Kinder Morgan reduces its shares’ PUC by more than the PUC distribution by it of the Trans Mountain pipeline sales proceeds

As a result of its indirect 30% interest in the Trans Mountain pipeline system, Kinder Morgan realized $1.2 billion on the sale of the system to the federal government for $4.5 billion. Kinder Morgan will distribute that sum to its shareholders as a stated capital (and paid-up capital) distribution. The exclusion from deemed dividend treatment under s. 84(4.1) for a one-off distribution of recently-received sales proceeds is being relied upon.

Quite unusually, the stated capital reduction (of $1.45 billion) exceeds the $1.2 billion stated capital distribution amount, so that the stated capital of the shares will be reduced to approximately $0.33 billion. This is being done in order to not be subject to potential solvency test restrictions under ABCA in declaring dividends. Public company PUC is useless – except when it is useful.

Neal Armstrong. Summary of Kinder Morgan Canada Circular under Spin-offs & Distributions – ss. 84(4.1)(a) and (b) distributions of proceeds.