationwide Permit. Upon receipt of West Virginia’s final revised 401 Certification of the Nationwide Permit, MVP anticipates that the Corps will initiate its regulatory process to republish the Nationwide Permit for West Virginia that will incorporate West Virginia’s revised 401 Certification. Once the Nationwide Permit is reissued, MVP will reapply for the Nationwide Permit 12 verification. MVP expects to receive the revised Nationwide Permit by the end of March 2019. However, MVP cannot guarantee that the agencies will act in a timely manner or that the action will not be challenged.
•
In June 2018, following the Fourth Circuit's West Virginia decision, the Sierra Club filed a petition in the Fourth Circuit seeking review and a stay of the Army Corps' decision to grant authorization under Nationwide Permit 12 for stream crossings in Virginia. The court denied the Sierra Club's request for a stay on August 28, 2018. On October 5, 2018, the Army Corps’ Norfolk District suspended its authorizations under Nationwide Permit 12 for stream and waterbody crossings in Virginia pending the resolution of the Fourth Circuit matter regarding Nationwide Permit 12 authorizations in the Army Corps’ Huntington District.
•
On October 19, 2018, in response to the Nationwide Permit 12 verification suspensions in the Army Corps’ Huntington and Norfolk Districts, the Army Corps’ Pittsburgh District suspended its authorizations under Nationwide Permit 12 for stream and wetlands crossings in northern West Virginia.
•
In a different Fourth Circuit lawsuit filed in December 2017, the Sierra Club challenged a Bureau of Land Management (the BLM) decision to grant a right-of-way and a U.S. Forest Service (the USFS) decision to amend its management plan, both affecting the MVP's 3.6-mile segment in the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. On July 27, 2018, the court vacated the BLM and USFS decisions, finding fault with USFS' analysis of erosion and sedimentation effects and BLM's analysis of the practicality of alternate routes. On August 3, 2018, citing the court's vacatur and remand, the FERC issued a stop work order for the entire pipeline pending the agency actions on remand. The FERC modified its stop on work order on August 29, 2018 to allow work to continue on all but approximately 25 miles of the project. The MVP Joint Venture has resumed construction of the affected portions of the pipeline.
•
On October 10, 2018, the Fourth Circuit granted MVP’s petition for rehearing clarifying that the July 27, 2018 order did not vacate the portion of the BLM’s Record of Decision authorizing a right-of-way and temporary use permit for MVP to cross the Weston and Gauley Bridge Turnpike Trail in Braxton County West Virginia. On October 15, 2018,

32

MVP filed with the FERC a request to modify the August 3, 2018 stop work order to allow MVP to complete bore and install the pipeline under the Weston and Gauley Bridge Turnpike Trail. This request is currently pending.
•
Multiple parties have sought judicial review of the FERC's order issuing certificates of convenience and necessity to the MVP Joint Venture and/or the exercise by the MVP Joint Venture of eminent domain authority. There are multiple consolidated petitions before the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit seeking direct review of the FERC order under the Natural Gas Act. Those petitioners have requested a stay of the FERC's order pending the resolution of the petitions, which the FERC and the MVP Joint Venture have opposed. The Court of Appeals denied the request for a stay on August 30, 2018. Briefing on the merits of the petitions for review is scheduled to be completed by December 2018. Another group of parties filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asserting that the FERC's order issuing certificates is unlawful on constitutional and other grounds. The district court plaintiffs seek declaratory relief as well as an injunction preventing the MVP Joint Venture from developing its project or exercising eminent domain authority. In December 2017 and January 2018, the FERC and the MVP Joint Venture, respectively, moved to dismiss the petitions for lack of jurisdiction. The court dismissed this complaint on September 28, 2018.
•
Several landowners have filed challenges in various U.S. District Courts to the condemnation proceedings by which the MVP Joint Venture obtained access to their property. In each case, the district court found that the MVP Joint Venture was entitled to immediate possession of the easements, and the landowners appealed to the Fourth Circuit. The Fourth Circuit has consolidated these cases and held oral argument in September 2018. The court has not yet issued a decision. If one or more of these challenges is successful, it could prevent the MVP Joint Venture from constructing all or a portion of the pipeline or require the MVP Joint Venture to seek an alternate route for the pipeline or a portion thereof, which could require additional regulatory proceedings before the FERC and other interested federal and state agencies, the outcome of which we cannot predict. A successful challenge could also increase the cost of obtaining necessary rights of way to construct and operate the pipeline. 
•
In November 2017, in the wake of Fayette County, West Virginia's denial of the MVP Joint Venture's rezoning request to permit construction of a compressor station, the MVP Joint Venture brought suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia seeking a judgment declaring that the County's denial was preempted by federal law and a permanent injunction preventing the county from enforcing the zoning constraint with respect to the MVP project. The MVP Joint Venture filed a motion for summary judgment in February 2018. The court granted MVP's motion for summary judgment and dismissed the complaint on August 29, 2018. The county has the right to appeal the district court's decision. 
•
In August 2017, the Greenbrier River Watershed Association appealed the MVP project's Natural Stream Preservation Act Permit obtained from the West Virginia Environmental Quality Board (the WVEQB) for the Greenbrier River crossing. Petitioners alleged that the issuance of the permit failed to comply with West Virginia's Water Quality Standards for turbidity and sedimentation. WVEQB dismissed the appeal in June 2018. In July 2018, the Greenbrier River Watershed Association appealed the decision to the Circuit Court of Summers County, asking the court to remand the permit with instructions to impose state-designated construction windows and pre- and post-construction monitoring requirements as well as a reversal of the WVEQB's decision that the permit was lawful. On September 18, the Circuit Court granted a stay pending appeal. A hearing on the merits is scheduled for October 23, 2018, and the court has requested expedited briefing. In the event of an adverse decision, the MVP Joint Venture would work with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to resolve the issues identified by the court.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in EQM's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 other than the risks described below.
Failure to successfully combine the businesses of EQM and RMP in the expected time frame may adversely affect the future results of the combined organization and our ability to achieve the intended benefits of the EQM-RMP Merger and the May 2018 Acquisition.
The success of the EQM-RMP Merger will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from combining the businesses of EQM and RMP. To realize these anticipated benefits, the businesses must be successfully combined. If the combined organization is not able to achieve these objectives, or is not able to achieve these objectives on a timely basis, the anticipated benefits of the EQM-RMP Merger may not be realized fully or at all. In addition, the actual integration may result in additional and unforeseen expenses, which could reduce the anticipated benefits of the EQM-RMP Merger. There can be no assurance that our combination with RMP or the May 2018 Acquisition will deliver the strategic, financial and operational

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benefits anticipated by us. Our business may be negatively impacted if we are unable to effectively manage our expanded operations.
The proposed separation of EQT's production and midstream businesses into two independent publicly-traded companies may result in disruptions to, and negatively impact our relationships with, our customers and other business partners, and we may incur significant non-recurring and ongoing costs following the Separation related to the change in control of our and EQGP’s general partners.
On October 24, 2018, EQT announced that its board of directors approved the completion of the separation of EQT’s upstream and midstream businesses, creating a standalone publicly traded corporation, Equitrans Midstream Corporation (Equitrans Midstream), that will focus on midstream operations. Following the Separation, Equitrans Midstream will own the midstream interests held by EQT, including EQT’s interests in us and EQGP.  Uncertainty related to the Separation may lead customers and other parties with which we currently do business, or may do business in the future, to terminate or attempt to negotiate changes in existing business relationships or consider entering into business relationships with parties other than us. In addition, following the Separation, it is possible that our relationship with Equitrans Midstream as our and EQGP’s sponsor may be different from the current relationship that we have with EQT as our sponsor as a result of a number of potential differences between Equitrans Midstream and EQT, including a more narrow operational and business focus, different assets and liability structure at the sponsor level, different allocations of employee resources and different corporate allocation methodologies for capital expenditures and operating expenses.  These disruptions and changes could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Our significant indebtedness, and any future indebtedness, as well as the restrictions under our debt agreements could adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating flexibility, results of operations, liquidity and ability to make quarterly cash distributions to our unitholders.
Our debt agreements contain various covenants and restrictive provisions that limit our ability to, among other things:
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incur or guarantee additional debt;
•
make distributions on or redeem or repurchase units;
•
incur or permit liens on assets;
•
enter into certain types of transactions with affiliates;
•
enter into certain mergers or acquisitions; and
•
dispose of all or substantially all of our assets.
In July 2017, we amended and restated our credit facility to increase the borrowing capacity under the facility from $750 million to $1 billion and extend the maturity date to July 2022. In addition, we expect to increase our borrowing capacity under the revolver to up to $3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018. Our $1 billion credit facility contains a covenant requiring us to maintain a consolidated leverage ratio of not more than 5.00 to 1.00 (or not more than 5.50 to 1.00 for certain measurement periods following the consummation of certain acquisitions). Our ability to meet these covenants can be affected by events beyond our control and we cannot assure our unitholders that we will meet these covenants. In addition, our $1 billion credit facility contains events of default customary for such facilities, including the occurrence of a change of control (which will occur, among other things, if EQT or certain permitted transferees fail to control the EQM General Partner, we fail to own 100% of Equitrans, L.P., or the EQM General Partner fails to be our general partner). Furthermore, in June 2018, we issued senior unsecured notes in an aggregate principal amount of $2.5 billion across three new series, consisting of $1.1 billion in aggregate principal amount of our 4.75% senior notes due 2023, $850 million in aggregate principal amount of our 5.5% senior notes due 2028, and $550 million in aggregate principal amount of our 6.5% senior notes due 2048.
The provisions of our debt agreements may affect our ability to obtain future financing and pursue attractive business opportunities and our flexibility in planning for, and reacting to, changes in business conditions. In addition, a failure to comply with the provisions of our debt agreements could result in an event of default, which could enable our lenders to, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement, declare any outstanding principal of that debt, together with accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable. If the payment of our debt is accelerated, our assets may be insufficient to repay such debt in full, and our unitholders could experience a partial or total loss of their investments. The $1 billion credit facility also has cross default provisions that apply to any other indebtedness we may have with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $25 million.

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Our substantial indebtedness and the additional debt we may incur in the future for, among other things, working capital, capital expenditures, capital contributions to the MVP Joint Venture, acquisitions or operating activities may adversely affect our liquidity and therefore our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
Among other things, our significant indebtedness may be viewed negatively by credit rating agencies, which could result in increased costs for us to access the capital markets. Any future downgrade of the debt issued by us or our subsidiaries could significantly increase our capital costs or adversely affect our ability to raise capital in the future.
The demand for the services provided by our water distribution business could decline as a result of several factors.
Our water services business includes fresh water distribution for use in our customers’ natural gas, NGLs and oil exploration and production activities. Water is an essential component of natural gas, NGLs and oil production during the drilling, and in particular, the hydraulic fracturing process. As a result, the demand for our fresh water distribution and produced water handling services is tied to the level of drilling and completion activity of our customers, including EQT, which is currently and anticipated to continue to be our primary customer for such services. More specifically, the demand for our water distribution and produced water handling services could be adversely affected by any reduction in or slowing of EQT’s or other customers’ well completions, any reduction in produced water attributable to completion activity, or the extent to which EQT or other customers complete wells with shorter lateral lengths, which would lessen the volume of fresh water required for completion activity. In addition, increased regulation of hydraulic fracturing could result in reductions or delays in natural gas, NGLs and oil production by our water services customers, which could reduce the number of wells for which we provide water services.
Additionally, we depend on EQT to source a portion of the fresh water we distribute. The availability of our and EQT’s water supply may be limited due to reasons including, but not limited to, prolonged drought or regulatory delays associated with infrastructure development. Restrictions on the ability to obtain water or changes in wastewater disposal requirements may incentivize water recycling efforts by oil and natural gas producers, which could decrease the demand for our fresh water distribution services.
The regulatory approval process for the construction of new midstream assets is challenging, and recent decisions by regulatory and judicial authorities in pending proceedings could impact our or the MVP Joint Venture's ability to obtain all approvals and authorizations necessary to complete certain projects on the projected time frame or at all or our ability to achieve the expected investment return on the project.
Certain of our internal growth projects may require regulatory approval from federal, state and local authorities prior to construction, including any extensions from or additions to our transmission and storage system. The approval process for storage and transportation projects has become increasingly challenging, due in part to state and local concerns related to exploration and production and gathering activities in new production areas, including the Marcellus, Utica and Upper Devonian Shales, and negative public perception regarding the oil and gas industry. Such authorization may not be granted or, if granted, such authorization may include burdensome or expensive conditions.
In addition, any significant delays in the regulatory approval process for the MVP Project could increase costs and negatively impact the scheduled in-service date of fourth quarter 2019, which in turn could adversely affect the ability for MVP and its owners, including us, to achieve the expected investment return. For example, in February 2018, the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the use of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit 12 in West Virginia for the MVP project. The MVP project is subject to several challenges that must be resolved before the MVP project can be completed, as described in more detail under "Business-Legal Proceedings."
Although the MVP Joint Venture is actively defending the relevant agency actions and judicial challenges to the project, and is in active dialogue with all of the affected agencies to resolve these issues and restore the affected permits, there is no guarantee as to how long the agency proceedings and judicial challenges will take to resolve, or whether the MVP Joint Venture will ultimately succeed in restoring the permits in their present form or within the MVP Joint Venture's targeted time frame for placing the project in service. This and other similar litigation could adversely affect EQM's business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to make quarterly cash distributions to its unitholders.
Our natural gas gathering, transmission and storage services are subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local regulatory authorities. Changes or additional regulatory measures adopted by such authorities could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to make distributions.
Our interstate natural gas transmission and storage operations are regulated by the FERC under the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Certain portions of our gathering operations are also rate-regulated by the FERC in connection with our interstate transmission operations. Our FERC-regulated systems operate under

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tariffs approved by the FERC that establish rates, cost recovery mechanisms and terms and conditions of service to our customers. Generally, the FERC's authority extends to:
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    rates and charges for our natural gas transmission and storage and FERC-regulated gathering services;
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    certification and construction of new interstate transmission and storage facilities;
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    abandonment of interstate transmission and storage services and facilities;
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    maintenance of accounts and records;
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    relationships between pipelines and certain affiliates;
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    terms and conditions of services and service contracts with customers;
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    depreciation and amortization policies;
•
    acquisitions and dispositions of interstate transmission and storage facilities; and
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    initiation and discontinuation of interstate transmission and storage services.
Interstate pipelines may not charge rates or impose terms and conditions of service that, upon review by the FERC, are found to be unjust and unreasonable or unduly discriminatory. The recourse rate that may be charged by our interstate pipeline for its transmission and storage services is established through the FERC's ratemaking process. The maximum applicable recourse rate and terms and conditions for service are set forth in our FERC-approved tariffs.
Pursuant to the NGA, existing interstate transmission and storage rates and terms and conditions of service may be challenged by complaint and are subject to prospective change by the FERC. Additionally, rate increases and changes to terms and conditions of service proposed by a regulated interstate pipeline may be protested and such increases or changes can be delayed and may ultimately be rejected by the FERC. We currently hold authority from the FERC to charge and collect (i) "recourse rates," which are the maximum rates an interstate pipeline may charge for its services under its tariff, (ii) "discount rates," which are rates below the "recourse rates" and above a minimum level, provided they do not "unduly discriminate", (iii) "negotiated rates," which involve rates above or below the "recourse rates," provided that the affected customers are willing to agree to such rates and that the FERC has approved the negotiated rate agreement, and (iv) market-based rates for some of our storage services from which we derive a small portion of our revenues. As of December 31, 2017, approximately 89% of our system's contracted firm transmission capacity was committed under such "negotiated rate" contracts, rather than recourse, discount or market rate contracts. There can be no guarantee that we will be allowed to continue to operate under such rate structures for the remainder of those assets' operating lives. Any successful challenge against rates charged for our transmission and storage services could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to make quarterly cash distributions to our unitholders.
While the FERC does not generally regulate the rates and terms of service over facilities determined to be performing a natural gas gathering function, the FERC has traditionally regulated rates charged by interstate pipelines for gathering services performed on the pipeline's own gathering facilities when those gathering services are performed in connection with jurisdictional interstate transmission facilities. We maintain rates and terms of service in our tariff for unbundled gathering services performed on a portion of our gathering facilities that are connected to our transmission and storage system. Just as with rates and terms of service for transmission and storage services, our rates and terms of services for our FERC-regulated gathering services may be challenged by complaint and are subject to prospective change by the FERC. Rate increases and changes to terms and conditions of service which we propose for our FERC-regulated gathering services may be protested, and such increases or changes can be delayed and may ultimately be rejected by the FERC.
The FERC's jurisdiction extends to the certification and construction of interstate transmission and storage facilities, including, but not limited to, acquisitions, facility maintenance, expansions, and abandonment of facilities and services. While the FERC exercises jurisdiction over the rates and terms of service for our FERC-regulated gathering services, these gathering facilities are not subject to the FERC's certification and construction authority. Prior to commencing construction of new or existing interstate transmission and storage facilities, an interstate pipeline must obtain a certificate authorizing the construction, or file to amend its existing certificate, from the FERC. On April 19, 2018, the FERC issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking information regarding whether, and if so how, it should revise its approach under its currently effective policy statement on the certification of new natural gas transportation facilities. We cannot currently predict when the FERC will issue an order in the Notice of Inquiry proceeding or what action the FERC may take in any such order. If the FERC changes its existing certificate policy, it could impact our ability to construct interstate pipeline facilities. Further, typically, a significant expansion project requires review by a number of governmental agencies, including state and local agencies, whose cooperation is important in

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completing the regulatory process on schedule. Any agency's delay in the issuance of, or refusal to issue, authorizations or permits for one or more of these projects may mean that we will not be able to pursue these projects or that they will be constructed in a manner or with capital requirements that we did not anticipate. Such delays, refusals or resulting modifications to projects could materially and negatively impact the revenues and costs expected from these projects or cause us to abandon planned projects.
FERC regulations also extend to the terms and conditions set forth in agreements for transmission and storage services executed between interstate pipelines and their customers. These service agreements are required to conform, in all material respects, with the forms of service agreements set forth in the pipeline's FERC-approved tariff. Non-conforming agreements must be filed with, and accepted by, the FERC. In the event that the FERC finds that an agreement is materially non-conforming, in whole or in part, it could reject the agreement or require us to seek modification, or alternatively require us to modify our tariff so that the non-conforming provisions are generally available to all customers.
On March 15, 2018, the FERC issued an order prohibiting master limited partnership (MLP)-owned pipelines from including an allowance for investor income tax liability in their cost-of-service based rates. Under its prior policy, the FERC had permitted all interstate pipelines to include an income tax allowance in the cost-of-service used as the basis for calculating their regulated rates. On July 18, 2018, the FERC issued an order affirming the principal finding in the March order regarding income tax recovery and also clarifying the treatment of Accumulated Deferred Income Taxes (ADIT) in light of the prohibition on MLP income tax allowances. Also on July 18, 2018, the FERC issued Order No. 849, adopting regulations requiring that natural gas pipelines must make a one-time report, Form 501-G, due in the fourth quarter of 2018. For MLP-owned pipelines, the Form 501-G report must calculate an earned rate of return on equity that addresses any potential over-recovery of their cost of service arising from the prohibition of the income tax allowance and the ADIT clarification. The FERC will evaluate these Form 501-G filings on a case-by-case basis and may open a limited or a general rate case, open an investigation, or take no further action. This recent action by the FERC could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders.
The FERC may not continue to pursue its approach of pro-competitive policies as it considers matters such as interstate pipeline rates and rules and policies that may affect rights of access to natural gas transmission capacity and transmission and storage facilities.
Section 1(b) of the NGA exempts certain natural gas gathering facilities from regulation by the FERC under the NGA. We believe that our high pressure natural gas gathering pipelines meet the traditional tests the FERC has used to establish a pipeline's status as an exempt gatherer not subject to regulation as a natural gas company, although the FERC has not made a formal determination with respect to the jurisdictional status of those facilities. However, the distinction between FERC-regulated transmission services and federally unregulated gathering services is often the subject of litigation within the industry, so the classification and regulation of our high pressure gathering systems are subject to change based on future determinations by the FERC, the courts or the U.S. Congress.
Failure to comply with applicable provisions of the NGA, the NGPA, federal pipeline safety laws and certain other laws, as well as with the regulations, rules, orders, restrictions and conditions associated with these laws, could result in the imposition of administrative and criminal remedies and civil penalties. For example, the FERC is authorized to impose civil penalties of up to approximately $1.2 million per violation, per day for violations of the NGA, the NGPA or the rules, regulations, restrictions, conditions and orders promulgated under those statutes. This maximum penalty authority established by statute will continue to be adjusted periodically for inflation.
In addition, future federal, state or local legislation or regulations under which we will operate our natural gas gathering, transmission and storage businesses may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to make quarterly cash distributions to our unitholders.
Negative public perception regarding EQM, the MVP and/or the midstream industry could have an adverse effect on EQM's operations.
Negative public perception regarding EQM, the MVP and/or the midstream industry resulting from, among other things, oil spills, the explosion of natural gas transmission and gathering lines and concerns raised by advocacy groups about hydraulic fracturing and pipeline projects, has led to, and may in the future lead to, increased regulatory scrutiny, which may, in turn, lead to new local, state and federal safety and environmental laws, regulations, guidelines and enforcement interpretations. These actions may cause operational delays or restrictions, increased operating costs, penalties under construction contracts, additional regulatory burdens and increased risk of litigation. As discussed under-"The regulatory approval process for the construction of new midstream assets is challenging, and recent decisions by regulatory and judicial authorities in pending proceedings could impact EQM's or the MVP Joint Venture's ability to obtain all approvals and authorizations necessary to complete certain projects on the projected time frame or at all or its ability to achieve the expected investment return on the

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project," there are several pending challenges to certain aspects of the MVP project that must be resolved before the MVP project can be completed. Moreover, governmental authorities exercise considerable discretion in the timing and scope of permit issuance and the public may engage in the permitting process, including through intervention in the courts. Negative public perception could cause the permits EQM and the MVP Joint Venture need to conduct their operations to be withheld, delayed or burdened by requirements that restrict their ability to profitably conduct business.

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Item 6. Exhibits

 
Exhibit No.
 
Document Description
 
Method of Filing

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 
101

 
Interactive Data File.
 
Filed herewith as Exhibit 101.

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Signature
 
 
 
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EQM Midstream Partners, LP
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
 
By:
EQM Midstream Services, LLC, its General Partner
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Robert J. McNally
 
 
Robert J. McNally
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:  October 25, 2018


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EQM Midstream Partners, LP Reports

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