Our existing and future level of debt could have important consequences to us, including the following: (i) our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired, or such financing may not be available on favorable terms; (ii) the funds that we have available for operations and payment of dividends to shareholders will be reduced by that portion of our cash flow required to make principal and interest payments on outstanding debt; and (iii) our debt level could make us more vulnerable to competitive pressures than competitors with less debt or to a downturn in our business or the economy generally.
Our existing and future level of debt could have important consequences to us, including the 28 following: (i) our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired, or such financing may not be available on favorable terms; (ii) the funds that we have available for operations and payment of dividends to shareholders will be reduced by that portion of our cash flow required to make principal and interest payments on outstanding debt; and (iii) our debt level could make us more vulnerable to competitive pressures than competitors with less debt or to a downturn in our business or the economy generally.
Due to our lack of diversification in assets and geographic location, an adverse development in these businesses or our areas of operations, including adverse developments due to catastrophic events, weather, regulatory action, state and local political activities, availability of equipment and personnel, local prices, producer liquidity and decreases in demand for natural gas could have a more significant impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations than if we maintained more diverse assets and locations.
Due to our lack of diversification in assets and geographic location, an adverse development in these businesses or our areas of operations, including adverse developments due to catastrophic events, weather, regulatory action, state and local political activities, availability of equipment 27 and personnel, local prices, producer liquidity and decreases in demand for natural gas could have a more significant impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations than if we maintained more diverse assets and locations.
Our operations, our customers’ operations and other interconnected pipelines and facilities are subject to many operational hazards, including (i) damage to pipelines, facilities, equipment, environmental controls and surrounding properties, including damage resulting from landslide and ground movement slippage; (ii) leaks, migrations or losses of natural gas and other hydrocarbons, water, brine, other fluids and hazardous chemicals that we handle in our treating and other operations; (iii) inadvertent damage from third parties, including from construction, farm and utility equipment; (iv) uncontrolled releases of natural gas and other hydrocarbons; (v) ruptures, fires and explosions; (vi) product and waste spills and unauthorized discharges of products, wastes and other pollutants; (vii) pipeline freeze-offs due to cold weather; (viii) operator error; (ix) aging infrastructure, mechanical or other performance problems; (x) damages to and loss of availability of interconnecting third-party pipelines, railroads and terminals; (xi) disruption or failure of information technology systems and network infrastructure; (xii) floods; (xiii) severe weather; (xiv) lightning and (xv) terrorism.
Our operations, our customers’ operations and other interconnected pipelines and facilities are subject to many operational hazards, including (i) damage to pipelines, facilities, equipment, environmental controls and surrounding properties, including damage resulting from landslide and ground movement slippage; (ii) leaks, migrations or losses of natural gas and other hydrocarbons, water, brine, other fluids and hazardous chemicals that we handle in our treating and other operations; (iii) inadvertent damage from third parties, including from construction, farm and utility equipment; (iv) uncontrolled releases of natural gas and other hydrocarbons; (v) ruptures, fires and explosions; (vi) product and waste spills and unauthorized discharges of products, wastes and other pollutants; (vii) pipeline freeze-offs or production curtailments due to cold weather; (viii) operator error; (ix) aging infrastructure, mechanical or other performance problems; (x) damages to and loss of availability of interconnecting third-party pipelines, railroads and terminals; (xi) disruption or failure of information technology systems and network infrastructure; (xii) floods; (xiii) severe weather; (xiv) lightning and (xv) terrorism.
However, our credit procedures and policies may not be adequate to fully eliminate customer credit risk. If we fail to adequately assess the creditworthiness of existing or future customers, the unanticipated deterioration in their creditworthiness 28 and any resulting increase in nonpayment or nonperformance by them could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
However, our credit procedures and policies may not be adequate to fully eliminate customer credit risk. If we fail to adequately assess the creditworthiness of existing or future customers, the unanticipated deterioration in their creditworthiness and any resulting increase in nonpayment or nonperformance by them could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Additionally, even when we own an interest in the land on which our assets are located, agreements with correlative rights owners may require us to relocate pipelines and facilities, shut in storage facilities to facilitate the development of the correlative rights owners’ estate or pay the correlative rights owners the lost value of their estate if they are not willing to accommodate development.
Additionally, even when we own an interest in the land on which our assets are located, agreements with correlative rights owners may require us to relocate 26 pipelines and facilities, shut in storage facilities to facilitate the development of the correlative rights owners’ estate or pay the correlative rights owners the lost value of their estate if they are not willing to accommodate development.
Certain state and U.S. federal regulatory agencies are also focused on a possible connection between hydraulic fracturing-related activities and the increased occurrence of seismic activity. In a few instances, operators of injection disposal wells in the vicinity of seismic events have been ordered to reduce injection volumes or suspend operations.
Certain state and U.S. federal regulatory agencies have focused on, or are focused on a possible connection between hydraulic fracturing-related activities and the increased occurrence of seismic activity. In a few instances, operators of injection disposal wells in the vicinity of seismic events have been ordered to reduce injection volumes or suspend operations.
If, due to their age, certain pipeline sections were to become unexpectedly unavailable for current or future volumes of natural gas because of repairs, maintenance, damage, spills or leaks, or any other reason, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation.
If, due to their age, certain pipeline sections were to become unexpectedly unavailable for 35 current or future volumes of natural gas because of repairs, maintenance, damage, spills or leaks, or any other reason, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation.
In addition, future U.S. federal, state or local legislation or regulations under which we will operate our assets could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Guardian, Midwestern and Viking are subject to rate regulation and accounting requirements of the FERC.
In addition, future U.S. federal, state or local legislation or regulations under which we will operate our assets could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Guardian, Midwestern and Viking are subject to rate regulation and accounting requirements of FERC.
In addition, demand for our services is dependent on the demand for gas in the markets we serve. Alternative fuel sources such as electricity, coal, fuel oils, or nuclear energy, as well as technological advances and renewable sources of energy, could reduce demand for natural gas in our markets and have an adverse effect on our business.
In addition, demand for our services is dependent on the demand for gas in the markets we serve. Alternative fuel sources such as coal, fuel oils, or nuclear energy, as well as technological advances and renewable sources of energy, could reduce demand for natural gas in our markets and have an adverse effect on our business.
Rising inflation in the future could have an adverse impact on our operating costs, which have historically increased with the market during inflationary periods and may continue to increase as a result of inflationary impacts on product costs, labor rates, and domestic transportation.
Rising inflation in the future could have an adverse impact on our operating and capital costs, which have historically increased with the market during inflationary periods and may continue to increase as a result of inflationary impacts on product costs, labor rates, and domestic transportation.
While the prior presidential administration had placed a temporary pause on the authorization of new LNG terminals, impacting LNG projects in various stages of planning and review, the new presidential administration has lifted this pause and the Department of Energy has been directed to review LNG export applications as expeditiously as possible.
While the prior presidential administration had placed a temporary pause on the authorization of new LNG terminals, impacting LNG projects in various stages of planning and review, the current presidential administration has lifted this pause and the Department of Energy has been directed to review LNG export applications as expeditiously as possible.
Department of Transportation, through PHMSA, has adopted regulations requiring pipeline operators to comply with a number of operational and maintenance requirements, including to continuously survey their assets, conduct leakage surveys, and repair certain conditions.
Department of Transportation, through PHMSA, has adopted regulations requiring pipeline operators to comply with a number of operational and maintenance requirements, including to continuously survey pipeline assets, conduct leakage surveys, and repair certain conditions.
In addition to physical risks, our business is subject to 30 transition risks arising from efforts to address climate change through legislation and policies and through market preferences that disfavor fossil fuels and related businesses.
In addition to physical risks, our business is subject to transition risks arising from efforts to address climate change through legislation and policies and through market preferences that disfavor fossil fuels and related businesses.
Failure to 27 successfully attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The lack of diversification of our assets and geographic locations could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Failure to successfully attract and retain an appropriately qualified workforce could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The lack of diversification of our assets and geographic locations could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Physical risks from climate change may reduce our ability to operate reliably, safely, and economically and may cause significant insured or uninsured losses that affect our cash flows.
Physical risks from climate change may reduce our ability to operate reliably, safely, and economically and may 30 cause significant insured or uninsured losses that affect our cash flows.
The age and condition of these systems could result in increased maintenance or repair expenditures, and any downtime associated with increased maintenance and repair activities could 35 materially reduce our revenue.
The age and condition of these systems could result in increased maintenance or repair expenditures, and any downtime associated with increased maintenance and repair activities could materially reduce our revenue.
We believe providing more expansive disclosure on these topics in our Corporate Sustainability Report increases our transparency to our stakeholders and complements the disclosures regarding our contributions to sustainable development in this Form 10-K. It is possible that stakeholders may not be satisfied with our ESG practices or the speed of their adoption.
We believe providing disclosure on these topics in our Corporate Sustainability Report increases our transparency to our stakeholders and complements the disclosures regarding our contributions to sustainable development in this Form 10-K. It is possible that stakeholders may not be satisfied with our ESG practices or the speed of their adoption.
Any expansion project or acquisition involves potential risks, including, among other things: (i) service interruptions or increased downtime associated with our projects; (ii) a decrease in our liquidity; (iii) an inability to complete expansion projects or acquisitions on schedule or within the budgeted cost; (iv) the assumption of unknown liabilities when making acquisitions for which we are not indemnified or for which our indemnity is inadequate; (v) the diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns; (vi) mistaken assumptions about the overall costs of equity or debt, demand for our services, supply volumes, reserves, revenues and costs, synergies and potential growth; (vii) an inability to secure adequate customer commitments to use the expanded or acquired systems or facilities; (viii) an inability to successfully integrate the businesses we build or acquire; (ix) an inability to receive cash flows from a newly built asset until it is operational; and (x) unforeseen difficulties operating in new service areas or new geographic areas.
Any expansion project involves potential risks, including, among other things: (i) service interruptions or increased downtime associated with our projects; (ii) a decrease in our liquidity; (iii) an inability to complete expansion projects on schedule or within the budgeted cost; (iv) the assumption of unknown liabilities when undertaking expansion projects for which we are not indemnified or for which our indemnity is inadequate; (v) the diversion of our management’s attention from other business concerns; (vi) mistaken assumptions about the overall costs of equity or debt, demand for our services, supply volumes, reserves, revenues and costs, synergies and potential growth; (vii) an inability to secure adequate customer commitments to use the expanded or acquired systems or facilities; (viii) an inability to successfully integrate the businesses we build; (ix) an inability to receive cash flows from a newly built asset until it is operational; and (x) unforeseen difficulties operating in new service areas or new geographic areas.
The regulated operations of each of these subsidiaries have rates that are (i) established by independent, third-party regulators, (ii) set at levels that will recover our costs when considering the demand and competition for our services and (iii) collectible from our customers.
The regulated operations of each of these subsidiaries have rates that are (i) established by independent, third-party regulators, (ii) set at levels that will recover our costs when considering the demand and competition for our services and (iii) charged to and collectible from our customers.
However, even if we complete expansion projects or acquisitions that we believe will be accretive, these expansion projects or acquisitions may nevertheless reduce our cash from operations and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
However, even if we complete expansion projects that we believe will be accretive, these expansion projects may nevertheless reduce our cash from operations and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and include, but are not limited to, ransomware, credential stuffing, spear phishing, social engineering and other attempts to gain unauthorized access to data for purposes of extortion or malfeasance. The methodologies used by attackers change frequently and may not be recognized until such attack is underway.
Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated and include, but are not limited to, ransomware, credential stuffing, spear phishing, social engineering, AI-powered attacks, and other attempts to gain unauthorized access to data for purposes of extortion or malfeasance. The methodologies used by attackers change frequently and may not be recognized until such attack is underway.
Certain portions of our pipelines, storage and gathering infrastructure are aging, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Certain portions of our systems, particularly our Northern Michigan assets and our storage assets, have been in operation for many years, with some portions being more than 50 years old.
Certain portions of our pipelines, storage and gathering infrastructure are aging, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Certain portions of our systems, particularly our DTM Interstate Transportation, Northern Michigan, and storage assets, have been in operation for many years, with some portions being more than 50 years old.
If the carrying value of any of our intangible assets or goodwill is determined to be not recoverable, we may take a non-cash impairment charge, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If the carrying value of any of our intangible assets, goodwill, property, plant, and/or equipment is determined to be not recoverable, we may take a non-cash impairment charge, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We annually review the carrying value of goodwill associated with business combinations we have made for impairment. Our intangible assets and goodwill are also reviewed whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable.
We annually review the carrying value of goodwill associated with business combinations we have made for impairment. Our intangible assets, goodwill, property, plant, and equipment are also reviewed whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable.
The loss of, or reduction in volumes from, this customer could result in a decline in demand for our services and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Expand Energy accounted for approximately 56% of our operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024.
The loss of, or reduction in volumes from, this customer could result in a decline in demand for our services and materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Expand Energy accounted for approximately 45% of our operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2025.
In addition, FERC could modify its policy governing the issuance of interstate natural gas pipeline authorizations, in part to address concerns about climate change. It is not clear at this time whether FERC will modify its policy governing the issuance of certificates and, if so, what those modifications will be.
In addition, FERC has periodically considered to, and could in the future revisit, its policy governing the issuance of interstate natural gas pipeline authorizations, in part to address concerns about climate change. It is not clear at this time whether FERC will modify its policy governing the issuance of certificates and, if so, what those modifications will be.
We published our third annual Corporate Sustainability Report in 2024, which detailed how we seek to manage our operations responsibly and ethically, as well as strategies and goals associated with reducing our environmental impact.
We published our fourth annual Corporate Sustainability Report in 2025, which detailed how we seek to manage our operations responsibly and ethically, as well as strategies and goals associated with reducing our environmental impact.
Inflationary pressure could adversely impact our profitability. Inflation in the United States has recently declined; however, we are unable to predict changes in inflation which is affected by factors beyond our control, including the recent imposition of tariffs by the U.S. and certain of its trading partners.
Inflation in the United States has recently declined; however, we are unable to predict changes in inflation which is affected by factors beyond our control, including the recent imposition of tariffs by the U.S. and certain of its trading partners.
Additionally, these requirements require operators to develop integrity management programs for transportation pipelines located where a leak or rupture could do the most harm in a high consequence area, referred to as an HCA.
Additionally, these requirements require operators to develop integrity management programs for transportation pipelines located where a leak or rupture could do the most harm in an HCA.
These completed, ongoing or proposed studies on the environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing, depending on their degree of pursuit and any meaningful results obtained, could spur initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing or other regulatory mechanisms.
These completed, ongoing or proposed studies on the environmental aspects of hydraulic fracturing, depending on their degree of pursuit and any meaningful results obtained, could spur initiatives to further regulate hydraulic fracturing or other regulatory mechanisms aimed at imposing more stringent requirements on hydraulic fracturing.
The regulations require operators to: (i) perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity; (ii) identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact an HCA; (iii) improve data collection, integration and analysis; (iv) repair and remediate the pipeline as necessary; and (v) implement preventive and mitigating actions.
The regulations require operators to: (i) perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity; (ii) identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact an HCA; (iii) improve data collection, integration and analysis; (iv) repair and remediate the pipeline as necessary; and (v) implement preventive and mitigating actions. PHMSA regulations also require assessment and repairs outside of HCAs in MCAs.
Moreover, a number of state and regional legal initiatives, including climate change laws, have emerged in recent years that seek to reduce GHGs emissions and the EPA, based on its findings that emissions of GHGs present a danger to public health and the environment, has adopted regulations under existing provisions of the U.S. federal Clean Air Act that, among other things, restrict emissions of GHGs and require the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from specified onshore and offshore production sources and onshore treating sources in the U.S. on an annual basis.
Moreover, a number of state and regional legal initiatives, including climate change laws, have emerged in recent years that seek to reduce GHGs emissions and the EPA, based on its findings that emissions of GHGs cause, or contribute to, air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare, has adopted regulations under existing provisions of the U.S. federal Clean Air Act that, among other things, restrict emissions of GHGs and require the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from specified onshore and offshore production sources and onshore treating sources in the U.S. on an annual basis.
We regularly review our portfolio of businesses and pursue growth through expansions and acquisitions that we expect to be accretive, and we believe the Midwest Pipeline Acquisition will be accretive to our distributive cash flow, improve our business profile, and add to the backlog of future growth opportunities.
We regularly review our portfolio of businesses and pursue growth through expansion that we expect to be accretive to our distributive cash flow, improve our business profile, and add to the backlog of future growth opportunities.
In addition, these joint ventures are subject to most of the same operational risks to which we are subject and the impact of any of these operational risks on our joint ventures’ respective business, financial condition or results of operations could in turn materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. 26 We do not own the majority of the land on which our assets are located, which could disrupt our current and future operations.
In addition, these joint ventures are subject to most of the same operational risks to which we are subject and the impact of any of these operational risks on our joint ventures’ respective business, financial condition or results of operations could in turn materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our existing and future level of debt may limit our flexibility to obtain additional financing and to pursue other business opportunities. As of December 31, 2024, we had outstanding approximately $2.1 billion of senior notes, $1.25 billion of senior secured notes and $150 million of borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.
Our existing and future level of debt may limit our flexibility to obtain additional financing and to pursue other business opportunities. As of December 31, 2025, we had outstanding approximately $3.35 billion of senior notes and no borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility.
We may not be able to fully offset these inflation increases by raising prices for our services, which could result in downward pressure on our results of operations. If our intangible assets or goodwill become impaired, we may be required to record a charge to earnings.
We may not be able to fully offset these inflation increases by raising prices for our services, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If our intangible assets, goodwill, property, plant and/or equipment become impaired, we may be required to record a charge to earnings.
While a new version might be proposed in early 2025, the position of the new presidential administration is not yet clear. Any disruption in our ability to obtain coverage under NWP 12 or other general permits may result in increased costs and project delays if we are forced to seek individual permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Any disruption in our ability to obtain coverage under NWP 12 or other general permits may result in increased costs and project delays if we are forced to seek individual permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
We may be unable to renew or replace these contracts at expiration, and our efforts to negotiate for similar fixed revenue commitments may be unsuccessful, which could cause our exposure to natural gas price risk to change or adversely affect the stability of our cash flows.
We may be unable to renew or replace these contracts at expiration, and our efforts to negotiate for similar fixed revenue commitments may be unsuccessful, which could cause our exposure to natural gas price risk to change or adversely affect the stability of our cash flows. 24 If third-party pipelines and other facilities interconnected to our assets become unavailable to transport natural gas, it could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our compliance with changing legal requirements could result in our incurring significant additional expenses and operating restrictions with respect to our operations, which may not be fully recoverable from customers and, thus, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our compliance with changing legal requirements could result in our incurring significant additional expenses and operating restrictions with respect to our operations, which may not be fully recoverable from customers and, thus, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. 31 Our customers may similarly incur increased costs or restrictions that may limit or decrease those customers’ operations and have an indirect material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
This could lead to increased costs for producers and increased need for pipeline capacity as operators would be required to have a plan to reduce venting and flaring as a predicate to approval of production of federal minerals.
If key provisions of the Waste Prevention Rule or similar restrictions become effective, they could lead to increased costs for producers and increased need for pipeline capacity as operators would be required to have a plan to reduce venting and flaring as a predicate to approval of production of federal minerals.
PHMSA regulations also require assessment and repairs outside of HCAs in what are referred to as moderate consequence areas or MCAs. Additionally, while states are preempted by U.S. federal law from regulating pipeline safety for interstate lines, most are certified by PHMSA to assume responsibility for enforcing U.S. federal intrastate pipeline regulations and inspection of intrastate pipelines.
Additionally, while states are preempted by U.S. federal law from regulating pipeline safety for interstate lines, most are certified by PHMSA to assume responsibility for enforcing U.S. federal intrastate pipeline regulations and inspection of intrastate pipelines.
Under ASC 980, our regulated operations are required to record regulatory assets and liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as revenue or expense in non-regulated businesses.
Accordingly, we follow the accounting for regulated operations as defined in ASC 980 for these pipelines, which results in differences in the application of GAAP between our regulated and non-regulated businesses. Under ASC 980, our regulated operations are required to record regulatory assets and liabilities for certain transactions that would have been treated as revenue or expense in non-regulated businesses.
We believe that our non-jurisdictional natural gas gathering facilities, including those which we refer to as "gathering lateral pipelines," meet the traditional tests FERC has used to establish a pipeline’s status as an exempt gatherer not subject to regulation as a FERC-jurisdictional natural gas company under the NGA, although FERC has not made a formal determination with respect to the jurisdictional status of those facilities.
A change in the jurisdictional characterization of our gathering assets may result in increased regulation by FERC, which could cause our revenues to decline and operating expenses to increase and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. 33 We believe that our non-jurisdictional natural gas gathering facilities, including those which we refer to as "gathering lateral pipelines," meet the traditional tests FERC has used to establish a pipeline’s status as an exempt gatherer not subject to regulation as a FERC-jurisdictional natural gas company under the NGA, although FERC has not made a formal determination with respect to the jurisdictional status of those facilities.
In addition, these risks could materially impact or completely prevent our customers’ from performing their respective obligations under our commercial agreements, which, in turn, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, these risks could materially impact or completely prevent our customers from performing their respective obligations under our commercial agreements, which, in turn, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Failure to successfully complete or realize the projected benefits of acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions may adversely affect our future results.
Such regulations include the "Short Supply Controls" of the Export Administration Act, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the Toxic Substances Control Act. Violations of these licensing, tariff and tax-reporting requirements could result in the imposition of significant administrative, civil and criminal penalties, which could, in turn, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Violations of these licensing, tariff and tax-reporting requirements could result in the imposition of significant administrative, civil and criminal penalties, which could, in turn, materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Future exposure to the volatility of natural gas prices as a result of gas imbalances on our transportation, storage and gathering systems could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. 33 A change in the jurisdictional characterization of our gathering assets may result in increased regulation by FERC, which could cause our revenues to decline and operating expenses to increase and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Future exposure to the volatility of natural gas prices as a result of gas imbalances on our transportation, storage and gathering systems could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Any subsequent amendment to the terms of our Revolving Credit Facility, replacement of our Revolving Credit Facility or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions. 29 For more information, see the section entitled "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Resources and Liquidity". Inflation and cost increases may impact our sales margins and profitability.
For more information, see the section entitled "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Resources and Liquidity". 29 Inflation and cost increases may impact our sales margins and profitability. Inflationary pressure could adversely impact our profitability.
Although the Federal Reserve reduced the federal funds rate in late 2024, we are unable to predict changes in interest rates which are affected by factors beyond our control. Increases in interest rates on variable rate debt would increase our interest expense unless we make arrangements to hedge the risk of rising interest rates.
Increases in interest rates on variable rate debt would increase our interest expense unless we make arrangements to hedge the risk of rising interest rates.
Some of our operations cross the U.S./Canada border and are subject to cross-border regulation and potential tariffs which may have a material impact on our business, cash flow, financial condition or results of operations. Our cross-border activities subject us to regulatory matters, including import and export licenses, tariffs, Canadian and U.S. customs and tax issues, and toxic substance certifications.
Changes to existing tax laws or the enactment of future reform legislation could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay dividends to our shareholders. 34 Some of our operations cross the U.S./Canada border and are subject to cross-border regulation and potential tariffs which may have a material impact on our business, cash flow, financial condition or results of operations.
For example, our pipelines interconnect with multiple interstate pipelines in the Midwestern U.S., Canada, Northeastern U.S. 24 and Gulf Coast regions and a significant number of intrastate pipelines. Because we do not own these third-party pipelines or facilities, their continuing operation is not within our control.
We depend upon third-party pipelines and other facilities that provide receipt and delivery options to and from our assets. For example, our pipelines interconnect with multiple interstate pipelines in the Midwestern U.S., Canada, Northeastern U.S. and Gulf Coast regions and a significant number of intrastate pipelines.
On November 7, 2024, the DHS's Transportation Security Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking to imposes cybersecurity requirements on certain pipeline facilities entitled "Enhancing Surface Cyber Risk Management." New data privacy and cybersecurity laws add additional complexity, requirements, restrictions and potential legal risk, and compliance programs may require additional investment in resources, and could impact strategies and availability of previously useful data.
New data privacy and cybersecurity laws add additional complexity, requirements, restrictions and potential legal risk, and compliance programs may require additional investment in resources, and could impact strategies and availability of previously useful data.
Certain of our internal growth projects may require regulatory approval from U.S. federal and state authorities and Canadian authorities prior to construction.
Certain of our internal growth projects may require regulatory approval from U.S. federal and state authorities and Canadian authorities prior to construction. The approval process for storage and transportation projects located in the Northeast has become increasingly challenging, as such projects in this region tend to face heightened opposition and permitting scrutiny.
We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments.
We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. Any subsequent amendment to the terms of our Revolving Credit Facility, replacement of our Revolving Credit Facility or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions.
Borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility have, and we may in the future enter into debt instruments with, variable interest rates. From early 2022 through late 2023, in response to growing signs of inflation, the Federal Reserve increased interest rates rapidly.
Borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility have, and we may in the future enter into debt instruments with, variable interest rates. We are unable to predict changes in interest rates which are affected by factors beyond our control.
It cannot be predicted whether or when tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances may be enacted, issued, or amended. Changes to existing tax laws or the 34 enactment of future reform legislation could have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay dividends to our shareholders.
It cannot be predicted whether or when tax laws, statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances may be enacted, issued, or amended.
Expansion projects or acquisitions that are expected to be accretive, including our Midwest Pipeline Acquisition, may nevertheless reduce our cash from operations and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, difficulties in integrating businesses and/or employees may result in the failure to realize anticipated results, benefits, and synergies in the expected timeframes, in operational challenges, and in the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business concerns, as well as in unforeseen expenses associated with the transactions, which may have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations. 25 Expansion projects that are expected to be accretive, may nevertheless reduce our cash from operations and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.