Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 


 

(Mark One)

 

x      Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013

 

OR

 

o         Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from                             to                            

 

Commission file number 1-9356

 


 

Buckeye Partners, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware

 

23-2432497

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(IRS Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification number)

 

One Greenway Plaza

 

 

Suite 600

 

 

Houston, TX

 

77046

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (832) 615-8600

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on
which registered

Limited partner units representing limited partnership interests

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.  Yes o  No x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Date File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x  No o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer

x

 

Accelerated filer

o

Non-accelerated filer

o

 

Smaller reporting company

o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).   Yes o  No x

 

At June 30, 2013, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s limited partner units and Class B units held by non-affiliates was $7.4 billion. The calculation of such market value should not be construed as an admission or conclusion by the registrant that any person is in fact an affiliate of the registrant.

 

As of February 18, 2014, there were 115,222,148 limited partner units outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement being prepared for the solicitation of proxies in connection with the 2014 Annual Meeting of Limited Partners are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

PART I

Item 1.

Business

1

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

18

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

33

Item 2.

Properties

33

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

34

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

36

 

 

 

PART II

Item 5.

Market for the Registrant’s LP Units, Related Unitholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of LP Units

37

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

39

Item 7.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

40

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

58

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

62

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

127

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

127

Item 9B.

Other Information

127

 

 

 

PART III

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

128

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

128

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholder Matters

128

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence

128

Item 14.

Principal Accounting Fees and Services

128

 

 

 

PART IV

Item 15.

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

129

 



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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

The information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Report”) includes “forward-looking statements.”  All statements that express belief, expectation, estimates or intentions, as well as those that are not statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements.  Such statements use forward-looking words such as “proposed,” “anticipate,” “project,” “potential,” “could,” “should,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “believe,” “will,” “plan,” “seek,” “outlook” and other similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.  These statements discuss future expectations and contain projections.  Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in federal, state, local, and foreign laws or regulations to which we are subject, including those governing pipeline tariff rates and those that permit the treatment of us as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, (ii) terrorism, adverse weather conditions, including hurricanes, environmental releases and natural disasters, (iii) changes in the marketplace for our products or services, such as increased competition, better energy efficiency, or general reductions in demand, (iv) adverse regional, national, or international economic conditions, adverse capital market conditions, and adverse political developments, (v) shutdowns or interruptions at our pipeline, terminal, and storage assets or at the source points for the products we transport, store, or sell, (vi) unanticipated capital expenditures in connection with the construction, repair, or replacement of our assets, (vii) volatility in the price of refined petroleum products and the value of natural gas storage services, (viii) nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers, (ix) our ability to integrate acquired assets with our existing assets and to realize anticipated cost savings and other efficiencies and benefits, (x) our ability to successfully complete our organic growth projects and to realize the anticipated financial benefits, and (xi) an unfavorable outcome with respect to the proceedings pending before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) regarding Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P.’s transportation of jet fuel to the New York City airports.  These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements.  Other known or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on future results.  Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this document are qualified by these cautionary statements, and we cannot assure you that actual results or developments that we anticipate will be realized or, even if substantially realized, will have the expected consequences to or effect on us or our business or operations.  Also note that we provide additional cautionary discussion of risks and uncertainties under the captions “Risk Factors” and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this Report.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this Report speak only as of the date hereof.  Although the expectations in the forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date hereof.  Except as required by federal and state securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason.  All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this Report and in our future periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this Report may not occur.

 



Table of Contents

 

PART I

 

Item 1.                     Business

 

Introduction

 

The original Buckeye Pipe Line Company was founded in 1886 as part of the Standard Oil Company and became a publicly owned, independent company after the dissolution of Standard Oil in 1911.  Expansion into petroleum products transportation after World War II and subsequent acquisitions thereafter ultimately led to Buckeye Pipe Line Company becoming a leading independent common carrier pipeline.  In 1964, Buckeye Pipe Line Company was acquired by a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which later became the Penn Central Corporation.  In 1986, Buckeye Pipe Line Company was reorganized into a master limited partnership (“MLP”), Buckeye Partners, L.P. We are a publicly traded Delaware partnership, and our limited partnership units representing limited partner interests (“LP Units”) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “BPL.”  Buckeye GP LLC (“Buckeye GP”) is our general partner and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Buckeye GP Holdings L.P. (“BGH”), a Delaware limited partnership that was previously publicly traded on the NYSE prior to Buckeye’s merger with BGH (see Item 6 of this Report for further information).  Unless the context requires otherwise, references to “we,” “us,” “our,” the “Partnership” or “Buckeye” are intended to mean the business and operations of Buckeye Partners, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

We own and operate one of the largest independent liquid petroleum products pipeline systems in the United States in terms of volumes delivered, with approximately 6,000 miles of pipeline.  Buckeye also owns more than 120 liquid petroleum products terminals with aggregate storage capacity of over 110 million barrels.  In addition, we operate and/or maintain third-party pipelines under agreements with major oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical companies, and perform certain engineering and construction management services for third parties.  We also are a wholesale distributor of refined petroleum products in the United States in areas also served by our pipelines and terminals.  Beginning in late 2012, we began to provide fuel oil supply and distribution services to third parties in the Caribbean.  Our flagship marine terminal in The Bahamas, Bahamas Oil Refining Company International Limited (“BORCO”), is one of the largest marine crude oil and petroleum products storage facilities in the world, serving the international markets as a global logistics hub.

 

In December 2013, our Board of Directors approved a plan to divest the natural gas storage facility and related assets that our operating subsidiary, Lodi Gas Storage, L.L.C. (“Lodi Gas”), owns and operates in Northern California as we no longer believe this business is aligned with our long-term business strategy.  In this report, we refer to this group of assets as our Natural Gas Storage disposal group.  Accordingly, we have classified the disposal group as “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities held for sale” in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and reported the results of operations as discontinued operations for all periods presented in this report.  For additional information, see Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Business Strategy

 

Our primary business objective is to provide stable and sustainable cash distributions to our LP Unitholders, while maintaining a relatively low investment risk profile.  The key elements of our strategy are to:

 

·                  Operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner;

·                  Maximize utilization of our assets at the lowest cost per unit;

·                  Maintain stable long-term customer relationships;

·                  Optimize, expand and diversify our portfolio of energy assets through accretive acquisitions and organic growth projects; and

·                  Maintain a solid, conservative financial position and our investment-grade credit rating.

 

We intend to achieve our strategy by:

 

·                  Acquiring, building and operating high quality, strategically-located assets;

·                  Maintaining and enhancing the integrity of our pipelines, terminals and storage assets;

 

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·                  Pursuing strategic cash flow-accretive acquisitions that:

·                  Complement our existing footprint;

·                  Provide geographic, product and/or asset class diversity; and

·                  Leverage existing management capabilities and infrastructure;

·                  Pursuing other energy-related assets that enable us to leverage our asset base, knowledge base and skill sets; and

·                  Providing superior customer service.

 

Recent Developments

 

2013 Transactions

 

Acquisitions

 

In December 2013, we acquired certain wholesale distribution contracts and 20 liquid petroleum products terminals with total storage capacity of approximately 39 million barrels from Hess Corporation (“Hess”) for $856.4 million, net of cash acquired (the “Hess Terminals Acquisition”).  The 19 domestic terminals are located primarily in major metropolitan locations along the U.S. East Coast and have approximately 29 million barrels of aggregate liquid petroleum products storage capacity, including approximately 15 million barrels of capacity strategically located in New York Harbor.  These terminals have access to products supplied by marine vessels and barges as well as pipelines.  The terminal on St. Lucia in the Caribbean has approximately 10 million barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products storage capacity and has deep-water accessThis acquisition increases Buckeye’s total liquid petroleum storage capacity by approximately 53 percent to over 110 million barrels.  Concurrent with this acquisition, we entered into multi-year storage and throughput commitments with Hess.

 

In April 2013, our operating subsidiary, Buckeye Pipe Line Holdings, L.P. (“BPH”), purchased an additional 10% ownership interest in WesPac Pipelines — Memphis LLC (“WesPac Memphis”) from Kealine LLC for $9.7 million and, as a result of the acquisition, our ownership interest in WesPac Memphis increased from 70% to 80%.  Since BPH retains controlling interest in WesPac Memphis, this acquisition was accounted for as an equity transaction.

 

Notes Offerings

 

In November 2013, we issued an aggregate of $800 million of senior unsecured notes in an underwritten public offering, including $400 million of 2.650% Notes due November 15, 2018 (the “2.650% Notes”) and $400 million of 5.850% Notes due November 15, 2043 (the “5.850% Notes”), at 99.823% and 98.581%, respectively, of their principal amounts.  Total proceeds from this offering, after underwriting fees, expenses and debt issuance costs of $5.9 million, were $787.7 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of the Hess Terminals Acquisition and for general partnership purposes.

 

In June 2013, we issued $500 million of senior unsecured 4.150% Notes due July 1, 2023 (the “4.150% Notes”) in an underwritten public offering at 99.81% of their principal amount.  Total proceeds from this offering, after underwriting fees, expenses and debt issuance costs of $3.3 million, were $495.8 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering for general partnership purposes and to repay amounts due under our $1.25 billion revolving credit facility dated September 26, 2011 (the “Credit Facility”) with SunTrust Bank, a portion of which was subsequently reborrowed in July 2013 in order to repay in full the $300 million principal amount outstanding under the 4.625% Notes due on July 15, 2013 (the “4.625% Notes) and $6.9 million of related accrued interest.  We also settled all interest rate swaps relating to the 4.150% Notes for $62 million during June 2013.

 

Equity Offerings

 

In October 2013, we completed a public offering of 7.5 million LP Units pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, which priced at $62.61 per unit.  The underwriters also exercised an option to purchase 1.1 million additional LP Units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $540 million before deducting underwriting fees and offering expenses of $19.3 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility and to indirectly fund a portion of the purchase price for the Hess Terminals Acquisition.

 

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In January 2013, we completed a public offering of 6 million LP Units pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, which priced at $52.54 per unit.  The underwriters also exercised an option to purchase 0.9 million additional LP Units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $362.5 million before deducting underwriting fees and offering expenses of $13.3 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility.

 

Conversion of Class B Units

 

In September 2013, 8.5 million Class B Units representing limited partner interests in Buckeye, which represented all of our Class B Units outstanding as of September 1, 2013, converted into LP Units on a one-for-one basis.  The conversion was required by our partnership agreement and was triggered in connection with over 4 million barrels of incremental storage capacity being placed in service since acquisition at our BORCO facility effective September 1, 2013.  No Class B Units have been issued subsequent to that date, and as a result, there were no Class B Units outstanding at December 31, 2013.

 

At-the-Market Offering Program

 

In May 2013, we entered into four separate equity distribution agreements (each an “Equity Distribution Agreement” and collectively the “Equity Distribution Agreements”) with each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and UBS Securities LLC.  Under the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreements, we may offer and sell up to $300 million in aggregate gross sales proceeds of LP Units from time to time through such firms, acting as agents of the Partnership or as principals, subject in each case to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement.  Sales of LP Units, if any, may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices or as otherwise agreed with any of such firms.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold 0.5 million LP Units in aggregate under the Equity Distribution Agreements, received $33.1 million in net proceeds after deducting commissions and other related expenses, and paid $0.4 million of compensation in aggregate to the agents under the Equity Distribution Agreements.

 

Business Activities

 

The following discussion describes the business activities of our business segments, which include Pipelines & Terminals, Global Marine Terminals, Merchant Services, Development & Logistics and the discontinuation of the Natural Gas Storage segment.  In December 2013, we realigned our business segments to support the way our management views our business in light of recent growth through acquisitions.  We eliminated our previously reported International Operations and Energy Services segments and created the Global Marine Terminals and Merchant Services segments.  The new Global Marine Terminals segment includes our marine facilities that primarily facilitate global logistic product flows and feature segregated tankage, serve a similar international customer base and offer similar services, such as bulk storage and blending.  This segment includes our BORCO facility and Yabucoa terminal, the St. Lucia terminal acquired from Hess, and the New York Harbor storage and marine terminals, which consist of our legacy Perth Amboy terminal and the Port Reading and Raritan Bay terminals acquired from Hess.  Our Merchant Services segment centralizes all existing and new merchant activities to leverage common mid- and back-office support.  This segment includes the legacy Energy Services segment, the Caribbean fuel oil supply and distribution business and new merchant activities supporting the terminals recently acquired from Hess.  Our Development & Logistics segment remains unchanged.  Our Pipelines & Terminals segment remains unchanged, other than the removal of the Perth Amboy terminal.  Finally, we also eliminated the Natural Gas Storage segment because it has been classified as a discontinued operation.  We have adjusted our prior period segment information to conform to the current alignment of our continuing business and discontinued operations.

 

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The Pipelines & Terminals segment and the Merchant Services segment derive a nominal amount of their revenue from U.S. governmental agencies.  Otherwise, none of our business segments have contracts or subcontracts with the U.S. government.  All of our continuing operations and assets are conducted and located in the continental United States, except for our terminals located in Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, and The Bahamas and, from time to time, our Merchant Services segment sells fuel oil to third parties at various locations in the Caribbean.  Detailed financial information regarding revenue and total assets of each segment and major geographic area can be found in Note 26 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  The following table shows our consolidated revenue and each segment’s revenue and percentage of consolidated revenue for the periods indicated (revenue in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

Revenue

 

Percent

 

Revenue

 

Percent

 

Revenue

 

Percent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

786,759

 

15.6

%

$

709,341

 

16.6

%

$

631,289

 

13.4

%

Global Marine Terminals

 

252,270

 

5.0

%

218,180

 

5.1

%

193,960

 

4.1

%

Merchant Services(1)

 

3,990,575

 

79.0

%

3,339,241

 

77.9

%

3,888,961

 

82.9

%

Development & Logistics

 

59,247

 

1.2

%

50,211

 

1.2

%

43,068

 

0.9

%

Intersegment

 

(34,750

)

(0.8

)%

(31,070

)

(0.8

)%

(63,658

)

(1.3

)%

Total

 

$

5,054,101

 

100.0

%

$

4,285,903

 

100.0

%

$

4,693,620

 

100.0

%

 


(1)         Amounts for 2013 and 2012 include sales related to the fuel oil supply and distribution services in the Caribbean.

 

Pipelines & Terminals Segment

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment owns and operates approximately 6,000 miles of pipeline located primarily in the northeastern and upper midwestern portions of the United States and services approximately 110 delivery locations.  This segment transports liquid petroleum products, including gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil and kerosene, from major supply sources to terminals and airports located within end-use markets.  The pipelines within this segment also transport other refined petroleum products, such as propane and butane, refinery feedstock and blending components, as well as crude oil.  The segment also includes approximately 115 active terminals that provide bulk storage and throughput services with respect to liquid petroleum products and renewable fuels, including ethanol, and have an aggregate storage capacity of over 55 million barrels.  In addition, three of our terminals provide crude oil services, including train off-loading, storage and throughput.  Of our terminals in the Pipelines & Terminals segment, over half are connected to our pipelines.  We generally own the property on which the terminals are located with the exception of our terminal located in Albany, New York, which is primarily located on leased property.  The segment’s geographical diversity, connections to multiple sources of supply and extensive delivery system help create a stable base business.

 

Pipelines

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment’s pipelines conduct business without the benefit of exclusive franchises from government entities.  In addition, the Pipelines & Terminals segment generally operates as a common carrier, providing transportation services at posted tariffs and without long-term contracts.  Demand for the services provided by the Pipelines & Terminals segment derives from end-users’ demand for liquid petroleum products in the regions served and the ability and willingness of refiners and marketers to supply such demand by deliveries through our pipelines.  Factors affecting demand for liquid petroleum products include price and prevailing general economic conditions.  Demand for the services provided by the Pipelines & Terminals segment is, therefore, subject to a variety of factors partially or entirely beyond our control.  Typically, this segment receives liquid petroleum products from refineries, connecting pipelines, and bulk and marine terminals and transports those products to other locations for a fee.

 

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The following table presents product volumes transported and percentage of products transported by the pipelines in the Pipelines & Terminals segment for the periods indicated (barrels per day (“bpd”) in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline

 

717.8

 

50.3

%

701.9

 

50.6

%

668.1

 

49.2

%

Jet fuel

 

334.4

 

23.5

%

339.2

 

24.5

%

340.6

 

25.1

%

Middle distillates (1)

 

345.7

 

24.2

%

318.6

 

23.0

%

327.0

 

24.1

%

Other products (2)

 

28.5

 

2.0

%

25.9

 

1.9

%

22.4

 

1.6

%

Total pipelines throughput

 

1,426.4

 

100.0

%

1,385.6

 

100.0

%

1,358.1

 

100.0

%

 


(1)         Includes diesel fuel and heating oil.

(2)         Includes liquefied petroleum gas, intermediate petroleum products and crude oil.

 

We provide pipeline transportation services in the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.  The geographical location and description of these pipelines is as follows:

 

Pennsylvania—New York—New JerseyOur operating subsidiary Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P. (“Buckeye Pipe Line”) serves major population centers in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey through approximately 925 miles of pipeline.  Liquid petroleum products are received at Linden, New Jersey from 17 major source points, including two refineries, six connecting pipelines and nine storage and terminalling facilities. Products are then transported through two lines from Linden, New Jersey to Macungie, Pennsylvania.  From Macungie, the pipeline continues west through a connection with our operating subsidiary Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P. (“Laurel”) pipeline to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (serving Reading, Harrisburg, Altoona/Johnstown, Greensburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and north through eastern Pennsylvania into New York (serving Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and Binghamton, Syracuse, Utica, Rochester and, via a connecting carrier, Buffalo, New York).  We lease capacity in one of the pipelines extending from Pennsylvania to upstate New York to a major oil pipeline company.  Products received at Linden, New Jersey are also transported through one line to Newark Airport and through two additional lines to JFK Airport and LaGuardia Airport and to commercial liquid petroleum products terminals at Long Island City and Inwood, New York.  These pipelines supply JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Airport with substantially all of each airport’s jet fuel requirements.

 

Our operating subsidiary Buckeye Pipe Line Transportation LLC (“BPL Transportation”) pipeline system delivers liquid petroleum products from a refinery located in Paulsboro, New Jersey to destinations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York through approximately 500 miles of pipeline.  A portion of the pipeline system extends from Paulsboro, New Jersey to Malvern, Pennsylvania.  From Malvern, a pipeline segment delivers liquid petroleum products to locations in upstate New York, while another segment delivers products to central Pennsylvania.  Two shorter pipeline segments connect the Paulsboro refinery to the Colonial pipeline system and the Philadelphia International Airport, via a connecting carrier, respectively.

 

The Laurel pipeline system transports liquid petroleum products through a 350-mile pipeline extending westward from three refineries, a marine terminal and a connection to the Colonial pipeline system in the Philadelphia area to Reading, Harrisburg, Altoona/Johnstown, Greensburg and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

Illinois—Indiana—Michigan—Missouri—OhioBuckeye Pipe Line, BPL Transportation and our operating subsidiary NORCO Pipe Line Company, LLC (“NORCO”), a subsidiary of Buckeye Pipe Line Holdings, L.P. (“BPH”), transport liquid petroleum products through approximately 2,100 miles of pipeline in northern Illinois, central Indiana, eastern Michigan, western and northern Ohio, and western Pennsylvania. A number of receiving lines and delivery lines connect to a central corridor which runs from Lima, Ohio through Toledo, Ohio to Detroit, Michigan.  Liquid petroleum products are received at refineries and other pipeline connection points near Toledo and Lima, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; and East Chicago, Indiana. Major market areas served include Huntington/Fort Wayne, Indianapolis and South Bend, Indiana; Bay City, Detroit and Flint, Michigan; Cleveland, Columbus, Lima, Warren and Toledo, Ohio; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

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Our operating subsidiary Wood River Pipe Lines LLC (“Wood River”) owns liquid petroleum products pipelines with aggregate mileage of approximately 1,250 miles located in the Midwestern United States.  Liquid petroleum products are received from the Wood River refinery in the East St. Louis, Illinois area and transported to the Chicago area (the “Chicago Complex”), to our terminal in the St. Louis, Missouri area and to the Lambert-St. Louis Airport, to delivery points across Illinois and Indiana and to our pipeline in Lima, Ohio, and from the Chicago Complex to the Kankakee, Illinois area.

 

Other Liquid Petroleum Products PipelinesBuckeye Pipe Line serves Connecticut and Massachusetts through an approximately 100-mile pipeline that carries liquid petroleum products from New Haven, Connecticut to Hartford, Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts.  This pipeline also serves Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.  Also, BPL Transportation owns an approximately 650-mile refined product pipeline that originates in Dubuque, Iowa and runs southwest into Missouri and then northwest back into Iowa, serving the Sugar Creek, Missouri, and Council Bluffs and Des Moines, Iowa markets. BPL Transporation also has an approximately 125-mile pipeline that runs from Portland, Maine to Bangor, Maine.

 

Our operating subsidiary Everglades Pipe Line Company, L.P. (“Everglades”) transports primarily jet fuel through an approximately 40-mile pipeline from Port Everglades, Florida to Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport.  Everglades supplies Miami International Airport with substantially all of its jet fuel requirements.

 

Our operating subsidiary WesPac Pipelines — Reno LLC (“WesPac Reno”) owns an approximately 3-mile pipeline serving the Reno/Tahoe International Airport.  Our operating subsidiary WesPac Pipelines — San Diego LLC (“WesPac San Diego”) owns an approximately 4-mile pipeline serving the San Diego International Airport.  WesPac Pipelines — Memphis LLC (“WesPac Memphis”) owns an approximately 16-mile pipeline and a related terminal facility that primarily serves Federal Express Corporation at the Memphis International Airport.  WesPac Reno, WesPac San Diego and WesPac Memphis, collectively, have terminal facilities with aggregate storage capacity of 0.5 million barrels.  Each of WesPac Reno, WesPac San Diego and WesPac Memphis was originally created as a joint venture between BPH and Kealine LLC (“Kealine”).  BPH currently owns 100% of WesPac Reno and WesPac San Diego.  In September 2012 and April 2013, BPH purchased additional 20% and 10% ownership interests, respectively, in WesPac Memphis from Kealine, increasing our ownership interest in WesPac Memphis from 50% to 80%.  Each of these entities has been consolidated into our financial statements.

 

Terminals

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment’s terminals receive products from pipelines and, in certain cases, barges, ships or railroads, and distribute them to third parties, who in turn deliver them to end-users and retail outlets.  This segment’s terminals play a key role in moving products to the end-user market by providing efficient product receipt, storage and distribution capabilities, inventory management, ethanol and biodiesel blending, and other ancillary services that include the injection of various additives.  Typically, the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s terminal facilities consist of multiple storage tanks and are equipped with automated truck loading equipment that is available 24 hours a day.

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment’s terminals derive most of their revenues from various fees paid by customers.  A throughput fee is charged for receiving products into the terminal and delivering them to trucks, barges, ships or pipelines.  In addition to these throughput fees, revenues are generated by charging customers fees for blending with renewable fuels, injecting additives and leasing storage capacity to customers on either a short-term or long-term basis.  The terminals also derive revenue from recovering and selling vapors emitted during truck loading.

 

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The following table sets forth the total average daily throughput for terminals within the Pipelines & Terminals segment for the periods indicated (volume of bpd in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Products throughput (1)

 

975.1

 

916.7

 

756.0

 

 


(1)         Amounts for 2013, 2012 and 2011 include post-acquisition throughput volumes at terminals acquired from Hess, BP Products North America Inc. (“BP”) and ExxonMobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”) on December 11, 2013, June 1, 2011 and July 19, 2011, respectively.  The table also includes throughput at the five terminals owned by the Merchant Services segment and operated by the Pipelines & Terminals segment (as discussed below).

 

The following table sets forth the number of terminals and storage capacity in barrels by location for terminals reported in the Pipelines & Terminals segment (barrels in thousands):

 

 

 

Number of

 

Storage

 

Location 

 

Terminals (1)

 

Capacity

 

Alabama

 

2

 

605

 

California

 

3

 

530

 

Connecticut

 

2

 

1,212

 

Florida

 

4

 

1,951

 

Iowa

 

5

 

1,302

 

Illinois

 

8

 

2,977

 

Indiana

 

11

 

9,439

 

Kentucky

 

1

 

214

 

Louisiana

 

1

 

304

 

Maine

 

1

 

140

 

Maryland

 

1

 

3,232

 

Massachusetts

 

1

 

106

 

Michigan

 

13

 

5,370

 

Missouri

 

3

 

1,767

 

Nevada

 

1

 

50

 

New Jersey

 

4

 

6,161

 

New York

 

15

 

6,988

 

North Carolina

 

1

 

572

 

Ohio

 

14

 

4,003

 

Pennsylvania

 

11

 

2,536

 

South Carolina

 

4

 

2,191

 

Tennessee (2) 

 

1

 

328

 

Virginia

 

4

 

1,805

 

Wisconsin

 

4

 

1,228

 

 

 

115

 

55,011

 

 


(1)         This table includes five terminals in Pennsylvania with aggregate storage capacity of approximately 1 million barrels, which are owned by the Merchant Services segment and operated by the Pipelines & Terminals segment (as discussed below).

(2)         This represents the terminal facility owned by WesPac Memphis, which is 80% owned by BPH.

 

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Equity Investments

 

We own a 34.6% equity interest in West Shore Pipe Line Company (“West Shore”).  West Shore owns an approximately 650-mile pipeline system that originates in the Chicago, Illinois area and extends north to Green Bay, Wisconsin and west and then north to Madison, Wisconsin.  The pipeline system transports refined petroleum and crude products to markets in northern Illinois and Wisconsin. The other equity holders of West Shore are affiliated with major oil and gas companies.  Since January 1, 2009, we have operated the West Shore pipeline system on behalf of West Shore.

 

We also own a 40% equity interest in Muskegon Pipeline LLC (“Muskegon”).  Marathon Pipeline LLC is the majority owner and operator of Muskegon.  Muskegon owns an approximately 170-mile pipeline that delivers petroleum products from Griffith, Indiana to Muskegon, Michigan.

 

Additionally, we own a 25% equity interest in Transport4, LLC (“Transport4”).  Transport4 provides an internet-based shipper information system that allows its customers, including shippers, suppliers and tankage partners to access nominations, schedules, tickets, inventories, invoices and bulletins over a secure internet connection.

 

We also own a 50% equity interest in South Portland Terminal LLC (“South Portland”), which owns a terminal in South Portland, Maine that has approximately 725,000 barrels of storage capacity.

 

Global Marine Terminals Segment

 

The Global Marine Terminals segment provides marine terminal throughput services, marine bulk storage and other related services through six liquid petroleum product terminals located in The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia in the Caribbean and the New York Harbor in the continental United States.

 

The following table sets forth terminal locations and storage capacity in barrels for terminals reported in the Global Marine Terminals segment (barrels in thousands):

 

 

 

Number of

 

Storage

 

Location

 

Terminals

 

Capacity

 

Bahamas

 

1

 

26,113

 

Puerto Rico

 

1

 

4,624

 

New York Harbor

 

3

 

15,653

 

St. Lucia

 

1

 

10,261

 

Total

 

6

 

56,651

 

 

BORCO Facility

 

BORCO owns a terminal facility located along the Northwest Providence Channel of Grand Bahama Island, which it uses to operate a fully integrated terminalling business, and offers customers storage and ancillary services including, but not limited to, berthing, heating, transshipment, blending, treating and bunkering.  Ancillary services provided by BORCO facilitate customer activities within the tank farm and at the jetties.

 

BORCO’s terminal facility includes more than 80 aboveground storage tanks, which store crude oil, fuel oil and refined petroleum products.  The existing marine infrastructure of BORCO’s terminal facility consists of three deep-water jetties, which provide six deep-water berths and an inland dock with two berths that serve as the access points to the storage facilities.  Certain of these jetties are capable of handling both very large crude carriers (“VLCCs”) and ultra large crude carriers (“ULCCs”).

 

We own the 500 acres of property on which the BORCO terminal facility is located.  BORCO leases 330 acres of seabed on which the deep water jetties are located pursuant to a long-term agreement with the Bahamas Government that runs through 2057.  BORCO also leases the land on which the inland dock is located pursuant to a long-term agreement with the Freeport Harbour Company that runs through 2067.

 

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Yabucoa Terminal

 

The Yabucoa terminal sits on approximately 250 acres in the southeast of Puerto Rico and includes 44 storage tanks, which store gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, fuel oil and crude oil.  The facility provides terminalling services for the handling, blending and distribution of liquid petroleum products within the Puerto Rico market as well as residual fuel oil and petroleum distillate fuel for the local and regional Caribbean markets.  Access to the Yabucoa terminal is provided through one ship dock, which is leased from the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, two barge docks and an 8-bay truck rack.

 

New York Harbor Terminals

 

The New York Harbor storage and marine terminals, which consist of our legacy Perth Amboy terminal and the Port Reading and Raritan Bay terminals acquired from Hess, have the ability to provide a link between our inland pipelines and terminals and our BORCO facility, enabling our customers to take advantage of BORCO’s deep water access and ability to aggregate product.  The Perth Amboy Facility sits on approximately 250 acres on the Arthur Kill tidal strait in Perth Amboy, New Jersey — six miles from our Linden, New Jersey complex — and has water, pipeline, rail and truck access.  The Perth Amboy terminal includes 51 storage tanks and a dock of maximum 850-foot vessel length and three operational berths, each with articulated loading arms, allowing both ship and barge berthing.  The Port Reading and Raritan Bay terminals acquired as part of the Hess Terminals Acquisition have approximately 6 million and 5 million barrels of liquid petroleum products storage capacity, respectively.  These terminals extend Buckeye’s connectivity in New York Harbor by offering diverse storage capabilities that include terminalling services for gasoline, blendstocks, distillate and fuel oil.  The Port Reading terminal is located on 211 acres in Port Reading, New Jersey and includes 61 storage tanks, a deep-water dock of maximum 900-foot vessel length, and five operational berths, allowing for both ship and barge berthing.  In addition, the facility has bi-directional pipeline access, rail off-loading capabilities, and a six-bay driver-operated truck loading rack.  The Raritan Bay terminal is located on 62 acres on the Raritan River in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and includes 30 storage tanks, a barge dock of maximum 550-foot vessel length, and two operational berths.  The Raritan Bay facility also has bi-directional pipeline access and a six-bay driver-operated truck loading rack.  Additionally, the Port Reading and Raritan Bay terminals are New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) delivery locations for both gasoline and ultra low sulfur diesel.

 

St. Lucia Terminal

 

The St. Lucia terminal sits on approximately 700 acres on Cul de Sac Bay.  It has approximately 10 million barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products storage capacity, has deep-water access and improves our capabilities in the Caribbean storage market with more geographically diverse service offerings to allow us to accommodate a larger portion of the growing Latin American crude oil production volumes.

 

Merchant Services Segment

 

The Merchant Services segment is a wholesale distributor of refined petroleum products in the continental United States and in the Caribbean.  We increase the utilization of our existing pipeline and terminal assets by marketing refined petroleum products in certain areas served by our pipelines and terminals.  The segment’s customers consist principally of product wholesalers and major commercial users of refined petroleum products including gasoline, propane, ethanol, biodiesel and petroleum distillates such as heating oil, diesel fuel and kerosene.  The segment began to provide fuel oil supply and distribution services to third parties in the Caribbean beginning in late 2012.

 

The Merchant Services segment owns five terminals in Pennsylvania with aggregate storage capacity of approximately 1 million barrels, which are operated by the Pipelines & Terminals segment.  Each terminal is equipped with multiple storage tanks and automated truck loading equipment that is available 24 hours a day.  We also own the property on which the terminals are located.

 

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The following table sets forth the total gallons of refined petroleum products sold by the Merchant Services segment for the periods indicated (in millions of gallons):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Sales volumes (1)

 

1,371.5

 

1,125.9

 

1,337.8

 

 


(1)         Amounts for 2013 and 2012 include volumes related to fuel oil supply and distribution services which began in late 2012.

 

The Merchant Services segment’s operations are segregated into three categories based on the type of fuel delivered and the delivery method:

 

·                  Wholesale — liquid fuels and propane gas are delivered to distributors and large commercial customers.  These customers take delivery of the products using truck loading equipment at storage facilities;

·                  Wholesale Delivered — liquid fuels are delivered to commercial customers, construction companies, school districts and trucking companies through third party carriers; or via ship using our marine terminals.

·                  Branded Gasoline — gasoline and on-highway diesel fuel are delivered through third-party trucking companies to independently owned retail gas stations under many leading gasoline brands.

 

The operations of the Merchant Services segment expose us to commodity price risk. The commodity price risk is managed by entering into derivative instruments to offset the effect of commodity price fluctuations on the segment’s inventory and fixed price contracts.  The fair value of our derivative instruments is recorded in our consolidated balance sheet, with the change in fair value recorded in earnings.  The derivative instruments the Merchant Services segment uses consist primarily of futures contracts traded on the NYMEX for the purposes of managing our market price risk from holding physical inventory and entering into physical fixed-price contracts.  A majority of the futures contracts executed are designated as fair value hedges of our refined petroleum inventory.  The changes in fair value of the hedging instruments and hedged items are both recognized in cost of product sales.  However, hedge accounting has not been elected for all of the Merchant Services segment’s derivative instruments.  Fixed-price purchase and sales contracts are generally hedged with financial instruments; however, these instruments are not designated in a hedge relationship.  In the cases in which hedge accounting has not been used for physical derivative contracts, changes in the fair values of the financial instruments, which are included in revenue and cost of product sales, generally are offset by changes in the values of the physical derivative contracts which are also derivative instruments whose changes in value are recognized in product sales or cost of product sales.  In addition, hedge accounting has not been elected for financial instruments that have been executed to economically hedge a portion of the Merchant Services segment’s refined petroleum products held in inventory.  The changes in value of the financial instruments that are economically hedging inventory are recognized in cost of product sales.

 

Development & Logistics Segment

 

The Development & Logistics segment provides turn-key operations and maintenance, asset development and construction services for third-party pipeline and energy assets across the United States. This segment operates and/or maintains third-party pipelines under agreements with major oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical companies, which are located primarily in Texas and Louisiana.  This segment also performs pipeline construction management services, typically for cost plus a fixed fee, for these same customers as well as other energy companies in the United States.  The Development & Logistics segment includes our ownership and operation of two underground propane storage caverns in Huntington, Indiana and Tuscola, Illinois, with approximately 800,000 barrels of throughput and storage capability.  Additionally, this segment owns an approximate 63% interest in the Sabina crude butadiene pipeline, owns and operates a 30-mile ammonia pipeline and owns and operates approximately 25 miles of pipeline, which it leases to third parties, all located in Texas.

 

Third-party operations and construction management services are a key area of focus for the Development & Logistics segment.  The segment also operates as an asset and business development service provider for many of its operation and maintenance service customers.

 

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Discontinuation of Natural Gas Storage Segment

 

In December 2013, our Board of Directors approved a plan to divest our natural gas storage facility and related assets that our subsidiary, Lodi Gas, owns and operates in Northern California, as we no longer believe this business is aligned with our long-term business strategy.  The natural gas facility currently has approximately 30 billion cubic feet of working natural gas storage and is connected to Pacific Gas and Electric’s intrastate gas pipeline system that services natural gas demand in the San Francisco and Sacramento, California areas.  We classified the Natural Gas Storage disposal group as “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities held for sale” in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and reported the results of operations as discontinued operations for all periods presented in this report.  For additional information, see Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Competition and Customers

 

Competitive Strengths

 

We believe that we have the following competitive strengths:

 

·                  We operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner;

·                  We own and operate high quality assets that are strategically located;

·                  We have stable, long-term relationships with our customers;

·                  We own relatively predictable and stable fee-based businesses with opportunistic revenue generating capabilities that support distribution growth; and

·                  We maintain a conservative financial position with an investment-grade credit rating.

 

Pipelines & Terminals Segment

 

Generally, pipelines are the lowest cost method for long-haul overland movement of liquid petroleum products.  Therefore, the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s most significant competitors for large volume shipments are other pipelines, some of which are owned or controlled by major integrated oil and gas companies.  Although it is unlikely that a pipeline system comparable in size and scope to the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s pipeline systems will be built in the foreseeable future, new pipelines (including pipeline segments that connect with existing pipeline systems) could be built to effectively compete with the Pipelines & Terminals segment in particular locations.

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment competes with marine transportation in some areas.  Tankers and barges on the Great Lakes account for some of the volume to certain Michigan, Ohio and upstate New York locations during the approximately eight non-winter months of the year.  Barges are presently a competitive factor for deliveries to and within the New York City area, the Pittsburgh area and locations on the Ohio River, such as Cincinnati, Ohio and locations on the Mississippi River, such as St. Louis, Missouri.  Additionally, the South Portland and Bangor, Maine terminals, and the pipeline connecting these terminals, compete with regional barge-supplied terminals.

 

Trucks competitively deliver liquid petroleum products in a number of areas that the Pipelines & Terminals segment serves.  While their costs may not be competitive for longer hauls or large volume shipments, trucks compete effectively for smaller volumes in many local areas.  The availability of truck transportation places a significant competitive constraint on the ability of the Pipelines & Terminals segment to increase its tariff rates.

 

Privately arranged exchanges of liquid petroleum products between marketers in different locations are another form of competition.  Generally, such exchanges reduce both parties’ costs by eliminating or reducing transportation charges.  In addition, consolidation among refiners and marketers that has accelerated in recent years has altered distribution patterns, reducing demand for transportation services in some markets and increasing them in other markets.

 

The production and use of biofuels may be a competitive factor in that, to the extent the usage of biofuels increases, some alternative means of transport that compete with our pipelines may be able to provide transportation services for biofuels that our pipelines cannot because of safety or pipeline integrity issues.  In particular, railroads competitively deliver biofuels to a number of areas and, therefore, are a significant competitor of pipelines with respect to biofuels.  Biofuel usage may also create opportunities for additional pipeline transportation, if such biofuels can be transported through our pipeline, and additional blending opportunities within the segment, although that potential cannot be quantified at present.

 

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Distribution of liquid petroleum products depends to a large extent upon the location and capacity of refineries.  However, because the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s business is largely driven by the consumption of fuel in its delivery areas and the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s pipelines have numerous source points, we do not believe that the expansion or shutdown of any particular refinery is likely, in most instances, to have a material effect on the business of the Pipelines & Terminals segment.  As discussed in “Item 1A., Risk Factors”, a significant decline in production at the Wood River refinery, Paulsboro refinery or Lima refinery, or a fundamental change in the primary sources or supply of petroleum products to a region, could materially impact the business of the Pipelines & Terminals segment.

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment also generally competes with other terminals in the same geographic market.  Many competitive terminals are owned by major integrated oil and gas companies.  These major oil and gas companies may have the opportunity for product exchanges that are not available to the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s terminals.  While the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s terminal throughput fees are not regulated, they are subject to price competition from competitive terminals and alternate modes of transporting liquid petroleum products to end-users such as retail gasoline stations.

 

Global Marine Terminals Segment

 

Our Global Marine Terminals segment primarily competes with other marine terminals in the Caribbean, terminals in New York Harbor, and to a lesser extent, terminals on the Gulf Coast.  Many competitive terminals are owned by major integrated oil and gas companies, refiners and master limited partnerships.  Our terminal facilities on Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas and St. Lucia face competition from multiple proprietary or third-party terminal operators located elsewhere in the Caribbean region.  However, the geographical locations, deep drafts, storage capacity and ancillary service capabilities of the Buckeye facilities provide certain advantages to our customers for handling and storing products for export to other locations within the Caribbean, North and South America, Europe, and Asia.  Internal transfer pricing of certain regional facilities and discounted incentive storage and handling rates at independent third-party facilities supported by quasi national oil companies adds competition for handling of remaining product demand in certain areas.

 

Our facility in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico faces competition for residual fuel oil storage as a result of the method by which the local utility company, a significant fuel oil user, sources fuel for their power generation needs.  Additionally, competition exists for clean products storage and throughput because of other third-party terminals on the island that have geographical advantages over the Yabucoa facility.

 

Our Perth Amboy, Port Reading, and Raritan Bay facilities, located in the New York Harbor, generally compete with pipelines and terminals owned by major oil and gas companies and major pipeline and terminal operators in the same geographic market as our Pipelines & Terminals segment (as discussed above).

 

Merchant Services Segment

 

The Merchant Services segment competes with major integrated oil and gas companies, their marketing affiliates and independent gatherers, investment banks that have established trading platforms, master limited partnerships with marketing businesses, and brokers and marketers of widely varying sizes, financial resources and experience.  Some of these competitors have capital resources greater than the Merchant Services segment, and control greater supplies of petroleum products.

 

Development & Logistics Segment

 

The Development & Logistics segment competes with independent pipeline companies, engineering firms, major integrated oil and gas companies and chemical companies to operate and maintain logistic assets for third-party owners.  In addition, in some instances it can be either more cost-effective or strategic for certain companies to operate and maintain their own pipelines as opposed to contracting with the Development & Logistics segment to complete these tasks.  Numerous engineering and construction firms compete with the Development & Logistics segment for construction management business.

 

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Customers

 

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, no customer contributed 10% or more of our consolidated revenue.  In the Global Marine Terminals segment, storage revenue represented approximately 76% of BORCO’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013.  Currently, BORCO has a limited number of long-term storage customers, consisting of major oil companies, energy companies, physical traders and one national oil company.  For the year ended December 31, 2013, approximately 38% and 69% of BORCO’s storage revenue was derived from the top one and the top three customers, respectively.  We expect BORCO to continue to derive substantially all of its total revenue from a small number of customers in the future.

 

Seasonality

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment’s mix and volume of products transported and stored tends to vary seasonally.  Declines in demand for heating oil during the summer months are, to a certain extent, offset by increased demand for gasoline and jet fuel.  Overall, this segment’s business has been only moderately seasonal, with somewhat lower than average volumes being transported and stored during March, April and May and somewhat higher than average volumes being transported and stored in November, December and January.

 

The Global Marine Terminals segment’s mix and volume of products stored does not vary significantly by season.

 

The Merchant Services segment’s mix and volume of product sales tend to vary seasonally, with the fourth and first quarters’ volumes generally being higher than the second and third quarters, primarily due to the increased demand for home heating oil in the winter months.

 

The Pipelines & Terminals and Merchant Services segments both benefit from butane blending activities at our terminals during the winter months.  From mid-September through mid-March, we are able to blend butane into various grades of gasoline.

 

Employees

 

Except as noted below, we are managed and operated by employees of Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company (“Services Company”).  We reimburse Services Company for the cost of providing employee services pursuant to a services agreement.  At December 31, 2013, Services Company had approximately 1,270 employees, approximately 310 of whom were represented by labor unions.  Additionally, at December 31, 2013, certain of our wholly owned subsidiaries had approximately 350 employees, approximately 180 of whom are employed at our BORCO facility.  We have never experienced any work stoppages or other significant labor problems.

 

Regulation

 

General

 

We are subject to extensive laws and regulations and resulting regulatory oversight by numerous federal, state and local departments and agencies, many of which are authorized by statute to issue rules and regulations binding on the pipeline and natural gas storage industries, related businesses, and individual participants.  In some states, we are subject to the jurisdiction of public utility commissions and state corporation commissions, which have authority over, among other things, intrastate tariffs, the issuance of debt and equity securities, transfers of assets and safety.  The failure to comply with such laws and regulations can result in substantial penalties.  The regulatory burden on our operations increases our cost of doing business and, consequently, affects our profitability.  However, except for certain exemptions that apply to smaller companies, we do not believe that we are affected in a significantly different manner by these laws and regulations than are our competitors.

 

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Following is a discussion of certain laws and regulations affecting us.  However, you should not rely on such discussion as an exhaustive review of all regulatory considerations affecting our business and operations.

 

Rate Regulation

 

OverviewBuckeye Pipe Line, Wood River, BPL Transportation and NORCO operate pipelines subject to the regulatory jurisdiction of FERC under the Interstate Commerce Act, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Department of Energy Organization Act.  FERC regulations require that interstate oil pipeline rates be posted publicly and that these rates be “just and reasonable” and not unduly discriminatory.  FERC regulations also enforce common carrier obligations and specify a uniform system of accounts, among certain other obligations.

 

The generic oil pipeline regulations issued under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 rely primarily on an index methodology that allows a pipeline to change its rates in accordance with an index that FERC believes reflects cost changes appropriate for application to pipeline rates.  In December 2010, FERC amended its regulations to change the index to the Producer Price Index — finished goods (“PPI-FG”) plus 2.65% effective July 1, 2011.  Under FERC’s rules, as one alternative to indexed rates, a pipeline is also allowed to charge market-based rates if the pipeline establishes that it does not possess significant market power in a particular market.

 

The tariff rates of Wood River, BPL Transportation and NORCO are governed by the generic FERC index methodology, and therefore are subject to change annually according to the index.  If the index is negative in a future period, then Wood River, BPL Transportation and NORCO could be required to reduce their rates if they exceed the new maximum allowable rate.  Shippers may file protests against the application of the index to the rates of an individual pipeline and may also file complaints against indexed rates as being unjust and unreasonable, subject to the FERC’s standards.

 

Buckeye Pipe Line’s rates were historically governed by an exception to the rules discussed above, pursuant to a specific FERC authorization, although, as discussed below in detail, as a result of a FERC order issued in February 2013, Buckeye Pipe Line’s rates in markets that are not subject to market-based rate authority are now subject to the index rules discussed above that apply to all of the rates for Wood River, BPL Transportation and NORCO; Buckeye’s rates in markets subject to market-based rate authority can be set according to market forces rather than indexing.

 

BackgroundBuckeye Pipe Line’s market-based rate regulation program was initially approved by FERC in March 1991 and was subsequently extended in 1994.  Under this program, in markets where Buckeye Pipe Line did not have significant market power, individual rate increases: (a) would not exceed a real (i.e., exclusive of inflation) increase of 15% over any two-year period, and (b) would be allowed to become effective without suspension or investigation if they did not exceed a “trigger” equal to the change in the Gross Domestic Product implicit price deflator since the date on which the individual rate was last increased, plus 2%.  Individual rate decreases would be presumptively valid upon a showing that the proposed rate exceeds marginal costs.  In markets where Buckeye Pipe Line was found to have significant market power and in certain markets where no market power finding was made: (i) individual rate increases could not exceed the volume-weighted average rate increase in markets where Buckeye Pipe Line did not have significant market power since the date on which the individual rate was last increased, and (ii) any volume-weighted average rate decrease in markets where Buckeye Pipe Line did not have significant market power must have been accompanied by a corresponding decrease in all of Buckeye Pipe Line’s rates in markets where it did have significant market power.  Shippers retained the right to file complaints or protests following notice of a rate increase, but were required to show that the proposed rates would violate or were not adequately justified under the market-based rate regulation program, that the proposed rates were unduly discriminatory, or that Buckeye Pipe Line had acquired significant market power in markets previously found to be competitive.

 

Order Returning Buckeye Pipe Line Company to the Standard FERC Ratemaking Options.  The Buckeye Pipe Line program was subject to review by FERC in 2000 when FERC reviewed the index selected in the generic oil pipeline regulations.  FERC decided to continue the generic oil pipeline regulations with no material changes and did not modify or discontinue Buckeye Pipe Line’s program.  By order issued on March 30, 2012 in FERC Docket (“Dkt.”) No. IS12-185-000, FERC required Buckeye Pipe Line to show cause why its program should not be discontinued and other changes made to its rates and system of regulation.  On February 22, 2013, FERC issued an order in Dkt. No. IS12-185-000 et al. discontinuing the program, and affirming on rehearing its rejection of all rate increases filed in March 2012 (“Ratemaking Methodology Order”).  The Ratemaking Methodology Order permitted Buckeye to retain its currently-filed rates in place, to make future rate changes under market-based ratemaking authority in markets previously found to be competitive by FERC, and to make future changes in rates in other markets pursuant to the generic FERC ratemaking methods, which would include indexing.  No requests for rehearing or petitions for judicial review were filed with respect to the Ratemaking Methodology Order.  Subsequently, on March 28, 2013, Buckeye Pipe Line Company filed rate increases for services in the markets previously found to be competitive, and on May 30, 2013, Buckeye Pipe Line Company filed rate increases for most transportation services in the markets not previously found to be competitive; both sets of tariff filings became effective and are not subject to any FERC proceedings.

 

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Other types of rate regulation.  Laurel operates a pipeline in intrastate service across Pennsylvania, and its tariff rates are regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.  Wood River operates a pipeline providing some intrastate services in Illinois, and tariff rates related to this pipeline are regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

 

Environmental Regulation

 

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Although we believe that our operations comply in all material respects with applicable environmental laws and regulations, risks of substantial liabilities are inherent in pipeline and terminal operations, and we may incur material environmental liabilities in the future. Moreover, it is possible that other developments, such as increasingly rigorous environmental laws, regulations and enforcement policies, and claims for damages to property or injuries to persons resulting from our operations, could result in substantial costs and liabilities to us.  See “Item 3, Legal Proceedings.”  The following is a summary of the significant current environmental laws and regulations to which our business operations are subject and for which compliance may require material capital expenditures or have a material adverse impact on our results of operations or financial position.

 

The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”) amended certain provisions of the federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, commonly referred to as the Clean Water Act (“CWA”), and other statutes, as they pertain to the prevention of and response to petroleum product spills into navigable waters.  The OPA subjects owners of facilities to strict joint and several liability for all containment and clean-up costs and certain other damages arising from a spill. The CWA provides penalties for the discharge of petroleum products in reportable quantities and imposes substantial liability for the costs of removing a spill. State laws for the control of water pollution also provide varying civil and criminal penalties and liabilities in the case of releases of petroleum or its derivatives into surface waters or into the ground.

 

Contamination resulting from spills or releases of liquid petroleum products sometimes occurs in the petroleum pipeline and terminalling industry. Our pipelines cross, and certain terminals are located proximal to, numerous navigable rivers and streams.  Although we believe that we comply in all material respects with the spill prevention, control and countermeasure requirements of federal laws, any spill or other release of petroleum products into navigable waters may result in material costs and liabilities to us.

 

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”), as amended, establishes a comprehensive program of regulation of “hazardous wastes.”  Hazardous waste generators, transporters, and owners or operators of treatment, storage and disposal facilities must comply with regulations designed to ensure detailed tracking, handling and monitoring of these wastes.  RCRA also regulates the disposal of certain non-hazardous wastes.  As a result of these regulations, certain wastes typically generated by pipeline and terminal operations are considered “hazardous wastes”, “special wastes” or regulated solid waste.  Hazardous wastes are subject to more rigorous and costly disposal requirements than are non-hazardous wastes.  Changes in any of the RCRA regulations could have a material adverse effect on our maintenance capital expenditures and operating expenses.

 

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), also known as “Superfund,” governs the release or threat of release of a “hazardous substance.” Although CERCLA contains a “petroleum exclusion,” that provision generally applies only to unused product not contaminated by contact with other substances, and may exclude product recovered after a release, as well as contact water.  Releases of a hazardous substance, whether on or off-site, may subject the generator of that substance to joint and several liabilities under CERCLA for the costs of clean-up and other remedial action.  Pipeline and terminal maintenance and other activities in the ordinary course of business generate “hazardous substances.”  As a result, to the extent a hazardous substance generated by us or our predecessors may have been released or disposed of in the past, we may in the future be required to remediate contaminated property. Governmental authorities such as the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), and in some instances third parties, are authorized under CERCLA to seek to recover remediation and other costs from responsible persons, without regard to fault or the legality of the original disposal.  In addition to our potential liability as a generator of a “hazardous substance,” to the extent that our property or right-of-way is adjacent to or in the immediate vicinity of Superfund and other hazardous waste sites, we may be responsible under CERCLA for all or part of the costs required to cleanup such sites, which could be material.

 

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The Clean Air Act, amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (the “Amendments”), imposes controls on the emission of pollutants into the air.  The Amendments required states to develop facility-wide permitting programs to comply with a wide range of federal air pollution regulatory programs.  EPA has recently begun promulgating greenhouse gas (“GHG”) regulations and otherwise increasing its scrutiny of the oil and gas industry.  It is possible that new or more stringent controls will be imposed on us through these programs which could have a material adverse effect on our maintenance capital expenditures and operating expenses.  In addition, certain states and regions have adopted or are considering various GHG regulations which may add controls separate from or in conjunction with federal programs.

 

We are also subject to environmental laws and regulations adopted by the various states and territories in which we operate.  In certain instances, the regulatory standards adopted by the states and/or territories are more stringent than applicable federal laws.  In addition, our BORCO terminal in the Bahamas and our St. Lucia terminal are subject to the environmental regulatory programs applicable in those countries.  While these regulatory programs are today less stringent than in the United States, they have the potential to impose material liabilities on us, particularly in the event of a spill or other release, and if they are made more stringent in the future, we could be required to make significant capital expenditures to meet the new standards.

 

Pipeline and Terminal Maintenance and Safety Regulation

 

The pipelines we operate are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) and its agency, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”), under the Pipeline Safety Act (“PSA”).  In promulgating the PSA in 1994, Congress combined and re-codified, without substantial modification, the provisions of the two existing pipeline safety statutes: the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 and the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act of 1979.  Since the passage of these safety statutes, the resulting DOT regulations have been modified and strengthened by various Congressional actions including the Pipeline Safety Reauthorization Act of 1988, the Pipeline Safety Act of 1992, the Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996, the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act of 2006 and the most recent Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011.  These Acts and the resulting DOT regulations govern the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of pipeline facilities and require any entity that owns or operates pipeline facilities to comply with applicable safety standards, to establish and maintain plans for inspection and maintenance and to comply with such plans and programs.  Also governed by the Acts and related regulations are requirements for an integrity management program that among other things, requires the determination of pipeline integrity risk and periodic assessments of pipeline segments in High Consequent Areas (“HCAs”), a drug and alcohol testing program, an Operator Qualification program that ensures that persons performing tasks covered by the pipeline safety rules are qualified, a public education program for residents, public officials, emergency responders and contractors and a control room management plan that prescribes safety requirements for controllers, control rooms and the computer systems used to monitor and control pipeline operations.

 

We believe that we currently comply in all material respects with the pipeline safety laws and regulations. However, the industry, including us, will incur additional pipeline and tank integrity expenditures in the future, and we are likely to incur increased operating costs based on these and other government regulations.

 

The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty and Job Creation Act of 2011 (“PSA 2011”) was signed into law on January 3, 2012.  This law has a number of provisions that will either directly or potentially impact the oil and gas industry.  Among other things, PSA 2011 requires that PHMSA conduct a number of evaluations and studies and, based on the results, promulgate regulations to address possible expansion of the integrity management requirements to areas outside of HCAs; methods or processes to verify maximum operating pressure (MOP); changes to operators’ public education programs to increase outreach to the affected public; the technical limitations and practicality of requiring the use of leak detection systems and the standards relating thereto; and incidents that may have been caused by lack of adequate depth of cover at water crossings of 100 feet or more.  PSA 2011 also specifically requires PHMSA to establish time limits for reporting incidents to the National Response Center as well as coordination of notifications to state/local first responders and issue regulations to improve the current administrative enforcement process for pipeline operators.  PSA 2011 increases penalties for non-compliance with PHMSA regulations from a $100,000 to a $200,000 maximum for a single violation, and from a $1.0 million to a $2.0 million maximum for a series of violations.

 

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We are also subject to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable state statutes.  We believe that our operations comply in all material respects with OSHA requirements, including general industry standards, record-keeping and the training and monitoring of occupational exposures.

 

We cannot predict whether or in what form any new legislation or regulatory requirements might be enacted or adopted or the costs of compliance. In general, any such new regulations could increase operating costs and impose additional capital expenditure requirements, but we do not presently expect that such costs or capital expenditure requirements would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

 

Environmental Hazards and Insurance

 

Our business involves a variety of risks, including the risk of natural disasters, adverse weather, fire, explosions, and equipment failures, any of which could lead to environmental hazards such as petroleum product spills and other releases.  If any of these should occur, we could incur legal defense costs and environmental remediation costs, and could be required to pay amounts due to injury, loss of life, damage or destruction to property, natural resources and equipment, pollution or environmental damage, regulatory investigation and penalties and suspension of operations.

 

We are covered by site pollution incident legal liability insurance policies with per incident and aggregate limits of $100.0 million, subject to a maximum self-insured retention of $4.5 million.  The policies include coverage for sudden and accidental or gradual releases at our listed sites. The policies also include a contractor’s pollution coverage endorsement.  The insurance policies expire on September 30, 2014.  The policies insure (i) claims, remediation costs, and associated legal defense expenses for pollution conditions at, or migrating from, a covered location, and (ii) the transportation risks associated with moving waste from a covered location to any location for unloading or disposal.  The premises pollution liability policies contain exclusions, conditions, and limitations that could apply to a particular pollution claim, and may not cover all claims or liabilities we incur.

 

In addition to the site pollution incident legal liability insurance policies, we maintain casualty insurance policies with aggregate and per occurrence limits of $400 million.  The policies provide coverage for claims involving sudden and accidental releases up to $400 million.  Coverage under the casualty insurance is secondary to the site pollution incident legal liability policies for sudden and accidental releases.  The insurance policies expire on April 1, 2014.  The pollution coverage provided in the casualty insurance policies contains exclusions, definitions, conditions and limitations that could apply to a particular pollution claim, and may not cover all claims or liabilities we incur.

 

We generally are not entitled to seek indemnification from our contractual counterparties for any environmental damage caused by the release of products we store, throughput or transport for such counterparties. As discussed above, we maintain insurance policies that are designed to mitigate the risk that we may incur in connection with any such release of products from our facilities, and we believe that the policy limits under site pollution incident legal liability and casualty insurance policies are within the range that is customary for companies of our size that operate in our business segments and are appropriate for our business.

 

We attempt to reduce our exposure to third-party liability by requiring indemnification and access to third party insurance from our contractors or entities who require access to our facilities and our right-of-way. We have requirements for limits of insurance provided by third parties which we believe are in accordance with industry standards and proof of third-party insurance documentation is retained prior to commencement of work.

 

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We have written plans for responding to emergencies along our pipeline system and at our terminal facilities.  These plans which describe the organization, responsibilities and actions for responding to emergencies are reviewed annually and updated as necessary.  Our facilities are designed with product containment structures, and we maintain various additional oil containment and recovery equipment that would be deployed in the event of an emergency.  We are a member of ten oil spill cooperatives or mutual aid groups. We maintain more than 50 contract relationships with United States Coast Guard certified oil spill response organizations, spill response contractors and remediation management consultants.  In 2013, we have contracted with a third-party to provide enterprise-wide emergency spill response services for certain incidents, which includes the strategic staging of response equipment at BORCO, Yabucoa and St. Lucia Terminals.  This service contract provides access to over 100 additional local United States Coast Guard certified oil spill response organizations.  This further ensures access to spill response equipment (including boom, recovery pumps, response vehicles, response vessels and response trailers), monitoring and sampling equipment, personal protective equipment and technical expertise needed to respond to an emergency event.  We also perform spill response drills to review and exercise the response capabilities of our personnel, contractors and emergency management agencies.  Additionally, we have a Crisis Management Team within our organization to provide strategic direction, ensure availability of company resources and manage communications in the event of an emergency situation.

 

Available Information

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other documents with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at www.sec.gov.  We also make available free of charge our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such materials with, or furnishing such materials to, the SEC, on or through our Internet website, www.buckeye.com.  We are not including the information contained on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Report.

 

You can also find information about us at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 or at the NYSE’s Internet website, www.nyse.com.

 

Item 1A.            Risk Factors

 

There are many factors that may affect us and investments in us.  Security holders and potential investors in our securities should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below, as well as the discussion of other factors that could affect us or investments in us included elsewhere in this Report.  If one or more of these risks were to materialize, our business, financial position or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.  We are identifying these risk factors as important risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any written or oral forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf.

 

Risks Inherent in our Business

 

Changes in petroleum demand and distribution and weakness in the United States economy may adversely affect our business.

 

Demand for the services we provide depends upon the demand for the products we handle in the regions we serve and the supply of products in the regions connected to our pipelines or from which our customers source products handled by our terminals.  Prevailing economic conditions, refined petroleum product, fuel oil and crude oil price levels and weather affect the demand for liquid petroleum products.  Changes in transportation and travel patterns in the areas served by our pipelines also affect the demand for petroleum products because a substantial portion of the refined petroleum products transported by our pipelines and throughput at our terminals is ultimately used as fuel for motor vehicles and aircraft. If these factors result in a decline in demand for refined petroleum products, our business would be particularly susceptible to adverse effects because we operate without the benefit of either exclusive franchises from government entities or long-term contracts.

 

Recent increases in demand for the services we provide in the Caribbean has been driven by increases in crude oil production from Latin America, crude oil movements from South America to Asia, and Latin America demand for clean petroleum products from the United States and Europe.  Changes in these and other global patterns of supply and demand for fuel oil, crude oil and clean petroleum products could affect the demand for the services we provide in the Caribbean and the prices we can charge for those services.

 

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In recent years, the federal government has enacted renewable fuel or energy efficiency statutory mandates that may have the impact over time of reducing the demand for fuel oil or clean refined petroleum products, particularly with respect to gasoline, in certain markets.  Other legislative changes may similarly alter the expected demand and supply projections for refined petroleum products in ways that cannot be predicted.

 

Energy conservation, changing sources of supply, structural changes in the oil industry and new energy technologies also could adversely affect our business.  We cannot predict or control the effect of these factors on us.

 

Economic conditions worldwide have from time to time contributed to slowdowns in the oil and gas industry, as well as in the specific segments and markets in which we operate, resulting in reduced supply or demand and increased price competition for our products and services.  In addition, economic conditions could result in a loss of customers in our operating segments because their access to the capital necessary to purchase services we provide is limited.  Our operating results may also be affected by uncertain or changing economic conditions in certain regions of the United States.  If global economic and market conditions (including volatility in commodity markets) or economic conditions in the United States remain uncertain or persist, spread or deteriorate further, we may experience material impacts on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

A significant decline in production at certain refineries served by certain of our pipelines and terminals, or a fundamental change in the primary source of supply of petroleum products to a region, could materially reduce the volume of liquid petroleum products we transport and adversely impact our operating results.

 

Refineries that our pipelines and terminals service could partially or completely shut down their operations, temporarily or permanently, due to factors such as unscheduled maintenance, catastrophes, labor difficulties, environmental proceedings or other litigation, loss of significant downstream customers; or legislation or regulation that adversely impacts the economics of refinery operations.  For example, a significant decline in production at the Wood River refinery, Paulsboro refinery or Lima refinery could negatively impact the financial performance of such assets and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In addition, if there is a fundamental shift in the primary source of supply of petroleum products to a region our pipelines serve and our pipeline infrastructure in the region is not well-suited to serve the new primary source, the performance of such assets could be negatively impacted, and adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Competition could adversely affect our operating results.

 

Generally, pipelines are the lowest cost method for long-haul overland movement of liquid petroleum products. Therefore, the most significant competitors for large volume shipments in our Pipelines & Terminals segment are other existing pipelines, some of which are owned or controlled by major integrated oil companies.  In addition, new pipelines (including pipeline segments that connect with existing pipeline systems) could be built to effectively compete with us in particular locations.

 

Our Pipelines & Terminals segment competes with marine transportation in some areas.  Tankers and barges on the Great Lakes account for some of the volume to certain Michigan, Ohio and upstate New York locations during the approximately eight non-winter months of the year.  Barges are presently a competitive factor for deliveries to the New York City area, the Pittsburgh area, Connecticut and locations on the Ohio River such as Cincinnati, Ohio and locations on the Mississippi River, such as St. Louis, Missouri.  Additionally, our South Portland and Bangor, Maine terminals are mainly supplied by overseas ships from Canada and Europe.

 

Trucks competitively deliver liquid petroleum products in a number of areas that we serve.  While their costs may not be competitive for longer hauls or large volume shipments, trucks compete effectively for incremental and marginal volumes in many areas that we serve.  The availability of truck transportation places a significant competitive constraint on our ability to increase our tariff rates.

 

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Privately arranged exchanges of liquid petroleum products between marketers in different locations are another form of competition for our Pipelines & Terminals segment.  Generally, these exchanges reduce both parties’ costs by eliminating or reducing transportation charges.  In addition, consolidation among refiners and marketers, which has accelerated in recent years, has altered distribution patterns, reducing demand for transportation services in some markets and increasing them in other markets.

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment also generally competes with other terminals in the same geographic market.  Many competitive terminals are owned by major integrated oil and gas companies.  These major oil and gas companies may have the opportunity for product exchanges that are not available to the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s terminals.  While the Pipelines & Terminals segment’s terminal throughput fees are not regulated, they are subject to price competition from competitive terminals and alternate modes of delivering liquid petroleum products to end-users such as retail gasoline stations.

 

Our Global Marine Terminals segment primarily competes with other marine terminals in the Caribbean, terminals in New York Harbor, and to a lesser extent, terminals on the Gulf Coast.  Many competitive terminals are owned by major integrated oil and gas companies, refiners and master limited partnerships.  Although the Global Marine Terminals segment’s storage fees are not regulated, the segment is subject to price competition from competitive terminals.  Our Global Marine Terminals segment also competes with alternatives to terminal storage of crude oil and refined petroleum products, such as floating storage and lightering, which could reduce demand for our Caribbean terminal services.

 

Our Merchant Services segment buys and sells refined petroleum products in connection with its marketing activities, and must compete with major integrated oil companies, their marketing affiliates, and independent brokers and marketers of widely varying sizes, financial resources and experience. Some of these companies have superior access to capital resources, which could affect our ability to effectively compete with them.

 

All of these competitive pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

Mergers among our customers and competitors could result in lower volumes being shipped on our pipelines and stored in our terminals, thereby reducing the amount of cash we generate.

 

Mergers between existing customers could provide strong economic incentives for the combined entities to utilize their existing pipeline and terminal systems instead of ours.  As a result, we could lose some or all of the volumes and associated revenues from these customers, and we could experience difficulty in replacing those lost volumes and revenues.  Because most of our operating costs are fixed, a reduction in volumes would result in not only a reduction of revenues, but also a decline in Adjusted EBITDA (see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in Item 7 for a discussion of Adjusted EBITDA, which is our primary measure of performance), net income and cash flow of a similar magnitude, which would reduce our ability to meet our financial obligations and pay cash distributions.

 

We are a holding company and depend entirely on our operating subsidiaries’ distributions to service our debt obligations and pay cash distributions to our unitholders.

 

We are a holding company with no material operations.  If we do not receive cash distributions from our operating subsidiaries, we will not be able to meet our debt service obligations or to make cash distributions to our unitholders.  Among other things, this would adversely affect the market price of our LP Units.  We are currently bound by the terms of our Credit Facility, which prohibit us from making distributions to our unitholders if a default under the Credit Facility exists at the time of the distribution or would result from the distribution.  Approval from the Central Bank of the Bahamas will be required before BORCO can make distributions to us.  Our operating subsidiaries may from time to time incur additional indebtedness under agreements that contain restrictions which could further limit each operating subsidiary’s ability to make distributions to us.

 

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We may incur unknown and contingent liabilities from assets we have acquired.

 

Some of the assets we have acquired have been used for many years to distribute, store or transport petroleum products.  Releases from terminals or along pipeline rights-of-way may have occurred prior to our acquisition.  In addition, releases may have occurred in the past that have not yet been discovered, which could require costly future remediation.

 

We performed a certain level of diligence in connection with our acquisitions and attempted to ascertain the extent of liabilities that might be associated with an acquired facility, but there may be unknown and contingent liabilities related to our acquisitions of which we are unaware.

 

If a significant release or event occurred in the past at any of our acquired assets and we are responsible for all or a significant portion of the liability associated with such release or event, it could adversely affect our business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  We could be liable for unknown obligations relating to any of our acquired assets, for which indemnification is not available, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

 

If we incorrectly predict the future results of acquired operations or assets, we may not realize all of the benefits we expect from an acquisition.  We may make dispositions on terms that are less favorable than we anticipated.

 

Part of our business strategy includes making acquisitions and, when appropriate, dispositions.  In evaluating acquisitions and dispositions, we prepare one or more financial cases based on a number of business, industry, economic, legal, regulatory, and other assumptions applicable to the proposed transaction.  Although we expect a reasonable basis will exist for those assumptions, the assumptions typically involve current estimates of future conditions.  Many assumptions are beyond our control and may not materialize.  Because of the uncertainty and risk of inaccuracy associated with these assumptions, including financial projections, we may not realize the full benefits we anticipate from an acquisition, or we may encounter unanticipated difficulties locating buyers and securing favorable terms for dispositions, each of which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.  Dispositions may also involve continued financial involvement in the divested business, such as through continuing minority equity ownership, guarantees, indemnities or other financial obligations.  Under these arrangements, performance by the divested businesses or other conditions outside of our control could adversely affect our future financial results.

 

Potential future acquisitions and expansions, if any, may affect our business by substantially increasing the level of our indebtedness and contingent liabilities and increasing the risks of our being unable to effectively integrate these new operations.

 

From time to time, we evaluate and acquire assets and businesses that we believe complement our existing assets and businesses.  Acquisitions, including the integration of acquired assets into our existing business, may require substantial capital or the incurrence of substantial indebtedness. If we consummate any future acquisitions, our capitalization and results of operations may change significantly.

 

Acquisitions and business expansions involve numerous risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of the assets and operations of the acquired businesses, inefficiencies and difficulties that arise because of unfamiliarity with new assets and the businesses associated with them and new geographic areas and the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns.  Further, we may experience unanticipated delays in realizing the benefits of an acquisition or we may be unable to integrate certain assets we acquire as part of a larger acquisition to the extent such assets relate to a business for which we have no or limited experience.  Following an acquisition, we may discover previously unknown liabilities associated with the acquired business for which we have no recourse under applicable indemnification provisions.

 

Debt securities we issue are, and will continue to be, junior to claims of our operating subsidiaries’ creditors.

 

Our outstanding debt securities are structurally subordinated to the claims of our operating subsidiaries’ creditors. In addition, any debt securities we issue in the future will likewise be subordinated in the same manner.  Holders of the debt securities will not be creditors of our operating subsidiaries. Our claim to the assets of our operating subsidiaries derives from our own ownership interests in those operating subsidiaries. Claims of our operating subsidiaries’ creditors will generally have priority as to the assets of our operating subsidiaries over our own ownership interests and will therefore have priority over the holders of our debt, including our debt securities.

 

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Our rate structures are subject to regulation and change by FERC; required changes could be adverse.

 

Buckeye Pipe Line, Wood River, BPL Transportation and NORCO are interstate common carriers regulated by FERC under the Interstate Commerce Act, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the Department of Energy Organization Act.  FERC’s primary ratemaking methodology is indexing rates for inflation.  In the alternative, a pipeline is allowed to charge market-based rates if the pipeline establishes that it does not possess significant market power in a particular market.  A pipeline may also charge rates based on the agreement of all shippers receiving a service, which are referred to as settlement-based rates.

 

The indexing methodology has been and continues to be used to establish rates on the pipelines owned by Wood River, BPL Transportation and NORCO.  In December 2010, FERC amended its regulations to change the index to the Producer Price Index (“PPI”) — finished goods plus 2.65% effective July 1, 2011.  If the index were to be negative, we would be required to reduce the rates charged by Wood River, BPL Transportation and NORCO if they exceed the new maximum allowable rate.  In addition, changes in the PPI might not fully reflect actual increases in the costs associated with these pipelines, thus potentially hampering our ability to recover our costs by relying on the index.  Where circumstances justify it, FERC permits pipelines to use one of three alternatives to indexing—pipelines may seek to use market-based, cost-based, or settlement-based rates.

 

Until February 2013, Buckeye Pipe Line was authorized to charge rates under an exception to the rules generally applicable to oil pipelines.  In 1991, Buckeye Pipe Line sought and received FERC permission to determine rate changes on Buckeye Pipe Line’s pipeline system (the “Buckeye System”) using a unique methodology that constrained rates based on competitive pressures in markets that FERC found to be competitive, as well as certain other limits on rate increases in other markets on the Buckeye System (the “Buckeye Methodology”). FERC permitted the continuation of the Buckeye Methodology for the Buckeye System in 1994, subject to FERC’s authority to cause Buckeye Pipe Line to terminate the Buckeye Methodology in the future.  The Buckeye Methodology was an exception to the generic oil pipeline regulations that FERC issued under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (the “FERC Rules”), which rely primarily on the indexing methodology described above.

 

On March 1, 2012, Buckeye Pipe Line filed to increase its rates under the Buckeye Methodology.  On March 30, 2012, in response to a shipper protest, FERC issued an order (the “Show Cause Order”) in Docket No. IS 12-185-000 rejecting the rate increase and stating that FERC will review the continued efficacy of the Buckeye Methodology.  The Show Cause Order, among other things, stated that FERC would review the continued efficacy of the unique program and directed Buckeye Pipe Line to show cause why it should not be required to discontinue the program on the Buckeye System and avail itself of the generic ratemaking methodologies used by other oil pipelines.  The Show Cause Order did not impact any of the pipeline systems or terminals owned by Buckeye’s other operating subsidiaries.  On February 22, 2013, FERC issued an order in Docket (“Dkt.”) No. IS12-185-000 et al. discontinuing the Buckeye Methodology, and affirming on rehearing its rejection of all rate increases filed in March 2012 (“Ratemaking Methodology Order”).  The Ratemaking Methodology Order permitted Buckeye to retain its currently-filed rates in place, to make future rate changes under market-based ratemaking authority in markets previously found to be competitive by FERC, and to make future rate changes in other markets pursuant to the generic FERC ratemaking methods, which would include indexing.  Subsequently, on March 28, 2013, Buckeye Pipe Line filed rate increases for services in the markets previously found to be competitive, and on May 30, 2013, Buckeye Pipe Line filed rate increases for most transportation services in the markets not previously found to be competitive; both sets of tariff filings became effective and are not subject to any FERC proceedings.

 

On September 20, 2012, five airlines jointly filed a complaint in FERC Dkt. No. OR12-28-000 alleging that Buckeye Pipe Line’s rates for the transportation of jet fuel to the three major New York City area airports were unreasonable and should be reduced and should be subject to reparations for past shipments, and that the Buckeye Methodology should end with respect to that transportation; on October 10, 2012, Buckeye Pipe Line filed a motion to dismiss and answer opposing the complaint and its relief, and subsequent pleadings were filed by both the airlines and by Buckeye Pipe Line.  On October 15, 2012, Buckeye Pipe Line filed an application in FERC Dkt. No. OR13-3-000 for authority to charge market-based rates for transportation to destinations in the New York City-area markets (the “Application”), because Buckeye Pipe Line lacked significant market power.  On December 14, 2012, five airlines intervened and filed comments in opposition to the application in Dkt. No. OR13-3-000.  On February 22, 2013, FERC issued an order setting the airline complaint in Dkt. No. OR12-28-000 for hearing, but holding the hearing in abeyance and setting the dispute for settlement procedures before a settlement judge.  If FERC were to find these challenged rates to be in excess of costs and not otherwise protected by law, it could order Buckeye Pipe Line to reduce these rates prospectively and could order repayment to the complaining airlines of any past charges found to be in excess of just and reasonable levels for up to two years prior to the filing date of the complaint.  On February 28, 2013, FERC also issued an order setting the Application for hearing, holding the hearing in abeyance and setting the dispute for settlement procedures before a settlement judge.  If FERC were to approve the Application, Buckeye Pipe Line would be permitted prospectively to set these rates in response to competitive forces, and the basis for the airlines’ claim for relief in their OR12-28-000 complaint as to Buckeye Pipe Line’s future rates would be irrelevant prospectively.  On March 8, 2013, an order was issued consolidating, for settlement purposes, the complaint proceeding in Dkt. No. OR12-28-000 with the proceeding regarding the Application for market-based rates in the New York City market in Dkt. No. OR13-3-000 and settlement discussions under the supervision of the FERC settlement judge are ongoing.  The timing or outcome of final resolution of this matter cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

 

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In addition to the risks described above, at any time shippers on any of our FERC-regulated pipelines have the right to challenge the application of the index to a pipeline’s rates or the underlying rates themselves as being unjust and unreasonable, subject to the FERC’s cost-of-service standards.  Such shipper challenges may seek adjustments to our rates prospectively and, subject to limitations, for certain past periods.  If a significant shipper challenge were to result in an outcome that is unfavorable to us, our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows could be adversely impacted.

 

Climate change legislation or regulations restricting emissions of “greenhouse gases” or setting fuel economy or air quality standards could result in increased operating costs or reduced demand for the liquid petroleum products, natural gas and other hydrocarbon products that we transport, store or otherwise handle in connection with our business.

 

In recent years, federal authorities such as the EPA and various state regulatory bodies have increasingly sought to regulate emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other “greenhouse gases” (“GHG”).  Such regulation has targeted emissions from large industrial sources, such as factories, refineries and other manufacturing facilities, and for increasingly large classes of motor vehicles.

 

While most of these currently effective regulations have not had a material effect on our operations, expansions of the existing regulations or any future laws or regulations that may be adopted to address GHG emissions could require us to incur additional costs to reduce emissions of GHG associated with our operations. The effect on our operations could include increased costs to operate and maintain our facilities, measure and report our emissions, install new emission controls on our facilities, acquire allowances to authorize our GHG emissions, pay any taxes related to our greenhouse gas emissions and administer and manage a GHG emissions program. While we may be able to include some or all of such increased costs in the rates we charge, such recovery of costs is uncertain and may depend on events beyond our control, including the outcome of future rate proceedings before the FERC and the provisions of any final regulations. In addition, laws or regulations regarding fuel economy, air quality or GHG gas emissions (for motor vehicles or otherwise) could include efficiency requirements or other methods of curbing carbon emissions that could adversely affect demand for the liquid petroleum products, natural gas and other hydrocarbon products that we transport, store or otherwise handle in connection with our business. A significant decrease in demand for petroleum products would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Environmental regulation may impose significant costs and liabilities on us.

 

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. Risks of substantial environmental liabilities are inherent in our operations, and we cannot assure you that we will not incur material environmental liabilities.  Additionally, our costs could increase significantly, and we could face substantial liabilities, if, among other developments:

 

·                  environmental laws, regulations and enforcement policies become more rigorous; or

·                  claims for property damage or personal injury resulting from our operations are filed.

 

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Existing or future state or federal government regulations relating to certain chemicals or additives in gasoline or diesel fuel could require capital expenditures or result in lower pipeline volumes and thereby adversely affect our results of operations and cash flows.

 

Changes made to governmental regulations governing the components of liquid petroleum products may necessitate changes to our pipelines and terminals which may require significant capital expenditures or result in lower pipeline volumes.  For instance, the increasing use of ethanol as a fuel additive, which is blended with gasoline at product terminals, may lead to reduced pipeline volumes and revenue which may not be totally offset by increased terminal blending fees we may receive at our terminals.

 

DOT and state-level regulations may impose significant costs and liabilities on us.

 

Our pipeline operations and natural gas storage operations are subject to regulation by the DOT and by some of the states in which we do business.  Certain states, particularly California, have been reviewing pipeline safety regulations and increasing inspections and audits.  These regulations require, among other things, that pipeline operators engage in a regular program of pipeline integrity testing to assess, evaluate, repair and validate the integrity of their pipelines, which, in the event of a leak or failure, could affect populated areas, unusually sensitive environmental areas or commercially navigable waterways.  In response to these regulations, we conduct pipeline integrity tests on an ongoing and regular basis.  Depending on the results of these integrity tests, we could incur significant and unexpected capital and operating expenditures, not accounted for in anticipated capital or operating budgets, in order to repair such pipelines to ensure their continued safe and reliable operation.  In addition, any new regulations that are the result of PSA 2011 may affect our operations.

 

Our BORCO and St. Lucia operations may be adversely affected by economic, political and regulatory developments.

 

BORCO’s terminal facility and the St. Lucia terminal are located in The Bahamas and St. Lucia, respectively.  As a result, we are exposed to the risks of international operations, including political, economic and regulatory developments and changes in laws or policies affecting our terminal operations, as well as changes in the policies of the United States affecting trade, taxation and investment in other countries.  Any such developments or changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flow.

 

Compliance with laws and regulations that apply to our Caribbean operations increases the cost of doing business and could interfere with our ability to offer services or expose us to fines and penalties.  These numerous laws and regulations include the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and local laws prohibiting corrupt payments to government officials or agents.  Although policies designed to fully ensure compliance with these laws are in place, employees, contractors, or agents may violate the policies.  Any such violations could include prohibitions on our ability to offer services in the Caribbean and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial results and cash flow.

 

Our results could be adversely affected by volatility in the price of refined petroleum products.

 

The Merchant Services segment buys and sells refined petroleum products in connection with its marketing activities.  If the values of refined petroleum products change in a direction or manner that we do not anticipate, we could experience financial losses from these activities.  Furthermore, when refined petroleum product prices increase rapidly and dramatically, we may be unable to promptly pass our additional costs to our customers, resulting in lower margins for us which could adversely affect our results of operations.  Factors that could cause significant increases or decreases in commodity prices include changes in supply due to production constraints, weather, governmental regulations, and changes in consumer demand.  It is our practice to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between commodity purchases, on the one hand, and expected commodity sales or future delivery obligations, on the other hand. Through these transactions, we seek to establish a margin for the commodity purchased by selling the same commodity for physical delivery to third-party users, such as wholesalers or retailers.  While our hedging policies are designed to minimize commodity price risk, some degree of exposure to unforeseen fluctuations in market conditions remains.  For example, any event that disrupts our anticipated physical supply could expose us to risk of loss resulting from price changes if we are required to obtain alternative supplies to cover these sales transactions.  In addition, we are also exposed to basis risks in our hedging activities that arise when a commodity, such as ultra low sulfur diesel, is purchased at one pricing index but must be hedged against another commodity type, such as heating oil, because of limitations in the markets for derivative products.  We are also susceptible to basis risk created when we enter into financial hedges that are priced at a certain location, such as New York Harbor, but the sales or exchanges of the underlying commodity are at another location, such as Macungie, Pennsylvania, where prices and price changes might differ from the prices and price changes at the location upon which the hedging instrument is based.

 

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A substantial amount of the petroleum products handled by BORCO are exported from Venezuela, which exposes us to political risks.

 

A substantial portion of BORCO’s revenue relates to petroleum products exported from Venezuela.  This involvement with products exported from Venezuela exposes BORCO to significant risks, including potential political and economic instability and trade restrictions and economic embargoes imposed by the United States and other countries.

 

BORCO depends on a limited number of customers for substantially all of its revenue, and the loss of any of them could adversely affect our results of operations and cash flow.

 

Storage revenue represented 76% of BORCO’s total revenue for the year ended December 31, 2013. Currently, BORCO has a limited number of long-term storage customers, consisting of major oil companies, energy companies, physical traders and one national oil company.  For the year ended December 31, 2013, 38% and 69% of BORCO’s storage revenue was derived from the top one and the top three customers, in aggregate, respectively.  We expect BORCO to continue to derive substantially all of its total revenue from a small number of customers in the future.  BORCO may be unsuccessful in renewing its storage contracts with its customers, and those customers may discontinue or reduce contracted storage from BORCO.  If any of BORCO’s customers, in particular its top three customers, significantly reduces its contracted storage with BORCO and if BORCO is unable to find other storage customers on terms substantially similar to the terms under BORCO’s existing storage contracts, our business, results of operations and cash flow could be adversely affected.

 

Terrorist attacks or other security threats could adversely affect our business.

 

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States government has issued warnings that energy assets, specifically our nation’s pipeline infrastructure, may be the future target of terrorist organizations.  In addition to the threat of terrors attacks, we face various other security threats, including cyber security threats to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or to render data or systems unusable; threats to the safety of our employees; threats to the security of our facilities, such as terminals and pipelines, and infrastructure or third-party facilities and infrastructure.  These developments have subjected our operations to increased risks.

 

Although we utilize various procedures and controls to monitor these threats and mitigate our exposure to security threats, there can be no assurance that these procedures and controls will be sufficient in preventing security threats from materializing. If any of these events were to materialize, they could lead to losses of sensitive information, critical infrastructure, personnel or capabilities, essential to our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.  Cyber security attacks in particular are evolving and include but are not limited to, malicious software, attempts to gain unauthorized access to, or otherwise disrupt, our pipeline control systems, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in critical systems, including our pipeline control systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information and corruption of data. These events could damage our reputation and lead to financial losses from remedial actions, loss of business or potential liability.

 

During 2007, the Department of Homeland Security promulgated the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (“CFATS”) to regulate the security of facilities that handle certain chemicals.  We have submitted to the Department of Homeland Security certain required information concerning our facilities in compliance with CFATS and, as a result, several of our facilities have been determined to be initially tiered as “high risk” by the Department of Homeland Security.  Due to this determination, we are required to prepare a security vulnerability assessment and possibly develop and implement site security plans required by CFATS.  The Department of Homeland Security began a concerted effort to enforce and further define the CFATS program in 2013, which we expect to continue.  At this time, we do not believe that compliance with CFATS will have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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In addition to CFATS, our domestic operations are also subject to other laws and regulations promulgated and enforced by other components of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation.  Our operations in the Bahamas and in St. Lucia are subject to similar security-related regulations.  We believe that we currently comply in all material respects with security-related laws and regulations.  However, this is an area of continued regulatory developments for our industry and as such, we may incur increased operating costs based on developments associated with these regulations and ongoing compliance.  At this time, we do not believe that future compliance with these requirements will have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

We could be adversely affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws.

 

Our international operations require us to comply with a number of U.S. and international laws and regulations, including those involving anti-bribery and anti-corruption.  For example, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar international laws and regulations prohibit improper payments to foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business.  The scope and enforcement of anti-corruption laws and regulations may vary.

 

We operate in parts of the world that have experienced governmental corruption to some degree and, in certain circumstances, strict compliance with anti-bribery laws may conflict with local customs and practices.  Our compliance programs and internal control policies and procedures may not always protect us from reckless or negligent acts committed by our employees or agents.  Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our business and operations.

 

Derivative reform mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act and rules and regulations under the Act may have an adverse effect on our ability to use certain derivative instruments to reduce the effect of commodity price, interest rate and other risks associated with our business.

 

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated and to be promulgated under the Act may have an adverse effect on our ability to use certain derivative instruments to reduce the effect of commodity price, interest rate and other risks associated with our business.  The Act mandates significant changes to the over-the-counter derivative market.  Among other changes, the Act and the regulations under the Act will:

 

·                    require the clearing and exchange trading of certain derivatives;

·                    require dealers and major participants to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission or the Securities Exchange Commission or both, and require them to comply with capital, business conduct, reporting and recordkeeping requirements;

·                    subject certain derivative transactions to margin requirements;

·                    establish position limits for certain derivatives; and

·                    require certain financial institutions to spin-off portions of their derivatives business.

 

The rulemaking process under the Act has not been completed, and the timeframes for compliance with rules under the Act that are effective remains uncertain.  Consequently, it is not possible at this time to determine the full effect that the Act and the rules and regulations adopted under the Act will have on our ability to continue to use the derivative products we currently utilize.  As a result of the imposition of capital, clearing and exchange-trading requirements, the Act and the rules and regulations under the Act may limit the availability of certain derivative products and/or may increase the costs of such products.  Additionally, the margin requirements applicable to certain derivative products may increase, resulting in such products becoming more expensive or uneconomical for us to use in our business.  Any requirement to post more collateral to our counterparties in excess of what we currently post to collateralize our obligations may have a negative impact upon our liquidity.  Position limits may be imposed upon certain derivative transactions, which may further restrict our ability to utilize these products.  To the extent that our dealer counterparties are required to spin-off their derivatives activities to a separate entity, that new entity may not be as creditworthy as the current dealer counterparty and, as a result, we may have to increase our exposure to less creditworthy counterparties or curtail our dealings with that counterparty.  The effects of the Act and the rules and regulations under the Act may also reduce our ability to monetize or restructure our existing derivative contracts.  If, as a result of the Act and the rules and regulations under the Act, we reduce our use of certain derivatives, our results of operations may become more volatile and our cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect our ability to plan for and fund capital expenditures.  Any of these consequences could have a material adverse effect on us, our financial condition, and our results of operations.  To the extent that we currently utilize exchange traded futures in our business, we do not anticipate that those products will be affected by the provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations under the Act described above.

 

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Our business is exposed to customer credit risk, and we may not be able to fully protect ourselves against such risk.

 

Our businesses are subject to the risks of nonpayment and nonperformance by our customers.  We manage our exposure to credit risk through credit analysis and monitoring procedures, and sometimes use letters of credit, prepayments and guarantees.  However, these procedures and policies cannot fully eliminate customer credit risk, and to the extent our policies and procedures prove to be inadequate, it could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, some of our customers, counterparties and suppliers may be highly leveraged and subject to their own operating and regulatory risks and, even if our credit review and analysis mechanisms work properly, we may experience financial losses in our dealings with such parties.  Volatility in commodity prices might have an impact on many of our customers, which in turn could have a negative impact on their ability to meet their obligations to us.

 

The marketing business in our Merchant Services segment enters into sales contracts pursuant to which customers agree to buy refined petroleum products from us at a fixed price on a future date.  If our customers have not hedged their exposure to reductions in refined petroleum product prices and there is a price drop, then they could have a significant loss upon settlement of their fixed-price contracts with us, which could increase the risk of their nonpayment or nonperformance.  In addition, we generally have entered into futures contracts to hedge our exposure under these fixed-price contracts to increases in refined petroleum product prices.  If price levels are lower at settlement than when we entered into these futures contracts, then we will be required to make payments upon the settlement thereof.  Ordinarily, this settlement payment is offset by the payment received from the customer pursuant to the associated fixed-price contract.  We are, however, required to make the settlement payment under the futures contract even if a fixed-price contract customer does not perform.  Nonperformance under fixed-price contracts by a significant number of our customers could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

Our operations are subject to operational hazards and unforeseen interruptions for which we may not be insured or entitled to indemnification.

 

Our operations are subject to operational hazards and unforeseen interruptions such as natural disasters, adverse weather, accidents, fires, explosions, hazardous materials releases and other events beyond our control.  These events might result in a loss of equipment or life, injury, or extensive property damage, as well as an interruption in our operations.  Our operations are currently covered by property, casualty, workers’ compensation and environmental insurance policies.  In the future, however, we may not be able to maintain or obtain insurance of the type and amount desired at reasonable rates.  As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain insurance policies have increased substantially, and could escalate further.  In some instances, certain insurance could become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage.  For example, insurance carriers are now requiring broad exclusions for losses due to war risk and terrorist acts.  Further, our environmental pollution coverage is subject to exclusions, conditions and limitations that could apply to a particular pollution claim or may not cover all claims or liabilities we incur. The contracts with our customers and other business partners involve risk-allocation and indemnification provisions. However, pursuant to these contracts we generally may not seek indemnification from a counterparty for liabilities, including those associated with the release of petroleum products, arising at a time in which we are in possession of the product owned by the counterparty.  If we were to incur a significant liability for which we were not fully insured, or insured at all, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation or cash flows.

 

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Hurricanes and other severe weather conditions, which may become more frequent as a result of climactic changes, could damage our facilities or disrupt our marine terminals or the operations of their customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial results and cash flow.

 

The operations of our facilities, in particular our marine terminals, could be impacted by severe weather conditions, including hurricanes.  Any such event could cause a serious business disruption or serious damage to our facilities, which could affect such facilities’ ability to provide services.  Additionally, such events could impact our facilities’ customers, and they may be unable to utilize our services.  In addition, many scientists believe that global climatic changes are occurring and are likely to lead to increased physical risks, including an increase in sea level, wetland and barrier island erosion, risks of flooding and changes in weather conditions, such as precipitation, average temperatures and extreme weather conditions or storms.  We own assets in communities that may be at risk from sea level rise, changes in weather conditions, storms and loss of the protection offered by coastal wetlands.  The portion of our assets that is located in these areas may be increasingly susceptible to storm damage that could be aggravated by wetland and barrier island erosion.  Existing weather-related risks and increased risks from additional future climate changes could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation or cash flows.

 

Increases in interest rates could adversely affect our unit price and our business.

 

Interest rates on future debt offerings could be higher than current levels, causing our financing costs to increase accordingly.  An increase in interest rates could also cause a corresponding decline in demand for equity investments, in general, and in particular for yield-based equity investments such as our LP Units.  Lower demand for our LP Units for any reason, including competition from other more attractive investment opportunities, would likely cause the trading price of our LP Units to decline.  If we issue additional equity at a significantly lower price, material dilution to our existing unitholders could result.

 

Additionally, we use both fixed and variable rate debt, and we are exposed to market risk due to the floating interest rates on our credit facility.  From time to time we use interest rate derivatives to hedge interest obligations on specific debt.  In addition, interest rates on future debt offerings could be higher, causing our financing costs to increase accordingly.  Our results of operations, cash flows and financial position could be adversely affected by significant increases in interest rates above current levels.

 

Our risk management policies cannot eliminate all commodity price risk and any noncompliance with our risk management policies could result in significant financial losses.

 

Our Merchant Services segment follow risk management practices that are designed to minimize commodity price risk, credit risk and operational risk.  These practices and policies cannot, however, eliminate all price and price-related risks.  Additionally, noncompliance with such practices and policies by our employees or agents may create additional risk.  We cannot make any assurances that we will detect and prevent all violations of our risk management practices and policies, particularly if deception or other intentional misconduct is involved. Any violations of these practices or policies by our employees or agents could result in significant financial losses.

 

Risks Relating to Partnership Structure

 

We may sell additional units, diluting existing interests of unitholders.

 

Our partnership agreement allows us to issue additional units and certain other equity securities without unitholder approval.  There is no limit on the total number of units and other equity securities we may issue.  When we issue additional units or other equity securities, the proportionate partnership interest of our existing unitholders will decrease.  The issuance could negatively affect the amount of cash distributed to unitholders and the market price of the units.  Issuance of additional units will also diminish the relative voting strength of the previously outstanding LP Units.

 

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Our partnership agreement limits the liability of our general partner and its directors and officers.

 

Our general partner and its directors and officers owe fiduciary duties to our unitholders.  Provisions of our partnership agreement and partnership agreements for each of our operating partnerships, however, contain language limiting the liability of the general partner and its directors and officers to the unitholders for actions or omissions taken in good faith which do not involve gross negligence or willful misconduct.  In addition, these partnership agreements grant broad rights of indemnification to the general partner and its directors, officers, employees and affiliates.

 

Unitholders may not have limited liability in some circumstances.

 

The limitations on the liability of holders of limited partnership interests for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in some states.  If it were determined that we had been conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership statute, or that the unitholders as a group took any action pursuant to our partnership agreement that constituted participation in the “control” of our business, then the unitholders could be held liable under some circumstances for our obligations to the same extent as a general partner.

 

Under applicable state law, our general partner has unlimited liability for our obligations, including our debts and environmental liabilities, if any, except for our contractual obligations that are expressly made without recourse to the general partner.

 

In addition, Section 17-607 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act provides that under some circumstances a unitholder may be liable to us for the amount of distributions paid to the unitholder for a period of three years from the date of the distribution.

 

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Tax Risks to Unitholders

 

Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, as well as our not being subject to a material amount of entity-level taxation by individual states.  If the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) were to treat us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, or we become subject to entity-level taxation for state tax purposes, our cash available for distribution to you would be substantially reduced.

 

The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in our LP Units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

Despite the fact that we are organized as a limited partnership under Delaware law, we would be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless we satisfy a “qualifying income” requirement.  Based upon our current operations, we believe we satisfy the qualifying income requirement.  Failing to meet the qualifying income requirement or a change in current law could cause us to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to taxation.

 

If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%.  Distributions to you would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses or deductions would flow through to you.  Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for distribution to you would be substantially reduced.  Therefore, treatment of us as a corporation would result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to holders of our LP Units, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our LP Units.

 

At the state level, several states have been evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation.  If any state were to impose a tax upon us as an entity, the cash available for distribution to you would be reduced and the value of our LP Units could be negatively impacted.

 

The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our LP Units could be subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative changes or differing interpretations, possibly applied on a retroactive basis.

 

The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our LP Units may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial changes or differing interpretations at any time. For example, from time to time, members of Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. One such legislative proposal would have eliminated our ability to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes based on the qualifying income requirement. We are unable to predict whether any of these changes, or other proposals, will be reintroduced or will ultimately be enacted. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our LP Units. Any modification to U.S. federal income tax laws may be applied retroactively and could make it more difficult or impossible for us to meet the qualifying income requirement to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

If the IRS were to contest the federal income tax positions we take, it may adversely impact the market for our LP Units, and the costs of any such contest would reduce cash available for distribution to you.

 

We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.  The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the positions we take.  It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of the positions we take.  A court may not agree with some or all of the positions we take.  Any contest with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for our LP Units and the price at which they trade.  Moreover, the costs of any contest between us and the IRS will result in a reduction in cash available for distribution to our unitholders and thus will be borne indirectly by our unitholders.

 

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Even if you do not receive any cash distributions from us, you will be required to pay taxes on your share of our taxable income.

 

You will be required to pay federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes, on your share of our taxable income, whether or not you receive cash distributions from us. You may not receive cash distributions from us equal to your share of our taxable income or even equal to the actual tax due from you with respect to that income.

 

Tax gain or loss on disposition of our LP Units could be more or less than expected.

 

If you sell your LP Units, you will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and your tax basis in those LP Units.  Because distributions in excess of your allocable share of our net taxable income decrease your tax basis in your LP Units, the amount, if any, of such prior excess distributions with respect to the LP Units you sell will, in effect, become taxable income to you if you sell such LP Units at a price greater than your tax basis in those LP Units, even if the price you receive is less than your original cost.  Furthermore, a substantial portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be taxed as ordinary income due to potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture.  In addition, because your amount realized includes your share of our nonrecourse liabilities, if you sell your LP Units, you may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash you receive from the sale.

 

Tax-exempt entities and non-U.S. persons face unique tax issues from owning our LP Units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.

 

Investment in LP Units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them.  For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them.  Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be subject to withholding taxes imposed at the highest effective tax rate applicable to such non-U.S. persons, and each non-U.S. person will be required to file United States federal tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income.  If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should consult your tax advisor before investing in our LP Units.

 

We treat each purchaser of LP Units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the LP Units actually purchased.  The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of the LP Units.

 

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of LP Units and because of other reasons, we have adopted depreciation and amortization positions that may not conform to all aspects of existing U.S. Treasury Regulations.  A successful IRS challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to you.  It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from your sale of LP Units and could have a negative impact on the value of our LP Units or result in audit adjustments to your tax returns.

 

We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of our LP Units each month based upon the ownership of our LP Units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular LP Unit is transferred.  The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.

 

We prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of our LP Units each month based upon the ownership of our LP Units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular LP Unit is transferred.  The use of this proration method may not be permitted under existing U.S. Treasury Regulations.  The U.S. Treasury Department has issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which publicly traded partnerships may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders.  Nonetheless, the proposed regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted.  If the IRS were to challenge our proration method or new Treasury Regulations were issued, we may be required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.

 

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A unitholder whose LP Units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of LP Units) may be considered to have disposed of those LP Units.  If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those LP Units during the period of the loan and could recognize gain or loss from the disposition.

 

Because there are no specific rules governing the federal income tax consequences of loaning a partnership interest, a unitholder whose LP Units are the subject of a securities loan may be considered to have disposed of the loaned LP Units.  In that case, the unitholder may no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those LP Units during the period of the loan to the short seller and the unitholder may recognize gain or loss from such disposition.  Moreover, during the period of the loan, any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those LP Units may not be reportable by the unitholder and any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those LP Units could be fully taxable as ordinary income.  Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a securities loan are urged to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their LP Units.

 

The sale or exchange of 50% or more of our capital and profits interests during any twelve-month period will result in the termination of our partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

We will be considered to have terminated for U.S. federal income tax purposes if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period.  Our termination would, among other things, result in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders, which would result in us filing two tax returns for one calendar year and could result in a significant deferral of depreciation deductions allowable in computing our taxable income.  In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may also result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in taxable income for the unitholder’s taxable year that includes our termination. Our termination would not affect our classification as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, but it would result in our being treated as a new partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes following the termination.  If we were treated as a new partnership, we would be required to make new tax elections and could be subject to penalties if we were unable to determine that a termination occurred.  The IRS recently announced a relief procedure whereby if a publicly traded partnership that has technically terminated requests and the IRS grants special relief, among other things, the partnership may be permitted to provide only a single Schedule K-1 to unitholders for the two short tax periods included in the year in which the termination occurs.

 

You will likely be subject to state and local taxes and income tax return filing requirements in jurisdictions where you do not live as a result of investing in our LP Units.

 

In addition to U.S. federal income taxes, you may be subject to other taxes, including non-U.S., state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or own property now or in the future, even if you do not live in any of those jurisdictions.  You will likely be required to file non-U.S., state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of these various jurisdictions.  Further, you may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements.  We own property and conduct business in a number of states in the United States.  Most of these states impose an income tax on individuals, corporations and other entities.  Additionally, we also own property and conduct business in Puerto Rico, The Bahamas and in St. Lucia.  Under current law, you are not required to file a tax return or pay taxes in these jurisdictions.  As we make acquisitions or expand our business, we may own assets or conduct business in additional states or non-U.S. jurisdictions that impose a personal income tax.  It is a unitholder’s responsibility to file all non-U.S., federal, state and local tax returns.

 

We have a subsidiary that is treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes and subject to corporate-level income taxes.

 

We conduct a portion of our operations through a subsidiary that is a corporation for federal income tax purposes.  We may elect to conduct additional operations in corporate form in the future.  The corporate subsidiary will be subject to corporate-level tax, which will reduce the cash available for distribution to us and, in turn, to our unitholders.  If the IRS were to successfully assert that the corporate subsidiary has more tax liability than we anticipate or legislation was enacted that increased the corporate tax rate, our cash available for distribution would be further reduced.

 

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Our operations in The Bahamas and St. Lucia are currently exempt from taxation.  In addition, our operations in Puerto Rico are currently partially exempt from taxation.  If our tax status in these non-U.S. jurisdictions were to change, such that we have more tax liability than we anticipate, our cash flow could be materially adversely affected.

 

BORCO is currently exempt from income and property tax in The Bahamas pursuant to concessions granted under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement between the Government of the Bahamas and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.  BORCO’s exemption from Bahamian taxation pursuant to the Hawksbill Creek Agreement is scheduled to expire in 2015.  While we anticipate that the Bahamian governmental authorities will extend the concessions under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement, if the Bahamian governmental authorities do not extend the concessions or BORCO’s tax status in The Bahamas were to otherwise change, such that BORCO has more tax liability than we anticipate, our cash flow could be materially adversely affected.

 

We are currently exempt from income taxes and duties in St. Lucia pursuant to concessions granted under the terms of our Tax Concession Agreement effective in 2007 and in effect for a minimum of 50 years.  If our tax status in St. Lucia were to change, such that our operations have more tax liability than we anticipate, our cash flow could be materially adversely affected.

 

We are subject to income taxes within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in 2002, we were granted partial exemption under the Tax Incentives Act of 1998 (the “Act”).  Under the current terms of the grant, we are subject to an income tax rate of 4% to 7% on industrial development income.  The grant also provides additional exemptions as follows: (i) 90% exempt from real and personal property taxes, (ii) 60% exempt from municipal taxes on industrial development income, and (iii) 100% exempt from excise taxes imposed under Subtitle C of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, to the extent provided in Section 6(c) of the Act.  This favorable tax rate is scheduled to expire in 2022.  If our exemptions under the Act are not extended upon expiration or our tax status in Puerto Rico were to otherwise change, such that our operations have more tax liability than we anticipate, our cash flow could be materially adversely affected.

 

Item 1B.            Unresolved Staff Comments

 

None.

 

Item 2.                     Properties

 

We are managed primarily from two leased commercial business offices located in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania and Houston, Texas that are approximately 75,000 and 64,000 square feet in size, respectively.

 

In general, our pipelines are located on land owned by others pursuant to rights granted under easements, leases, licenses and permits from railroads, utilities, governmental entities and private parties.  Like other pipelines, certain of our rights are revocable at the election of the grantor or are subject to renewal at various intervals, and some require periodic payments.  We have not experienced any revocations or lapses of such rights which were material to our business or operations, and we have no reason to expect any such revocation or lapse in the foreseeable future. Most delivery points, pumping stations and terminal facilities are located on land that we own.  BORCO currently leases the seabed on which the jetties are located and the inland dock under long-term agreements through 2057 and 2067, respectively.

 

See “Item 1, Business” for a description of the location and general character of our material property.

 

We believe that we have sufficient title to our material assets and properties, possess all material authorizations and revocable consents from state and local governmental and regulatory authorities and have all other material rights necessary to conduct our business substantially in accordance with past practice.  Although in certain cases our title to assets and properties or our other rights, including our rights to occupy the land of others under easements, leases, licenses and permits, may be subject to encumbrances, restrictions and other imperfections, we do not expect any of such imperfections to materially detract from the value of such assets or properties or interfere materially with the conduct of our businesses.

 

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Item 3.                     Legal Proceedings

 

In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various claims and legal proceedings, some of which are covered by insurance. We are generally unable to predict the timing or outcome of these claims and proceedings.  Based upon our evaluation of existing claims and proceedings and the probability of losses relating to such contingencies, we have accrued certain amounts relating to such claims and proceedings, none of which are considered material.

 

On May 25, 2012, a ship allided with a jetty at our BORCO facility while berthing, causing damage to portions of the jetty.  Buckeye has insurance to cover this loss, subject to a $5 million deductible.  On May 26, 2012, we commenced legal proceedings in The Bahamas against the vessel’s owner and the vessel to obtain security for the cost of repairs and other losses incurred as a result of the incident.  Full security for our claim has been provided by the vessel owner’s insurers, reserving all of their defenses.  We also have notified the customer on whose behalf the vessel was at the BORCO facility that we intend to hold them responsible for all damages and losses resulting from the incident pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the parties.  Any disputes between us and our customer on this matter are subject to arbitration in Houston, Texas.  The vessel owner has claimed that it is entitled to limit its liability to approximately $17 million, but we are contesting the right of the vessel owner to such limitation.  A hearing in the Bahamas court on the vessel owner’s right to limit its liability was held on July 23, 2013, and the court of first instance denied the vessel owner the right to limit its liability for the incident, leaving the vessel owner responsible for all provable damages.  The vessel interests have appealed that decision and the appeal is scheduled to be heard March 27, 2014.  We experienced no material interruption of service at the BORCO facility as a result of the incident, and the repairs of the damaged sections are complete.  The aggregate cost to repair and reconstruct the damaged portions of the jetty was approximately $25 million.  We recorded a loss on disposal due to the assets destroyed in the incident and other related costs incurred; however, since we believe recovery of our losses is probable, we recorded a corresponding receivable.  As of December 31, 2013, we had a $5 million receivable included in “Other non-current assets” in our consolidated balance sheet, representing reimbursement of the deductible.  Additionally, we have received cash proceeds of $15.3 million related to insurance reimbursements as of December 31, 2013, and to the extent the aggregate proceeds from the recovery of our losses is in excess of the carrying value of the destroyed assets or other costs incurred, we will recognize a gain when such proceeds are received and are not refundable.  As of December 31, 2013, no gain had been recognized; however, we recorded a $12.7 million deferred gain in “Accrued and other current liabilities” in our consolidated balance sheet, representing excess proceeds received over the loss on disposal and other costs incurred.

 

On December 3, 2012, a complaint was filed in the Circuit Court for Washington County, Wisconsin by Chad Altschafl, et al., as plaintiffs, naming Buckeye, Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company (“Services Company”), BPH, Buckeye Pipe Line, West Shore, and Zurich American Insurance Co. as defendants, which complaint was amended by the plaintiffs on April 18, 2013, August 1, 2013 and again on September 23, 2013.  The plaintiffs are owners of 216 properties located in and around Jackson, Wisconsin.  The complaint attempts to allege various emotional distress and property damage claims under Wisconsin law arising out of a release of gasoline from a pipeline owned by West Shore in the Town of Jackson, Wisconsin on July 17, 2012.  On January 21, 2013, we filed an answer to the complaint, denying plaintiffs claims and asserting affirmative defenses.  No dollar amount of damages is stated in the complaint, but the plaintiffs seek damages to reimburse them for, among other things, alleged costs of restoring their properties, of installing a permanent supply of potable water, and the alleged diminution in value of their properties.  The plaintiffs also seek punitive damages.  Pursuant to the scheduling order entered in the case, a trial is scheduled to begin in August 2015, but the timing or outcome of final resolution of this matter cannot reasonably be determined at this time.  Buckeye, Services Company, BPH and Buckeye Pipe Line are entitled to certain indemnifications by West Shore pursuant to an agreement between Buckeye Pipe Line and West Shore, which we believe would result in West Shore indemnifying us for any losses stemming from this litigation.  In addition, West Shore has insurance that we believe should cover such losses, subject to a $3.0 million deductible.  West Shore is pursuing that insurance coverage.

 

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Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) Proceedings

 

FERC Docket No. OR12-28-000 — Airlines Complaint against Buckeye Pipe Line New York City Jet Fuel Rates. On September 20, 2012, a complaint was filed with FERC by Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United/Continental Air Lines, and US Airways challenging Buckeye Pipe Line’s rates for transportation of jet fuel from New Jersey to three New York City airports.  The complaint was not directed at Buckeye Pipe Line’s rates for service to other destinations, and does not involve pipeline systems and terminals owned by Buckeye’s other operating subsidiaries.  The complaint challenges these jet fuel transportation rates as generating revenues in excess of costs and thus being “unjust and unreasonable” under the Interstate Commerce Act.  On October 10, 2012, Buckeye Pipe Line filed its answer to the complaint, contending that the airlines’ allegations are based on inappropriate adjustments to the pipeline’s costs and revenues, and that, in any event, any revenue recovery by Buckeye Pipe Line in excess of costs would be irrelevant because Buckeye Pipe Line’s rates are set under a FERC-approved program that ties rates to competitive levels.  Buckeye Pipe Line also sought dismissal of the complaint to the extent it seeks to challenge the portion of Buckeye Pipe Line’s rates that were deemed just and reasonable, or “grandfathered,” under Section 1803 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.  Buckeye Pipe Line further contested the airlines’ ability to seek relief as to past charges where the rates are lawful under Buckeye Pipe Line’s FERC-approved rate program.  On October 25, 2012, the complainants filed their answer to Buckeye Pipe Line’s motion to dismiss and answer.  On November 9, 2012, Buckeye Pipe Line filed a response addressing newly raised arguments in the complainants’ October 25th answer.  On February 22, 2013, FERC issued an order setting the airline complaint in Dkt. No. OR12-28-000 for hearing, but holding the hearing in abeyance and setting the dispute for settlement procedures before a settlement judge.  If FERC were to find these challenged rates to be in excess of costs and not otherwise protected by law, it could order Buckeye Pipe Line to reduce these rates prospectively and could order repayment to the complaining airlines of any past charges found to be in excess of just and reasonable levels for up to two years prior to the filing date of the complaint. Buckeye Pipe Line intends to vigorously defend its rates.  On March 8, 2013, an order was issued consolidating, for settlement purposes, this complaint proceeding with the proceeding regarding Buckeye Pipe Line’s application for market-based rates in the New York City market in Dkt. No. OR13-3-000 (discussed below), and settlement discussions under the supervision of the FERC settlement judge are ongoing.  The timing or outcome of final resolution of this matter cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

 

FERC Docket No. OR13-3-000 — Buckeye Pipe Line’s Market-Based Rate Application. On October 15, 2012, Buckeye Pipe Line filed an application with FERC seeking authority to charge market-based rates for deliveries of liquid petroleum products to the New York City-area market (the “Application”).  In the Application, Buckeye Pipe Line seeks to charge market-based rates from its three origin points in northeastern New Jersey to its five destinations on its Long Island System, including deliveries of jet fuel to the Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK airports.  The jet fuel rates were also the subject of the airlines’ OR12-28-000 complaint discussed above.  On December 14, 2012, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United/Continental Air Lines, and US Airways filed a joint intervention and protest challenging the Application and requesting its rejection.  On January 14, 2013, Buckeye Pipe Line filed its answer to the protest and requested summary disposition as to those non-jet-fuel rates that were not challenged in the protest.  On January 29, 2013, the protestants responded to Buckeye Pipe Line’s answer, and on February 13, 2013, Buckeye Pipe Line filed a further answer to the protestants’ January 29, 2013 pleading.  On February 28, 2013, FERC issued an order setting the Application for hearing, holding the hearing in abeyance and setting the dispute for settlement procedures before a settlement judge.  As discussed above, the Application has been consolidated with the complaint proceeding in Dkt. No. OR12-28-000 for settlement purposes and settlement discussions under the supervision of the FERC settlement judge are ongoing.  If FERC were to approve the Application, Buckeye Pipe Line would be permitted prospectively to set these rates in response to competitive forces, and the basis for the airlines’ claim for relief in their OR12-28-000 complaint as to Buckeye Pipe Line’s future rates would be irrelevant prospectively.  The timing or outcome of FERC’s review of the Application cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

 

Environmental Proceedings

 

In May 2013, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”) issued a proposed Consent Assessment of Civil Penalty related to a March 2011 release of diesel fuel that occurred in Shippingport Borough, Pennsylvania, which included a $0.2 million proposed penalty.  We are in discussions with PADEP regarding the circumstances of the release and the appropriate amount of the penalty.  The timing or outcome of this matter cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

 

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In May 2013, the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a proposed penalty totaling $0.4 million in connection with a product release that occurred in Linden, New Jersey in May 2010. We contested portions of the proposed penalty and in early February 2014 PHMSA issued a final order agreeing in part and required that we pay a reduced penalty amount of $0.3 million.

 

In September 2012, the Attorney General of the State of Illinois filed a complaint under the caption the People of the State of Illinois, et al v. Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P. (“BPLC”), et al. in connection with an alleged release of jet fuel on or about August 27, 2012, from a pipeline owned by West Shore Pipe Line Company and operated by BPLC in Palos Park, Illinois. In December 2013, the consent order was entered by the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois with the aggregate penalty amount for both West Shore and BPLC marginally exceeding $0.1 million.

 

Item 4.                     Mine Safety Disclosures

 

Not applicable.

 

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PART II

 

Item 5.                     Market for the Registrant’s Units, Related Unitholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Units

 

Our LP Units are listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “BPL.”  The high and low sales prices of our LP Units during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, as reported in the NYSE Composite Transactions, were as follows:

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Quarter

 

High

 

Low

 

High

 

Low

 

First

 

$

61.32

 

$

45.72

 

$

64.95

 

$

58.50

 

Second

 

70.50

 

58.33

 

61.37

 

44.55

 

Third

 

73.44

 

64.19

 

54.68

 

47.06

 

Fourth

 

72.47

 

62.00

 

50.91

 

44.37

 

 

The following graph compares the total unitholder return performance of our LP Units with the performance of (i) the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index (“S&P 500”) and (ii) the Alerian MLP index.  The Alerian MLP Index is a composite of the 50 most prominent energy master limited partnerships that provides investors with a comprehensive benchmark for this asset class.  The graph assumes that $100 was invested in our LP Units and each comparison index beginning on December 31, 2008 and that all distributions or dividends were reinvested on a quarterly basis.

 

 

 

 

12/31/2008

 

12/31/2009

 

12/31/2010

 

12/31/2011

 

12/31/2012

 

12/31/2013

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

$

100.00

 

$

183.29

 

$

239.43

 

$

244.35

 

$

187.66

 

$

313.56

 

S&P 500

 

100.00

 

126.46

 

145.51

 

148.59

 

172.37

 

228.19

 

Alerian MLP Index

 

100.00

 

176.41

 

239.66

 

272.92

 

286.01

 

364.90

 

 

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We have gathered tax information from our known unitholders and from brokers/nominees and, based on the information collected, we estimate our number of beneficial unitholders to be approximately 159,538 at December 31, 2013.

 

Cash distributions paid to LP Unitholders for the periods indicated were as follows:

 

Record Date

 

Payment Date

 

Amount Per
LP Unit

 

February 21, 2011

 

February 28, 2011

 

$

0.9875

 

May 16, 2011

 

May 31, 2011

 

1.0000

 

August 15, 2011

 

August 31, 2011

 

1.0125

 

November 14, 2011

 

November 30, 2011

 

1.0250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 21, 2012

 

February 29, 2012

 

$

1.0375

 

May 14, 2012

 

May 31, 2012

 

1.0375

 

August 15, 2012

 

August 31, 2012

 

1.0375

 

November 12, 2012

 

November 30, 2012

 

1.0375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 19, 2013

 

February 28, 2013

 

$

1.0375

 

May 16, 2013

 

May 31, 2013

 

1.0500

 

August 12, 2013

 

August 20, 2013

 

1.0625

 

November 12, 2013

 

November 19, 2013

 

1.0750

 

 

On February 7, 2014, we announced a quarterly distribution of $1.0875 per LP Unit that will be paid on February 25, 2014, to unitholders of record on February 18, 2014.  Based on the LP Units outstanding as of December 31, 2013, cash distributed to LP unitholders on February 25, 2014 will total $125.5 million.

 

We generally make quarterly cash distributions of substantially all of our available cash, generally defined as consolidated cash receipts less consolidated cash expenditures and such retentions for working capital, anticipated cash expenditures and contingencies as Buckeye GP deems appropriate.

 

We are a publicly traded MLP and are not subject to federal income tax.  Instead, unitholders are required to report their allocable share of our income, gain, loss and deduction, regardless of whether we make distributions.  We have made quarterly distribution payments since May 1987.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

None.

 

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

None.

 

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Item 6.                     Selected Financial Data

 

The following tables present our selected consolidated financial data from our audited consolidated financial statements for the periods and at the dates indicated.  The tables should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and our accompanying notes thereto included in Item 8 of this Report (in thousands, except per unit amounts).

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010 (1)

 

2009 (1)

 

Income Statement Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

5,054,101

 

$

4,285,903

 

$

4,693,620

 

$

3,055,931

 

$

1,671,209

 

Operating income (2)

 

478,041

 

344,536

 

365,845

 

262,513

 

172,883

 

Income from continuing operations (2)

 

351,599

 

235,879

 

291,827

 

182,642

 

110,876

 

Earnings per unit - diluted from continuing operations (3)

 

$

3.23

 

$

2.37

 

$

3.15

 

$

0.95

 

$

0.94

 

Cash distributions per LP Unit - declared

 

$

4.23

 

$

4.15

 

$

4.03

 

$

3.83

 

$

3.63

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

Balance Sheet Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets (4)

 

$

7,005,563

 

$

5,981,009

 

$

5,570,376

 

$

3,574,216

 

$

3,486,571

 

Long-term debt

 

3,092,711

 

2,735,244

 

2,393,574

 

1,519,393

 

1,500,495

 

Total Buckeye Partners, L.P. capital (5)

 

3,065,665

 

2,372,313

 

2,303,169

 

1,392,405

 

242,334

 

 


(1)         On November 19, 2010, we consummated a transaction pursuant to a plan and agreement of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with our general partner, BGH, BGH’s general partner and Grand Ohio, LLC (“Merger Sub”), our subsidiary.  The exchange of BGH’s units for our LP Units was accounted for as a BGH equity issuance, and pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub was merged into BGH, with BGH as the surviving entity (the “Merger”) for accounting purposes.  The financial information for the periods prior to the effective date of the Merger is that of BGH. Although Buckeye is the surviving entity for legal purposes, BGH is the surviving entity for accounting purposes. Because BGH controlled Buckeye prior to the Merger, Buckeye’s financial statements were consolidated into BGH.

(2)         During 2012 and 2010, we recorded a $60 million asset impairment in our Pipelines & Terminals segment (see Note 5 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements) and a $21.1 million modification of an equity compensation plan, respectively.

(3)         In connection with the Merger, the incentive compensation agreement (also referred to as the incentive distribution rights) held by our general partner was cancelled, and the general partner units held by our general partner (representing an approximate 0.5% general partner interest in us) were converted to a non-economic general partner interest.  Additionally, pursuant to the Merger, BGH’s unitholders received a total of approximately 20 million of Buckeye’s LP Units in exchange for all outstanding BGH common units and management units.  As a result, the number of Buckeye’s LP Units outstanding increased from 51.6 million to 71.4 million.  However, for historical reporting purposes, the impact of this change was accounted for as a reverse split of BGH’s units of 0.705 to 1.0, together with the addition of Buckeye’s existing LP Units.

(4)         Includes $181.7 million of assets held for sale as of December 31, 2013 relating to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group (see Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion).

(5)         Prior to the Merger, BGH’s noncontrolling interests primarily related to equity interests of Buckeye that were not owned by BGH.  In connection with the Merger, total Buckeye capital substantially increased with the elimination of such noncontrolling interests.

 

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Item 7.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and our accompanying notes thereto included in Item 8 of this Report.

 

Business Overview

 

We own and operate one of the largest independent liquid petroleum products pipeline systems in the United States in terms of volumes delivered, miles of pipeline, and active product terminals.  In addition, we operate and/or maintain third-party pipelines under agreements with major oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical companies, and perform certain engineering and construction management services for third parties.  Furthermore, we are a wholesale distributor of refined petroleum products in the United States in areas also served by our pipelines and terminals.  Beginning in late 2012, we began to provide fuel oil supply and distribution services to third parties in the Caribbean.  Our flagship marine terminal in The Bahamas, BORCO, is one of the largest marine crude oil and petroleum products storage facilities in the world, serving the international markets as a global logistics hub.

 

We also own and operate a natural gas storage facility in Northern California.  In December 2013, our Board of Directors approved a plan to divest our Natural Gas Storage segment and its related assets as we no longer believe this business is aligned with our long-term business strategy.  In this report, we refer to this group of assets as our Natural Gas Storage disposal group.  Accordingly, we have classified the disposal group as “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities held for sale” in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and reported the results of operations as discontinued operations for all periods presented in this report.  Furthermore, we have excluded the disposal group’s financial results from our business segment disclosures for the periods presented in this report.  For additional information, see Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Additionally, in December 2013, we changed our organizational structure to align our strategic business units into four reportable segments: Pipelines & Terminals, Global Marine Terminals, Merchant Services and Development & Logistics.  See Note 26 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion of our business segments. We have adjusted our prior period segment information to conform to the current alignment of our continuing business and discontinued operations.

 

Our primary business objective is to provide stable and sustainable cash distributions to our LP Unitholders, while maintaining a relatively low investment risk profile.  The key elements of our strategy are to: (i) operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner; (ii) maximize utilization of our assets at the lowest cost per unit; (iii) maintain stable long-term customer relationships; (iv) optimize, expand and diversify our portfolio of energy assets; and (v) maintain a solid, conservative financial position and our investment-grade credit rating.

 

Overview of Operating Results

 

Net income attributable to our unitholders was $160.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was a decrease of $66.1 million, or 29% from $226.4 million for the corresponding period in 2012. Operating income was $478.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which is an increase of $133.5 million, or 38.7%%, from $344.5 million the corresponding period in 2012.  Our results for the year ended December 31, 2013 includes year-over-year improvement in each of our operating segments.  Continued excess supply of natural gas, minimal volatility in natural gas prices and compressed seasonal spreads resulted in a decision by our Board of Directors to approve a plan to divest our Natural Gas Storage business.  In the fourth quarter of 2013, we recorded a non-cash asset impairment charge of $169 million.

 

Revenues for our Pipelines & Terminals segment grew significantly in 2013, primarily from the impact of capital investments in internal growth and diversification initiatives, including expanded butane blending capabilities, crude-handling services, as well as storage and throughput of other hydrocarbons.  Pipeline transportation and terminalling throughput volumes increased year-over-year driven by changes in regional production and supply, commodity pricing arbitrage favoring East and Gulf Coast over Midwest supply and an increase in distillate volumes, primarily due to a colder than usual winter in 2013 resulting in higher heating oil movements.  The change over prior year was additionally impacted by a non-cash asset impairment charge in the fourth quarter of 2012 of $60 million related to the idling of a portion of Buckeye’s NORCO pipeline system.

 

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Our Global Marine Terminals segment benefited from year-over-year contribution driven by the 4.7 million barrels of expansion capacity at BORCO put in operation since mid-2012.  In addition to the storage revenue contribution from the expansion capacity, increased customer utilization of our facilities and the changing product mix at our BORCO facility generated higher ancillary revenues for the period.  In 2013, the Global Marine Terminals segment was adversely impacted by certain tankage taken out of service to facilitate projects intended to improve our ability to handle heavy crude volumes sourced from South America and potentially from Canada.  We continued to explore the diversification opportunities with our assets and to take advantage of the flexibility of our terminals to offer additional services such as butanization and other crude initiatives.  Integration of the terminals acquired from Hess in December 2013 is expected to allow further product diversification for Buckeye, as we will be able to leverage our existing assets to provide a broader array of services to the customers at these new terminals.

 

Additionally, our Merchant Services segment continued to see benefits from our risk mitigation strategy initiated in 2012, which includes focusing on fewer, more strategic locations in which to transact business, better managing our inventories and reducing the cost structure of the business.  Sales volumes increased as we executed this strategy.  Furthermore, we benefited from improved rack margins, largely the result of renewable identification number (“RIN”) sales.  Our Merchant Services segment generates RINs through its ethanol blending and bio-blended diesel activities.  The market for RINs, which are legislatively required to be purchased by refiners, experienced a substantial increase in value during the first half of the year.  In the latter half of 2013, the value of RINs declined as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lowered the required blend volumes for renewable fuels.  Although RIN values have declined considerably since their elevated levels in the first half of the year, RIN sales still made a positive contribution to our Merchant Services segment.  Our marketing operations remain a catalyst for incremental utilization of our Pipelines & Terminals assets as the contribution from Merchant Services has been greater than its standalone reported results. Segment revenue also increased as a result of the launch of our fuel oil marketing business in the Caribbean.  We supply fuel oil and hedge it in a highly correlated market.

 

Key contributors to growth for our Development & Logistics segment include our third-party engineering and operations business, which benefited from improved margins and new contract operations opportunities.  In addition, contributions from the liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”) storage caverns continue to increase due to the return of recent capital investments and rail capabilities at these facilities.

 

In 2013, the discontinued operations of our natural gas storage facility declined over 2012 results due to a non-cash asset impairment charge, unfavorable market conditions, including low natural gas prices, compressed seasonal spreads and low volatility.

 

See the “Results of Operations” section below for further discussion and analysis of our operating segments.

 

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Results of Operations

 

            Consolidated Summary

 

Our summary operating results were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per unit amounts):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenue

 

$

5,054,101

 

$

4,285,903

 

$

4,693,620

 

Costs and expenses

 

4,576,060

 

3,941,367

 

4,327,775

 

Operating income

 

478,041

 

344,536

 

365,845

 

Earnings from equity investments

 

5,243

 

6,100

 

10,434

 

Gain on sale of equity investment

 

 

 

34,727

 

Interest and debt expense

 

(130,920

)

(114,980

)

(119,561

)

Other income (expense)

 

295

 

(452

)

190

 

Income from continuing operations, before taxes

 

352,659

 

235,204

 

291,635

 

Income tax (expense) benefit

 

(1,060

)

675

 

192

 

Income from continuing operations

 

351,599

 

235,879

 

291,827

 

Loss from discontinued operations (1)

 

(187,174

)

(5,328

)

(177,163

)

Net income

 

164,425

 

230,551

 

114,664

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(4,152

)

(4,134

)

(6,163

)

Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

$

160,273

 

$

226,417

 

$

108,501

 

Earnings (loss) per unit - diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

3.23

 

$

2.37

 

$

3.15

 

Discontinued operations

 

$

(1.74

)

$

(0.05

)

$

(1.95

)

 


(1)         Represents loss from the operations of our Natural Gas Storage disposal group.  See Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure used by our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer, to: (i) evaluate our consolidated operating performance and the operating performance of our business segments; (ii) allocate resources and capital to business segments; (iii) evaluate the viability of proposed projects; and (iv) determine overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.  Distributable cash flow is another measure used by our senior management to provide a clearer picture of cash available for distribution to its unitholders.  Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow eliminate (i) non-cash expenses, including but not limited to, depreciation and amortization expense resulting from the significant capital investments we make in our businesses and from intangible assets recognized in business combinations; (ii) charges for obligations expected to be settled with the issuance of equity instruments; and (iii) items that are not indicative of our core operating performance results and business outlook.

 

We believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that we use and that these measures are useful to investors because they aid in comparing our operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations.  The Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow data presented by us may not be comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies because these items may be defined differently by other companies.

 

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The following table presents Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations by segment and on a consolidated basis, distributable cash flow and a reconciliation of income from continuing operations, which is the most comparable financial measure under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), to Adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

471,091

 

$

409,541

 

$

361,018

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

149,740

 

128,581

 

112,996

 

Merchant Services

 

12,616

 

1,144

 

1,797

 

Development & Logistics

 

15,367

 

13,174

 

7,932

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

 

$

648,814

 

$

552,440

 

$

483,743

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Income from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA and Distributable Cash Flow:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

351,599

 

$

235,879

 

$

291,827

 

Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(4,152

)

(4,134

)

(6,163

)

Income from continuing operations attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

347,447

 

231,745

 

285,664

 

Add: Interest and debt expense

 

130,920

 

114,980

 

119,561

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

1,060

 

(675

)

(192

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

147,591

 

138,857

 

112,398

 

Non-cash unit-based compensation expense

 

21,013

 

18,577

 

8,601

 

Asset impairment expense

 

 

59,950

 

 

Hess acquisition and transition expense

 

11,806

 

 

 

Less: Amortization of unfavorable storage contracts (1)

 

(11,023

)

(10,994

)

(7,562

)

Gain on sale of equity investment

 

 

 

(34,727

)

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

 

648,814

 

552,440

 

483,743

 

Less: Interest and debt expense, excluding amortization of deferred financing costs, debt discounts and other

 

(122,471

)

(111,511

)

(111,941

)

Income tax expense, excluding non-cash taxes

 

(717

)

(1,095

)

(6

)

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

(71,476

)

(54,070

)

(57,251

)

Distributable cash flow from continuing operations

 

$

454,150

 

$

385,764

 

$

314,545

 

 


(1)         Represents the amortization of the negative fair values allocated to certain unfavorable storage contracts acquired in connection with the BORCO acquisition.

 

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The following table presents product volumes transported and average daily throughput for the Pipelines & Terminals segment and total volumes sold for the Merchant Services segment for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Pipelines & Terminals (average bpd in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline

 

717.8

 

701.9

 

668.1

 

Jet fuel

 

334.4

 

339.2

 

340.6

 

Middle distillates (1)

 

345.7

 

318.6

 

327.0

 

Other products (2)

 

28.5

 

25.9

 

22.4

 

Total pipelines throughput

 

1,426.4

 

1,385.6

 

1,358.1

 

Terminals:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Products throughput (3)

 

975.1

 

916.7

 

756.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Merchant Services (in millions of gallons):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales volumes (4)

 

1,371.5

 

1,125.9

 

1,337.8

 

 


(1)         Includes diesel fuel and heating oil.

(2)         Includes liquefied petroleum gas, intermediate petroleum products and crude oil.

(3)         Amounts for 2013, 2012 and 2011 include throughput volumes at terminals acquired from Hess, BP and ExxonMobil on December 11, 2013, June 1, 2011 and July 19, 2011, respectively.

(4)         Amounts for 2013 and 2012 include volumes related to fuel oil supply and distribution services which began in late 2012.

 

            Year Ended December 31, 2013 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2012

 

Consolidated

 

Adjusted EBITDA was $648.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which is an increase of $96.4 million, or 17.4%, from $552.4 million for the corresponding period in 2012.  The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily related to positive contributions from increased pipeline and terminalling volumes directly attributable to growth capital spending and higher blending capabilities, particularly butane blending, in the Pipelines & Terminals segment and increased storage capacity at and customer utilization of our BORCO facility in the Global Marine Terminals segment.  In addition, higher margins in the Merchant Services segment were primarily due to lower product costs resulting from risk management activities and the generation of RINs.

 

Revenue was $5,054.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which is an increase of $768.2 million, or 17.9%, from $4,285.9 million for the corresponding period in 2012.  The increase in revenue was primarily related to new fuel oil supply and distribution services in the Caribbean and increased product sales volumes in our Merchant Services segment.  In addition, revenue in our Pipelines & Terminals segment increased as a result of increased pipeline and terminalling volumes directly attributable to our growth capital spending and higher butane blending capabilities.  Our Global Marine Terminals segment benefitted from incremental storage capacity brought online at our BORCO facility.

 

Operating income was $478.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which is an increase of $133.5 million, or 38.7%%, from $344.5 million the corresponding period in 2012.  The increase in operating income was primarily related to increased pipeline and terminalling volumes directly attributable to our growth capital spending and diversification initiatives, as well as a non-cash asset impairment charge in 2012 in the Pipelines & Terminals segment. In addition, higher margins and lower operating costs in our Merchant Services segment contributed to our overall increase in operating income.  These increases in operating income were offset by increased operating and depreciation expense largely attributable to the capacity expansion completed and brought online in the Global Marine Terminals segment.

 

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Distributable cash flow was $454.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which is an increase of $68.4 million, or 17.7%, from $385.8 million for the corresponding period in 2012.  The increase in distributable cash flow was primarily related to an increase of $96.4 million in Adjusted EBITDA as described above, partially offset by an increase in maintenance capital expenditures of $17.4 million and increase in interest expense of $11.0 million related to long-term debt issuances in 2013, including the debt issued in the fourth quarter of 2013 to partially fund the Hess Terminals acquisition.

 

Adjusted EBITDA by Segment

 

Pipelines & Terminals.  Adjusted EBITDA from the Pipelines & Terminals segment was $471.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was an increase of $61.6 million, or 15.0%, from $409.5 million for the corresponding period in 2012.  The positive factors impacting Adjusted EBITDA were related to $49.6 million of incremental revenue from capital investments in internal growth and diversification initiatives, including expanded butane blending capabilities, crude-handling services, as well as storage and throughput of other hydrocarbons, a $17.8 million increase in revenue due to higher pipeline and terminalling volumes on our legacy assets, $6.9 million increase in revenue resulting from an increase in pipeline capacity rentals, terminalling storage contracts and throughput and storage revenue at the terminals acquired from Hess in December 2013, $5.6 million more of favorable settlement experience despite the successful resolution of a $10.6 million product settlement allocation matter in 2012 and a $0.7 million increase in earnings due to the purchase of an additional ownership interest in WesPac Memphis in the second quarter of 2013.

 

The negative factors impacting Adjusted EBITDA were a $16.9 million increase in operating expenses, primarily related to higher operating costs due to internal growth and pipeline integrity costs, a $1.2 million decrease in revenue due to lower average pipeline tariff rates resulting from shorter-haul shipments and a $0.9 million decrease in earnings from equity investments due to higher maintenance costs.

 

Pipeline volumes increased by 2.9% due to stronger demand for gasoline and middle distillates resulting from changes in regional production and supply, partially offset by the idling of a portion of our NORCO pipeline system in early 2013.  Terminalling volumes increased by 6.4% due to higher demand for gasoline, distillates and other hydrocarbons, resulting from new customer contracts and service offerings at select locations, effective commercialization of acquired assets, continued positive contribution from our recently completed internal growth projects and favorable market conditions.

 

Global Marine Terminals.  Adjusted EBITDA from the Global Marine Terminals segment was $149.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was an increase of $21.1 million, or 16.4%, from $128.6 million for the corresponding period in 2012.  The positive factors impacting Adjusted EBITDA were a $28.9 million increase in storage revenue primarily as a result of incremental storage capacity brought online at our BORCO facility and assets acquired from Hess in December 2013 and a $5.3 million increase in revenues from ancillary services due to increased customer utilization of our facilities.  Ancillary services include the berthing of ships at our jetties and heating services.

 

The increase in revenue was offset by a $13.1 million increase in operating expenses primarily due to increased costs necessary to operate the expanded capabilities of the BORCO facility, one-time costs related to certain organizational changes in the second quarter of 2013 and costs associated with taking certain tankage out of service for maintenance activities and project work to improve the capabilities for handling anticipated heavy crude volumes.

 

Merchant Services.  Adjusted EBITDA from the Merchant Services segment was $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was an increase of $11.5 million from $1.1 million for the corresponding period in 2012.  In 2012, we developed and executed a strategy to mitigate basis risk that included the reduction of refined petroleum product inventories in the Midwest.  In 2013, we continued to benefit from the execution of our strategy, which included focusing on fewer, more strategic locations in which to transact business, better managing our inventories and reducing the cost structure of the business.  Sales volumes increased as we executed this strategy.  In addition, beginning in late 2012, the segment began to provide fuel oil supply and distribution services to third parties in the Caribbean.  This activity has also contributed to our increase in sales volumes for the period.  Furthermore, we benefited from improved rack margins, largely the result of risk management activities to lower product costs, and the generation of RINs, which are tradable “credits” generated by blending biofuels into finished gasoline or diesel products.

 

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The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily related to a $651.4 million increase in revenue, which included a $728.4 million increase due to 21.8% of higher sales volumes, offset by a $77.0 million decrease as a result of a $0.06 per gallon decrease in refined petroleum product sales price (average sales prices per gallon were $2.91 and $2.97 for the 2013 and 2012 periods, respectively) and a $0.8 million decrease in operating expenses primarily related to overhead costs.

 

The increase in revenue was partially offset by a $640.7 million increase in cost of product sales, which included a $725.3 million increase due to 21.8% of higher sales volumes, offset by a $84.6 million decrease as a result of a $0.06 per gallon decrease in refined petroleum product cost price (average cost prices per gallon were $2.89 and $2.95 for the 2013 and 2012 periods, respectively).

 

Development & Logistics.  Adjusted EBITDA from the Development & Logistics segment was $15.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, which was an increase of $2.2 million, or 16.6%, from $13.2 million for the corresponding period in 2012.  The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to an $8.1 million increase in third-party engineering and operations revenue as a result of new contracts and higher fees and a $0.9 million increase in revenue related to the LPG storage caverns, partially offset by a $6.0 million increase in third-party engineering and operations expense and a $0.8 million increase in operating expenses, which primarily related to overhead costs.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2012 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2011

 

Consolidated

 

Adjusted EBITDA was $552.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is an increase of $68.7 million, or 14.2%, from $483.7 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily related to positive contribution as a result of a full period of operating activities for 2011 acquisitions, the benefit of contributions from growth capital spending and higher blending capabilities, particularly butane blending, in the Pipelines & Terminals segment, as well as increased storage capacity and customer utilization of our BORCO facility in the Global Marine Terminals segment.

 

Revenue was $4,285.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is a decrease of $407.7 million, or 8.7%, from $4,693.6 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The decrease in revenue was primarily related to a net decrease in revenue in the Merchant Services segment, which was partially offset by the revenue generated due to a full period of operations for the 2011 acquisitions in the Pipelines & Terminals segment, as well as increased storage revenue as a result of 1.9 million barrels of incremental storage capacity brought online, the Perth Amboy Facility acquisition in 2012 and new service offerings providing fuel oil supply and distribution services in the Global Marine Terminals segment.

 

Operating income was $344.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is a decrease of $21.3 million, or 5.8%, from $365.8 million the corresponding period in 2011. The decrease in operating income was primarily related to a non-cash asset impairment charge in 2012 and an increase in depreciation and amortization due to the assets acquired in 2011 in the Pipelines & Terminals segment and the upgrades and expansions of the jetty structure in the Global Marine Terminals segment.  These decreases were partially offset by positive contribution as a result of a full period of operating activities for 2011 acquisitions in the Pipelines & Terminals segment.

 

Distributable cash flow was $385.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which is an increase of $71.2 million, or 22.6%, from $314.5 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase in distributable cash flow was primarily related to an increase of $68.7 million in Adjusted EBITDA as described above.

 

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Adjusted EBITDA by Segment

 

Pipelines & Terminals. Adjusted EBITDA from the Pipelines & Terminals segment was $409.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was an increase of $48.5 million, or 13.4%, from $361.0 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The positive factors impacting Adjusted EBITDA were related to a $34.4 million increase in revenue due to a full period of operations for the assets acquired in 2011, a $31.7 million increase in revenue due to higher average pipeline tariff rates, resulting from tariff increases and long-haul shipments, and terminalling contract rate escalations on our legacy assets, $11.1 million of favorable settlement experience, a $7.9 million increase in revenue due to higher blending capabilities in the Northeast, particularly butane blending, and a $1.6 million increase in revenue due to higher terminalling volumes. The favorable settlement experience primarily related to the successful resolution of a $10.6 million product settlement allocation matter related to certain pipeline transportation-related services provided by Buckeye over a period of several years, of which $7.8 million related to services rendered in prior years but, for accounting purposes, was not recognized in revenue until the current period.

 

The negative factors impacting Adjusted EBITDA were a $12.1 million increase in operating expenses related to a full period of operations of the assets acquired in 2011, which included acquisition and transition expenses, a $8.5 million decrease in other revenue, resulting from a decrease in terminalling storage contracts primarily due to market backwardation of refined petroleum products, a $4.3 million decrease in earnings from equity investments primarily due to higher environmental remediation costs at West Shore and the sale of our interest in West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership in 2011, a $4.3 million increase in operating expenses, which included integrity program expenditures, payroll costs, operating power and utilities, insurance and environmental remediation expenses, $3.8 million in fees related to the FERC proceedings, $3.7 million increase in expenses related to the relocation of certain operations and administrative support functions to our Houston, Texas headquarters, and $1.5 million of fees related to the temporary suspension of ethanol offloading capabilities at our Albany facility.

 

Overall pipeline and terminalling volumes increased by 2.0% and 21.3%, respectively, primarily as a result of the assets acquired in 2011. Legacy pipeline volumes declined marginally as a result of seasonal fluctuations in heating oil, a temporary shut-down of one of our pipelines for emergency maintenance, and business interruptions caused by Hurricane Sandy, offset by higher demand for gasoline. Legacy terminalling volumes increased by 1.6% due to higher demand for gasoline and distillates, new customer contracts and service offerings at select locations, including crude oil services and the benefit of contributions from growth capital spending.

 

Global Marine Terminals. Adjusted EBITDA from the Global Marine Terminals segment was $128.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was an increase of $15.6 million, or 13.8%, from $113.0 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The positive factors impacting Adjusted EBITDA were primarily related to a $9.8 million increase in revenue due to the Perth Amboy Facility acquired in 2012, a $7.9 million decrease in acquisition and transition expenses, a $6.0 million increase in storage revenue as a result of 1.9 million barrels of incremental storage capacity brought online, a $5.0 million increase in ancillary revenues, including berthing, which represents ships that utilize the jetties, and heating services due to increased customer utilization of our facilities and $1.7 million decrease in income allocated to non-controlling interests related to the remaining 20% ownership interest in BORCO not acquired by us until February 16, 2011.

 

The increase in revenue was partially offset by a $14.8 million increase in operating expenses primarily as a result of increased customer utilization of our facilities, increased costs necessary to operate the expanded facilities and the Perth Amboy Facility acquired in 2012.

 

Merchant Services. Adjusted EBITDA from the Merchant Services segment was $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was a decrease of $0.7 million, or 36.3%, from $1.8 million for the corresponding period in 2011. In early 2012, we developed and executed a strategy to mitigate basis risk, which included the reduction of refined petroleum product inventories in the Midwest. As a result, losses generated from the execution of our strategy contributed to the decrease in Adjusted EBITDA. During the period, we continued to aggressively manage our inventory levels and reduce our exposure to market backwardation, despite sustained adverse market conditions. In addition, we had a $2.2 million decrease in biodiesel tax credits, which are recorded as a reduction of cost of sales. In early 2013, legislative changes resulted in retroactive recognition of biodiesel tax credits for year 2012.

 

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The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily related to a $549.7 million decrease in revenue, which included a $616 million decrease due to 15.8% of lower sales volumes, offset by a $66.3 million increase as a result of a $0.06 per gallon increase in refined petroleum product sales price (average sales prices per gallon were $2.97 and $2.91 for the 2012 and 2011 periods, respectively).

 

The decrease in revenue was partially offset by a $546.6 million decrease in cost of product sales, which included a $613.2 million decrease due to 15.8% of lower sales volumes, offset by $66.6 million increase as a result of a $0.06 per gallon increase in refined petroleum product cost price (average cost prices per gallon were $2.95 and $2.89 for the 2012 and 2011 periods, respectively) and a $2.4 million decrease in operating expenses primarily related to overhead costs.

 

Development & Logistics. Adjusted EBITDA from the Development & Logistics segment was $13.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, which was an increase of $5.2 million, or 66.1%, from $7.9 million for the corresponding period in 2011. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to a $4.5 million increase in revenue related to the LPG storage caverns acquired in November 2011, a $2.6 million increase in third-party engineering and operations revenue as a result of new contracts and higher fees, partially offset by a $0.8 million increase in third-party engineering and operations expense, a $0.6 million increase in operating expenses for the LPG storage caverns and a $0.5 million increase in operating expenses, which primarily related to overhead costs.

 

General Outlook for 2014

 

Overall, we continue to expect growth capital investments in our businesses to drive meaningful improvement in year-over-year performance.  There are numerous projects currently underway that we expect to be completed in 2014 and contribute incremental cash flow.  Our Perth Amboy transformation efforts continue.  We expect the pipeline connection from our Perth Amboy and Port Reading marine terminals to our Linden facility, which throughputs over 0.5 million barrels per day to Buckeye’s eastern system and serves Western Pennsylvania and Upstate New York, to be operational early in the second quarter.  In addition, the crude rail loading and unloading facility is expected to be completed in mid-2014.  This facility will provide customers with the optionality to unload crude rail cars and deliver product via truck, barge, ship or pipeline.  In addition, various storage tank and manifold improvements are expected to be completed at the facility to service Chevron and other customers and to drive incremental revenues.

 

At our Chicago Complex, which is our Midwestern hub, we are constructing 1.1 million barrels of crude storage for a large customer to provide flexibility in supply for a refinery.  We expect this storage to be operational in the second half of 2014.  We are also expanding the pipeline connectivity at the Chicago Complex to allow greater transshipment capability, which will allow us to meet peak demand and provide more product diversification capabilities for our customers.  In addition, this increased connectivity will allow us to offer additional refined products storage capacity at the Complex.

 

Expansion of our butane blending capabilities across our system is also planned for 2014.  We intend to increase the number of locations with the ability to blend butane domestically, including certain of the newly acquired Hess terminals, and internationally at our BORCO facility.  We expect butane to continue to be a strong earnings contributor for Buckeye as we do not foresee any significant disruptions in the margin opportunities for butane.

 

Integration of the 20 terminals acquired from Hess remains a top priority for Buckeye into 2014.  We are pleased with the early results from these assets and remain confident we will be able to meet our integration plan.

 

We expect our Merchant Services segment to play an important role in driving higher utilization across our system.  This segment will be an important catalyst as we look to optimize waterborne supply for the new marine terminals acquired from Hess.   In addition, we are exploring additional opportunities for this business to serve our other Pipelines & Terminals and Global Marine Terminals assets.

 

We do not expect any significant change in macro-economic demand for petroleum products in the markets we serve absent a significant change in the economy.  Volumes on our pipeline systems and terminals are expected to experience moderate growth, primarily the result of capital projects.  Tariffs growth is expected on both our market-based and index-based system.  Tariffs on our pipelines serving the New York City airports remain subject to the ongoing FERC matter.

 

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We continue to look for ways to provide new solutions for our customers by leveraging our existing asset footprint.  Ultimately, our ability to increase transportation and storage revenues is largely dependent on the strength of the overall economy in the markets we serve.

 

We believe that, under current market conditions, we could raise additional capital in both the debt and equity markets on acceptable terms.  This could include utilizing the at-the-market equity issuance program, which is the most cost-efficient means to raise equity if necessary.

 

We will continue to evaluate opportunities throughout 2014 to acquire or construct assets that are complementary to our businesses and support our long-term growth strategy and will determine the appropriate financing structure for any opportunity we pursue.

 

We expect to divest our non-core Natural Gas Storage business during 2014 and will reflect the financial results of this business as discontinued operations.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this “General Outlook for 2014” speak only as of the date hereof.  Although the expectations in the forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date hereof.  Except as required by federal and state securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason.  All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this Report, including under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this Report and in our future periodic reports filed with the SEC.  In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this “General Outlook for 2014” may not occur.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

General

 

Our primary cash requirements, in addition to normal operating expenses and debt service, are for working capital, capital expenditures, business acquisitions and distributions to partners.  Our principal sources of liquidity are cash from continuing operations, borrowings under our Credit Facility and proceeds from the issuance of our units.  We will, from time to time, issue debt securities to permanently finance amounts borrowed under our Credit Facility.  Buckeye Energy Services LLC (“BES”) funds its working capital needs principally from its operations and its portion of the Credit Facility.  Our fuel oil supply and distribution services in the Caribbean are additionally funded principally from their own operations and the Credit Facility.  Our financial policy has been to fund maintenance capital expenditures with cash from continuing operations.  Expansion and cost reduction capital expenditures, along with acquisitions, have typically been funded from external sources including our Credit Facility as well as debt and equity offerings.  Our goal has been to fund at least half of these expenditures with proceeds from equity offerings in order to maintain our investment-grade credit rating.  Based on current market conditions, we believe our borrowing capacity under our Credit Facility, cash flows from continuing operations and access to debt and equity markets, if necessary, will be sufficient to fund our primary cash requirements, including our expansion plans over the next 12 months.

 

Current Liquidity

 

As of December 31, 2013, we had $216.0 million of working capital (including net assets held for sale of $143.9 million) and $995 million of availability under our Credit Facility but, except for borrowings that are used to refinance other debt, we are limited to $961.9 million of additional borrowing capacity by the financial covenants under our Credit Facility.

 

Capital Structuring Transactions

 

As part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a capital structure that is closely aligned with the cash-generating potential of our asset-based business, we may explore additional sources of external liquidity, including public or private debt or equity issuances.  Matters to be considered will include cash interest expense and maturity profile, all to be balanced with maintaining adequate liquidity.  We have a universal shelf registration statement that does not place any dollar limits on the amount of debt and equity securities that we may issue thereunder and a traditional shelf registration statement on file with the SEC under which we may issue equity securities with a value, as of December 31, 2013, not to exceed $716.5 million.  The timing of any transaction may be impacted by events, such as strategic growth opportunities, legal judgments or regulatory or environmental requirements.  The receptiveness of the capital markets to an offering of debt or equity securities cannot be assured and may be negatively impacted by, among other things, our long-term business prospects and other factors beyond our control, including market conditions.

 

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In addition, we periodically evaluate engaging in strategic transactions as a source of capital or may consider divesting non-core assets where such evaluation suggests such a transaction is in the best interest of Buckeye.

 

Capital Allocation

 

We continually review our investment options with respect to our capital resources that are not distributed to our unitholders or used to pay down our debt and seek to invest these capital resources in various projects and activities based on their return to Buckeye.  Potential investments could include, among others: add-on or other enhancement projects associated with our current assets; greenfield or brownfield development projects; and merger and acquisition activities.

 

Debt

 

At December 31, 2013, we had the following debt obligations (in thousands):

 

5.300% Notes due October 15, 2014

 

275,000

 

5.125% Notes due July 1, 2017

 

125,000

 

6.050% Notes due January 15, 2018

 

300,000

 

2.650% Notes due November 15, 2018

 

400,000

 

5.500% Notes due August 15, 2019

 

275,000

 

4.875% Notes due February 1, 2021

 

650,000

 

4.150% Notes due July 1, 2023

 

500,000

 

6.750% Notes due August 15, 2033

 

150,000

 

5.850% Notes due November 15, 2043

 

400,000

 

BPL Credit Facility due September 26, 2017

 

255,000

 

Total debt

 

$

3,330,000

 

 

It is our intent to refinance the 5.300% Notes in 2014.  If necessary, the $275 million of 5.300% Notes maturing on October 15, 2014 could be refinanced using our Credit Facility.  At December 31, 2013, we had $995 million of availability under our Credit Facility but, except for borrowings that are used to refinance other debt, we are limited to $961.9 million of additional borrowing capacity by the financial covenants under our Credit Facility.  Additionally, we expect to pay to settle interest rate swaps with a fair value as of December 31, 2013 of $30 million relating to the refinancing of the 5.300% Notes on or before October 15, 2014.

 

In November 2013, we issued an aggregate of $800 million of senior unsecured notes, including $400 million of 2.650% Notes due November 15, 2018 and $400 million of 5.850% Notes due November 15, 2043, at 99.823% and 98.581% of their principal amounts, respectively.  Total proceeds from this offering, after underwriting fees, expenses and debt issuance costs of $5.9 million, were $787.7 million. We used the net proceeds from this offering to fund the Hess Terminals Acquisition and for general partnership purposes.

 

In August 2013, we extended the maturity date of our Credit Facility by one year to September 26, 2017, which we may further extend for up to one additional year.

 

In June 2013, we issued $500 million of senior unsecured 4.150% Notes due July 1, 2023 in an underwritten public offering at 99.81% of their principal amount.  Total proceeds from this offering, after underwriting fees, expenses and debt issuance costs of $3.3 million, were $495.8 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering for general partnership purposes and to repay amounts due under our Credit Facility, a portion of which was subsequently reborrowed in July 2013 in order to repay in full the 4.625% Notes and related accrued interest.  We also settled all interest rate swaps relating to the 4.150% Notes for $62 million during June 2013.

 

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Equity

 

In October 2013, we completed a public offering of 7.5 million LP Units pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, which priced at $62.61 per unit.  The underwriters also exercised an option to purchase 1.1 million additional LP Units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $540 million before deducting underwriting fees and estimated offering expenses of $19.3 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility and to indirectly fund a portion of the purchase price for the Hess Terminals Acquisition.

 

In May 2013, we entered into four separate equity distribution agreements under which we may offer and sell up to $300 million in aggregate gross sales proceeds of LP Units from time to time through such firms, acting as agents of the Partnership or as principals, subject in each case to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement.  See related discussion in “Recent Developments” for additional information.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold 0.5 million LP Units in aggregate under the Equity Distribution Agreements, received $33.1 million in net proceeds after deducting commissions and other related expenses, and paid $0.4 million of compensation in aggregate to the agents under the Equity Distribution Agreements.

 

In January 2013, we completed a public offering of 6 million LP Units pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, which priced at $52.54 per unit.  The underwriters also exercised an option to purchase 0.9 million additional LP Units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $362.5 million before deducting underwriting fees and offering expenses of $13.3 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility.

 

Cash Flows from Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

 

The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

385,494

 

$

441,636

 

$

403,892

 

Investing activities

 

(1,204,678

)

(590,322

)

(1,310,279

)

Financing activities

 

817,358

 

142,476

 

905,747

 

 

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Operating Activities

 

2013Net cash provided by operating activities was $385.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, primarily related to $164.4 million of net income and $155.2 million of depreciation and amortization, partially offset by a $62 million settlement to terminate the interest rate swap agreements related to the 4.150% Notes, a $60.8 million increase in trade receivables and an increase in interest and debt expense.

 

2012. Net cash provided by operating activities was $441.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2012, primarily related to $230.6 million of net income, $146.4 million of depreciation and amortization and $39.1 million associated with a reduction in inventory, partially offset by an increase of $53.5 million in trade receivables.  In 2012, we developed and executed a strategy to mitigate our basis risk that included the reduction of refined petroleum product inventories in the Midwest.

 

2011.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $403.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2011, primarily related to $114.7 million of net income, $119.5 million of depreciation and amortization and $102.5 million associated with a reduction in inventory, partially offset by an increase of $29.7 million in trade receivables.

 

Future Operating Cash Flows.  Our future operating cash flows will vary based on a number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, including demand for our services, the cost of commodities, the effectiveness of our strategy, legal environmental and regulatory requirements and our ability to capture value associated with commodity price volatility.

 

Investing Activities

 

2013.  Net cash used in investing activities of $1,204.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 primarily related to $361.4 million of capital expenditures and $856.4 million related to the Hess Terminals Acquisition.

 

2012.  Net cash used in investing activities of $590.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 primarily related to $331.3 million of capital expenditures and a $260.3 million acquisition of the Perth Amboy Facility.

 

2011Net cash used in investing activities of $1,310.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 primarily related to a $1.4 billion acquisition of BORCO, of which $893.7 million was paid in cash, net of cash acquired and the remaining consideration in issuance of LP Units and Class B Units, a $166 million acquisition of pipeline and terminal assets and $305.3 million of capital expenditures, which were partially offset by $85 million of cash proceeds from the sale of our 20% interest in West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership.

 

See below for a discussion of capital spending.  For further discussion on our acquisitions, see Note 3 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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We have capital expenditures, which we define as “maintenance capital expenditures,” in order to maintain and enhance the safety and integrity of our pipelines, terminals, storage facilities and related assets, and “expansion and cost reduction capital expenditures” to expand the reach or capacity of those assets, to improve the efficiency of our operations and to pursue new business opportunities.  Capital expenditures, excluding non-cash changes in accruals for capital expenditures, were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Maintenance capital expenditures (1)

 

$

71,595

 

$

54,425

 

$

57,467

 

Expansion and cost reduction (2)

 

289,850

 

276,913

 

247,857

 

Total capital expenditures, net

 

$

361,445

 

$

331,338

 

$

305,324

 

 


(1)         Includes maintenance capital expenditures related to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group of $0.1 million, $0.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

(2)         Includes expansion and cost reduction capital expenditures related to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group of $0.1 million, $2 million and $9.9 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

 

In 2013, maintenance capital expenditures included pump replacements and truck rack infrastructure upgrades, as well as pipeline and tank integrity work.  Expansion and cost reduction capital expenditures included significant investments in storage tank expansion at BORCO and Perth Amboy, butane blending, rail offloading facilities, crude storage/transportation and various other cost reduction and revenue generating projects.

 

In 2012, maintenance capital expenditures included terminal pump replacements and truck rack infrastructure upgrades, as well as pipeline and tank integrity work, and expansion and cost reduction projects included initiation of a significant storage tank expansion project as well as upgrades and expansion of a jetty structure and inland dock at BORCO, terminal ethanol and butane blending, new pipeline connections, transformation of our Albany marine terminal to handle crude services via rail and ship, new natural gas storage wells, continued progress on a new pipeline and terminal billing system as well as various other operating infrastructure projects.

 

In 2011, maintenance capital expenditures included pipeline and tank integrity work, and expansion and cost reduction projects included terminal ethanol and butane blending, new pipeline connections, natural gas storage well recompletions, continued progress on a new pipeline and terminal billing system as well as various other operating infrastructure projects, Kirby Hills Phase II expansion project, the construction of three additional tanks with capacity of 0.4 million barrels in Linden, New Jersey and various other pipeline and terminal operating infrastructure projects.

 

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We estimate our capital expenditures for the period indicated as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

2014

 

 

 

Low

 

High

 

Pipelines & Terminals:

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

$

60,000

 

$

70,000

 

Expansion and cost reduction

 

250,000

 

270,000

 

Total capital expenditures

 

$

310,000

 

$

340,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Marine Terminals:

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

$

20,000

 

$

30,000

 

Expansion and cost reduction

 

30,000

 

40,000

 

Total capital expenditures

 

$

50,000

 

$

70,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall:

 

 

 

 

 

Maintenance capital expenditures

 

$

80,000

 

$

100,000

 

Expansion and cost reduction

 

280,000

 

310,000

 

Total capital expenditures

 

$

360,000

 

$

410,000

 

 

Estimated maintenance capital expenditures include tank floor and roof upgrades, cathodic protection upgrades, pipeline replacements, prover and meter upgrades, electrical infrastructure upgrades, terminal and station upgrades, dock upgrades and instrumentation and controls upgrades.  Estimated major expansion and cost reduction expenditures include: completion of additional storage tanks and truck loading rack upgrades; rail offloading facilities and the refurbishment of storage tanks across our system; continued installation of vapor recovery units throughout our system of terminals; and various upgrades and expansions of our butane blending business.  In connection with our Perth Amboy Facility, our estimated expansion and cost reduction expenditures include completion of a new crude rail offloading system; completion of a bi-directional pipeline; conversion of tanks for distillate and gasoline storage; completion of a multi-product blend and transfer piping manifold; and completion of a new 16-inch pipeline allowing direct access to our existing pipeline infrastructure.  Also, estimated expansion and cost reduction expenditures include costs for the terminals acquired in the Hess Terminals Acquisition.

 

Financing Activities

 

2013.  Net cash flows provided by financing activities of $817.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013 primarily related to $1.3 billion of proceeds from the issuance of the 4.150%, 2.650% and 5.850% Notes due July 1, 2023, November 15, 2018 and November 15, 2043, respectively, $903 million of net proceeds from the issuance of an aggregate 16 million LP Units, partially offset by $655.8 million of net repayments under the Credit Facility, $428.8 million of cash distributions paid to our unitholders ($4.225 per LP Unit) and $300 million related to the repayment of the 4.625% Notes.

 

2012.  Net cash flows provided by financing activities of $142.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2012 primarily related to $296 million of net borrowings under the Credit Facility and $246.8 million of net proceeds from the issuance of 4.3 million LP Units, partially offset by $371.2 million ($4.15 per LP Unit) of cash distributions paid to our unitholders.

 

2011Net cash flows provided by financing activities of $905.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2011 primarily related to $736.9 million of net proceeds from the issuance of 11.3 million LP Units and 1.3 million Class B Units, $647.5 million from the issuance of the 4.875% Notes, and $192.9 million of net borrowings under the Credit Facility, partially offset by $335.7 million ($4.025 per LP Unit) of cash distributions paid to our unitholders and $318.2 million repayment of debt assumed and settlement of interest rate derivative instruments relating to the BORCO acquisition.

 

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For further discussion on our equity offerings, see Note 23 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Payments Due by Period

 

 

 

 

 

Less than 1

 

 

 

 

 

More than 5

 

 

 

Total

 

year

 

1-3 years

 

3-5 years

 

years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt (1)

 

$

3,104,000

 

$

275,000

 

$

 

$

854,000

 

$

1,975,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest payments (2) (3)

 

1,579,589

 

151,988

 

281,056

 

247,179

 

899,366

 

Operating leases:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Office space and other

 

26,392

 

3,551

 

7,395

 

6,819

 

8,627

 

Equipment (4) 

 

3,314

 

3,314

 

 

 

 

Land leases (5) (7)

 

127,634

 

2,863

 

5,700

 

5,700

 

113,371

 

Purchase obligations (6) (7)

 

132,851

 

132,851

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations

 

$

4,973,780

 

$

569,567

 

$

294,151

 

$

1,113,698

 

$

2,996,364

 

 


(1)         Includes long-term debt portion borrowed by Buckeye under our Credit Facility. See Note 14 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding our debt obligations.

(2)         Includes amounts due on our notes and amounts and commitment fees due on our Credit Facility.  The interest amount calculated on the Credit Facility is based on the assumption that the amount outstanding and the interest rate charged both remain at their current levels.

(3)         Excludes estimates of the effect of our interest rate swap related to forecasted interest payments, which as of December 31, 2013, had a fair value of $30 million. We expect to settle this swap on or about October 15, 2014.

(4)         Includes leases for tugboats and a barge in our Global Marine Terminals segment.

(5)         Includes leases for properties in connection with both the jetty and inland dock operations in our Global Marine Terminals segment.

(6)         Includes short-term purchase obligations for products and services with third-party suppliers and payment obligations relating to capital projects we have committed to.  The prices that we are obligated to pay under these contracts approximate current market prices.

(7)         Excludes land leases and short-term purchase and payment obligations related to our Natural Gas Storage disposal group.

 

For the year ended 2014, our rights-of-way payments are expected to be $6.3 million, which includes an estimated amount for annual escalation.

 

In addition, our obligations related to our pension and postretirement benefit plans are discussed in Note 19 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

 

Services Company provides the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) to the majority of its employees hired before September 16, 2004.  Employees hired by Services Company after September 15, 2004 and certain employees covered by a union multiemployer pension plan do not participate in the ESOP.  The ESOP owns all of the outstanding common stock of Services Company.

 

The ESOP was frozen with respect to benefits effective March 27, 2011 (the “Freeze Date”).  No Services Company contributions have been or will be made on behalf of current participants in the ESOP on and after the Freeze Date.  Even though contributions under the ESOP are no longer being made, each eligible participant’s ESOP Account will continue to be credited with its share of any stock dividends or other stock distributions associated with Services Company stock.

 

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All Services Company stock has been allocated to ESOP participants.  See Note 21 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had no off-balance sheet debt or arrangements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses during the reporting period and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements.  Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be made with certainty.  Estimates may change as new events occur, when additional information becomes available and if the Partnership’s operating environment changes.  Actual results could differ from our estimates.  See Note 2 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for our significant accounting policies. The following describes significant estimates and assumptions affecting the application of these policies:

 

Business Combinations

 

We allocate the total purchase price of a business combination to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date, with the excess purchase price recorded as goodwill. An income, market or cost valuation method may be utilized to estimate the fair value of the assets acquired or liabilities assumed in a business combination.  The income valuation method represents the present value of future cash flows over the life of the asset using (i) discrete financial forecasts, which rely on management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses, (ii) long-term growth rates and (iii) appropriate discount rates.  The market valuation method uses prices paid for a reasonably similar asset by other purchasers in the market, with adjustments relating to any differences between the assets.  The cost valuation method is based on the replacement cost of a comparable asset at prices at the time of the acquisition reduced for depreciation of the asset.

 

Valuation of Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired. Our goodwill amounts are assessed for impairment (i) on an annual basis on January 1 of each year or (ii) on an interim basis if circumstances indicate it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its fair value.

 

For our annual goodwill impairment test as of January 1, 2014, we performed a qualitative assessment to determine whether the fair value of the Pipelines & Terminals reporting unit was more likely than not less than the carrying value.  Based on our assessment, the Pipelines & Terminals reporting unit had (i) a substantial excess of fair value over carrying value in its latest quantitative assessment, (ii) continued positive performance in Adjusted EBITDA over prior year, (iii) projected increases in Adjusted EBITDA primarily as a result of contributions from internal capital projects and accretive acquisitions, and (iv) positive industry and market factors.  We determined that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded the carrying amount; therefore, the two-step impairment test was not required.

 

Additionally, we performed quantitative assessments to determine the fair value of each of the remaining reporting units.  The estimate of the fair value of the reporting unit is determined using a combination of an expected present value of future cash flows and a market multiple valuation method.  The present value of future cash flows is estimated using (i) discrete financial forecasts, which rely on management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses, (ii) long-term growth rates and (iii) an appropriate discount rate.  The market multiple valuation method uses appropriate market multiples from comparable companies on the reporting unit’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.  We evaluate industry and market conditions for purposes of weighting the income and market valuation approach.  Based on such calculations, each reporting unit’s fair value was in excess of its carrying value.  We did not record any goodwill impairment charges during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.  During the year ended December 31, 2011, we recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $169.6 million in our former Natural Gas Storage segment.

 

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Valuation of Long-Lived Assets and Equity Method Investments

 

We assess the recoverability of our long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  Estimates of undiscounted future cash flows include (i) discrete financial forecasts, which rely on management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses, (ii) long-term growth rates, and (iii) estimates of useful lives of the assets.  Such estimates of future undiscounted cash flows are highly subjective and are based on numerous assumptions about future operations and market conditions.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2013, our Board of Directors approved a plan to divest our Natural Gas Storage segment and its related assets as we no longer believe this business is aligned with our long-term business strategy.  In connection with this strategic divestiture, we recorded a $169 million non-cash asset impairment charge included in our loss on discontinued operations on our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Our current marketing initiative and fair value estimate are based on the Natural Gas Storage disposal group operating as a combined natural gas and compressed air energy storage facility, as geological evidence indicates that the formation and deliverability of the facility are capable of providing both services.  We believe the combined services are more valuable to market participants (i.e. load-serving entities) that are subject to the California Public Utility Commissions’ requirement to own specific amounts of energy storage by 2024, in accordance with state law Assembly Bill 2514.  We applied the income approach due to the lack of recent comparable transactions in the marketplace and estimated the fair value using a present value of expected future cash flows valuation method.  The present value of the expected future cash flows was determined using multiple pricing inputs, including, where applicable, commodity prices (power ancillary service charges, energy prices, capacity fees, and natural gas storage), discount rates, historical contract terms and operational capabilities of the natural gas storage facility.  Valuation adjustments were considered to factor in liquidity risk and model uncertainty.  Unobservable pricing inputs were developed based on an evaluation of relevant empirical market data and historical pricing and operating cash flows.  In addition, we engaged a third-party natural gas storage valuation specialist to assist with our internally developed fair value estimate.  Sensitivity to changes in commodity prices and discount rates could have a material impact on our fair value estimate.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2012, we recorded a $60 million non-cash asset impairment charge in the Pipelines & Terminals segment relating to a portion of Buckeye’s NORCO pipeline system.  During 2011, we considered the goodwill impairment in our former Natural Gas Storage segment an indicator of impairment related to the long-lived assets associated with the Natural Gas Storage reporting unit.  Accordingly, we evaluated the former Natural Gas Storage assets for impairment and concluded that no impairment of the long-lived assets existed at that time.  See Note 5 and 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

 

We evaluate equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that there is an “other than temporary” loss in value of the investment.  Estimates of future cash flows include (i) discrete financial forecasts, which rely on management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses, (ii) long-term growth rates, and (iii) probabilities assigned to different cash flow scenarios.  There were no impairments of our equity investments during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 or 2011.

 

Reserves for Environmental Matters

 

We record environmental liabilities at a specific site when environmental assessments occur or remediation efforts are probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated based upon past experience, discussion with operating personnel, advice of outside engineering and consulting firms, discussion with legal counsel, or current facts and circumstances.  The estimates related to environmental matters are uncertain because (i) estimated future expenditures are subject to cost fluctuations and change in estimated remediation period, (ii) unanticipated liabilities may arise, and (iii) changes in federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations may significantly change the extent of remediation.

 

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Valuation of Derivatives

 

We are exposed to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates and commodity prices, in the course of our normal business operations.  We use derivative instruments to manage these risks.

 

Our Merchant Services segment primarily uses exchange-traded refined petroleum product futures contracts to manage the risk of market price volatility on its refined petroleum product inventories and its physical derivative contracts.  The futures contracts used to hedge refined petroleum product inventories are designated as fair value hedges with changes in fair value of both the futures contracts and physical inventory reflected in earnings.  Physical contracts and futures contracts that have not been designated in a hedge relationship are marked-to-market.

 

The fixed-price and index purchase contracts are typically executed with credit worthy counterparties and are short-term in nature, thus evaluated for credit risk in the same manner as the fixed-price sales contracts.  However, because the fixed-price sales contracts are privately negotiated with customers of the Merchant Services segment who are generally smaller, private companies that may not have established credit ratings, the determination of an adjustment to fair value to reflect counterparty credit risk (a “credit valuation adjustment”) requires significant management judgment.

 

Each customer is evaluated for performance under the terms and conditions of their contracts; therefore, we evaluate (i) the historical payment patterns of the customer, (ii) the current outstanding receivables balances for each customer and contract and (iii) the level of performance of each customer with respect to volumes called for in the contract.  We then evaluated the specific risks and expected outcomes of nonpayment or nonperformance by each customer and contract.  We continue to monitor and evaluate performance and collections with respect to these fixed-price contracts.

 

Additionally, we utilize forward-starting interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk related to forecasted interest payments on anticipated debt issuances.  When entering into interest rate swap transactions, we are exposed to both credit risk and market risk.  We manage our credit risk by entering into swap transactions only with major financial institutions with investment-grade credit ratings.  We manage our market risk by aligning the swap instrument with the existing underlying debt obligation or a specified expected debt issuance generally associated with the maturity of an existing debt obligation.  The fair value of the swap instruments are calculated by discounting the future cash flows of both the fixed rate and variable rate interest payments using appropriate discount rates with consideration given to our non-performance risk.

 

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Market Risk — Trading Instruments

 

We have no trading derivative instruments.

 

Market Risk — Non-Trading Instruments

 

We are exposed to financial market risks, including changes in commodity prices and interest rates.  The primary factors affecting our market risk and the fair value of our derivative portfolio at any point in time are the volume of open derivative positions, changing refined petroleum commodity prices, and prevailing interest rates for our interest rate swaps.  Since prices for refined petroleum products and interest rates are volatile, there may be material changes in the fair value of our derivatives over time, driven both by price volatility and the changes in volume of open derivative transactions.

 

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The following is a summary of changes in fair value of our derivative instruments for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Commodity

 

Interest

 

 

 

 

 

Instruments

 

Rate Swaps

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of contracts outstanding at January 1, 2013

 

$

(8,439

)

$

(130,636

)

$

(139,075

)

Items recognized or settled during the period

 

(4,304

)

62,873

 

58,569

 

Fair value attributable to new deals

 

(6,485

)

 

(6,485

)

Change in fair value attributable to price movements

 

8,999

 

37,718

 

46,717

 

Change in fair value attributable to non-performance risk

 

14

 

 

14

 

Fair value of contracts outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

$

(10,215

)

$

(30,045

)

$

(40,260

)

 

Commodity Price Risk

 

Merchant Services

 

Our Merchant Services segment primarily uses exchange-traded refined petroleum product futures contracts to manage the risk of market price volatility on its refined petroleum product inventories and its physical derivative contracts.  Based on a hypothetical 10% movement in the underlying quoted market prices of the futures contracts and observable market data from third-party pricing publications for physical derivative contracts related to designated hedged refined petroleum products inventories outstanding and physical derivative contracts at December 31, 2013, the estimated fair value would be as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Resulting

 

 

 

Scenario

 

Classification

 

Fair Value

 

Fair value assuming no change in underlying commodity prices (as is)

 

Asset

 

$

280,502

 

Fair value assuming 10% increase in underlying commodity prices

 

Asset

 

284,166

 

Fair value assuming 10% decrease in underlying commodity prices

 

Asset

 

276,838

 

 

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Interest Rate Risk

 

We utilize forward-starting interest rate swaps to hedge the variability of the forecasted interest payments on anticipated debt issuances that may result from changes in the benchmark interest rate until the expected debt is issued.  When entering into interest rate swap transactions, we are exposed to both credit risk and market risk.  We manage our credit risk by entering into swap transactions only with major financial institutions with investment-grade credit ratings.  We are subject to credit risk when the change in fair value of the swap instruments is positive and the counterparty may fail to perform under the terms of the contract.  We are subject to market risk with respect to changes in the underlying benchmark interest rate that impact the fair value of swaps.  We manage our market risk by aligning the swap instrument with the existing underlying debt obligation or a specified expected debt issuance generally associated with the maturity of an existing debt obligation.

 

Our practice with respect to derivative transactions related to interest rate risk has been to have each transaction in connection with non-routine borrowings authorized by the Board of Directors of Buckeye GP.  In February 2009, Buckeye GP’s Board of Directors adopted an interest rate hedging policy which permits us to enter into certain short-term interest rate swap agreements to manage our interest rate and cash flow risks associated with a credit facility.  In addition, in July 2009 and May 2010, Buckeye GP’s Board of Directors authorized us to enter into certain transactions, such as forward-starting interest rate swaps, to manage our interest rate and cash flow risks related to certain expected debt issuances associated with the maturity of existing debt obligations.

 

Based on a hypothetical 10% movement in the underlying interest rates at December 31, 2013, the estimated fair value of the interest rate derivative contracts would be as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Resulting

 

 

 

Scenario

 

Classification

 

Fair Value

 

Fair value assuming no change in underlying interest rates (as is)

 

Liability

 

$

(30,045

)

Fair value assuming 10% increase in underlying interest rates

 

Liability

 

(21,350

)

Fair value assuming 10% decrease in underlying interest rates

 

Liability

 

(38,760

)

 

See Note 17 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion related to derivative instruments and hedging activities.

 

At December 31, 2013, we had total fixed-rate debt obligations under our Credit Facility at carrying value of $3,063.7 million.  Based on a hypothetical 1% movement in the underlying interest rates at December 31, 2013, the estimated fair value of our debt obligations would be as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value of

 

 

 

Scenario

 

Fixed-Rate Debt

 

 

 

Fair value assuming no change in underlying interest rates (as is)

 

$

3,148.6

 

 

 

Fair value assuming 1% increase in underlying interest rates

 

2,961.6

 

 

 

Fair value assuming 1% decrease in underlying interest rates

 

3,358.9

 

 

 

 

At December 31, 2013, our variable-rate obligations were $255 million under the Credit Facility.  Based on the balance outstanding at December 31, 2013, we estimate that a 1% increase or decrease in interest rates would increase or decrease annual interest expense by $2.6 million.

 

 

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Foreign Currency Risk

 

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth country under the U.S., and thus uses the U.S. dollar as its official currency.  BORCO’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar and it is equivalent in value to the Bahamian dollar.  St. Lucia is a sovereign island country in the Caribbean and its official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar and has remained fixed for many years.  The functional currency for our operations in St. Lucia is the U.S. dollar.  Foreign exchange gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar relate to a nominal amount of supply purchases and are included in other income (expense) within the consolidated statements of operations.  The effects of foreign currency transactions were not considered to be material for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

 

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Item  8.      Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

 

Page

 

 

 Management’s Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

63

 

 

 Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

64

 

 

 Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

66

 

 

 Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

67

 

 

 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012

68

 

 

 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

69

 

 

 Consolidated Statements of Partners’ Capital for the Years Ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011

70

 

 

 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements:

 

 1. Organization

71

 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

71

 3. Acquisitions and Dispositions

82

 4. Discontinued Operations

86

 5. Asset Impairments

87

 6. Commitments and Contingencies

88

 7. Inventories

90

 8. Prepaid and Other Current Assets

91

 9. Property, Plant and Equipment

91

 10. Equity Investments

92

 11. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

94

 12. Other Non-Current Assets

95

 13. Accrued and Other Current Liabilities

96

 14. Long-Term Debt

97

 15. Other Non-Current Liabilities

100

 16. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

100

 17. Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

100

 18. Fair Value Measurements

104

 19. Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits

106

 20. Unit-Based Compensation Plans

111

 21. Employee Stock Ownership Plan

114

 22. Related Party Transactions

115

 23. Partners’ Capital and Distributions

115

 24. Income Taxes

119

 25. Earnings Per Unit

120

 26. Business Segments

121

 27. Supplemental Cash Flow Information

125

 28. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)

126

 

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Table of Contents

 

MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

Management of Buckeye GP LLC, as general partner of Buckeye Partners, L.P. (“Buckeye”), is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting of Buckeye. Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted (“GAAP”) in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

Management evaluated the internal control over financial reporting of Buckeye as of December 31, 2013.  In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (1992) (“COSO”).  As a result of this assessment and based on the criteria in the COSO framework, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2013, the internal control over financial reporting of Buckeye was effective.

 

Buckeye’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, has audited the internal control over financial reporting of Buckeye.  Their opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Buckeye appears herein.

 

 

/s/ CLARK C. SMITH

 

/s/ KEITH E. ST.CLAIR

 

Clark C. Smith

 

Keith E. St.Clair

 

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

February 26, 2014

 

 

 

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors of Buckeye GP LLC and the

Partners of Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Buckeye Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries (“Buckeye”) as of December 31, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  Buckeye’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on Buckeye’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

 

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

In our opinion, Buckeye maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2013 of Buckeye and our report dated February 26, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Houston, Texas

February 26, 2014

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Board of Directors of Buckeye GP LLC and the

Partners of Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Buckeye Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries (“Buckeye”) as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows, and partners’ capital for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013.  These financial statements are the responsibility of Buckeye’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Buckeye Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2013, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Buckeye’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2013, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (1992) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 26, 2014 expressed an unqualified opinion on Buckeye’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

 

Houston, Texas

February 26, 2014

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product sales

 

$

3,966,247

 

$

3,332,301

 

$

3,844,888

 

Transportation, storage and other services

 

1,087,854

 

953,602

 

848,732

 

Total revenue

 

5,054,101

 

4,285,903

 

4,693,620

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product sales

 

3,944,448

 

3,304,326

 

3,815,460

 

Operating expenses

 

413,577

 

372,993

 

340,989

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

147,591

 

138,857

 

112,398

 

General and administrative

 

70,444

 

65,241

 

58,928

 

Asset impairment expense (Note 5)

 

 

59,950

 

 

Total costs and expenses

 

4,576,060

 

3,941,367

 

4,327,775

 

Operating income

 

478,041

 

344,536

 

365,845

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings from equity investments

 

5,243

 

6,100

 

10,434

 

Gain on sale of equity investment

 

 

 

34,727

 

Interest and debt expense

 

(130,920

)

(114,980

)

(119,561

)

Other income (expense)

 

295

 

(452

)

190

 

Total other expense, net

 

(125,382

)

(109,332

)

(74,210

)

Income from continuing operations before taxes

 

352,659

 

235,204

 

291,635

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

(1,060

)

675

 

192

 

Income from continuing operations

 

351,599

 

235,879

 

291,827

 

Loss from discontinued operations (Note 4)

 

(187,174

)

(5,328

)

(177,163

)

Net income

 

164,425

 

230,551

 

114,664

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(4,152

)

(4,134

)

(6,163

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

$

160,273

 

$

226,417

 

$

108,501

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings (loss) per unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

3.25

 

$

2.38

 

$

3.16

 

Discontinued operations

 

(1.75

)

(0.05

)

(1.96

)

Total

 

$

1.50

 

$

2.33

 

$

1.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted earnings (loss) per unit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

3.23

 

$

2.37

 

$

3.15

 

Discontinued operations

 

(1.74

)

(0.05

)

(1.95

)

Total

 

$

1.49

 

$

2.32

 

$

1.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

107,202

 

97,309

 

90,423

 

Diluted

 

107,677

 

97,635

 

90,772

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

164,425

 

$

230,551

 

$

114,664

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments

 

37,718

 

(28,726

)

(104,809

)

Reclassification of derivative losses to net income

 

4,881

 

917

 

1,170

 

Recognition of costs related to benefit plans to net income

 

1,574

 

807

 

95

 

Adjustments to recognize the funded status of benefit plans

 

11,054

 

(4,036

)

(2,938

)

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

 

55,227

 

(31,038

)

(106,482

)

Comprehensive income

 

219,652

 

199,513

 

8,182

 

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(4,152

)

(4,134

)

(6,163

)

Comprehensive income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

$

215,500

 

$

195,379

 

$

2,019

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Table of Contents

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except unit amounts)

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

4,950

 

$

6,776

 

Trade receivables, net

 

326,243

 

262,023

 

Construction and pipeline relocation receivables

 

23,135

 

13,078

 

Inventories

 

312,135

 

259,163

 

Derivative assets

 

4,412

 

1,719

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

48,503

 

91,563

 

Assets held for sale (Note 4)

 

181,708

 

 

Total current assets

 

901,086

 

634,322

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

4,925,294

 

4,188,648

 

Equity investments

 

72,349

 

68,713

 

Goodwill

 

821,500

 

818,121

 

Intangible assets, net

 

225,364

 

219,247

 

Other non-current assets

 

59,970

 

51,958

 

Total assets

 

$

7,005,563

 

$

5,981,009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and partners’ capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Line of credit

 

$

226,000

 

$

206,200

 

Accounts payable

 

149,520

 

112,792

 

Derivative liabilities

 

44,672

 

82,989

 

Accrued and other current liabilities

 

227,084

 

192,385

 

Liabilities held for sale (Note 4)

 

37,767

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

685,043

 

594,366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

3,092,711

 

2,735,244

 

Long-term derivative liabilities

 

 

57,805

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

146,973

 

204,754

 

Total liabilities

 

3,924,727

 

3,592,169

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners’ capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Limited Partners (115,063,617 and 90,371,061 units outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)

 

3,169,217

 

2,117,788

 

Class B Units (0 and 7,974,750 units outstanding as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively)

 

 

413,304

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(103,552

)

(158,779

)

Total Buckeye Partners, L.P. capital

 

3,065,665

 

2,372,313

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

15,171

 

16,527

 

Total partners’capital

 

3,080,836

 

2,388,840

 

Total liabilities and partners’ capital

 

$

7,005,563

 

$

5,981,009

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

164,425

 

$

230,551

 

$

114,664

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Settlement of terminated interest rate swap agreement

 

(62,009

)

 

 

Gain on sale of equity investment

 

 

 

(34,727

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

155,183

 

146,424

 

119,534

 

Asset impairment expense

 

 

59,950

 

 

Impairment of assets of discontinued operations

 

169,002

 

 

169,560

 

Net changes in fair value of derivatives

 

1,776

 

13,336

 

(66,747

)

Non-cash deferred lease expense

 

3,770

 

3,901

 

4,122

 

Amortization of unfavorable storage contracts

 

(11,023

)

(10,994

)

(7,562

)

Earnings from equity investments

 

(5,243

)

(6,100

)

(10,434

)

Distributions from equity investments

 

1,312

 

3,325

 

6,656

 

Other non-cash items

 

42,196

 

20,914

 

12,476

 

Change in assets and liabilities, net of amounts related to acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade receivables

 

(60,761

)

(53,472

)

(29,684

)

Construction and pipeline relocation receivables

 

(10,057

)

(4,416

)

(1,859

)

Inventories

 

(45,344

)

39,141

 

102,511

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

23,206

 

(2,326

)

(4,220

)

Accounts payable

 

11,311

 

20,303

 

29,872

 

Accrued and other current liabilities

 

33,516

 

(20,742

)

(16,312

)

Other non-current assets

 

626

 

(1,624

)

17,546

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

(26,392

)

3,465

 

(1,504

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

385,494

 

441,636

 

403,892

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(361,445

)

(331,338

)

(305,324

)

Acquisition of interest in equity investment

 

 

(350

)

(5,723

)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

 

(856,377

)

(260,312

)

(1,084,469

)

Proceeds from insurance settlement

 

12,650

 

 

 

Proceeds from the sale of equity investment

 

 

 

85,000

 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

494

 

1,678

 

237

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(1,204,678

)

(590,322

)

(1,310,279

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net proceeds from issuance of units

 

902,976

 

246,805

 

736,871

 

Net proceeds from exercise of unit options

 

1,277

 

1,067

 

3,567

 

Payment of tax withholding on issuance of LTIP awards

 

(5,034

)

(2,604

)

 

Issuance of long-term debt

 

1,292,666

 

 

647,530

 

Repayment of long term-debt

 

(300,000

)

 

(1,525

)

Debt issuance costs

 

(11,921

)

 

(9,968

)

Borrowings under BPL Credit Facility

 

1,651,500

 

1,040,300

 

1,221,732

 

Repayments under BPL Credit Facility

 

(2,287,500

)

(699,300

)

(995,732

)

Net borrowings (repayments) under BES Credit Facility

 

19,800

 

(45,000

)

(33,100

)

Acquisition of additional interest in WesPac Memphis

 

(9,727

)

(17,328

)

 

Repayment of debt assumed in BORCO acquisition

 

 

 

(318,167

)

Credits (costs) associated with agreement and plan of Merger

 

 

422

 

(1,356

)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests

 

(7,850

)

(10,707

)

(8,872

)

Proceeds from settlement of treasury lock

 

 

 

497

 

Distributions paid to unitholders

 

(428,829

)

(371,179

)

(335,730

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

817,358

 

142,476

 

905,747

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(1,826

)

(6,210

)

(640

)

Cash and cash equivalents — Beginning of year

 

6,776

 

12,986

 

13,626

 

Cash and cash equivalents — End of year

 

$

4,950

 

$

6,776

 

$

12,986

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited

 

Class B

 

Comprehensive

 

Noncontrolling

 

 

 

 

 

Partners

 

Units

 

Loss

 

Interests

 

Total

 

Partners’ capital - January 1, 2011

 

$

1,413,664

 

$

 

$

(21,259

)

$

17,855

 

$

1,410,260

 

Net income

 

100,553

 

7,948

 

 

6,163

 

114,664

 

Acquisition of 80% interest in BORCO

 

 

 

 

276,508

 

276,508

 

Acquisition of remaining interest in BORCO

 

 

 

 

(278,211

)

(278,211

)

Distributions paid to unitholders

 

(341,369

)

 

 

5,639

 

(335,730

)

Issuance of units to First Reserve for BORCO acquisition

 

152,772

 

254,619

 

 

 

407,391

 

Issuance of units to Vopak for BORCO acquisition

 

36,041

 

60,069

 

 

 

96,110

 

Net proceeds from issuance of units

 

663,868

 

73,003

 

 

 

736,871

 

Amortization of unit-based compensation awards

 

9,233

 

 

 

 

9,233

 

Exercise of LP Unit options

 

3,567

 

 

 

 

3,567

 

Services Company’s non-cash ESOP distributions

 

 

 

 

(1,407

)

(1,407

)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

(8,872

)

(8,872

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

(106,482

)

 

(106,482

)

Noncash accrual for distribution equivalent rights

 

(1,210

)

 

 

 

(1,210

)

Other

 

(1,848

)

 

 

3,113

 

1,265

 

Partners’ capital - December 31, 2011

 

2,035,271

 

395,639

 

(127,741

)

20,788

 

2,323,957

 

Net income

 

208,752

 

17,665

 

 

4,134

 

230,551

 

Acquisition of additional interest in WesPac

 

(14,674

)

 

 

(2,654

)

(17,328

)

Distributions paid to unitholders

 

(376,177

)

 

 

4,998

 

(371,179

)

Net proceeds from issuance of units

 

246,805

 

 

 

 

246,805

 

Amortization of unit-based compensation awards

 

19,520

 

 

 

 

19,520

 

Proceeds from exercise of unit options

 

1,067

 

 

 

 

1,067

 

Payment of tax withholding on issuance of LTIP awards

 

(2,604

)

 

 

 

(2,604

)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

(10,707

)

(10,707

)

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

(31,038

)

 

(31,038

)

Noncash accrual for distribution equivalent rights

 

(1,328

)

 

 

 

(1,328

)

Other

 

1,156

 

 

 

(32

)

1,124

 

Partners’ capital - December 31, 2012

 

2,117,788

 

413,304

 

(158,779

)

16,527

 

2,388,840

 

Net income

 

143,554

 

16,719

 

 

4,152

 

164,425

 

Acquisition of additional interest in WesPac

 

(8,232

)

 

 

(1,495

)

(9,727

)

Distributions paid to unitholders

 

(432,508

)

 

 

3,679

 

(428,829

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conversion of Class B Units to LP Units

 

430,023

 

(430,023

)

 

 

 

Net proceeds from issuance of units

 

902,976

 

 

 

 

902,976

 

Amortization of unit-based compensation awards

 

21,781

 

 

 

 

21,781

 

Proceeds from exercise of unit options

 

1,277

 

 

 

 

1,277

 

Payment of tax withholding on issuance of LTIP awards

 

(5,034

)

 

 

 

(5,034

)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests

 

 

 

 

(7,850

)

(7,850

)

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

55,227

 

 

55,227

 

Noncash accrual for distribution equivalent rights

 

(2,250

)

 

 

 

(2,250

)

Other

 

(158

)

 

 

158

 

 

Partners’ capital - December 31, 2013

 

$

3,169,217

 

$

 

$

(103,552

)

$

15,171

 

$

3,080,836

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

70


 


Table of Contents

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.  ORGANIZATION

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. is a publicly traded Delaware master limited partnership (“MLP”), and its limited partnership units representing limited partner interests (“LP Units”) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the ticker symbol “BPL.”  Buckeye GP LLC (“Buckeye GP”) is our general partner and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Buckeye GP Holdings L.P. (“BGH”), a Delaware limited partnership that was previously publicly traded on the NYSE prior to Buckeye’s merger with BGH, with BGH as the surviving entity.  As used in these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, “we,” “us,” “our” and “Buckeye” mean Buckeye Partners, L.P. and, where the context requires, includes our subsidiaries.

 

We were formed in 1986 and own and operate one of the largest independent liquid petroleum products pipeline systems in the United States in terms of volumes delivered, miles of pipeline, and active product terminals.  In addition, we operate and/or maintain third-party pipelines under agreements with major oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical companies, and perform certain engineering and construction management services for third parties.  We also own and operate a natural gas storage facility in Northern California, and are a wholesale distributor of refined petroleum products in the United States in areas also served by our pipelines and terminals.  Beginning in late 2012, we began to provide fuel oil supply and distribution services to third parties in the Caribbean.  Our flagship marine terminal in The Bahamas, Bahamas Oil Refining Company International Limited (“BORCO”) is one of the largest marine crude oil and petroleum products storage facilities in the world, serving the international markets as a global logistics hub.

 

In December 2013, our Board of Directors approved a plan to divest our Natural Gas Storage segment and its related assets as we no longer believe this business is aligned with our long-term business strategy.  In this report, we refer to this group of assets and related liabilities as our Natural Gas Storage disposal group.  Accordingly, we have classified the disposal group as “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities held for sale” in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and reported the results of operations as discontinued operations for all periods presented in this report.  For additional information, see Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Additionally, in December 2013, we changed our organizational structure to align our strategic business units into four reportable segments: Pipelines & Terminals, Global Marine Terminals, Merchant Services and Development & Logistics.  See Note 26 for additional information.  We have adjusted our prior period segment information to conform to the current alignment of our continuing business and discontinued operations.

 

2.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

We adhere to the following significant accounting policies in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements:

 

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and the rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of our subsidiaries controlled by us and variable interest entities of which we are the primary beneficiary.  We have eliminated all intercompany transactions in consolidation.

 

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

We regularly assess our legal obligations with respect to estimated retirements of certain of our long-lived assets to determine if an asset retirement obligation (“ARO”) exists. The fair value of a liability related to the retirement of long-lived assets is recorded at the time a regulatory or contractual obligation is incurred, including obligations to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. If an ARO is identified and a liability is recorded, a corresponding asset is recorded concurrently and is depreciated over the remaining useful life of the asset. After the initial measurement, the liability is periodically adjusted for costs incurred or settled, accretion expense, and any revisions made to the assumptions related to the retirement costs.  Generally, the fair value of the liability is determined based on estimates and assumptions related to (i) future retirement costs, (ii) future inflation rates and, (iii) credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Our assets generally consist of terminals that we own and underground liquid petroleum products pipelines installed along rights-of-way acquired from land owners and related above-ground facilities. The significant majority of our rights-of-way agreements do not require the dismantling and removal of the pipelines and reclamation of the rights-of-way upon permanent removal of the pipelines from service.  In addition, we assume substantially all of our common carrier properties operate indefinitely, as these assets generally serve in high-population and high-demand markets.  Accordingly, other than with respect to facilities that are expected to be taken out of service, we have recorded no liabilities, or corresponding assets because the future dismantlement and removal dates of the majority of our assets, and the amount of any associated costs, are indeterminable.  The ARO liability represents our best estimate of the costs to be incurred with information currently available and is based on certain assumptions, including (i) timing of retirement of assets, (ii) methods of abandonment to be employed and (iii) if applicable, our requirements under right-of-way agreements; therefore, it is likely that the ultimate costs to settle this liability will be different and such differences could be material.

 

The following table presents information regarding our AROs (in thousands):

 

ARO liability balance, January 1, 2012

 

$

1,212

 

Increase in ARO liability (1)

 

12,100

 

Accretion expense

 

112

 

ARO liability balance, December 31, 2012

 

13,424

 

ARO settlements

 

(1,183

)

Accretion expense

 

123

 

ARO related to Natural Gas Storage disposal group (2)

 

(1,447

)

ARO liability balance, December 31, 2013  (3)

 

$

10,917

 

 


(1)         See Note 5 for a discussion of ARO recorded due to the abandonment of a portion of our NORCO pipeline system during 2012.

(2)         Amount is included in “Liabilities held for sale” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013.  See Note 4 for further information.

(3)         Amount includes $8.3 million within “Accrued and other current liabilities,” and $2.6 million within “Other non-current liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

 

Assets Held for Sale

 

Assets are classified as held for sale when we have a plan for disposal of certain assets and those assets meet the held for sale criteria as set forth in authoritative accounting guidance.  Upon approval of a plan to sell our Natural Gas Storage business by the Board of Directors, we classified the asset and liabilities of the business as “held for sale” on our consolidated balance sheets.  The results of our Natural Gas Storage business have been segregated and presented as “discontinued operations” on our consolidated statements of operations.

 

At the time an operation qualifies for held for sale accounting, the operation is evaluated to determine whether or not the carrying value exceeds its fair value less cost to sell.  As a result of our measurement of this disposal group at fair value less costs to sell, we recorded $169 million of asset impairment expense within “Loss from discontinued operations” on our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.  At December 31, 2012, we had no assets held for sale.

 

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Table of Contents

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Business Combinations

 

We allocate the total purchase price of a business combination to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date, with the excess purchase price recorded as goodwill. For all material acquisitions, we engage an independent valuation specialist to assist us in determining the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including goodwill, based on recognized business valuation methodology.  If the initial accounting for the business combination is incomplete by the end of the reporting period in which the acquisition occurs, an estimate will be recorded.  Subsequent to the acquisition but not to exceed one year from the acquisition date, we will record any material adjustments retrospectively to the initial estimate based on new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date.  Also, we expense any acquisition-related costs as incurred in connection with each business combination.  An income, market or cost valuation method may be utilized to estimate the fair value of the assets acquired or liabilities assumed in a business combination.  The income valuation method represents the present value of future cash flows over the life of the asset using (i) discrete financial forecasts, which rely on management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses, (ii) long-term growth rates, and (iii) appropriate discount rates.  The market valuation method uses prices paid for a reasonably similar asset by other purchasers in the market, with adjustments relating to any differences between the assets.  The cost valuation method is based on the replacement cost of a comparable asset at prices at the time of the acquisition reduced for depreciation of the asset.

 

Business Segments

 

We operate and report in four business segments: (i) Pipelines & Terminals; (ii) Global Marine Terminals; (iii) Merchant Services; and (iv) Development & Logistics.  In December 2013, we realigned our business segments to support the way our management views our business in light of recent growth through acquisitions.  We eliminated our previously reported International Operations and Energy Services segments and created the Global Marine Terminals and Merchant Services segments.  The new Global Marine Terminals segment includes our marine facilities that primarily facilitate global logistic product flows and feature segregated tankage, serve a similar international customer base and offer similar services, such as bulk storage and blending.  This segment includes our BORCO facility and Yabucoa terminal, the St. Lucia terminal acquired from Hess, and the New York Harbor storage and marine terminals, which consist of our legacy Perth Amboy terminal and the Port Reading and Raritan Bay terminals acquired from Hess.  Our Merchant Services segment centralizes all existing and new merchant activities to leverage common mid- and back-office support.  This segment includes the legacy Energy Services segment, the Caribbean fuel oil supply and distribution business and new merchant activities supporting the terminals recently acquired from Hess.  Our Development & Logistics segment remains unchanged.  Our Pipelines & Terminals segment remains unchanged, other than the removal of the Perth Amboy terminal.  Finally, we also eliminated the Natural Gas Storage segment because it has been classified as a discontinued operation.  Each segment uses the same accounting policies as those used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.  We have adjusted our prior period segment information to conform to the current alignment of our continuing business and discontinued operations.  See Note 26 for discussion of our business segments.

 

Capitalization of Interest

 

Interest on borrowed funds is capitalized on projects during construction based on the approximate average interest rate of our debt.  Interest capitalized for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $7.0 million, $9.2 million and $7.6 million, respectively.  The weighted average rates used to capitalize interest on borrowed funds was 4.7%, 4.5% and 4.2% for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

Cash equivalents represent all highly marketable securities with original maturities of three months or less.  The carrying value of cash equivalents approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of these investments.

 

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Table of Contents

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Comprehensive Income

 

Our comprehensive income is determined based on net income adjusted for unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments for our hedging transactions, reclassification of derivative gains and losses to net income and adjustments to the funded status of our pension and post-retirement benefit plans.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk and Trade Receivables

 

Trade receivables are primarily due from oil and natural gas companies, refineries, marketing and trading companies, and commercial airlines.  These concentrations of customers may affect our overall credit risk as these customers may be similarly affected by changes in economic, regulatory or other factors.  We extend credit to customers and manage our credit risks through credit analysis and monitoring procedures, including credit approvals, credit limits and right of offset.  Also, we manage our risk using letters of credit, prepayments and guarantees.

 

Trade receivables represent valid claims against non-affiliated customers and are recognized when products are sold or services are rendered. We record an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments.  We review the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts monthly by making judgments regarding future events and trends based on the (i) customers’ historical relationship with us, (ii) customers’ current financial condition, and (iii) current and projected economic conditions.

 

The activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Balance at beginning of period

 

$

3,425

 

$

2,348

 

$

2,893

 

Charged to expense

 

6

 

1,533

 

200

 

Write-offs, net of recoveries

 

(1,412

)

(456

)

(745

)

Balance at end of period

 

$

2,019

 

$

3,425

 

$

2,348

 

 

Construction and Pipeline Relocation Receivables

 

Construction and pipeline relocation receivables represent valid claims against non-affiliated customers for services rendered in constructing or relocating pipelines and are recognized when services are rendered.

 

Contingencies

 

Certain conditions may exist as of the date our consolidated financial statements are issued that may result in a loss to us, but which will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur.  Our management, with input from legal counsel, assesses such contingent liabilities, and such assessment inherently involves judgment.  In assessing loss contingencies related to legal proceedings that are pending against us or unasserted claims that may result in proceedings, our management, with input from legal counsel, evaluates the perceived merits of any legal proceedings or unasserted claims as well as the perceived merits of the amount of relief sought or expected to be sought therein.

 

If the assessment of a contingency indicates that it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of liability can be estimated, then the estimated liability is accrued in our consolidated financial statements.  If the assessment indicates that a potentially material loss contingency is not probable but is reasonably possible, or is probable but cannot be estimated, then the nature of the contingent liability, together with an estimate of the range of possible loss if determinable and material, is disclosed.  Actual results could vary from these estimates and judgments.

 

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Table of Contents

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Loss contingencies considered remote are generally not disclosed unless they involve guarantees, in which case the guarantees would be disclosed.

 

Cost of Product Sales

 

Cost of product sales relates to sales of refined petroleum products, consisting primarily of gasoline, propane, ethanol, biodiesel and middle distillates, such as heating oil, diesel fuel and kerosene, and fuel oil, as well as the effects of hedges of refined petroleum product acquisition costs and hedges of fixed-price contracts.

 

Debt Issuance Costs

 

Costs incurred upon the issuance of our debt instruments are capitalized and amortized over the life of the associated debt instrument on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest method.  If the debt instrument is retired before its scheduled maturity date, any remaining issuance costs associated with that debt instrument are expensed in the same period.

 

Derivative Instruments

 

Derivatives are financial and physical instruments whose fair value is determined by changes in a specified benchmark such as interest rates or commodity prices.  We use derivative instruments such as swaps, forwards, futures and other contracts to manage market price risks associated with inventories, firm commitments, interest rates and certain forecasted transactions.  We do not engage in speculative trading activities.

 

We recognize these transactions on our consolidated balance sheet as assets and liabilities based on the instrument’s fair value. Changes in fair value of derivative instrument contracts are recognized in the current period in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met.  If the derivative instrument is designated as a hedging instrument in a fair value hedge, gains and losses incurred on the instrument will be recorded in earnings to offset corresponding losses and gains on the hedged item.  If the derivative instrument is designated as a hedging instrument in a cash flow hedge, gains and losses incurred on the instrument are recorded in other comprehensive income.  In both cases, any gains or losses incurred on the derivative instrument that are not effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of the hedged item are recognized immediately in earnings.  Gains and losses on cash flow hedges are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to earnings when the forecasted transaction occurs and affects net income or, as appropriate, over the economic life of the underlying asset or liability.  Gains and losses related to a derivative instrument designated as a hedge of a forecasted transaction that is no longer likely to occur is immediately recognized in earnings.

 

To qualify as a hedge, the item to be hedged must expose us to risk and we must have an expectation that the related hedging instrument will be effective at reducing or mitigating that exposure.  In accordance with the hedging requirements, we document all hedging relationships at inception and include a description of the risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge, identification of the hedging instrument, the hedged item, the nature of the risk being hedged, the method for assessing effectiveness of the hedging instrument in offsetting the hedged risk and the method of measuring any ineffectiveness. We link all derivative instruments that are designated as fair value or cash flow hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions.  When an event or transaction occurs, such as hedged fuel inventory is sold or derivative contracts expire, we discontinue hedge accounting.  We also formally assess, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative instruments that are used in designated hedging relationships are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items.  If it is determined that a derivative instrument is not highly effective as a hedge or that it has ceased to be a highly effective hedge, we discontinue hedge accounting prospectively.  We measure ineffectiveness by comparing the change in fair value of the hedge instrument to the change in fair value of the hedged item.  The time value component is excluded from our hedge assessment and reported directly in earnings.

 

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Table of Contents

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Earnings per Unit

 

Basic earnings per unit from continuing operations, which includes LP Units and Class B Units (as defined in Note 23), is determined by dividing our income from continuing operations, after deducting the amount allocated to noncontrolling interests, by the weighted average units outstanding for the period.  Diluted earnings per unit from continuing operations is calculated the same way, except the weighted average units outstanding includes any dilutive effect of LP Unit option grants or grants under the 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan of Buckeye Partners, L.P. (the “LTIP”).  Similar calculation is performed for basic and diluted earnings per unit from discontinued operations, except loss from discontinued operations is divided by the weighted average units outstanding for the period.  See Note 20 for more information.

 

Environmental Expenditures

 

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, which require us to remove or remedy the effect of the disposal or release of specified substances at our operating sites.  We record environmental liabilities at a specific site when environmental assessments indicate remediation efforts are probable, and costs can be reasonably estimated based upon past experience,  discussions with operating personnel, advice of outside engineering and consulting firms, discussion with legal counsel or current facts and circumstances. The estimates related to environmental matters are uncertain because (i) estimated future expenditures are subject to cost fluctuations and change in estimated remediation period, (ii) unanticipated liabilities may arise, and (iii) changes in federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations may significantly change the extent of remediation.

 

Our estimated environmental remediation liabilities are not discounted to present value since the ultimate amount and timing of cash payments for such liabilities are not readily determinable. Expenditures to mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized.  We monitor the environmental liabilities regularly and record adjustments to our initial estimates, from time to time, to reflect changing circumstances and estimates based upon additional developments or information obtained in subsequent periods.  We maintain insurance which may cover certain environmental expenditures.  Recoveries of environmental remediation expenses from other parties are recorded when their receipt is deemed probable.

 

Equity Investments

 

We account for investments in entities in which we do not exercise control, but have significant influence, using the equity method.  Under this method, an investment is recorded at acquisition cost plus our equity in undistributed earnings or losses since acquisition, reduced by distributions received and amortization of excess net investment. Excess investment is the amount by which the total investment exceeds the proportionate share of the book value of the net assets of the investment.  Such excess investment not related to any specific accounts of the investee are treated as goodwill and not amortized.  Amounts associated with specific accounts of the investee are amortized.  We evaluate equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that there is an “other than temporary” loss in value of the investment.  In the event that the loss in value of an investment is “other than temporary”, we record a charge to earnings to adjust the carrying value to fair value. Estimates of future cash flows that would be used to determine fair value include (i) discrete financial forecasts, which rely on management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses, (ii) long-term growth rates and (iii) probabilities assigned to different cash flow scenarios.  A significant change in these underlying assumptions could result in recording an impairment charge.  There were no impairments of our equity investments during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 or 2011.

 

Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires our management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses during the reporting period and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements. Estimates and assumptions about future events and their effects cannot be made with certainty.  Estimates may change as new events occur, when additional information becomes available and if our operating environment changes. Actual results could differ from our estimates.

 

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Table of Contents

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at a specified measurement date.  Our fair value estimates are based on either (i) actual market data or (ii) assumptions that other market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability, including estimates of risk. Recognized valuation techniques employ inputs such as product prices, operating costs, discount factors and business growth rates.  These inputs may be either readily observable, corroborated by market data or generally unobservable.  In developing our estimates of fair value, we endeavor to utilize the best information available and apply market-based data to the extent possible.  Accordingly, we utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

 

A three-tier hierarchy has been established that classifies fair value amounts recognized or disclosed in the financial statements based on the observability of inputs used to estimate such fair values.  The characteristics of fair value amounts classified within each level of the hierarchy are described as follows:

 

·                  Level 1 inputs — unadjusted quoted prices which are available in active markets for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities as of the reporting date;

 

·                  Level 2 inputs — quoted market prices in market that are not considered to be active or financial instruments for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly; and

 

·                  Level 3 inputs — prices or valuations that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable.  These inputs are typically used in connection with internally developed valuation methodologies where management makes its best estimate of an instrument’s fair value.

 

At each balance sheet reporting date, we categorize our financial assets and liabilities using this hierarchy.

 

Foreign Currency

 

Puerto Rico is a commonwealth country under the U.S., and thus uses the U.S. dollar as its official currency.  BORCO’s functional currency is the U.S. dollar, and it is equivalent in value to the Bahamian dollar.  St. Lucia is a sovereign country in the Caribbean, and its official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar and has remained fixed for many years.  The functional currency of our operations in St. Lucia is the U.S. dollar.  Foreign exchange gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar relate to a nominal amount of supply purchases and are included in other income (expense) within the consolidated statements of operations.  The effects of foreign currency transactions were not considered to be material for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired. Our goodwill amounts are assessed for impairment (i) on an annual basis on January 1 of each year or (ii) on an interim basis if circumstances indicate it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its fair value.  Goodwill is tested for impairment at a level of reporting referred to as a reporting unit.  A reporting unit is a business segment or one level below a business segment for which discrete financial information is available and regularly reviewed by segment management.  Our reporting units are our business segments.

 

We may perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether the fair value of our reporting units are more likely than not less than the carrying amount.  If we believe the fair value is less than the carrying amount, we will perform step one of the two-step goodwill impairment test.  The first step of the goodwill impairment test determines whether an impairment exists by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, no impairment is indicated.  If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value, an impairment is indicated and the second step of the test is performed to measure the amount of impairment by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill to the carrying amount of that goodwill.  The fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination.  The excess of the fair value of the reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill.  The estimate of the fair value of the reporting unit is determined using a combination of an expected present value of future cash flows and a market multiple valuation method.  The present value of future cash flows is estimated using (i) discrete financial forecasts, which rely on management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses, (ii) long-term growth rates and (iii) appropriate discount rates.  The market multiple valuation method uses appropriate market multiples from comparable companies on the reporting unit’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.  We evaluate industry and market conditions for purposes of weighting the income and market valuation approach.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Income Taxes

 

For U.S. federal income tax purposes, we and each of our subsidiaries, except for Buckeye Development & Logistics I LLC (“BDL”), are not taxable entities.  Accordingly, our taxable income, except for BDL, is generally includable in the U.S. federal income tax returns of our individual partners and may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to our unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of certain assets and liabilities and other factors.  In certain states in which we operate, our operating subsidiaries directly incur income-based state taxes, which are subject to examination by state taxing authorities.

 

In addition, outside the continental U.S., our operations at the BORCO facility are exempt from income taxes by the Bahamian government pursuant to concessions granted under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement between the Government of the Bahamas and the Grand Bahama Port Authority through 2015; however, our operations at the Yabucoa terminal are subject to income taxes within the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.  Buckeye Caribbean Terminals LLC (“Buckeye Caribbean”) files annual income tax returns with the Puerto Rico Treasury Department and in 2002, was granted partial exemption under the Tax Incentives Act of 1998 (the “Act”).  Under the current terms of the grant, Buckeye Caribbean is subject to an income tax rate of 4% to 7% on industrial development income.  The grant also provides additional exemptions as follows: (i) 90% exempt from real and personal property taxes, (ii) 60% exempt from municipal taxes on industrial development income, and (iii) 100% exempt from excise taxes imposed under Subtitle C of the Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code, to the extent provided in Section 6(c) of the Act.  This favorable tax rate is scheduled to expire in 2022.  Our operations in St. Lucia are currently exempt from income taxes and duties in St. Lucia pursuant to concessions granted under the terms of our Tax Concession Agreement effective in 2007 and in effect for a minimum of 50 years.

 

We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for temporary differences between the amounts of assets and liabilities measured for financial reporting purposes and federal income tax purposes.  Changes in tax legislation are included in the relevant computations in the period in which such changes are effective.  We evaluate the need for a valuation allowance and consider all available positive and negative evidence, including projected operating income or losses for the foreseeable future, to determine the likelihood of realizing the benefits of deferred tax assets.  If the value of the deferred tax assets exceeds the estimated future benefit, we record a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount of future benefit that is more likely than not to be realized.  In the future, if the realization of the deferred tax assets should occur, a reduction to the valuation allowance related to the deferred tax assets would increase net income in the period such determination is made.

 

Our current and deferred income tax expense (benefit) was $0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2013 and $1.1 million and ($1.8) million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2012.  During the year ended December 31, 2011, our current income tax expense was minimal and our deferred income tax benefit was $0.2 million.  We have no unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable.  Intangible assets that have finite useful lives are amortized over their useful lives.  Intangible assets include contracts and customer relationships. The fair values of these intangibles are based on the present value of cash flows attributable to the customer relationship or contract, which includes management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses and costs relating to utilization of other assets to fulfill such contracts.  The customer contracts are being amortized over their contractual lives with a range of 1 to 5 years.  For the customer relationships, we determine the recovery period based on historical customer attrition rates and management’s assumptions on future events, including customer demand, contract renewal, useful lives of related assets and market conditions.  The customer relationships are being amortized over the estimated recovery period of 12 to 20 years.  When necessary, intangible assets’ useful lives are revised and the impact on amortization is reflected on a prospective basis.

 

Inventories

 

We generally maintain two types of inventory.  Our Merchant Services segment principally maintains refined petroleum products inventory, consisting of gasoline, propane, ethanol, biodiesel and middle distillates, such as heating oil, diesel fuel and kerosene.  Inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using the weighted average costs method, unless such inventories are hedged.   Hedged inventory is adjusted for the effects of applying fair value hedge accounting.

 

We also maintain, principally within our Pipelines & Terminals segment, an inventory of materials and supplies such as pipes, valves, pumps, electrical/electronic components, drag reducing agent and other miscellaneous items that are valued at the lower of cost or market based on the weighted-average cost method.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

We assess the recoverability of our long-lived assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.  We determine the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposal.   If the sum of the estimated undiscounted future cash flows exceeds the carrying amount, no impairment is necessary.  If the carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized based on the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets.  Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or estimated fair value less costs to sell.  Estimates of undiscounted future cash flows include (i) discrete financial forecasts, which rely on management’s estimates of revenue and operating expenses (ii) long-term growth rates and (iii) estimates of useful lives of the assets.  Such estimates of future undiscounted net cash flows are highly subjective and are based on numerous assumptions about future operations and market conditions.

 

Net Income Allocation

 

We allocate the net income attributable to Buckeye to the LP Unitholders and Class B Unitholders based on the weighted average LP Units and Class B Units (as defined in Note 23) outstanding during the period.  Following the conversion of all Class B Units into LP Units effective September 1, 2013 (see Note 23 for more information), the net income attributable to Buckeye is allocated entirely to the LP Unitholders.

 

Noncontrolling Interests

 

The consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations include noncontrolling interests that relate primarily to Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company (“Services Company”) and portions of Sabina Pipeline and WesPac Pipelines — Memphis LLC (“WesPac Memphis”) that are not owned by Buckeye.  Additionally, prior to February 16, 2011, a 20% noncontrolling interest of FR Borco Coop Holdings, L.P. (“FRBCH”) existed until we acquired such interest from Vopak Bahamas B.V. (“Vopak”) on February 16, 2011.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Pensions and Postretirement Benefits

 

Services Company sponsors a defined contribution plan, a defined benefit plan and the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) that provide retirement benefits to certain regular full-time employees. Services Company also sponsors an unfunded post-retirement plan that provides health care and life insurance benefits for certain of its retirees.  We develop pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefits costs from actuarial valuations.  The measurement of expenses and liabilities related to these plans is based on management’s assumptions related to future events, including discount rate, expected return on plan assets, rate of compensation increase, and heath care cost trend rates. The actuarial assumptions that we use may differ from actual results due to changing market rates or other factors. These differences could affect the amount of pension and postretirement health care and life insurance benefit expense we have recorded or may record.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

We record property, plant and equipment at its original acquisition cost.  Property, plant and equipment consist primarily of pipelines, storage and terminal facilities, jetties, subsea pipelines and docks, and pumping and station equipment.  Generally, we depreciate property, plant and equipment based on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, except for land.  See Note 9 for the depreciation life of our assets.

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment, including maintenance and expansion and cost reduction capital expenditures, are recorded at cost.  Maintenance capital expenditures maintain and enhance the safety and integrity of our pipelines, terminals, storage facilities and related assets, and expansion and cost reduction capital expenditures expand the reach or capacity of those assets, to improve the efficiency of our operations and to pursue new business opportunities.  We charge repairs to expense in the period incurred. The cost of property, plant and equipment sold or retired and the related depreciation, except for certain pipeline system assets, are removed from our consolidated balance sheet in the period of sale or disposition, and any resulting gain or loss is included in earnings.  For our pipeline system assets, we generally charge the original cost of property sold or retired to accumulated depreciation and amortization, net of salvage and cost of removal.  When a separately identifiable group of assets, such as a stand-alone pipeline system is sold, we will recognize a gain or loss in our consolidated statements of operations for the difference between the cash received and the net book value of the assets sold.

 

Recent Accounting Developments

 

Reclassification Adjustments Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”).  In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance requiring entities to disclose additional information about reclassification adjustments, including changes in AOCI balances by component and significant items reclassified out of AOCI.  Under the new guidance, an entity would (i) disaggregate the total change of each component of other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and separately present reclassification adjustments and current-period OCI, and (ii) present information about significant items reclassified out of AOCI by component either on the face of the statement where net income is presented or as a separate disclosure in the notes to the financial statements.  This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012.  We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2013, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures, as there were no significant reclassification adjustments related to AOCI during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 or 2011.

 

Balance Sheet: Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities.  In December 2011, the FASB issued guidance requiring an entity to provide enhanced disclosures that will enable users of its financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements on an entity’s financial position.  In January 2013, the FASB issued an update to this guidance clarifying that the scope of disclosures applied to derivatives accounted for in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 815, Derivative and Hedging, subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement.  This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 and should be applied retrospectively.  We adopted this guidance on January 1, 2013, which did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements, or a material impact on our disclosures. See Note 17 for information about our netting policy for derivatives.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified or adjusted to conform to the current year presentation. Reclassifications of prior period amounts were made to components of certain account balances presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.  In addition, reclassifications of prior period amounts were made to operating and general and administrative expenses between our segments.  The reclassification impacted adjusted EBITDA by segment presented in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.  Such reclassifications had no impact on consolidated net income or partners’ capital.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Pipelines & Terminals segment.  Revenue from pipeline operations is comprised of tariffs and fees associated with the transportation of liquid petroleum products or crude oil at published tariffs as well as revenue associated with line leases for committed capacity on a particular system.  Tariff revenue is recognized either at the point of delivery or at the point of receipt, pursuant to specifications outlined in the respective tariffs.  Revenue associated with line leases is recognized ratably over the respective lease terms, regardless of whether the capacity is actually utilized, and is subject to take or pay arrangements.  All pipeline tariff and fee revenue is based upon actual volumes and rates.  As is common in the industry, our tariffs incorporate loss allocation or loss allowance factors that are intended to, among other things, offset losses due to evaporation, measurement and other product losses in transit.  We value the variance of allowance volumes to actual losses at the estimated net realizable value at the time the variance occurred, and the result is recorded as either an increase or decrease to transportation and other service revenue.  In addition, we have certain agreements that require counterparties to ship a minimum volume over an agreed-upon period.  Revenue pursuant to such agreements is recognized at the earlier of when the volume is shipped or when the counterparty’s ability to meet the minimum volume commitment has expired.

 

Revenue from terminalling and storage operations is recognized as services are performed.  Storage and terminalling revenue include storage fees that are generated when we provide storage capacity and terminalling fees, or throughput fees, that are generated when we receive liquid petroleum products from one connecting pipeline and redeliver such products to another connecting carrier or to customers through a truck-loading rack.  We generate revenue through a combination of month-to-month and multi-year storage capacity and terminalling service arrangements.  Storage fees resulting from short-term and long-term contracts are typically recognized in revenue ratably over the term of the contract, regardless of the actual storage capacity utilized.  Terminalling fees are recognized as the refined petroleum product or crude oil exits the terminal and is delivered to a connecting carrier, third-party terminal or a customer through a truck-loading rack.  In addition, we have certain agreements that require counterparties to throughput a minimum volume over an agreed-upon period.  Revenue pursuant to such agreements is recognized at the earlier of when the volume exits the terminal or when the counterparty’s ability to meet the minimum volume commitment has expired.

 

Global Marine Terminals segmentRevenue from terminalling and storage operations is recognized as the services are performed.  Storage and terminalling revenue includes storage fees that are generated when we provide storage capacity and terminalling fees, or throughput fees, which are generated when we receive liquid petroleum products from sea going vessels or trucks and redeliver such products to customers through marine terminals or truck-loading racks, respectively.  We generate revenue through a combination of multi-year storage capacity and terminalling service arrangements.  Storage fees resulting from short-term and long-term contracts are typically recognized in revenue ratably over the term of the contract, regardless of the actual storage capacity utilized.  Terminalling fees are recognized as the liquid petroleum product exits the terminal and is delivered to a connecting carrier, third-party terminal or a customer through a truck-loading rack or vessel.  In addition, we have agreements that require counterparties to throughput a minimum volume over an agreed-upon period.  Revenue pursuant to such agreements is recognized at the earlier of when the volume exits the terminal or when the counterparty’s ability to meet the minimum volume has expired.  Revenue from other ancillary services is recognized in the accounting period in which the services are rendered.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Merchant Services segment.  Revenue from the sale of petroleum products, including fuel oil, which are sold on a wholesale basis, is recognized at the time title to the product sold transfers to the purchaser, which occurs upon delivery of the product to the purchaser or its designee.  Revenue from transactions commonly called buy/sell contracts, in which the purchase and sale of inventory with the same counterparty physically settle on the same day and location, are combined and reported net.

 

Development & Logistics segment.  Revenue from contract operation and construction services of facilities and pipelines not directly owned by us is recognized as the services are performed.  Contract and construction services revenue typically includes costs to be reimbursed by the customer plus an operator fee.

 

Unit-Based Compensation

 

We award unit-based compensation to employees and directors primarily under the LTIP.  All unit-based payments to employees under the LTIP, including grants of phantom units and performance units, are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations based on their fair values.  The fair values of both the performance unit and phantom unit grants are based on the average market price of our LP Units on the date of grant.  Compensation expense equal to the fair value of those performance unit and phantom unit awards that are expected to vest is estimated and recorded over the period the grants are earned, which is the vesting period.  Compensation expense estimates are updated periodically.  The vesting of the performance unit awards is also contingent upon the attainment of predetermined performance goals.  Depending on the estimated probability of attainment of those performance goals, the compensation expense recognized related to the awards could increase or decrease over the remaining vesting period.

 

BGH GP Holdings LLC (“BGH GP”), who formerly controlled our general partner, established an equity compensation plan (“Equity Compensation Plan”) for certain members of BGH GP’s senior management, who also serve as our senior management, pursuant to which BGH GP issued both time-based and performance-based awards of the equity of BGH GP (but not our equity), which are called override units.  Compensation expense and a corresponding contribution to partners’ capital would be recorded based on the fair value of the compensation from distributions paid on vested override units.  The vesting of the outstanding override units is contingent on a performance condition and a market condition.

 

3.  ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITION

 

Business Combinations

 

2013 Transaction

 

In December 2013, we acquired certain wholesale distribution contracts and 20 liquid petroleum products terminals with total storage capacity of approximately 39 million barrels from Hess Corporation (“Hess”) for $856.4 million, net of cash acquired (the “Hess Terminals Acquisition”).  The 19 domestic terminals are located primarily in major metropolitan locations along the U.S. East Coast and have approximately 29 million barrels of aggregate liquid petroleum products storage capacity, including approximately 15 million barrels of capacity strategically located in New York Harbor.  These terminals have access to products supplied by marine vessels and barges as well as pipelines.  Excluding the Port Reading and Raritan Bay terminals, which are reported as part of our Global Marine Terminals segment, the operations of these domestic terminals acquired from Hess are reported in our Pipelines & Terminals segment.  The terminal on St. Lucia in the Caribbean has approximately 10 million barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products storage capacity with deep-water access, and its operations are reported in our Global Marine Terminals segment.  The operations relating to the wholesale distribution contracts are reported in our Merchant Services segment.  We allocated $6.3 million of goodwill resulting from the Hess Terminals Acquisition to the Pipelines & Terminals reporting unit due to expected growth opportunities from one of the domestic terminals with high throughput volumes.  The remaining $2.9 million of goodwill was allocated to the Merchant Services reporting unit as it relates to the wholesale distribution contracts, which will enhance our wholesale distribution and racking business.  The Hess Terminals Acquisition increases Buckeye’s total liquid petroleum storage capacity by approximately 53 percent to over 110 million barrels.  Concurrent with this acquisition, we entered into multi-year storage and throughput commitments with Hess.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The acquisition cost has been allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values at the acquisition date, with amounts exceeding the fair value recorded as goodwill, which represents both expected synergies from combining our operations from the Hess Terminals Acquisition with our existing operations and the economic value attributable to future expansion projects resulting from this acquisition.  Fair values have been developed using recognized business valuation techniques and are subject to change pending final valuation analysis.  The purchase price has been allocated to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, on a preliminary basis, as follows (in thousands):

 

Current assets

 

$

16,533

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

801,603

 

Intangible assets

 

30,520

 

Goodwill

 

9,203

 

Current liabilities

 

(882

)

Environmental liabilities

 

(600

)

Allocated purchase price

 

$

856,377

 

 

Unaudited Pro forma Financial Results for Hess Terminals Acquisition

 

Our consolidated statements of operations do not include earnings from the terminals acquired from Hess (the “Hess Terminals”) prior to December 11, 2013, the effective date of the Hess Terminals Acquisition.  The total revenue and net income for the Hess Terminals since the acquisition date of $8.7 million and $4.1 million, respectively, were included in our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.  The preparation of unaudited pro forma financial information for the Hess Terminals Acquisition is impracticable due to the fact that Hess historically operated the domestic terminals primarily as part of its integrated distribution network and therefore, meaningful historical revenue information is not available.  As such, we have not presented unaudited pro forma earnings information for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

2012 Transaction

 

In July 2012, we acquired a marine terminal facility for liquid petroleum products in New York Harbor (the “Perth Amboy Facility”) from Chevron U.S.A Inc. (“Chevron”) for $260.3 million in cash.  The facility, which sits on approximately 250 acres on the Arthur Kill tidal strait in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, has 4.4 million barrels of tankage, four docks, and significant undeveloped land available for potential expansion.  The Perth Amboy Facility has water, pipeline, rail, and truck access, and is located six miles from our Linden, New Jersey complex.  The facility provides a link between our inland pipelines and terminals and our BORCO facility in The Bahamas and opportunities for improved service offerings to our customers.  Concurrent with the acquisition, we entered into multi-year storage, blending, and throughput commitments with Chevron.  The operations of the Perth Amboy Facility are reported in our Global Marine Terminals segment.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The acquisition cost has been allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimated fair values at the acquisition date, with amounts exceeding the fair value recorded as goodwill, which represents both expected synergies from combining the Perth Amboy Facility with our existing operations and the economic value attributable to future expansion projects resulting from this acquisition.  Fair values have been developed using recognized business valuation techniques.  The purchase price has been allocated to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows (in thousands):

 

Current assets

 

$

547

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

198,091

 

Intangible assets

 

13,350

 

Goodwill

 

59,197

 

Environmental liabilities

 

(10,873

)

Allocated purchase price

 

$

260,312

 

 

2011 Transactions

 

In July 2011, we acquired, from an affiliate of ExxonMobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”) for $23.5 million in cash, a terminal in Bangor, Maine (“Bangor Terminal”) with approximately 140,000 barrels of storage capacity, a terminal in Portland, Maine (“South Portland Terminal”) with approximately 725,000 barrels of storage capacity through a 50/50 joint venture with Irving Oil Terminals Inc. and a 124-mile pipeline that connects the two terminals.  We believe this acquisition represents our efforts to diversify into new geographic regions and to increase our marine terminals presence.  The South Portland Terminal is operated by our Development & Logistics segment.  We account for the South Portland Terminal using the equity method of accounting.  See Note 10 for equity investment information.  The pipeline, Bangor Terminal and equity investment are reported in the Pipelines & Terminals segment.  The purchase price was allocated principally to property, plant, and equipment and equity method investment.

 

In June 2011, we acquired 33 refined petroleum products terminals with total storage capacity of over 10 million barrels and approximately 650 miles of refined petroleum products pipelines from BP Products North America Inc. (“BP”) for $166 million.  The terminal and pipeline assets are located in the Midwestern, Southeastern and Western United States.  BP entered into multiple commercial contracts with us concurrent with the acquisition relating to the continued usage of these assets.  We believe the acquisition of these assets further extends our operations into new, key geographic markets.  The operations of these acquired assets are reported in the Pipelines & Terminals segment.  The purchase price has been allocated to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows (in thousands):

 

Inventory

 

$

1,161

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

175,577

 

Intangible assets

 

8,940

 

Environmental liabilities

 

(19,702

)

Allocated purchase price

 

$

165,976

 

 

On January 18, 2011, we acquired certain interests in BORCO held by FRC Founders Corporation (“First Reserve”) through the acquisition by us of all of the interests in FR Borco Topco, L.P., which indirectly owned First Reserve’s 80% partnership interest in FRBCH, the indirect owner of BORCO, for $1.15 billion (the “BORCO Acquisition”).  The BORCO Acquisition was financed through a combination of debt and equity, including the issuance of Class B Units and LP Units to First Reserve.  At the time of acquisition, BORCO had an aggregate storage capacity of approximately 22 million barrels.  The acquisition of this terminal facility allowed us to expand and diversify our operations by reaching beyond the continental United States and complemented our existing portfolio of assets.  Vopak, which is based in The Netherlands, owned the remaining 20% interest in FRBCH.  On February 16, 2011, Vopak sold its 20% interest in FRBCH to us for $276.5 million of cash and equity, which is a proportionate price and on the same terms and conditions as those in the sale and purchase agreement with First Reserve.  In connection with the BORCO Acquisition, we repaid on January 18, 2011, all of BORCO’s outstanding indebtedness and settled BORCO’s interest rate derivative instruments, collectively representing $318.2 million.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following table presents the aggregate consideration paid or issued to complete the BORCO acquisition (in thousands):

 

 

 

First Reserve

 

Vopak

 

Combined

 

Cash consideration

 

$

644,049

 

$

164,616

 

$

808,665

 

Fair value of LP Units and Class B Units issued (1)

 

407,391

 

96,110

 

503,501

 

Cash paid on behalf of the sellers (2)

 

96,241

 

15,780

 

112,021

 

Consideration issued to effect the transaction

 

$

1,147,681

 

$

276,506

 

$

1,424,187

 

 


(1)         On January 18, 2011 and February 16, 2011, we issued LP Units and Class B Units to First Reserve and Vopak, which represented a negotiated value of $400 million and $100 million of consideration, respectively.  In accordance with accounting for business combinations, the fair values of the units issued to First Reserve and Vopak on their respective acquisition dates were determined to be $407.4 million and $96.1 million, respectively.

(2)         $79.3 million was to be held in escrow related to Bahamian transfer taxes payable, $23.2 million was used to make certain payments to Vopak (BORCO’s operator) and to pay certain fees and expenses incurred by FRBCH and its affiliates in connection with the transaction and $9.5 million was used to pay bonuses to employees that became payable as a result of the transaction.

 

We recorded goodwill, which represents both expected synergies from combining this terminal facility with our existing operations and the economic value attributable to future expansion projects resulting from this acquisition.  We allocated negative fair values to certain unfavorable storage contracts at the date of acquisition and recorded them as current and long-term liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet (see Note 13 and Note 15).  The unfavorable storage contracts are being recognized to revenue based on the estimated realization of the fair value established on the acquisition date over the contractual life.  Fair values have been developed using recognized business valuation methodology.  The operations of this terminal facility are reported in the Global Marine Terminals segment.  The purchase price has been allocated to tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as follows (in thousands):

 

Current Assets

 

$

40,842

 

Inventory

 

1,645

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

1,129,961

 

Intangible assets

 

191,000

 

Other assets

 

415

 

Goodwill

 

490,536

 

Current liabilities

 

(54,627

)

Debt

 

(318,167

)

Other liabilities

 

(57,418

)

Allocated purchase price

 

$

1,424,187

 

 

Other Acquisition

 

In April 2013, our operating subsidiary, Buckeye Pipe Line Holdings, L.P. (“BPH”), purchased an additional 10% ownership interest in WesPac Pipelines — Memphis LLC (“WesPac Memphis”) from Kealine LLC for $9.7 million and, as a result of the acquisition, our ownership interest in WesPac Memphis increased from 70% to 80%.  Since BPH retains controlling interest in WesPac Memphis, this acquisition was accounted for as an equity transaction.  Previously in September 2012, BPH had purchased an additional 20% ownership interest in WesPac Memphis from Kealine LLC for $17.3 million, increasing our ownership interest in WesPac Memphis from 50% to 70%.  This acquisition was also accounted for as an equity transaction since BPH retained controlling interest in WesPac Memphis.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Disposition

 

On May 11, 2011, we sold our 20% interest in West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership (“WT LPG”) to affiliates of Atlas Pipeline Partners L.P. for $85 million.  WT LPG owns approximately 2,300-miles of common-carrier pipeline system that transports natural gas liquids from points in New Mexico and Texas to Mont Belvieu, Texas for fractionation. Chevron Pipeline Company, which owns the remaining 80% interest, is the operator of WT LPG.  The proceeds from the sale were used to fund a portion of our internal growth capital projects in 2011.  We recognized a gain of $34.7 million on the sale of our interest in WT LPG.

 

4.  DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

In December 2013, the Board of Directors of Buckeye GP (the “Board”) approved a plan to divest our Natural Gas Storage segment and its related assets as we no longer believe this business is aligned with our long-term business strategy.  In this report, we refer to this group of assets as our Natural Gas Storage disposal group.  We expect to complete the disposition of these assets in 2014.  Accordingly, we have classified the disposal group as “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities held for sale” in our accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and discontinued depreciation and amortization of the Natural Gas Storage disposal group’s property, plant and equipment.  We have reported the results of operations for the disposal group as discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011.  We recorded an asset impairment charge of $169 million within “Loss on discontinued operations” on our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2013.  See Note 5 for further discussion.  During the year ended December 31, 2011, we concluded that goodwill in the Natural Gas Storage reporting unit was fully impaired and recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $169.6 million.  This amount is reported within “Loss on discontinued operations” on our consolidated statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2011 (see Note 11 for a discussion of our valuation methodology relating to the goodwill impairment test).

 

The following table summarizes the results from discontinued operations (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

55,757

 

$

71,339

 

$

65,990

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

7,608

 

7,567

 

7,136

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(187,174

)

(5,328

)

(177,163

)

 

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We have classified the disposal group as “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities held for sale” in our accompanying balance sheet as of December 31, 2013.  The total assets and liabilities held for sale consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

$

157,261

 

Other current assets

 

24,443

 

Other non-current assets

 

4

 

Assets held for sale

 

$

181,708

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

2,182

 

Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities

 

8,947

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

26,638

 

Liabilities held for sale

 

$

37,767

 

 

5.  ASSET IMPAIRMENTS

 

Natural Gas Storage Disposal Group

 

In connection with the classification of our Natural Gas Storage disposal group as held for sale (as discussed in Note 4 above), we performed a valuation to measure the disposal group at fair value less costs to sell (see Note 18 for more information).  The estimated fair value less costs to sell was determined to be less than its carrying value, which resulted in the recognition of a non-cash asset impairment charge of $169 million in the fourth quarter of 2013, which included the write-down of long-lived assets.  Sensitivity to changes in commodity prices and discount rates and bids from potential buyers could yield changes to the recorded value of our Natural Gas Storage disposal group and result in an adjustment to the previously recognized loss of $169 million noted above.

 

NORCO Pipeline System

 

During the third and fourth quarters of 2012, management performed extensive integrity tests on a portion of our NORCO pipeline system, consisting of approximately 169 miles of liquid petroleum products pipelines and related assets in Indiana and Illinois. Upon completion of the integrity tests in the fourth quarter of 2012, management determined that projected integrity costs, which included work required to maintain the line to our integrity standards, were in excess of the amounts that would be recoverable through operation of the line and proposed the abandonment of this portion of our NORCO pipeline system.  On December 13, 2012, the Board approved management’s plan.  Based on the determination to abandon this pipeline, we were able to estimate the settlement date for the asset retirement obligation and therefore recorded a liability of $12.1 million for our estimated costs of abandonment, which we began incurring in 2013.  We expect to incur a significant portion of the estimated cost of abandonment in 2014.  The asset retirement obligation represents our best estimate of the costs to be incurred with information currently available and is based on certain assumptions, including assumptions about methods of abandonment to be employed and our requirements in applicable rights-of-way agreements.  We are still in the early stages of the abandonment process, and it is likely that the ultimate costs to abandon this pipeline will differ from our estimate and such differences could be material.  We also compared the undiscounted future cash flows to the carrying value of the assets, including the asset retirement cost associated with the removal and decommissioning of the pipeline.  Since the carrying value exceeded the undiscounted cash flows, we estimated the fair value of the assets using the expected present value of future cash flows to be minimal and recorded a $60 million non-cash asset impairment charge in the Pipelines & Terminals segment.  In January 2013, we ceased operations on the affected portion of the system.

 

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6.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Claims and Legal Proceedings

 

In the ordinary course of business, we are involved in various claims and legal proceedings, some of which are covered by insurance. We are generally unable to predict the timing or outcome of these claims and proceedings. Based upon our evaluation of existing claims and proceedings and the probability of losses relating to such contingencies, we have accrued certain amounts relating to such claims and proceedings, none of which are considered material.

 

BORCO Jetty.  On May 25, 2012, a ship allided with a jetty at our BORCO facility while berthing, causing damage to portions of the jetty.  Buckeye has insurance to cover this loss, subject to a $5 million deductible.  On May 26, 2012, we commenced legal proceedings in The Bahamas against the vessel’s owner and the vessel to obtain security for the cost of repairs and other losses incurred as a result of the incident.  Full security for our claim has been provided by the vessel owner’s insurers, reserving all of their defenses.  We also have notified the customer on whose behalf the vessel was at the BORCO facility that we intend to hold them responsible for all damages and losses resulting from the incident pursuant to the terms of an agreement between the parties.  Any disputes between us and our customer on this matter are subject to arbitration in Houston, Texas.  The vessel owner has claimed that it is entitled to limit its liability to approximately $17 million, but we are contesting the right of the vessel owner to such limitation.  A hearing in the Bahamas court on the vessel owner’s right to limit its liability was held on July 23, 2013, and the court of first instance denied the vessel owner the right to limit its liability for the incident, leaving the vessel owner responsible for all provable damages.  The vessel interests have appealed that decision and the appeal is scheduled to be heard March 27, 2014.  We experienced no material interruption of service at the BORCO facility as a result of the incident, and the repairs of the damaged sections are complete.  The aggregate cost to repair and reconstruct the damaged portions of the jetty was approximately $25 million.  We recorded a loss on disposal due to the assets destroyed in the incident and other related costs incurred; however, since we believe recovery of our losses is probable, we recorded a corresponding receivable.  As of December 31, 2013, we had a $5 million receivable included in “Other non-current assets” in our consolidated balance sheet, representing reimbursement of the deductible.  Additionally, we have received cash proceeds of $15.3 million related to insurance reimbursements, and to the extent the aggregate proceeds from the recovery of our losses is in excess of the carrying value of the destroyed assets or other costs incurred, we will recognize a gain when such proceeds are received and are not refundable.  As of December 31, 2013, no gain had been recognized; however, we recorded a $12.7 million deferred gain in “Accrued and other current liabilities” in our consolidated balance sheet, representing excess proceeds received over the loss on disposal and other costs incurred.

 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) Proceedings

 

FERC Docket No. OR12-28-000 — Airlines Complaint against BPLC New York City Jet Fuel Rates.  On September 20, 2012, a complaint was filed with FERC by Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United/Continental Air Lines, and US Airways challenging BPLC’s rates for transportation of jet fuel from New Jersey to three New York City airports.  The complaint was not directed at BPLC’s rates for service to other destinations, and does not involve pipeline systems and terminals owned by Buckeye’s other operating subsidiaries.  The complaint challenges these jet fuel transportation rates as generating revenues in excess of costs and thus being “unjust and unreasonable” under the Interstate Commerce Act.  On October 10, 2012, BPLC filed its answer to the complaint, contending that the airlines’ allegations are based on inappropriate adjustments to the pipeline’s costs and revenues, and that, in any event, any revenue recovery by BPLC in excess of costs would be irrelevant because BPLC’s rates are set under a FERC-approved program that ties rates to competitive levels.  BPLC also sought dismissal of the complaint to the extent it seeks to challenge the portion of BPLC’s rates that were deemed just and reasonable, or “grandfathered,” under Section 1803 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992.  BPLC further contested the airlines’ ability to seek relief as to past charges where the rates are lawful under BPLC’s FERC-approved rate program.  On October 25, 2012, the complainants filed their answer to BPLC’s motion to dismiss and answer.  On November 9, 2012, BPLC filed a response addressing newly raised arguments in the complainants’ October 25th answer.  On February 22, 2013, FERC issued an order setting the airline complaint in Docket No. OR12-28-000 for hearing, but holding the hearing in abeyance and setting the dispute for settlement procedures before a settlement judge.  If FERC were to find these challenged rates to be in excess of costs and not otherwise protected by law, it could order BPLC to reduce these rates prospectively and could order repayment to the complaining airlines of any past charges found to be in excess of just and reasonable levels for up to two years prior to the filing date of the complaint. BPLC intends to vigorously defend its rates.  On March 8, 2013, an order was issued consolidating this complaint proceeding with the proceeding regarding BPLC’s application for market-based rates in the New York City market in Docket No. OR13-3-000 (discussed below), for settlement purposes, and settlement discussions under the supervision of the FERC settlement judge are ongoing.  The timing or outcome of final resolution of this matter cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

 

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FERC Docket No. OR13-000 — Buckeye Pipe Line’s Market-Based Rate Application.  On October 15, 2012, BPLC filed an application with FERC seeking authority to charge market-based rates for deliveries of liquid petroleum products to the New York City-area market (the “Application”).  In the Application, BPLC seeks to charge market-based rates from its three origin points in northeastern New Jersey to its five destinations on its Long Island System, including deliveries of jet fuel to the Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK airports.  The jet fuel rates were also the subject of the airlines’ OR12-28 complaint discussed above.  On December 14, 2012, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United/Continental Air Lines, and US Airways filed a joint intervention and protest challenging the Application and requesting its rejection.  On January 14, 2013, BPLC filed its answer to the protest and requested summary disposition as to those non-jet-fuel rates that were not challenged in the protest.  On January 29, 2013, the protestants responded to BPLC’s answer, and on February 13, 2013, BPLC filed a further answer to the protestants’ January 29, 2013 pleading.  On February 28, 2013, FERC issued an order setting the Application for hearing, holding the hearing in abeyance and setting the dispute for settlement procedures before a settlement judge.  As discussed above, the Application has been consolidated with the complaint proceeding in Docket No. OR12-28-000 for settlement purposes and settlement discussions under the supervision of the FERC settlement judge are ongoing.  If FERC were to approve the Application, BPLC would be permitted prospectively to set these rates in response to competitive forces, and the basis for the airlines’ claim for relief in their OR12-28 complaint as to BPLC’s future rates would be irrelevant prospectively.  The timing or outcome of FERC’s review of the Application cannot reasonably be determined at this time.

 

Environmental Contingencies

 

We recorded operating expenses, net of recoveries, of $3.5 million, $6.6 million and $8.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to environmental remediation liabilities unrelated to claims and legal proceedings.  As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we recorded environmental remediation liabilities of $57.2 million and $61.8 million, respectively (see Notes 13 and 15).  Costs incurred may be in excess of our estimate, which may have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.  At December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had $10.6 million and $17.7 million, respectively, of receivables related to these environmental remediation liabilities covered by insurance.

 

Other Contingencies

 

The Puerto Rico Treasury Department has notified Buckeye Caribbean of a certain matter for discussion on the 2008 taxable year related to the possible recapture of investment tax credits previously granted to affiliates of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. (“Shell”) in 2002 and 2003, but no preliminary or final notice of debt regarding such matter has been issued. The investment tax credits are not related to income taxes.  Upon our acquisition of Buckeye Caribbean in 2010, we recorded a $17.7 million liability related to the uncertain outcome of the tax audit with an offsetting indemnification asset from Shell for the same amount.  See Notes 12 and 15 for further information.

 

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Leases —Where We are Lessee

 

We lease certain property, plant and equipment under noncancelable and cancelable operating leases.  Rental expense is charged to operating expenses on a straight-line basis over the period of expected benefit.  Contingent rental payments are expensed as incurred.  Total rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $24.9 million, $27 million and $22.4 million, respectively.  The following table presents minimum lease payment obligations under our operating leases with terms in excess of one year for the years ending December 31 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Office Space

 

 

 

Land

 

 

 

 

 

and Other

 

Equipment (1)

 

Leases (2)

 

Total

 

2014 

 

$

3,551

 

$

3,314

 

$

2,863

 

$

9,728

 

2015 

 

3,653

 

 

2,850

 

6,503

 

2016 

 

3,742

 

 

2,850

 

6,592

 

2017 

 

3,838

 

 

2,850

 

6,688

 

2018 

 

2,981

 

 

2,850

 

5,831

 

Thereafter

 

8,627

 

 

113,371

 

121,998

 

Total

 

$

26,392

 

$

3,314

 

$

127,634

 

$

157,340

 

 


(1)         Includes BORCO facility leases for tugboats and a barge in our Global Marine Terminals segment.

(2)         Includes leases for properties in connection with both the jetty and inland dock operations in the Global Marine Terminals segment and excludes leases related to our Natural Gas Storage disposal group.

 

Additionally, our rights-of-way payments for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 were $6.1 million, $7.4 million and $6.6 million, respectively; and are subject to an annual escalation for the remaining life of all pipelines and terminals.

 

7.  INVENTORIES

 

Our inventory amounts were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Liquid petroleum products (1)

 

$

290,718

 

$

246,918

 

Materials and supplies

 

21,417

 

12,245

 

Total inventories

 

$

312,135

 

$

259,163

 

 


(1)         Ending inventory was 102.1 million and 80.9 million gallons of liquid petroleum products at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, approximately 81% and 88% of our liquid petroleum products inventory volumes were designated in a fair value hedge relationship, respectively.  Because we generally designate inventory as a hedged item upon purchase, hedged inventory is valued at current market prices with the change in value of the inventory reflected in our consolidated statements of operations.  Our inventory volumes that are not designated as the hedged item in a fair value hedge relationship are economically hedged to reduce our commodity price exposure.  Inventory not accounted for as a fair value hedge is accounted for at the lower of cost or market using the weighted average cost method.

 

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8.  PREPAID AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

Prepaid and other current assets consist of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Prepaid insurance

 

$

9,909

 

$

12,585

 

Insurance receivables related to environmental remediation reserves

 

2,752

 

11,081

 

Margin deposits

 

17,022

 

14,038

 

Prepaid services (1)

 

 

20,031

 

Unbilled revenue

 

1,177

 

2,406

 

Prepaid taxes

 

4,384

 

5,040

 

Vendor prepayments

 

1,553

 

9,480

 

Other

 

11,706

 

16,902

 

Total prepaid and other current assets

 

$

48,503

 

$

91,563

 

 


(1)         Amounts related to Natural Gas Storage disposal group are classified as “Assets held for sale” as of December 31, 2013.  See Note 4 for further information.

 

9.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

Property, plant and equipment consist of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Estimated
Useful

 

December 31,

 

 

 

Lives (Years)

 

2013

 

2012

 

Land

 

N/A

 

$

614,663

 

$

301,604

 

Rights-of-way

 

(1)

 

104,491

 

107,580

 

Pad gas (2)

 

N/A

 

 

29,346

 

Buildings and leasehold improvements

 

13-50

 

314,980

 

150,720

 

Jetties, subsea pipeline and docks

 

20-50

 

429,392

 

388,199

 

Gas storage facility (2)

 

25-50

 

2,210

 

206,467

 

Pipelines and terminals

 

7-50

 

3,787,411

 

3,200,195

 

Vehicles, equipment and office furnishings

 

3-20

 

81,478

 

84,549

 

Construction in progress

 

N/A

 

188,685

 

231,365

 

Total property, plant and equipment

 

 

 

5,523,310

 

4,700,025

 

Less: Accumulated depreciation (2)

 

 

 

(598,016

)

(511,377

)

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

 

$

4,925,294

 

$

4,188,648

 

 


(1)         Rights-of-way assets are depreciated over the useful life of the related pipeline assets.

(2)         Amounts related to Natural Gas Storage disposal group are classified as “Assets held for sale” as of December 31, 2013.  See Note 4 for further information.

 

Depreciation expense was $122.7 million, $120.2 million and $105.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

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10.  EQUITY INVESTMENTS

 

The following table presents our equity investments, all included within the Pipelines & Terminals segment, at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

Ownership

 

2013

 

2012

 

West Shore Pipe Line Company

 

34.6%

 

$

48,797

 

$

45,953

 

Muskegon Pipeline LLC

 

40.0%

 

15,116

 

15,193

 

Transport4, LLC

 

25.0%

 

503

 

417

 

South Portland Terminal LLC

 

50.0%

 

7,933

 

7,150

 

Total equity investments

 

 

 

$

72,349

 

$

68,713

 

 

The following table presents earnings from equity investments for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Shore Pipe Line Company

 

$

4,176

 

$

4,330

 

$

6,605

 

Muskegon Pipeline LLC

 

(77

)

891

 

958

 

Transport4, LLC

 

361

 

191

 

185

 

West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership (1)

 

 

 

2,297

 

South Portland Terminal LLC (2)

 

783

 

688

 

389

 

Total earnings from equity investments

 

$

5,243

 

$

6,100

 

$

10,434

 

 


(1)         In May 2011, we sold our 20% interest.  See Note 3 for further information.

(2)         In July 2011, we acquired a 50% interest.  See Note 3 for further information.

 

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Summarized combined financial information for our equity method investments are as follows for the periods indicated (amounts represent 100% of investee financial information in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

BALANCE SHEET DATA:

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

$

40,241

 

$

34,861

 

Noncurrent assets

 

92,726

 

75,550

 

Total assets

 

$

132,967

 

$

110,411

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

$

27,274

 

$

32,887

 

Other liabilities

 

42,011

 

24,561

 

Combined equity

 

63,682

 

52,963

 

Total liabilities and combined equity

 

$

132,967

 

$

110,411

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011 (1)

 

INCOME STATEMENT DATA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

$

79,266

 

$

74,691

 

$

100,931

 

Costs and expenses

 

(58,697

)

(48,708

)

(53,596

)

Non-operating expense

 

(6,808

)

(8,728

)

(13,708

)

Net income

 

$

13,761

 

$

17,255

 

$

33,627

 

 


(1)         In May 2011, we sold our 20% interest in WT LPG; therefore, the income statement data includes activity through the date of sale.  See Note 3 for further information.

 

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11.  GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Goodwill

 

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment are as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Pipelines
& Terminals

 

Global
Marine
Terminals

 

Merchant
Services

 

Development
& Logistics

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 1, 2012

 

$

248,250

 

$

490,536

 

$

1,132

 

$

13,182

 

$

753,100

 

Acquisition

 

65,021

 

 

 

 

65,021

 

December 31, 2012

 

313,271

 

490,536

 

1,132

 

13,182

 

818,121

 

Acquisition (1)

 

6,344

 

 

2,859

 

 

9,203

 

Purchase price adjustments (2)

 

(5,824

)

 

 

 

(5,824

)

Allocation resulting from segment realignment (3)

 

(47,358

)

47,358

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

$

266,433

 

$

537,894

 

$

3,991

 

$

13,182

 

$

821,500

 

 


(1)         See Note 3 for discussion of our Hess Terminals Acquisition in 2013.

(2)         During the first half year of 2013, we recorded adjustments to the purchase price allocated to tangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Perth Amboy Facility acquisition.  See Note 3 for discussion of our acquisition of the Perth Amboy Facility in 2012.

(3)         The realignment of our business segments in December 2013, described in detail within Note 26, “Business Segments”, resulted in a change in the composition of our reporting units.  Accordingly, we reassigned a portion of the goodwill acquired as part of our acquisition of the Perth Amboy Facility, previously reported in the Pipelines & Terminals segment, to the Global Marine Terminals segment.  As of December 31, 2013, we allocated $11.8 million of the $59.2 million goodwill resulting from our acquisition of the Perth Amboy Facility in 2012 to the Pipelines & Terminals reporting unit since the Perth Amboy Facility benefits our existing pipeline and terminal assets and provides a gateway to our domestic pipeline and terminal network from the New York Harbor.  The remaining goodwill of $47.4 million, assigned to the Global Marine Terminals reporting unit, is attributable to expansion opportunities at the Perth Amboy Facility expected to create value by further extending our integrated network of marine terminals.

 

For our annual goodwill impairment tests as of January 1, 2014 and 2013, we performed a qualitative assessment to determine whether the fair value of the Pipelines & Terminals reporting unit was more likely than not less than the carrying value.  Based on economic conditions and industry and market considerations, we determined the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded the carrying value; therefore, the two-step impairment test was not required.  Additionally, we performed quantitative assessments to determine the fair value of each of the remaining reporting units.  Based on such calculations, each reporting unit’s fair value was in excess of its carrying value.  Therefore, we did not record any goodwill impairment for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

During 2011, we concluded that the continued downward performance in operating income and Adjusted EBITDA (as defined in Note 26) in our former Natural Gas Storage reporting unit due to decreases in contracted storage prices relating to low volatility in natural gas prices and compressed seasonal spreads was an impairment indicator; therefore, we performed an interim goodwill impairment test.  The estimate of the fair value of our former Natural Gas Storage reporting unit was determined using a combination of an expected present value of future cash flows and a market multiple valuation method.  Due to the market conditions at the time, we weighted 100% to the expected present value of future cash flows method.  Our former Natural Gas Storage reporting unit failed the first step of the goodwill impairment test; therefore, we performed the second step.  As a result of our step two analysis, we concluded that goodwill in our former Natural Gas Storage reporting unit was fully impaired and recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $169.6 million.  We considered the goodwill impairment an indicator of impairment related to the long-lived assets associated with our former Natural Gas Storage reporting unit.  Accordingly, we evaluated these assets for impairment and concluded that no impairment of the long-lived assets existed in 2011.

 

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Intangible Assets

 

Intangible assets consist of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Customer relationships

 

$

231,620

 

$

229,300

 

Accumulated amortization

 

(44,144

)

(31,478

)

Net carrying amount

 

187,476

 

197,822

 

Customer contracts

 

70,233

 

42,033

 

Accumulated amortization

 

(32,345

)

(20,608

)

Net carrying amount

 

37,888

 

21,425

 

Total intangible assets, net

 

$

225,364

 

$

219,247

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, amortization expense related to intangible assets was $24.4 million, $24.7 million and $13.4 million, respectively.  Amortization expense related to intangible assets is expected to be $36.8 million for 2014, $21.1 million for 2015, $15.9 million for 2016, $14.4 million for 2017 and $13.6 million for 2018.

 

12.  OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS

 

Other non-current assets consist of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Debt issuance costs, net

 

$

21,024

 

$

11,869

 

Insurance receivables related to environmental remediation reserves

 

7,803

 

6,573

 

Indemnification asset (see Note 6)

 

17,720

 

17,720

 

BORCO jetty insurance receivable (see Note 6)

 

5,000

 

5,000

 

Other

 

8,423

 

10,796

 

Total other non-current assets

 

$

59,970

 

$

51,958

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

13.  ACCRUED AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

Accrued and other current liabilities consist of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Taxes - other than income

 

$

15,323

 

$

11,112

 

Accrued employee benefit liabilities

 

5,069

 

4,609

 

Accrued environmental remediation liabilities

 

11,555

 

13,446

 

Interest payable

 

53,428

 

44,137

 

Unearned revenue

 

18,273

 

12,894

 

Compensation and vacation

 

25,087

 

20,870

 

Accrued capital expenditures

 

27,812

 

21,665

 

Unfavorable storage contracts (1)

 

11,071

 

10,994

 

ARO (2)

 

8,317

 

 

Other

 

51,149

 

52,658

 

Total accrued and other current liabilities

 

$

227,084

 

$

192,385

 

 


(1)         $11 million of revenue was recognized during 2013 and 2012.  Revenue to be recognized related to these unfavorable storage contracts is expected to be approximately $11.1 million for each of 2014 and 2015 and $6 million for 2016.  See Note 3 for a discussion of the unfavorable storage contracts acquired in connection with the BORCO acquisition.

(2)         See Note 5 for a discussion of the ARO recorded in connection with impairment of a portion of our NORCO pipeline system.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

14.  LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Long-term debt consists of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

4.625% Notes due July 15, 2013 (1)

 

$

 

$

300,000

 

5.300% Notes due October 15, 2014 (1) (3)

 

275,000

 

275,000

 

5.125% Notes due July 1, 2017 (1)

 

125,000

 

125,000

 

6.050% Notes due January 15, 2018 (1)

 

300,000

 

300,000

 

2.650% Notes due November 15, 2018 (1)

 

400,000

 

 

5.500% Notes due August 15, 2019 (1)

 

275,000

 

275,000

 

4.875% Notes due February 1, 2021 (1)

 

650,000

 

650,000

 

4.150% Notes due July 1, 2023 (1)

 

500,000

 

 

6.750% Notes due August 15, 2033 (1)

 

150,000

 

150,000

 

5.850% Notes due November 15, 2043 (1)

 

400,000

 

 

BPL Credit Facility due September 26, 2017

 

255,000

 

871,200

 

Unamortized discounts

 

(11,289

)

(4,756

)

Total debt

 

3,318,711

 

2,941,444

 

Less: Current portion of line of credit (2)

 

(226,000

)

(206,200

)

Total long-term debt

 

$

3,092,711

 

$

2,735,244

 

 


(1)         We make semi-annual interest payments on these notes based on the rates noted above with the principal balances outstanding to be paid on or before the due dates as shown above.

(2)         The line of credit is classified as a current liability in our consolidated balance sheets as related funds are used to finance Buckeye Energy Services LLC current working capital needs.

(3)         The $275 million of 5.300% Notes maturing on October 15, 2014 has been classified as long-term debt.  See below for additional information.

 

The following table presents the scheduled maturities of principal amounts of our debt obligations for the next five years and in total thereafter (in thousands):

 

 

 

Years Ending

 

 

 

December 31,

 

2014 

 

$

501,000

 

2015 

 

 

2016 

 

 

2017 

 

154,000

 

2018 

 

700,000

 

Thereafter

 

1,975,000

 

Total

 

$

3,330,000

 

 

Current Maturities Expected to be Refinanced

 

It is our intent to refinance the 5.300% Notes in 2014.  If necessary, the $275 million of 5.300% Notes maturing on October 15, 2014 could be refinanced using our $1.25 billion revolving credit facility dated September 26, 2011 (the “Credit Facility”) with SunTrust Bank.  At December 31, 2013, we had $995 million of availability under our Credit Facility but, except for borrowings that are used to refinance other debt, we are limited to $961.9 million of additional borrowing capacity by the financial covenants under our Credit Facility.  Therefore, we have classified the 5.300% Notes as long-term debt in our consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2013.  Additionally, we expect to settle interest rate swaps with a fair value at December 31, 2013 of $30 million, relating to the refinancing of the 5.300% Notes on or before October 15, 2014.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Extinguishment of Debt

 

In July 2013, we repaid in full the $300 million principal amount outstanding under the 4.625% Notes due on July 15, 2013 (the “4.625% Notes”) and $6.9 million of related accrued interest using funds available under our Credit Facility.

 

Notes Offerings

 

In November 2013, we issued an aggregate of $800 million of senior unsecured notes in an underwritten public offering, including the $400 million of 2.650% Notes maturing on November 15, 2018 (the “2.650% Notes”) and the $400 million of 5.850% Notes maturing on November 15, 2043 (the “5.850% Notes”), at 99.823% and 98.581%, respectively, of their principal amounts.  Total proceeds from this offering, after underwriting fees, expenses and debt issuance costs of $5.9 million, were $787.7 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering for general partnership purposes and to fund the Hess Terminals Acquisition (see Note 3).

 

In June 2013, we issued $500 million of senior unsecured 4.150% Notes maturing on July 1, 2023 (the “4.150% Notes”) in an underwritten public offering at 99.81% of their principal amount.  Total proceeds from this offering, after underwriting fees, expenses and debt issuance costs of $3.3 million, were $495.8 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering for general partnership purposes and to repay amounts due under our Credit Facility, a portion of which was subsequently reborrowed in July 2013 in order to repay in full the 4.625% Notes and related accrued interest (as discussed above).  We also settled all interest rate swaps relating to the 4.150% Notes for $62 million during June 2013.

 

On January 13, 2011, we sold the $650 million of senior unsecured 4.875% Notes due February 1, 2021 (the 4.875% Notes) in an underwritten public offering.  The notes were issued at 99.62% of their principal amount.  Total proceeds from this offering, after underwriters’ fees, expenses and debt issuance costs of $4.9 million, were $642.6 million, and were used to fund a portion of the purchase price for our acquisition of BORCO (see Note 3).  In connection with this offering, we settled a treasury lock agreement, which resulted in the receipt of a settlement of $0.5 million (see Note 17).

 

Credit Facility

 

On September 26, 2011, Buckeye and its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Buckeye Energy Services LLC (“BES”), as borrowers, entered into the Credit Facility with SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent and other lenders to provide for a $1.25 billion senior unsecured revolving credit agreement of which we have a borrowing capacity of $1.25 billion and BES has a sublimit of $500 million.  In August 2013, the Credit Facility’s maturity date was extended by one year to September 26, 2017, with an option to extend for up to one additional year and a $500 million accordion option to increase the commitments.  Concurrently with the execution of the Credit Facility, Buckeye and BES borrowed $242.3 million and $320.2 million, respectively, and used the proceeds to repay all amounts outstanding under Buckeye’s senior unsecured revolving credit agreement dated November 13, 2006 (the “Prior BPL Credit Facility”) and BES’s amended and restated senior revolving credit agreement dates as of June 25, 2010 (the “BES Credit Facility”), respectively, and customary fees and expenses related to the Credit Facility.  Buckeye and BES incurred debt issuance costs of $3.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively, related to the Credit Facility.

 

Under the Credit Facility, interest accrues on advances at the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) rate or a base rate plus an applicable margin based on the election of the applicable borrower for each interest period.  The issuing fees for all letters of credit are also based on an applicable margin.  The applicable margin used in connection with interest rates and fees is based on the credit ratings assigned to our senior unsecured long-term debt securities.  The applicable margin for LIBOR rate loans, swing line loans, and letter of credit fees ranges from 1.0% to 1.75% and the applicable margin for base rate loans ranges from 0% to 0.75%.  Buckeye and BES will also pay a fee based on our credit ratings on the actual daily unused amount of the aggregate commitments.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, Buckeye and BES collectively had $255 million and $871.2 million, respectively, outstanding under the Credit Facility, of which BES classified $226 million and $206.2 million, respectively, as current liability in our consolidated balance sheets as related funds are used to finance current working capital needs.  The weighted average interest rate for borrowings under the Credit Facility was 1.7% at December 31, 2013.  The Credit Facility includes covenants limiting, as of the last day of each fiscal quarter, the ratio of consolidated funded debt (“Funded Debt Ratio”) to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the Credit Facility, measured for the preceding twelve months, to not more than 5.0 to 1.0.  This requirement is subject to a provision for increases to 5.5 to 1.0 in connection with certain future acquisitions.  The Funded Debt Ratio is calculated by dividing consolidated debt by annualized EBITDA, which is defined in the Credit Facility as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization determined on a consolidated basis.  At December 31, 2013, our Funded Debt Ratio was 4.2 to 1.0.  At December 31, 2013, we were in compliance with the covenants under our Credit Facility.

 

At December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had committed $7.7 million and $11.1 million, respectively, in support of letters of credit.  The obligations for letters of credit are not reflected as debt on our consolidated balance sheets.

 

Prior BPL Credit Facility

 

The Prior BPL Credit Facility provided a borrowing capacity of $580 million under an unsecured revolving credit agreement, which could have expanded up to $780 million subject to certain conditions and upon the further approval of the lenders. The Prior BPL Credit Facility had a maturity date of August 24, 2012.  As described above, Buckeye used the proceeds of the Credit Facility to repay its outstanding balance under the Prior BPL Credit Facility and terminated the Prior BPL Credit Facility on September 26, 2011.

 

BES Credit Facility

 

The BES Credit Facility provided for borrowings of up to $500 million with a maturity date of June 25, 2013.  As described above, BES used the proceeds of the Credit Facility to repay its outstanding balance under the BES Credit Facility and terminated the BES Credit Facility on September 26, 2011.  As a result of the termination of the BES Credit Facility, we expensed $3 million, of unamortized deferred financing costs, which is reflected in interest and debt expense in our consolidated statement of operations.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

15.  OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

Other non-current liabilities consist of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Accrued employee benefit liabilities

 

$

43,199

 

$

53,551

 

Accrued environmental remediation liabilities

 

45,631

 

48,348

 

Deferred consideration

 

15,264

 

16,264

 

Deferred rent (1)

 

 

21,415

 

Liability related to investment tax credit (See Note 6)

 

17,720

 

17,720

 

Unfavorable storage contracts (2)

 

17,050

 

28,151

 

ARO (3)

 

2,600

 

13,424

 

Other

 

5,509

 

5,881

 

Total other non-current liabilities

 

$

146,973

 

$

204,754

 

 


(1)         Amounts for 2013 are classified as “Liabilities held for sale”.  See Note 4 for further information.

(2)         See Note 13 for a discussion of the unfavorable storage contracts acquired in connection with the BORCO acquisition.

(3)         See Note 5 for a discussion of the ARO recorded in connection with impairment of a portion of our NORCO pipeline system.

 

16.  ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consists of the following at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Unrealized losses on derivative instruments

 

$

(30,045

)

$

(130,636

)

Net loss on settlement of interest rate swaps, net of amortization

 

(62,449

)

(4,457

)

Adjustments to funded status of benefit plans

 

(11,058

)

(23,686

)

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

$

(103,552

)

$

(158,779

)

 

17.  DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

 

We are exposed to financial market risks, including changes in interest rates and commodity prices, in the course of our normal business operations.  We use derivative instruments to manage these risks.

 

Interest Rate Derivatives

 

We utilize forward-starting interest rate swaps to hedge the variability of the forecasted interest payments on anticipated debt issuances that may result from changes in the benchmark interest rate until the expected debt is issued.  When entering into interest rate swap transactions, we become exposed to both credit risk and market risk.  We are subject to credit risk when the change in fair value of the swap instrument is positive and the counterparty may fail to perform under the terms of the contract.  We are subject to market risk with respect to changes in the underlying benchmark interest rate that impacts the fair value of the swaps.  We manage our credit risk by entering into swap transactions only with major financial institutions with investment-grade credit ratings.  We manage our market risk by aligning the swap instrument with the existing underlying debt obligation or a specified expected debt issuance generally associated with the maturity of an existing debt obligation.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

We entered into six forward-starting interest rate swaps with a total aggregate notional amount of $300.0 million, which we entered into in anticipation of the issuance of debt on or before July 15, 2013, and six forward-starting interest rate swaps with a total aggregate notional amount of $275.0 million, which we entered into in anticipation of the issuance of debt on or before October 15, 2014.  We designated the swap agreements as cash flow hedges at inception and expect the changes in values to be highly correlated with the changes in value of the underlying borrowingsIn June 2013, we issued $500.0 million of the 4.150% Notes (see Note 14 for further discussion) and also settled the related six forward-starting interest rate swaps for $62 million.  As a result of the interest rate swap settlement, we recognized $0.9 million hedge ineffectiveness in interest and debt expense attributable to the timing difference between when the swaps were settled and when they were forecasted to settle.  We expect to issue new fixed-rate debt on or before October 15, 2014 to repay the $275.0 million of 5.300% Notes that are due on October 15, 2014, although no assurances can be given that the issuance of fixed-rate debt will be possible on acceptable terms.  During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, unrealized gain of $37.7 million and unrealized loss of $28.7 million, respectively, were recorded in AOCI to reflect the change in the fair values of the forward-starting interest rate swaps.

 

On January 13, 2011, we issued $650.0 million of 4.875% Notes maturing on February 1, 2021 (the “4.875% Notes”) in an underwritten public offering.  See Note 14 for further discussion.  In December 2010, in connection with the proposed offering, we entered into a treasury lock agreement to fix the ten-year treasury rate at 3.3375% per annum on a notional amount of $650.0 million.  In January 2011, we subsequently cash-settled the treasury lock agreement upon the issuance of the 4.875% Notes and received $0.5 million, which has been recognized as a reduction to interest expense over the ten-year term of the 4.875% Notes.

 

Over the next twelve months, we expect to reclassify $7.1 million of net losses from accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest and debt expense.  The loss consists of the following: (i) the forward-starting interest rate swaps that were settled in 2008 relating to our 6.050% Notes and (ii) the forward-starting interest rate swaps settled in June 2013 relating to the 4.150% Notes (as discussed above).  These losses were partially offset by a gain attributable to the settlement of the treasury lock agreement settled in 2011.

 

Commodity Derivatives

 

Our Merchant Services segment primarily uses exchange-traded refined petroleum product futures contracts to manage the risk of market price volatility on its refined petroleum product inventories and its physical derivative contracts.  The futures contracts used to hedge refined petroleum product inventories are designated as fair value hedges with changes in fair value of both the futures contracts and physical inventory reflected in earnings.  Physical contracts and futures contracts that have not been designated in a hedge relationship are marked-to-market.

 

The following table summarizes our commodity derivative instruments outstanding at December 31, 2013 (amounts in thousands of gallons):

 

 

 

Volume (1)

 

Accounting

 

Derivative Purpose 

 

Current

 

Long-Term

 

Treatment

 

Derivatives NOT designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

31,497

 

 

Mark-to-market

 

Physical index derivative contracts

 

123,998

 

 

Mark-to-market

 

Future contracts for refined petroleum products

 

21,798

 

 

Mark-to-market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Future contracts for refined petroleum products

 

83,160

 

 

Fair Value Hedge

 

 


(1)         Volume represents absolute value of net notional volume position.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following table sets forth the fair value of each classification of derivative instruments and the locations of the derivative instruments on our consolidated balance sheets at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives

 

 

 

Netting

 

 

 

 

 

NOT Designated

 

Designated

 

Derivative

 

Balance

 

 

 

 

 

as Hedging

 

as Hedging

 

Carrying

 

Sheet

 

 

 

 

 

Instruments

 

Instruments

 

Value

 

Adjustment (1)

 

Total

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

$

5,164

 

$

 

$

5,164

 

$

(780

)

$

4,384

 

Physical index derivative contracts

 

48

 

 

48

 

(20

)

28

 

Futures contracts for refined products

 

45,589

 

66

 

45,655

 

(45,655

)

 

Total current derivative assets

 

50,801

 

66

 

50,867

 

(46,455

)

4,412

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

(7,027

)

 

(7,027

)

780

 

(6,247

)

Physical index derivative contracts

 

(330

)

 

(330

)

20

 

(310

)

Futures contracts for refined products

 

(52,240

)

(1,485

)

(53,725

)

45,655

 

(8,070

)

Interest rate derivatives

 

 

(30,045

)

(30,045

)

 

(30,045

)

Total current derivative liabilities

 

(59,597

)

(31,530

)

(91,127

)

46,455

 

(44,672

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net derivative liabilities

 

$

(8,796

)

$

(31,464

)

$

(40,260

)

$

 

$

(40,260

)

 


(1)    Amounts represent the netting of physical fixed and index contracts’ assets and liabilities when a legal right of offset exists. Futures contracts are subject to settlement through margin requirements and are additionally presented on a net basis.

 

 

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives

 

 

 

Netting

 

 

 

 

 

NOT Designated

 

Designated

 

Derivative

 

Balance

 

 

 

 

 

as Hedging

 

as Hedging

 

Net Carrying

 

Sheet

 

 

 

 

 

Instruments

 

Instruments

 

Value

 

Adjustment (1)

 

Total

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

$

1,489

 

$

 

$

1,489

 

$

(335

)

$

1,154

 

Physical index derivative contracts

 

724

 

 

724

 

(159

)

565

 

Futures contracts for refined products

 

10,359

 

435

 

10,794

 

(10,794

)

 

Total current derivative assets

 

12,572

 

435

 

13,007

 

(11,288

)

1,719

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

(2,377

)

 

(2,377

)

335

 

(2,042

)

Physical index derivative contracts

 

(705

)

 

(705

)

159

 

(546

)

Futures contracts for refined products

 

(15,268

)

(3,096

)

(18,364

)

10,794

 

(7,570

)

Interest rate derivatives

 

 

(72,831

)

(72,831

)

 

(72,831

)

Total current derivative liabilities

 

(18,350

)

(75,927

)

(94,277

)

11,288

 

(82,989

)

Interest rate derivatives

 

 

(57,805

)

(57,805

)

 

(57,805

)

Total non-current derivative liabilities

 

 

(57,805

)

(57,805

)

 

(57,805

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net derivative liabilities

 

$

(5,778

)

$

(133,297

)

$

(139,075

)

$

 

$

(139,075

)

 


(1)    Amounts represent the netting of physical fixed and index contracts’ assets and liabilities when a legal right of offset exists.  Futures contracts are subject to settlement through margin requirements and are additionally presented on a net basis.

 

Our hedged inventory portfolio extends to the second quarter of 2014.  The majority of the unrealized loss at December 31, 2013 for inventory hedges represented by futures contracts of $1.4 million will be realized by the second quarter of 2014 as the related inventory is sold.  At December 31, 2013, open refined petroleum product derivative contracts (represented by the physical fixed-price contracts, physical index contracts, and futures contracts for fixed-price sales contracts noted above) varied in duration in the overall portfolio, but did not extend beyond November 2014.  In addition, at December 31, 2013, we had refined petroleum product inventories that we intend to use to satisfy a portion of the physical derivative contracts.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The gains and losses on our derivative instruments recognized in income were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

Location

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives NOT designated as hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

Product sales

 

$

(14,621

)

$

(2,795

)

Physical index derivative contracts

 

Product sales

 

1,086

 

906

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

Cost of product sales

 

9,372

 

1,924

 

Physical index derivative contracts

 

Cost of product sales

 

(910

)

(922

)

Futures contracts for refined products

 

Cost of product sales

 

4,656

 

1,453

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives designated as fair value hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Futures contracts for refined products

 

Cost of product sales

 

$

(205

)

$

(29,069

)

Physical inventory - hedged items

 

Cost of product sales

 

(443

)

21,366

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ineffectiveness excluding the time value component on fair value hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value hedge ineffectiveness (excluding time value)

 

Cost of product sales

 

$

(161

)

$

(4,439

)

Time value excluded from hedge assessment

 

Cost of product sales

 

(487

)

(3,264

)

Net loss in income

 

 

 

$

(648

)

$

(7,703

)

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The losses reclassified from AOCI to income and the change in value recognized in OCI on our derivatives were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Loss Reclassified

 

 

 

 

 

From AOCI to Income for the

 

 

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

Location

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

Interest and debt expense

 

$

(4,881

)

$

(917

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized

 

 

 

in OCI on Derivatives for the

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedging instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate contracts

 

$

37,718

 

$

(28,726

)

 

18.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

We categorize our financial assets and liabilities using the three-tier hierarchy as follows:

 

Recurring

 

The following table sets forth financial assets and liabilities, measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of the measurement dates indicated, and the basis for that measurement, by level within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

$

 

$

4,384

 

$

 

$

1,154

 

Physical index derivative contracts

 

 

28

 

 

565

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physical fixed price derivative contracts

 

 

(6,247

)

 

(2,042

)

Physical index derivative contracts

 

 

(310

)

 

(546

)

Futures contracts for refined products

 

(8,070

)

 

(7,570

)

 

Interest rate contracts

 

 

(30,045

)

 

(130,636

)

Fair value

 

$

(8,070

)

$

(32,190

)

$

(7,570

)

$

(131,505

)

 

The values of the Level 1 derivative assets and liabilities were based on quoted market prices obtained from the New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The values of the Level 2 interest rate derivatives were determined using expected cash flow models, which incorporated market inputs including the implied forward LIBOR yield curve for the same period as the future interest swap settlements.

 

The values of the Level 2 commodity derivative contracts were calculated using market approaches based on observable market data inputs, including published commodity pricing data, which is verified against other available market data, and market interest rate and volatility data.  Level 2 fixed price derivative assets are net of credit value adjustments (“CVAs”) determined using an expected cash flow model, which incorporates assumptions about the credit risk of the derivative contracts based on the historical and expected payment history of each customer, the amount of product contracted for under the agreement and the customer’s historical and expected purchase performance under each contract.  The Merchant Services segment determined CVAs are appropriate because few of the Merchant Services segment’s customers entering into these derivative contracts are large organizations with nationally-recognized credit ratings.  The Level 2 fixed price derivative assets of $4.4 million and $1.2 million as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, are net of CVA of ($0.1) million for both periods, respectively.  As of December 31, 2013, the Merchant Services segment did not hold any net liability derivative position containing credit contingent features.

 

Financial instruments included in current assets and current liabilities are reported in the consolidated balance sheets at amounts which approximate fair value due to the relatively short period to maturity of these financial instruments.  The fair values of our fixed-rate debt were estimated by observing market trading prices and by comparing the historic market prices of our publicly issued debt with the market prices of the publicly-issued debt of other MLP’s with similar credit ratings and terms.  The fair values of our variable-rate debt are their carrying amounts, as the carrying amount reasonably approximates fair value due to the variability of the interest rates.  The carrying value and fair value, using Level 2 input values, of our debt were as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Fair Value

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Fair Value

 

Fixed-rate debt

 

$

3,063,711

 

$

3,148,634

 

$

2,070,244

 

$

2,203,662

 

Variable-rate debt

 

255,000

 

255,000

 

871,200

 

871,200

 

Total debt

 

$

3,318,711

 

$

3,403,634

 

$

2,941,444

 

$

3,074,862

 

 

In addition, the Partnership’s pension plan assets are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, based on Level 1 and Level 3 inputs.  See Note 19 for additional information.

 

We recognize transfers between levels within the fair value hierarchy as of the beginning of the reporting period.  We did not have any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Non-Recurring

 

Certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence of impairment.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, we recorded a non-cash asset impairment charge of $169 million based on Level 3 inputs.  The non-cash asset impairment charge relates to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group which is currently operating solely as a natural gas storage facility.  We believe the combination of a repurposed natural gas and compressed air energy storage is the highest-and-best use of this facility and as such our fair value estimate less cost to sell is based on the disposal group operating as such.  We applied the income approach due to the lack of recent comparable transactions in the marketplace and estimated the fair value using a present value of expected future cash flows valuation method.  The present value of the expected future cash flows was determined using multiple pricing inputs, including, where applicable, commodity prices (power ancillary service charges, energy prices, capacity fees, and natural gas storage), discount rates, historical contract terms, and operational capabilities of the natural gas storage facility.  Valuation adjustments were considered to factor in liquidity risk and model uncertainty.  Unobservable pricing inputs were developed based on an evaluation of relevant empirical market data and historical pricing and operating cash flows.  In addition, we engaged a third-party natural gas storage valuation specialist to assist with our internally developed fair value estimate.  Sensitivity to changes in commodity prices and discount rates could have a material impact on our fair value estimate.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

During the year ended December 31, 2012, we recorded a non-cash asset impairment charge of $60 million based on Level 3 inputs related to the idling of a portion of Buckeye’s NORCO pipeline system (see Note 5 for more information).

 

During the year ended December 31, 2011, we recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $169.6 million based on Level 3 inputs related to our former Natural Gas Storage segment. (see Note 11 for a discussion of our valuation methodology relating to the goodwill impairment test).

 

19.  PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

 

RIGP and Retiree Medical Plan

 

Services Company, which employs the majority of our workforce, sponsors a Retirement Income Guarantee Plan (“RIGP”), which is a defined benefit plan that generally guarantees employees hired before January 1, 1986 a retirement benefit based on years of service and the employee’s highest compensation for any consecutive 5-year period during the last 10 years of service or other compensation measures as defined under the respective plan provisions.  The retirement benefit is subject to reduction at varying percentages for certain offsetting amounts, including benefits payable under a retirement and savings plan discussed further below.  Services Company funds this benefit plan through contributions to pension trust assets, generally subject to minimum funding requirements as provided by applicable law.

 

Services Company also sponsors an unfunded post-retirement benefit plan (the “Retiree Medical Plan”), which provides health care and life insurance benefits to certain of its retirees.  To be eligible for the health care benefits, an employee must have been hired prior to January 1, 1991 and meet certain service requirements.  To be eligible for the life insurance benefits, an employee must have been hired prior to January 1, 2002 and meet certain service requirements.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The components of projected benefit obligations and plan assets, and the funded status of the RIGP and the Retiree Medical Plan (“the Plans”) were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

RIGP

 

Retiree Medical Plan

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in benefit obligation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benefit obligation at beginning of year

 

$

22,657

 

$

21,291

 

$

41,748

 

$

38,997

 

Service cost

 

217

 

244

 

431

 

315

 

Interest cost

 

538

 

827

 

1,409

 

1,794

 

Plan participants’ contributions

 

 

 

624

 

567

 

Actuarial (gain) loss

 

(3,852

)

2,233

 

(7,756

)

2,410

 

Settlements

 

(2,300

)

(1,853

)

 

 

Benefit payments

 

(80

)

(85

)

(1,307

)

(2,335

)

Benefit obligation at end of year

 

$

17,180

 

$

22,657

 

$

35,149

 

$

41,748

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in plan assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

 

$

7,897

 

$

6,618

 

$

 

$

 

Actual return on plan assets

 

(161

)

488

 

 

 

Plan participants’ contributions

 

 

 

624

 

567

 

Employer contributions

 

647

 

2,729

 

683

 

1,768

 

Settlements

 

(2,300

)

(1,853

)

 

 

Benefit payments

 

(80

)

(85

)

(1,307

)

(2,335

)

Fair value of plan assets at end of year

 

$

6,003

 

$

7,897

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Funded status at end of year

 

$

(11,177

)

$

(14,760

)

$

(35,149

)

$

(41,748

)

 

Amounts recognized in our consolidated balance sheets for the Plans consist of the following at the dates indicated below (in thousands):

 

 

 

RIGP

 

Retiree Medical Plan

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued employee benefit liabilities - current

 

$

 

$

 

$

(3,127

)

$

(3,278

)

Accrued employee benefit liabilities - noncurrent

 

(11,177

)

(14,760

)

(32,022

)

(38,470

)

Total

 

$

(11,177

)

$

(14,760

)

$

(35,149

)

$

(41,748

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AOCI:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss

 

$

5,778

 

$

11,081

 

$

5,280

 

$

14,229

 

Prior service credit

 

 

 

 

(1,624

)

Total

 

$

5,778

 

$

11,081

 

$

5,280

 

$

12,605

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Information regarding the accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets for the RIGP is as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

RIGP

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Projected benefit obligation

 

$

17,180

 

$

22,657

 

Accumulated benefit obligation (1)

 

13,378

 

17,551

 

Fair value of plan assets

 

6,003

 

7,897

 

 


(1)         The accumulated benefit obligation does not include an assumption for future compensation increases.

 

The weighted average assumptions used in determining net periodic benefit cost for the Plans were as follows for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

RIGP

 

Retiree Medical Plan

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Discount rate

 

2.7

%

4.2

%

4.7

%

3.6

%

4.6

%

5.1

%

Expected return on plan assets

 

5.8

%

5.8

%

6.0

%

N/A

 

N/A

 

N/A

 

Rate of compensation increase

 

3.0

%

4.0

%

4.0

%

3.0

%

4.0

%

4.0

%

 

The assumptions used in determining benefit obligations for the Plans were as follows at the dates indicated:

 

 

 

RIGP

 

Retiree Medical Plan

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2013

 

2012

 

Discount rate

 

3.5

%

2.7

%

4.4

%

3.6

%

Rate of compensation increase

 

3.0

%

3.0

%

3.0

%

3.0

%

 

The discount rate reflects the rate at which benefits could be effectively settled on the measurement date.  For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, the discount rate was determined based on a projection of expected cash flows from the Plans using relevant economic benchmarks available as of each year end.  The expected return on plan assets was determined based on projected long-term market returns for each asset class in which the Plans are invested, weighted by the target asset class allocations.  The rate of compensation increase represents the long-term assumption for future increases to salaries.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The assumed annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits as of December 31, 2013 in the Retiree Medical Plan was 7% for 2014, grading down to 4.5% in 2021, and thereafter.  The assumed health care cost trend rates may have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the Retiree Medical Plan.  Based on a hypothetical 1% movement in the assumed health care cost trend rates, the change in costs would have had the following effects on the December 31, 2013 results:

 

 

 

1%

 

1%

 

 

 

Increase

 

(Decrease)

 

Effect on total service cost and interest cost components

 

$

68

 

$

(60)

 

Effect on postretirement benefit obligation

 

931

 

(837)

 

 

The components of the net periodic benefit cost and other changes recognized in OCI for the Plans were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

RIGP

 

Retiree Medical Plan

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

217

 

$

244

 

$

284

 

$

431

 

$

315

 

$

303

 

Interest cost

 

538

 

827

 

827

 

1,409

 

1,794

 

1,927

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(393

)

(453

)

(347

)

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

 

 

(1,624

)

(2,730

)

(2,964

)

Actuarial loss due to settlements

 

773

 

906

 

694

 

 

 

 

Amortization of unrecognized loss

 

1,232

 

1,371

 

1,121

 

1,193

 

1,260

 

1,244

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

2,367

 

$

2,895

 

$

2,579

 

$

1,409

 

$

639

 

$

510

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in OCI:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net actuarial loss (gain)

 

$

(3,298

)

$

2,198

 

$

3,287

 

$

(7,756

)

$

2,410

 

(781

)

Amortization of unrecognized loss

 

(1,232

)

(1,371

)

(1,121

)

(1,193

)

(1,260

)

(1,244

)

Actuarial loss due to settlements

 

(773

)

(906

)

(694

)

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service credit

 

 

 

 

1,624

 

2,730

 

2,964

 

Total recognized in OCI

 

$

(5,303

)

$

(79

)

$

1,472

 

$

(7,325

)

$

3,880

 

$

939

 

Total recognized in net period benefit cost and OCI

 

$

(2,936

)

$

2,816

 

$

4,051

 

$

(5,916

)

$

4,519

 

$

1,449

 

 

We expect that the following amounts, currently included in OCI, for the Plans will be recognized in our consolidated statement of operations during the year ending December 31, 2014 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Retiree

 

 

 

 

 

Medical

 

 

 

RIGP

 

Plan

 

Amortization of unrecognized loss

 

$

674

 

$

236

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

We estimate the following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, will be paid for the Plans in the years indicated below as such (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

Retiree

 

 

 

 

 

Medical

 

 

 

RIGP

 

Plan

 

2014

 

$

1,346

 

$

3,195

 

2015

 

1,563

 

3,188

 

2016

 

1,701

 

3,169

 

2017

 

1,977

 

3,063

 

2018

 

1,682

 

3,002

 

Thereafter

 

7,305

 

11,912

 

 

We expect to contribute $4.2 million to our benefit plans in 2014.  Funding requirements for subsequent years are uncertain and will depend on whether there are any changes in the actuarial assumptions used to calculate plan funding levels, the actual return on plan assets and any legislative or regulatory changes affecting plan funding requirements.  For tax planning, financial planning, cash flow management or cost reduction purposes, we may increase, accelerate, decrease or delay contributions to the plan to the extent permitted by law.

 

We do not fund the Retiree Medical Plan and, accordingly, no assets are invested in the plan.  A summary of investments in the RIGP are as follows at the dates indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31, 2013

 

December 31, 2012

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 3

 

Level 1

 

Level 3

 

Mutual fund - equity securities

 

$

 

$

 

$

1,380

 

$

 

Mutual fund - money market

 

2,700

 

 

2,527

 

 

Coal lease

 

 

3,303

 

 

3,990

 

Fair value of plan assets

 

$

2,700

 

$

3,303

 

$

3,907

 

$

3,990

 

 

The values of the Level 1 mutual funds were based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets.  The mutual fund — equity securities generally seeks long-term growth of capital and income and invests in a portfolio consisting of 100% in equities.

 

The values of the Level 3 coal lease were determined using an expected present value of future cash flows valuation model.  This investment relates to a 20.8% interest in a coal lease, which derives value from specified minimum royalty payments received from CONSOL Energy Inc. related to coal reserves mined from two Pennsylvania mines owned by the lessor.  The coal lease extends through 2023.

 

The following table summarizes the activity in our Level 3 pension assets for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Beginning balance, January 1

 

$

3,990

 

$

3,468

 

Lease payments received

 

408

 

407

 

Unrealized (loss) gain

 

(687

)

522

 

Transfers out of Level 3

 

(408

)

(407

)

Ending balance, December 31

 

$

3,303

 

$

3,990

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The RIGP investment policy does not target specific asset classes, but seeks to balance the preservation and growth of capital in the plan’s mutual funds with the income derived with proceeds from the coal lease.  While no significant changes in the asset class allocation of the plan are expected during the upcoming year, Services Company may make changes at any time.

 

Retirement and Savings Plans

 

Services Company also sponsors the Retirement and Savings Plan (“RASP”) through which it provides retirement benefits for substantially all of its regular full-time employees located in the continental United States, except those covered by certain labor contracts.  The RASP consists of two components.  Under the first component, Services Company contributes 5% of each eligible employee’s covered salary to an employee’s separate account maintained in the RASP.  Under the second component, Services Company makes a matching contribution into the employee’s separate account for 100% of an employee’s contribution to the RASP up to 5% (or 6% if an employee has over 20 years of service) of an employee’s eligible covered salary.  Total costs of the RASP were $10.7 million, $10 million and $8.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Services Company also participates in a multi-employer retirement income plan and a multi-employer postretirement benefit plan, both of which provide retirement and health care and life insurance benefits to employees covered by certain labor contracts.  We do not administer these plans and contribute to them in accordance with the provisions of negotiated labor contracts.  The costs of providing these benefits, in aggregate, were $0.6 million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

Additionally, certain of our wholly owned subsidiaries provide a savings and retirement plan to employees.  The costs of providing these benefits, which primarily relates to BORCO, were $1.2 million, $1.2 million and $1.4 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

20.  UNIT-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

 

We award unit-based compensation to employees and directors primarily under the Buckeye Partners, L.P. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”), which was approved by the Partnership’s unitholders in June 2013.  The LTIP replaced the 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”), which was merged with and into the LTIP, and no further grants will be made under the 2009 Plan.  We formerly awarded options to acquire LP Units to employees pursuant to the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan (the “Option Plan”).

 

We recognized compensation expense related to the LTIP, which includes awards under the 2009 Plan, and the Option Plan of $21.8 million, $19.5 million and $9.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

LTIP

 

The LTIP is the successor long-term incentive compensation plan to the 2009 Plan.  The LTIP was approved by our unitholders in June 2013, and following such approval, (i) the 2009 Plan was merged with and into the LTIP, (ii) no further grants will be made under the 2009 Plan, and (iii) LP Units with respect to all grants outstanding under the 2009 Plan will be issued under the LTIP.  As a result of the merger of the 2009 Plan into the LTIP on June 4, 2013, the LTIP provided for the issuance of up to 3,000,000 LP Units, plus 889,491 LP Units subject to outstanding grants under the 2009 Plan and 193,913 LP Units that remained available for issuance under the 2009 Plan.

 

The LTIP, which is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Buckeye GP (the “Compensation Committee”), provides for the grant of phantom units, performance units and in certain cases, distribution equivalent rights (“DERs”) which provide the participant a right to receive payments based on distributions we make on our LP Units.  Phantom units are notional LP Units whose vesting is subject to service-based restrictions or other conditions established by the Compensation Committee in its discretion.  Phantom units entitle a participant to receive an LP Unit, without payment of an exercise price, upon vesting.  Performance units are notional LP Units whose vesting is subject to the attainment of one or more performance goals, and which entitle a participant to receive LP Units without payment of an exercise price upon vesting.  DERs are rights to receive a cash payment per phantom unit or performance unit, as applicable, equal to the per unit cash distribution we pay on our LP Units.  The number of LP Units that may be granted to any one individual in a calendar year will not exceed 100,000.  If awards are forfeited, terminated or otherwise not paid in full, the LP Units underlying such awards will again be available for purposes of the LTIP.  Persons eligible to receive grants under the LTIP are (i) officers and employees of Buckeye GP and any of our affiliates who provide services to us and (ii) independent members of the Board of Directors of Buckeye GP.  Phantom units or performance units may be granted to participants at any time as determined by the Compensation Committee.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

After giving effect to the issuance or forfeiture of phantom unit and performance unit awards through the year end, awards representing a total of 3,236,006 LP Units were available for issuance under the LTIP as of December 31, 2013.

 

Deferral Plan under the LTIP

 

On December 16, 2009, the Compensation Committee approved the terms of the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Unit Deferral and Incentive Plan (“Deferral Plan”).  The Compensation Committee is expressly authorized to adopt the Deferral Plan under the terms of the LTIP, which grants the Compensation Committee the authority to establish a program pursuant to which our phantom units may be awarded in lieu of cash compensation at the election of the employee.  At December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, eligible employees were allowed to defer up to 50% of their 2013, 2012, and 2011 compensation award under our Annual Incentive Compensation Plan or other discretionary bonus program in exchange for grants of phantom units equal in value to the amount of their cash award deferral (each such unit, a “Deferral Unit”).  Participants also receive one matching phantom unit for each Deferral Unit.  Deferral Units and their matching phantom units vest on December 15 of the second year after the year in which such units are granted.  At December 31, 2013, $2.7 million of 2013 compensation awards had been deferred, for which phantom units will be granted in 2014.  At December 31, 2012, $1.4 million of 2012 compensation awards had been deferred, for which 51,668 phantom units (including matching units) were granted during 2013.  At December 31, 2011, $0.7 million of 2011 compensation awards had been deferred, for which 23,426 phantom units (including matching units) were granted during 2012.  These grants are included as granted in the LTIP activity table below.

 

Awards under the LTIP

 

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Compensation Committee granted 186,246 phantom units to employees (including the 51,668 phantom units granted pursuant to the Deferral Plan discussed above), 16,000 phantom units to independent directors of Buckeye GP and 170,484 performance units to employees.  The vesting criteria for the performance units are the attainment of certain performance goals during the third year of a three-year period and remaining employed by us throughout such three-year period.

 

Phantom unit grantees will be paid quarterly distributions on DERs associated with phantom units over their respective vesting periods of one-year or three-years in the same amounts per phantom unit as distributions paid on our LP Units over those same one-year or three-year periods.  The amount paid with respect to phantom unit distributions was $1.6 million and $1.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  Distributions may be paid on performance units at the end of the three-year vesting period.  In such case, DERs will be paid on the number of LP Units for which the performance units will be settled.  Quarterly distributions related to DERs associated with phantom and performance units are recorded as a reduction of our Limited Partners’ Capital on the consolidated balance sheets.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following table sets forth the LTIP activity for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per unit amounts):

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date

 

 

 

Number of

 

Fair Value

 

 

 

LP Units

 

per LP Unit (1)

 

Unvested at January 1, 2012

 

585

 

$

56.75

 

Granted

 

376

 

63.04

 

Vested

 

(166)

 

50.51

 

Forfeited

 

(50)

 

45.40

 

Unvested at December 31, 2012

 

745

 

$

62.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granted

 

410

 

53.74

 

Vested

 

(270)

 

58.34

 

Forfeited

 

(72)

 

59.39

 

Unvested at December 31, 2013

 

813

 

$

59.36

 

 


(1)         Determined by dividing the aggregate grant date fair value of awards by the number of awards issued.  The weighted-average grant date fair value per LP Unit for forfeited and vested awards is determined before an allowance for forfeitures.

 

At December 31, 2013, $18.1 million of compensation expense related to the LTIP is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.6 years.

 

Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan

 

We also sponsor the Option Plan pursuant to which we historically granted options to employees to purchase LP Units at the market price of our LP Units on the date of grant.  Generally, the options vest three years from the date of grant and expire ten years from the date of grant.  As unit options are exercised, we issue new LP Units to the holder.  We have not historically repurchased, and do not expect to repurchase in 2014, any of our LP Units.  Following the adoption of the 2009 Plan effective March 20, 2009, we ceased making additional grants under the Option Plan.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following is a summary of the changes in the options outstanding (all of which are vested) under the Option Plan for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per unit amounts):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average

 

Remaining

 

Aggregate

 

 

 

Number of

 

Strike Price

 

Contractual

 

Intrinsic

 

 

 

LP Units

 

($/LP Unit)

 

Term (in years)

 

Value (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at January 1, 2012

 

97

 

$

46.81

 

4.2

 

$

1,666

 

Exercised

 

(23

)

45.62

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2012

 

74

 

$

47.19

 

3.3

 

$

35

 

Exercised

 

(28

)

46.98

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

46

 

$

47.32

 

2.4

 

$

1,080

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at December 31, 2013

 

46

 

$

47.32

 

2.4

 

$

1,080

 

 


(1)         Aggregate intrinsic value reflects fully vested LP Unit options at the date indicated. Intrinsic value is determined by calculating the difference between our closing LP Unit price on the last trading day in 2013 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of exercisable, in-the-money options.

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $0.6 million, $0.3 million and $2.5 million, respectively.  At December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there was no unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested options, as all options were vested as of November 24, 2011.  At December 31, 2013, 333,000 LP Units were available for grant in connection with the Option Plan.  The fair value of options vested was $0 million, $0 million and $0.2 million during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

BGH GP’s Override Units

 

Effective on June 25, 2007, BGH GP established an Equity Compensation Plan for certain members of BGH GP’s senior management, pursuant to which BGH GP issued both time-based and performance-based awards of the equity of BGH GP (but not our equity), which are called override units.  No override units were granted during the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.  However, on January 27, 2011, BGH GP granted override units in BGH GP to a member of senior management.  We are not the sponsor of this plan and have no obligations with respect to it.

 

The vesting of the override units that remain unvested is contingent on the satisfaction of a performance condition and a market condition that are dependent on the amounts of distributions that BGH GP makes to its unitholders.  Since these conditions were not satisfied during 2013, no compensation expense has been recorded for these override units through December 31, 2013.

 

21.  EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

 

Services Company provides the ESOP to the majority of its employees hired before September 16, 2004.  Employees hired by Services Company after September 15, 2004 and certain employees covered by a union multiemployer pension plan do not participate in the ESOP.  The ESOP owns all of the outstanding common stock of Services Company.  Buckeye, as primary beneficiary, consolidates Services Company.

 

The ESOP was frozen with respect to benefits effective March 27, 2011 (the “Freeze Date”).  No Services Company contributions (other than dividend equivalent payments) have been made on behalf of current participants in the Plan after the Freeze Date.  Even though contributions under the ESOP are no longer being made, each eligible participant’s ESOP Account continues to be credited with its share of any stock dividends or other stock distributions associated with Services Company Stock.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Individual employees were allocated shares based upon the ratio of their eligible compensation to total eligible compensation.  Eligible compensation generally included base salary, overtime payments and certain bonuses.  All Services Company stock has been released to ESOP participants.  Total ESOP related costs charged to earnings were $0.2 million, nominal, and $1.2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011.

 

22.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

We are managed by Buckeye GP, our general partner.  Services Company is considered a related party with respect to us.  Services Company employees provide services to the majority of our operating subsidiaries.  Pursuant to a services agreement entered into in December 2004, our operating subsidiaries reimburse Services Company for the costs of the services provided by Services Company.  As Services Company is consolidated, these amounts eliminate in consolidation.  Services Company, which is beneficially owned by the ESOP, owned 0.8 million of our LP Units (0.7% of our LP Units outstanding) as of December 31, 2013.  Distributions received by Services Company from us on such LP Units are distributed to ESOP participants for investment pursuant to the terms of the ESOP.  Distributions paid to Services Company totaled $3.7 million, $5 million and $5.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  Total distributions paid to Services Company decrease over time as Services Company sells LP Units to fund benefits payable to ESOP participants who exit the ESOP.

 

23.  PARTNERS’ CAPITAL AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

Our LP Units represent limited partner interests, which give the holders thereof the right to participate in distributions and to exercise the other rights and privileges available to them under our partnership agreement.  The partnership agreement provides that, without prior approval of our limited partners holding an aggregate of at least two-thirds of the outstanding LP Units, we cannot issue any LP Units of a class or series having preferences or other special or senior rights over the LP Units.

 

Class B Units

 

From January 2011 to September 2013, we had issued and outstanding Class B Units representing a separate class of our limited partnership interests. The Class B Units shared equally with the LP Units (i) with respect to the payment of distributions and (ii) in the event of our liquidation.  Our partnership agreement provided the option to pay distributions on the Class B Units with cash or by issuing additional Class B Units, with the number of Class B Units issued based upon the volume-weighted average price of the LP Units for the 10 trading days immediately preceding the date the distributions were declared, less a discount of 15%.  From January 2011 to September 2013, we paid distributions on the Class B Units by issuing such additional Class B Units.

 

In September 2013, 8.5 million Class B Units, which represented all of our Class B Units outstanding as of September 1, 2013, converted into LP Units on a one-for-one basis.  The conversion was required by our partnership agreement and was triggered in connection with over 4 million barrels of incremental storage capacity being placed in service since acquisition at our BORCO facility effective September 1, 2013.  No Class B Units have been issued subsequent to that date, and as a result, there were no Class B Units outstanding at December 31, 2013.

 

At-the-Market Offering Program

 

In May 2013, we entered into four separate equity distribution agreements (each an “Equity Distribution Agreement” and collectively the “Equity Distribution Agreements”) with each of Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and UBS Securities LLC.  Under the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreements, we may offer and sell up to $300 million in aggregate gross sales proceeds of LP Units from time to time through such firms, acting as agents of the Partnership or as principals, subject in each case to the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Equity Distribution Agreement.  Sales of LP Units, if any, may be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices or as otherwise agreed with any of such firms.  During the year ended December 31, 2013, we sold 0.5 million LP Units in aggregate under the Equity Distribution Agreements, received $33.1 million in net proceeds after deducting commissions and other related expenses, and paid $0.4 million of compensation in aggregate to the agents under the Equity Distribution Agreements.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Equity Offerings

 

In October 2013, we completed a public offering of 7.5 million LP Units pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, which priced at $62.61 per unit.  The underwriters also exercised an option to purchase 1.1 million additional LP Units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $540 million before deducting underwriting fees and offering expenses of $19.3 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility and to indirectly fund a portion of the purchase price for the Hess Terminals Acquisition (see Note 3 for further information).

 

In January 2013, we completed a public offering of 6 million LP Units pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement, which priced at $52.54 per unit.  The underwriters also exercised an option to purchase 0.9 million additional LP Units, resulting in total gross proceeds of $362.5 million before deducting underwriting fees and offering expenses of $13.3 million.  We used the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility.

 

In February 2012, we issued 4.3 million LP Units to institutional investors in a registered direct offering for aggregate consideration of $250 million at a price of $58.65 per LP Unit, before deducting placement agents’ fees and offering expenses of $3.2 million.  We used the majority of the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our Credit Facility and to indirectly fund a portion of the Perth Amboy Facility acquisition as well as certain other growth capital expenditures.

 

In April 2011, we issued 5.5 million LP Units, which included 0.7 million LP Units issued as part of the overallotment option, in an underwritten public offering at a public offering price of $59.41 per LP Unit.  Total proceeds from the offering, including the overallotment option and after the underwriters’ discount and offering expenses, were $316.6 million, and were used to reduce amounts outstanding under our Prior BPL Credit Facility.

 

On January 18 and 19, 2011, we issued 5.8 million LP Units and 1.3 million Class B Units to institutional investors for aggregate consideration of $425 million to fund a portion of the BORCO acquisition.  On January 18, 2011, we issued 2.5 million LP Units and 4.4 million Class B Units to First Reserve as $400 million of consideration to fund a portion of the BORCO acquisition.  On February 16, 2011, we issued 0.6 million LP Units and 1.1 million Class B Units to Vopak as $100 million of consideration to fund a portion of the BORCO acquisition.  Equity issuance costs incurred on these transactions were $4.6 million.  The remaining purchase price was funded with cash on hand at closing and borrowings under our Prior BPL Credit Facility. See Note 3 for further information on the BORCO acquisition.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Summary of Changes in Outstanding Units

 

The following is a summary of changes in Buckeye’s outstanding units for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Limited

 

Class B

 

 

 

 

 

Partners

 

Units

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Units outstanding at January 1, 2011

 

71,436

 

 

71,436

 

LP Units issued pursuant to the Option Plan (1)

 

97

 

 

97

 

LP Units issued pursuant to the LTIP (1)

 

16

 

 

16

 

Issuance of units to First Reserve and Vopak as consideration for BORCO acquisition

 

3,104

 

5,479

 

8,583

 

Issuance of units to institutional investors

 

5,795

 

1,315

 

7,110

 

Issuance of units in underwritten public offering

 

5,520

 

 

5,520

 

Issuance of Class B Units in lieu of quarterly cash distribution

 

 

511

 

511

 

Units outstanding at December 31, 2011

 

85,968

 

7,305

 

93,273

 

LP Units issued pursuant to the Option Plan (1)

 

22

 

 

22

 

LP Units issued pursuant to the LTIP (1)

 

118

 

 

118

 

Issuance of units to institutional investors

 

4,263

 

 

4,263

 

Issuance of Class B Units in lieu of quarterly cash distribution

 

 

670

 

670

 

Units outstanding at December 31, 2012

 

90,371

 

7,975

 

98,346

 

LP Units issued pursuant to the Option Plan (1)

 

27

 

 

27

 

LP Units issued pursuant to the LTIP (1)

 

182

 

 

182

 

Issuance of units to institutional investors

 

15,526

 

 

15,526

 

Issuance of units through Equity Distribution Agreements

 

489

 

 

489

 

Issuance of Class B Units in lieu of quarterly cash distribution

 

 

494

 

494

 

Conversion of Class B Units into LP Units

 

8,469

 

(8,469

)

 

Units outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

115,064

 

 

115,064

 

 


(1)         The number of units issued represents issuance net of tax withholding.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Cash Distributions

 

We generally make quarterly cash distributions to unitholders of substantially all of our available cash, generally defined in our partnership agreement as consolidated cash receipts less consolidated cash expenditures and such retentions for working capital, anticipated cash expenditures and contingencies as our general partner deems appropriate.  Cash distributions paid to unitholders of Buckeye for the periods indicated were as follows (in thousands, except per unit amounts):

 

 

 

 

 

Amount Per

 

Total Cash

 

Record Date

 

Payment Date

 

LP Unit

 

Distributions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 21, 2011

 

February 28, 2011

 

$

0.9875

 

$

79,603

 

May 16, 2011

 

May 31, 2011

 

1.0000

 

86,153

 

August 15, 2011

 

August 31, 2011

 

1.0125

 

87,236

 

November 14, 2011

 

November 30, 2011

 

1.0250

 

88,377

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

341,369

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 21, 2012

 

February 29, 2012

 

$

1.0375

 

$

94,017

 

May 14, 2012

 

May 31, 2012

 

1.0375

 

94,050

 

August 15, 2012

 

August 31, 2012

 

1.0375

 

94,055

 

November 12, 2012

 

November 30, 2012

 

1.0375

 

94,055

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

376,177

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 19, 2013

 

February 28, 2013

 

$

1.0375

 

$

101,475

 

May 16, 2013

 

May 31, 2013

 

1.0500

 

102,689

 

August 12, 2013

 

August 20, 2013

 

1.0625

 

104,293

 

November 12, 2013

 

November 19, 2013

 

1.0750

 

124,051

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

$

432,508

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

In-kind Distributions

 

In-kind distributions paid to Class B unitholders of Buckeye for the periods indicated were as follows (in thousands):

 

Record Date

 

Payment Date

 

Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 21, 2011

 

February 28, 2011

 

122

 

May 16, 2011

 

May 31, 2011

 

127

 

August 15, 2011

 

August 31, 2011

 

133

 

November 14, 2011

 

November 30, 2011

 

129

 

Total

 

 

 

511

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 21, 2012

 

February 29, 2012

 

141

 

May 14, 2012

 

May 31, 2012

 

160

 

August 15, 2012

 

August 31, 2012

 

172

 

November 12, 2012

 

November 30, 2012

 

197

 

Total

 

 

 

670

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 19, 2013

 

February 28, 2013

 

186

 

May 16, 2013

 

May 31, 2013

 

163

 

August 12, 2013

 

August 20, 2013

 

145

 

Total

 

 

 

494

 

 

On February 7, 2014, we announced a quarterly distribution of $1.0875 per LP Unit that will be paid on February 25, 2014, to unitholders of record on February 18, 2014.  Based on the LP Units outstanding as of December 31, 2013, cash distributed to LP unitholders on February 25, 2014 will total $125.5 million.

 

24.  INCOME TAXES

 

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had net deferred tax assets of $1.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively, for BDL, which are not expected to be realized based on the available evidence of projected operating losses for the foreseeable future, and have provided a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets as of the end of each year.  As of December 31, 2013, $3.5 million of BDL’s deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards will expire between 2028 and 2032.

 

As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, we had net deferred tax assets of $43 million and $34.3 million related to Buckeye Caribbean.  The increase in our net deferred tax asset and valuation allowance in 2013 is primarily due to the new tax legislation enacted effective June 30, 2013 in Puerto Rico.  As of December 31, 2013, $18.7 million of the deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards, and unless utilized, the tax benefits of the net operating loss carryforwards will expire between 2020 and 2022.  Based on available evidence, we had recorded a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets upon our acquisition of Buckeye Caribbean during the year ended December 31, 2010.  There was no significant change in our judgment during the year ended December 31, 2011.  However, based on our assessment at December 31, 2013 and 2012, we concluded that sufficient positive evidence exists, including the realization of book and taxable income and a forecast of future book and taxable income, to release $1.6 million and $1.8 million of valuation allowance, respectively, at December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The tax effects of significant items comprising our net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

Deferred tax asset:

 

 

 

 

 

Net operating loss carryforward

 

$

22,158

 

$

18,163

 

Property, plant and equipment - refinery

 

22,333

 

17,179

 

Other

 

2,720

 

2,982

 

Total deferred tax asset

 

$

47,211

 

$

38,324

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liability:

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment - terminals

 

$

2,296

 

$

2,142

 

Other

 

110

 

141

 

Total deferred tax liability

 

2,406

 

2,283

 

Net deferred tax asset

 

44,805

 

36,041

 

Less: Valuation allowance

 

(43,243

)

(34,271

)

Deferred taxes, net

 

$

1,562

 

$

1,770

 

 

We are currently not under any income tax audits or examinations.  As of December 31, 2013, BDL’s tax years from 2010 to 2013 and Buckeye Caribbean’s tax years from 2007 through 2013 were open to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and Puerto Rico Treasury Department, respectively.

 

25.  EARNINGS PER UNIT

 

Basic and diluted earnings per unit (includes LP Units and Class B Units) is calculated by dividing net income, after deducting the amount allocated to noncontrolling interests, by the weighted-average number of LP Units and Class B Units outstanding during the period.

 

The following table is a reconciliation of the weighted average units outstanding used in computing the basic and diluted earnings per unit for the periods indicated (in thousands, except per unit amounts):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

$

160,273

 

$

226,417

 

$

108,501

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding - basic

 

107,202

 

97,309

 

90,423

 

Earnings per unit - basic

 

$

1.50

 

$

2.33

 

$

1.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average units outstanding - basic

 

107,202

 

97,309

 

90,423

 

Dilutive effect of LP Unit options and LTIP awards granted

 

475

 

326

 

349

 

Weighted average units outstanding - diluted

 

107,677

 

97,635

 

90,772

 

Earnings per unit - diluted

 

$

1.49

 

$

2.32

 

$

1.20

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

26.  BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 

We operate and report in four business segments: (i) Pipelines & Terminals; (ii) Global Marine Terminals; (iii) Merchant Services; and (iv) Development & Logistics.  In December 2013, we realigned our business segments to support the way our management views our business in light of recent growth through acquisitions.  We eliminated our previously reported International Operations and Energy Services segments and created the Global Marine Terminals and Merchant Services segments.  The new Global Marine Terminals segment includes our marine facilities that primarily facilitate global logistic product flows and feature segregated tankage, serve a similar international customer base and offer similar services, such as bulk storage and blending.  This segment includes our BORCO facility and Yabucoa terminal, the St. Lucia terminal acquired from Hess, and the New York Harbor storage and marine terminals, which consist of our legacy Perth Amboy terminal and the Port Reading and Raritan Bay terminals acquired from Hess.  Our Merchant Services segment centralizes all existing and new merchant activities to leverage common mid- and back-office support.  This segment includes the legacy Energy Services segment, the Caribbean fuel oil supply and distribution business and new merchant activities supporting the terminals recently acquired from Hess.  Our Development & Logistics segment remains unchanged.  Our Pipelines & Terminals segment remains unchanged, other than the removal of the Perth Amboy terminal.  Finally, we also eliminated the Natural Gas Storage segment because it has been classified as a discontinued operation.  We have adjusted our prior period segment information to conform to the current alignment of our continuing business and discontinued operations.  In addition, reclassifications of prior period amounts were made to operating and general and administrative expenses between our segments.  The reclassification impacted adjusted EBITDA by segment and had no impact on consolidated net income or partners’ capital.

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

The Pipelines & Terminals segment receives liquid petroleum products from refineries, connecting pipelines, vessels, and bulk and marine terminals and transports those products to other locations for a fee and provides bulk storage and terminal throughput services in the continental United States.  This segment owns and operates pipeline systems and liquid petroleum products terminals in the continental United States, including five terminals owned by the Merchant Services segment but operated by the Pipelines & Terminals segment and 17 terminals acquired from Hess Terminals Acquisition in December 2013.  In addition, we provide crude oil services, including train off-loading, storage and throughput.

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

The Global Marine Terminals segment provides marine bulk storage and marine terminal throughput services along the U.S. East Coast and Caribbean.  The segment has liquid petroleum product terminals located in The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and St. Lucia in the Caribbean, and the New York Harbor.  In connection with BORCO’s publicly announced expansion plans, BORCO completed construction of and brought online 2.8 million barrels of incremental storage capacity in 2013.

 

Merchant Services

 

The Merchant Services segment is a wholesale distributor of petroleum products in the United States and in the Caribbean. This segment recognizes revenues when products are delivered.  The segment’s products include gasoline, propane, ethanol, biodiesel and petroleum distillates such as heating oil, diesel fuel, kerosene and fuel oil. The segment owns five terminals which are operated by the Pipelines & Terminals segment.  The segment’s customers consist principally of product wholesalers as well as major commercial users of these refined petroleum products.

 

Development & Logistics

 

The Development & Logistics segment consists primarily of our contract operations of third-party pipelines, which are owned principally by major oil and gas, petrochemical and chemical companies and are located primarily in Texas and Louisiana.  Additionally, this segment performs pipeline construction management services, typically for cost plus a fixed fee. This segment also owns and operates two underground propane storage caverns in Indiana and Illinois and an ammonia pipeline, as well as maintains majority ownership of the Sabina Pipeline, located in Texas.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Natural Gas Storage Disposal Group

 

In December 2013, our Board of Directors approved a plan to divest the natural gas storage segment facility and related assets that our subsidiary Lodi Gas Storage, L.L.C. owns and operates in Northern California as we no longer believe this business is aligned with our long-term business strategy.  In this report, we refer to this group of assets as our Natural Gas Storage disposal group.  Accordingly, we have classified the disposal group as “Assets held for sale” and “Liabilities held for sale” in our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 and reported the results of operations as discontinued operations for all periods presented in this report.  For additional information, see Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure used by our senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer, to: (i) evaluate our consolidated operating performance and the operating performance of our business segments; (ii) allocate resources and capital to business segments; (iii) evaluate the viability of proposed projects; and (iv) determine overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities. Adjusted EBITDA eliminates (i) non-cash expenses, including but not limited to depreciation and amortization expense resulting from the significant capital investments we make in our businesses and from intangible assets recognized in business combinations; (ii) charges for obligations expected to be settled with the issuance of equity instruments; and (iii) items that are not indicative of our core operating performance results and business outlook.

 

We believe that investors benefit from having access to the same financial measures that we use and that these measures are useful to investors because they aid in comparing our operating performance with that of other companies with similar operations.  The Adjusted EBITDA data presented by us may not be comparable to similarly titled measures at other companies because these items may be defined differently by other companies.

 

The following tables summarize our financial information by each segment for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

786,759

 

$

709,341

 

$

631,289

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

252,270

 

218,180

 

193,960

 

Merchant Services

 

3,990,575

 

3,339,241

 

3,888,961

 

Development & Logistics

 

59,247

 

50,211

 

43,068

 

Intersegment

 

(34,750

)

(31,070

)

(63,658

)

Total revenue

 

$

5,054,101

 

$

4,285,903

 

$

4,693,620

 

 

For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, no customer contributed 10% or more of consolidated revenue.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital additions, net: (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals

 

$

151,827

 

$

158,547

 

$

103,678

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

206,472

 

167,208

 

184,438

 

Merchant Services

 

113

 

2,490

 

1,824

 

Development & Logistics

 

2,840

 

724

 

5,287

 

Total segment capital additions, net

 

361,252

 

328,969

 

295,227

 

Natural Gas Storage disposal group (2)

 

193

 

2,369

 

10,097

 

Total capital additions, net

 

$

361,445

 

$

331,338

 

$

305,324

 

 


(1)         Amounts represent cash paid for capital expenditures and exclude $23.3 million, ($2.4) million and $14.3 million of non-cash changes in accounts payable and accruals for capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  See Note 27 for supplemental cash flow information.

(2)         Assets related to the former Natural Gas Storage disposal group were classified as “Assets held for sale” as of the year ended December 31, 2013.  See Note 4 for further information.

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Pipelines & Terminals (1)

 

$

3,109,609

 

$

2,661,100

 

Global Marine Terminals (2)

 

3,066,669

 

2,415,408

 

Merchant Services

 

569,679

 

454,453

 

Development & Logistics

 

77,898

 

77,679

 

Total segment assets

 

6,823,855

 

5,608,640

 

Natural Gas Storage disposal group (3)

 

181,708

 

372,369

 

Total assets

 

$

7,005,563

 

$

5,981,009

 

 


(1)         All equity investments are included in the assets of the Pipelines & Terminals segment.

(2)         The Global Marine Terminals segment’s long-lived assets consist of property, plant and equipment, goodwill, intangible assets and other non-current assets.  Total tangible long-lived assets located in our international locations was $1,540.4 million and $1,381.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which represents 68% and 86%, respectively, of the Global Marine Terminals segment’s total tangible long-lived assets.

(3)         Assets related to the former Natural Gas Storage disposal group were classified as “Assets held for sale” as of the year ended December 31, 2013.  See Note 4 for further information.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following tables summarize our financial information for continuing operations, by major geographic area, for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

4,834,991

 

$

4,092,549

 

$

4,516,026

 

International

 

219,110

 

193,354

 

177,594

 

Total revenue

 

$

5,054,101

 

$

4,285,903

 

$

4,693,620

 

 

The following tables present Adjusted EBITDA by segment and on a consolidated basis and a reconciliation of income from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pipeline & Terminals

 

$

471,091

 

$

409,541

 

$

361,018

 

Global Marine Terminals

 

149,740

 

128,581

 

112,996

 

Merchant Services

 

12,616

 

1,144

 

1,797

 

Development & Logistics

 

15,367

 

13,174

 

7,932

 

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

 

$

648,814

 

$

552,440

 

$

483,743

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of Income from continuing operations to Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

 

$

351,599

 

$

235,879

 

$

291,827

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

(4,152

)

(4,134

)

(6,163

)

Income from continuing operations attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

347,447

 

231,745

 

285,664

 

Add: Interest and debt expense

 

130,920

 

114,980

 

119,561

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

 

1,060

 

(675

)

(192

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

147,591

 

138,857

 

112,398

 

Non-cash unit-based compensation expense

 

21,013

 

18,577

 

8,601

 

Asset impairment expense

 

 

59,950

 

 

Hess acquisition and transition expense

 

11,806

 

 

 

Less: Amortization of unfavorable storage contracts (1)

 

(11,023

)

(10,994

)

(7,562

)

Gain on sale of equity investment

 

 

 

(34,727

)

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations

 

$

648,814

 

$

552,440

 

$

483,743

 

 


(1)         Represents amortization of negative fair values allocated to certain unfavorable storage contracts acquired in connection with the BORCO acquisition.

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

27.  SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

Supplemental cash flows and non-cash transactions were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

 

 

Year Ended December 31,

 

 

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

Cash paid for interest (net of capitalized interest)

 

$

115,006

 

$

110,769

 

$

98,044

 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

510

 

1,406

 

1,147

 

Capitalized interest

 

7,007

 

9,238

 

7,583

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued and other current liabilities related to capital expenditures

 

$

23,267

 

$

(2,401

)

$

14,296

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuance of units to First Reserve for BORCO acquisition

 

$

 

$

 

$

407,391

 

Issuance of units to Vopak for BORCO acquisition

 

 

 

96,110

 

Issuance of Class B Units in lieu of quarterly cash distribution

 

25,687

 

31,264

 

28,111

 

 

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BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

28.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

 

Summarized quarterly financial data for the periods indicated is set forth below (in thousands, except per unit amounts).  Quarterly results were influenced by seasonal and other factors inherent in our business.  The amounts shown below differ from those previously reported in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q due to the planned divestiture of our Natural Gas Storage disposal group, as discussed in Note 4.  The results of operations of the Natural Gas Storage disposal group have been reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

 

 

 

First

 

Second

 

Third

 

Fourth

 

 

 

 

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Quarter

 

Total

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue (1)

 

$

1,331,078

 

$

993,588

 

$

1,073,851

 

$

1,655,584

 

$

5,054,101

 

Operating income (2) (3)

 

123,476

 

113,971

 

116,777

 

123,817

 

478,041

 

Income from continuing operations

 

94,826

 

85,690

 

83,618

 

87,465

 

351,599

 

Loss from discontinued operations (2)

 

(4,327

)

(8,320

)

(5,367

)

(169,160

)

(187,174

)

Net income (2)

 

90,499

 

77,370

 

78,251

 

(81,695

)

164,425

 

Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P. (2)

 

89,341

 

76,430

 

77,254

 

(82,752

)

160,273

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per unit - basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.91

 

$

0.80

 

$

0.78

 

$

0.76

 

$

3.25

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.04

)

(0.08

)

(0.05

)

(1.49

)

(1.75

)

Total

 

$

0.87

 

$

0.72

 

$

0.73

 

$

(0.73

)

$

1.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per unit - diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.90

 

$

0.80

 

$

0.77

 

$

0.75

 

$

3.23

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.04

)

(0.08

)

(0.05

)

(1.48

)

(1.74

)

Total

 

$

0.86

 

$

0.72

 

$

0.72

 

$

(0.73

)

$

1.49

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue (1)

 

$

1,249,228

 

$

966,171

 

$

945,741

 

$

1,124,763

 

$

4,285,903

 

Operating income (3) (4)

 

84,656

 

85,409

 

115,263

 

59,208

 

344,536

 

Income from continuing operations (4)

 

57,389

 

59,289

 

86,658

 

32,543

 

235,879

 

Loss from discontinued operations

 

(3,922

)

(3,263

)

(1,399

)

3,256

 

(5,328

)

Net income (4)

 

53,467

 

56,026

 

85,259

 

35,799

 

230,551

 

Net income attributable to Buckeye Partners, L.P. (4)

 

51,959

 

54,379

 

85,116

 

34,963

 

226,417

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per unit - basic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.59

 

$

0.59

 

$

0.88

 

$

0.33

 

$

2.38

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.04

)

(0.03

)

(0.01

)

0.03

 

(0.05

)

Total

 

$

0.55

 

$

0.56

 

$

0.87

 

$

0.36

 

$

2.33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings (loss) per unit - diluted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.58

 

$

0.58

 

$

0.88

 

$

0.32

 

$

2.37

 

Discontinued operations

 

(0.04

)

(0.03

)

(0.01

)

0.03

 

(0.05

)

Total

 

$

0.54

 

$

0.55

 

$

0.87

 

$

0.35

 

$

2.32

 

 


(1)         Revenue for 2013 excludes previously reported amounts of $13.9 million, $11.8 million and $14.9 million, in the first, second and third quarters of 2013, respectively, related to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group.  Revenue for 2012 excludes previously reported amounts of $10.2 million, $16.5 million, $20.2 million and $24.4 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2012, respectively, related to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group.

(2)         During the fourth quarter of 2013, we recorded a $169 million asset impairment expense related to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group (see Note 5).

(3)         Operating income for 2013 excludes operating losses of ($4.3) million, ($8.3) million and ($5.4) million, in the first, second and third quarters of 2013, respectively, related to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group.  Operating income for 2012 excludes operating income (loss) of ($3.9) million, ($3.3) million, ($1.4) million and $3.3 million in the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2012, respectively, related to the Natural Gas Storage disposal group.

(4)         During the fourth quarter of 2012, we recorded a $60 million asset impairment expense related to the NORCO pipeline system (see Note 5).

 

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Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

None.

 

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), evaluated the design and effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Report.  Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Report are designed and operating effectively to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.  A controls system cannot provide absolute assurance, however, that the objectives of the controls system are met, and no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within a company have been detected.

 

Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting is set forth in Item 8 of this Report and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The attestation report of our registered public accounting firm with respect to internal controls over financial reporting is set forth in Item 8 of this Report and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Change in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) or in other factors during the fourth quarter of 2013, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Item 9B.  Other Information

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

 

The information required by this item will be included in our definitive Proxy Statement in connection with our 2014 Annual Meeting of unitholders (the “2014 Proxy Statement”), which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, under the headings “Proposal One:  Election of Directors,” “Executive Officers” and “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

 

The information required by this item will be set forth in our 2014 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, under the headings “Compensation of Directors,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholder Matters

 

The information required by this item will be set forth in our 2014 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, under the headings “Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Equity Compensation Plans” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

 

The information required by this item will be set forth in our 2014 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, under the headings “Independence of Directors” and “Related Person Transactions and Procedures” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 14.  Principal Accounting Fees and Services

 

The information required by this item will be included in our 2014 Proxy Statement, which will be filed with the SEC within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, under the heading “Fees Paid to Deloitte & Touche LLP” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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PART IV

 

Item 15.  Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules

 

(a)         The following documents are filed as a part of this Report:

 

(1)         Financial Statements — See Item 8 of this Report.

 

(2)         Financial Statement Schedules — None.

 

(3)         Exhibits — The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Report including those incorporated by reference.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

 

 

 

2.1

 

Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Buckeye Tank Terminals LLC and Chevron U.S.A., Inc., dated as of February 8, 2012 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 10, 2012).

 

 

 

2.2

 

Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and Hess Corporation, dated as of October 9, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 10, 2013).

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of February 4, 1998 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997).

 

 

 

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of April 26, 2002 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002).

 

 

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of June 1, 2004, effective as of June 3, 2004 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed June 16, 2004).

 

 

 

3.4

 

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of December 15, 2004 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.5 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004).

 

 

 

3.5

 

Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of November 19, 2010 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 22, 2010).

 

 

 

3.6

 

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of January 18, 2011 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 20, 2011).

 

 

 

3.7

 

Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of February 21, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 25, 2013).

 

 

 

3.8

 

Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of October 1, 2013, (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 7, 2013).

 

 

 

4.1

 

Indenture dated as of July 10, 2003, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and SunTrust Bank, as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed September 19, 2003).

 

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4.2

 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 10, 2003, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and SunTrust Bank, as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed September 19, 2003).

 

 

 

4.3

 

Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 19, 2003, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and SunTrust Bank, as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed September 19, 2003).

 

 

 

4.4

 

Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of October 12, 2004, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and SunTrust Bank, as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 14, 2004).

 

 

 

4.5

 

Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 30, 2005, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and SunTrust Bank, as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 30, 2005).

 

 

 

4.6

 

Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 11, 2008, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association (successor to SunTrust Bank), as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 11, 2008).

 

 

 

4.7

 

Sixth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 18, 2009, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association (successor-in-interest to SunTrust Bank), as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 24, 2009).

 

 

 

4.8

 

Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 13, 2011, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association (successor-in-interest to SunTrust Bank), as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 20, 2011).

 

 

 

4.9

 

Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 10, 2013, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association (successor-in-interest to SunTrust Bank), as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 12, 2013).

 

 

 

4.10

 

Ninth Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 14, 2013, between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and U.S. Bank National Association (successor-in-interest to SunTrust Bank), as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 19, 2013).

 

 

 

4.11

 

Registration Rights Agreement by and among Buckeye Partners, L.P., FR XI Offshore AIV, L.P. and the other investors named therein, dated as of December 18, 2010 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 21, 2010).

 

 

 

4.12

 

Registration Rights Agreement by and between Buckeye Partners, L.P. and Vopak Bahamas B.V. dated as of February 15, 2011 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2011).

 

 

 

10.1

 

Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Buckeye GP Holdings L.P., dated as of November 19, 2010 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 22, 2010).

 

 

 

10.2

 

Services Agreement dated as of February 21, 2013, among Buckeye Partners, L.P., certain operating subsidiaries of Buckeye Partners, L.P. and Services Company. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013).

 

 

 

*10.3

 

Form of Severance Agreement for each Named Executive Officer (except Mr. Wylie) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 20, 2012).

 

 

 

*10.4

 

Amended and Restated Unit Option and Distribution Equivalent Plan of Buckeye Partners, L.P., dated as of April 1, 2005 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 4, 2005).

 

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*10.5

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 19, 2013).

 

 

 

*10.6

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. Annual Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended and restated, effective January 1, 2012) (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 2, 2012).

 

 

 

*10.7

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. Unit Deferral and Incentive Plan, as amended and restated effective July 31, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013).

 

 

 

*10.8

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P. Non-Employee Director Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of January 1, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013).

 

 

 

*10.9

 

Buckeye Pipe Line Company Benefit Equalization Plan, effective as of January 1, 2012 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013).

 

 

 

*10.10

 

Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2011, by and among Buckeye Partners, L.P., Buckeye Energy Services, LLC, SunTrust Bank and other lenders party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 30, 2011).

 

 

 

10.11

 

Transition Support Agreement by and among Buckeye Atlantic Holdings LLC, Vopak Bahamas B.V., FR Borco Topco L.P., FR Borco Coop Holdings, L.P., FR Borco Coop Holdings GP Limited, Bahamas Oil Refining Company International Limited and Vopak Koninklijke N.V. dated as of February 15, 2011 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Current Report of Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2011).

 

 

 

10.12

 

Form of Consent to Extension of Maturity Date, effective August 28, 2013, to Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of September 26, 2011, by and among Buckeye Partners, L.P., Buckeye Energy Services, LLC, SunTrust Bank and the other lenders party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Buckeye Partners, L.P.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2013).

 

 

 

**12.1

 

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

 

 

 

**21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries of Buckeye Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

**23.1

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.

 

 

 

**31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 (a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

 

**31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

 

 

**32.1

 

Certification by Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

 

**32.2

 

Certification by Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

 

 

 

**101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document.

 

 

 

**101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

 

 

 

**101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

**101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document.

 

 

 

**101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

 

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**101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

 


*                 Represents management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

**          Filed herewith.

                 Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K.  Buckeye agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of the omitted schedules to the SEC upon request.

 

(a)         Exhibits — See Item 15(a)(3) above.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

BUCKEYE PARTNERS, L.P.

 

(Registrant)

 

By:

Buckeye GP LLC,

 

 

as General Partner

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ CLARK C. SMITH

 

 

Clark C. Smith

 

 

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ PIETER BAKKER

 

 

Pieter Bakker

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ BARBARA J. DUGANIER

 

 

Barbara J. Duganier

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ C. SCOTT HOBBS

 

 

C. Scott Hobbs

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ JOSEPH A. LASALA, JR.

 

 

Joseph A. LaSala, Jr.

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ MARK C. MCKINLEY

 

 

Mark C. McKinley

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ OLIVER G. “RICK” RICHARD, III

 

 

Oliver “Rick” G. Richard, III

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ CLARK C. SMITH

 

 

Clark C. Smith

 

 

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

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Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ FRANK S. SOWINSKI

 

 

Frank S. Sowinski

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ KEITH E. ST.CLAIR

 

 

Keith E. St.Clair

 

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ MARTIN A. WHITE

 

 

Martin A. White

 

 

Director

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ FORREST E. WYLIE

 

 

Forrest E. Wylie

 

 

Non-Executive Chairman of the Board

 

 

 

Dated: February 26, 2014

By:

/s/ JEFFREY I. BEASON

 

 

Jeffrey I. Beason

 

 

Vice President and Controller

 

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

134