SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G*
(Rule 13d-102)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED
IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULES 13d-1(b), (c), AND
(d) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO
FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 13d-2
(AMENDMENT NO. NINE  )*

 
Western Gas Partners, L.P.
(Name of Issuer)
 
 
Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
(Title of Class of Securities)
 
 
958254104
(CUSIP Number)
 
 
December 31, 2018
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)
 
Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

[ x ] Rule 13d-1(b)
☐ Rule 13d-1(c)
☐ Rule 13d-1(d)

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
 

 

 
1
NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C.
 
 
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
   
(a)
   
(b) [ X ]
 
 
3
SEC USE ONLY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
 
 
Delaware
 
 
 
 
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH
5
SOLE VOTING POWER
 
 
120,979
 
 
 
 
6
SHARED VOTING POWER
 
 
14,143,949 (see Item 4)
 
 
 
 
7
SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
120,979
 
 
 
 
8
SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
 
 
15,658,185 (see Item 4)
 
 
 
 
9
AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
 
 
15,779,164 (see Item 4)
 
 
 
 
10
CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
Not Applicable
 
 
 
 
11
PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)
 
 
10.3% (see Item 4)
 
 
 
 
12
TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)
 
 
IA
 
 
 
 
 

Item 1(a). Name of Issuer:

Western Gas Partners, L.P.
 
Item 1(b). Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

1201 Lake Robbins Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77380

Item 2(a). Name of Person Filing:

This 13G is being filed by Tortoise Capital Advisors, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("TCA").

Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

The principal business address is 11550 Ash Street, Suite 300, Leawood, Kansas 66211.

Item 2(c). Citizenship:

TCA is a Delaware limited liability company.

Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities:

Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
 
Item 2(e). CUSIP Number:

958254104


Item 3. If This Statement Is Filed Pursuant to Sections 240.13d-1(b) or
240.13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing Is a(n):

TCA is an investment adviser in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
 
Item 4. Ownership.
 
 
TCA acts as an investment adviser to certain investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. TCA, by virtue of investment advisory agreements
with these investment companies, has all investment and voting power over securities owned of record by these investment companies. However, despite their delegation of
investment and voting power to TCA, these investment companies may be deemed to be the beneficial owners under Rule 13d-3 of the Act, of the securities they own of record
because they have the right to acquire investment and voting power through termination of their investment advisory agreement with TCA. Thus, TCA has reported that it shares
voting power and dispositive power over the securities owned of record by these investment companies. TCA also acts as an investment adviser to certain managed accounts. Under
contractual agreements with these managed account clients, TCA, with respect to the securities held in these client accounts, has investment and voting power with respect to
certain of these client accounts, and has investment power but no voting power with respect to certain other of these client accounts. TCA has reported that it shares voting and/or
investment power over the securities held by these client managed accounts despite a delegation of voting and/or investment power to TCA because the clients have the right to
acquire investment and voting power through termination of their agreements with TCA. TCA may be deemed the beneficial owner of the securities covered by this statement
under Rule 13d-3 of the Act that are held by its clients.

(a)
Amount beneficially owned: 
15,779,164

(b)
Percent of class:
10.3%

(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i)
Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
120,979

(ii)
Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
14,143,949

  (iii)
Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
120,979

  (iv)
Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
15,658,185
 


Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.

Not Applicable

Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.

TCA's clients have the right to receive all dividends from, and the proceeds from the sale of, the securities held in their respective accounts. The interest of any one such
person does not exceed 5% of the class of securities.

 
Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.

Not Applicable

Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.

Not Applicable

Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group.

Not Applicable
 
Item 10.
Certification.
 
By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect.
 


SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: February 12, 2019
 
 
TORTOISE CAPITAL ADVISORS, L.L.C.
 
 
By:
 /s/  Diane Bono
   
Name:   Diane Bono
   
Title:   Managing Director and Chief Compliance Officer