glp_Current folio_10Q_Taxonomy2015

Table of Contents 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016

 

 

 

OR

 

 

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 001-32593

 

Global Partners LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

74-3140887

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

P.O. Box 9161
800 South Street
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(781) 894-8800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

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 No

 

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

 

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.

 

Large accelerated filer  

Accelerated filer  

Non-accelerated filer  

Smaller reporting company  

 

 

(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 Exchange Act). Yes No

 

The issuer had 33,995,563 common units outstanding as of May 5, 2016.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Table of Contents 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.     Financial Statements (unaudited) 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Partners’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

 

52 

 

 

 

Item 3.     Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 

 

76 

 

 

 

Item 4.     Controls and Procedures 

 

78 

 

 

 

PART II.     OTHER INFORMATION 

 

80 

 

 

 

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings 

 

80 

 

 

 

Item 1A.   Risk Factors 

 

81 

 

 

 

Item 6.     Exhibits 

 

81 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES 

 

82 

 

 

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS 

 

83 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Table of Contents 

Item 1.Financial Statements

 

GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

17,069

 

$

1,116

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

308,359

 

 

311,354

 

Accounts receivable—affiliates

 

 

3,482

 

 

2,578

 

Inventories

 

 

402,872

 

 

388,952

 

Brokerage margin deposits

 

 

38,855

 

 

31,327

 

Derivative assets

 

 

43,397

 

 

66,099

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

73,467

 

 

65,609

 

Total current assets

 

 

887,501

 

 

867,035

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

1,217,659

 

 

1,242,683

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

72,871

 

 

75,694

 

Goodwill

 

 

435,369

 

 

435,369

 

Other assets

 

 

42,038

 

 

42,894

 

Total assets

 

$

2,655,438

 

$

2,663,675

 

Liabilities and partners’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

255,798

 

$

303,781

 

Working capital revolving credit facility—current portion

 

 

185,200

 

 

98,100

 

Environmental liabilities—current portion

 

 

5,345

 

 

5,350

 

Trustee taxes payable

 

 

88,005

 

 

95,264

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

44,584

 

 

60,328

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

25,923

 

 

31,911

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

604,855

 

 

594,734

 

Working capital revolving credit facility—less current portion

 

 

150,000

 

 

150,000

 

Revolving credit facility

 

 

275,100

 

 

269,000

 

Senior notes

 

 

657,213

 

 

656,564

 

Environmental liabilities—less current portion

 

 

66,795

 

 

67,883

 

Financing obligation

 

 

89,845

 

 

89,790

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

83,280

 

 

84,836

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

56,665

 

 

56,884

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,983,753

 

 

1,969,691

 

Partners’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Partners LP equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common unitholders 33,995,563 units issued and 33,517,503 outstanding at March 31, 2016 and 33,995,563 units issued and 33,506,844 outstanding at December 31, 2015)

 

 

635,645

 

 

657,071

 

General partner interest (0.67% interest with 230,303 equivalent units outstanding at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015)

 

 

(1,341)

 

 

(1,188)

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(7,765)

 

 

(8,094)

 

Total Global Partners LP equity

 

 

626,539

 

 

647,789

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

45,146

 

 

46,195

 

Total partners’ equity

 

 

671,685

 

 

693,984

 

Total liabilities and partners’ equity

 

$

2,655,438

 

$

2,663,675

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3


 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

    

 

 

March 31,

 

 

    

2016

      

2015

    

Sales

 

$

1,750,812

 

$

2,979,116

 

Cost of sales

 

 

1,620,753

 

 

2,810,558

 

Gross profit

 

 

130,059

 

 

168,558

 

Costs and operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

34,984

 

 

48,786

 

Operating expenses

 

 

72,236

 

 

68,656

 

Amortization expense

 

 

2,509

 

 

5,341

 

Loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges

 

 

6,105

 

 

437

 

Total costs and operating expenses

 

 

115,834

 

 

123,220

 

Operating income

 

 

14,225

 

 

45,338

 

Interest expense

 

 

(22,980)

 

 

(13,963)

 

(Loss) income before income tax benefit (expense)

 

 

(8,755)

 

 

31,375

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

 

920

 

 

(966)

 

Net (loss) income

 

 

(7,835)

 

 

30,409

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

811

 

 

6

 

Net (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP

 

 

(7,024)

 

 

30,415

 

Less: General partner’s interest in net (loss) income, including incentive distribution rights

 

 

(47)

 

 

2,179

 

Limited partners’ interest in net (loss) income

 

$

(6,977)

 

$

28,236

 

Basic net (loss) income per limited partner unit

 

$

(0.21)

 

$

0.92

 

Diluted net (loss) income per limited partner unit

 

$

(0.21)

 

$

0.92

 

Basic weighted average limited partner units outstanding

 

 

33,517

 

 

30,599

 

Diluted weighted average limited partner units outstanding

 

 

33,517

 

 

30,712

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

 

2016

    

2015

    

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(7,835)

 

$

30,409

 

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in fair value of cash flow hedges

 

 

261

 

 

183

 

 

Change in pension liability

 

 

68

 

 

91

 

 

Total other comprehensive income

 

 

329

 

 

274

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

 

 

(7,506)

 

 

30,683

 

 

Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

811

 

 

6

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP

 

$

(6,695)

 

$

30,689

 

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

    

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(7,835)

 

$

30,409

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

28,669

 

 

28,472

 

Amortization of deferred financing fees

 

 

1,429

 

 

1,459

 

Amortization of leasehold interests

 

 

313

 

 

 —

 

Amortization of senior notes discount

 

 

343

 

 

179

 

Bad debt expense

 

 

50

 

 

35

 

Unit-based compensation expense

 

 

1,075

 

 

945

 

Write-off of financing fees

 

 

1,828

 

 

 —

 

Loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges

 

 

6,105

 

 

437

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding net assets acquired:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

2,945

 

 

52,186

 

Accounts receivable-affiliate

 

 

(904)

 

 

58

 

Inventories

 

 

(13,920)

 

 

(15,614)

 

Broker margin deposits

 

 

(7,528)

 

 

(16,539)

 

Prepaid expenses, all other current assets and other assets

 

 

(9,952)

 

 

10,157

 

Accounts payable

 

 

(47,982)

 

 

(170,646)

 

Trustee taxes payable

 

 

(7,259)

 

 

(21,099)

 

Change in derivatives

 

 

16,714

 

 

16,121

 

Accrued expenses, all other current liabilities and other long-term liabilities

 

 

(17,607)

 

 

(30,475)

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

 

(53,516)

 

 

(113,915)

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions

 

 

 —

 

 

(405,478)

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(16,451)

 

 

(14,045)

 

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

 

8,588

 

 

1,044

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(7,863)

 

 

(418,479)

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net borrowings from working capital revolving credit facility

 

 

87,100

 

 

175,400

 

Net borrowings from revolving credit facility

 

 

6,100

 

 

383,600

 

Payments on line of credit

 

 

 —

 

 

(700)

 

Repurchase of common units

 

 

 —

 

 

(2,442)

 

Noncontrolling interest capital contribution

 

 

357

 

 

1,880

 

Distribution to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(595)

 

 

(1,880)

 

Distributions to partners

 

 

(15,630)

 

 

(22,357)

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

 

77,332

 

 

533,501

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

15,953

 

 

1,107

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

1,116

 

 

5,238

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

17,069

 

$

6,345

 

Supplemental information

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for interest

 

$

17,232

 

$

18,860

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

General

    

Other

    

 

 

    

Total

 

 

 

Common

 

Partner

 

Comprehensive

 

Noncontrolling

 

Partners’

 

 

 

Unitholders

 

Interest

 

Loss

 

Interest

 

Equity

 

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

$

657,071

 

$

(1,188)

 

$

(8,094)

 

$

46,195

 

$

693,984

 

Net (loss) income

 

 

(6,977)

 

 

(47)

 

 

 —

 

 

(811)

 

 

(7,835)

 

Noncontrolling interest capital contribution

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

357

 

 

357

 

Distribution to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(595)

 

 

(595)

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

329

 

 

 —

 

 

329

 

Unit-based compensation

 

 

1,075

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,075

 

Distributions to partners

 

 

(15,723)

 

 

(106)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(15,829)

 

Dividends on repurchased units

 

 

199

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

199

 

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

$

635,645

 

$

(1,341)

 

$

(7,765)

 

$

45,146

 

$

671,685

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

 

 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

 

Note 1.    Organization and Basis of Presentation

 

Organization

 

Global Partners LP (the “Partnership”) is a midstream logistics and marketing master limited partnership formed in March 2005 engaged in the purchasing, selling, storing and logistics of transporting petroleum and related products, including domestic and Canadian crude oil, gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol), distillates (such as home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil, renewable fuels, natural gas and propane.  The Partnership also receives revenue from convenience store sales and gasoline station rental income.  The Partnership owns, controls or has access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products and renewable fuels in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (collectively, the “Northeast”).  The Partnership owns transload and storage terminals in North Dakota and Oregon that extend its origin-to-destination capabilities from the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada to the East and West Coasts.  The Partnership is one of the largest distributors of gasoline, distillates, residual oil and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers in the New England states and New York.  As of March 31, 2016, the Partnership had a portfolio of 1,498 owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, including 274 directly operated convenience stores, in the Northeast, Maryland and Virginia.

 

Global GP LLC, the Partnership’s general partner (the “General Partner”), manages the Partnership’s operations and activities and employs its officers and substantially all of its personnel, except for most of its gasoline station and convenience store employees who are employed by GMG.

 

The General Partner, which holds a 0.67% general partner interest in the Partnership, is owned by affiliates of the Slifka family.  As of March 31, 2016, affiliates of the General Partner, including its directors and executive officers and their affiliates, owned 7,434,775 common units, representing a 21.9% limited partner interest.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

On January 7, 2015, the Partnership acquired, through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Global Montello Group Corp. (“GMG”), 100% of the equity interests in Warren Equities, Inc. (“Warren”) from The Warren Alpert Foundation.  On January 14, 2015, the Partnership acquired the Revere terminal (the “Revere Terminal”) located in Boston Harbor in Revere, Massachusetts from Global Petroleum Corp. (“GPC”) and related entities.  On June 1, 2015, the Partnership acquired, through one of its wholly owned subsidiaries, Alliance Energy LLC (“Alliance”), retail gasoline stations and dealer supply contracts from Capitol Petroleum Group (“Capitol”).  See Note 2.

 

The financial results of Warren and the Revere Terminal for the three months ended March 31, 2015 are included in the accompanying statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 reflect the accounts of the Partnership.  Upon consolidation, all intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) and reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition and operating results for the interim periods.  The interim financial information, which has been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 and notes thereto contained in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The significant accounting policies described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Accounting Policies,” of such Annual Report on Form 10-K are the same used in preparing the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

 

The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that will be realized for the entire year ending December 31, 2016.  The consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2015 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Due to the nature of the Partnership’s business and its reliance, in part, on consumer travel and spending patterns, the Partnership may experience more demand for gasoline during the late spring and summer months than during the fall and winter.  Travel and recreational activities are typically higher in these months in the geographic areas in which the Partnership operates, increasing the demand for gasoline that the Partnership distributes.  Therefore, the Partnership’s volumes in gasoline are typically higher in the second and third quarters of the calendar year.  As demand for some of the Partnership’s refined petroleum products, specifically home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes, is generally greater during the winter months, heating oil and residual oil volumes are generally higher during the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year. These factors may result in fluctuations in the Partnership’s quarterly operating results.

 

Noncontrolling Interest

 

These financial statements reflect the application of ASC 810, “Consolidations” (“ASC 810”) which establishes accounting and reporting standards that require: (i) the ownership interest in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent to be clearly identified and presented in the consolidated balance sheet within shareholder’s equity, but separate from the parent’s equity; (ii) the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest to be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statements of operations; and (iii) changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary to be accounted for consistently.

 

The Partnership acquired a 60% interest in Basin Transload, LLC (“Basin Transload”) on February 1, 2013.  After evaluating ASC 810, the Partnership concluded it is appropriate to consolidate the balance sheet and statements of operations of Basin Transload based on an evaluation of the outstanding voting interests.  Amounts pertaining to the noncontrolling ownership interest held by third parties in the financial position and operating results of the Partnership are reported as a noncontrolling interest in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and statements of operations.

 

Concentration of Risk

 

The following table presents the Partnership’s product sales and other revenues as a percentage of the consolidated sales for the periods presented:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

    

Gasoline sales: gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol)

 

57

%  

50

%  

Crude oil sales and crude oil logistics revenue

 

8

%  

9

%  

Distillates (home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil, natural gas and propane sales

 

30

%  

38

%  

Convenience store sales, rental income and sundry sales

 

5

%  

3

%  

Total

 

100

%  

100

%  

 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The following table presents the Partnership’s product margin by segment as a percentage of the consolidated product margin for the periods presented:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

Wholesale segment

 

25

%  

42

%

GDSO segment

 

70

%  

52

%

Commercial segment

 

5

%  

6

%

Total

 

100

%  

100

%

 

See Note 10, “Segment Reporting” for additional information on the Partnership’s operating segments.

 

None of the Partnership’s customers accounted for greater than 10% of total sales for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. 

 

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.  The Partnership has concluded that its operating segments are also its reporting units.  At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, goodwill recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets aggregated $435.4 million, of which $121.7 million relates to the Wholesale segment and $313.7 million relates to the Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations (“GDSO”) segment.

 

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as of October 1 or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable.  The process of testing goodwill for impairment involves numerous judgments, assumptions and estimates made by management which inherently reflect a high degree of uncertainty.  The impairment test first includes a qualitative assessment in order to conclude if it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value exceeds its carrying value.  Factors considered in the qualitative analysis include changes in the business and industry, as well as macro-economic conditions, that would influence the fair value of the reporting unit as well as changes in the carrying values of the reporting unit.  If necessary, the Partnership will then complete a two-step quantitative assessment.  In the quantitative assessment, the fair value of each reporting unit is determined and compared to the book value of the reporting unit.  If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the book value, including goodwill, then the recorded goodwill is impaired to its implied fair value with a charge to operations.  The Partnership calculates the fair value of each reporting unit using a combination of discounted cash flows and market comparables.

 

Key assumptions included in the development of the discounted cash flow value for each reporting unit include:

 

Future commodity volumes and margins.  The discounted cash flows are based on a five-year forecast with an estimate of terminal value.  In general, the reporting units’ fair values are most sensitive to volume and gross margin assumptions.  In particular, the Wholesale segment’s cash flows are impacted by the crude oil market, given the Partnership’s 2013 investment in transloading terminals in North Dakota and Oregon.  The significant decline in the price of crude oil and tight crude oil differentials negatively impacted the Partnership’s fiscal 2015 results.  The Partnership expects low crude oil prices and tight differentials to continue for a period of time, which will negatively impact the Partnership’s 2016 performance with recovery expected in 2017.  As a result of these market conditions, there is increased uncertainty and sensitivity relating to the Partnership’s future cash flow projections within its crude oil business on which the Wholesale reporting unit’s goodwill impairment analysis relies.  If market conditions, and therefore the Partnership’s performance, are worse than its projections, the Partnership may record impairment charges in the future.  Actual results may not be consistent with these

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(Unaudited)

judgments, assumptions and estimates, and goodwill impairment charges may be required in future periods.  This could have an adverse impact on the Partnership’s financial position and results of operations.

 

Discount rate commensurate with the risks involved.  The Partnership applies a discount rate to its expected cash flows based on a variety of factors, including market and economic conditions, operational risk, regulatory risk and political risk. A higher discount rate decreases the net present value of cash flows.

 

Future capital requirements.  The Partnership’s estimates of future capital requirements are based upon a combination of authorized spending and internal forecasts.

 

On October 1, 2015, the Partnership completed its quantitative assessments for both the Wholesale and GDSO reporting units, and no impairment indicator was identified for either reporting unit.  The declining crude oil prices, changes in certain market conditions, and decline in the Partnership’s common unit price, collectively caused the Partnership to reassess its goodwill for impairment as of December 31, 2015 for the Wholesale reporting unit.  Based on the results of this assessment, the Partnership concluded that step-two of the quantitative assessment was not necessary and no impairment was required. 

 

As of March 31, 2016, the Partnership considered whether there were any change of circumstances or events during the first quarter which would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the Wholesale segment’s reporting unit below its carrying amount.  The Partnership concluded that such events and circumstances have not occurred.

 

The fair values of the Partnership’s reporting units are based on underlying assumptions that represent the Partnership’s best estimates.  Many of the factors used in assessing fair value are outside of the control of management.  A further sustained decline in commodity prices may cause the Partnership to reassess its long-lived assets and goodwill for impairment, and could result in future non-cash impairment charges as a result of such impairment assessments.  If the Partnership is required to perform step-two in the future for the Wholesale reporting unit, up to $121.7 million of goodwill assigned to this reporting unit could be written off in the period of such impairment assessment.

 

Note 2.    Business Combinations

 

2015 Acquisitions

 

Warren Equities, Inc.On January 7, 2015, the Partnership acquired, through GMG, 100% of the equity interests in Warren, one of the largest independent marketers of petroleum products in the Northeast, from The Warren Alpert Foundation.  The acquisition included 147 company-owned Xtra Mart convenience stores and related fuel operations, 53 commission agent locations and fuel supply rights for approximately 330 dealers.  The acquired properties are located in the Northeast, Maryland and Virginia.  The purchase price, inclusive of post-closing adjustments, was approximately $381.8 million, including working capital.  The acquisition was funded with borrowings under the Partnership’s credit facility and with proceeds from its December 2014 public offering of 3,565,000 common units.

 

The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) guidance regarding business combinations.  The Partnership’s financial statements include the results of operations of Warren subsequent to the acquisition date.

 

In connection with the acquisition of Warren, the Partnership recorded acquisition costs of approximately $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.  Additionally, in January 2015 and subsequent to the acquisition date, the Partnership recorded a restructuring charge of approximately $2.3 million, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the three

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(Unaudited)

months ended March 31, 2015.  Approximately $0.5 million of the restructuring charge was paid during the three months ended March 31, 2015, and the remaining balance of $1.8 million was paid during the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

Revere TerminalOn January 14, 2015, through the Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiary, Global Companies LLC, the Partnership acquired the Revere Terminal located in Boston Harbor in Revere, Massachusetts from GPC, a privately held affiliate of the Partnership, and related entities for a purchase price of $23.7 million.  The acquisition includes contingent consideration which would be payable under specific circumstances involving a subsequent sale of the property during the eight years following the acquisition.  The contingent consideration was estimated to be $0 as of the acquisition date as the Partnership concluded that the sale of the terminal for non-petroleum use within the eight years following the acquisition is not probable.  The Partnership financed the transaction with borrowings under its revolving credit facility.  In connection with the Revere Terminal transaction, the pre-existing terminal storage rental and throughput agreement between the Partnership and GPC was terminated.

 

The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with the FASB’s guidance regarding business combinations.  As the acquisition transitioned the Revere Terminal from a formerly leased facility to an owned facility, the transaction did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Capitol Petroleum Group—On June 1, 2015, the Partnership acquired 97 primarily Mobil and Exxon branded owned or leased retail gasoline stations and seven dealer supply contracts in New York City and Prince George’s County, Maryland, along with certain related supply and franchise agreements and third-party leases and other assets associated with the operations from Liberty Petroleum Realty, LLC, East River Petroleum Realty, LLC, Big Apple Petroleum Realty, LLC, White Oak Petroleum, LLC, Anacostia Realty, LLC, Mount Vernon Petroleum Realty, LLC and DAG Realty, LLC (collectively, “Capitol Petroleum Group”).  The purchase price was approximately $155.7 million.  The acquisition was financed with borrowings under the Partnership’s revolving credit facility.

 

The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with the FASB’s guidance regarding business combinations.  The Partnership’s financial statements include the results of operations of Capitol subsequent to the acquisition date.

 

No acquisition costs were recorded in connection with the acquisition of Capitol for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

 

Supplemental Pro Forma InformationRevenues and net income not included in the Partnership’s consolidated operating results for Warren from January 1, 2015 through January 7, 2015, the acquisition date, were immaterial.  Accordingly, the supplemental pro forma information for the three months ended March 31, 2015 is consistent with the amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2015. 

 

The following unaudited pro forma information presents the consolidated results of operations of the Partnership as if the acquisition of Capitol occurred on January 1, 2015 (in thousands, except per unit data):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

     

2015

 

Sales

 

$

3,114,370

 

Net income attributable to Global Partners LP

 

$

32,810

 

Net income per limited partner unit, basic and diluted

 

$

1.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

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(Unaudited)

Note 3.    Net (Loss) Income Per Limited Partner Unit

 

Under the Partnership’s partnership agreement, for any quarterly period, the incentive distribution rights (“IDRs”) participate in net income only to the extent of the amount of cash distributions actually declared, thereby excluding the IDRs from participating in the Partnership’s undistributed net income or losses.  Accordingly, the Partnership’s undistributed net income or losses is assumed to be allocated to the common unitholders, or limited partners’ interest, and to the General Partner’s general partner interest.

 

Common units outstanding as reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 excluded 478,060 and 488,719 common units, respectively, held on behalf of the Partnership pursuant to its repurchase program (see Note 13).  These units are not deemed outstanding for purposes of calculating net income per limited partner unit (basic and diluted).

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of net (loss) income and the assumed allocation of net (loss) income to the limited partners’ interest for purposes of computing net (loss) income per limited partner unit for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands, except per unit data):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

  

Limited

  

General

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Limited

  

General

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partner

 

Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partner

 

Partner

 

 

 

 

Numerator:

 

Total

 

Interest

 

Interest

 

IDRs

 

 

Total

 

Interest

 

Interest

 

IDRs

 

Net (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP (1)

 

$

(7,024)

 

$

(6,977)

 

$

(47)

 

$

 —

 

 

$

30,415

 

$

28,236

 

$

2,179

 

$

 —

 

Declared distribution

 

$

15,829

 

$

15,723

 

$

106

 

$

 —

 

 

$

23,260

 

$

21,076

 

$

157

 

$

2,027

 

Assumed allocation of undistributed net (loss) income

 

 

(22,853)

 

 

(22,700)

 

 

(153)

 

 

 —

 

 

 

7,155

 

 

7,160

 

 

(5)

 

 

 —

 

Assumed allocation of net (loss) income

 

$

(7,024)

 

$

(6,977)

 

$

(47)

 

$

 —

 

 

$

30,415

 

$

28,236

 

$

152

 

$

2,027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average limited partner units outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

33,517

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,599

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dilutive effect of phantom units

 

 

 

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

113

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average limited partner units outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

33,517

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

30,712

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net (loss) income per limited partner unit

 

 

 

 

$

(0.21)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net (loss) income per limited partner unit (2)

 

 

 

 

$

(0.21)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

0.92

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)

As a result of the June 2015 issuance of 3,000,000 common units, the general partner interest was reduced to 0.67% for three months ended March 31, 2016 from 0.74% for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

(2)

Basic units were used to calculate diluted net income per limited partner unit for the three months ended March 31, 2016, as using the effects of phantom units would have an anti-dilutive effect on net income per limited partner unit.

 

During 2016, the board of directors of the General Partner declared the following quarterly cash distribution:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Per Unit Cash

 

 

Distribution Declared for the

 

Cash Distribution Declaration Date

  

Distribution Declared

 

 

Quarterly Period Ended

 

April 26, 2016

 

$

0.4625

 

 

March 31, 2016

 

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(Unaudited)

 

See Note 8, “Partners’ Equity and Cash Distributions” for further information.

 

Note 4.    Inventories

 

The Partnership hedges substantially all of its petroleum and ethanol inventory using a variety of instruments, primarily exchange-traded futures contracts.  These futures contracts are entered into when inventory is purchased and are either designated as fair value hedges against the inventory on a specific barrel basis for inventories qualifying for fair value hedge accounting or not designated and maintained as economic hedges against certain inventory of the Partnership on a specific barrel basis.  Changes in fair value of these futures contracts, as well as the offsetting change in fair value on the hedged inventory, is recognized in earnings as an increase or decrease in cost of sales.  All hedged inventory designated in a fair value hedge relationship is valued using the lower of cost, as determined by specific identification, or market, as determined at the product level.  All petroleum and ethanol inventory not designated in a fair value hedging relationship is carried at the lower of historical cost, on a first-in, first-out basis, or market.

 

Convenience store inventory and Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) inventory are carried at the lower of historical cost or market. 

 

Inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

Distillates: home heating oil, diesel and kerosene

 

$

143,206

 

$

156,411

 

Gasoline

 

 

63,468

 

 

62,467

 

Gasoline blendstocks

 

 

41,897

 

 

32,542

 

Crude oil

 

 

116,366

 

 

102,253

 

Residual oil

 

 

17,236

 

 

12,895

 

Propane and other

 

 

1,639

 

 

1,469

 

Renewable identification numbers (RINs)

 

 

664

 

 

803

 

Convenience store inventory

 

 

18,396

 

 

20,112

 

Total

 

$

402,872

 

$

388,952

 

 

In addition to its own inventory, the Partnership has exchange agreements for petroleum products and ethanol with unrelated third-party suppliers, whereby it may draw inventory from these other suppliers and suppliers may draw inventory from the Partnership.  Positive exchange balances are accounted for as accounts receivable and amounted to $9.3 million and $3.4 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  Negative exchange balances are accounted for as accounts payable and amounted to $4.1 million and $12.1 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  Exchange transactions are valued using current carrying costs.

 

Note 5.    Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Partnership principally uses derivative instruments, which include regulated exchange-traded futures and options contracts (collectively, “exchange-traded derivatives”) and physical and financial forwards and over-the-counter (“OTC”) swaps (collectively, “OTC derivatives”), to reduce its exposure to unfavorable changes in commodity market prices and interest rates.  The Partnership uses these exchange-traded and OTC derivatives to hedge commodity price risk associated with its inventory and undelivered forward commodity purchases and sales (“physical forward contracts”) and uses interest rate swap instruments to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates associated with the Partnership’s credit facilities.  The Partnership accounts for derivative transactions in accordance with ASC 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” and recognizes derivatives instruments as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated

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balance sheet and measures those instruments at fair value.  The changes in fair value of the derivative transactions are presented currently in earnings, unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met.

 

The fair value of exchange-traded derivative transactions reflects amounts that would be received from or paid to the Partnership’s brokers upon liquidation of these contracts.  The fair value of these exchange-traded derivative transactions are presented on a net basis, offset by the cash balances on deposit with the Partnership’s brokers, presented as brokerage margin deposits in the consolidated balance sheets.  The fair value of OTC derivative transactions reflects amounts that would be received from or paid to a third party upon liquidation of these contracts under current market conditions.  The fair value of these OTC derivative transactions is presented on a gross basis as derivative assets or derivative liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, unless a legal right of offset exists.  The presentation of the change in fair value of the Partnership’s exchange-traded derivatives and OTC derivative transactions depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation.

 

The following table summarizes the notional values related to the Partnership’s derivative instruments outstanding at March 31, 2016:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Units (1)

    

Unit of Measure

 

Exchange-Traded Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long

 

 

56,203

 

Thousands of barrels

 

Short

 

 

(63,591)

 

Thousands of barrels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTC Derivatives (Petroleum/Ethanol)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long

 

 

8,006

 

Thousands of barrels

 

Short

 

 

(6,149)

 

Thousands of barrels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTC Derivatives (Natural Gas)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long

 

 

11,677

 

Thousands of decatherms

 

Short

 

 

(11,530)

 

Thousands of decatherms

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Rate Swaps

 

$

200.0

 

Millions of U.S. dollars

 

Interest Rate Cap

 

$

100.0

 

Millions of U.S. dollars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign Currency Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open Forward Exchange Contracts (2)

 

$

1.1

 

Millions of Canadian dollars

 

 

 

$

0.8

 

Millions of U.S. dollars

 


(1)

Number of open positions and gross notional values do not measure the Partnership’s risk of loss, quantify risk or represent assets or liabilities of the Partnership, but rather indicate the relative size of the derivative instruments and are used in the calculation of the amounts to be exchanged between counterparties upon settlements.

(2)

All-in forward rate Canadian dollars $1.2973 to USD $1.00.

 

Derivatives Accounted for as Hedges

 

The Partnership utilizes fair value hedges and cash flow hedges to hedge commodity price risk and interest rate risk.

 

Fair Value Hedges

 

Derivatives designated as fair value hedges are used to hedge price risk in commodity inventories and principally include exchange-traded futures contracts that are entered into in the ordinary course of business.  For a derivative instrument designated as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change together

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(Unaudited)

with the offsetting change in fair value on the hedged item of the risk being hedged.  Gains and losses related to fair value hedges are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations through cost of sales.  These futures contracts are settled on a daily basis by the Partnership through brokerage margin accounts.

 

The Partnership’s fair value hedges include exchange-traded futures contracts and OTC derivative contracts that are hedges against inventory with specific futures contracts matched to specific barrels.  The change in fair value of these futures contracts and the change in fair value of the underlying inventory generally provide an offset to each other in the consolidated statement of operations.

 

The following table presents the gains and losses from the Partnership’s derivative instruments involved in fair value hedging relationships recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Gain (Loss)

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Recognized in Income on

 

March 31,

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

2016

 

2015

 

Derivatives in fair value hedging relationship

    

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

    

Exchange-traded futures contracts and OTC derivative contracts for petroleum commodity products

 

Cost of sales

 

$

27,839

 

$

26,176

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedged items in fair value hedge relationship

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physical inventory

 

Cost of sales

 

$

(24,175)

 

$

(23,621)

 

 

Cash Flow Hedges

 

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are used to hedge interest rate risk from fluctuations in interest rates and may include various interest rate derivative instruments entered into with major financial institutions.  For a derivative instrument being designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the derivative gain or loss is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and subsequently reclassified into the consolidated statement of operations through interest expense in the same period that the hedged exposure affects earnings.  The ineffective portion is recognized in the consolidated statement of operations immediately.

 

The Partnership’s cash flow hedges currently include interest rate swaps and an interest rate cap that are hedges of variability in forecasted interest payments due to changes in the interest rate on LIBOR-based borrowings, a summary of which includes the following designations:

 

·

In October 2009, the Partnership executed an interest rate swap with a major financial institution.  The swap, which became effective on May 16, 2011 and expires on May 16, 2016, is used to hedge the variability in interest payments due to changes in the one month LIBOR swap curve with respect to $100.0 million of one-month LIBOR-based borrowings on the credit facility at a fixed rate of 3.93%.

 

·

In April 2011, the Partnership executed an interest rate cap with a major financial institution.  The rate cap, which became effective on April 13, 2011 and expired on April 13, 2016, was used to hedge the variability in interest payments due to changes in the one-month LIBOR rate above 5.5% with respect to $100.0 million of one-month LIBOR-based borrowings on the credit facility.

 

·

In September 2013, the Partnership executed an interest rate swap with a major financial institution.  The swap, which became effective on October 2, 2013 and expires on October 2, 2018, is used to hedge the variability in cash flows in monthly interest payments due to changes in the one month LIBOR swap curve with respect to $100.0 million of one-month LIBOR-based borrowings on the credit facility at a fixed rate of 1.819%.

 

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(Unaudited)

In the aggregate, these hedging instruments have historically been effective in hedging the variability in interest payments due to changes in the one month LIBOR swap curve or rate with respect to $300.0 million of one month LIBOR based borrowings on the credit facility.

 

In June 2014 and as a result of the issuance of the Partnership’s $375.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% senior notes due 2022 (see Note 6), the Partnership determined that maintaining an excess of $300.0 million in principal of outstanding floating-rate debt was no longer probable.  Therefore, the Partnership elected to de-designate its interest rate cap and discontinued the related hedge accounting for this instrument.  Accordingly, at March 31, 2016, the Partnership had in place two interest rate swap agreements which are hedging $200.0 million of variable rate debt, both of which continue to be accounted for as cash flow hedges.  The interest rate cap, which expired on April 13, 2016, was not in a hedging relationship for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.  Accordingly, all changes in fair value of this instrument subsequent to the date of de-designation were recorded in the consolidated statement of operations through interest expense.

 

The following table presents the amount of gains and losses from the Partnership’s derivative instruments designated in cash flow hedging relationships recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and partners’ equity for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)

 

Location of Gain (Loss)

 

Amount of Gain (Loss)

  

 

 

Recognized in

 

Reclassified from

 

Reclassified from

 

 

 

Other Comprehensive

 

Accumulated Other

 

Other Comprehensive

 

 

 

Income on Derivatives

 

Comprehensive Income into

 

Income into Income

 

 

 

(Effective Portion)

 

Income (Effective Portion)

 

(Effective Portion)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Derivatives Designated in

 

March 31,

 

 

 

March 31,

 

Cash Flow Hedging Relationship

    

2016

    

2015

    

 

   

2016

    

2015

 

Interest rate swaps

 

$

28

 

$

47

 

Interest expense

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

 

The amount of gain (loss) recognized in income as ineffectiveness for derivatives designated in cash flow hedging relationships was $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

Derivatives Not Accounted for as Hedges

 

The Partnership utilizes petroleum and ethanol commodity contracts, natural gas commodity contracts and foreign currency derivatives to hedge price and currency risk in certain commodity inventories and physical forward contracts.

 

Petroleum and Ethanol Commodity Contracts

 

The Partnership uses exchange-traded derivative contracts to hedge price risk in certain commodity inventories which do not qualify for fair value hedge accounting or are not designated by the Partnership as fair value hedges.  Additionally, the Partnership uses exchange-traded derivative contracts, and occasionally financial forward and OTC swap agreements, to hedge commodity price exposure associated with its physical forward contracts which are not designated by the Partnership as cash flow hedges.  These physical forward contracts, to the extent they meet the definition of a derivative, are considered OTC physical forwards and are reflected as derivative assets or derivative liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.  The related exchange-traded derivative contracts (and financial forward and OTC swaps, if applicable) are also reflected as brokerage margin deposits (and derivative assets or derivative liabilities, if applicable) in the consolidated balance sheet, thereby creating an economic hedge.  Changes in fair value of these derivative instruments are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations through cost of sales.  These exchange-traded derivatives are settled on a daily basis by the Partnership through brokerage margin accounts.

 

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(Unaudited)

While the Partnership seeks to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within its commodity product purchase and sale activities, it may experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time as a result of variances in daily purchases and sales and transportation and delivery schedules as well as other logistical issues inherent in the business, such as weather conditions.  In connection with managing these positions, the Partnership is aided by maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace.  The Partnership also engages in a controlled trading program for up to an aggregate of 250,000 barrels of commodity products at any one point in time.  Changes in fair value of these derivative instruments are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations through cost of sales.

 

Natural Gas Commodity Contracts

 

The Partnership uses physical forward purchase contracts to hedge price risk associated with the marketing and selling of natural gas to third-party users.  These physical forward purchase commitments for natural gas are typically executed when the Partnership enters into physical forward sale commitments of product for physical delivery.  These physical forward contracts, to the extent they meet the definition of a derivative, are reflected as derivative assets and derivative liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.  Changes in fair value of the forward purchase and sale commitments are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations through cost of sales.

 

Foreign Currency Contracts

 

The Partnership uses forward foreign currency contracts to hedge certain foreign denominated (Canadian) commodity product purchases.  These forward foreign currency contracts are not designated by the Partnership as hedges and are reflected as prepaid expenses and other current assets or accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.  Changes in fair values of these forward foreign currency contracts are reflected in cost of sales.

 

The following table presents the gains and losses from the Partnership’s derivative instruments not involved in a hedging relationship recognized in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Gain (Loss)

 

Three Months Ended

 

Derivatives not designated as

 

Recognized in

 

March 31,

 

hedging instruments

    

Income on Derivatives

    

2016

    

2015

    

Commodity contracts

 

Cost of sales

 

$

(415)

 

$

3,651

 

Forward foreign currency contracts

 

Cost of sales

 

 

39

 

 

18

 

Total

 

 

 

$

(376)

 

$

3,669

 

 

Margin Deposits

 

All of the Partnership’s exchange-traded derivative contracts (designated and not designated) are transacted through clearing brokers.  The Partnership deposits initial margin with the clearing brokers, along with variation margin, which is paid or received on a daily basis, based upon the changes in fair value of open futures contracts and settlement of closed futures contracts.  Cash balances on deposit with clearing brokers and open equity are presented on a net basis within brokerage margin deposits in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Commodity Contracts and Other Derivative Activity

 

The Partnership’s commodity contract derivatives and other derivative activity include: (i) exchange-traded derivative contracts that are hedges against inventory and either do not qualify for hedge accounting or are not designated in a hedge accounting relationship, (ii) exchange-traded derivative contracts used to economically hedge physical forward contracts, (iii) financial forward and OTC swap agreements used to economically hedge physical forward contracts and (iv) the derivative instruments under the Partnership’s controlled trading program.  The

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Partnership does not take the normal purchase and sale exemption available under ASC 815 for its physical forward contracts.

 

The following table presents the fair value of each classification of the Partnership’s derivative instruments and its location in the consolidated balance sheets at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives Not

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Designated as

 

Designated as

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedging

 

Hedging

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Location

 

Instruments

 

Instruments

 

Total

 

Asset Derivatives:

    

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

 

Exchange-traded derivative contracts

 

Broker margin deposits

 

$

2,305

 

$

40,153

 

$

42,458

 

Forward derivative contracts (1)

 

Derivative assets

 

 

 —

 

 

43,397

 

 

43,397

 

Total asset derivatives

 

 

 

$

2,305

 

$

83,550

 

$

85,855

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exchange-traded derivative contracts

 

Broker margin deposits

 

$

22,276

 

$

19,259

 

$

41,535

 

Forward derivative contracts (1)

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

25,923

 

 

25,923

 

Forward foreign currency contracts

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

 —

 

 

13

 

 

13

 

Interest rate swap contracts

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

 —

 

 

3,315

 

 

3,315

 

Total liability derivatives

 

 

 

$

22,276

 

$

48,510

 

$

70,786

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives Not

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Designated as

 

Designated as

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hedging

 

Hedging

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet Location

 

Instruments

 

Instruments

 

Total

 

Asset Derivatives:

    

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

 

Exchange-traded derivative contracts

 

Broker margin deposits

 

$

83,645

 

$

11,722

 

$

95,367

 

Forward derivative contracts (1)

 

Derivative assets

 

 

 —

 

 

66,099

 

 

66,099

 

Forward foreign currency contracts

 

Other assets

 

 

 —

 

 

10

 

 

10

 

Total asset derivatives

 

 

 

$

83,645

 

$

77,831

 

$

161,476

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability Derivatives:

 

                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward derivative contracts (1)

 

Derivative liabilities

 

$

 —

 

$

31,911

 

$

31,911

 

Interest rate swap contracts

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

 —

 

 

3,343

 

 

3,343

 

Total liability derivatives

 

 

 

$

 —

 

$

35,254

 

$

35,254

 


(1)

Forward derivative contracts include the Partnership’s petroleum and ethanol physical and financial forwards and OTC swaps.

 

Credit Risk

 

The Partnership’s derivative financial instruments do not contain credit risk related to other contingent features that could cause accelerated payments when these financial instruments are in net liability positions.

 

The Partnership is exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to the Partnership’s exchange-traded and OTC derivative contracts, but the Partnership has no current reason to expect any material nonperformance by any of these counterparties.  Exchange-traded derivative contracts, the primary derivative instrument utilized by the Partnership, are traded on regulated exchanges, greatly reducing potential credit risks.  The Partnership utilizes primarily three clearing brokers, all major financial institutions, for all New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”), Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) and Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) derivative transactions and the right of offset exists with these financial institutions under master netting agreements.  Accordingly, the fair

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value of the Partnership’s exchange-traded derivative instruments is presented on a net basis in the consolidated balance sheets.  Exposure on OTC derivatives is limited to the amount of the recorded fair value as of the balance sheet dates.

 

Note 6.    Debt

 

Credit Agreement

 

Certain subsidiaries of the Partnership, as borrowers, and the Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, have a senior secured credit facility (the “Credit Agreement”).  On February 24, 2016, the Partnership entered into the fifth amendment to the Credit Agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”) which reflects, among other things, the Partnership’s voluntary election to reduce its working capital revolving credit facility from $1.0 billion to $900.0 million and its revolving credit facility from $775.0 million to $575.0 million, for a total available commitment of $1.475 billion.  The Credit Agreement will mature on April 30, 2018.

 

As of March 31, 2016, the two facilities under the Credit Agreement included:

 

·

a working capital revolving credit facility to be used for working capital purposes and letters of credit in the principal amount equal to the lesser of the Partnership’s borrowing base and $900.0 million; and

 

·

a $575.0 million revolving credit facility to be used for acquisitions, joint ventures, capital expenditures, letters of credit and general corporate purposes.

 

In addition, the Credit Agreement has an accordion feature whereby the Partnership may request on the same terms and conditions of its then-existing credit agreement, provided no Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) then exists, an increase to the working capital revolving credit facility, the revolving credit facility, or both, by up to another $300.0 million, in the aggregate, for a total credit facility of up to $1.775 billion.  The Partnership cannot provide assurance, however, that its lending group will agree to fund any request by the Partnership for additional amounts in excess of the total available commitments of $1.475 billion.

 

In addition, the Credit Agreement includes a swing line pursuant to which Bank of America, N.A., as the swing line lender, may make swing line loans in U.S. Dollars in an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50.0 million and (b) the Aggregate WC Commitments (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  Swing line loans will bear interest at the Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  The swing line is a sub-portion of the working capital revolving credit facility and is not an addition to the total available commitments of $1.475 billion.

 

Pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and in connection with any agreement by and between a Loan Party and a Lender (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) or affiliate thereof (an “AR Buyer”), a Loan Party may sell certain of its accounts receivables to an AR Buyer.  The Loan Parties are permitted to sell or transfer any account receivable to an AR Buyer only pursuant to the provisions provided in the Credit Agreement.  To date, the level of receivables sold has not been significant, and the Partnership has accounted for such transfers as sales pursuant to ASC 860, “Transfers and Servicing.”  Due to the short term nature of the receivables sold to date, no servicing obligation has been recorded because it would have been de minimis.

 

Availability under the working capital revolving credit facility is subject to a borrowing base which is redetermined from time to time based on specific advance rates on eligible current assets.  Under the Credit Agreement, borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility cannot exceed the then current borrowing base.  Availability under the borrowing base may be affected by events beyond the Partnership’s control, such as changes in petroleum product prices, collection cycles, counterparty performance, advance rates and limits and general economic conditions.  These and other events could require the Partnership to seek waivers or amendments of covenants or

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alternative sources of financing or to reduce expenditures.  The Partnership can provide no assurance that such waivers, amendments or alternative financing could be obtained or, if obtained, would be on terms acceptable to the Partnership.

 

Borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility bear interest at (1) the Eurocurrency rate plus 2.00% to 2.50%, (2) the cost of funds rate plus 2.00% to 2.50%, or (3) the base rate plus 1.00% to 1.50%, each depending on the Utilization Amount (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  Pursuant to the Fifth Amendment, borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at (1) the Eurocurrency rate plus 2.25% to 3.50%, (2) the cost of funds rate plus 2.25% to 3.50%, or (3) the base rate plus 1.25% to 2.50%, each depending on the Combined Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

 

The average interest rates for the Credit Agreement were 3.8% and 3.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

As of March 31, 2016, the Partnership had two interest rate swaps, both of which were used to hedge the variability in interest payments under the Credit Agreement due to changes in LIBOR rates.  See Note 5 for additional information on these cash flow hedges.  Additionally, the Partnership had an interest rate cap that was hedging variable interest.  The cap was not designated for accounting purposes.

 

The Credit Agreement provides for a letter of credit fee equal to the then applicable working capital rate or then applicable revolver rate (each such rate as defined in the Credit Agreement) per annum for each letter of credit issued. In addition, the Partnership incurs a commitment fee on the unused portion of each facility under the Credit Agreement, ranging from 0.375% to 0.50% per annum.

 

The Partnership classifies a portion of its working capital revolving credit facility as a current liability and a portion as a long-term liability.  The portion classified as a long-term liability represents the amounts expected to be outstanding during the entire year based on an analysis of historical borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility, the seasonality of borrowings, forecasted future working capital requirements and forward product curves, and because the Partnership has a multi-year, long-term commitment from its bank group.  Accordingly, at March 31, 2016, the Partnership estimated working capital revolving credit facility borrowings will equal or exceed $150.0 million over the next twelve months and, therefore, classified $185.2 million as the current portion at March 31, 2016, representing the amount the Partnership expects to pay down over the next twelve months.  The long-term portion of the working capital revolving credit facility was $150.0 million and $150.0 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, and the current portion was $185.2 million and $98.1 million, at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  The increase in total borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility of $87.1 million from December 31, 2015 was primarily due to cash used in operating assets and liabilities during the year.  Inventory increased due to higher prices, and accounts payable decreased as the Partnership exited the heating season.  Lower crude oil volume also contributed to the decline in accounts payable.

 

As of March 31, 2016, the Partnership had total borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement of $610.3 million, including $275.1 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility.  In addition, the Partnership had outstanding letters of credit of $57.9 million.  Subject to borrowing base limitations, the total remaining availability for borrowings and letters of credit was $806.8 million and $1.2 billion at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and the Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiaries and is guaranteed by the Partnership and its subsidiaries with the exception of Basin Transload.

 

The Credit Agreement imposes certain requirements on the borrowers including, for example, a prohibition against distributions if any potential default or Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) would occur as a result thereof, and certain limitations on the Partnership’s ability to grant liens, make certain loans or investments, incur

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additional indebtedness or guarantee other indebtedness, make any material change to the nature of the Partnership’s business or undergo a fundamental change, make any material dispositions, acquire another company, enter into a merger, consolidation, sale leaseback transaction or purchase of assets or make capital expenditures in excess of specified levels.

 

The Credit Agreement imposes financial covenants that require the Partnership to maintain certain minimum working capital amounts, a minimum combined interest coverage ratio, a maximum senior secured leverage ratio and a maximum total leverage ratio.  The Fifth Amendment amended the definition of “Total Combined Leverage Ratio” to permit for an increased maximum ratio of 5.50:1.00 through the first quarter of 2017 and 5.00:1.00 thereafter.  The Partnership was in compliance with the foregoing covenants at March 31, 2016.  The Credit Agreement also contains a representation whereby there can be no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  In addition, the Credit Agreement limits distributions by the Partnership to its unitholders to the amount of Available Cash (as defined in the Partnership’s partnership agreement).

 

6.25% Senior Notes

 

On June 19, 2014, the Partnership and GLP Finance Corp. (“GLP Finance” and, together with the Partnership, the “Issuers”) entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the Initial Purchasers (as defined therein) (the “Initial Purchasers”) pursuant to which the Issuers agreed to sell $375.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 6.25% senior notes due 2022 (the “6.25% Notes”) to the Initial Purchasers in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).  The 6.25% Notes were resold by the Initial Purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

The Purchase Agreement contained customary representations and warranties of the parties and indemnification and contribution provisions under which the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors, on one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.  In addition, the Purchase Agreement required the execution of a registration rights agreement, described below, relating to the 6.25% Notes.  Closing of the offering occurred on June 24, 2014.

 

Indenture

 

In connection with the private placement of the 6.25% Notes on June 24, 2014, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”).

 

The 6.25% Notes mature on July 15, 2022 with interest accruing at a rate of 6.25% per annum and payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing January 15, 2015.  The 6.25% Notes are guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.  Upon a continuing event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the 6.25% Notes may declare the 6.25% Notes immediately due and payable, except that an event of default resulting from entry into a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Partnership, any restricted subsidiary of the Partnership that is a significant subsidiary or any group of its restricted subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary of the Partnership, will automatically cause the 6.25% Notes to become due and payable.

 

The Issuers have the option to redeem up to 35% of the 6.25% Notes prior to July 15, 2017 at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 106.25% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.  The Issuers have the option to redeem the 6.25% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after July 15, 2017, at the redemption prices of 104.688% for the twelve-month period beginning on July 15, 2017, 103.125% for the twelve-month period beginning

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July 15, 2018, 101.563% for the twelve-month period beginning July 15, 2019, and 100.0% beginning on July 15, 2020 and at any time thereafter, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.  In addition, before July 15, 2017, the Issuers may redeem all or any part of the 6.25% Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of the principal amount thereof, plus a make whole premium at the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.  The holders of the notes may require the Issuers to repurchase the 6.25% Notes following certain asset sales or a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture) at the prices and on the terms specified in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture contains covenants that will limit the Partnership’s ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred securities, make certain dividends and distributions, make certain investments and other restricted payments, restrict distributions by its subsidiaries, create liens, enter into sale-leaseback transactions, sell assets or merge with other entities.  Events of default under the Indenture include (i) a default in payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the 6.25% Notes, (ii) breach of the Partnership’s covenants under the Indenture, (iii) certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, (iv) any payment default or acceleration of indebtedness of the Partnership or certain subsidiaries if the total amount of such indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $15.0 million and (v) failure to pay within 60 days uninsured final judgments exceeding $15.0 million.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On June 24, 2014, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Initial Purchasers in connection with the Issuers’ private placement of the 6.25% Notes.  Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors agreed to file and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange the 6.25% Notes for an issue of SEC-registered notes with terms identical to the 6.25% Notes (except that the exchange notes are not subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement) that are registered under the Securities Act so as to permit the exchange offer to be consummated by the 360th day after June 24, 2014.  The exchange offer was completed on April 21, 2015, and 100% of the 6.25% Notes were exchanged for SEC-registered notes.

 

7.00% Senior Notes

 

On June 1, 2015, the Issuers entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “7.00% Notes Purchase Agreement”) with the Initial Purchasers (as defined therein) (the “7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers”) pursuant to which the Issuers agreed to sell $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 7.00% senior notes due 2023 (the “7.00% Notes”) to the 7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.  The 7.00% Notes were resold by the 7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

The 7.00% Notes Purchase Agreement contained customary representations and warranties of the parties and indemnification and contribution provisions under which the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors, on one hand, and the 7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers, on the other, agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.  In addition, the 7.00% Notes Purchase Agreement required the execution of a registration rights agreement, described below, relating to the 7.00% Notes.  Closing of the offering occurred on June 4, 2015.

 

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Indenture

 

In connection with the private placement of the 7.00% Notes on June 4, 2015 the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, entered into an indenture (the “7.00% Notes Indenture”).

 

The 7.00% Notes will mature on June 15, 2023 with interest accruing at a rate of 7.00% per annum and payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2015.  The 7.00% Notes are guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors to the extent set forth in the 7.00% Notes Indenture.  Upon a continuing event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the 7.00% Notes may declare the 7.00% Notes immediately due and payable, except that an event of default resulting from entry into a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Partnership, any restricted subsidiary of the Partnership that is a significant subsidiary or any group of its restricted subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary of the Partnership, will automatically cause the 7.00% Notes to become due and payable.

 

The Issuers will have the option to redeem up to 35% of the 7.00% Notes prior to June 15, 2018 at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 107.00% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.  The Issuers have the option to redeem the 7.00% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after June 15, 2018, at the redemption prices of 105.250% for the twelve-month period beginning June 15, 2018, 103.500% for the twelve-month period beginning June 15, 2019, 101.750% for the twelve-month period beginning June 15, 2020, and 100.0% beginning June 15, 2021 and at any time thereafter, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.  In addition, before June 15, 2018, the Issuers may redeem all or any part of the 7.00% Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of the principal amount thereof, plus a make whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.  The holders of the 7.00% Notes may require the Issuers to repurchase the 7.00% Notes following certain asset sales or a Change of Control (as defined in the 7.00% Notes Indenture) at the prices and on the terms specified in the 7.00% Notes Indenture.

 

The 7.00% Notes Indenture contains covenants that will limit the Partnership’s ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred securities, make certain dividends and distributions, make certain investments and other restricted payments, restrict distributions by its subsidiaries, create liens, enter into sale-leaseback transactions, sell assets or merge with other entities.  Events of default under the 7.00% Notes Indenture include (i) a default in payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the 7.00% Notes, (ii) breach of the Partnership’s covenants under the 7.00% Notes Indenture, (iii) certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, (iv) any payment default or acceleration of indebtedness of the Partnership or certain subsidiaries if the total amount of such indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $50.0 million and (v) failure to pay within 60 days uninsured final judgments exceeding $50.0 million.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On June 4, 2015, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement (the “7.00% Notes Registration Rights Agreement”) with the 7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers in connection with the Issuers’ private placement of the 7.00% Notes.  Under the 7.00% Notes Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors agreed to file and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange the 7.00% Notes for an issue of SEC-registered notes with terms identical to the 7.00% Notes (except that the exchange notes are not subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with the 7.00% Notes Registration Rights Agreement) that are registered under the Securities Act so as to permit the exchange offer to be consummated by the 420th day after June 4, 2015.  The exchange offer was completed on October 22, 2015, and 100% of the 7.00% Notes were exchanged for SEC-registered notes.    

 

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Deferred Financing Fees

 

The Partnership incurs bank fees related to its Credit Agreement and other financing arrangements.  These deferred financing fees are amortized over the life of the Credit Agreement or other financing arrangements.  The Partnership capitalized deferred financing fees of $17.8 million and $19.0 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  

 

Unamortized fees related to the Credit Agreement are included in other current assets and other long-term assets and amounted to $10.3 million and $11.2 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  Unamortized fees related to the senior notes are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts, and amounted to $7.5 million and $7.8 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. 

 

On February 24, 2016, the Partnership voluntarily elected to reduce its working capital revolving credit facility from $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015 to $900.0 million at March 31, 2016 and its revolving credit facility from $775.0 million at December 31, 2015 to $575.0 million at March 31, 2016.  As a result, the Partnership incurred expenses of approximately $1.8 million associated with the write-off of a portion of its deferred financing fees.  These expenses are included in interest expense in the accompanying statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

Amortization expense of approximately $1.4 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, is included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Financing Obligation

 

In connection with the Capitol acquisition on June 1, 2015 (see Note 2), the Partnership assumed a financing obligation of $89.6 million associated with two sale-leaseback transactions by Capitol for 53 leased sites that did not meet the criteria for sale accounting.  During the term of these leases, which expire in May 2028 and September 2029, in lieu of recognizing lease expense for the lease rental payments, the Partnership incurs interest expense associated with the financing obligation.  Interest expense of approximately $2.4 million was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and is included in interest expense in the accompanying statement of operations.  The financing obligation will amortize through expiration of the lease based upon the lease rental payments which were $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  The financing obligation balance outstanding at March 31, 2016 was $89.8 million.  

 

Note 7.    Related Party Transactions

 

The Partnership was a party to an exclusive Second Amended and Restated Terminal Storage Rental and Throughput Agreement, as amended (the “Terminal Storage Rental and Throughput Agreement”), with GPC, an affiliate of the Partnership that is 100% owned by members of the Slifka family, with respect to the Revere Terminal in Revere, Massachusetts.  On January 14, 2015, the Partnership acquired the Revere Terminal from GPC and related entities, and the Terminal Storage Rental and Throughput Agreement was terminated.  Prior to the acquisition, the agreement was accounted for as an operating lease.  The expenses under this agreement totaled $0 and $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

The Partnership was a party to an Amended and Restated Services Agreement with GPC, whereby GPC provided certain terminal operating management services to the Partnership and used certain administrative, accounting and information processing services of the Partnership.  The expenses from these services totaled approximately $0 and $8,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  These charges were recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

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(Unaudited)

 

On March 11, 2015, the Partnership entered into the following amendments and restatements to its shared services agreements: (i) Global Companies entered into an Amended and Restated Services Agreement with AE Holdings Corp. (the “AE Holdings Amended and Restated Services Agreement”), and (ii) certain of the Partnership’s subsidiaries entered into a Second Amended and Restated Services Agreement with GPC (the “GPC Second Amended and Restated Services Agreement,” and together with the AE Holdings Amended and Restated Services Agreement, the “Amended and Restated Services Agreements”).

 

Under the AE Holdings Amended and Restated Services Agreement, the Partnership provided AE Holdings with certain tax, accounting, treasury and legal support services for which AE Holdings paid the Partnership an aggregate of $15,000 per year in equal monthly installments until it was voluntarily dissolved effective on July 10, 2015.  Under the GPC Second Amended and Restated Services Agreement, GPC no longer provides the Partnership with terminal, environmental and operational support services, but the Partnership continues to provide GPC with certain tax, accounting, treasury, legal, information technology, human resources and financial operations support services for which GPC pays the Partnership a monthly services fee at an agreed amount subject to the approval by the Conflicts Committee of the board of directors of the General Partner.  The GPC Second Amended and Restated Services Agreement is for an indefinite term and any party may terminate some or all of the services upon ninety (90) days’ advanced written notice.  As of March 31, 2016, no such notice of termination was given by GPC.

 

The General Partner employs substantially all of the Partnership’s employees, except for most of its gasoline station and convenience store employees, who are employed by GMG.  The Partnership reimburses the General Partner for expenses incurred in connection with these employees.  These expenses, including payroll, payroll taxes and bonus accruals, were $25.6 million and $29.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The Partnership also reimburses the General Partner for its contributions under the General Partner’s 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan and the General Partner’s qualified and non-qualified pension plans.

 

The table below presents trade receivables with GPC and the Partnership and receivables from the General Partner (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

Receivables from GPC

 

$

7

 

$

 —

 

Receivables from the General Partner (1)

 

 

3,475

 

 

2,578

 

Total

 

$

3,482

 

$

2,578

 


(1)

Receivables from the General Partner reflect the Partnership’s prepayment of payroll taxes and payroll accruals to the General Partner.

 

   

 

Note 8.    Partners’ Equity and Cash Distributions

 

Partners’ Equity

 

Partners’ equity at March 31, 2016 consisted of 33,995,563 common units issued, including 7,434,775 common units held by affiliates of the General Partner, including directors and executive officers, collectively representing a 99.33% limited partner interest in the Partnership, and 230,303 general partner units representing a 0.67% general partner interest in the Partnership. There have been no changes to partners’ equity during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Cash Distributions

 

The Partnership intends to make cash distributions to unitholders on a quarterly basis, although there is no assurance as to the future cash distributions since they are dependent upon future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors.  The Credit Agreement prohibits the Partnership from making cash distributions if any potential default or Event of Default, as defined in the Credit Agreement, occurs or would result from the cash distribution. The indentures governing the Partnership’s outstanding senior notes also limit the Partnership’s ability to make distributions to its unitholders in certain circumstances.

 

Within 45 days after the end of each quarter, the Partnership will distribute all of its Available Cash (as defined in its partnership agreement) to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.  The amount of Available Cash is all cash on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash for the quarter, less the amount of cash reserves established by the General Partner to provide for the proper conduct of the Partnership’s business, to comply with applicable law, any of the Partnership’s debt instruments, or other agreements or to provide funds for distributions to unitholders and the General Partner for any one or more of the next four quarters.

 

The Partnership will make distributions of Available Cash from distributable cash flow for any quarter in the following manner: 99.33% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 0.67% to the General Partner, until the Partnership distributes for each outstanding common unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter; and thereafter, cash in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution is distributed to the unitholders and the General Partner based on the percentages as provided below.

 

As holder of the IDRs, the General Partner is entitled to incentive distributions if the amount that the Partnership distributes with respect to any quarter exceeds specified target levels shown below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marginal Percentage

 

 

 

Total Quarterly Distribution

 

Interest in Distributions

 

 

    

Target Amount

    

Unitholders

    

General Partner

  

First Target Distribution

 

 

up to $0.4625

 

99.33

%  

0.67

%

Second Target Distribution

 

 

above $0.4625 up to $0.5375

 

86.33

%  

13.67

%

Third Target Distribution

 

 

above $0.5375 up to $0.6625

 

76.33

%  

23.67

%

Thereafter

 

 

above $0.6625

 

51.33

%  

48.67

%

 

The Partnership paid the following cash distribution during 2016 (in thousands, except per unit data):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earned for the

    

Per Unit

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cash Distribution

 

Quarter

 

Cash

 

Common

 

General

 

Incentive

 

Total Cash

 

Payment Date

    

Ended

 

Distribution

 

Units

 

Partner

 

Distribution

 

Distribution

 

2/16/2016

 

12/31/15

 

$

0.4625

 

$

15,723

 

$

106

 

$

 —

 

$

15,829

 

 

In addition, on April 26, 2016, the board of directors of the General Partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.4625 per unit ($1.85 per unit on an annualized basis) on all of its outstanding common units for the period from January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016 to the Partnership’s unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 6, 2015. 

 

Note 9.    Unitholders’ Equity

 

At-the-Market Offering Program

 

On May 19, 2015, the Partnership entered into an equity distribution agreement pursuant to which the Partnership may sell from time to time through its sales agents, following a standard due diligence effort, the Partnership’s common

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

units having an aggregate offering price of up to $50.0 million.  Sales of the common units, if any, will be made by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering, including ordinary brokers’ transactions through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange, to or through a market maker, or directly on or through an electronic communication network, a “dark pool” or any similar market venue, at market prices, in block transactions, or as otherwise agreed upon by the Partnership and one or more of its sales agents.

 

The Partnership may also sell common units to one or more of its sales agents as principal for its own account at a price to be agreed upon at the time of sale.  Any sale of common units to a sales agent as principal would be pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement between the Partnership and such sales agent.

 

The Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from any sales pursuant to the at-the-market offering program, after deducting the sales agents’ commissions and the Partnership’s offering expenses, for general partnership purposes, which may include, among other things, repayment of indebtedness, acquisitions and capital expenditures.

 

The sales agents and/or affiliates of each of the sales agents have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and commercial and investment banking services for the Partnership and its affiliates, for which they have received and in the future will receive customary compensation and expense reimbursement.  Affiliates of the sales agents are lenders under the Partnership’s credit facility and, accordingly, may receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering if and to the extent any proceeds are used to reduce outstanding borrowings under the Partnership’s credit facility.

 

As of March 31, 2016, no common units were sold by the Partnership pursuant to the at-the-market offering program.

 

Note 10.    Segment Reporting

 

The Partnership engages in the purchasing, selling, storing and logistics of transporting petroleum and related products, including domestic and Canadian crude oil, gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol), distillates (such as home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil, renewable fuels, natural gas and propane.  The Partnership also receives revenue from convenience store sales and gasoline station rental income.  The Partnership’s operating segments are based upon the revenue sources for which discrete financial information is reviewed by the chief operating decision maker (the “CODM”) and include Wholesale, GDSO and Commercial.  Each of these operating segments generates revenues and incurs expenses and is evaluated for operating performance on a regular basis.

 

These operating segments are also the Partnership’s reporting segments based on the way the CODM manages the business and on the similarity of customers and expected long-term financial performance of each segment.  For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, the Commercial operating segment did not meet the quantitative metrics for disclosure as a reportable segment on a stand-alone basis as defined in accounting guidance related to segment reporting.  However, the Partnership has elected to present segment disclosures for the Commercial operating segment as management believes such disclosures are meaningful to the user of the Partnership’s financial information.  The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

 

In the Wholesale reporting segment, the Partnership sells branded and unbranded gasoline and gasoline blendstocks and diesel to wholesale distributors.  The Partnership transports these products by railcars, barges and/or pipelines pursuant to spot or long‑term contracts.  The Partnership aggregates crude oil by truck or pipeline in the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada, transports it by train and ships it by barge to refiners on the East and West Coasts.  The Partnership sells home heating oil, diesel, kerosene, residual oil and propane to home heating oil and propane retailers and wholesale distributors.  Generally, customers use their own vehicles or contract carriers to take delivery of the gasoline and distillates at bulk terminals and inland storage facilities that the Partnership owns or controls

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(Unaudited)

or with which it has throughput or exchange arrangements.  Additionally, ethanol is shipped primarily by rail and by barge.

 

In the GDSO reporting segment, gasoline distribution includes sales of branded and unbranded gasoline to gasoline station operators and sub jobbers.  Station operations include (i) convenience stores, (ii) rental income from gasoline stations leased to dealers, from commissioned agents and from cobranding arrangements and (iii) sundries (such as car wash sales, lottery and ATM commissions).

 

In the Commercial segment, the Partnership includes sales and deliveries to end user customers in the public sector and to large commercial and industrial end users of unbranded gasoline, home heating oil, diesel, kerosene, residual oil, bunker fuel and natural gas.  In the case of public sector commercial and industrial end user customers, the Partnership sells products primarily either through a competitive bidding process or through contracts of various terms.  The Partnership generally arranges for the delivery of the product to the customer’s designated location, and the Partnership responds to publicly-issued requests for product proposals and quotes.  The Commercial segment also includes sales of custom blended fuels delivered by barges or from a terminal dock to ships through bunkering activity.

 

The Partnership evaluates segment performance based on product margins before allocations of corporate and indirect operating costs, depreciation, amortization (including non-cash charges) and interest.  Based on the way the CODM manages the business, it is not reasonably possible for the Partnership to allocate the components of operating costs and expenses among the reportable segments.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Summarized financial information for the Partnership’s reportable segments is presented in the table below (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

    

Wholesale Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks

 

$

342,729

 

$

776,143

 

Crude oil (1)

 

 

148,502

 

 

252,110

 

Other oils and related products (2)

 

 

419,009

 

 

943,693

 

Total

 

$

910,240

 

$

1,971,946

 

Product margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks

 

$

16,362

 

$

29,829

 

Crude oil (1)

 

 

(2,373)

 

 

15,257

 

Other oils and related products (2)

 

 

25,249

 

 

35,007

 

Total

 

$

39,238

 

$

80,093

 

Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline

 

$

616,103

 

$

697,334

 

Station operations (3)

 

 

85,185

 

 

83,075

 

Total

 

$

701,288

 

$

780,409

 

Product margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline

 

$

65,387

 

$

61,699

 

Station operations (3)

 

 

42,925

 

 

36,723

 

Total

 

$

108,312

 

$

98,422

 

Commercial Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

$

139,284

 

$

226,761

 

Product margin

 

$

6,910

 

$

11,558

 

Combined sales and Product margin:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

$

1,750,812

 

$

2,979,116

 

Product margin (4)

 

$

154,460

 

$

190,073

 

Depreciation allocated to cost of sales

 

 

(24,401)

 

 

(21,515)

 

Combined gross profit

 

$

130,059

 

$

168,558

 


(1)

Crude oil consists of the Partnership’s crude oil sales and revenue from its logistics activities.

(2)

Other oils and related products primarily consist of distillates, residual oil and propane.

(3)

Station operations primarily consist of convenience store sales and rental income.

(4)

Product margin is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management and external users of the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements to assess its business.  The table above includes a reconciliation of product margin on a combined basis to gross profit, a directly comparable GAAP measure. 

 

Approximately 111 million gallons and 110 million gallons of the GDSO segment’s sales for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, were supplied from petroleum products and renewable fuels sourced by the Wholesale segment.  Except for natural gas, predominantly all of the Commercial segment’s sales are sourced by the Wholesale segment.  These intra-segment sales are not reflected as sales in the Wholesale segment as they are eliminated.

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

A reconciliation of the totals reported for the reportable segments to the applicable line items in the consolidated financial statements is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

Combined gross profit

 

$

130,059

 

$

168,558

 

Operating costs and expenses not allocated to operating segments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

34,984

 

 

48,786

 

Operating expenses

 

 

72,236

 

 

68,656

 

Amortization expense

 

 

2,509

 

 

5,341

 

Loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges

 

 

6,105

 

 

437

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

 

115,834

 

 

123,220

 

Operating income

 

 

14,225

 

 

45,338

 

Interest expense

 

 

(22,980)

 

 

(13,963)

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

 

920

 

 

(966)

 

Net (loss) income

 

 

(7,835)

 

 

30,409

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

811

 

 

6

 

Net income attributable to Global Partners LP

 

$

(7,024)

 

$

30,415

 

 

The Partnership’s foreign assets and foreign sales were immaterial as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

Segment Assets

 

The Partnership’s terminal assets are allocated to the Wholesale and Commercial segments, and its acquired retail gasoline stations are allocated to the GDSO segment.  Due to the commingled nature and uses of the remainder of the Partnership’s assets, it is not reasonably possible for the Partnership to allocate these assets among its reportable segments.

 

The table below presents total assets by reportable segment at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wholesale

 

 

Commercial

 

 

GDSO

 

 

Unallocated

 

 

Total

March 31, 2016

   

$

791,417

   

$

3,059

   

$

1,361,094

   

$

499,868

   

$

2,655,438

December 31, 2015

   

$

774,352

   

$

3,224

   

$

1,392,397

   

$

493,702

   

$

2,663,675

 

 

 

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Note 11.    Property and Equipment

 

Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 

 

December 31,

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

 

Buildings and improvements

 

$

995,143

 

$

992,917

 

Land

 

 

441,799

 

 

450,045

 

Fixtures and equipment

 

 

41,213

 

 

40,946

 

Construction in process

 

 

69,403

 

 

67,080

 

Capitalized internal use software

 

 

18,852

 

 

18,852

 

Total property and equipment

 

 

1,566,410

 

 

1,569,840

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

348,751

 

 

327,157

 

Total

 

$

1,217,659

 

$

1,242,683

 

 

At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, construction in process included $30.5 million related to the Partnership’s ethanol plant acquired from Cascade Kelly Holdings LLC (“Cascade Kelly”) in 2013.  The Partnership has begun to take steps to utilize this location by shifting the terminalling facility to ethanol transloading.  This measure is substantially related to cleaning of tanks and modifications to associated infrastructure, which commenced during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 and is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2016.  Therefore, as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the recorded value of the ethanol plant was included in construction in process.  After the plant has been successfully placed into service, depreciation will commence.

 

As part of continuing operations in the GDSO segment, the Partnership may periodically divest certain gasoline stations.  The loss on the sale, representing cash proceeds less net book value of assets at disposition, is recorded in loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and amounted to $0.6 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. 

 

Additionally, in conjunction with the periodic divestiture of gasoline stations, as well as the non-strategic owned or leasehold assets of the GDSO segment identified by the Partnership (see Note 19), the Partnership may classify certain gasoline station assets as held-for-sale.  Accordingly, the Partnership has classified 28 sites and 15 sites as held-for-sale at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  Assets held-for-sale of $12.8 million and $7.4 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, are included in property and equipment in the accompanying balance sheets.  The Partnership recorded impairment charges related to its assets held-for-sale in the amount of $5.5 million and $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which are included in loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  Assets held-for-sale are expected to be sold within the next 12 months.

 

The Partnership evaluates its assets for impairment on a quarterly basis.  No other impairment charges were required for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.  However, at March 31, 2016, the Partnership had a $36.6 million remaining net book value of long‑lived assets used at its crude oil transloading terminals in North Dakota.  The long‑term recoverability of these assets might be adversely impacted by a prolonged decline in crude oil prices or crude oil differentials.  Over the long‑term, if these market conditions remain, this may become an indicator of the potential impairment of these North Dakota assets in the future.  The Partnership will monitor the pricing environment and the related impact this may have on the North Dakota operating and cash flows and whether this would constitute an impairment indicator.

 

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(Unaudited)

Note 12.    Environmental Liabilities, Asset Retirement Obligations and Renewable Identification Numbers

 

Environmental Liabilities

 

The Partnership owns or leases properties where refined petroleum products, renewable fuels and crude oil are being or may have been handled.  These properties and the refined petroleum products, renewable fuels and crude oil handled thereon may be subject to federal and state environmental laws and regulations.  Under such laws and regulations, the Partnership could be required to remove or remediate containerized hazardous liquids or associated generated wastes (including wastes disposed of or abandoned by prior owners or operators), to clean up contaminated property arising from the release of liquids or wastes into the environment, including contaminated groundwater, or to implement best management practices to prevent future contamination.

 

The Partnership maintains insurance of various types with varying levels of coverage that it considers adequate under the circumstances to cover its operations and properties.  The insurance policies are subject to deductibles that the Partnership considers reasonable and not excessive.  In addition, the Partnership has entered into indemnification agreements with various sellers in conjunction with several of its acquisitions.  Allocation of environmental liability is an issue negotiated in connection with each of the Partnership’s acquisition transactions.  In each case, the Partnership makes an assessment of potential environmental liability exposure based on available information.  Based on that assessment and relevant economic and risk factors, the Partnership determines whether to, and the extent to which it will, assume liability for existing environmental conditions.

 

In connection with the June 2015 acquisition of retail gasoline stations from Capitol, the Partnership assumed certain environmental liabilities, including future remediation activities required by applicable federal, state or local law or regulation at certain of the retail gasoline stations owned by Capitol.  Certain environmental remediation obligations at most of the acquired retail gasoline station assets from Capitol are being funded by third parties who assumed certain liabilities in connection with Capitol’s acquisition of these assets from ExxonMobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”) in 2009 and 2010 and, therefore, cost estimates for such obligations at these stations are not included in this estimate.  As a result, the Partnership initially recorded, on an undiscounted basis, a total environmental liability of approximately $0.3 million for those locations not covered by third parties. 

 

In connection with the January 2015 acquisition of the Revere Terminal, the Partnership assumed certain environmental liabilities, including certain ongoing environmental remediation efforts.  As a result, the Partnership initially recorded, on an undiscounted basis, a total environmental liability of approximately $3.1 million.

 

In connection with the January 2015 acquisition of Warren, the Partnership assumed certain environmental liabilities, including certain ongoing environmental remediation efforts at certain of the retail gasoline stations owned or leased by Warren and future remediation activities required by applicable federal, state or local law or regulation.  As a result, the Partnership initially recorded, on an undiscounted basis, a total environmental liability of approximately $36.5 million.

 

In connection with the December 2012 acquisition of six New England retail gasoline stations from Mutual Oil Company, the Partnership assumed certain environmental liabilities, including certain ongoing remediation efforts.  As a result, the Partnership initially recorded, on an undiscounted basis, a total environmental liability of approximately $0.6 million.

 

In connection with the March 2012 acquisition of Alliance, the Partnership assumed Alliance’s environmental liabilities, including ongoing environmental remediation at certain of the retail gasoline stations owned by Alliance and future remediation activities required by applicable federal, state or local law or regulation.  Remedial action plans are in place, as may be applicable with the state agencies regulating such ongoing remediation.  Based on reports from environmental engineers, the Partnership’s estimated cost of the ongoing environmental remediation for which Alliance

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was responsible and future remediation activities required by applicable federal, state or local law or regulation is estimated to be approximately $16.1 million to be expended over an extended period of time.  Certain environmental remediation obligations at the retail stations acquired by Alliance from ExxonMobil in 2011 are being funded by a third party who assumed the liability in connection with the Alliance/ExxonMobil transaction in 2011 and, therefore, cost estimates for such obligations at these stations are not included in this estimate.  As a result, the Partnership initially recorded, on an undiscounted basis, total environmental liabilities of approximately $16.1 million.

 

In connection with the September 2010 acquisition of retail gasoline stations from ExxonMobil, the Partnership assumed certain environmental liabilities, including ongoing environmental remediation at and monitoring activities at certain of the acquired sites and future remediation activities required by applicable federal, state or local law or regulation.  Remedial action plans are in place with the applicable state regulatory agencies for the majority of these locations, including plans for soil and groundwater treatment systems at certain sites. Based on consultations with environmental engineers, the Partnership’s estimated cost of the remediation is expected to be approximately $30.0 million to be expended over an extended period of time.  As a result, the Partnership initially recorded, on an undiscounted basis, total environmental liabilities of approximately $30.0 million.

 

In connection with the June 2010 acquisition of three refined petroleum products terminals in Newburgh, New York, the Partnership assumed certain environmental liabilities, including certain ongoing remediation efforts.  As a result, the Partnership initially recorded, on an undiscounted basis, a total environmental liability of approximately $1.5 million.

 

In addition to the above-mentioned environmental liabilities related to the Partnership's retail gasoline stations, the Partnership retains some of the environmental obligations associated with certain gasoline stations that the Partnership has sold.

 

The following table presents a summary roll forward of the Partnership’s environmental liabilities at March 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Balance at

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

Other

    

Balance at

 

 

 

December 31,

 

Payments in

 

Dispositions

 

Adjustments

 

March 31,

 

Environmental Liability Related to:

 

2015

 

2016

 

2016

 

2016

 

2016

 

Retail gasoline stations

 

$

68,451

 

$

(922)

 

$

(525)

 

$

360

 

$

67,364

 

Terminals

 

 

4,782

 

 

(6)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

4,776

 

Total environmental liabilities

 

$

73,233

 

$

(928)

 

$

(525)

 

$

360

 

$

72,140

 

Current portion

 

$

5,350

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

5,345

 

Long-term portion

 

 

67,883

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

66,795

 

Total environmental liabilities

 

$

73,233

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

72,140

 

 

The Partnership’s estimates used in these environmental liabilities are based on all known facts at the time and its assessment of the ultimate remedial action outcomes.  Among the many uncertainties that impact the Partnership’s estimates are the necessary regulatory approvals for, and potential modification of, its remediation plans, the amount of data available upon initial assessment of the impact of soil or water contamination, changes in costs associated with environmental remediation services and equipment, relief of obligations through divestures of sites and the possibility of existing legal claims giving rise to additional claims.  Dispositions generally represent relief of legal obligations through the sale of the related property with no retained obligation.  Other adjustments generally represent changes in estimates for existing obligations or obligations associated with new sites.  Therefore, although the Partnership believes that these environmental liabilities are adequate, no assurances can be made that any costs incurred in excess of these environmental liabilities or outside of indemnifications or not otherwise covered by insurance would not have a material adverse effect on the Partnership’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

 

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(Unaudited)

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

The Partnership is required to account for the legal obligations associated with the long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development or operation of long-lived assets.  Such asset retirement obligations specifically pertain to the treatment of underground gasoline storage tanks (“USTs”) that exist in those states which statutorily require removal of the USTs at a certain point in time.  Specifically, the Partnership’s retirement obligations consist of the estimated costs of removal and disposals of USTs.

 

The liability for an asset retirement obligation is recognized on a discounted basis in the year in which it is incurred.  The associated asset retirement costs are capitalized as part of the carrying cost of the asset.  The Partnership had approximately $7.9 million and $7.8 million in total asset retirement obligations at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, which are included in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying balance sheets. 

 

Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs)

 

A RIN is a serial number assigned to a batch of renewable fuel for the purpose of tracking its production, use and trading as required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) Renewable Fuel Standard that originated with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and modified by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.  To evidence that the required volume of renewable fuel is blended with gasoline and diesel motor vehicle fuels, obligated parties must retire sufficient RINs to cover their Renewable Volume Obligation (“RVO”). The Partnership’s EPA obligations relative to renewable fuel reporting are largely limited to the foreign gasoline that the Partnership may choose to import and a small amount of blending operations at certain facilities.  As a wholesaler of transportation fuels through its terminals, the Partnership separates RINs from renewable fuel through blending with gasoline and can use those separated RINs to settle its RVO.  While the annual compliance period for the RVO is a calendar year and the settlement of the RVO typically occurs by March 31 of the following year, the settlement of the RVO can occur, under certain EPA deferral actions, more than one year after the close of the compliance period.

 

The Partnership’s Wholesale segment’s operating results are sensitive to the timing associated with its RIN position relative to its RVO at a point in time, and the Partnership may recognize a mark-to-market liability for a shortfall in RINs at the end of each reporting period.  To the extent that the Partnership does not have a sufficient number of RINs to satisfy the RVO as of the balance sheet date, the Partnership charges cost of sales for such deficiency based on the market price of the RINs as of the balance sheet date and records a liability representing the Partnership’s obligation to purchase RINs.  The Partnership’s RVO deficiency was $0.1 million and $0.4 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

The Partnership may enter into RIN forward purchase and sales commitments.  Total losses from firm non-cancellable commitments were immaterial at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

 

Note 13.    Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

The Partnership has a Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended (the “LTIP”), whereby a total of 4,300,000 common units were authorized for delivery with respect to awards under the LTIP.  The LTIP provides for awards to employees, consultants and directors of the General Partner and employees and consultants of affiliates of the Partnership who perform services for the Partnership.  The LTIP allows for the award of options, unit appreciation rights, restricted units, phantom units, distribution equivalent rights, unit awards and substitute awards.

 

Awards granted under the LTIP are authorized by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors of the General Partner (the “Committee”) from time to time. Additionally and in accordance with the LTIP, the Committee established a “CEO Authorized LTIP” program pursuant to which the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) may grant awards of phantom units without distribution equivalent rights to employees of the General Partner and the Partnership’s

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(Unaudited)

subsidiaries, other than named executive officers.  The CEO Authorized LTIP program was approved for three consecutive calendar years commencing January 1, 2014, subject to modification or earlier termination by the Committee.  During each calendar year of the program, the CEO is authorized to grant awards of up to an aggregate amount of $2.0 million of phantom units payable in common units upon vesting, with unused dollar amounts carrying over in the next year, and no individual grant may be made for an award valued at the time of grant of more than $550,000, unless otherwise previously approved by the Committee.  Awards granted pursuant to the CEO Authorized LTIP generally would be for a term of six years and vest in equal tranches at the end of each of the fourth, fifth and sixth anniversary dates of the particular award.

 

Phantom Unit Awards

 

In 2013, the Committee granted a total of 498,112 phantom units under the LTIP to certain employees and non-employee directors of the General Partner.  In 2014, a total of 44,902 phantom units were granted to certain employees.  In 2015, a total of 76,893 phantom units were granted to certain employees and the non-employee directors.  No awards were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

The phantom units for these awards vest pursuant to the terms of the grant agreements.  The Partnership currently intends and reasonably expects to issue and deliver the common units upon vesting. 

 

The Partnership recorded total compensation expense related to the above awards of $1.1 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.  The total compensation cost related to the non-vested awards not yet recognized at March 31, 2016 was approximately $13.3 million and is expected to be recognized ratably over the remaining requisite service periods.

 

The following table presents a summary of the status of the non-vested phantom units:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

Weighted

 

 

 

Number of

 

Average

 

 

 

Non-vested

 

Grant Date

 

 

 

Units

 

Fair Value

 

Outstanding non—vested units at December 31, 2015

 

595,720

 

 

38.85

 

Vested

 

(10,659)

 

 

35.94

 

Outstanding non—vested units at March 31, 2016

 

585,061

 

$

38.91

 

 

 

Repurchase Program

 

In May 2009, the board of directors of the General Partner authorized the repurchase of the Partnership’s common units (the “Repurchase Program”) for the purpose of meeting the General Partner’s anticipated obligations to deliver common units under the LTIP and meeting the General Partner’s obligations under existing employment agreements and other employment related obligations of the General Partner (collectively, the “General Partner’s Obligations”).  The General Partner is authorized to acquire up to 1,242,427 of its common units in the aggregate over an extended period of time, consistent with the General Partner’s Obligations.  Common units may be repurchased from time to time in open market transactions, including block purchases, or in privately negotiated transactions.  Such authorized unit repurchases may be modified, suspended or terminated at any time and are subject to price and economic and market conditions, applicable legal requirements and available liquidity.  Since the Repurchase Program was implemented, the General Partner has repurchased 838,505 common units pursuant to the Repurchase Program for approximately $24.8 million. No units were purchased during the quarter ended March 31, 2016.

 

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(Unaudited)

Note 14.    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 the measurement date (exit price).  The Partnership utilizes market data or assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique.  These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated or generally unobservable.  The Partnership primarily applies the market approach for recurring fair value measurements and endeavors to utilize the best available information.  Accordingly, the Partnership utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.  The Partnership is able to classify fair value balances based on the observability of those inputs.  The fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value, giving the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurement) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurement).  At each balance sheet reporting date, the Partnership categorizes its financial assets and liabilities using the three levels of the fair value hierarchy defined as follows:

 

 

 

 

Level 1

Quoted prices are available in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date.  Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.  Level 1 primarily consists of financial instruments such as the Partnership’s exchange-traded derivative instruments and pension plan assets.

 

 

 

Level 2

Quoted prices in active markets are not available; however, pricing inputs are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.  Level 2 includes those financial instruments that are valued using models or other valuation methodologies.  These models are primarily industry-standard models that consider various assumptions, including quoted forward prices for commodities, time value, volatility factors, and current market and contractual prices for the underlying instruments, as well as other relevant economic measures.  Substantially all of these assumptions are observable in the marketplace throughout the full term of the instrument, can be derived from observable data or are supported by observable levels at which transactions are executed in the marketplace.  Level 2 primarily consists of non-exchange-traded derivatives such as OTC derivatives.

 

 

 

Level 3

Pricing inputs include significant inputs that are generally less observable from objective sources.  These inputs may be used with internally developed methodologies that result in management’s best estimate of fair value.  Level 3 includes certain OTC forward derivative instruments related to crude oil and propane.

 

Recurring Fair Value Measures

 

Assets and liabilities are classified in the entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The Partnership’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels.

 

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(Unaudited)

The following tables present, by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Partnership’s financial assets and liabilities that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value at March 31, 2016

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Collateral 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

    

Netting

    

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward derivative contracts (1)

 

$

 —

 

$

42,208

 

$

1,189

 

$

 —

 

$

43,397

 

Exchange-traded/cleared derivative instruments (2)

 

 

923

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

37,932

 

 

38,855

 

Pension plan

 

 

16,612

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

16,612

 

Total assets

 

$

17,535

 

$

42,208

 

$

1,189

 

$

37,932

 

$

98,864

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward derivative contracts (1)

 

$

 —

 

$

(24,689)

 

$

(1,234)

 

$

 —

 

$

(25,923)

 

Foreign currency derivatives

 

 

 —

 

 

(13)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(13)

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 —

 

 

(3,315)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(3,315)

 

Total liabilities

 

$

 —

 

$

(28,017)

 

$

(1,234)

 

$

 —

 

$

(29,251)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value at December 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Collateral 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

    

Netting

    

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward derivative contracts (1)

 

$

 —

 

$

62,382

 

$

3,717

 

$

 —

 

$

66,099

 

Foreign currency derivatives

 

 

 —

 

 

10

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

10

 

Exchange-traded/cleared derivative instruments (2)

 

 

95,367

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(64,040)

 

 

31,327

 

Pension plan

 

 

16,886

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

16,886

 

Total assets

 

$

112,253

 

$

62,392

 

$

3,717

 

$

(64,040)

 

$

114,322

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forward derivative contracts (1)

 

$

 —

 

$

(27,602)

 

$

(3,653)

 

$

 —

 

$

(31,255)

 

Swap agreements and options

 

 

 —

 

 

(656)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(656)

 

Interest rate swaps

 

 

 —

 

 

(3,343)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(3,343)

 

Total liabilities

 

$

 —

 

$

(31,601)

 

$

(3,653)

 

$

 —

 

$

(35,254)

 


(1)

Forward derivative contracts include the Partnership’s petroleum and ethanol physical and financial forwards and OTC swaps.

(2)

Amount includes the effect of cash balances on deposit with clearing brokers.

 

This table excludes cash on hand and assets and liabilities that are measured at historical cost or any basis other than fair value.  The carrying amounts of certain of the Partnership’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short maturities.  The carrying value of the credit facility approximates fair value due to the variable rate nature of these financial instruments. 

 

The carrying value of the inventory qualifying for fair value hedge accounting approximates fair value due to adjustments for changes in fair value of the hedged item.  The fair values of the derivatives used by the Partnership are disclosed in Note 5.

 

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(Unaudited)

The determination of the fair values above incorporates factors including not only the credit standing of the counterparties involved, but also the impact of the Partnership’s nonperformance risks on its liabilities.

 

The values of the Level 1 exchange-traded/cleared derivative instruments and pension plan assets were determined using quoted prices in active markets for identical assets.  Specifically, the fair values of the Level 1 exchange-traded/cleared derivative instruments were based on quoted process obtained from the NYMEX, CME and ICE.  The fair values of the Level 1 pension plan assets were based on quoted prices for identical assets which primarily consisted of fixed income securities, equity securities and cash and cash equivalents.

 

The values of the Level 2 derivative contracts were calculated using expected cash flow models and market approaches based on observable market inputs, including published and quoted commodity pricing data, which is verified against other available market data.  Specifically, the fair values of the Level 2 derivative commodity contracts were derived from published and quoted NYMEX, CME, ICE, New York Harbor and third-party pricing information for the underlying instruments using market approaches.  The fair value of the Level 2 interest rate instruments were derived from the implied forward LIBOR yield curve for the sale period as the future interest rate swap and interest rate cap settlements using expected cash flow models.  The fair value of the Level 2 foreign currency derivatives were derived from the implied forward currency curve for the Canadian and U.S. Dollar.  The Partnership has not changed its valuation techniques or Level 2 inputs during the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

The carrying values and fair values of the 6.25% Notes and 7.00% Notes, estimated by observing market trading prices of the 6.25% Notes and 7.00% Notes, respectively, were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2016

 

December 31, 2015

 

 

Face

 

Fair

 

Face

 

Fair

 

 

Value

 

Value

 

Value

 

Value

 

6.25% Notes

 

$

375,000

 

$

277,500

 

$

375,000

 

$

307,500

 

7.00% Notes

 

$

300,000

 

$

222,000

 

$

300,000

 

$

249,000

 

 

Level 3 Information

 

The values of the Level 3 derivative contracts were calculated using market approaches based on a combination of observable and unobservable market inputs, including published and quoted NYMEX, CME, ICE, New York Harbor and third-party pricing information for a component of the underlying instruments as well as internally developed assumptions where there is little, if any, published or quoted prices or market activity.  The unobservable inputs used in the measurement of the Level 3 derivative contracts include estimates for location basis, transportation and throughput costs net of an estimated margin for current market participants.  The estimates for these inputs for crude oil were $1.35 to $13.25 per barrel and $7.45 to $10.75 per barrel for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The estimates for these inputs for propane were $0.84 to $8.40 per barrel for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  For the three months ended March 31, 2015, propane was included in Level 2.  Gains and losses recognized in earnings (or changes in net assets) are disclosed in Note 5.

 

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(Unaudited)

Sensitivity of the fair value measurement to changes in the significant unobservable inputs is as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Significant

 

 

 

 

 

Impact on Fair Value

 

Unobservable Input

    

Position

    

Change to Input

    

Measurement

 

Location basis

 

Long

 

Increase (decrease)

 

Gain (loss)

 

Location basis

 

Short

 

Increase (decrease)

 

Loss (gain)

 

Transportation

 

Long

 

Increase (decrease)

 

Gain (loss)

 

Transportation

 

Short

 

Increase (decrease)

 

Loss (gain)

 

Throughput costs

 

Long

 

Increase (decrease)

 

Gain (loss)

 

Throughput costs

 

Short

 

Increase (decrease)

 

Loss (gain)

 

 

 

The following table presents a reconciliation of changes in fair value of the Partnership’s derivative contracts classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy at March 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value at December 31, 2015

 

$

64

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) recorded in cost of sales

 

 

(109)

 

Fair value at March 31, 2016

 

$

(45)

 

 

Non-Recurring Fair Value Measures

 

Certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis and are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as acquired assets and liabilities or losses related to firm non-cancellable purchase commitments.  For assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis during the period, accounting guidance requires quantitative disclosures about the fair value measurements separately for each major category.  See Note 11 for a discussion of the Partnership’s assets held-for-sale.

 

Note 15.    Income Taxes

 

Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that publicly-traded partnerships are, as a general rule, taxed as corporations.  However, an exception, referred to as the “Qualifying Income Exception,” exists under Section 7704(c) with respect to publicly-traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the gross income for every taxable year consists of “qualifying income.”  Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation, storage and marketing of refined petroleum products, crude oil and ethanol to resellers and refiners.  Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income.

 

Substantially all of the Partnership’s income is “qualifying income” for federal income tax purposes and, therefore, is not subject to federal income taxes at the partnership level.  Accordingly, no provision has been made for income taxes on the qualifying income in the Partnership’s financial statements.  Net income for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities and the taxable income allocation requirements under the Partnership’s agreement of limited partnership.  Individual unitholders have different investment basis depending upon the timing and price at which they acquired their common units.  Further, each unitholder’s tax accounting, which is partially dependent upon the unitholder’s tax position, differs from the accounting followed in the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.  Accordingly, the aggregate difference in the basis of the Partnership’s net assets for financial and tax reporting purposes cannot be readily determined because information regarding each unitholder’s tax attributes in the Partnership is not available to the Partnership.

 

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(Unaudited)

One of the Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiaries, GMG, is a taxable entity for federal and state income tax purposes.  Current and deferred income taxes are recognized on the separate earnings of GMG.  The after-tax earnings of GMG are included in the earnings of the Partnership.  Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes for GMG.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.  The Partnership calculates its current and deferred tax provision based on estimates and assumptions that could differ from actual results reflected in income tax returns filed in subsequent years.  Adjustments based on filed returns are recorded when identified.

 

On July 1, 2015 the Partnership commenced business in Canada through its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, Global Partners Energy Canada ULC (“GPEC”).  GPEC predominantly consists of sourcing crude oil and other petroleum based products for sale to the Partnership and customers in Canada.  GPEC is a taxable entity for Canadian corporate income and branch taxes.  In its first year of operations, GPEC realized a pre-tax loss generating a net operating loss that might be used to offset future taxable income when GPEC operates at a profit.  The Partnership recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that the recoverability of these assets satisfies the “more likely than not” recognition criteria in accordance with the accounting guidance regarding income taxes.  Based upon projections of future taxable income, limited capital assets and market conditions, the Partnership has provided a full valuation allowance against the GPEC deferred tax asset.

 

The Partnership recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that the recoverability of these assets satisfies the “more likely than not” recognition criteria in accordance with the accounting guidance regarding income taxes.  Based upon projections of future taxable income, the Partnership believes that the recorded deferred tax assets will be realized.

 

Note 16.    Legal Proceedings

 

General

 

Although the Partnership may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business, the Partnership does not believe that it is a party to any litigation that will have a material adverse impact on its financial condition or results of operations.  Except as described below and in Note 12 included herein, the Partnership is not aware of any significant legal or governmental proceedings against it, or contemplated to be brought against it.  The Partnership maintains insurance policies with insurers in amounts and with coverage and deductibles as its general partner believes are reasonable and prudent.  However, the Partnership can provide no assurance that this insurance will be adequate to protect it from all material expenses related to potential future claims or that these levels of insurance will be available in the future at economically acceptable prices.

 

Other

 

In February 2016, the Partnership received a request for information from the EPA seeking certain information regarding its Albany terminal in order to assess its compliance with the Clean Air Act (the “CAA”).  The information requested generally relates to crude oil received by, stored at and shipped from the Partnership’s petroleum product transloading facility in Albany, New York (the “Albany Terminal”), including its composition, control devices for emissions and various permitting-related considerations.  The Albany Terminal is a 63-acre licensed, permitted and operational stationary bulk petroleum storage and transfer terminal that currently consists of petroleum product storage tanks, along with truck, rail and marine loading facilities, for the storage, blending and distribution of various petroleum and related products, including gasoline, ethanol, distillates, heating and crude oils.  No violations were alleged in the

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(Unaudited)

request for information.  The Partnership submitted responses and documentation, in March and April 2016, to the EPA in accordance with the EPA request.  The Partnership has cooperated fully with the agency and believes responsive information will demonstrate that the Partnership’s operations at the Albany Terminal are in compliance with all pertinent requirements.

 

By letter dated October 5, 2015, the Partnership received a notice of intent to sue (the “October NOI”), which supersedes and replaces a prior notice of intent to sue that the Partnership received on September 1, 2015 (the “September NOI”) from Earthjustice, an environmental advocacy organization on behalf of the County of Albany, New York, a public housing development owned and operated by the Albany Housing Authority and certain environmental organizations, related to alleged violations of the CAA at the Albany Terminal, particularly with respect to crude oil operations at the Albany Terminal.  The October NOI revises the superseded and replaced September NOI to add two additional environmental advocacy organizations and to revise the relief sought and the description of the alleged CAA violations.

 

On February 3, 2016, Earthjustice and the other entities identified in the October NOI filed suit against the Partnership in federal court in Albany under the citizen suit provisions of the CAA.  In summary, this lawsuit alleges that the Partnership’s operations at the Albany Terminal are in violation of the CAA.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, relief that would compel the Partnership both to apply for what they contend is the applicable permit under the CAA, and to install additional pollution controls.  In addition, the plaintiffs seek to prohibit the Albany Terminal from receiving, storing, handling, and marine loading certain types of Bakken crude oil and to require payment of a civil penalty of $37,500 for each day the Partnership as operated the Albany Terminal in violation of the CAA.  The Partnership believes that it has meritorious defenses against all allegations.  On February 26, 2016, the Partnership filed a motion to dismiss the CAA action and a decision from the Court is expected during the summer of 2016.  At this time, all discovery and other litigation activity is stayed pending a decision by the Court on the motion to dismiss.

 

On May 29, 2015 and in connection with a commercial dispute with Tethys Trading Company LLC (“Tethys”), the Partnership received a notice from Tethys alleging a default under, and purporting to terminate, the Partnership’s contract with Tethys for crude oil services at the Partnership’s Oregon facility.  However, the Partnership does not believe Tethys had the right to terminate the contract, and the Partnership will continue to investigate and determine the appropriate action to take to enforce its rights under the agreement.  The Partnership had expected to receive fees from this contract of approximately $13.2 million for the period July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 and approximately $105.2 million in the aggregate for the remaining four years of the contract.

 

On March 26, 2015, the Partnership received a Notice of Non-Compliance (“NON”) from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) with respect to the Revere Terminal, alleging certain violations of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (“NPDES Permit”) related to storm water discharges.  The NON requires the Partnership to submit a plan to remedy the reported violations of the NPDES Permit.  The Partnership has responded to the NON with a plan and is implementing modifications to the storm water management system at the Revere Terminal.  The Partnership has determined that compliance with the NON and implementation of the plan will have no material impact on its operations.

 

The Partnership has a dispute with Lansing Ethanol Services, LLC (“Lansing”) for damages in excess of $12.0 million.  The dispute involves Lansing’s failure to transfer Renewable Fuel Identification Numbers to the Partnership in connection with certain agreements for the purchase and sale of ethanol.  The parties had agreed to arbitrate under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.  The Partnership filed for arbitration on March 24, 2015 and the hearing was conducted in March 2016.  A decision is anticipated either in the latter part of the second quarter or during the third quarter of this calendar year.  Each party has reserved the right to appeal the decision pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

 

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(Unaudited)

On May 16, 2014, the Partnership received a subpoena from the SEC requesting information for relevant time periods primarily relating to the Partnership’s accounting for RINs and the restatements of its consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarters ended March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013.  The Partnership has cooperated fully with the SEC and believes it has provided the SEC with all requested materials.

 

The Partnership received letters from the EPA dated November 2, 2011 and March 29, 2012, containing requirements and testing orders (collectively, the “Requests for Information”) for information under the CAA.  The Requests for Information were part of an EPA investigation to determine whether the Partnership has violated sections of the CAA at certain of its terminal locations in New England with respect to residual oil and asphalt.  On June 6, 2014, a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) was received from the EPA, alleging certain violations of its Air Emissions License issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, based upon the test results at the South Portland, Maine terminal. The Partnership met with and provided additional information to the EPA with respect to the alleged violations. On April 7, 2015, the EPA issued a Supplemental Notice of Violation (the “Supplemental NOV”) modifying the allegations of violations of the terminal’s Air Emissions License.  The Partnership has responded to the Supplemental NOV and is engaged in further negotiations with the EPA.  A tolling agreement was executed with the United States on December 1, 2015.  The Partnership does not believe that a material violation has occurred, and it contests the allegations presented in the NOV and Supplemental NOV.  The Partnership does not believe any adverse determination in connection with the NOV would have a material impact on its operations.

 

Note 17.    Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

 

The following table presents the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component for the three months ended March 31, 2016 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

Pension

    

 

 

    

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

 

Plan

 

Derivatives

 

Total

Balance at December 31, 2015

 

$

(4,436)

 

$

(3,658)

 

$

(8,094)

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications of gain (loss)

 

 

77

 

 

261

 

 

338

Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

(9)

 

 

 —

 

 

(9)

Total comprehensive income

 

 

68

 

 

261

 

 

329

Balance at March 31, 2016

 

$

(4,368)

 

$

(3,397)

 

$

(7,765)

 

Amounts are presented prior to the income tax effect on other comprehensive income.  Given the Partnership’s partnership status for federal income tax purposes, the effective tax rate is immaterial.

 

Note 18.    New Accounting Standards

 

Accounting Standards or Updates Recently Adopted

 

In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-16, “Business Combinations: Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments.”  This standard eliminates the requirement that an acquirer in a business combination account for measurement-period adjustments retrospectively.  Instead, acquirers must recognize measurement-period adjustments during the period in which they determine the amounts, including the effect on earnings of any amounts they would have recorded in previous periods if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date.  The acquirer still must disclose the amounts and reasons for adjustments to the provisional amounts.  The acquirer also must disclose, by line item, the amount of the adjustment reflected in the current-period income statement that would have been recognized in previous periods if the adjustment to provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date.  Alternatively, an

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

acquirer may present those amounts separately on the face of the income statement.  The Partnership adopted this standard on January 1, 2016.  The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

 

Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Effective

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation:  Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.”  This standard simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment award transactions, including accounting for income taxes and classification of excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows, forfeitures and minimum statutory tax withholding requirements.  This standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods.  Early adoption is permitted for any interim or annual period.  The Partnership is assessing the impact this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-05, “Derivatives and Hedging:  Effect of Derivative Contract Novations on Existing Hedge Accounting Relationships.”  This standard clarifies that a change in the counterparty to a derivative instrument that has been designated as a hedging instrument does not, in and of itself, require dedesignation of that hedging relationship provided that all other hedge accounting criteria continue to be met.  This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those fiscal years.  Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period.  The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases.”  This standard amends the existing accounting standards for lease accounting, including requiring lessees to recognize most leases on their balance sheets and making targeted changes to lessor accounting.  This standard is effective beginning in the first quarter of 2019.  Early adoption of this standard is permitted.  The standard requires a modified retrospective transition approach for all leases existing at, or entered into after, the date of initial application, with an option to use certain transition relief.  The Partnership is assessing the impact this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, “Financial Instruments - Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” This standard revises the classification and measurement of investments in certain equity investments and the presentation of certain fair value changes for certain financial liabilities measured at fair value.  This standard also requires the change in fair value of many equity investments to be recognized in net income.  This standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted.  The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Partnership’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” which requires an entity to measure inventory within the scope of the amendment at the lower of cost and net realizable value.  Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation.  The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years.  The Partnership is assessing the impact this standard will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” that introduces a new five-step revenue recognition model in which an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  This standard also requires disclosures sufficient to enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments,

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(Unaudited)

and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract.  In July 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral of the effective date of the standard to fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2017.  The Partnership is evaluating the guidance to determine the impact it will have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

Note 19.    Subsequent Events

 

The Partnership has identified certain non-strategic owned or leasehold assets of the GDSO segment which could result in the sale of more than 100 sites.  These assets did not meet the criteria to be presented as held for sale as of March 31, 2016.  In April of 2016, the Partnership retained a real estate firm to coordinate the sale of 86 of these sites. 

 

On April 26, 2016, the board of directors of the General Partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.4625 per unit ($1.85 per unit on an annualized basis) for the period from January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016.  On May 16, 2016, the Partnership will pay this cash distribution to its unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 6, 2016.

 

Note 20.    Supplemental Guarantor Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements

 

The Partnership’s wholly owned subsidiaries, other than GLP Finance, are guarantors of senior notes issued by the Partnership and GLP Finance.  As such, the Partnership is subject to the requirements of Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X of the SEC regarding financial statements of guarantors and issuers of registered guaranteed securities.  The Partnership presents condensed consolidating financial information for its subsidiaries within the notes to consolidated financial statements in accordance with the criteria established for parent companies in the SEC’s Regulation S-X, Rule 3-10(d).

 

The following condensed consolidating financial information presents the Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 and the Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015 of the Partnership’s 100% owned guarantor subsidiaries, the non-guarantor subsidiary and the eliminations necessary to arrive at the information for the Partnership on a consolidated basis.  The principal elimination entries eliminate investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

March 31, 2016

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuer

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Subsidiaries

     

Subsidiary

     

Eliminations

     

Consolidated

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

13,149

 

$

3,920

 

$

 —

 

$

17,069

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

308,190

 

 

169

 

 

 —

 

 

308,359

 

Accounts receivable - affiliates

 

 

3,713

 

 

1,039

 

 

(1,270)

 

 

3,482

 

Inventories

 

 

402,872

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

402,872

 

Brokerage margin deposits

 

 

38,855

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

38,855

 

Derivative assets

 

 

43,397

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

43,397

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

72,986

 

 

481

 

 

 —

 

 

73,467

 

Total current assets

 

 

883,162

 

 

5,609

 

 

(1,270)

 

 

887,501

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

1,217,659

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,217,659

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

36,273

 

 

36,598

 

 

 —

 

 

72,871

 

Goodwill

 

 

349,306

 

 

86,063

 

 

 —

 

 

435,369

 

Other assets

 

 

42,038

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

42,038

 

Total assets

 

$

2,528,438

 

$

128,270

 

$

(1,270)

 

$

2,655,438

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and partners' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

255,451

 

$

347

 

$

 —

 

$

255,798

 

Accounts payable - affiliates

 

 

1,039

 

 

231

 

 

(1,270)

 

 

 —

 

Working capital revolving credit facility - current portion

 

 

185,200

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

185,200

 

Environmental liabilities - current portion

 

 

5,345

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

5,345

 

Trustee taxes payable

 

 

88,005

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

88,005

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

44,418

 

 

166

 

 

 —

 

 

44,584

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

25,923

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

25,923

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

605,381

 

 

744

 

 

(1,270)

 

 

604,855

 

Working capital revolving credit facility - less current portion

 

 

150,000

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

150,000

 

Revolving credit facility

 

 

275,100

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

275,100

 

Senior notes

 

 

657,213

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

657,213

 

Environmental liabilities - less current portion

 

 

66,795

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

66,795

 

Financing obligation

 

 

89,845

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

89,845

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

83,280

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

83,280

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

56,665

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

56,665

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,984,279

 

 

744

 

 

(1,270)

 

 

1,983,753

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Partners LP equity

 

 

544,159

 

 

82,380

 

 

 —

 

 

626,539

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

 —

 

 

45,146

 

 

 —

 

 

45,146

 

Total partners' equity

 

 

544,159

 

 

127,526

 

 

 —

 

 

671,685

 

Total liabilities and partners' equity

 

$

2,528,438

 

$

128,270

 

$

(1,270)

 

$

2,655,438

 

 

 

46


 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

December 31, 2015

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issuer

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Subsidiaries

     

Subsidiary

     

Eliminations

     

Consolidated

  

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

 —

 

$

4,690

 

$

(3,574)

 

$

1,116

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

311,079

 

 

275

 

 

 —

 

 

311,354

 

Accounts receivable - affiliates

 

 

2,745

 

 

746

 

 

(913)

 

 

2,578

 

Inventories

 

 

388,952

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

388,952

 

Brokerage margin deposits

 

 

31,327

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

31,327

 

Derivative assets

 

 

66,099

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

66,099

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

65,376

 

 

233

 

 

 —

 

 

65,609

 

Total current assets

 

 

865,578

 

 

5,944

 

 

(4,487)

 

 

867,035

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

1,203,251

 

 

39,432

 

 

 —

 

 

1,242,683

 

Intangible assets, net

 

 

75,694

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

75,694

 

Goodwill

 

 

349,306

 

 

86,063

 

 

 —

 

 

435,369

 

Other assets

 

 

42,894

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

42,894

 

Total assets

 

$

2,536,723

 

$

131,439

 

$

(4,487)

 

$

2,663,675

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and partners' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash overdraft

 

$

3,574

 

$

 —

 

$

(3,574)

 

$

 —

 

Accounts payable

 

 

303,242

 

 

539

 

 

 —

 

 

303,781

 

Accounts payable - affiliates

 

 

746

 

 

167

 

 

(913)

 

 

 —

 

Working capital revolving credit facility - current portion

 

 

98,100

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

98,100

 

Environmental liabilities - current portion

 

 

5,350

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

5,350

 

Trustee taxes payable

 

 

95,264

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

95,264

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

 

59,742

 

 

586

 

 

 —

 

 

60,328

 

Derivative liabilities

 

 

31,911

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

31,911

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

597,929

 

 

1,292

 

 

(4,487)

 

 

594,734

 

Working capital revolving credit facility - less current portion

 

 

150,000

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

150,000

 

Revolving credit facility

 

 

269,000

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

269,000

 

Senior notes

 

 

656,564

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

656,564

 

Environmental liabilities - less current portion

 

 

67,883

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

67,883

 

Financing obligation

 

 

89,790

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

89,790

 

Deferred tax liabilities

 

 

84,836

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

84,836

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

56,884

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

56,884

 

Total liabilities

 

 

1,972,886

 

 

1,292

 

 

(4,487)

 

 

1,969,691

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Partners' equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Global Partners LP equity

 

 

563,837

 

 

83,952

 

 

 —

 

 

647,789

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

 

 —

 

 

46,195

 

 

 —

 

 

46,195

 

Total partners' equity

 

 

563,837

 

 

130,147

 

 

 —

 

 

693,984

 

Total liabilities and partners' equity

 

$

2,536,723

 

$

131,439

 

$

(4,487)

 

$

2,663,675

 

 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Issuer)

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Subsidiaries

     

Subsidiary

     

Eliminations

     

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

$

1,750,281

 

$

2,633

 

$

(2,102)

 

$

1,750,812

 

Cost of sales

 

 

1,620,015

 

 

2,840

 

 

(2,102)

 

 

1,620,753

 

Gross profit

 

 

130,266

 

 

(207)

 

 

 —

 

 

130,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

34,751

 

 

233

 

 

 —

 

 

34,984

 

Operating expenses

 

 

70,649

 

 

1,587

 

 

 —

 

 

72,236

 

Amortization expense

 

 

2,509

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,509

 

Loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges

 

 

6,105

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

6,105

 

Total costs and operating expenses

 

 

114,014

 

 

1,820

 

 

 —

 

 

115,834

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

16,252

 

 

(2,027)

 

 

 —

 

 

14,225

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(22,980)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(22,980)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income tax benefit

 

 

(6,728)

 

 

(2,027)

 

 

 —

 

 

(8,755)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax benefit

 

 

920

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

920

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

 

(5,808)

 

 

(2,027)

 

 

 —

 

 

(7,835)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 —

 

 

811

 

 

 —

 

 

811

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to Global Partners LP

 

 

(5,808)

 

 

(1,216)

 

 

 —

 

 

(7,024)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: General partner's interest in net loss, including incentive distribution rights

 

 

(47)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(47)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partners' interest in net loss

 

$

(5,761)

 

$

(1,216)

 

$

 —

 

$

(6,977)

 

 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Issuer)

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiary

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

$

2,975,185

 

$

8,050

 

$

(4,119)

 

$

2,979,116

 

Cost of sales

 

 

2,812,472

 

 

2,205

 

 

(4,119)

 

 

2,810,558

 

Gross profit

 

 

162,713

 

 

5,845

 

 

 —

 

 

168,558

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs and operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

 

48,026

 

 

760

 

 

 —

 

 

48,786

 

Operating expenses

 

 

66,317

 

 

2,339

 

 

 —

 

 

68,656

 

Amortization expense

 

 

2,586

 

 

2,755

 

 

 —

 

 

5,341

 

Loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges

 

 

437

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

437

 

Total costs and operating expenses

 

 

117,366

 

 

5,854

 

 

 —

 

 

123,220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

45,347

 

 

(9)

 

 

 —

 

 

45,338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(13,958)

 

 

(5)

 

 

 —

 

 

(13,963)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income tax expense

 

 

31,389

 

 

(14)

 

 

 —

 

 

31,375

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

 

(966)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(966)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

 

30,423

 

 

(14)

 

 

 —

 

 

30,409

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

 —

 

 

6

 

 

 —

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss) attributable to Global Partners LP

 

 

30,423

 

 

(8)

 

 

 —

 

 

30,415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: General partner's interest in net income, including incentive distribution rights

 

 

2,179

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,179

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Limited partners' interest (loss) in net income

 

$

28,244

 

$

(8)

 

$

 —

 

$

28,236

 

 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Issuer)

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

     

Subsidiaries

     

Subsidiary

     

Consolidated

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

$

(53,341)

 

$

(175)

 

$

(53,516)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(16,451)

 

 

 —

 

 

(16,451)

 

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

 

8,588

 

 

 —

 

 

8,588

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(7,863)

 

 

 —

 

 

(7,863)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net borrowings from working capital revolving credit facility

 

 

87,100

 

 

 —

 

 

87,100

 

Net borrowings from revolving credit facility

 

 

6,100

 

 

 —

 

 

6,100

 

Noncontrolling interest capital contribution

 

 

952

 

 

(595)

 

 

357

 

Distribution to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(595)

 

 

 —

 

 

(595)

 

Distributions to partners

 

 

(15,630)

 

 

 —

 

 

(15,630)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

77,927

 

 

(595)

 

 

77,332

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

16,723

 

 

(770)

 

 

15,953

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

(3,574)

 

 

4,690

 

 

1,116

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

13,149

 

$

3,920

 

$

17,069

 

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GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidating Statement Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Issuer)

 

Non-

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

     

Subsidiaries

     

Subsidiary

     

Consolidated

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities

 

$

(117,146)

 

$

3,231

 

$

(113,915)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisitions

 

 

(405,478)

 

 

 —

 

 

(405,478)

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(12,712)

 

 

(1,333)

 

 

(14,045)

 

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

 

 

1,044

 

 

 —

 

 

1,044

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(417,146)

 

 

(1,333)

 

 

(418,479)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net borrowings from working capital revolving credit facility

 

 

175,400

 

 

 —

 

 

175,400

 

Net borrowings from revolving credit facility

 

 

383,600

 

 

 —

 

 

383,600

 

Payments on line of credit

 

 

 —

 

 

(700)

 

 

(700)

 

Repurchase of common units

 

 

(2,442)

 

 

 —

 

 

(2,442)

 

Noncontrolling interest capital contribution

 

 

1,880

 

 

 —

 

 

1,880

 

Distribution to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(1,880)

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,880)

 

Distributions to partners

 

 

(22,357)

 

 

 —

 

 

(22,357)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

534,201

 

 

(700)

 

 

533,501

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(91)

 

 

1,198

 

 

1,107

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

2,560

 

 

2,678

 

 

5,238

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

2,469

 

$

3,876

 

$

6,345

 

 

 

 

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Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Global Partners LP should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements of Global Partners LP and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Some of the information contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words “may,” “believe,” “should,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” “will likely result,” or other similar expressions.  In addition, any statement made by our management concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions by us are also forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance.  Although we believe these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, statements made regarding future results are subject to a number of assumptions, uncertainties and risks, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause future results to be materially different from the results stated or implied in this document.  These risks and uncertainties include, among other things:

 

·

We may not have sufficient cash from operations to enable us to maintain distributions at current levels following establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner.

 

·

A significant decrease in price or demand for the products we sell or a significant decrease in demand for our logistics activities could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

·

Our crude oil sales and logistics activities could be adversely affected by, among other things, unanticipated changes in the crude oil market structure, grade differentials and volatility (or lack thereof), implementation of regulations that adversely impact the market for transporting crude oil or other products by rail, changes in refiner demand, severe weather conditions, significant changes in prices and interruptions in rail transportation services and other necessary services and equipment, such as railcars, trucks, loading equipment and qualified drivers.

 

·

We depend upon marine, pipeline, rail and truck transportation services for a substantial portion of our logistics business in transporting the products we sell.  A disruption in these transportation services could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

·

We have contractual obligations for certain transportation assets such as railcars, barges and pipelines.  A decline in demand for (i) the products we sell, including crude oil and ethanol, or (ii) our logistics activities could result in a decrease in the utilization of these transportation assets, which could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. For example, during 2015 and to date 2016, we experienced adverse market conditions in crude oil caused by an over-supplied crude oil market which resulted in tighter price differentials, and we experienced a reduction in our railcar movements but remained obligated to pay the applicable fixed charges for railcar leases.    

 

·

Our sales of home heating oil and residual oil continue to be reduced by conversions to natural gas.

 

·

We may not be able to fully implement or capitalize upon planned growth projects.  Even if we consummate acquisitions that we believe will be accretive, they may in fact result in no increase or even a decrease in cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

·

Erosion of the value of major gasoline brands could adversely affect our gasoline sales and customer traffic.

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·

Our gasoline sales could be significantly reduced by a reduction in demand due to higher prices and to new technologies and alternative fuel sources, such as electric, hybrid or battery powered motor vehicles.

 

·

Changes in government usage mandates and tax credits could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol, which could negatively impact our sales.

 

·

Warmer weather conditions could adversely affect our home heating oil and residual oil sales.

 

·

Our risk management policies cannot eliminate all commodity risk, basis risk or the impact of unfavorable market conditions which can adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. In addition, noncompliance with our risk management policies could result in significant financial losses.

 

·

Our results of operations are affected by the overall forward market for the products we sell, and pricing volatility may adversely impact our results.

 

·

Our business could be affected by a range of issues, such as changes in commodity prices, energy conservation, competition, the global economic climate, movement of products between foreign locales and within the United States, changes in refiner demand, weekly and monthly refinery output levels, changes in local, domestic and worldwide inventory levels, changes in safety regulations, seasonality and supply, weather, logistics disruptions and other factors and uncertainties inherent in the transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of crude oil and refined products.

 

·

Increases and/or decreases in the prices of the products we sell could adversely impact the amount of borrowing available for working capital under our credit agreement, which credit agreement has borrowing base limitations and advance rates.

 

·

We are exposed to trade credit risk and risk associated with our trade credit support in the ordinary course of our business.

 

·

The condition of credit markets may adversely affect us.

 

·

Our credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior notes contain operating and financial covenants, and our credit agreement contains borrowing base requirements.  A failure to comply with the operating and financial covenants in our credit agreement, the indentures and any future financing agreements could impact our access to bank loans and other sources of financing as well as our ability to pursue our business activities.

 

·

A significant increase in interest rates could adversely affect our ability to service our indebtedness.

 

·

Our gasoline station and convenience store business could expose us to an increase in consumer litigation and result in an unfavorable outcome or settlement of one or more lawsuits where insurance proceeds are insufficient or otherwise unavailable.

 

·

Our business could expose us to litigation and result in an unfavorable outcome or settlement of one or more lawsuits where insurance proceeds are insufficient or otherwise unavailable.

 

·

Adverse developments in the areas where we conduct our business could have a material adverse effect on such businesses and can reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.

 

·

A serious disruption to our information technology systems could significantly limit our ability to manage and operate our business efficiently.

 

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·

We are exposed to performance risk in our supply chain.

 

·

Our business is subject to both federal and state environmental and non-environmental regulations which could have a material adverse effect on such businesses.

 

·

Our general partner and its affiliates have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary duties, which could permit them to favor their own interests to the detriment of our unitholders.

 

·

Unitholders have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect our general partner or its directors or remove our general partner without the consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units (including units held by our general partner and its affiliates), which could lower the trading price of our common units.

 

·

Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

·

Unitholders may be required to pay taxes on their share of our income even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us.

 

Additional information about risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements is contained in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these statements to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based, other than as required by federal and state securities laws.  All forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and all subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

 

Overview

 

General

 

We are a midstream logistics and marketing company engaged in the purchasing, selling, storing and logistics of transporting petroleum and related products, including domestic and Canadian crude oil, gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol), distillates (such as home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil, renewable fuels, natural gas and propane.  We also receive revenue from convenience store sales and gasoline station rental income.  We own, control or have access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products and renewable fuels in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (collectively, the “Northeast”).  We own transload and storage terminals in North Dakota and Oregon that extend our origin-to-destination capabilities from the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada to the East and West Coasts.  We are one of the largest distributors of gasoline, distillates, residual oil and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers in the New England states and New York.  As of March 31, 2016, we had a portfolio of 1,498 owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, including 274 directly operated convenience stores, in the Northeast, Maryland and Virginia.

 

On January 7, 2015, we acquired, through one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, Global Montello Group Corp. (“GMG”), 100% of the equity interests in Warren Equities, Inc. (“Warren”) from The Warren Alpert Foundation.  On January 14, 2015, through our wholly owned subsidiary, Global Companies LLC, we acquired the Revere terminal (the “Revere Terminal”) located in Boston Harbor in Revere, Massachusetts from Global Petroleum Corp. (“GPC”) and related entities.  On June 1, 2015, through one of our wholly owned subsidiaries, Alliance Energy LLC, we acquired retail gasoline stations and dealer supply contracts from Capitol Petroleum Group (“Capitol”). 

 

Collectively, we sold approximately $1.7 billion of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil, natural gas and propane for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  In addition, we had other revenues of approximately $85.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016, primarily from convenience store sales at our directly operated

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stores and rental income from dealer leased or commission agent leased gasoline stations and from cobranding arrangements.

 

We base our pricing on spot prices, fixed prices or indexed prices and routinely use the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”), Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”), Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) or other counterparties to hedge the risk inherent in buying and selling commodities.  Through the use of regulated exchanges or derivatives, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between purchased volumes and sales volumes or future delivery obligations.

 

Operating Segments

 

We purchase refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil, natural gas and propane primarily from domestic and foreign refiners and ethanol producers, crude oil producers, major and independent oil companies and trading companies.  We operate our business under three segments:  (i) Wholesale, (ii) Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations (“GDSO”) and (iii) Commercial.

 

Wholesale

 

In our Wholesale segment, we engage in the logistics of selling, gathering, storage and transportation of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane.  We transport these products by railcars, barges and/or pipelines pursuant to spot or long-term contracts.  We aggregate crude oil by truck or pipeline in the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada, transport it by rail and ship it by barge to refiners on the East and West Coasts.  We sell home heating oil, branded and unbranded gasoline and gasoline blendstocks, diesel, kerosene, residual oil and propane to home heating oil and propane retailers and wholesale distributors.  Generally, customers use their own vehicles or contract carriers to take delivery of the gasoline and distillates at bulk terminals and inland storage facilities that we own or control or at which we have throughput or exchange arrangements.  Ethanol is shipped primarily by rail and by barge.

 

In our Wholesale segment, we obtain Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) in connection with our purchase of ethanol which is used for bulk trading purposes or for blending with gasoline through our terminal system.  A RIN is a renewable identification number associated with government-mandated renewable fuel standards.  To evidence that the required volume of renewable fuel is blended with gasoline, obligated parties must retire sufficient RINs to cover their Renewable Volume Obligation (“RVO”).  Our U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) obligations relative to renewable fuel reporting are largely limited to the foreign gasoline that we may choose to import.

 

Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations

 

In our GDSO segment, gasoline distribution includes sales of branded and unbranded gasoline to gasoline station operators and sub-jobbers.  Station operations include (i) convenience stores, (ii) rental income from gasoline stations leased to dealers, from commissioned agents and from cobranding arrangements and (iii) sundries (such as car wash sales, lottery and ATM commissions). 

 

As of March 31, 2016, we had a portfolio of owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, primarily in the Northeast, that consisted of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

Company operated

    

274

 

Commissioned agents

 

283

 

Lessee dealers

 

274

 

Contract dealers

 

667

 

Total

 

1,498

 

At our company‑operated stores, we operate the gasoline stations and convenience stores with our employees, and we set the retail price of gasoline at the station.  At commission agent locations, we own the gasoline inventory, and we set the retail price of gasoline at the station and pay the commission agent a fee related to the gallons sold.  We receive

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rental income from commission agent leased gasoline stations for the leasing of the convenience store premises, repair bays and other businesses that may be conducted by the commission agent.  At dealer‑leased locations, the dealer purchases gasoline from us, and the dealer sets the retail price of gasoline at the dealer’s station.  We also receive rental income from dealer‑leased gasoline stations and from cobranding arrangements.  We also supply gasoline to independent contract dealers under agreements with the operators at these locations.  Additionally, we have contractual relationships with distributors in certain New England states, pursuant to which we supply these distributors’ gasoline stations with ExxonMobil‑branded gasoline.

 

Commercial

 

In our Commercial segment, we include sales and deliveries to end user customers in the public sector and to large commercial and industrial end users of unbranded gasoline, home heating oil, diesel, kerosene, residual oil, bunker fuel and natural gas.  In the case of public sector commercial and industrial end user customers, we sell products primarily either through a competitive bidding process or through contracts of various terms.  We generally arrange for the delivery of the product to the customer’s designated location, and we respond to publicly-issued requests for product proposals and quotes.  Our Commercial segment also includes sales of custom blended fuels delivered by barges or from a terminal dock to ships through bunkering activity.

 

Seasonality

 

Due to the nature of our business and our reliance, in part, on consumer travel and spending patterns, we may experience more demand for gasoline during the late spring and summer months than during the fall and winter.  Travel and recreational activities are typically higher in these months in the geographic areas in which we operate, increasing the demand for gasoline that we distribute.  Therefore, our volumes in gasoline are typically higher in the second and third quarters of the calendar year.  As demand for some of our refined petroleum products, specifically home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes, is generally greater during the winter months, heating oil and residual oil volumes are generally higher during the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year.  These factors may result in fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.

 

Outlook

 

This section identifies certain risks and certain economic or industry-wide factors that may affect our financial performance and results of operations in the future, both in the short-term and in the long-term.  Our results of operations and financial condition depend, in part, upon the following:

 

·

Our business is influenced by the overall forward market for refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil, natural gas and propane and increases and/or decreases in the prices of these products may adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders and the amount of borrowing available for working capital under our credit agreement.Results from our purchasing, storing, terminalling, transporting and selling operations are influenced by prices for refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil, natural gas and propane, price volatility and the market for such products.  Prices in the overall forward market for these products may affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.  Our margins can be significantly impacted by the forward product pricing curve, often referred to as the futures market.  We typically hedge our exposure to petroleum product and renewable fuel price moves with futures contracts and, to a lesser extent, swaps. In markets where future prices are higher than current prices, referred to as contango, we may use our storage capacity to improve our margins by storing products we have purchased at lower prices in the current market for delivery to customers at higher prices in the future.  In markets where future prices are lower than current prices, referred to as backwardation, inventories can depreciate in value and hedging costs are more expensive.  For this reason, in these backward markets, we attempt to reduce our inventories in order to minimize these effects.  When prices for the products we sell rise, some of our customers may have insufficient credit to purchase supply from us at their historical purchase volumes, and their customers, in turn, may adopt conservation measures which reduce consumption, thereby reducing demand for product.  Furthermore, when prices increase rapidly and dramatically, we may be unable to promptly pass our additional costs on to our customers, resulting in lower margins which could

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adversely affect our results of operations.  Higher prices for the products we sell may (1) diminish our access to trade credit support and/or cause it to become more expensive and (2) decrease the amount of borrowings available for working capital under our credit agreement as a result of total available commitments, borrowing base limitations and advance rates thereunder.  When prices for the products we sell decline, our exposure to risk of loss in the event of nonperformance by our customers of our forward contracts may be increased as they and/or their customers may breach their contracts and purchase the products we sell at the then lower market price from a competitor.  A significant decrease in the price for crude oil could adversely affect the economics of domestic crude oil production which, in turn, could have an adverse effect on our crude oil logistics activities and sales.  A significant decrease in differentials could also have an adverse effect on our crude oil logistics activities and sales.  In addition, a prolonged decline in crude oil prices and differentials may become an indicator of the potential impairment of our long-lived assets used at our crude oil transloading terminals in North Dakota and/or goodwill within our crude oil business in our Wholesale reporting unit. 

 

·

On January 28, 2016, we announced a reduction in the quarterly distribution for the fourth quarter of 2015 on all outstanding common units to $0.4625.  This distribution represented a decrease of 33.7% from the distribution of $0.6975 per unit paid in November 2015 and a decrease of 30.5% from the distribution of $0.6650 per unit paid in February 2015.  The reduction in the distribution primarily reflected the continuing weakness in the crude oil market.  The significant decline in the price of crude oil and tight crude oil differentials negatively impacted our fiscal 2015 and first quarter 2016 results.  On April 26, 2016, we announced that we would maintain the quarterly distribution of $0.4625 per unit for the first quarter of 2016. 

 

·

We commit substantial resources to pursuing acquisitions, although there is no certainty that we will successfully complete any acquisitions or receive the economic results we anticipate from completed acquisitions.We are continuously engaged in discussions with potential sellers and lessors of existing (or suitable for development) terminalling, storage, logistics and/or marketing assets, including gasoline stations, and related businesses.  Our growth largely depends on our ability to make accretive acquisitions and/or accretive development projects.  We may be unable to execute such accretive transactions for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) we are unable to identify attractive transaction candidates or negotiate acceptable terms; (2) we are unable to obtain financing for such transactions on economically acceptable terms; or (3) we are outbid by competitors.  In addition, we may consummate transactions that at the time of consummation we believe will be accretive but that ultimately may not be accretive.  If any of these events were to occur, our future growth and ability to increase or maintain distributions could be limited.  We can give no assurance that our transaction efforts will be successful or that any such efforts will be completed on terms that are favorable to us.

 

·

The condition of credit markets may adversely affect our liquidity.In the past, world financial markets experienced a severe reduction in the availability of credit.  Possible negative impacts in the future could include a decrease in the availability of borrowings under our credit agreement, increased counterparty credit risk on our derivatives contracts and our contractual counterparties requiring us to provide collateral.  In addition, we could experience a tightening of trade credit from our suppliers.

 

·

We depend upon marine, pipeline, rail and truck transportation services for a substantial portion of our logistics business in transporting the products we sell. A disruption in these transportation services could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.Hurricanes, flooding and other severe weather conditions could cause a disruption in the transportation services we depend upon which could affect the flow of service.  In addition, accidents, labor disputes between the railroads and their employees and labor renegotiations, including strikes, lockouts or a work stoppage, shortage of railcars, mechanical difficulties or bottlenecks and disruptions in railroad logistics could also disrupt rail service.  These events could result in service disruptions and increased cost which could also adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.  Other disruptions, such as those due to an act of terrorism or war, could also adversely affect our business.

 

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·

We have contractual obligations for certain transportation assets such as railcars, barges and pipelines.A decline in demand for (i) the products we sell, including crude oil and ethanol, or (ii) our logistics activities could result in a decrease in the utilization of these transportation assets, which could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.  For example, during 2015 and to date 2016, we experienced adverse market conditions in crude oil caused by an over-supplied and crude oil market which resulted in tighter price differentials, and we experienced a reduction in our railcar movements but remained obligated to pay the applicable fixed charges for railcar leases.

 

·

Our gasoline financial results are seasonal and can be lower in the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year.Due to the nature of our business and our reliance, in part, on consumer travel and spending patterns, we may experience more demand for gasoline during the late spring and summer months than during the fall and winter.  Travel and recreational activities are typically higher in these months in the geographic areas in which we operate, increasing the demand for gasoline that we distribute.  Therefore, our results of operations in gasoline can be lower in the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year.

 

·

Our heating oil and residual oil financial results are seasonal and can be lower in the second and third quarters of the calendar year.Demand for some refined petroleum products, specifically home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes, is generally higher during November through March than during April through October.  We obtain a significant portion of these sales during the winter months.  Therefore, our results of operations in heating oil and residual oil for the first and fourth calendar quarters can be better than for the second and third quarters.

 

·

Warmer weather conditions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Weather conditions generally have an impact on the demand for both home heating oil and residual oil.  Because we supply distributors whose customers depend on home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes during the winter, warmer-than-normal temperatures during the first and fourth calendar quarters in the Northeast can decrease the total volume we sell and the gross profit realized on those sales.

 

·

Energy efficiency, higher prices, new technology and alternative fuels could reduce demand for our products.Increased conservation and technological advances have adversely affected the demand for home heating oil and residual oil.  Consumption of residual oil has steadily declined over the last three decades.  We could face additional competition from alternative energy sources as a result of future government-mandated controls or regulation further promoting the use of cleaner fuels.  End users who are dual-fuel users have the ability to switch between residual oil and natural gas.  Other end users may elect to convert to natural gas.  During a period of increasing residual oil prices relative to the prices of natural gas, dual-fuel customers may switch and other end users may convert to natural gas.  During periods of increasing home heating oil prices relative to the price of natural gas, residential users of home heating oil may also convert to natural gas.  Such switching or conversion could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.  In addition, higher prices and new technologies and alternative fuel sources, such as electric, hybrid or battery powered motor vehicles, could reduce the demand for gasoline and adversely impact our gasoline sales.  A reduction in gasoline sales could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.

 

·

Changes in government usage mandates and tax credits could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol, which could negatively impact our sales.Future demand for ethanol will be largely dependent upon the economic incentives to blend based upon the relative value of gasoline and ethanol, taking into consideration the EPA’s regulations on the Renewable Fuels Standard (“RFS”) program and oxygenate blending requirements.  A reduction or waiver of the RFS mandate or oxygenate blending requirements could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol, which in turn could adversely affect our future gasoline and ethanol sales.  In addition, changes in blending requirements could affect the price of RINs which could impact the magnitude of the mark-to-market liability recorded for the deficiency, if any, in our RIN position relative to our RVO at a point in time.

 

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·

New, stricter environmental laws and regulations could significantly impact our operations and/or increase our costs, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations regulating product quality specifications and other environmental matters.  The trend in environmental regulation is towards more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment over time.  Our business may be adversely affected by increased costs and liabilities resulting from such stricter laws and regulations.  We try to anticipate future regulatory requirements that might be imposed and plan accordingly to remain in compliance with changing environmental laws and regulations and to minimize the costs of such compliance.  The federal government recently finalized a rule including new design and construction requirements for railroad tank cars that are used to transport crude oil and ethanol.  The establishment of more stringent design or construction requirements for railroad tank cars that are used to transport crude oil and ethanol with too short of a timeframe for compliance may lead to shortages of compliant railcars available to transport crude oil and ethanol, which could adversely affect our business.  Likewise, some environmental interest groups have commenced efforts to seek to use state and local laws to restrict the types of railroad tanks cars that can be used to deliver crude oil to petroleum bulk storage terminals.  Were such state and local laws to come into effect and were they to survive appeals and judicial review, they would potentially expose our operations to duplicative and possibly inconsistent regulation.  There can be no assurances as to the timing and type of such changes in existing laws or the promulgation of new laws or the amount of any required expenditures associated therewith.

Results of Operations

 

Evaluating Our Results of Operations

 

Our management uses a variety of financial and operational measurements to analyze our performance.  These measurements include:  (1) product margin, (2) gross profit, (3) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and Adjusted EBITDA, (4) distributable cash flow, (5) selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”), (6) operating expenses, and (7) degree day.

 

Product Margin

 

We view product margin as an important performance measure of the core profitability of our operations.  We review product margin monthly for consistency and trend analysis.  We define product margin as our product sales minus product costs.  Product sales primarily include sales of unbranded and branded gasoline, distillates, residual oil, renewable fuels, crude oil, natural gas and propane, as well as convenience store sales, gasoline station rental income and revenue generated from our logistics activities when we engage in the storage, transloading and shipment of products owned by others.  Product costs include the cost of acquiring the refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil, natural gas and propane and all associated costs including shipping and handling costs to bring such products to the point of sale as well as product costs related to convenience store items and costs associated with our logistics activities.  We also look at product margin on a per unit basis (product margin divided by volume).  Product margin is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements to assess our business.  Product margin should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operations, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP.  In addition, our product margin may not be comparable to product margin or a similarly titled measure of other companies.

 

Gross Profit

 

We define gross profit as our product margin minus terminal and gasoline station related depreciation expense allocated to cost of sales.

 

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EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

 

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures used as supplemental financial measures by management and may be used by external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks and research analysts, to assess:

 

·

our compliance with certain financial covenants included in our debt agreements;

 

·

our financial performance without regard to financing methods, capital structure, income taxes or historical cost basis;

 

·

our ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on our indebtedness and to make distributions to our partners;

 

·

our operating performance and return on invested capital as compared to those of other companies in the wholesale, marketing, storing and distribution of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil, natural gas and propane, without regard to financing methods and capital structure; and

 

·

the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return of alternative investment opportunities.

 

Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA further adjusted for the gain or loss on the sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges.  EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP.  EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income, and these measures may vary among other companies.  Therefore, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

Distributable Cash Flow

 

Distributable cash flow is an important non-GAAP financial measure for our limited partners since it serves as an indicator of our success in providing a cash return on their investment.  Distributable cash flow means our net income plus depreciation and amortization minus maintenance capital expenditures, as well as adjustments to eliminate items approved by the audit committee of the board of directors of our general partner that are extraordinary or non-recurring in nature and that would otherwise increase distributable cash flow.

 

Specifically, this financial measure indicates to investors whether or not we have generated sufficient earnings on a current or historic level that can sustain or support an increase in our quarterly cash distribution.  Distributable cash flow is a quantitative standard used by the investment community with respect to publicly traded partnerships.  Distributable cash flow should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operations, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP.  In addition, our distributable cash flow may not be comparable to distributable cash flow or similarly titled measures of other companies.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Our SG&A expenses include, among other things, marketing costs, corporate overhead, employee salaries and benefits, pension and 401(k) plan expenses, discretionary bonuses, non-interest financing costs, professional fees and information technology expenses.  Employee-related expenses including employee salaries, discretionary bonuses and related payroll taxes, benefits, and pension and 401(k) plan expenses are paid by our general partner which, in turn, is reimbursed for these expenses by us.

 

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Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses are costs associated with the operation of the terminals, transload facilities and gasoline stations used in our business.  Lease payments and storage expenses, maintenance and repair, utilities, credit card fees, taxes, labor and labor-related expenses comprise the most significant portion of our operating expenses.  The majority of these expenses remains relatively stable independent of the volumes through our system but fluctuate slightly depending on the activities performed during a specific period.

 

Degree Day

 

A “degree day” is an industry measurement of temperature designed to evaluate energy demand and consumption.  Degree days are based on how far the average temperature departs from a human comfort level of 65°F.  Each degree of temperature above 65°F is counted as one cooling degree day, and each degree of temperature below 65°F is counted as one heating degree day.  Degree days are accumulated each day over the course of a year and can be compared to a monthly or a long-term (multi-year) average, or normal, to see if a month or a year was warmer or cooler than usual.  Degree days are officially observed by the National Weather Service and officially archived by the National Climatic Data Center.  For purposes of evaluating our results of operations, we use the normal heating degree day amount as reported by the National Weather Service at its Logan International Airport station in Boston, Massachusetts.

 

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Key Performance Indicators

 

The following table provides a summary of some of the key performance indicators that may be used to assess our results of operations.  These comparisons are not necessarily indicative of future results (gallons and dollars in thousands, except per unit amounts and cents per gallon):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

    

2015

 

Net (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP

 

$

(7,024)

 

$

30,415

 

Adjusted EBITDA (1)

 

$

48,677

 

$

72,278

 

Distributable cash flow (2)(3)

 

$

16,381

 

$

53,710

 

Wholesale Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume (gallons)

 

 

814,985

 

 

1,152,955

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks

 

$

342,729

 

$

776,143

 

Crude oil (4)

 

 

148,502

 

 

252,110

 

Other oils and related products (5)

 

 

419,009

 

 

943,693

 

Total

 

$

910,240

 

$

1,971,946

 

Product margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks

 

$

16,362

 

$

29,829

 

Crude oil (4)

 

 

(2,373)

 

 

15,257

 

Other oils and related products (5)

 

 

25,249

 

 

35,007

 

Total

 

$

39,238

 

$

80,093

 

Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume (gallons)

 

 

363,847

 

 

341,458

 

Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline

 

$

616,103

 

$

697,334

 

Station operations (6)

 

 

85,185

 

 

83,075

 

Total

 

$

701,288

 

$

780,409

 

Product margin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gasoline

 

$

65,387

 

$

61,699

 

Station operations (6)

 

 

42,925

 

 

36,723

 

Total

 

$

108,312

 

$

98,422

 

Commercial Segment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume (gallons)

 

 

127,725

 

 

126,382

 

Sales

 

$

139,284

 

$

226,761

 

Product margin

 

$

6,910

 

$

11,558

 

Combined sales and product margin:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales

 

$

1,750,812

 

$

2,979,116

 

Product margin (7)

 

$

154,460

 

$

190,073

 

Depreciation allocated to cost of sales

 

 

(24,401)

 

 

(21,515)

 

Combined gross profit

 

$

130,059

 

$

168,558

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GDSO portfolio as of March 31, 2016 and 2015:

 

 

2016

 

 

2015

 

Company operated

 

 

274

 

 

287

 

Commissioned agents

 

 

283

 

 

269

 

Lessee dealers

 

 

274

 

 

211

 

Contract dealers

 

 

667

 

 

680

 

Total GDSO portfolio

 

 

1,498

 

 

1,447

 

 

 

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Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

    

2015

 

Weather conditions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Normal heating degree days

 

 

2,901

 

 

2,870

 

Actual heating degree days

 

 

2,560

 

 

3,456

 

Variance from normal heating degree days

 

 

(12)

%  

 

20

%

Variance from prior period actual heating degree days

 

 

(26)

%  

 

10

%


(1)

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure which is discussed above under “—Evaluating Our Results of Operations.”  The table below presents reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

(2)

Distributable cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which is discussed above under “—Evaluating Our Results of Operations.”  The table below presents reconciliations of distributable cash flow to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

(3)

Distributable cash flow includes a loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges of $6.1 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Excluding the loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges, distributable cash flow would have been $22.5  million and $54.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively

(4)

Crude oil consists of our crude oil sales and revenue from our logistics activities.

(5)

Other oils and related products primarily consist of distillates, residual oil and propane.

(6)

Station operations primarily consist of convenience stores sales and rental income.

(7)

Product margin is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements to assess our business.  The table above includes a reconciliation of product margin on a combined basis to gross profit, a directly comparable GAAP measure.

 

The following table presents reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures on a historical basis for each period presented (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

    

2015

 

Reconciliation of net (loss) income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(7,835)

 

$

30,409

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

811

 

 

6

 

Net (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP

 

 

(7,024)

 

 

30,415

 

Depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest

 

 

27,536

 

 

26,499

 

Interest expense, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest

 

 

22,980

 

 

13,961

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

 

(920)

 

 

966

 

EBITDA

 

 

42,572

 

 

71,841

 

Loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges

 

 

6,105

 

 

437

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

48,677

 

$

72,278

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net cash used in operating activities to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

$

(53,516)

 

$

(113,915)

 

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities and certain non-cash items

 

 

74,350

 

 

172,796

 

Net cash from operating activities and changes in operating assets and liabilities attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(322)

 

 

(1,967)

 

Interest expense, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest

 

 

22,980

 

 

13,961

 

Income tax (benefit) expense

 

 

(920)

 

 

966

 

EBITDA

 

 

42,572

 

 

71,841

 

Loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges

 

 

6,105

 

 

437

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

48,677

 

$

72,278

 

 

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The following table presents reconciliations of distributable cash flow to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures on a historical basis for each period presented (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

    

2015

 

Reconciliation of net (loss) income to distributable cash flow:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

 

$

(7,835)

 

$

30,409

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

811

 

 

6

 

Net (loss) income attributable to Global Partners LP

 

 

(7,024)

 

 

30,415

 

Depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest

 

 

27,536

 

 

26,499

 

Amortization of deferred financing fees and senior notes discount

 

 

1,772

 

 

1,638

 

Amortization of routine bank refinancing fees

 

 

(1,077)

 

 

(1,121)

 

Maintenance capital expenditures, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest

 

 

(4,826)

 

 

(3,721)

 

Distributable cash flow (1)

 

$

16,381

 

$

53,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net cash used in operating activities to distributable cash flow:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

$

(53,516)

 

$

(113,915)

 

Net changes in operating assets and liabilities and certain non-cash items

 

 

74,350

 

 

172,796

 

Net cash from operating activities and changes in operating assets and liabilities attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

 

(322)

 

 

(1,967)

 

Amortization of deferred financing fees and senior notes discount

 

 

1,772

 

 

1,638

 

Amortization of routine bank refinancing fees

 

 

(1,077)

 

 

(1,121)

 

Maintenance capital expenditures, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest

 

 

(4,826)

 

 

(3,721)

 

Distributable cash flow (1)

 

$

16,381

 

$

53,710

 


(1)

Includes a loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges of $6.1 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Excluding the loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges, distributable cash flow would have been $22.5  million and $54.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

Consolidated Sales

 

Our total sales were $1.8 billion and $3.0 billion for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $1.2 billion, or 41%, primarily due to a decrease in prices and to a decline in volume sold.  Our aggregate volume of product sold was 1.3 billion gallons and 1.6 billion gallons for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of approximately 315 million gallons, or 19%.  The decrease in volume sold includes a decrease of 338 million gallons in our Wholesale segment, primarily in gasoline and gasoline blendstocks and in distillates.  The decrease in the Wholesale segment volume sold was partially offset by increases of 22 million gallons in our GDSO segment, primarily due to the Capitol acquisition in June of 2015, and 1 million gallons in our Commercial segment.

 

Gross Profit

 

Our gross profit was $130.1 million and $168.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $38.5 million, or 23%, primarily due to tighter margins in crude oil, favorable market conditions in Wholesale gasoline during the first quarter of 2015 that were not present in the first quarter of 2016 and warmer weather quarter over quarter.  The decrease in gross profit in our Wholesale segment was partially offset by an increase in our GDSO segment, due primarily to the Capitol acquisition.

 

Results for Wholesale Segment

 

Gasoline and Gasoline Blendstocks.  Sales from wholesale gasoline and gasoline blendstocks were $342.7 million and $776.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  The decrease of approximately $433.4 million, or 56%, was primarily due to a decrease in volume sold.  The decrease in volume sold was due, in part,

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to an elective change in supply logistics for a particular gasoline customer in early 2015, which did not have a material impact on our product margin.  Our gasoline and gasoline blendstocks product margin was $16.4 million and $29.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, a decrease of $13.4 million, or 45%, primarily due to favorable market conditions in wholesale gasoline in the first quarter of 2015 that were not present in the first quarter of 2016. 

 

Crude Oil.  Crude oil sales and logistics revenues were $148.5 million and $252.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $103.6 million, or 41%, due primarily to a decline in crude oil prices.  We had a negative product margin from crude oil of $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2016 compared to a product margin of $15.3 million for the first quarter of 2015, a decrease of $17.7 million, or 116%, primarily due to the result of tighter crude oil differentials as mid-continent crude oil did not discount sufficiently to make rail transport to the East and West Coasts competitive with imports.  Additionally, logistics volume was lower due to declining volumes with one particular contract customerOur crude oil product margin for the first quarters of 2016 and 2015 was negatively impacted by fixed costs which included contracted barges, pipeline commitments and railcar leases.  The primary fixed cost in the first quarter of 2016 was our railcar lease expense of $11.7 million that was allocated to crude oil, as compared to $11.6 million in the first quarter of 2015.  Approximately two-thirds of these cars were in storage as of March 31, 2016.  The future lease expense for these railcars is estimated at $33.6 million for the remainder of 2016, and $45.0 million and $39.0 million in 2017 and 2018, respectively, with a significant reduction to approximately $20.0 million in 2019 after which the leases expire.  These cars can be used either in crude oil or ethanol service.  For the first quarter of 2015, our crude oil product margin was also negatively impacted by a $5.0 million reserve related to a customer dispute.

 

Other Oils and Related Products.  Sales from other oils and related products (primarily distillates, residual oil and propane) were $419.0 million and $943.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $524.7 million, or 56%, due to a decrease in volume sold and a decline in prices.  Our product margin from other oils and related products was $25.2 million and $35.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $9.8 million, or 28%, primarily due to warmer weather.  Temperatures were 12% warmer than normal during the first quarter of 2016 and 26% warmer than the first quarter of 2015. 

 

Results for Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations Segment

 

Gasoline Distribution.  Sales from gasoline distribution were $616.1 million and $697.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $81.2 million, or 12%, due to a decrease in prices, offset by an increase in volume sold due to the acquisition of Capitol.  Our product margin from gasoline distribution was $65.4 million and $61.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, an increase of $3.7 million, or 6%, largely due to the Capitol acquisition.  However, our product margin in gasoline distribution for the first quarter of 2016 was negatively impacted by rising gasoline prices during February and March.

 

Station Operations.  Our station operations, which include (i) convenience stores sales at our directly operated stores, (ii) rental income from gasoline stations leased to dealers or from commissioned agents and from cobranding arrangements and (iii) sundries, such as car wash sales, lottery and ATM commissions, collectively generated revenues of $85.2 million and $83.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, an increase of $2.1 million. Our product margin from station operations was $42.9 million and $36.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, an increase of $6.2 million.  The increases in sales and product margin for the three months ended March 31, 2016 were largely due to the Capitol acquisition.

 

Results for Commercial Segment

 

Our commercial sales were $139.3 million and $226.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $87.5 million, or 39%, due to a decrease in prices.  Our commercial product margin was $6.9 million and $11.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $4.7 million, or 40%, primarily due to warmer weather during the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 which negatively impacted our weather-sensitive products. 

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

SG&A expenses were $35.0 million and $48.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of approximately $13.8 million, or 28%, including decreases of $5.1 million in accrued incentive compensation, $1.8 million in research and development expenses and professional fees and $1.5 million in various other SG&A expenses.  The decrease in SG&A expenses also reflects $4.4 million in acquisition costs and $2.3 million in restructuring charges in connection with the Warren acquisition in the first quarter of 2015.  The decrease in SG&A expenses was offset by $1.3 million in severance charges incurred related to the January 2016 reduction in our workforce. 

 

Operating Expenses

 

Operating expenses were $72.2 million and $68.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, an increase of $3.5 million, or 5%, due to an increase of $3.9 million associated with our GDSO segment, primarily due to the Capitol acquisition, largely in rent expense, maintenance and repairs and property taxes, and $0.1 million in severance charges incurred related to the January 2016 reduction in our workforce.  In addition, in the first quarter of 2016, we initiated steps to utilize our Oregon facility for ethanol transloading for which we incurred approximately $1.6 million in costs associated with the cleaning of tanks.  The increase in operating expenses was offset by decreases of $0.8 million in operating costs at our Basin Transload facilities in North Dakota, $0.5 million decrease in operating expenses associated with our Oregon facility and $0.8 million decrease in various operating expenses associated with our terminal operations.

 

Amortization Expense

 

Amortization expense related to our intangible assets was $2.5 million and $5.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, a decrease of $2.8 million.  The decrease was due to intangibles that became fully amortized during the second quarter of 2015, partially offset by the intangible assets acquired in the Warren and Capitol acquisitions. 

 

Loss on Sale and Disposition of Assets and Impairment Charges

 

Loss on sale and disposition of assets and impairment charges were $6.1 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  For the three months ended March 31, 2016, we recorded impairment charges of $5.5 million related to our assets classified as held-for-sale and recognized a $0.6 million loss on the sale of gasoline stations.  We did not record any impairment charges for three months ended March 31, 2015.  See Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. 

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense was $23.0 million and $14.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, an increase of $9.0 million, or 64%.  The increase was due primarily to (i) increased interest related to the 7.00% Notes (ii) additional borrowings related to the Capitol acquisition; (iii) $2.4 million for the first quarter of 2016 associated with the financing obligation recognized in connection with the acquisition of Capitol; and (iv) $1.8 million associated with the write-off of a portion of our deferred financing fees associated with the elected reduction in our working capital revolving credit facility and our  revolving credit facility.  Please see Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the 7.00% Notes, the financing obligation and the write-off of deferred financing fees.

 

Income Tax Benefit (Expense)

 

Income tax benefit of $0.9 million and income tax expense of ($0.9 million) for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, reflect the operating results of our wholly owned subsidiary, GMG, which is a taxable entity for federal and state income tax purposes.

 

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Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

 

In February 2013, we acquired a 60% membership interest in Basin Transload.  The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest of $811,000 and $6,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, represents the 40% noncontrolling ownership of the net loss reported.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Liquidity

 

Our primary liquidity needs are to fund our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and distributions and to service our indebtedness.  Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, amounts available under our working capital revolving credit facility and equity and debt offerings.  Please read “—Credit Agreement” for more information on our working capital revolving credit facility.

 

Working capital was $282.6 million and $272.3 million at March 31, 2016  and December 31, 2015, respectively, an increase of $10.3 million, primarily due to (i) a $15.9 million increase in cash; (ii) a $13.9 million increase in inventories due to higher prices; iii) a $15.7 million decrease accrued expenses and other current liabilities, in part due to an $8.3 million reduction in incentive compensation; iv) a $7.3 million decrease in trustee taxes; and (v) a $48.0 million reduction in accounts payable as we exited the heating season and also because of lower crude oil volume.  The net increases more than offset an $87.1 million increase in the current portion of our working capital revolving credit facility, which represents the amount we expect to pay down during the course of the year (see Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 

 

Cash Distributions

 

During 2016, we paid the following cash distribution to our common unitholders and our general partner:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

Distribution Paid for the

 

Cash Distribution Payment Date

 

Total Paid

 

Quarterly Period Ended

 

February 16, 2016 (1)

 

$

15.8 million

 

Fourth quarter 2015

 


(1)

On January 28, 2016, we announced a reduction in the quarterly distribution for the fourth quarter of 2015 on all outstanding common units to $0.4625.  This distribution represented a decrease of 33.7% from the distribution of $0.6975 per unit paid in November 2015 and a decrease of 30.5% from the distribution of $0.6650 per unit paid in February 2015.  The reduction in the distribution primarily reflected continuing weakness in the crude oil market.

 

On April 26, 2016, the board of directors of our general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.4625 per unit ($1.85 per unit on an annualized basis) for the period from January 1, 2016 through March 31, 2016 to our unitholders of record as of the close of business on May 6, 2016.  We expect to pay the cash distribution of approximately $15.8 million on May 16, 2016. 

 

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Contractual Obligations

 

We have contractual obligations that are required to be settled in cash.  The amounts of our contractual obligations at March 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments due by period

 

 

  

Remainder of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 and

 

 

 

Contractual Obligations

 

2016

 

2017

 

2018

 

2019

 

Thereafter

 

Total

 

Credit facility obligations (1)

 

$

194,822

 

$

78,828

 

$

78,828

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

352,478

 

Senior notes obligations (2)

 

 

38,883

 

 

44,438

 

 

44,438

 

 

44,438

 

 

807,094

 

 

979,291

 

Operating lease obligations (3)

 

 

126,066

 

 

137,435

 

 

110,850

 

 

65,292

 

 

157,310

 

 

596,953

 

Capital lease obligations

 

 

132

 

 

201

 

 

97

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

430

 

Other long-term liabilities (4)

 

 

20,411

 

 

26,344

 

 

24,659

 

 

32,652

 

 

98,445

 

 

202,511

 

Financing obligation (5)

 

 

7,117

 

 

9,688

 

 

9,917

 

 

10,150

 

 

107,811

 

 

144,683

 

Total

 

$

387,431

 

$

296,934

 

$

268,789

 

$

152,532

 

$

1,170,660

 

$

2,276,346

 


(1)

Includes principal and interest on our working capital revolving credit facility and our revolving credit facility at March 31,2016 and assumes a ratable payment through the expiration date.  Our credit agreement has a contractual maturity of April 30, 2018 and no principal payments are required prior to that date.  However, we repay amounts outstanding and reborrow funds based on our working capital requirements.  Therefore, the current portion of the working capital revolving credit facility included in the accompanying balance sheets is the amount we expect to pay down during the course of the year, and the long-term portion of the working capital revolving credit facility is the amount we expect to be outstanding during the entire year.  Please read “—Credit Agreement” for more information on our working capital revolving credit facility.

(2)

Includes principal and interest on the 6.25% Notes and the 7.00% Notes.  No principal payments are required prior to maturity.

(3)

Includes operating lease obligations related to leases for office space and computer equipment, land, terminals and throughputs, gasoline stations, railcars, mobile equipment, access rights and barges.

(4)

Includes amounts related to our 15-year brand fee agreement entered into in 2010 with ExxonMobil and amounts related to our pipeline connection agreements and our natural gas transportation and reservation agreements. Other long-term liabilities includes pension and deferred compensation obligations.

(5)

Includes lease rental payments in connection with the acquisition of Capitol related to properties previously sold by Capitol within two sale-leaseback transactions that did not meet the criteria for sale accounting and will be classified as interest expense on the financing obligation and the pay-down of the financing obligation.  See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statement for additional information.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

Our operations require investments to expand, upgrade and enhance existing operations and to meet environmental and operations regulations.  We categorize our capital requirements as either maintenance capital expenditures or expansion capital expenditures.  Maintenance capital expenditures represent capital expenditures to repair or replace partially or fully depreciated assets to maintain the operating capacity of, or revenues generated by, existing assets and extend their useful lives.  Maintenance capital expenditures also include expenditures required to maintain equipment reliability, tankage and pipeline integrity and safety and to address certain environmental regulations.  We anticipate that maintenance capital expenditures will be funded with cash generated by operations.  We had approximately $4.8 million and $3.7 million in maintenance capital expenditures for three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which are included in capital expenditures in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows and largely consisted of investments in our gasoline stations.  Specifically, approximately $3.9 million and $2.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, are related to our investments in our gasoline stations.  Repair and maintenance expenses associated with existing assets that are minor in nature and do not extend the useful life of existing assets are charged to operating expenses as incurred.

 

Expansion capital expenditures include expenditures to acquire assets to grow our business or expand our existing facilities, such as projects that increase our operating capacity or revenues by increasing, for example, rail capacity, dock capacity and tankage, diversifying product availability, raze and rebuilds, new-to-industry gasoline stations and convenience stores, storage flexibility at various terminals and by adding terminals.  We have the ability to fund our expansion capital expenditures through cash from operations or our credit agreement or by issuing debt securities or additional equity.  We had approximately $11.6 million and $369.9 million in expansion capital expenditures for the

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three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which are included in capital expenditures in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2016, the $11.6 million in expansion capital expenditures consisted of (i) $5.5 million in costs associated with our terminal assets, including dock expansion at our Oregon facility and tank construction projects, (ii) $5.3 million in raze and rebuilds, expansion and improvements at retail gasoline stations and new-to-industry sites, and (iii) $0.8 million in other expansion capital expenditures including, in part, investments in information technology and computer and equipment.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2015, the $369.9 million in expansion capital expenditures consisted of $359.6 million in property and equipment associated with the acquisitions of Warren and the Revere Terminal.  In addition, we had $10.3 million in expansion capital expenditures which consists of (i) $6.4 million in new site development, rebuilds, expansion and improvements at retail gasoline stations, (ii) $2.6 million in costs associated with our crude oil activities, including, in part, tank construction projects, rail expansion and improvement costs and equipment upgrades and (iii) $1.3 million in other expansion capital expenditures including, in part, investments in information technology and computer and equipment upgrades at various terminals. Certain of the $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 in costs associated with our crude oil activities include expenditures related to our Beulah, North Dakota facility, 60% of which was funded by us and 40% was funded by the noncontrolling interest at Basin Transload.  These costs are reported in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows as we concluded that we control the entity based on an evaluation of the outstanding voting interests.

 

We believe that we will have sufficient cash flow from operations, borrowing capacity under our credit agreement and the ability to issue additional common units and/or debt securities to meet our financial commitments, debt service obligations, contingencies and anticipated capital expenditures.  However, we are subject to business and operational risks that could adversely affect our cash flow.  A material decrease in our cash flows would likely have an adverse effect on our borrowing capacity as well as our ability to issue additional common units and/or debt securities.

 

Cash Flow

 

The following table summarizes cash flow activity (in thousands): 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2016

    

2015

    

Net cash used in operating activities

 

$

(53,516)

 

$

(113,915)

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

$

(7,863)

 

$

(418,479)

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

$

77,332

 

$

533,501

 

 

Cash flow from operating activities generally reflects our net income, balance sheet changes arising from inventory purchasing patterns, the timing of collections on our accounts receivable, the seasonality of parts of our business, fluctuations in product prices, working capital requirements and general market conditions.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $53.5 million and $113.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, for a period-over-period decrease in cash used in operating activities of $60.4 million.  The primary drivers of the change include the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Period over

 

 

 

March 31,

 

Period

 

 

    

2016

    

2015

    

Change

 

Decrease in accounts receivable

 

$

2,945

 

$

52,186

 

$

(49,241)

 

Increase in inventories

 

$

(13,920)

 

$

(15,614)

 

$

1,694

 

Decrease in accounts payable

 

$

(47,982)

 

$

(170,646)

 

$

122,664

 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2016, the decrease in accounts payable was primarily due to the change in activity as we exited the heating season and because of lower crude oil volume sold.  In addition, due to favorable

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market conditions, we elected to use our storage capacity to carry increased levels of inventory.  The decrease in net cash used in operating activities also reflects the period-over-period decrease in net income of $38.2 million. 

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the decreases in accounts receivable and accounts payable were primarily due to the change in activity as we exited the heating season.  In addition, due to favorable market conditions, we elected to use our storage capacity to carry increased levels of inventory.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $7.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 included $11.6 million in expansion capital expenditures and $4.8 million in maintenance capital expenditures, offset by $8.5 million in proceeds from the sale of property and equipment.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $418.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and included $381.8 million and $23.7 million in cash used to fund the acquisitions of Warren and the Revere Terminal, respectively, $10.3 million in expansion capital expenditures and $3.7 million in maintenance capital expenditures, offset by $1.0 million in proceeds from the sale of property and equipment.

 

See “—Capital Expenditures” for a discussion of our expansion capital expenditures for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $77.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and included $87.1 million in net borrowings from our working capital revolving credit facility, $6.1 million in net borrowings from our revolving credit facility and $0.3 million in capital contributions from our noncontrolling interest at Basin Transload.  Net cash provided by financing activities was offset by $15.6 million in cash distributions to our common unitholders and our general partner and $0.6 million in distributions to our noncontrolling interest at Basin Transload.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities was $533.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and included $383.6 million in net borrowings on our revolving credit facility to fund the acquisitions of Warren and the Revere Terminal, $175.4 million in net borrowings on our working credit facility and $1.9 million in capital contributions from our noncontrolling interest at Basin Transload.  Net cash provided by financing activities was offset by $22.4 million in cash distributions to our common unitholders and our general partner, $2.4 million in the repurchase of common units pursuant to our repurchase program for future satisfaction of our general partner’s obligations, $1.9 million distributions to our noncontrolling interest at Basin Transload and $0.7 million in net payments on our line of credit related to Basin Transload. 

 

Credit Agreement

 

Certain subsidiaries of ours, as borrowers, and we and certain of our subsidiaries, as guarantors, have a senior secured credit facility.  On February 24, 2016, we entered into the fifth amendment to the credit agreement (the “Fifth Amendment”) which reflects, among other things, our voluntary election to reduce our working capital revolving credit facility from $1.0 billion to $900.0 million and our revolving credit facility from $775.0 million to $575.0 million, for a total available commitment of $1.475 billion.  We repay amounts outstanding and reborrow funds based on our working capital requirements and, therefore, classify as a current liability the portion of the working capital revolving credit facility we expect to pay down during the course of the year.  The long-term portion of the working capital revolving credit facility is the amount we expect to be outstanding during the entire year.  The credit agreement will mature on April 30, 2018.

 

As of March 31, 2016, the two facilities under the credit agreement included:

 

·

a working capital revolving credit facility to be used for working capital purposes and letters of credit in the principal amount equal to the lesser of our borrowing base and $900.0 million; and

·

a $575.0 million revolving credit facility to be used for acquisitions, joint ventures, capital expenditures, letters of credit and general corporate purposes.

 

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In addition, the credit agreement has an accordion feature whereby we may request on the same terms and conditions of our then-existing credit agreement, provided no Event of Default (as defined in the credit agreement) then exists, an increase to the working capital revolving credit facility, the revolving credit facility, or both, by up to another $300.0 million, in the aggregate, for a total credit facility of up to $1.775 billion.  We cannot provide assurance, however, that our lending group will agree to fund any request by us for additional amounts in excess of the total available commitments of $1.475 billion.

 

In addition, the credit agreement includes a swing line pursuant to which Bank of America, N.A., as the swing line lender, may make swing line loans in U.S. Dollars in an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50.0 million and (b) the Aggregate WC Commitments (as defined in the credit agreement).  Swing line loans will bear interest at the Base Rate (as defined in the credit agreement).  The swing line is a sub-portion of the working capital revolving credit facility and is not an addition to the total available commitments of $1.475 billion.

 

Availability under the working capital revolving credit facility is subject to a borrowing base which is redetermined from time to time based on specific advance rates on eligible current assets.  Under the credit agreement, borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility cannot exceed the then current borrowing base.  Availability under the borrowing base may be affected by events beyond our control, such as changes in petroleum product prices, collection cycles, counterparty performance, advance rates and limits and general economic conditions.  These and other events could require us to seek waivers or amendments of covenants or alternative sources of financing or to reduce expenditures.  We can provide no assurance that such waivers, amendments or alternative financing could be obtained or, if obtained, would be on terms acceptable to us.

 

Borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility bear interest at (1) the Eurocurrency rate plus 2.00% to 2.50%, (2) the cost of funds rate plus 2.00% to 2.50%, or (3) the base rate plus 1.00% to 1.50%, each depending on the Utilization Amount (as defined in the credit agreement).  Pursuant to the Fifth Amendment, borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at (1) the Eurocurrency rate plus 2.25% to 3.50%, (2) the cost of funds rate plus 2.25% to 3.50%, or (3) the base rate plus 1.25% to 2.50%, each depending on the Combined Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement).

 

The average interest rates for the credit agreement were 3.8% and 3.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

 

The credit agreement provides for a letter of credit fee equal to the then applicable working capital rate or then applicable revolver rate (each such rate as defined in the credit agreement) per annum for each letter of credit issued.  In addition, we incur a commitment fee on the unused portion of each facility under the credit agreement, ranging from 0.375% to 0.50% per annum.

 

As of March 31, 2016, we had total borrowings outstanding under the credit agreement of $610.3 million, including $275.1 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility.  In addition, we had outstanding letters of credit of $57.9 million.  Subject to borrowing base limitations, the total remaining availability for borrowings and letters of credit was $806.8 million and $1.2 billion at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

Our obligations under the credit agreement are secured by substantially all of our assets and the assets of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, and the credit agreement is guaranteed by us and our subsidiaries with the exception of Basin Transload.

 

The credit agreement imposes financial covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum working capital amounts, a minimum combined interest coverage ratio, a maximum senior secured leverage ratio and a maximum total leverage ratio.  The Fifth Amendment amended the definition of “Total Combined Leverage Ratio” to permit for an increased maximum ratio of 5.50:1.00 through the first quarter of 2017 and 5.00:1.00 thereafter.  We were in compliance with the foregoing covenants at March 31, 2016.  The credit agreement also contains a representation whereby there can be no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the credit agreement). In addition, the credit agreement limits distributions by us to our unitholders to the amount of Available Cash (as defined in the partnership agreement).

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6.25% Senior Notes

 

On June 19, 2014, we and GLP Finance Corp. (collectively, the “Issuers”) entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the Initial Purchasers (as defined therein) (the “Initial Purchasers”) pursuant to which the Issuers agreed to sell $375.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 6.25% senior notes due 2022 (the “6.25% Notes”) to the Initial Purchasers in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).  The 6.25% Notes were resold by the Initial Purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

The Purchase Agreement contained customary representations and warranties of the parties and indemnification and contribution provisions under which the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors, on one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other, agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.  In addition, the Purchase Agreement required the execution of a registration rights agreement, described below, relating to the 6.25% Notes.  Closing of the offering occurred on June 24, 2014.

 

Indenture

 

In connection with the private placement of the 6.25% Notes on June 24, 2014, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, entered into an indenture (the “Indenture”).

 

The 6.25% Notes mature on July 15, 2022 with interest accruing at a rate of 6.25% per annum and payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing January 15, 2015.  The 6.25% Notes are guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors to the extent set forth in the Indenture.  Upon a continuing event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the 6.25% Notes may declare the 6.25% Notes immediately due and payable, except that an event of default resulting from entry into a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us, any restricted subsidiary of ours that is a significant subsidiary or any group of our restricted subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary of ours, will automatically cause the 6.25% Notes to become due and payable.

 

The Issuers have the option to redeem up to 35% of the 6.25% Notes prior to July 15, 2017 at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 106.25% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.  The Issuers have the option to redeem the 6.25% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after July 15, 2017, at the redemption prices of 104.688% for the twelve-month period beginning on July 15, 2017, 103.125% for the twelve-month period beginning July 15, 2018, 101.563% for the twelve-month period beginning July 15, 2019, and 100.0% beginning on July 15, 2020 and at any time thereafter, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.  In addition, before July 15, 2017, the Issuers may redeem all or any part of the 6.25% Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of the principal amount thereof, plus a make whole premium at the redemption date, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.  The holders of the notes may require the Issuers to repurchase the 6.25% Notes following certain asset sales or a Change of Control (as defined in the Indenture) at the prices and on the terms specified in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture contains covenants that will limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred securities, make certain dividends and distributions, make certain investments and other restricted payments, restrict distributions by our subsidiaries, create liens, enter into sale-leaseback transactions, sell assets or merge with other entities.  Events of default under the Indenture include (i) a default in payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the 6.25% Notes, (ii) breach of our covenants under the Indenture, (iii) certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, (iv) any payment default or acceleration of indebtedness of ours or certain subsidiaries if the total amount of such indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $15.0 million and (v) failure to pay within 60 days uninsured final judgments exceeding $15.0 million.

 

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Registration Rights Agreement

 

On June 24, 2014, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with the Initial Purchasers in connection with the Issuers’ private placement of the 6.25% Notes. Under the Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors agreed to file and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange the 6.25% Notes for an issue of SEC-registered notes with terms identical to the 6.25% Notes (except that the exchange notes are not subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with the Registration Rights Agreement) that are registered under the Securities Act so as to permit the exchange offer to be consummated by the 360th day after June 24, 2014.  The exchange offer was completed on April 21, 2015, and 100% of the 6.25% Notes were exchanged for SEC-registered notes.

 

7.00% Senior Notes

 

On June 1, 2015, the Issuers entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “7.00% Notes Purchase Agreement”) with the Initial Purchasers (as defined therein) (the “7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers”) pursuant to which the Issuers agreed to sell $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Issuers’ 7.00% senior notes due 2023 (the “7.00% Notes”) to the 7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.  The 7.00% Notes were resold by the 7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

The 7.00% Notes Purchase Agreement contained customary representations and warranties of the parties and indemnification and contribution provisions under which the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors, on one hand, and the 7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers, on the other, agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.  In addition, the 7.00% Notes Purchase Agreement required the execution of a registration rights agreement, described below, relating to the 7.00% Notes.  Closing of the offering occurred on June 4, 2015.

 

Indenture

 

In connection with the private placement of the 7.00% Notes on June 4, 2015 the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, entered into an indenture (the “7.00% Notes Indenture”).

 

The 7.00% Notes will mature on June 15, 2023 with interest accruing at a rate of 7.00% per annum and payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2015.  The 7.00% Notes are guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors to the extent set forth in the 7.00% Notes Indenture.  Upon a continuing event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the 7.00% Notes may declare the 7.00% Notes immediately due and payable, except that an event of default resulting from entry into a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us, any restricted subsidiary of ours that is a significant subsidiary or any group of our restricted subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary of ours, will automatically cause the 7.00% Notes to become due and payable.

 

The Issuers will have the option to redeem up to 35% of the 7.00% Notes prior to June 15, 2018 at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 107.00% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.  The Issuers have the option to redeem the 7.00% Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after June 15, 2018, at the redemption prices of 105.250% for the twelve-month period beginning June 15, 2018, 103.500% for the twelve-month period beginning June 15, 2019, 101.750% for the twelve-month period beginning June 15, 2020, and 100.0% beginning June 15, 2021 and at any time thereafter, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.  In addition, before June 15, 2018, the Issuers may redeem all or any part of the 7.00% Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of the principal amount thereof, plus a make whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.  The holders of the 7.00% Notes may require the Issuers to repurchase the 7.00% Notes following

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certain asset sales or a Change of Control (as defined in the 7.00% Notes Indenture) at the prices and on the terms specified in the 7.00% Notes Indenture.

 

The 7.00% Notes Indenture contains covenants that will limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred securities, make certain dividends and distributions, make certain investments and other restricted payments, restrict distributions by our subsidiaries, create liens, enter into sale-leaseback transactions, sell assets or merge with other entities.  Events of default under the 7.00% Notes Indenture include (i) a default in payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the 7.00% Notes, (ii) breach of our covenants under the 7.00% Notes Indenture, (iii) certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, (iv) any payment default or acceleration of indebtedness of ours or certain subsidiaries if the total amount of such indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $50.0 million and (v) failure to pay within 60 days uninsured final judgments exceeding $50.0 million.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On June 4, 2015, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement (the “7.00% Notes Registration Rights Agreement”) with the 7.00% Notes Initial Purchasers in connection with the Issuers’ private placement of the 7.00% Notes.  Under the 7.00% Notes Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors agreed to file and use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange the 7.00% Notes for an issue of SEC-registered notes with terms identical to the 7.00% Notes (except that the exchange notes are not subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with the 7.00% Notes Registration Rights Agreement) that are registered under the Securities Act so as to permit the exchange offer to be consummated by the 420th day after June 4, 2015.  The exchange offer was completed on October 22, 2015, and 100% of the 7.00% Notes were exchanged for SEC-registered notes.

 

Deferred Financing Fees

 

We incur bank fees related to our credit agreement and other financing arrangements.  These deferred financing fees are amortized over the life of the credit agreement or other financing arrangements.  We capitalized deferred financing fees of $17.8 million and $19.0 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

 

Unamortized fees related to the credit agreement are included in other current assets and other long-term assets and amounted to $10.3 million and $11.2 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.  Unamortized fees related to the senior notes are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts, and amounted to $7.5 million and $7.8 million at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. 

 

On February 24, 2016, we voluntarily elected to reduce our working capital revolving credit facility from $1.0 billion at December 31, 2015 to $900.0 million at March 31, 2016 and our revolving credit facility from $775.0 million at December 31, 2015 to $575.0 million at March 31, 2016.  As a result, we incurred expenses of approximately $1.8 million associated with the write-off of a portion of its deferred financing fees.  These expenses are included in interest expense in the accompanying statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

 

Amortization expense of approximately $1.4 million and $1.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, are included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

Financing Obligation

 

In connection with the Capitol acquisition on June 1, 2015, we assumed a financing obligation of $89.6 million associated with two sale-leaseback transactions by Capitol for 53 leased sites that did not meet the criteria for sale accounting.  During the term of these leases, which expire in May 2028 and September 2029, in lieu of recognizing lease expense for the lease rental payments, we incur interest expense associated with the financing obligation.  Interest expense of approximately $2.4 million was recorded for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and is included in interest expense in the accompanying statement of operations.  The financing obligation will amortize through expiration

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of the lease based upon the lease rental payments which were $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016.  The financing obligation balance outstanding at March 31, 2016 was $89.8 million. 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations discusses our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP.  The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

These estimates are based on our knowledge and understanding of current conditions and actions that we may take in the future.  Changes in these estimates will occur as a result of the passage of time and the occurrence of future events.  Subsequent changes in these estimates may have a significant impact on our financial condition and results of operations and are recorded in the period in which they become known.  We have identified the following estimates that, in our opinion, are subjective in nature, require the exercise of judgment, and involve complex analysis:  inventory, leases, revenue recognition, derivative financial instruments, valuation of intangibles and other long-lived assets, goodwill (discussed below), environmental and other liabilities and related party transactions.

 

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.  A portion of our goodwill is allocated to the Wholesale reporting unit, and a portion of the goodwill is allocated to the GDSO reporting unit.  Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as of October 1 or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable.  The process of testing goodwill for impairment involves numerous judgments, assumptions and estimates made by management which inherently reflect a high degree of uncertainty.  The impairment test first includes a qualitative assessment in order to conclude if it is more likely than not that the reporting unit’s fair value exceeds its carrying value.  If necessary, we will then complete a two-step quantitative assessment.  In the quantitative assessment, the fair value of each reporting unit is determined and compared to the book value of the reporting unit.  If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the book value, including goodwill, then the recorded goodwill is impaired to its implied fair value with a charge to operations.  We calculate the fair value of each reporting unit using a combination of discounted cash flows and market comparables.

 

Key assumptions included in the development of the discounted cash flow value for each reporting unit include:

Future commodity volumes and margins.  The discounted cash flows are based on a five-year forecast with an estimate of terminal value.  In general, our reporting units fair values are most sensitive to volume and gross margin assumptions.  In particular, our Wholesale segment’s cash flows are impacted by the crude oil market, given our 2013 investment in transloading terminals in North Dakota and Oregon.  The significant decline in the price of crude oil and tight crude oil differentials negatively impacted our fiscal 2015 results.  We expect low crude oil prices and tight differentials to continue for a period of time, which will negatively impact our 2016 performance with recovery expected in 2017.  As a result of these market conditions, there is increased uncertainty and sensitivity relating to our future cash flow projections within our crude oil business on which the Wholesale reporting unit’s goodwill impairment analysis relies.  If market conditions, and therefore our performance, are worse than our projections, we may record impairment charges in the future.  Actual results may not be consistent with these judgments, assumptions and estimates, and goodwill impairment charges may be required in future periods.  This could have an adverse impact on our financial position and results of operations.

 

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Discount rate commensurate with the risks involved.  We apply a discount rate to our expected cash flows based on a variety of factors, including market and economic conditions, operational risk, regulatory risk and political risk. A higher discount rate decreases the net present value of cash flows.

 

Future capital requirements.  Our estimates of future capital requirements are based upon a combination of authorized spending and internal forecasts.

 

On October 1, 2015, we completed our quantitative assessments for both the Wholesale and GDSO reporting units, and no impairment indicator was identified for either reporting unit.  The declining crude oil prices, changes in certain market conditions, and decline in our stock price, collectively caused us to reassess our goodwill for impairment as of December 31, 2015.  Based on the results of this assessment, we concluded that step-two of the quantitative assessment was not necessary and no impairment was required. 

 

As of March 31, 2016, we considered whether there were any change of circumstances or events during the first quarter which would more likely than not reduce the fair value of the Wholesale segment’s reporting unit below its carrying amount.  We concluded that such events and circumstances have not occurred.

 

The fair values of our reporting units are based on underlying assumptions that represent our best estimates.  Many of the factors used in assessing fair value are outside of the control of management.  A further sustained decline in commodity prices may cause us to reassess our long-lived assets and goodwill for impairment, and could result in future non-cash impairment charges as a result of such impairment assessments.  If we are required to perform step-two in the future for the Wholesale reporting unit, up to $121.7 million of goodwill assigned to this reporting unit could be written off in the period of such impairment assessment.

 

The significant accounting policies and estimates that we have adopted and followed in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements are detailed in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.  There have been no subsequent changes in these policies and estimates that had a significant impact on our financial condition and results of operations for the periods covered in this report.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

A description and related impact expected from the adoption of certain new accounting pronouncements is provided in Note 18 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.

 

Item 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices.  The principal market risks to which we are exposed are interest rate risk and commodity risk.  We currently utilize interest rate swaps and an interest rate cap to manage exposure to interest rate risk and various derivative instruments to manage exposure to commodity risk.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

We utilize variable rate debt and are exposed to market risk due to the floating interest rates on our credit agreement.  Therefore, from time to time, we utilize interest rate collars, swaps and caps to hedge interest obligations on specific and anticipated debt issuances.

 

As of March 31, 2016, we had total borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement of $610.3 million.  Please read Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Liquidity and Capital Resources——Credit Agreement,” for information on interest rates related to our borrowings.  The impact of a 1% increase in the interest rate on this amount of debt would have resulted in an increase in interest expense, and a corresponding decrease in our results of operations, of approximately $6.1 million annually, assuming, however, that our indebtedness remained constant throughout the year.

 

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In October 2009, we executed an interest rate swap with a major financial institution.  The swap, which became effective on May 16, 2011 and expires on May 16, 2016, is used to hedge the variability in interest payments due to changes in the one-month LIBOR swap curve with respect to $100.0 million of one-month LIBOR-based borrowings on the credit facility at a fixed rate of 3.93%.

 

In April 2011, we executed an interest rate cap with a major financial institution.  The rate cap, which became effective on April 13, 2011 and expired on April 13, 2016, was used to hedge the variability in interest payments due to changes in the one-month LIBOR rate above 5.5% with respect to $100.0 million of one-month LIBOR-based borrowings on the credit facility.

 

In September 2013, we executed a forward interest rate swap with a major financial institution.  The swap, which became effective on October 2, 2013 and expires on October 2, 2018, is used to hedge the variability in cash flows in monthly interest payments due to changes in the one-month LIBOR swap curve with respect to $100.0 million of one-month LIBOR-based borrowings on the credit facility at a fixed rate of 1.819%.

 

In the aggregate as of March 31, 2016, these hedging instruments historically have hedged the variability in interest payments due to changes in the one-month LIBOR swap curve or rate with respect to $300.0 million of one-month LIBOR-based borrowings on the credit facility.

 

In June 2014 and as a result of the issuance of our $375.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.25% Notes (see Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements), we determined that maintaining an excess of $300.0 million in principal of outstanding floating-rate debt was no longer probable.  Therefore, we elected to de-designate our interest rate cap and discontinued the related hedge accounting for this instrument.  Accordingly, at March 31, 2016, we had in place two interest rate swap agreements which are hedging $200.0 million of variable rate debt, both of which continue to be accounted for as cash flow hedges.  The interest rate cap, which expired on April 13, 2016, was not in a hedging relationship for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.  Accordingly, all changes in fair value of this instrument were recorded in the consolidated statements of operations through interest expense.

 

See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our derivative instruments.

 

Commodity Risk

 

We hedge our exposure to price fluctuations with respect to refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil and gasoline blendstocks in storage and expected purchases and sales of these commodities.  The derivative instruments utilized consist primarily of exchange-traded futures contracts traded on the NYMEX, CME and ICE and over-the-counter transactions, including swap agreements entered into with established financial institutions and other credit-approved energy companies.  Our policy is generally to purchase only products for which we have a market and to structure our sales contracts so that price fluctuations do not materially affect our profit.  While our policies are designed to minimize market risk, as well as inherent basis risk, exposure to fluctuations in market conditions remains.  Except for the controlled trading program discussed below, we do not acquire and hold futures contracts or other derivative products for the purpose of speculating on price changes that might expose us to indeterminable losses.

 

While we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within our commodity product purchase and sales activities, we may experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time as a result of variances in daily purchases and sales and transportation and delivery schedules as well as other logistical issues inherent in the business, such as weather conditions.  In connection with managing these positions, we are aided by maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace.  We also engage in a controlled trading program for up to an aggregate of 250,000 barrels of commodity products at any one point in time.  Changes in the fair value of these derivative instruments are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations through cost of sales.  In addition, because a portion of our crude oil business may be conducted in Canadian dollars, we may use foreign currency derivatives to minimize the risks of unfavorable exchange rates.  These instruments may include foreign currency exchange contracts and forwards.  In conjunction with entering into the commodity derivative, we may enter into a foreign currency derivative to hedge the

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resulting foreign currency risk.  These foreign currency derivatives are generally short-term in nature and not designated for hedge accounting.

 

We utilize exchange-traded futures contracts and other derivative instruments to minimize or hedge the impact of commodity price changes on our inventories and forward fixed price commitments.  Any hedge ineffectiveness is reflected in our results of operations.  We utilize regulated exchanges, including the NYMEX, CME and ICE, which are exchanges for the respective commodities that each trades, thereby reducing potential delivery and supply risks.  Generally, our practice is to close all exchange positions rather than to make or receive physical deliveries.  With respect to other products such as ethanol, which may not have a correlated exchange contract, we enter into derivative agreements with counterparties that we believe have a strong credit profile, in order to hedge market fluctuations and/or lock-in margins relative to our commitments.

 

At March 31, 2016, the fair value of all of our commodity risk derivative instruments and the change in fair value that would be expected from a 10% price increase or decrease are shown in the table below (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain (Loss)

 

 

    

Fair Value at

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

Effect of 10%

    

Effect of 10%

 

 

 

2016

 

Price Increase

 

Price Decrease

 

Exchange traded derivative contracts

 

$

923

 

$

(45,012)

 

$

45,012

 

Forward derivative contracts

 

 

17,474

 

 

2,050

 

 

(2,050)

 

 

 

$

18,397

 

$

(42,962)

 

$

42,962

 

 

The fair values of the futures contracts are based on quoted market prices obtained from the NYMEX, CME and ICE.  The fair value of the swaps and option contracts are estimated based on quoted prices from various sources such as independent reporting services, industry publications and brokers.  These quotes are compared to the contract price of the swap, which approximates the gain or loss that would have been realized if the contracts had been closed out at March 31, 2016.  For positions where independent quotations are not available, an estimate is provided, or the prevailing market price at which the positions could be liquidated is used.  All hedge positions offset physical exposures to the physical market; none of these offsetting physical exposures are included in the above table.  Price-risk sensitivities were calculated by assuming an across-the-board 10% increase or decrease in price regardless of term or historical relationships between the contractual price of the instruments and the underlying commodity price.  In the event of an actual 10% change in prompt month prices, the fair value of our derivative portfolio would typically change less than that shown in the table due to lower volatility in out-month prices.  We have a daily margin requirement to maintain a cash deposit with our brokers based on the prior day’s market results on open futures contracts.  The balance of this deposit will fluctuate based on our open market positions and the commodity exchange’s requirements.  The brokerage margin balance was $38.9 million at March 31, 2016.

 

We are exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to our exchange-traded derivative contracts, physical forward contracts, and swap agreements.  We anticipate some nonperformance by some of these counterparties which, in the aggregate, we do not believe at this time will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.  Exchange-traded derivative contracts, the primary derivative instrument utilized by us, are traded on regulated exchanges, greatly reducing potential credit risks.  We utilize primarily three clearing brokers, all major financial institutions, for all NYMEX, CME and ICE derivative transactions and the right of offset exists with these financial institutions.  Accordingly, the fair value of our exchange-traded derivative instruments is presented on a net basis in the consolidated balance sheet.  Exposure on physical forward contracts and swap agreements is limited to the amount of the recorded fair value as of the balance sheet dates.

 

Item 4.Controls and Procedures.

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is

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recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, management evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act).  Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2016.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There has not been any change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2016 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Legal Proceedings

 

General

 

Although we may, from time to time, be involved in litigation and claims arising out of our operations in the normal course of business, we do not believe that we are a party to any litigation that will have a material adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations.  Except as described below and in Note 12 in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we are not aware of any significant legal or governmental proceedings against us, or contemplated to be brought against us.  We maintain insurance policies with insurers in amounts and with coverage and deductibles as our general partner believes are reasonable and prudent.  However, we can provide no assurance that this insurance will be adequate to protect us from all material expenses related to potential future claims or that these levels of insurance will be available in the future at economically acceptable prices.

 

Other

 

In February 2016, we received a request for information from the EPA seeking certain information regarding our Albany terminal in order to assess its compliance with the Clean Air Act (“CAA”).  The information requested generally relates to crude oil received by, stored at and shipped from our petroleum product transloading facility in Albany, New York (the “Albany Terminal”), including its composition, control devices for emissions and various permitting-related considerations.  The Albany Terminal is a 63-acre licensed, permitted and operational stationary bulk petroleum storage and transfer terminal that currently consists of petroleum product storage tanks, along with truck, rail and marine loading facilities, for the storage, blending and distribution of various petroleum and related products, including, but not limited to, gasoline, ethanol, distillates, heating and crude oils.  No violations were alleged in the request for information.  We submitted responses and documentation, in March and April 2016, to the EPA in accordance with the EPA request.  We have cooperated fully with the agency and believe responsive information will demonstrate that our operations at the Albany Terminal are in compliance with all pertinent requirements.

 

By letter dated October 5, 2015, we received a notice of intent to sue (“October NOI”), which supersedes and replaces a prior notice of intent to sue that we received on September 1, 2015 (the “September NOI”) from Earthjustice, an environmental advocacy organization on behalf of the County of Albany, New York, a public housing development owned and operated by the Albany Housing Authority and certain environmental organizations, related to alleged violations of the CAA at our Albany Terminal, particularly with respect to crude oil operations at the Albany Terminal.  The October NOI revises the superseded and replaced September NOI to add two additional environmental advocacy organizations and to revise the relief sought and the description of the alleged CAA violations.

 

On February 3, 2016, Earthjustice and the other entities identified in the October NOI filed suit against us in federal court in Albany under the citizen suit provisions of the CAA.   In summary, this lawsuit alleges that our operations at the Albany Terminal are in violation of the CAA.  The plaintiffs seek, among other things, relief that would compel us both to apply for what they contend is the applicable permit under the CAA, and to install additional pollution controls.  In addition, the plaintiffs seek to prohibit the Albany Terminal from receiving, storing, handling, and marine loading certain types of Bakken crude oil and to require payment of a civil penalty of $37,500 for each day we operated the Albany Terminal in violation of the CAA.  We believe that we have meritorious defenses against all allegations.  On February 26, 2016, we filed a motion to dismiss the CAA action and a decision from the Court is expected during the summer of 2016.  At this time, all discovery and other litigation activity is stayed pending a decision by the Court on the motion to dismiss.

 

On May 29, 2015 and in connection with a commercial dispute with Tethys Trading Company LLC (“Tethys”), we received a notice from Tethys alleging a default under, and purporting to terminate, our contract with Tethys for crude oil services at our Oregon facility.  However, we do not believe Tethys had the right to terminate the contract, and we will continue to investigate and determine the appropriate action to take to enforce our rights under the agreement.  We had expected to receive fees from this contract of approximately $13.2 million for the period July 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 and approximately $105.2 million in the aggregate for the remaining four years of the contract.

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On March 26, 2015, we received a Notice of Non-Compliance (“NON”) from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) with respect to the Revere Terminal, alleging certain violations of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (“NPDES Permit”) related to storm water discharges.  The NON requires us to submit a plan to remedy the reported violations of the NPDES Permit.  We have responded to the NON with a plan and are implementing modifications to the storm water management system at the Revere Terminal.  We have determined that compliance with the NON and implementation of the plan will have no material impact on our operations.

 

We have a dispute with Lansing Ethanol Services, LLC (“Lansing”) for damages in excess of $12.0 million.  The dispute involves Lansing’s failure to transfer Renewable Fuel Identification Numbers to us in connection with certain agreements for the purchase and sale of ethanol.  The parties had agreed to arbitrate under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.  We filed for arbitration on March 24, 2015 and the hearing was conducted in March, 2016.  A decision is anticipated either in the latter part of the second quarter or during the third quarter of this calendar year.  Each party has reserved the right to appeal the decision pursuant to the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

 

On May 16, 2014, we received a subpoena from the SEC requesting information for relevant time periods primarily relating to our accounting for Renewable Identification Numbers and the restatement of our consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarters ended March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013.  We have cooperated fully with the SEC and believe we have provided the SEC with all requested materials.

 

We received letters from the EPA dated November 2, 2011 and March 29, 2012, containing requirements and testing orders (collectively, the “Requests for Information”) for information under the CAA.  The Requests for Information were part of an EPA investigation to determine whether we have violated sections of the CAA at certain of our terminal locations in New England with respect to residual oil and asphalt.  On June 6, 2014, a Notice of Violation (the “NOV”) was received from the EPA, alleging certain violations of its Air Emissions License issued by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, based upon the test results at the South Portland, Maine terminal.  We met with and provided additional information to the EPA with respect to the alleged violations.  On April 7, 2015, the EPA issued a Supplemental Notice of Violation (the “Supplemental NOV”) modifying the allegations of violations of the terminal’s Air Emissions License.  We have responded to the Supplemental NOV and engaged in further negotiations with the EPA.  A tolling agreement was executed with the United States on December 1, 2015.  While we do not believe that a material violation has occurred, and we contest the allegations presented in the NOV and Supplemental NOV, we do not believe any adverse determination in connection with the NOV would have a material impact on our operations.

 

Item 1A.Risk Factors

 

In addition to other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results.

 

Item 6.Exhibits

 

Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Registration S-K are set forth in the Exhibit Index accompanying this Quarterly Report and are incorporated herein by reference.

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

 

By:

Global GP LLC,

 

 

its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 9, 2016

 

By:

/s/ Eric Slifka

 

 

 

 

Eric Slifka

 

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dated:  May 9, 2016

 

By:

/s/ Daphne H. Foster

 

 

 

 

Daphne H. Foster

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS  SEE OTHER LIST

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit
Number

 

 

 

Description

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

 

Certificate of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 10, 2005).

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

 

Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP dated as of December 9, 2009 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 15, 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

 

Indenture, dated as of June 24, 2014, among the Issuers, the Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2014).

 

 

 

 

 

4.2

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 24, 2014, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8‑K filed on June 25, 2014).

 

 

 

 

 

4.3

 

 

Indenture, dated as of June 4, 2015, among the Issuers, the Guarantors, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2015).

 

 

 

 

 

4.4

 

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 4, 2015, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 4, 2015).

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

 

Fifth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated February 24, 2016 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 19, 2016).

 

 

 

 

 

31.1*

 

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Global GP LLC, general partner of Global Partners LP.

 

 

 

 

 

31.2*

 

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Global GP LLC, general partner of Global Partners LP.

 

 

 

 

 

32.1†

 

 

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Global GP LLC, general partner of Global Partners LP.

 

 

 

 

 

32.2†

 

 

Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Global GP LLC, general partner of Global Partners LP.

 

 

 

 

 

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 Labels Linkbase Document.

101.PRE*

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.

101.PRE*

 

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.


*Filed herewith.

Not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liability of that section.

 

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