EQT Corp., parent of U.S.-based midstream energy master limited partnership (MLP) EQT Midstream Partners LP, has announced an agreement to acquire Rice Energy Inc. EQT Corp. will purchase a 92% interest in Rice GP Holdings L.P., which owns 100% of the general partner incentive distribution rights and 28% of the limited partnership interest in Rice Midstream Partners L.P. We continue to view the partnership's strategic importance and close business ties with parent EQT Corp. as beneficial to its creditworthiness. We are affirming our 'BBB-' corporate credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on the partnership. The outlook is stable. The stable outlook on EQT Midstream Partners L.P. reflects our belief that EQT Corp.'s intention to drop midstream assets currently held at
