Current volatility in commodity markets and uncertainty in equity and credit markets have created some speed bumps for master limited partnerships (MLPs) to overcome. Today’s market conditions and fierce competition for assets are testing the MLPs’ ability to fuel their growth without their customary silver bullet of regular accretive or single, transforming acquisitions.

Growth is the lifeblood of MLPs, and demonstrating dynamic growth is necessary to attract new capital. Recently, energy MLPs appear unable to find an available supply of accretive or single, large acquisitions, especially as companies become ever ...