Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 10, 2004
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P.
PAA FINANCE CORP.*
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware Delaware (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
4610 4610 (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
76-0582150 76-0669671 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 646-4100
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including
Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
Tim Moore
Vice President and General Counsel
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 646-4100
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
David P. Oelman
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2300
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 758-2222
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box. o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Note |
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of Registration Fee |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.750% Senior Notes due 2009 | $175,000,000 | 100% | $175,000,000 | $22,173 | ||||
Guarantees(2) | | | | | ||||
5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 | $175,000,000 | 100% | $175,000,000 | $22,173 | ||||
Guarantees(2) | | | | | ||||
Total | $350,000,000 | 100% | $350,000,000 | $44,346 | ||||
Plains Marketing, L.P. (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Delaware |
76-0684572 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
Plains Pipeline, L.P. (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Texas |
76-0587185 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
Plains Marketing GP Inc. (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Delaware |
76-0684572 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
Plains Marketing Canada LLC (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Delaware |
76-0653735 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
Plains Marketing Canada, L.P. (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Canada |
892946211 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (GST Number) | |
PMC (Nova Scotia) Company (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Nova Scotia |
894798610 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (GST Number) | |
Basin Holdings GP LLC (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Delaware |
13-4204744 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
Basin Pipeline Holdings, L.P. (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Delaware |
13-4204757 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
Rancho Holdings GP LLC (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Delaware |
13-4204734 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
Rancho Pipeline Holdings, L.P. (Exact Name of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter) |
||
Delaware |
13-4204750 |
|
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject To Completion, Dated December 10, 2004
Prospectus
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
PAA Finance Corp.
Offer to Exchange up to
$175,000,000 of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2009
for
$175,000,000 of 4.750% Senior Notes due 2009
that have been Registered under the Securities Act of 1933
and
Offer to Exchange up to
$175,000,000 of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016
for
$175,000,000 of 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016
that have been Registered under the Securities Act of 1933
Terms of the Exchange Offers
We are offering to exchange up to $175,000,000 of our outstanding 4.750% Senior Notes due 2009 ("2009 Notes") and up to $175,000,000 of our outstanding 5.875% Senior Notes due 2016 ("2016
Notes," and together with the 2009 Notes, the "Outstanding Notes") for new Notes with substantially identical terms that have been registered under the Securities Act and are freely tradable. We will exchange for an equal principal amount of new Notes all outstanding Notes of the same series that you validly tender and do not validly withdraw before the exchange offers expire. |
Each exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on , 200 , unless extended. We do not currently intend to extend either exchange offer. Tenders of outstanding Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration of the applicable exchange offer. Each exchange of outstanding Notes for new Notes will not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Terms of the 2009 Notes Offered in the Exchange Offer
Maturity The 2009 Notes will mature on August 15, 2009. Interest We will pay interest on the 2009 Notes semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning February 15, 2005. Interest will accrue from August 12, 2004. |
Redemption We may redeem the 2009 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2009 Notes to be redeemed plus a make-whole premium described in this prospectus, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Ranking The 2009 Notes are unsecured. The 2009 Notes are general senior unsecured obligations of the issuers and will rank equally with the Notes of the other series and with the existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the issuers. |
Terms of the 2016 Notes Offered in the Exchange Offer
Maturity The 2016 Notes will mature on August 15, 2016. Interest We will pay interest on the 2016 Notes semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning February 15, 2005. Interest will accrue from August 12, 2004. |
Redemption We may redeem the 2016 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 2016 Notes to be redeemed plus a make-whole premium described in this prospectus, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. Ranking The 2016 Notes are unsecured. The 2016 Notes are general senior unsecured obligations of the issuers and will rank equally with the Notes of the other series and with the existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the issuers. |
Please read "Risk Factors" on page 7 for a discussion of factors you should consider before participating in the exchange offers.
These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission nor has the Securities and Exchange Commission passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2004.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in the accompanying letters of transmittal. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. If you receive any unauthorized information, you must not rely on it. We are not making offers to sell these securities in any state where the offers are not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus.
Each broker-dealer that receives the Notes for its own account pursuant to these exchange offers must acknowledge in the applicable letter of transmittal that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the Notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of the Notes received in exchange for outstanding Notes where such outstanding Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed to make this prospectus available for a period of one year from the expiration date of these exchange offers to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
i
ii
TAX CONSIDERATIONS | 138 | ||
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | 138 | ||
VALIDITY OF THE NEW NOTES | 139 | ||
EXPERTS | 139 | ||
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION | 140 | ||
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 141 | ||
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | F-1 |
iii
This summary may not contain all the information that may be important to you. You should read this entire prospectus before deciding to participate in the exchange offers. You should carefully consider the information set forth under "Risk Factors." In addition, certain statements include forward-looking information which involves risks and uncertainties. Please read "Forward-Looking Statements." References to the "Notes" in this prospectus include both the outstanding Notes and the new Notes.
In this prospectus, the terms "we," "our," "ours," and "us" refer to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise.
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
We are a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership engaged in interstate and intrastate crude oil transportation, and crude oil gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage, as well as the marketing and storage of liquefied petroleum gas and other petroleum products. We refer to liquefied petroleum gas and other petroleum products collectively as "LPG." We have an extensive network of pipeline transportation, storage and gathering assets in key oil producing basins and at major market hubs in the United States and Canada. Several members of our existing management team founded this midstream crude oil business in 1992, and we completed our initial public offering in 1998.
We have operations in the United States and Canada, which can be categorized into two primary business activities: crude oil pipeline transportation operations and gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations.
Our executive offices are located at 333 Clay Street, Suite 1600, Houston, Texas 77002 and our telephone number is (713) 646-4100.
Business Strategy
Our principal business strategy is to capitalize on the regional crude oil supply and demand imbalances that exist in the United States and Canada by combining the strategic location and distinctive capabilities of our transportation and terminalling assets with our extensive marketing and distribution expertise to generate sustainable earnings and cash flow.
We intend to execute our business strategy by:
To a lesser degree, we also engage in a similar business strategy with respect to the wholesale marketing and storage of LPG, which we began as a result of an acquisition in mid-2001.
1
On August 12, 2004, we completed private offerings of $175 million aggregate principal amount of our 4.750% senior notes due 2009 ("2009 Notes") and $175 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% senior notes due 2016 ("2016 Notes" and together with the 2009 Notes, the "outstanding Notes"). We entered into registration rights agreements with the initial purchasers in those offerings, in which we agreed to deliver to you this prospectus and to use our reasonable best efforts to complete the exchange offers within 240 days after the date we issued the outstanding Notes.
Exchange Offers | We are offering to exchange new Notes (the "New Notes") for: | |||
|
up to $175 million principal amount of our 4.750% 2009 Notes that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), for an equal amount of our outstanding 2009 Notes; and |
|||
|
up to $175 million principal amount of our 5.875% 2016 Notes that have been registered under the Securities Act for an equal amount of our outstanding 2016 Notes |
|||
to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreements that we entered into when we issued the outstanding Notes in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act. |
||||
The terms of each series of the new Notes are substantially identical to those terms of each series of the outstanding Notes, except that the transfer restrictions, registration rights and provisions for additional interest relating to the outstanding Notes do not apply to the new Notes. |
||||
Expiration Date |
Each exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on , 200 , unless we decide to extend either exchange offer. We may extend one exchange offer without extending the other. |
|||
Condition to the Exchange Offers |
The registration rights agreements do not require us to accept outstanding Notes for exchange if the applicable exchange offer or the making of any exchange by a holder of the outstanding Notes would violate any applicable law or interpretation of the staff of the SEC. A minimum aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes being tendered is not a condition to either exchange offer. |
|||
Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes |
To participate in an exchange offer, you must follow the procedures established by The Depository Trust Company, which we call "DTC," for tendering notes held in book-entry form. These automated tender offer program procedures, which we call "ATOP," require that (i) the exchange agent receive, prior to the expiration date of the applicable exchange offer, a computer generated message known as an "agent's message" that is transmitted through ATOP and (ii) DTC confirms that: |
|||
|
DTC has received your instructions to exchange your Notes, and |
|||
2
|
you agree to be bound by the terms of the applicable letter of transmittal. |
|||
For more information on tendering your outstanding Notes, please refer to the sections in this prospectus entitled "Exchange OffersTerms of the Exchange Offers" and "Procedures for Tendering." |
||||
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures |
None. |
|||
Withdrawal of Tenders |
You may withdraw your tender of outstanding Notes under either exchange offer at any time prior to the expiration date. To withdraw, you must submit a notice of withdrawal to the exchange agent using ATOP procedures before 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date of the exchange offer. Please read "Exchange OffersWithdrawal of Tenders." |
|||
Acceptance of Outstanding Notes and Delivery of New Notes |
If you fulfill all conditions required for proper acceptance of outstanding Notes, we will accept any and all outstanding Notes that you properly tender in the applicable exchange offer on or before 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date. We will return to you, without expense as promptly as practicable after the expiration date, any outstanding Note that we do not accept for exchange. We will deliver the new Notes as promptly as practicable after the expiration date and acceptance of the outstanding Notes for exchange. Please refer to the section in this prospectus entitled "Exchange OffersTerms of the Exchange Offers." |
|||
Fees and Expenses |
We will bear all expenses related to each exchange offer. Please refer to the section in this prospectus entitled "Exchange OffersFees and Expenses." |
|||
Use of Proceeds |
The issuance of the new Notes will not provide us with any new proceeds. We are making these exchange offers solely to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreements. |
|||
Consequences of Failure to Exchange Outstanding Notes |
If you do not exchange your outstanding Notes in the applicable exchange offer, you will no longer be able to require us to register the outstanding Notes under the Securities Act except in the limited circumstances provided under the applicable registration rights agreement. In addition, you will not be able to resell, offer to resell or otherwise transfer the outstanding Notes unless we have registered the outstanding Notes under the Securities Act, or unless you resell, offer to resell or otherwise transfer them under an exemption from the registration requirements of, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act. |
|||
Tax Considerations |
The exchange of new Notes for 2009 Notes and the exchange of new Notes for 2016 Notes should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Please read "Tax Considerations." |
|||
3
Exchange Agent |
We have appointed Wachovia Bank, National Association, as exchange agent for each of the exchange offers. You should direct questions and requests for assistance and requests for additional copies of this prospectus or the letters of transmittal to the exchange agent addressed as follows: Wachovia Bank, National Association, Customer Information Center, Corporate Trust OperationsNC1153, 1525 West W. T. Harris Blvd. Charlotte, North Carolina 28288-1153. Eligible institutions may make requests by facsimile at (704) 590-7628. |
4
The new Notes will be identical to the outstanding Notes except that the new Notes are registered under the Securities Act and will not have transfer restrictions, registration rights or provisions for additional interest. The new Notes will evidence the same debt as the outstanding Notes, and the same indenture will govern the new Notes and the outstanding Notes.
The following summary contains basic information about the new Notes and is not intended to be complete. It does not contain all the information that is important to you. For a more complete understanding of the notes, please refer to the section of this prospectus entitled "Description of Notes."
Issuers | Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and PAA Finance Corp. PAA Finance Corp., a Delaware corporation, is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. that has been organized for the purpose of co-issuing our existing notes, the Notes offered hereby, and the notes issued in any future offerings. PAA Finance Corp. does not have any operations of any kind and will not have any revenue other than as may be incidental to its activities as a co-issuer of the Notes. | |||
Notes Offered |
$175 million aggregate principal amount of the 2009 Notes. |
|||
$175 million aggregate principal amount of the 2016 Notes. |
||||
Maturity Dates |
August 15, 2009 for the 2009 Notes. |
|||
August 15, 2016 for the 2016 Notes. |
||||
Interest Payment Dates |
We will pay interest on the Notes of each series semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, beginning on February 15, 2005. |
|||
Optional Redemption |
We may redeem the Notes of either series, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time at a price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal of and interest on the Notes to be redeemed discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined herein) plus 20 basis points, in the case of the 2009 Notes, and 25 basis points, in the case of the 2016 Notes plus, in each case, accrued interest to the date of redemption. See "Description of NotesOptional Redemption." |
|||
Guarantees |
Initially, all payments with respect to the Notes (including principal and interest) are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by substantially all of our existing subsidiaries. In the future, our subsidiaries that guarantee other indebtedness of ours or another subsidiary must also guarantee the Notes. The guarantees are also subject to release in certain circumstances. The guarantees of each series are general unsecured obligations of the subsidiary guarantors and rank equally with the guarantees of the other series and with any existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the subsidiary guarantors. |
|||
5
Ranking |
The Notes are general senior unsecured obligations of the issuers and rank equally with the Notes of the other series and with the existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the issuers. |
|||
Certain Covenants |
The indenture governing the Notes contains covenants for your benefit. These covenants restrict our ability and our restricted subsidiaries' ability, with certain exceptions, to: |
|||
|
incur liens on principal properties to secure debt; |
|||
|
engage in sale-leaseback transactions; or |
|||
|
merge or consolidate with another entity or sell, lease or transfer substantially all of our properties or assets to another entity. |
|||
Transfer Restrictions; Absence of a Public Market for the Notes |
The new Notes generally will be freely transferable, but will also be new securities for which there will not initially be a market. There can be no assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the new Notes. |
|||
Form of New Notes |
The new Notes will be represented by one or more global notes. The global notes of each series will be deposited with the trustee, as custodian for DTC. The global notes of each series will be shown on, and transfers of the global notes of each series will be effected only through, records maintained in book-entry form by DTC and its direct and indirect participants. |
|||
Same-Day Settlement |
The new Notes will trade in DTC's Same Day Funds Settlement System until maturity or redemption. Therefore, secondary market trading activity in the new Notes will be settled in immediately available funds. |
|||
Trading |
We do not expect to list the new Notes for trading on any securities exchange. |
|||
Trustee, Registrar and Exchange Agent |
Wachovia Bank, National Association. |
|||
Governing Law |
The new Notes and the indenture relating to the new Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. |
6
In addition to the other information set forth elsewhere in this prospectus, you should carefully consider the risks relating to our partnership, the exchange offers and the Notes described below before deciding whether to participate in the exchange offers.
The level of our profitability is dependent upon an adequate supply of crude oil from fields located offshore and onshore California. Production from these offshore fields has experienced substantial production declines since 1995.
A significant portion of our segment profit is derived from pipeline transportation margins associated with the Santa Ynez and Point Arguello fields located offshore California. We expect that there will continue to be natural production declines from each of these fields as the underlying reservoirs are depleted. We estimate that a 5,000 barrel per day decline in volumes shipped from these fields would result in a decrease in annual pipeline segment profit of approximately $3.1 million. In addition, any production disruption from these fields due to production problems, transportation problems or other reasons would have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our trading policies cannot eliminate all price risks. In addition, any non-compliance with our trading policies could result in significant financial losses.
Generally, it is our policy that as we purchase crude oil we establish a margin by selling crude oil for physical delivery to third party users, such as independent refiners or major oil companies, or by entering into a future delivery obligation under futures contracts on the NYMEX and over-the-counter. Through these transactions, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between purchases, on the one hand, and sales or future delivery obligations, on the other hand. Our policy is generally not to acquire and hold crude oil, futures contracts or derivative products for the purpose of speculating on price changes. This policy cannot, however, eliminate all price risks. For example, any event that disrupts our anticipated physical supply of crude oil could expose us to risk of loss resulting from price changes. Moreover, we are exposed to some risks that are not hedged, including certain basis risks and price risks on certain of our inventory, such as pipeline linefill, which must be maintained in order to transport crude oil on our pipelines. In addition, we engage in a controlled trading program for up to an aggregate of 500,000 barrels of crude oil. Although this activity is monitored independently by our risk management function, it exposes us to price risks within predefined limits and authorizations.
In addition, our trading operations involve the risk of non-compliance with our trading policies. For example, we discovered in November 1999 that our trading policy was violated by one of our former employees, which resulted in aggregate losses of approximately $181.0 million. We have taken steps within our organization to enhance our processes and procedures to detect future unauthorized trading. We cannot assure you, however, that these steps will detect and prevent all violations of our trading policies and procedures, particularly if deception or other intentional misconduct is involved.
If we do not make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms our future growth may be limited.
Our ability to grow is substantially dependent on our ability to make acquisitions that result in an increase in adjusted operating surplus per unit. If we are unable to make such accretive acquisitions either because (i) we are unable to identify attractive acquisition candidates or negotiate acceptable purchase contracts with them, (ii) we are unable to raise financing for such acquisitions on economically acceptable terms or (iii) we are outbid by competitors, our future growth will be limited. In particular, competition for midstream assets and businesses has intensified substantially and as a result such assets and businesses have become more costly. As a result, we may not be able to complete
7
the number or size of acquisitions that we have targeted internally or to continue to grow as quickly as we have historically.
Our acquisition strategy requires access to new capital. Tightened capital markets or other factors which increase our cost of capital could impair our ability to grow.
Our business strategy is substantially dependent on acquiring additional assets or operations. We continuously consider and enter into discussions regarding potential acquisitions. These transactions can be effected quickly, may occur at any time and may be significant in size relative to our existing assets and operations. Any material acquisition will require access to capital. Any limitations on our access to capital or increase in the cost of that capital could significantly impair our ability to execute our acquisition strategy. Our ability to maintain our targeted credit profile, including maintaining our credit ratings, could impact our cost of capital as well as our ability to execute our acquisition strategy.
Our acquisition strategy involves risks that may adversely affect our business.
Any acquisition involves potential risks, including:
Any of these factors could adversely affect our ability to achieve anticipated levels of cash flows from our acquisitions, realize other anticipated benefits and our ability to meet our debt service requirements.
The nature of our assets and business could expose us to significant compliance costs and liabilities.
Our operations involving the storage, treatment, processing, and transportation of liquid hydrocarbons including crude oil are subject to stringent federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment, otherwise relating to protection of the environment, operational safety and related matters. Compliance with these laws and regulations increases our overall cost of business, including our capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities, or claims for damages to property or persons resulting from our operations. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory and remedial liabilities, and the issuance of injunctions that may restrict or prohibit our operations or even claims of damages to property or persons resulting from our operations. The laws and regulations applicable to our operations are subject to change, and we cannot provide any assurance that compliance with current and future laws and regulations will not have a material effect on our results of operations or earnings. A discharge of hazardous liquids into the environment could, to the extent such event is not insured, subject us to substantial expense, including both the cost to comply with applicable laws and regulations and liability to private parties for personal injury or property damage.
8
The profitability of our pipeline operations depends on the volume of crude oil shipped by third parties.
Third party shippers generally do not have long-term contractual commitments to ship crude oil on our pipelines. A decision by a shipper to substantially reduce or cease to ship volumes of crude oil on our pipelines could cause a significant decline in our revenues. For example, we estimate that an average 10,000 barrel per day variance in the Basin Pipeline System, equivalent to an approximate 4% volume variance on that system, would change annualized segment profit by approximately $1.0 million. In addition, we estimate that an average 10,000 barrel per day variance on the Capline Pipeline System, equivalent to an approximate 7% volume variance on that system, would change annualized segment profit by approximately $1.5 million.
The success of our business strategy to increase and optimize throughput on our pipeline and gathering assets is dependent upon our securing additional supplies of crude oil.
Our operating results are dependent upon securing additional supplies of crude oil from increased production by oil companies and aggressive lease gathering efforts. The ability of producers to increase production is dependent on the prevailing market price of oil, the exploration and production budgets of the major and independent oil companies, the depletion rate of existing reservoirs, the success of new wells drilled, environmental concerns, regulatory initiatives and other matters beyond our control. There can be no assurance that production of crude oil will rise to sufficient levels to cause an increase in the throughput on our pipeline and gathering assets.
Our operations are dependent upon demand for crude oil by refiners in the Midwest and on the Gulf Coast. Any decrease in this demand could adversely affect our business.
Demand for crude oil is dependent upon the impact of future economic conditions, fuel conservation measures, alternative fuel requirements, governmental regulation or technological advances in fuel economy and energy generation devices, all of which could reduce demand. Demand also depends on the ability and willingness of shippers having access to our transportation assets to satisfy their demand by deliveries through those assets, and any decrease in this demand could adversely affect our business.
We face intense competition in our gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage activities.
Our competitors include other crude oil pipelines, the major integrated oil companies, their marketing affiliates, and independent gatherers, brokers and marketers of widely varying sizes, financial resources and experience. Some of these competitors have capital resources many times greater than ours and control greater supplies of crude oil. We estimate that a $0.01 per barrel variance in the aggregate average segment profit would have an approximate $2.5 million annual effect on segment profit.
The profitability of our gathering and marketing activities is generally dependent on the volumes of crude oil we purchase and gather.
To maintain the volumes of crude oil we purchase, we must continue to contract for new supplies of crude oil to offset volumes lost because of natural declines in crude oil production from depleting wells or volumes lost to competitors. Replacement of lost volumes of crude oil is particularly difficult in an environment where production is low and competition to gather available production is intense. Generally, because producers experience inconveniences in switching crude oil purchasers, such as delays in receipt of proceeds while awaiting the preparation of new division orders, producers typically do not change purchasers on the basis of minor variations in price. Thus, we may experience difficulty acquiring crude oil at the wellhead in areas where there are existing relationships between producers and other gatherers and purchasers of crude oil. We estimate that a 5,000 barrel per day decrease in
9
barrels gathered by us would have an approximate $1.0 million per year negative impact on segment profit. This impact is based on a reasonable margin throughout various market conditions. Actual margins vary based on the location of the crude oil, the strength or weakness of the market and the grade or quality of crude oil.
We are exposed to the credit risk of our customers in the ordinary course of our gathering and marketing activities.
There can be no assurance that we have adequately assessed the credit worthiness of our existing or future counterparties or that there will not be an unanticipated deterioration in their credit worthiness, which could have an adverse impact on us.
In those cases in which we provide division order services for crude oil purchased at the wellhead, we may be responsible for distribution of proceeds to all parties. In other cases, we pay all of or a portion of the production proceeds to an operator who distributes these proceeds to the various interest owners. These arrangements expose us to operator credit risk, and there can be no assurance that we will not experience losses in dealings with other parties.
Our pipeline assets are subject to federal, state and provincial regulation.
Our domestic interstate common carrier pipelines are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the Interstate Commerce Act. The Interstate Commerce Act requires that tariff rates for petroleum pipelines be just and reasonable and non-discriminatory. We are also subject to the Pipeline Safety Regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Our intrastate pipeline transportation activities are subject to various state laws and regulations as well as orders of regulatory bodies.
Our Canadian pipeline assets are subject to regulation by the National Energy Board and by provincial agencies. With respect to a pipeline over which it has jurisdiction, each of these Canadian agencies has the power to determine the rates we are allowed to charge for transportation on such pipeline. The extent to which regulatory agencies can override existing transportation contracts has not been fully decided.
Our pipeline systems are dependent upon their interconnections with other crude oil pipelines to reach end markets.
Reduced throughput on these interconnecting pipelines as a result of testing, line repair, reduced operating pressures or other causes could result in reduced throughput on our pipeline systems that would adversely affect our profitability.
Fluctuations in demand can negatively affect our operating results.
Fluctuations in demand for crude oil, such as caused by refinery downtime or shutdown, can have a negative effect on our operating results. Specifically, reduced demand in an area serviced by our transmission systems will negatively affect the throughput on such systems. Although the negative impact may be mitigated or overcome by our ability to capture differentials created by demand fluctuations, this ability is dependent on location and grade of crude oil, and thus is unpredictable.
The terms of our indebtedness may limit our ability to borrow additional funds or capitalize on business opportunities.
As of September 30, 2004, our total outstanding long-term debt was approximately $837.6 million. Various limitations in our indebtedness may reduce our ability to incur additional debt, to engage in
10
some transactions and to capitalize on business opportunities. Any subsequent refinancing of our current indebtedness or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions.
Changes in currency exchange rates could adversely affect our operating results.
Because we conduct operations in Canada, we are exposed to currency fluctuations and exchange rate risks that may adversely affect our results of operations.
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, as well as our not being subject to entity level taxation by states. If the IRS treats us as a corporation or we become subject to entity level taxation for state tax purposes, it would substantially reduce our ability to pay our debt service obligations.
If we were classified as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay federal income tax on our income at the corporate rate. Treatment of us as a corporation would cause a material reduction in our anticipated cash flow, which would materially and adversely affect our ability to pay our debt service obligations, including the New Notes.
In addition, because of widespread state budget deficits, several states are evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation. Imposition of such forms of taxation would reduce our cash flow.
We will be required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act for the first time.
The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 has imposed many new requirements on public companies regarding corporate governance and financial reporting. Among these is the requirement under Section 404 of the Act, beginning with our 2004 Annual Report, for management to report on our internal control over financial reporting and for our independent public accountants to attest to management's report. During 2003, we commenced actions to enhance our ability to comply with these requirements, including but not limited to the addition of staffing in our internal audit department, documentation of existing controls and implementation of new controls or modification of existing controls as deemed appropriate. We have continued to devote substantial time and resources to the documentation and testing of our controls, and to planning for and implementation of remedial efforts in those instances where remediation is indicated. At this point, we have no indication that management will be unable to favorably report on our internal controls nor that our independent auditors will be unable to attest to management's findings. Both we and our auditors, however, must complete the process (which we have never completed before), so we cannot assure you of the results. It is unclear what impact failure to comply fully with Section 404 or the discovery of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting would have on us, but presumably it could result in the reduced ability to obtain financing, the loss of customers, and additional expenditures to meet the requirements.
Risks Related to the Exchange Offers and the Notes
If you do not properly tender your outstanding Notes, you will continue to hold unregistered outstanding Notes and your ability to transfer outstanding Notes will be adversely affected.
We will only issue new Notes in exchange for outstanding Notes that you timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the outstanding Notes and you should carefully follow the instructions on how to tender your outstanding Notes. Neither we nor the exchange agent is required to tell you of any defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of outstanding Notes.
11
If you do not exchange your outstanding Notes for new Notes pursuant to the applicable exchange offer, the outstanding Notes you hold will continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions. In general, you may not offer or sell the outstanding Notes except under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. We do not plan to register outstanding Notes under the Securities Act unless our registration rights agreements with the initial purchasers of the outstanding Notes require us to do so. Further, if you continue to hold any outstanding Notes after the applicable exchange offer is consummated, you may have trouble selling them because there will be fewer Notes outstanding.
We have a holding company structure in which our subsidiaries conduct our operations and own our operating assets.
We are a holding company, and our subsidiaries conduct all of our operations and own all of our operating assets. We have no significant assets other than the partnership interests and the equity in our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make required payments on the Notes depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us. The ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us may be restricted by, among other things, credit facilities and applicable state partnership laws and other laws and regulations. Pursuant to the credit facilities, we may be required to establish cash reserves for the future payment of principal and interest on the amounts outstanding under the credit facilities. If we are unable to obtain the funds necessary to pay the principal amount at maturity of either series of the Notes, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as a refinancing of the Notes. We cannot assure you that we would be able to refinance either series of the Notes.
Your right to receive payments on the Notes and the guarantees is unsecured and will be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness as well as to any existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes.
The Notes are effectively subordinated to claims of our secured creditors, and the guarantees are effectively subordinated to the claims of our secured creditors as well as the secured creditors of our subsidiary guarantors. Although substantially all of our subsidiaries, other than PAA Finance Corp., the co-issuer of the Notes, will initially guarantee the Notes, in the future, under certain circumstances, the guarantees are subject to release and we may have subsidiaries that are not guarantors. In that case, the Notes would be effectively subordinated to the claims of all creditors, including trade creditors and tort claimants, of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors. In the event of the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding up of the business of a subsidiary that is not a guarantor, creditors of that subsidiary would generally have the right to be paid in full before any distribution is made to us or the holders of the Notes.
Our leverage may limit our ability to borrow additional funds, comply with the terms of our indebtedness or capitalize on business opportunities.
Our leverage is significant in relation to our partners' capital. Various limitations in our credit agreements and other debt instruments may reduce our ability to incur additional debt, to engage in some transactions and to capitalize on business opportunities. Any subsequent refinancing of our current indebtedness or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions.
Our leverage could have important consequences to investors in the Notes. We will require substantial cash flow to meet our principal and interest obligations with respect to the Notes and our other consolidated indebtedness. Our ability to make scheduled payments, to refinance our obligations with respect to our indebtedness or our ability to obtain additional financing in the future will depend on our financial and operating performance, which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors. We believe that we will have sufficient cash flow from
12
operations and available borrowings under our bank credit facility to service our indebtedness, although the principal amount of the Notes of each series will likely need to be refinanced at maturity in whole or in part. However, a significant downturn in the hydrocarbon industry or other development adversely affecting our cash flow could materially impair our ability to service our indebtedness. If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to refinance all or a portion of our debt or sell assets. We cannot assure you that we would be able to refinance our existing indebtedness or sell assets on terms that are commercially reasonable. In addition, if one or more rating agencies were to lower our debt ratings, we could be required by some of our counterparties to post additional collateral, which would reduce our available liquidity and cash flow.
Our leverage may adversely affect our ability to fund future working capital, capital expenditures and other general partnership requirements, future acquisition, construction or development activities, or to otherwise fully realize the value of our assets and opportunities because of the need to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness or to comply with any restrictive terms of our indebtedness. Our leverage may also make our results of operations more susceptible to adverse economic and industry conditions by limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate and may place us at a competitive disadvantage as compared to our competitors that have less debt.
A court may use fraudulent conveyance considerations to void or subordinate the subsidiary guarantees.
Various applicable fraudulent conveyance laws have been enacted for the protection of creditors. A court may use fraudulent conveyance laws to subordinate or void the subsidiary guarantees of the Notes issued by any of our subsidiary guarantors. It is also possible that under certain circumstances a court could hold that the direct obligations of a subsidiary guaranteeing the Notes could be superior to the obligations under that guarantee.
A court could void or subordinate the guarantee of the Notes by any of our subsidiaries in favor of that subsidiary's other debts or liabilities to the extent that the court determined either of the following were true at the time the subsidiary issued the guarantee:
The measure of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing will vary depending upon the law of the relevant jurisdiction. Generally, however, an entity would be considered insolvent for purposes of the foregoing if the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, were greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets at a fair valuation, or if the present fair saleable value of its assets were less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and matured.
Among other things, a legal challenge of a subsidiary's guarantee of the Notes on fraudulent conveyance grounds may focus on the benefits, if any, realized by that subsidiary as a result of our
13
issuance of the Notes. To the extent a subsidiary's guarantee of the Notes is voided as a result of fraudulent conveyance or held unenforceable for any other reason, the Note holders would cease to have any claim in respect of that guarantee.
Your ability to transfer the Notes may be limited by the absence of a trading market.
The Notes will be new securities for which currently there is no trading market. We do not currently intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any securities exchange or stock market. The liquidity of any market for the Notes of either series will depend on the number of holders of those Notes, the interest of securities dealers in making a market in those Notes and other factors. Accordingly, we cannot assure you as to the development or liquidity of any market for the Notes of either series.
We do not have the same flexibility as other types of organizations to accumulate cash, which may limit cash available to service the Notes or to repay them at maturity.
Unlike a corporation, our partnership agreement requires us to distribute, on a quarterly basis, 100% of our available cash to our unitholders of record and to our general partner. Available cash is generally all of our cash receipts adjusted for cash distributions and net changes to reserves. Our general partner will determine the amount and timing of such distributions and has broad discretion to establish and make additions to our reserves or the reserves of our operating partnerships in amounts the general partner determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate:
Although our payment obligations to our unitholders are subordinate to our payment obligations to you, the value of our units will decrease in direct correlation with decreases in the amount we distribute per unit. Accordingly, if we experience a liquidity problem in the future, we may not be able to issue equity to recapitalize.
14
Each exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under the related registration rights agreement. We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the new Notes in the exchange offers. In consideration for issuing the new Notes as contemplated by this prospectus, we will receive outstanding Notes in a like principal amount. The form and terms of the new Notes are identical in all respects to the form and terms of the outstanding Notes, except the new Notes do not include certain transfer restrictions, registration rights or provisions for additional interest. Outstanding Notes surrendered in exchange for the new Notes will be retired and cancelled and will not be reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the new Notes will not result in any change in our outstanding indebtedness.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated are as follows:
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 |
|||||||||||
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000(2) |
1999(2)(3) |
|||||||
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES(1) | 3.77 | x | 2.39 | x | 2.77 | x | 2.26 | x | 3.33 | x | |
15
We sold the outstanding Notes on August 12, 2004, pursuant to a purchase agreement dated as of August 5, 2004, by and among us, PAA Finance Corp., certain of our subsidiaries and the initial purchasers named therein. The outstanding Notes were subsequently offered by the initial purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offers
In connection with the issuance of the outstanding Notes, we entered into registration rights agreements with respect to each series of Notes. Under the registration rights agreements, we agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to:
We have fulfilled the agreements described in the first preceding bullet point and are now offering eligible holders of the outstanding Notes the opportunity to exchange their outstanding Notes for new Notes registered under the Securities Act. Holders are eligible if they are not prohibited by any law or policy of the SEC from participating in each exchange offer. The new Notes will be substantially identical to the outstanding Notes except that the new Notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights or additional interest.
Under limited circumstances, we agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to cause the SEC to declare effective a shelf registration statement for the resale of the outstanding Notes. We also agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to keep the shelf registration statement effective for up to two years after its effective date. The circumstances include if:
16
Subject to certain exceptions, we will pay additional cash interest on the applicable outstanding Notes if:
Such additional interest will be payable from and including the date on which any such registration default occurs to the date on which all registration defaults have been cured.
The rate of the additional interest will be 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence and during the continuation of the registration default, and such rate will increase by an additional 0.25% per annum for each subsequent 90-day period until all registration defaults have been cured, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 0.50% per annum. We will pay such additional interest on regular interest payment dates. Such additional interest will be in addition to any other interest payable from time to time with respect to the outstanding Notes and the new Notes.
Upon the filing or effectiveness of this registration statement, the consummation of the exchange offers, the filing or effectiveness of a shelf registration statement, or the effectiveness of a succeeding registration statement, as the case may be, the interest rate borne by the Notes from the date of such filing, effectiveness or consummation, as the case may be, will be reduced to the original interest rate. However, if after any such reduction in interest rate, a different event specified in the clauses above occurs, the interest rate may again be increased pursuant to the preceding provisions.
To exchange your outstanding Notes for transferable new Notes in the applicable exchange offer, you will be required to represent that at the time of the consummation of the applicable exchange offer:
17
In addition, we may require you to provide information to be used in connection with the shelf registration statement to have your outstanding Notes included in the shelf registration statement. A holder who sells outstanding Notes under the shelf registration statement generally will be required to be named as a selling securityholder in the related prospectus and to deliver a prospectus to purchasers. Such a holder will also be subject to the civil liability provisions under the Securities Act in connection with such sales and will be bound by the provisions of the registration rights agreement that are applicable to such a holder, including indemnification obligations.
The description of the registration rights agreements contained in this section is a summary only. For more information, you should review the provisions of the registration rights agreements that we filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Based on no action letters of the SEC staff issued to third parties, we believe that new Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you without further compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act if:
The SEC, however, has not considered either exchange offer for the new Notes in the context of a no action letter, and the SEC may not make a similar determination as in the no action letters issued to these third parties.
If you tender in an exchange offer with the intention of participating in any manner in a distribution of the new Notes, you
Unless an exemption from registration is otherwise available, any security holder intending to distribute new Notes should be covered by an effective registration statement under the Securities Act. The registration statement should contain the selling securityholder's information required by Item 507 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
This prospectus may be used for an offer to resell, resale or other retransfer of new Notes only as specifically described in this prospectus. Failure to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements by a holder subject to these requirements could result in that holder incurring liability for which it is not indemnified by us. If you are a broker-dealer, you may participate in an exchange offer only if you acquired the outstanding Notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. Each broker-dealer that receives new Notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding Notes, where such outstanding Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge in the applicable letter of transmittal that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the new Notes. Please read the section captioned "Plan of Distribution" for more details regarding the transfer of new Notes.
Subject to the terms and conditions described in this prospectus and in the applicable letter of transmittal, we will accept for exchange any outstanding Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date. We will issue new Notes in principal
18
amount equal to the principal amount of outstanding Notes of the same series surrendered under the applicable exchange offer. Outstanding Notes may be tendered only for new Notes and only in minimum principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $2,000.
Neither exchange offer is conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes being tendered for exchange. Each exchange offer will be conducted independently from the other exchange offer, and consummation of one exchange offer will not be conditioned upon consummation of the other.
As of the date of this prospectus, $175 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2009 Notes are outstanding and $175 million in aggregate principal amount of the 2016 Notes are outstanding. This prospectus is being sent to DTC, the sole registered holder of the outstanding Notes, and to all persons that we can identify as beneficial owners of the outstanding Notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of outstanding Notes entitled to participate in either exchange offer.
We intend to conduct each exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the applicable registration rights agreement, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Outstanding Notes that the holders thereof do not tender for exchange in the applicable exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest. These outstanding Notes will be entitled to the rights and benefits such holders have under the respective indenture relating to the Notes and the applicable registration rights agreement.
We will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered outstanding Notes when we have given oral or written notice of the acceptance to the exchange agent and complied with the applicable provisions of the registration rights agreement. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the new notes from us.
If you tender outstanding Notes in an exchange offer, you will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of outstanding Notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection with each exchange offer. It is important that you read the section labeled "Fees and Expenses" for more details regarding fees and expenses incurred in an exchange offer.
We will return any outstanding Notes that we do not accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering holder as promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of the applicable exchange offer.
Each exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on , 200 , unless, in our sole discretion, we extend it. We may extend one exchange offer without extending the other.
Extensions, Delays in Acceptance, Termination or Amendment
We expressly reserve the right, at any time or various times, to extend the period of time during which either exchange offer is open. During any such extensions, all outstanding Notes previously tendered will remain subject to the applicable exchange offer, and we may accept them for exchange.
In order to extend an exchange offer, we will notify the exchange agent orally or in writing of any extension. We will notify the registered holders of outstanding Notes of the extension no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.
19
If any of the conditions described below under "Conditions to the Exchange Offers" have not been satisfied, in relation to either exchange offer, we reserve the right, in our sole discretion
by giving oral or written notice of such delay, extension or termination to the exchange agent. Subject to the terms of the applicable registration rights agreement, we also reserve the right to amend the terms of either exchange offer in any manner.
Any such delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by oral or written notice thereof to the registered holders of outstanding Notes. If we amend an exchange offer in a manner that we determine to constitute a material change, we will promptly disclose such amendment by means of a prospectus supplement. The supplement will be distributed to the registered holders of the outstanding Notes that are subject to the applicable exchange offer. Depending upon the significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure to the registered holders, we will extend such exchange offer if such exchange offer would otherwise expire during such period. If an amendment constitutes a material change to an exchange offer, including the waiver of a material condition, we will extend the applicable exchange offer, if necessary, to remain open for at least five business days after the date of the amendment. In the event of any increase or decrease in the price of the outstanding Notes or in the percentage of outstanding Notes being sought by us, we will extend the applicable exchange offer to remain open for at least 10 business days after the date we provide notice of such increase or decrease to the registered holders of outstanding Notes.
Conditions to the Exchange Offers
We will not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange any new Notes for, any outstanding Notes if the applicable exchange offer, or the making of any exchange by a holder of outstanding Notes, would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC. Similarly, we may terminate either exchange offer as provided in this prospectus before accepting outstanding Notes for exchange in the event of such a potential violation.
In addition, we will not be obligated to accept for exchange the outstanding Notes of any holder that has not made to us the representations described under "Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offers," "Procedures for Tendering" and "Plan of Distribution" and such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to allow us to use an appropriate form to register the new Notes under the Securities Act.
We will not accept for exchange any outstanding Notes tendered, and will not issue new Notes in exchange for any such outstanding Notes, if at such time any stop order has been threatened or is in effect with respect to (1) the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or (2) the qualification of the applicable indenture relating to the Notes under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
We expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate either exchange offer, and to reject for exchange any outstanding Notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions to the exchange offers specified above. We will give oral or written notice of any extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the holders of the outstanding Notes as promptly as practicable.
These conditions are for our sole benefit, and we may assert them or waive them in whole or in part at any time or at various times in our sole discretion. If we fail at any time to exercise any of these
20
rights, this failure will not mean that we have waived our rights. Each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that we may assert at any time or at various times.
Each exchange offer is independent of the other, and the closing of one exchange offer is not conditioned upon the closing of the other.
In order to participate in an exchange offer, you must properly tender your outstanding Notes to the exchange agent as described below. It is your responsibility to properly tender your Notes. We have the right to waive any defects. However, we are not required to waive defects and are not required to notify you of defects in your tender.
If you have any questions or need help in exchanging your Notes, please call the exchange agent, whose address and phone number are set forth in "Prospectus SummaryThe Exchange OffersExchange Agent."
All of the outstanding Notes were issued in book-entry form, and all of the outstanding Notes are currently represented by global certificates held for the account of DTC. We have confirmed with DTC that the outstanding Notes may be tendered using the Automated Tender Offer Program ("ATOP") instituted by DTC. The exchange agent will establish an account with DTC for purposes of the exchange offers promptly after the commencement of the exchange offers and DTC participants may electronically transmit their acceptance of the exchange offer by causing DTC to transfer their outstanding Notes to the exchange agent using the ATOP procedures. In connection with the transfer, DTC will send an "agent's message" to the exchange agent. The agent's message will state that DTC has received instructions from the participant to tender outstanding Notes and that the participant agrees to be bound by the terms of the applicable letter of transmittal.
By using the ATOP procedures to exchange outstanding Notes, you will not be required to deliver a letter of transmittal to the exchange agent. However, you will be bound by its terms just as if you had signed it.
There is no procedure for guaranteed late delivery of the outstanding Notes.
Determinations Under the Exchange Offers
We will determine in our sole discretion all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, time of receipt, acceptance of tendered outstanding Notes and withdrawal of tendered outstanding Notes. Our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any outstanding Notes not properly tendered or any outstanding Notes our acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defect, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular outstanding Notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of either exchange offer, including the instructions in the applicable letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, all defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of outstanding Notes must be cured within such time as we shall determine. Although we intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of outstanding Notes, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of outstanding Notes will not be deemed made until such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any outstanding Notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the applicable letter of transmittal, as soon as practicable following the applicable expiration date.
21
When We Will Issue New Notes
In all cases, we will issue new Notes for outstanding Notes that we have accepted for exchange under an exchange offer only after the exchange agent timely receives:
Return of Outstanding Notes Not Accepted or Exchanged
If we do not accept any tendered outstanding Notes for exchange or if outstanding Notes are submitted for a greater principal amount than the holder desires to exchange, the unaccepted or non-exchanged outstanding Notes will be returned without expense to their tendering holder. Such non-exchanged outstanding Notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC. These actions will occur as promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of the applicable exchange offer.
Your Representations to Us
By agreeing to be bound by the applicable letter of transmittal, you will represent to us that, among other things:
Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, you may withdraw your tender at any time prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the expiration date. For a withdrawal to be effective you must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC's ATOP system. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with withdrawn outstanding Notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of DTC.
We will determine all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility and time of receipt of notice of withdrawal. Our determination shall be final and binding on all parties. We will deem any outstanding Notes so withdrawn not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the applicable exchange offer.
Any outstanding Notes that have been tendered for exchange but are not exchanged for any reason will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for the outstanding Notes. This return or crediting will take place as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the applicable exchange offer. You may retender properly withdrawn outstanding Notes by following the procedures described under "Procedures for Tendering" above at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the applicable expiration date.
22
We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders with respect to each exchange offer. The principal solicitation is being made by mail; however, we may make additional solicitation by telegraph, telephone or in person by our officers and regular employees and those of our affiliates.
We have not retained any dealer manager in connection with the exchange offers and will not make any payments to broker-dealers or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offers. We will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reimburse it for its related reasonable out of pocket expenses.
We will pay the cash expenses to be incurred in connection with each exchange offer. They include:
We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of outstanding Notes under each exchange offer. The tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of outstanding Notes under the applicable exchange offer.
Consequences of Failure to Exchange
If you do not exchange new Notes for your outstanding Notes under the applicable exchange offer, you will remain subject to the existing restrictions on transfer of the outstanding Notes. In general, you may not offer or sell the outstanding Notes unless they are registered under the Securities Act, or if the offer or sale is exempt from the registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreements, we do not intend to register resales of the outstanding Notes under the Securities Act.
We will record the new Notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the outstanding Notes of the same series. This carrying value is the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes less any bond discount, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes in connection with either exchange offer.
Participation in an exchange offer is voluntary, and you should carefully consider whether to accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on what action to take.
We may in the future seek to acquire untendered outstanding Notes in open market or privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We have no present plans to acquire any outstanding Notes that are not tendered in the exchange offers or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any untendered outstanding Notes.
23
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
We have derived the historical financial information and operating data below from our audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000 and 1999 and from our unaudited financial statements as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included in this prospectus.
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2003 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
|||||||||||||||
|
(in millions except per unit data) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
Statement of operations data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 14,803.4 | $ | 9,044.8 | $ | 12,589.8 | $ | 8,384.2 | $ | 6,868.2 | $ | 6,641.2 | $ | 10,910.4 | ||||||||
Cost of sales and field operations (excluding LTIP charge) |
14,558.3 |
8,879.9 |
12,366.6 |
8,209.9 |
6,720.9 |
6,506.5 |
10,800.1 |
|||||||||||||||
Unauthorized trading losses and related expenses | | | | | | 7.0 | 166.4 | |||||||||||||||
Inventory valuation adjustment | | | | | 5.0 | | | |||||||||||||||
LTIP chargeoperations(1) | 0.6 | 1.4 | 5.7 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses (excluding LTIP charge) | 54.6 | 37.4 | 50.0 | 45.7 | 46.6 | 40.8 | 23.2 | |||||||||||||||
LTIP chargegeneral and administrative(1) | 3.7 | 6.0 | 23.1 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 45.9 | 34.2 | 46.8 | 34.0 | 24.3 | 24.5 | 17.3 | |||||||||||||||
Restructuring expense | | | | | | | 1.4 | |||||||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 14,663.1 | 8,958.9 | 12,492.3 | 8,289.6 | 6,796.8 | 6,578.8 | 11,008.4 | |||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of assets | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | | 1.0 | 48.2 | 16.4 | |||||||||||||||
Operating income | 140.9 | 86.5 | 98.2 | 94.6 | 72.4 | 110.6 | (81.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (32.2 | ) | (26.5 | ) | (35.2 | ) | (29.1 | ) | (29.1 | ) | (28.7 | ) | (21.1 | ) | ||||||||
Interest income and other, net(2) | (0.3 | ) | (0.4 | ) | (3.6 | ) | (0.2 | ) | 0.4 | (4.4 | ) | (0.6 | ) | |||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(12) | $ | 108.4 | $ | 59.6 | $ | 59.4 | $ | 65.3 | $ | 43.7 | $ | 77.5 | $ | (103.4 | ) | |||||||
Basic net income (loss) per limited partner unit before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(2)(12) | $ | 1.63 | $ | 1.06 | $ | 1.01 | $ | 1.34 | $ | 1.12 | $ | 2.13 | $ | (3.21 | ) | |||||||
Diluted net income (loss) per limited partner unit before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(2)(12) | $ | 1.63 | $ | 1.05 | $ | 1.00 | $ | 1.34 | $ | 1.12 | $ | 2.13 | $ | (3.21 | ) | |||||||
Basic weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding | 61.9 | 51.7 | 52.7 | 45.5 | 37.5 | 34.4 | 31.6 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted weighted average number of limited partner units outstanding | 61.9 | 52.4 | 53.4 | 45.5 | 37.5 | 34.4 | 31.6 | |||||||||||||||
Balance sheet data (at end of period): | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets | $ | 3,106.0 | $ | 1,810.1 | $ | 2,095.6 | $ | 1,666.6 | $ | 1,261.2 | $ | 885.8 | $ | 1,223.0 | ||||||||
Total long-term debt(3)(4) | 837.6 | 453.7 | 519.0 | 509.7 | 354.7 | 320.0 | 424.1 | |||||||||||||||
Total debt(4) | 960.5 | 488.9 | 646.2 | 609.0 | 456.2 | 321.3 | 482.8 | |||||||||||||||
Partners' capital | 1,044.4 | 705.4 | 746.7 | 511.6 | 402.8 | 214.0 | 193.0 | |||||||||||||||
Other data: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Maintenance capital expenditures | $ | 6.1 | $ | 5.5 | $ | 7.6 | $ | 6.0 | $ | 3.4 | $ | 1.8 | $ | 1.7 | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities(5) | 113.1 | 236.1 | 115.3 | 185.0 | (16.2 | ) | (33.5 | ) | (71.2 | ) | ||||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities(5) | (567.3 | ) | (185.2 | ) | (272.1 | ) | (374.9 | ) | (263.2 | ) | 211.0 | (186.1 | ) | |||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities | 453.4 | (51.0 | ) | 157.2 | 189.5 | 279.5 | (227.8 | ) | 305.6 | |||||||||||||
Declared distributions per limited partner unit(6)(7)(8) | 1.70 | 1.64 | 2.19 | 2.11 | 1.95 | 1.83 | 1.59 |
Table continued on following page.
24
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2003 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
|||||||||
Operating Data: | ||||||||||||||||
Volumes (thousands of barrels per day)(9) | ||||||||||||||||
Pipeline segment: | ||||||||||||||||
Tariff activities | ||||||||||||||||
All American | 55 | 60 | 59 | 65 | 69 | 74 | 103 | |||||||||
Link acquisition | 248 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
Capline | 115 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
Basin | 275 | 264 | 263 | 93 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
Other domestic(10) | 420 | 283 | 299 | 219 | 144 | 130 | 61 | |||||||||
Canada | 257 | 191 | 203 | 187 | 132 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
Pipeline margin activities | 72 | 80 | 78 | 73 | 61 | 60 | 54 | |||||||||
Total | 1,442 | 878 | 902 | 637 | 406 | 264 | 218 | |||||||||
Gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage segment: | ||||||||||||||||
Crude oil lease gathering | 576 | 430 | 437 | 410 | 348 | 262 | 265 | |||||||||
Crude oil bulk purchases(11) | 143 | 84 | 90 | 68 | 46 | 28 | 138 | |||||||||
Total | 719 | 514 | 527 | 478 | 394 | 290 | 403 | |||||||||
LPG sales | 39 | 31 | 38 | 35 | 19 | N/A | N/A | |||||||||
25
26
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion is intended to provide investors with an understanding of our financial condition and results of our operations and should be read in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Our discussion and analysis includes the following:
Company Overview. Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. is a Delaware limited partnership formed in September of 1998. Our operations are conducted directly and indirectly through our operating subsidiaries, Plains Marketing, L.P., Plains Pipeline, L.P. and Plains Marketing Canada, L.P. We are engaged in interstate and intrastate crude oil transportation, and crude oil gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage, as well as the marketing and storage of liquefied petroleum gas and other petroleum products. We refer to liquified petroleum gas and other petroleum products collectively as "LPG." We own an extensive network of pipeline transportation, terminalling, storage and gathering assets in key oil producing basins and at major market hubs in the United States and Canada.
We are one of the largest midstream crude oil companies in North America. As of September 30, 2004, we owned approximately 15,000 miles of crude oil pipelines, approximately 37 million barrels of terminalling and storage capacity and a full complement of truck transportation and injection assets. Currently, we handle an average of over 2.5 million barrels per day of physical crude oil through our extensive network of assets located in major oil producing regions of the United States and Canada. Our operations consist of two operating segments: (i) pipeline operations ("Pipeline Operations") and (ii) gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations ("GMT&S"). Through our pipeline segment, we engage in interstate and intrastate crude oil pipeline transportation and certain related margin activities. Through our GMT&S segment, we engage in purchases and resales of crude oil and LPG at various points along the distribution chain and we operate certain terminalling and storage assets. Please read "BusinessRecent Developments" for more details regarding our recent acquisitions.
Overview of Operating Results and Significant Activities
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004. During the first nine months of 2004, we recognized net income and earnings per limited partner unit of $105.3 million and $1.58, respectively, both of which were substantial increases over the first nine months of 2003. The results for the first nine months of 2004 as compared to the first nine months of 2003 include significant contributions from acquisitions completed during the second half of 2003 and during 2004.
27
We had the following significant activities during the first nine months of 2004:
Fiscal Year 2003. During 2003:
28
of approximately $3.3 million associated with the write-off of unamortized debt issue costs. In addition, we raised approximately $250 million of equity capital in three separate transactions and we accessed the debt capital markets by issuing $250 million of ten-year senior notes at an effective yield of 5.7 percent.
We completed several acquisitions that have impacted the results of operations and liquidity discussed herein. The following acquisitions were accounted for, and the purchase price was allocated, in accordance with the purchase method of accounting. We adopted SFAS No. 141, "Business Combinations" in 2001 and followed the provisions of that statement for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. Our ongoing acquisition activity is discussed further in "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below.
2004 Acquisitions
In the first nine months of 2004, we completed several acquisitions for aggregate consideration of approximately $544.1 million. The aggregate consideration includes cash paid, estimated transaction costs and assumed liabilities and net working capital items. The following table summarizes our 2004 acquisitions, and a description of each of these follows the table:
Acquisition |
Effective Date |
Acquisition Price |
Operating Segment |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|||||
Capline and Capwood Pipeline Systems | 03/01/04 | $ | 158.5 | Pipeline | ||||
Link Energy LLC | 04/01/04 | 332.1 | Pipeline/GMT&S | |||||
Cal Ven Pipeline System | 05/01/04 | 19.0 | Pipeline | |||||
Schaefferstown Propane Storage Facility | 08/25/04 | 32.0 | GMT&S | |||||
Other(1) | 2.5 | |||||||
Total 2004 Acquisitions through September 30, 2004 | $ | 544.1 | ||||||
Capline and Capwood Pipeline Systems. In March 2004, we completed the acquisition of all of Shell Pipeline Company LP's interests in two entities for approximately $158.0 million in cash
29
(including a $15.8 million deposit paid in December 2003) and approximately $0.5 million of transaction and other costs. In December 2003, subsequent to the announcement of the acquisition and in anticipation of closing, we issued approximately 2.8 million common units for net proceeds of approximately $88.4 million, after paying approximately $4.1 million of transaction costs. The proceeds from this issuance were used to pay down our revolving credit facility. At closing, the cash portion of this acquisition was funded from cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facility.
The principal assets of the entities are: (i) an approximate 22% undivided joint interest in the Capline Pipeline System, and (ii) an approximate 76% undivided joint interest in the Capwood Pipeline System. The Capline Pipeline System is a 633-mile, 40-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in St. James, Louisiana, and terminating in Patoka, Illinois. The Capwood Pipeline System is a 57-mile, 20-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in Patoka, Illinois, and terminating in Wood River, Illinois. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition (the "Capline acquisition") have been included in our consolidated financial statements and in our pipeline operations segment since March 1, 2004. These pipelines provide one of the primary transportation routes for crude oil shipped into the Midwestern U.S. and delivered to several refineries and other pipelines.
The purchase price was allocated as follows (in millions):
Crude oil pipelines and facilities | $ | 151.4 | ||
Crude oil storage and terminal facilities | 5.7 | |||
Land | 1.3 | |||
Office equipment and other | 0.1 | |||
Total | $ | 158.5 | ||
Link Energy LLC. On April 1, 2004, we completed the acquisition of all of the North American crude oil and pipeline operations of Link for approximately $332 million, including $268 million of cash (net of approximately $5.5 million subsequently returned to us from an indemnity escrow account) and approximately $64 million of net liabilities assumed and acquisition related costs. The Link crude oil business consists of approximately 7,000 miles of active crude oil pipeline and gathering systems, over 10 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity, a fleet of approximately 200 owned or leased trucks and approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil linefill and working inventory. The Link assets complement our assets in West Texas and along the Gulf Coast and allow us to expand our presence in the Rocky Mountain and Oklahoma/Kansas regions. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition (the "Link acquisition") have been included in our consolidated financial statements and both our pipeline operations and GMT&S operations segments since April 1, 2004.
30
The purchase price was allocated as follows and includes goodwill primarily related to Link's gathering and marketing business (in millions):
Fair value of assets acquired: | ||||||
Property and equipment | $ | 262.3 | ||||
Inventory | 1.1 | |||||
Linefill | 48.4 | |||||
Inventory in third party assets | 15.1 | |||||
Goodwill | 5.0 | |||||
Other long term assets | 0.2 | |||||
Subtotal | 332.1 | |||||
Accounts receivable(1) |
405.4 |
|||||
Other current assets | 1.8 | |||||
Subtotal | 407.2 | |||||
Total assets acquired |
739.3 |
|||||
Fair value of liabilities assumed: | ||||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities(1) | (455.4 | ) | ||||
Other current liabilities | (8.5 | ) | ||||
Other long-term liabilities | (7.4 | ) | ||||
Total liabilities assumed | (471.3 | ) | ||||
Cash paid for acquisition(2) |
$ |
268.0 |
||||
We are in the process of evaluating certain estimates made in the purchase price and related allocation; thus, the purchase price and allocation are both subject to refinement.
The acquisition was initially funded with cash on hand and borrowings under our existing credit facilities as well as under a new $200 million, 364-day credit facility. In connection with the acquisition, on April 15, 2004, we completed the private placement of 3,245,700 Class C common units to a group of institutional investors. During the third quarter of 2004, we completed a public offering of common units and the sale of the outstanding Notes. A portion of the proceeds from these transactions was used to retire the $200 million, 364-day credit facility.
Cal Ven Pipeline System. On May 7, 2004 we completed the acquisition of the Cal Ven Pipeline System from Cal Ven Limited, a subsidiary of Unocal Canada Limited. The total purchase price was approximately $19 million, including transaction costs. The transaction was funded through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities. The Cal Ven Pipeline System includes approximately 195 miles of 8-inch and 10-inch gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines. The system is located in northern Alberta and delivers crude oil into the Rainbow Pipeline System. The Rainbow Pipeline System then transports the crude south to the Edmonton market, where it can be used in local refineries or shipped on connecting pipelines to the U.S. market. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and our pipeline operations segment since May 1, 2004.
31
Schaefferstown Propane Storage Facility. In August 2004, we completed the acquisition of the Schaefferstown Propane Storage Facility from Koch Hydrocarbon, L.P. The total purchase price was approximately $32 million, including transaction costs. In connection with the transaction, we also acquired an additional $14.2 million of inventory. The transaction was funded through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and our gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations segment since August 25, 2004. The preliminary purchase price was primarily allocated to property and equipment.
2003 Acquisitions
During 2003, we completed ten acquisitions for aggregate consideration of approximately $159.5 million. The aggregate consideration includes cash paid, estimated transaction costs, assumed liabilities and estimated near-term capital costs. The acquisitions were initially financed with borrowings under our credit facilities, which were subsequently repaid with a portion of the proceeds from our equity issuances and the issuance of senior notes. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources." The businesses acquired during 2003 impacted our results of operations subsequent to the effective date of each acquisition as indicated below. These acquisitions included mainline crude oil pipelines, crude oil gathering lines, terminal and storage facilities, and an underground LPG storage facility. With the exception of $0.5 million that was allocated to goodwill and other intangible assets and $4.7 million associated with crude oil linefill and working inventory, the remaining aggregate purchase price was allocated to property and equipment. The following table details our 2003 acquisitions:
Acquisition |
Effective Date |
Acquisition Price |
Operating Segment |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|||||
Red River Pipeline System | 02/01/03 | $ | 19.4 | Pipeline | ||||
Iatan Gathering System | 03/01/03 | 24.3 | Pipeline | |||||
Mesa Pipeline Facility(1) | 05/05/03 | 2.9 | Pipeline | |||||
South Louisiana Assets(2) | 06/01/03 | 13.4 | Pipeline/GMT&S | |||||
Alto Storage Facility | 06/01/03 | 8.5 | GMT&S | |||||
Iraan to Midland Pipeline System | 06/30/03 | 17.6 | Pipeline | |||||
ArkLaTex Pipeline System | 10/01/03 | 21.3 | Pipeline/GMT&S | |||||
South Saskatchewan Pipeline System | 11/01/03 | 47.7 | Pipeline | |||||
Atchafalaya Pipeline System(3) | 12/01/03 | 4.4 | Pipeline | |||||
Total 2003 Acquisitions | $ | 159.5 | ||||||
2002 Acquisitions
Shell West Texas Assets. On August 1, 2002, we acquired interests in approximately 2,000 miles of gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines and approximately 9.0 million barrels (net to our interest) of above ground crude oil terminalling and storage assets in West Texas from Shell Pipeline Company LP and Equilon Enterprises LLC (the "Shell acquisition") for approximately $324 million. The primary assets included in the transaction are interests in the Basin Pipeline System, the Permian Basin Gathering System and the Rancho Pipeline System. The entire purchase price was allocated to property and equipment.
32
The acquired assets are primarily fee-based mainline crude oil pipeline transportation assets that gather crude oil in the Permian Basin and transport the crude oil to major market locations in the Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast regions. The Permian Basin has long been one of the most stable crude oil producing regions in the United States, dating back to the 1930s. The acquired assets complement our existing asset infrastructure in West Texas and represent a transportation link to Cushing, Oklahoma, where we provide storage and terminalling services. The Rancho Pipeline System was taken out of service in March 2003, pursuant to the operating agreement. See "BusinessAcquisitions and DispositionsShutdown and Sale of Rancho Pipeline System."
Other 2002 Acquisitions. During February and March of 2002, we completed two other acquisitions for aggregate consideration totaling $15.9 million, with effective dates of February 1, 2002 and March 31, 2002, respectively. These acquisitions include an equity interest in a crude oil pipeline company and crude oil gathering and marketing assets.
2001 Acquisitions
CANPET Energy Group. In July 2001, we acquired the assets of CANPET Energy Group Inc., a Calgary based Canadian crude oil and LPG marketing company (the "CANPET acquisition"), for approximately $24.6 million plus excess inventory at the closing date of approximately $25.0 million. A portion of the purchase price, payable in common units or cash, at our option, was deferred subject to various performance standards being met. On April 30, 2004, we satisfied the deferred payment with the issuance of approximately 385,000 common units (representing approximately $13.1 million in value as of the date of issuance) and the payment of $6.5 million in cash. In addition, an incremental $3.7 million in cash was paid for the distributions that would have been paid on the common units had they been outstanding since the effective date of the acquisition.
At the time of the acquisition, CANPET's activities consisted of gathering approximately 75,000 barrels per day of crude oil and marketing an average of approximately 26,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids or LPGs. The principal assets acquired include a crude oil handling facility, a 130,000-barrel tank facility, LPG facilities, existing business relationships and operating inventory. The purchase price, as adjusted for post-closing adjustments of $1.0 million, was allocated as follows (in millions):
Inventory | $ | 28.1 | ||
Goodwill | 35.4 | |||
Intangible assets (contracts) | 1.0 | |||
Pipeline linefill | 4.3 | |||
Crude oil gathering, terminalling and other assets | 5.1 | |||
Total | $ | 73.9 | ||
Murphy Oil Company Ltd. Midstream Operations. In May 2001, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the Canadian crude oil pipeline, gathering, storage and terminalling assets of Murphy Oil Company Ltd. for approximately $158.4 million in cash after post-closing adjustments, including financing and transaction costs (the "Murphy acquisition"). Initial financing for the acquisition was provided through borrowings under our credit facilities. The purchase price included $6.5 million for excess inventory in the pipeline systems. The principal assets acquired include approximately 560 miles of crude oil and condensate mainlines (including dual lines on which condensate is shipped for blending purposes and blended crude is shipped in the opposite direction) and associated gathering and lateral lines, approximately 1.1 million barrels of crude oil storage and terminalling capacity located primarily in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, approximately 254,000 barrels of pipeline linefill and tank inventories, and 121 trailers used primarily for crude oil transportation.
33
Murphy agreed to continue to transport production from fields previously delivering crude oil to these pipeline systems, under a long-term contract. At the time of acquisition, these volumes averaged approximately 11,000 barrels per day. Total volumes transported on the pipeline system in 2001 were approximately 223,000 barrels per day of light, medium and heavy crudes, as well as condensate.
The purchase price, as adjusted post-closing, was allocated as follows (in millions):
Crude oil pipeline, gathering and terminal assets | $ | 148.0 | ||
Pipeline linefill | 7.6 | |||
Networking capital items | 2.0 | |||
Other property and equipment | 0.5 | |||
Other assets, including debt issue costs | 0.3 | |||
Total | $ | 158.4 | ||
Other 2001 Acquisitions. In December 2001, we consummated the acquisition of the Wapella Pipeline System from private investors for approximately $12.0 million, including transaction costs. The entire purchase price was allocated to property and equipment. The system further expands our market in Canada.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, at the date of the financial statements. Such estimates and assumptions also affect the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates. The critical accounting policies that we have identified are discussed below.
Purchase and Sales Accruals
We routinely make accruals based on estimates for certain components of our revenues and cost of sales due to the timing of compiling billing information, receiving third party information and reconciling our records with those of third parties. Where applicable, these accruals are based on nominated volumes expected to be purchased, transported and subsequently sold. Uncertainties involved in these estimates include levels of production at the wellhead, access to certain qualities of crude oil, pipeline capacities and delivery times, utilization of truck fleets to transport volumes to their destinations, weather, market conditions and other forces beyond our control. These estimates are generally associated with a portion of the last month of each reporting period. We currently estimate that less than 2% of total annual revenues and cost of sales are recorded using estimates and less than 8% of total quarterly revenues and cost of sales are recorded using estimates. Accordingly, a variance from this estimate of 10% would impact the respective line items by less than 1% on both an annual and quarterly basis. Although the resolution of these uncertainties has not historically had a material impact on our reported results of operations or financial condition, because of the high volume, low margin nature of our business, we cannot provide assurance that actual amounts will not vary significantly from estimated amounts. Variances from estimates are reflected in the period actual results become known, typically in the month following the estimate.
Mark-to-Market Accrual
In situations where we are required to make mark-to-market estimates pursuant to SFAS 133, the estimates of gains or losses at a particular period end do not reflect the end results of particular transactions, and will most likely not reflect the actual gain or loss at the conclusion of a transaction. We reflect estimates for these items based on our internal records and information from third parties.
34
A portion of the estimates we use are based on internal models or models of third parties because they are not quoted on a national market. Additionally, values may vary among different models due to a difference in assumptions applied such as the estimate of prevailing market prices, volatility, correlations and other factors and may not be reflective of the price at which they can be settled due to the lack of a liquid market. Less than 1% of total revenues are based on estimates derived from these models. Although the resolution of these uncertainties has not historically had a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition, we cannot provide assurance that actual amounts will not vary significantly from estimated amounts.
Contingent Liability Accruals
We accrue reserves for contingent liabilities including, but not limited to, environmental remediation, insurance claims and potential legal claims. Accruals are made when our assessment indicates that it is probable that a liability has occurred and the amount of liability can be reasonably estimated. Our estimates are based on all known facts at the time and our assessment of the ultimate outcome. Among the many uncertainties that impact our estimates are the necessary regulatory approvals for, and potential modification of, our remediation plans, the limited 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, costs of medical care associated with worker's compensation insurance claims, and the possibility of existing legal claims giving rise to additional claims. Our estimates and contingent liability accruals are increased or decreased as additional information is obtained or resolution is achieved. A variance of 10% in our aggregate estimate would have an approximate $3.0 million impact on earnings. Although the resolution of these uncertainties has not historically had a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition, we cannot provide assurance that actual amounts will not vary significantly from estimated amounts.
Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Acquired and Identification of Associated Goodwill and Intangible Assets
In conjunction with each acquisition, we must allocate the cost of the acquired entity to the assets and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. We also estimate the amount of transaction costs that will be incurred in connection with each acquisition. As additional information becomes available, we may adjust the original estimates within a short time period subsequent to the acquisition. In addition, in conjunction with the adoption of SFAS 141, we are required to recognize intangible assets separately from goodwill. Goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but instead are periodically assessed for impairment. The impairment testing entails estimating future net cash flows relating to the asset, based on management's estimate of market conditions including pricing, demand, competition, operating costs and other factors. Intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over the estimated useful life determined by management. Determining the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired, as well as intangible assets that relate to such items as customer relationships, contracts, and industry expertise involves professional judgment and is ultimately based on acquisition models and management's assessment of the value of the assets acquired and, to the extent available, third party assessments. Uncertainties associated with these estimates include changes in production decline rates, production interruptions, fluctuations in refinery capacity or product slates, economic obsolescence factors in the area and potential future sources of cash flow. Although the resolution of these uncertainties has not historically had a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition, we cannot provide assurance that actual amounts will not vary significantly from estimated amounts.
35
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force issued Issue No. 03-06 ("EITF 03-06"), "Participating Securities and the Two-Class Method under FASB Statement No. 128." EITF 03-06 addresses a number of questions regarding the computation of earnings per share by companies that have issued securities, other than common stock, that contractually entitle the holder to participate in dividends and earnings of the company when, and if, it declares dividends on its common stock. The issue also provides further guidance in applying the two-class method of calculating earnings per share, clarifying what constitutes a participating security and how to apply the two-class method of computing earnings per share once it is determined that a security is participating, including how to allocate undistributed earnings to such a security. EITF 03-06 was effective for fiscal periods beginning after March 31, 2004. The adoption of EITF 03-06 may have an impact on earnings per limited partner unit in future periods if net income exceeds distributions or if other participating securities are issued. The effect of applying EITF 03-06 on prior periods was not material except for the year ended December 31, 2000, which has been restated as shown below.
Basic and Diluted Income Before Extraordinary Item and Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle per Limited Partner Unit:
|
For the Year Ended December 31, 2000 |
||
---|---|---|---|
Prior to the adoption of SFAS 145(1) or EITF 03-06 | $ | 2.64 | |
After the adoption of SFAS 145 but prior to the adoption of EITF 03-06 | $ | 2.20 | |
After the adoption of both SFAS 145 and EITF 03-06 | $ | 2.13 |
Change in Accounting Principle
During the second quarter of 2004, we changed our method of accounting for pipeline linefill in third party assets. Historically, we have viewed pipeline linefill, whether in our assets or third party assets, as having long-term characteristics rather than characteristics typically associated with the short-term classification of operating inventory. Therefore, previously we have not included linefill barrels in the same average costing calculation as our operating inventory, but instead have carried linefill at historical cost. Following this change in accounting principle, the linefill in third party assets that we have historically classified as a portion of "Pipeline Linefill" on the face of the balance sheet (a long-term asset) and carried at historical cost, is included in "Inventory" (a current asset) in determining the average cost of operating inventory and applying the lower of cost or market analysis. At the end of each period, we will reclassify the linefill in third party assets not expected to be liquidated within the succeeding twelve months out of "Inventory" (a current asset), at average cost, and into "Inventory in Third Party Assets" (a long-term asset), which is now reflected as a separate line item within other assets on the consolidated balance sheet.
This change in accounting principle is effective January 1, 2004 and is reflected in our consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and our consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2004. The cumulative effect of this change in accounting principle as of January 1, 2004, is a charge of approximately $3.1 million, representing a reduction in Inventory of approximately $1.7 million, a reduction in Pipeline Linefill of approximately $30.3 million and an increase in Inventory in Third Party Assets of $28.9 million. The pro forma impact for the first nine months of 2003 would have been an increase to net income of approximately $2.2 million ($0.04 per basic and diluted limited partner unit) resulting in pro forma net income of $61.8 million and pro forma basic net income per limited partner unit of $1.10 and pro forma diluted net income per limited partner unit of $1.09.
36
In conjunction with this change in accounting principle, we have classified cash flows associated with purchases and sales of linefill on assets that we own as cash flows from investing activities instead of the historical classification of cash flows from operating activities. Accordingly, our statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 has been revised to reclassify the cash paid for linefill in assets owned from operating activities to investing activities. The effect of the reclassification was an increase to net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used in investing activities of $40.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. As a result of this change in classification, net cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 would increase to $115.3 million from $68.5 million and to $185.0 million from $173.9 million, respectively. Net cash used in investing activities for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 would increase to $272.1 million from $225.3 million and $374.8 million from $363.8 million, respectively. In addition, net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2001 would decrease from $30 million to $16.2 million and net cash used in investing activities would increase to $263.2 million from $249.5 million. This change in classification had no impact on the years ended 2000 and 1999.
Analysis of Operating Segments
Our operations consist of two operating segments: (1) our Pipeline Operations, through which we engage in interstate and intrastate crude oil pipeline transportation and certain related merchant activities; and (2) our GMT&S Operations, through which we engage in purchases and resales of crude oil and LPG at various points along the distribution chain and the operation of certain terminalling and storage assets. We believe that the combination of our terminalling and storage activities and gathering and marketing activities provides a counter-cyclical balance that has a stabilizing effect on our results of operations and cash flow. In a contango market (oil prices for future deliveries are higher than for current deliveries), we use our tankage to improve our gathering margins by storing crude oil we have purchased at lower prices in the current month for delivery at higher prices in future months. In a backwardated market (oil prices for future deliveries are lower than for current deliveries), we use and lease less storage capacity, but increased marketing margins (premiums for prompt delivery) provide an offset to this reduced cash flow.
We evaluate segment performance based on segment profit and maintenance capital. We define segment profit as revenues less (i) purchases, (ii) field operating costs and (iii) segment general and administrative ("G&A") expenses. Each of the items above excludes depreciation and amortization. As a master limited partnership, we make quarterly distributions of our "available cash" (as defined in our partnership agreement) to our unitholders. Therefore, we look at each period's earnings before non-cash depreciation and amortization as an important measure of segment performance. The exclusion of depreciation and amortization expense could be viewed as limiting the usefulness of segment profit as a performance measure because it does not account in current periods for the implied reduction in value of our capital assets, such as crude oil pipelines and facilities, caused by aging and wear and tear. Management compensates for this limitation by recognizing that depreciation and amortization are largely offset by repair and maintenance costs, which keep the actual value of our principal fixed assets from declining. These maintenance costs are a component of field operating costs included in segment profit or in maintenance capital, depending on the nature of the cost. Maintenance capital consists of capital expenditures required either to maintain the existing operating capacity of partially or fully depreciated assets or to extend their useful lives. Capital expenditures made to expand our existing capacity, whether through construction or acquisition, are not considered maintenance capital expenditures. Repair and maintenance expenditures associated with existing assets that do not extend the useful life or expand the operating capacity are charged to expense as incurred.
37
Pipeline Operations
As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, we owned approximately 15,000 miles (of which approximately 13,100 miles are included in our pipeline segment) and 7,000 miles, respectively, of gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines located throughout the United States and Canada. Our activities from pipeline operations generally consist of transporting volumes of crude oil for a fee and third party leases of pipeline capacity (collectively referred to as "tariff activities"), as well as barrel exchanges and buy/sell arrangements (collectively referred to as "pipeline margin activities"). In connection with certain of our merchant activities conducted under our gathering and marketing business, we are also shippers on certain of our own pipelines. These transactions are conducted at published tariff rates and eliminated in consolidation. Tariffs and other fees on our pipeline systems vary by receipt point and delivery point. The segment profit generated by our tariff and other fee-related activities depends on the volumes transported on the pipeline and the level of the tariff and other fees charged as well as the fixed and variable field costs of operating the pipeline. Segment profit from our pipeline capacity leases, barrel exchanges and buy/sell arrangements generally reflect a negotiated amount.
Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage Operations
As of September 30, 2004, and December 31, 2003, respectively, we owned approximately 37 million barrels (of which approximately 13.6 million barrels of capacity are used in our GMT&S segment) and 23.4 million barrels of above-ground crude oil terminalling and storage facilities, including a crude oil terminalling and storage facility at Cushing, Oklahoma. Cushing, which we refer to as the Cushing Interchange, is one of the largest crude oil market hubs in the United States and the designated delivery point for New York Mercantile Exchange, or NYMEX, crude oil futures contracts. Terminals are facilities where crude oil is transferred to or from storage or a transportation system, such as a pipeline, to another transportation system, such as trucks or another pipeline. The operation of these facilities is called "terminalling." Approximately 13.6 million barrels of our 37 million barrels of tankage is used primarily in our GMT&S Operations segment and the balance is used in our Pipeline Operations segment. On a stand-alone basis, segment profit from terminalling and storage activities is dependent on the throughput of volumes, the volume of crude oil stored and the level of fees generated from our terminalling and storage services. Our terminalling and storage activities are integrated with our gathering and marketing activities and the level of tankage that we allocate for our arbitrage activities (and therefore not available for lease to third parties) varies throughout crude oil price cycles. This integration enables us to use our storage tanks in an effort to counter-cyclically balance and hedge our gathering and marketing activities. In a contango market (when oil prices for future deliveries are higher than for current deliveries), we use our tankage to improve our gathering margins by storing crude oil we have purchased at lower prices in the current month for delivery at higher prices in future months. In a backwardated market (when oil prices for future deliveries are lower than for current deliveries), we use and lease less storage capacity, but increased marketing margins (premiums for prompt delivery) provide an offset to this reduced cash flow. We believe that this combination of our terminalling and storage activities and gathering and marketing activities provides a counter-cyclical balance that has a stabilizing effect on our results of operations and cash flows.
Our revenues from gathering and marketing activities reflect the sale of gathered and bulk-purchased crude oil and LPG volumes, plus the sale of additional barrels exchanged through buy/sell arrangements entered into to supplement the margins of the gathered and bulk-purchased volumes. Because the commodities that we buy and sell are generally indexed to the same pricing indices for both the purchase and the sale, revenues and costs related to purchases will increase and decrease with changes in market prices. However, the margins related to those purchases and sales will not necessarily have corresponding increases and decreases. For example, our revenues increased
38
approximately 66% in the first nine months of 2004 compared to the first nine months of 2003, while our segment profit increased almost 30% in the same period.
Revenues from our GMT&S operations were approximately $14.2 billion and $8.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Revenues and costs related to purchases for the 2004 period were impacted by higher average prices and higher volumes as compared to the 2003 period. Approximately 52% of the increase in revenues resulted from higher average prices in the 2004 period and the remainder was attributable to increased sales volumes. The average NYMEX price for crude oil was $39.09 per barrel and $31.03 per barrel for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Generally, we expect our segment profit to increase or decrease directionally with increases or decreases in lease gathered volumes and LPG sales volumes. Although we believe that the combination of our lease gathering business and our storage assets provides a counter-cyclical balance that provides stability in our margins, these margins are not fixed and may vary from period to period. In order to evaluate the performance of this segment, management focuses on the following metrics: (i) segment profit (ii) crude oil lease gathered volumes and LPG sales volumes and (iii) segment profit per barrel calculated on these volumes.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003
For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we reported consolidated net income of $105.3 million on total revenues of $14.8 billion compared to net income for the same period in 2003 of $59.6 million on total revenues of $9.0 billion. The following table reflects our results of operations
39
and maintenance capital for each segment (note that each of the items in the following table excludes depreciation and amortization):
|
Pipeline |
GMT&S |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in millions) |
||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004(1) | |||||||
Revenues | $ | 639.5 | $ | 14,247.6 | |||
Purchases | (408.4 | ) | (14,075.8 | ) | |||
Field operating costs (excluding LTIP charge) | (84.8 | ) | (73.3 | ) | |||
LTIP chargeoperations | (0.1 | ) | (0.4 | ) | |||
Segment G&A expenses (excluding LTIP charge)(2) | (27.3 | ) | (27.2 | ) | |||
LTIP chargegeneral and administrative | (1.7 | ) | (2.0 | ) | |||
Segment profit | $ | 117.2 | $ | 68.9 | |||
Noncash SFAS 133 impact(3) | $ | | $ | 1.4 | |||
Maintenance capital | $ | 4.1 | $ | 2.0 | |||
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003(1) | |||||||
Revenues | $ | 489.1 | $ | 8,594.8 | |||
Purchases | (362.9 | ) | (8,457.2 | ) | |||
Field operating costs (excluding LTIP charge) | (42.3 | ) | (56.6 | ) | |||
LTIP chargeoperations | (0.4 | ) | (1.0 | ) | |||
Segment G&A expenses (excluding LTIP charge)(2) | (13.7 | ) | (23.7 | ) | |||
LTIP chargegeneral and administrative | (2.6 | ) | (3.4 | ) | |||
Segment profit | $ | 67.2 | $ | 52.9 | |||
Noncash SFAS 133 impact(3) | $ | | $ | (1.7 | ) | ||
Maintenance capital | $ | 4.8 | $ | 0.7 | |||
40
The following table sets forth our operating results from our Pipeline Operations segment for the periods indicated:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||
Operating Results(1) (in millions) | |||||||||
Revenues | |||||||||
Tariff activities | $ | 215.3 | $ | 112.4 | |||||
Pipeline margin activities | 424.2 | 376.7 | |||||||
Total pipeline operations revenues | 639.5 | 489.1 | |||||||
Costs and Expenses | |||||||||
Pipeline margin activities purchases | (408.4 | ) | (362.9 | ) | |||||
Field operating costs (excluding LTIP charge) | (84.8 | ) | (42.3 | ) | |||||
LTIP chargeoperations | (0.1 | ) | (0.4 | ) | |||||
Segment G&A expenses (excluding LTIP charge)(2) | (27.3 | ) | (13.7 | ) | |||||
LTIP chargegeneral and administrative | (1.7 | ) | (2.6 | ) | |||||
Segment profit | $ | 117.2 | $ | 67.2 | |||||
Maintenance capital | $ | 4.1 | $ | 4.8 | |||||
Average Daily Volumes(3) (thousands of barrels per day) | |||||||||
Tariff activities | |||||||||
All American | 55 | 60 | |||||||
Basin | 275 | 264 | |||||||
Link acquisition | 248 | N/A | |||||||
Capline | 115 | N/A | |||||||
Other domestic | 420 | 283 | |||||||
Canada | 257 | 191 | |||||||
Total tariff activities | 1,370 | 798 | |||||||
Pipeline margin activities | 72 | 80 | |||||||
Total | 1,442 | 878 | |||||||
Total revenues from our pipeline operations were approximately $639.5 million and $489.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. An increase in revenues from tariff activities accounted for $102.9 million of the increase (see discussion below). Additionally, revenues from our margin activities increased by approximately $47.5 million in the 2004 period. This increase was related to higher average prices for crude oil sold and transported on our SJV gathering system in the 2004 period as compared to the 2003 period, partially offset by lower buy/sell volumes. As mentioned above, because the barrels that we buy and sell are generally indexed to the same pricing indices, revenues and purchases will increase and decrease with changes in market prices without significant changes to our margins related to those purchases and sales. Volumes transported on the SJV system have decreased from the 2003 period. This is primarily related to (i) the first quarter of
41
2003 including additional shipments that typically move on other pipelines and (ii) the use by refineries of foreign crude oil instead of crude oil transported on the SJV system.
Segment profit, our primary measure of segment performance, increased approximately 74% to $117.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to the 2003 period. The primary drivers impacting the 2004 period as compared to the 2003 period are:
As discussed above, the increase in pipeline operations segment profit is largely related to our acquisition activities. We have completed a number of acquisitions during 2004 and 2003 that have impacted our results of operations. The following presentation helps summarize the impact of recent acquisitions on volumes and revenues related to our tariff activities.
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2003 |
|||||||||
|
Volumes |
Revenues |
Volumes |
Revenues |
|||||||
|
(volumes in thousands of barrels per day and revenues in millions) |
||||||||||
Tariff activities(1)(2) | |||||||||||
2004 acquisitions | 471 | $ | 77.7 | | $ | | |||||
2003 acquisitions | 168 | 27.7 | 58 | 8.0 | |||||||
All other pipeline systems | 731 | 109.9 | 740 | 104.4 | |||||||
Total tariff activities | 1,370 | $ | 215.3 | 798 | $ | 112.4 | |||||
Average daily volumes from our tariff activities increased 72% to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day and revenues from our tariff activities increased 92% to $215.3 million. The increase in the third quarter of 2004 is predominately related to (i) the inclusion of an average of 248,000 barrels per day and $52.7 million of revenues from the pipelines acquired in the Link acquisition and (ii) 223,000 barrels per day and $25.0 million of revenues from other businesses acquired in 2004.
42
Volumes from pipeline systems acquired in 2003 have increased to an average of 168,000 barrels per day from an average of 58,000 barrels per day, while related revenues increased to $27.7 million from $8.0 million. The increase is primarily the result of the inclusion of several pipeline systems in the 2004 period that were acquired during or after 2003 (See "Acquisitions"), coupled with higher realized prices on our loss allowance oil. Volumes and revenues from all other pipeline systems were relatively flat between years.
The following table sets forth our operating results from our GMT&S Operations segment for the comparative periods indicated:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2003 |
||||||
Operating Results(1) (in millions) | ||||||||
Revenues | $ | 14,247.6 | $ | 8,594.8 | ||||
Purchases and related costs | (14,075.8 | ) | (8,457.2 | ) | ||||
Field operating costs (excluding LTIP charge) | (73.3 | ) | (56.6 | ) | ||||
LTIP chargeoperations | (0.4 | ) | (1.0 | ) | ||||
Segment G&A expenses (excluding LTIP charge)(2) | (27.2 | ) | (23.7 | ) | ||||
LTIP chargegeneral and administrative | (2.0 | ) | (3.4 | ) | ||||
Segment profit | $ | 68.9 | $ | 52.9 | ||||
Noncash SFAS 133 impact(3) | $ | 1.4 | $ | (1.7 | ) | |||
Maintenance capital | $ | 2.0 | $ | 0.7 | ||||
Average Daily Volumes(4) (thousands of barrels per day) | ||||||||
Crude oil lease gathering | 576 | 430 | ||||||
Crude oil bulk purchases | 143 | 84 | ||||||
Total | 719 | 514 | ||||||
LPG sales(5) | 39 | 31 | ||||||
Segment profit increased approximately 30% to $68.9 million for the first nine months of 2004 as compared to the first nine months of 2003. The primary drivers for the increase in the current year were:
43
The impact of the items discussed above resulted in segment profit per barrel (calculated based on our lease gathered crude oil and LPG barrels) of $0.41 per barrel for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared to $0.42 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003.
Other Expenses
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense was $45.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, compared to $34.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The increase relates primarily to the assets from our 2004 acquisitions and our various 2003 acquisitions being included for the full nine months in 2004 versus only a part or none of the nine months in 2003. Additionally, several capital projects were completed during late 2003 that were not included in the first nine months of 2003 depreciation expense. Amortization of debt issue costs was $1.9 million and $3.0 million in the first nine months of 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Interest Expense. During the first nine months of 2004, our average debt balance was approximately $719 million. This balance consisted of fixed rate senior notes averaging $514 million and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities averaging $205 million. During the comparable 2003 period, our average debt balance was approximately $525 million and consisted of fixed rate senior notes with a face amount of $200 million and borrowings under our revolving credit facilities of $325 million. The higher average debt balance in the 2004 period was primarily related to the portion
44
of our acquisitions that were not refinanced with equity. Our financial growth strategy is to fund our acquisitions using a balance of debt and equity.
The changes to our debt structure and our interest rate hedging instruments mentioned above resulted in an increase in the average amount of fixed rate debt outstanding in the first nine months of 2004 to approximately 72% as compared to approximately 38% in the first nine months of 2003. In addition, during these two periods the average three-month LIBOR rate rose to 1.4% in 2004 from 1.1% in 2003.
The net impact of the items discussed above was an increase in interest expense for the nine months ended 2004 of approximately $5.7 million to a total of $32.2 million. The higher average debt balance in the 2004 period resulted in additional interest expense of approximately $8.3 million, while at the same time our commitment and other fees decreased by approximately $1.6 million. Our weighted average interest rate, excluding commitment and other fees, was approximately 5.7% for the nine months ended 2004 compared to 6.0% for the nine months ended 2003. The lower weighted average rate decreased interest expense by approximately $1.0 million during the nine months ended 2004 compared to the nine months ended 2003.
Other. During the third quarter of 2004, we completed the issuance of 4,968,000 common units and the outstanding Notes. We used the proceeds from these issuances to, among other things, repay amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facilities, including all amounts outstanding under the $200 million, 364-day facility we used to fund the Link acquisition. The repayment and termination of this facility resulted in a non-cash charge of approximately $0.7 million associated with the write-off of unamortized debt issue costs.
45
Three Years Ended December 31, 2003
The following table reflects our results of operations and maintenance capital for each segment (note that each of the items in the following table excludes depreciation and amortization).
|
Pipeline |
GMT&S |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in millions) |
||||||
Year Ended December 31, 2003(1) | |||||||
Revenues | $ | 658.6 | $ | 11,985.6 | |||
Purchases | (487.1 | ) | (11,799.8 | ) | |||
Field operating costs (excluding LTIP charge) | (60.9 | ) | (73.3 | ) | |||
LTIP chargeoperations | (1.4 | ) | (4.3 | ) | |||
Segment G&A expenses (excluding LTIP charge)(2) | (18.3 | ) | (31.6 | ) | |||
LTIP chargegeneral and administrative | (9.6 | ) | (13.5 | ) | |||
Segment profit | $ | 81.3 | $ | 63.1 | |||
Noncash SFAS 133 impact(3) | $ | | $ | 0.4 | |||
Maintenance capital | $ | 6.4 | $ | 1.2 | |||
Year Ended December 31, 2002(1) | |||||||
Revenues | $ | 486.2 | $ | 7,921.8 | |||
Purchases | (362.2 | ) | (7,765.1 | ) | |||
Field operating costs | (40.1 | ) | (66.3 | ) | |||
Segment G&A expenses(2) | (13.2 | ) | (31.5 | ) | |||
Segment profit | $ | 70.7 | $ | 58.9 | |||
Noncash SFAS 133 impact(3) | $ | | $ | 0.3 | |||
Maintenance capital | $ | 3.4 | $ | 2.6 | |||
Year Ended December 31, 2001(1) | |||||||
Revenues | $ | 357.4 | $ | 6,528.3 | |||
Purchases | (266.7 | ) | (6,383.6 | ) | |||
Field operating costs | (19.4 | ) | (73.7 | ) | |||
Segment G&A expenses(2) | (12.4 | ) | (28.5 | ) | |||
Segment profit | $ | 58.9 | $ | 42.5 | |||
Noncash SFAS 133 impact(3) | $ | | $ | 0.2 | |||
Maintenance capital | $ | 0.5 | $ | 2.9 | |||
46
The following table sets forth our operating results from our Pipeline Operations segment for the periods indicated:
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
|||||||||
Operating Results(1) (in millions) | ||||||||||||
Revenues | ||||||||||||
Tariff activities | $ | 153.3 | $ | 103.7 | $ | 69.4 | ||||||
Pipeline margin activities | 505.3 | 382.5 | 288.0 | |||||||||
Total pipeline operations revenues | 658.6 | 486.2 | 357.4 | |||||||||
Costs and Expenses | ||||||||||||
Pipeline margin activities purchases | (487.1 | ) | (362.2 | ) | (266.7 | ) | ||||||
Field operating costs (excluding LTIP charge) | (60.9 | ) | (40.1 | ) | (19.4 | ) | ||||||
LTIP chargeoperations | (1.4 | ) | | | ||||||||
Segment G&A expenses (excluding LTIP charge)(2) | (18.3 | ) | (13.2 | ) | (12.4 | ) | ||||||
LTIP chargegeneral and administrative | (9.6 | ) | | | ||||||||
Segment profit | $ | 81.3 | $ | 70.7 | $ | 58.9 | ||||||
Maintenance capital | $ | 6.4 | $ | 3.4 | $ | 0.5 | ||||||
Average Daily Volumes(3)(4) (thousands of barrels per day) | ||||||||||||
Tariff activities | ||||||||||||
All American | 59 | 65 | 69 | |||||||||
Basin | 263 | 93 | N/A | |||||||||
Other domestic | 299 | 219 | 144 | |||||||||
Canada | 203 | 187 | 132 | |||||||||
Total tariff activities | 824 | 564 | 345 | |||||||||
Pipeline margin activities | 78 | 73 | 61 | |||||||||
Total | 902 | 637 | 406 | |||||||||
Total average daily volumes transported were approximately 902,000 barrels per day for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to 637,000 barrels per day and 406,000 barrels per day for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. As discussed above, we have completed a number of acquisitions during 2003 and 2002 that have impacted the results of operations.
47
The following table reflects our total average daily volumes from our tariff activities by year of acquisition for comparison purposes:
|
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||
|
(thousands of barrels per day) |
||||||||||
Tariff activities(1) | |||||||||||
2003 acquisitions | 82 | $ | | $ | | ||||||
2002 acquisitions | 344 | 171 | | ||||||||
2001 acquisitions | 200 | 193 | 134 | ||||||||
All other pipeline systems | 198 | 200 | 211 | ||||||||
Total tariff activities | $ | 824 | $ | 564 | $ | 345 | |||||
The increase in average daily volumes from our tariff activities to 824,000 barrels per day in 2003 from 564,000 barrels per day and 345,000 barrels per day in 2002 and 2001, respectively, resulted primarily from our acquisition activities discussed above. The following discussion explains year-to-year variances based on the comparison of volumes in the table above.
2003 AcquisitionsApproximately 82,000 barrels per day of the increase in 2003 volumes over 2002 volumes is related to systems acquired during 2003.
2002 AcquisitionsAn additional 173,000 barrels per day of the increase in 2003 resulted from the inclusion of assets acquired in 2002 for the entire year in 2003 as compared to only a portion of 2002. The assets acquired in the Shell acquisition accounted for 171,000 barrels per day of this increase as increased barrels per day on the Basin Pipeline System and the Permian Basin Gathering System coupled with the impact of including a full year results in 2003 as compared to only five months in 2002 more than offset the decrease in barrels per day resulting from the shut-down of the Rancho Pipeline System. See "BusinessAcquisitions and DispositionsShutdown and Sale of Rancho Pipeline System."
2001 AcquisitionsIn addition, volumes on pipeline systems acquired in 2001 increased by approximately 7,000 barrels per day in the 2003 period as Canadian volumes benefited from the completion of capital expansion projects that allowed for additional volumes on certain pipelines. Barrels per day on these systems increased in the 2002 period as compared to the 2001 period primarily due to the inclusion of the Murphy acquisition for a full year in 2002 compared to only a portion of the year in 2001.
All other pipeline systemsVolumes on all other pipeline systems decreased approximately 2,000 barrels per day primarily because of a 6,000 barrel per day decrease in our All American tariff volumes and various other decreases totaling 4,000 barrels per day on several of our pipeline systems. The decrease in All American tariff volumes is attributable to a decline in California outer continental shelf ("OCS") production. Partially offsetting these decreases was an 8,000 barrel per day increase in our West Texas Gathering System volumes. Our West Texas Gathering System has benefited from the shutdown of the Rancho pipeline and also from temporary refinery problems that have diverted crude oil barrels from other systems. Volumes on all other pipeline systems decreased by approximately 11,000 barrels per day in 2002 as compared to 2001, primarily because of an approximate 4,000 barrel per day decrease in our All American tariff volumes and a 4,000 barrel per day decrease in our West Texas Gathering System volumes.
48
Revenues. Total revenues from our pipeline operations were approximately $658.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to $486.2 million and $357.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The increase in revenues was primarily related to our pipeline margin activities, which increased by approximately $122.8 million in 2003. This increase was related to higher average crude oil prices coupled with increased volumes on our buy/sell arrangements on our San Joaquin Valley gathering system in 2003. Because the barrels that we buy and sell are generally indexed to the same pricing indices, revenues and purchases will increase and decrease with changes in market prices without significant changes to our margins related to those purchases and sales. The increase in 2002 over 2001 also was primarily related to our pipeline margin activities on our San Joaquin Valley gathering system. Increased volumes and higher average prices on our buy/sell arrangements were the primary drivers of the increase.
Revenues from our tariff activities increased approximately 48% or $49.6 million in 2003 as compared to 2002. The following table reflects revenues from our tariff activities by year of acquisition for comparison purposes:
|
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||
|
(in millions) |
||||||||||
Tariff activities(1) | |||||||||||
2003 acquisitions | $ | 14.8 | $ | | $ | | |||||
2002 acquisitions | 54.2 | 23.1 | | ||||||||
2001 acquisitions | 28.0 | 21.6 | 9.9 | ||||||||
All other pipeline systems | 56.3 | 59.0 | 59.5 | ||||||||
Total tariff activities | $ | 153.3 | $ | 103.7 | $ | 69.4 | |||||
The increase in revenues from our tariff activities to $153.3 million in 2003 from $103.7 million and $69.4 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively, resulted predominantly from our acquisition activities discussed above. The following discussion explains year-to-year variances based on the comparison of revenues in the table above.
2003 AcquisitionsApproximately $14.8 million of the increase in 2003 revenues over 2002 revenues is related to systems acquired during 2003.
2002 AcquisitionsAn additional $31.1 million of the increase in 2003 revenues from our tariff activities resulted from the inclusion of assets acquired in 2002 for the entire year in 2003 as compared to only a portion of 2002. This increase was entirely related to the assets acquired in the Shell acquisition as increased revenues on the Basin Pipeline System and the Permian Basin Gathering System coupled with the impact of including a full year results in 2003 as compared to only five months in 2002 more than offset the decrease in revenues resulting from the shut-down of the Rancho Pipeline System. See "BusinessAcquisitions and DispositionsShutdown and Sale of Rancho Pipeline System."
2001 AcquisitionsIn addition, revenues from 2001 acquisitions increased approximately $6.4 million in 2003 as compared to 2002. This increase predominately resulted from increased Canadian revenues of $6.5 million in the 2003 period primarily due to expanded capacity, higher tariffs and a $3.4 million favorable exchange rate impact. The favorable exchange rate impact has resulted from a decrease in the Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate to an average rate of 1.40 to 1 for the year ended December 31, 2003, from an average rate of 1.57 to 1 for the year ended December 31, 2002. Revenues from these systems increased to $21.6 million in 2002 from $9.9 million in 2001
49
primarily because of the inclusion of the Murphy acquisition for a full year in 2002 and increases in the tariff of certain pipeline systems acquired in the Murphy acquisition.
All other pipeline systemsRevenues from all other pipeline systems were relatively flat for all of the comparable periods as the decrease in volumes attributable to OCS production on our All American system (on which we receive the highest per barrel tariffs among our pipeline operations) was offset in each period by other increases, including increases in the tariffs for OCS volumes transported.
Field Operating Costs. Field operating costs increased to $62.3 million in 2003 from $40.1 million and $19.4 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively. The 2003 increase in costs includes $1.4 million related to the accrual made for the probable vesting of unit grants under our LTIP and approximately $1.0 million related to a pipeline spill in Mississippi. The remaining increase is predominately related to our continued growth, primarily from acquisitions, coupled with higher utility costs.
The increase in field operating costs in 2002 as compared to 2001 was primarily related to the acquisition of businesses in 2002 and late 2001 and the inclusion of the results of the Murphy acquisition for all of 2002 compared to only a portion of 2001. Our field operating costs for the 2002 period also includes a $1.2 million noncash charge associated with the establishment of a liability for potential cleanup of environmental conditions associated with our 1999 acquisitions, based on additional information. In many cases, the actual cash expenditure may not occur for ten years or more.
Segment G&A Expenses. Segment G&A expenses were approximately $27.9 million in 2003, compared to approximately $13.2 million and $12.4 million in 2002 and 2001, respectively. The increase in 2003 is primarily a result of a $9.6 million accrual related to the probable vesting of unit grants under our LTIP. Additionally, the percentage of indirect costs allocated to the pipeline operations segment has increased in 2003 as our pipeline operations have grown. The increase in segment G&A expenses in 2002 as compared to 2001 was partially due to increased costs from the assets acquired in the Murphy acquisition related to the inclusion of these assets for all of 2002 compared to only a portion of 2001.
Segment Profit. Our pipeline operations segment profit increased 15% to approximately $81.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Pipeline segment profit was approximately $58.9 million in 2001. The primary reasons for the increase in segment profit are discussed above. In addition, segment profit includes a $2.0 million favorable impact resulting from the decrease in the average Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate for the 2003 period as compared to the 2002 period.
Maintenance Capital. For the periods ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, maintenance capital expenditures were approximately $6.4 million, $3.4 million and $0.5 million, respectively for our pipeline operations segment. The increases between the years are related to our continued growth, primarily through acquisitions.
50
The following table sets forth our operating results from our GMT&S segment for the periods indicated:
|
December 31, |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||
Operating Results(1) (in millions) | |||||||||||
Revenues | $ | 11,985.6 | $ | 7,921.8 | $ | 6,528.3 | |||||
Purchases and related costs | (11,799.8 | ) | (7,765.1 | ) | (6,383.6 | ) | |||||
Field operating costs (excluding LTIP charge) | (73.3 | ) | (66.3 | ) | (73.7 | ) | |||||
LTIP chargeoperations | (4.3 | ) | | | |||||||
Segment G&A expenses (excluding LTIP charge)(2) | (31.6 | ) | (31.5 | ) | (28.5 | ) | |||||
LTIP chargegeneral and administrative | (13.5 | ) | | | |||||||
Segment profit | $ | 63.1 | $ | 58.9 | $ | 42.5 | |||||
Noncash SFAS 133 impact(3) | $ | 0.4 | $ | 0.3 | $ | 0.2 | |||||
Maintenance capital | $ | 1.2 | $ | 2.6 | $ | 2.9 | |||||
Average Daily Volumes(4) (thousands of barrels per day) | |||||||||||
Crude oil lease gathering | 437 | 410 | 348 | ||||||||
Crude oil bulk purchases(5) | 90 | 68 | 46 | ||||||||
Total | 527 | 478 | 394 | ||||||||
LPG sales | 38 | 35 | 19 | ||||||||
Revenues increased approximately 51% in 2003 compared to the prior year, while our segment profit increased 7% in the same period. Approximately 55% of the increase in revenues related to increased sales volumes and the remaining 45% of the increase resulted from higher average prices in 2003. The increase in sales volumes primarily related to barrels sold under buy/sell and bulk purchase arrangements, both of which generate significantly less margin than our lease gathered barrels. We do not consider barrels sold under these arrangements to be a primary driver of segment performance and they are not included in the volumes we disclose as lease gathered barrels, which are a primary driver of segment performance. Segment profits from these arrangements are generally lower and not as sustainable as our lease purchased barrels, as they are driven mainly by market opportunity, and can vary significantly from month to month. With respect to a relationship between volumes and segment profit, we expect our segment profit to increase or decrease directionally with increases or decreases in lease gathered volumes and LPG sales volumes.
As a result of completing our Phase II and III expansions at our Cushing facility, total Cushing tankage dedicated to our Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage Operations was approximately 1.5 million barrels greater in 2003 relative to 2002. A portion of such tankage was
51
employed in hedging activities related to our gathering and marketing activities in 2003 and the latter portion of 2002.
During 2003, market conditions were extremely volatile as a confluence of several events caused the NYMEX benchmark price of crude oil to fluctuate widely with prices ranging from as high as $39.99 per barrel to as low as $25.04 per barrel. For much of the first eight months of 2003, the crude oil market was in steep backwardation. Although the crude oil market was characterized by high absolute prices in the fourth quarter, the average backwardation for the quarter was in line with a normal crude oil market. These market conditions and volatility, in conjunction with our hedging strategies, enhanced the returns of our gathering and marketing activities. This was partially offset by the negative impact that the August 2003 blackout had on our fourth quarter margins. In contrast, market conditions during 2002 were less favorable as the crude oil market alternated between periods of weak contango and strong backwardation. In 2001, the market alternated between weak contango and weak backwardation.
The following factors contributed to our growth in segment profit during 2003 as compared to 2002:
As discussed above, 2002 market conditions were characterized by periods of weak contango and strong backwardation. Although these conditions are generally disadvantageous for our gathering and marketing activities, the 2001 market conditions were even less favorable. These market conditions and increased crude oil lease gathering volumes contributed to the growth in our segment profit in 2002 as compared to 2001. The increased volumes resulted predominantly from the inclusion of the assets acquired in the CANPET acquisition for the entire year in 2002 as compared to only a portion of 2001. The increase in segment profit was also impacted by decreased field operating costs in the 2002 period as compared to the 2001 period as discussed further below.
Field operating costs included in segment profit increased to approximately $77.6 million in the year ended December 31, 2003 compared to $66.3 million and $73.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The increase in 2003 includes $4.3 million related to the probable vesting of unit grants under our LTIP. The remaining increase was partially related to our continued growth, primarily from acquisitions, coupled with increased regulatory compliance activities and higher fuel costs. The decrease in field operating costs in 2002 as compared to 2001 was primarily related to the inclusion in 2001 of a $5.0 million noncash writedown of operating crude oil inventory and a $2.0 million noncash reserve for doubtful accounts.
Segment G&A expenses include the costs directly associated with the segments, as well as a portion of corporate overhead costs considered allocable. See "Other Income and Expenses." Segment G&A expense increased to $45.1 million in 2003 compared to $31.5 million and $28.5 million for 2002 and 2001, respectively. Included in the 2003 amount is $13.5 million related to the accrual for
52
the probable vesting of unit grants under our LTIP. The percentage of indirect costs allocated to the Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage Operations segment has decreased from period to period as our pipeline operations have grown, partially offsetting the impact of the overall increase in G&A resulting from our continued growth. Segment G&A expenses increased in 2002 from 2001 primarily because of increased costs of $5.6 million from the assets acquired in the CANPET acquisition due to the inclusion of those assets for all of 2002 compared to only a portion of 2001. This increase was offset by decreased segment G&A of $2.6 million from our domestic operations. This decrease was partially related to a reduction in accounting and consulting costs in 2002 from those that had been incurred in 2001. Partially offsetting these items is the approximately $2.4 million favorable impact on segment profit because of the appreciation of the Canadian dollar.
The crude oil volumes gathered from producers, using our assets or third party assets, has increased by 7% and 18% during 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase in 2003 is primarily related to organic growth and acquisitions, which has offset natural production declines. The increase in 2002 resulted primarily from our acquisition activities. In addition, we marketed 38,000 barrels per day of LPG during 2003 compared to 35,000 barrels per day and 19,000 barrels per day in 2002 and 2001, respectively. The increase in 2002 is primarily related to the inclusion of a full year of our LPG operations in the 2002 period compared to only six months during 2001. Segment profit per barrel calculated based on our lease gathered crude oil and LPG barrels was $0.36 per barrel for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to $0.36 and $0.32 for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.
Revenues from our gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations were approximately $12.0 billion, $7.9 billion and $6.5 billion for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. As discussed above, revenues and costs related to purchases for 2003 were impacted by higher average prices and higher volumes in the 2003 period as compared to the 2002 period. The average NYMEX price for crude oil was $31.08 per barrel and $26.10 per barrel for 2003 and 2002, respectively. The increase in revenues and costs related to purchases in 2002 as compared to 2001 was predominantly related to higher sales volumes, as the average NYMEX price for crude oil in 2002 was only $0.12 higher than the $25.98 average in 2001.
Maintenance capital. For the periods ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, maintenance capital expenditures were approximately $1.2 million, $2.6 million and $2.9 million, respectively for our gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations segment. The decrease in 2003 as compared to 2002 and 2001 is primarily because of a reduction in costs associated with information systems and the replacement of a portion of our fleet.
Other Income and Expenses
Unallocated G&A Expenses. Total G&A expenses were $73.0 million, $45.7 million and $46.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. We have included in the above segment discussion the G&A expenses for each of these years that were attributable to our segments either directly or by allocation. During 2002, we were unsuccessful in our pursuit of several sizable acquisition opportunities determined by auction and one negotiated transaction that had advanced nearly to the execution stage when it was abruptly terminated by the seller. As a result, our 2002 results reflect a $1.0 million charge to G&A expenses associated with the third party costs of these unsuccessful transactions.
During 2001, we incurred charges of $5.7 million that were not attributable to a segment, related to incentive compensation paid to certain officers and key employees of Plains Resources and its affiliates. In 1998 (in connection with our IPO) and 2000, Plains Resources granted certain officers and key employees of the former general partner the right to earn ownership in a portion of our common units owned by it. These rights provided for vesting over a three-year period, subject to distributions
53
being paid on the common and subordinated units. In connection with the general partner transition in 2001, these rights, as well as grants to directors under our LTIP, vested. This resulted in a charge to our 2001 income of approximately $6.1 million, of which Plains Resources funded approximately 94%. Approximately $5.7 million of the charge was noncash and was not allocated to a segment.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense was $46.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to $34.1 million and $24.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The increase in 2003 relates primarily to the inclusion of the assets from the Shell acquisition for the entire year as compared to a portion of 2002. Additionally, several acquisitions were completed during the year along with various capital projects. Amortization of debt issue costs was $3.8 million in 2003, and was essentially unchanged from $3.7 million in 2002.
The increase in 2002 over 2001 consists of approximately $4.1 million related to the inclusion of assets from the Shell acquisition and approximately $3.5 million related to the inclusion of the assets from the Murphy and CANPET acquisitions for all of 2002 compared to only a portion of 2001. The remainder of the increase is related to increased debt issue costs related to the amendment of our credit facilities during 2002 and late 2001, the sale of senior notes in September 2002 and the completion of various capital projects.
Interest Expense. Interest expense was $35.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to $29.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The increase in 2003 compared to 2002 was primarily related to an increase in the average debt balance during the 2003 period to approximately $525.5 million from approximately $444.6 million in the 2002 period, which resulted in additional interest expense of approximately $5.0 million. The higher average debt balance was primarily due to the portion of the Shell acquisition that was not financed with equity. This debt was outstanding for all of 2003 versus only a portion of 2002. Also, increased commitment and other fees coupled with lower capitalized interest resulted in approximately $2.2 million of the increase in the 2003 period. Our weighted average interest rate decreased slightly during 2003 to 6.0% versus 6.2% in 2002, which decreased our interest expense by approximately $1.1 million. Although the change in our weighted average interest rate was nominal, the change was the net result of various factors that included an increase in the amount of fixed rate, long-term debt, long-term interest rate hedges and declining short-term interest rates. In mid-September 2002, we issued $200 million of ten-year bonds bearing a fixed interest rate of 7.75%. In the fourth quarter of 2002 and the first quarter of 2003, we entered into hedging arrangements to lock in interest rates on approximately $50 million of our floating rate debt. In addition, the average three month LIBOR rate declined from approximately 1.8% during 2002 to approximately 1.2% during 2003. The net impact of these factors, increased commitment fees and changes in average debt balances decreased the average interest rate by 0.2%.
Interest expense was relatively flat in the 2002 period as compared to 2001 due to the impact of higher debt levels and commitment fees offset by lower average interest rates and the capitalization of interest. The overall increased average debt balance in 2002 is due to the portion of the Shell acquisition in August 2002 which was not financed with the issuance of equity. During the third quarter of 2001, we issued a $200 million senior secured term B loan, the proceeds of which were used to reduce borrowings under our revolver. As such, our commitment fees on our revolver increased as they are based on unused availability. The lower interest rates in 2002 are due to a decrease in LIBOR and prime rates in the current year. In addition, approximately $0.8 million of interest expense was capitalized during 2002, in conjunction with expansion construction on our Cushing terminal compared to approximately $0.2 million in the 2001 period.
Other. During the fourth quarter of 2003 we completed the refinancing of our bank credit facilities with new senior unsecured credit facilities totaling $750 million and a $200 million uncommitted facility for the purchase of hedged crude oil. In addition, during the third quarter of 2003
54
we made a $34 million prepayment on our senior secured term B loan in anticipation of the refinancing. The completion of these transactions resulted in a non-cash charge of approximately $3.3 million associated with the write-off of unamortized debt issue costs.
This section identifies certain matters of risk and uncertainty that may affect our financial performance and results of operations in the future.
Ongoing Acquisition Activities. Consistent with our business strategy, we are continuously engaged in discussions with potential sellers regarding the possible purchase by us of transportation, gathering, terminalling or storage assets and related businesses. These acquisition efforts often involve assets which, if acquired, would have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In an effort to prudently and economically leverage our asset base, knowledge base and skill sets, management has also expanded its efforts to encompass businesses that are closely related to, or significantly intertwined with, the crude oil business. We can give no assurance that our current or future acquisition efforts will be successful or that any such acquisition will be completed on terms considered favorable to us.
OCS Production. In October 2004, Plains Exploration and Production ("PXP") announced that it had successfully completed an initial development well into the Rocky Point field, which is accessible from the Point Arguello platforms and that drilling operations are underway on a second development well. Such drilling activities, if successful, are not expected to have a significant impact on pipeline shipments on our All American Pipeline system in 2004, but could lead to increased volumes in future periods. We can give no assurances, however, that our volumes transported would increase as a result of this drilling activity.
Pipeline Integrity and Storage Tank Testing Compliance. Although we believe our short-term estimates of costs under the pipeline integrity management rules and API 653 (and similar Canadian regulations) are reasonable, a high degree of uncertainty exists with respect to estimating such costs, as we continue to test existing assets and as we acquire new assets.
Sarbanes Oxley Act and New SEC Rules. Several regulatory and legislative initiatives were introduced in 2002 and 2003 in response to developments during 2001 and 2002 regarding accounting issues at large public companies, resulting disruptions in the capital markets and ensuing calls for action to prevent recurrence of similar events. Implementation of reforms in connection with these initiatives have added and will add to the costs of doing business for all publicly traded entities, including us as a partnership. These costs will have an adverse impact on future income and cash flow.
Among the new requirements is the requirement under Section 404 of the Act, beginning with our 2004 Annual Report, for management to report on our internal control over financial reporting and for our independent public accountants to attest to management's report. During 2003, we commenced actions to enhance our ability to comply with these requirements, including but not limited to the addition of staffing in our internal audit department, documentation of existing controls and implementation of new controls or modification of existing controls as deemed appropriate. We have continued to devote substantial time and resources to the documentation and testing of our controls, and to planning for and implementation of remedial efforts in those instances where remediation is indicated. At this point, we have no indication that management will be unable to favorably report on our internal controls nor that our independent auditors will be unable to attest to management's findings. Both we and our auditors, however, must complete the process (which we have never completed before), so we cannot assure you of the results. It is unclear what impact failure to comply fully with Section 404 or the discovery of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting would have on us, but presumably it could result in the reduced ability to obtain financing, the loss of customers, and additional expenditures to meet the requirements.
55
Longer Term Outlook. Our longer-term outlook, spanning a period of five or more years, is influenced by many factors affecting the North American crude oil sector. Some of the more significant trends and factors include:
We believe the collective impact of these trends, factors and developments, many of which are beyond our control, will result in an increasingly volatile crude oil market that is subject to more frequent short-term swings in market prices and grade differentials and shifts in market structure. In an environment of reduced inventories and tight supply and demand balances, even relatively minor supply disruptions can cause significant price swings. Conversely, despite a relatively balanced market on a global basis, competition within a given region of the U.S. could cause downward pricing pressure and significantly impact regional crude oil price differentials among crude oil grades and locations. Although we believe our business strategy is designed to manage these trends, factors and potential developments, and that we are strategically positioned to benefit from certain of these developments, there can be no assurance that we will not be negatively affected.
56
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Cash generated from operations and our credit facilities are our primary sources of liquidity. At September 30, 2004, we had a working capital deficit of approximately $50.5 million, approximately $401.1 million of availability under our committed revolving credit facilities and $240.5 million of unused capacity under our uncommitted hedged inventory facility. Usage of the credit facilities is subject to compliance with covenants. We believe we are currently in compliance with all covenants.
In the third quarter of 2004, we completed a public offering of 4,968,000 common units for $33.25 per unit. The offering resulted in gross proceeds of approximately $165.2 million from the sale of units and approximately $3.4 million from our general partner's proportionate capital contribution. Total costs associated with the offering, including underwriter fees and other expenses, were approximately $7.7 million. Net proceeds of $160.9 million were used to permanently reduce outstanding borrowings under the $200 million, 364-day credit facility.
On August 12, 2004, we sold the outstanding Notes. We used the net proceeds, after deducting initial purchaser discounts and offering costs, of approximately $345.3 million to repay amounts outstanding under our credit facilities, including the remaining balance under the $200 million, 364-day facility we used to fund the Link acquisition, and for general partnership purposes. In connection with this repayment, we terminated the facility. Subsequent to the notes offering, we also terminated our $125 million, 364-day facility, which was scheduled to expire in November 2004.
In November 2004, we entered into a new $750 million, five-year senior credit facility, which contains a sub-facility for Canadian borrowings up to $300 million. The new facility extends our maturities, lowers our cost of credit and provides an additional $125 million of liquidity over our previous facility. The facility can be expanded to $1 billion. Also in November 2004, we increased the capacity of our uncommitted senior secured hedged inventory facility to $400 million (with the ability to increase in the future by an incremental $100 million), and extended the maturity to November 2005.
Capital Expenditures
We have made and will continue to make capital expenditures for acquisitions, expansion capital and maintenance capital. Historically, we have financed these expenditures primarily with cash generated by operations, credit facility borrowings, the issuance of senior unsecured notes and the sale of additional common units.
We expect to spend approximately $139.4 million on expansion capital projects during 2004. This includes our original estimate of expansion capital, newly announced projects and expansion capital
57
associated with the Link acquisition. Our 2004 expansion capital projects include the following notable projects with the estimated cost for the entire year.
|
Incurred Through September 30, 2004 |
Estimated to be Incurred in the Fourth Quarter of 2004 |
2004 Total |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(in millions) |
|
||||||
Cushing to Caney pipeline project | $ | 14.6 | $ | 27.4 | $ | 42.0 | |||
Trenton pipeline expansion | 0.7 | 18.6 | 19.3 | ||||||
Capital projects and upgrades associated with the Link acquisition | 4.8 | 4.2 | 9.0 | ||||||
Capital projects and upgrades associated with the Cal Ven acquisition | | 2.5 | 2.5 | ||||||
Cushing Phase IV expansion | 10.0 | | 10.0 | ||||||
Upgrade and expansion related to acquisitions made in 2003 | 8.2 | 0.9 | 9.1 | ||||||
Iatan System expansion | 3.7 | | 3.7 | ||||||
Other | 25.6 | 18.2 | 43.8 | ||||||
$ | 67.6 | $ | 71.8 | $ | 139.4 | ||||
In addition, we expect to spend approximately $10.1 million on maintenance capital projects during 2004. For the first nine months of 2004, we have incurred approximately $6.1 million on maintenance capital projects.
We believe that we have sufficient liquid assets, cash flow from operations and borrowing capacity under our credit agreements 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 produce a corollary adverse effect on our borrowing capacity.
Cash Flows
Cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 were as follows:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2003 |
||||||
|
(in millions) |
|||||||
Cash provided by (used in): | ||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 113.1 | $ | 236.1 | ||||
Investing activities | (567.3 | ) | (185.2 | ) | ||||
Financing activities | 453.4 | (51.0 | ) |
Operating Activities. The primary drivers of our cash flow from operations are (i) the collection of amounts related to the sale of crude oil and LPG and the transportation of crude oil for a fee and (ii) the payment of amounts related to the purchase of crude oil and LPG and other expenses, principally field operating costs, general and administrative expenses and interest expense. The cash settlement from the purchase and sale of crude oil during any particular month typically occurs within thirty days from the end of the month, except in the months that we store inventory because of contango market conditions or in months that we increase linefill. The storage of crude oil in periods of a contango market can have a material impact on our cash flows from operating activities for the period we pay for and store the crude oil and the subsequent period that we receive proceeds from the sale of the crude oil. When we store crude oil, we borrow on our credit facilities to pay for the crude oil and the impact on operating cash flow is negative. Conversely, cash flow from operations increases
58
in the period we collect the cash from the sale of the stored crude oil. To a lesser extent, our cash flow from operating activities is also impacted by the level of LPG inventory stored at period end. Cash flow from operations was $113.1 million and $236.1 million in 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities in 2004 and 2003 consisted predominantly of cash paid for acquisitions. Net cash used in 2004 was $567.3 million and was primarily comprised of (i) $142.5 million paid for the Capline and Capwood Pipeline Systems acquisition (a deposit had been paid in December 2003) (ii) approximately $283 million paid for the Link acquisition, (iii) approximately $19 million paid for the CalVen acquisition (iv) approximately $46.2 million paid for the Schaefferstown acquisition (including inventory of $14.2 million) (v) approximately $63.6 million paid for additions to property and equipment, and (vi) approximately $10.2 million paid for linefill on assets that we own. Some of the major items included in cash paid for additions to property and equipment is (i) approximately $8.6 million related to the Cushing Phase IV expansion, (ii) approximately $5.0 million related to the Iatan System expansion, (iii) approximately $5.4 million of maintenance capital, (iv) approximately $10.7 million related to the Cushing to Caney pipeline project, and (v) approximately $6.6 million related to our Red River pipeline system. Net cash used in investing activities in 2003 includes approximately $99.9 million paid for acquisitions and approximately $52.2 million for additions to property and equipment. In addition, approximately $40.4 million was paid for linefill on assets that we own. We received proceeds from sales of assets of approximately $7.1 million.
Financing Activities. Cash provided by financing activities in 2004 was approximately $453.4 million and was comprised of (i) approximately $100.8 million of proceeds from the issuance of Class C common units, (ii) approximately $160.9 million of proceeds from the issuance of common units, (iii) approximately $346.4 million of proceeds from the sale of the outstanding Notes, (iv) net short and long-term borrowings under our revolving credit facility of approximately $4.7 million, (v) net repayments under our short-term letter of credit and hedged inventory facility of approximately $42.2 million resulting from the collection of receivables related to prior year sales of inventory that was stored because of contango market conditions and (vi) $114.5 million of distributions paid to common unitholders and the general partner. Cash used in financing activities in 2003 consisted of (i) approximately $161.9 million of proceeds from the issuance of common units used to pay down outstanding balances on the revolving credit facility and a secured term loan, (ii) $89.3 million of distributions paid to unitholders and the general partner, (iii) a $43.0 million of principal repayments of our term loans, (iv) net long-term repayments under our revolving credit facilities of $13.1 million, and (v) net short-term debt repayments of $67.3 million primarily from the proceeds of inventory sales.
Cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 were as follows:
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
||||||||
|
(in millions) |
||||||||||
Cash provided by (used in): | |||||||||||
Operating activities | $ | 115.3 | $ | 185.0 | $ | (16.2 | ) | ||||
Investing activities | (272.1 | ) | (374.9 | ) | (263.2 | ) | |||||
Financing activities | 157.2 | 189.5 | 279.5 |
Operating Activities. Our positive cash flow from operations for 2003 resulted from cash generated by our recurring operations. In addition, cash flow from operating activities was positively impacted by approximately $74 million related to proceeds received in 2003 from the sale of 2002 hedged crude oil inventory and negatively impacted by approximately $100 million related to inventory stored at the end of 2003. The proceeds from the sale of the 2003 stored crude oil were received in the first quarter of 2004. In 2003, we also received approximately $23 million of additional prepayments over the 2002
59
balance from counter parties to mitigate our credit risk, and paid approximately $6.2 million to terminate an interest rate hedge in conjunction with a change in our capital structure.
Our positive cash flow from operations for 2002 resulted from cash generated by our recurring operations. In addition, we received approximately $93 million of proceeds during 2002 associated with crude oil hedged and stored during 2001. This was partially offset by the payment of approximately $74 million for crude oil purchased and stored during 2002 but for which receipt of the proceeds occurred during 2003. In addition, our 2002 cash flow from operating activities was positively impacted by the collection of approximately $21 million of prepayments from counter parties to mitigate our credit risks and the collection of approximately $9.1 million of amounts that had been outstanding primarily since 1999 and 2000.
Our negative cash flow from operations for 2001 resulted from positive cash generated by our recurring operations offset by the payment of approximately $93 million for crude oil hedged and stored during 2001 for which receipt of the proceeds occurred during 2002.
Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities in 2003, 2002 and 2001 consisted predominantly of cash paid for acquisitions and purchases of linefill. Net cash used in 2003 was $272.1 million and was comprised of (i) an aggregate $152.6 million paid primarily for ten acquisitions completed during 2003, (ii) a $15.8 million deposit paid on the acquisition from Shell Pipeline Company; see "Acquisitions", (iii) proceeds of approximately $8.5 million from sales of assets, and (iv) $65.4 million paid for additions to property and equipment, including $19.2 million related to the construction of crude oil gathering and transmission lines in West Texas, and (v) crude oil linefill purchases of approximately $47 million, primarily attributable to increased linefill requirements related to 2003 and 2002 acquisitions. Net cash used in 2002 was $374.9 million and was comprised of (i) an aggregate $324.6 million paid for three acquisitions completed during 2002; see "Acquisitions", and (ii) $40.6 million paid for additions to property and equipment, primarily related to our Cushing expansion and the construction of the Marshall terminal in Canada, and (iii) crude oil linefill purchases of approximately $11 million. Net cash used in 2001 was $263.2 million and was comprised of (i) an aggregate $229.2 million paid for three acquisitions completed during 2001; see "Acquisitions", and (ii) $21.1 million paid for additions to property and equipment, and (iii) approximately $13.7 million of crude oil linefill attributable to increased linefill requirements.
Financing Activities. Cash provided by financing activities in 2003 consisted primarily of $499.7 million of net proceeds from the issuance of common units and senior unsecured notes, used primarily to fund capital projects and acquisitions and pay down outstanding balances on our revolving credit facilities and senior term loans. Net repayments of our short-term and long-term revolving credit facilities and related senior term loans were $215.4 million. In addition, $121.8 million of distributions were paid to our unitholders and general partner. Cash provided by financing activities in 2002 consisted of approximately $344.6 million of net proceeds from the issuance of common units and senior unsecured notes, used primarily to fund capital projects and acquisitions and pay down outstanding balances on the revolving credit facility. Net repayments of our short-term and long-term revolving credit facilities during 2002 were $49.9 million. In addition, $99.8 million of distributions were paid to our unitholders and general partner during the year ended December 31, 2002.
Cash provided by financing activities in 2001 consisted primarily of net short-term and long-term borrowings of $134.3 million, proceeds from the issuance of common units of $227.5 million, and the payment of $75.9 million in distributions to our unitholders and general partner.
Contingencies
Industry Credit Markets and Accounts Receivable. Throughout the latter part of 2001 and all of 2002, there were significant disruptions and extreme volatility in the financial markets and credit markets. Because of the credit intensive nature of the energy industry and extreme financial distress at
60
several large, diversified energy companies, the energy industry was especially impacted by these developments. We believe that these developments have created an increased level of direct and indirect counterparty credit and performance risk.
The majority of our credit extensions relate to our gathering and marketing activities that can generally be described as high volume and low margin activities. During periods of relatively higher prices, our absolute exposure to any given counterparty may be increased. In our credit approval process, we make a determination of the amount, if any, of the line of credit to be extended to any given customer and the form and amount of financial performance assurances we require. Such financial assurances are commonly provided to us in the form of standby letters of credit, advance cash payments or "parental" guarantees. As of September 30, 2004, we had received approximately $24.4 million of advance cash payments and prepayments from third parties to mitigate credit risk.
Pipeline and Storage Regulation. Some of our petroleum pipelines and storage tanks in the United States are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") with respect to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of pipeline and tank facilities. In addition, we must permit access to and copying of records, and must make certain reports available and provide information as required by the Secretary of Transportation. Comparable regulation exists in Canada and in some states in which we conduct intrastate common carrier or private pipeline operations. See "BusinessRegulationPipeline and Storage Regulation."
Regulatory compliance costs include those related to pipeline integrity management and the adoption by the DOT of API 653 as the standard for the inspection, repair, alteration and reconstruction of jurisdictional storage tanks. For our estimates of costs associated with these regulations, see "BusinessRegulationPipeline and Storage Regulation."
The DOT is currently considering expanding the scope of its pipeline regulation to include certain gathering pipeline systems that are not currently subject to regulation. This expanded scope would likely include the establishment of additional pipeline integrity management programs for these newly regulated pipelines. The DOT is in the initial stages of evaluating this initiative and we do not currently know what, if any, impact this will have on our operating expenses. However, we cannot assure you that future costs related to the potential programs will not be material.
Export License Matter. In our gathering and marketing activities, we import and export crude oil from and to Canada. Exports of crude oil are subject to the "short supply" controls of the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR") and must be licensed by the Bureau of Industry and Security (the "BIS") of the U.S. Commerce Department. In 2002, we determined that we may have exceeded our licenses with respect to the quantity of crude oil exported and the end-users in Canada. Export of crude oil except as authorized by license is a violation of the EAR. In October 2002, we submitted to the BIS an initial notification of voluntary disclosure. The BIS subsequently informed us that we could continue to export while previous exports were under review. We applied for and received several new licenses allowing for export volumes and end users that more accurately reflect our anticipated business and customer needs. We also conducted reviews of new and existing contracts and implemented new procedures and practices in order to monitor compliance with applicable laws regarding the export of crude oil to Canada. As a result, we subsequently submitted additional information to the BIS in October 2003 and May 2004. In August 2004, we received a request from the BIS for additional information. We have responded to this and subsequent requests, and continue to cooperate fully with BIS officials. At this time, we have received neither a warning letter nor a charging letter, which could involve the imposition of penalties, and no indication of what penalties the BIS might assess. As a result, we cannot reasonably estimate the ultimate impact of this matter.
Alfons Sperber v. Plains Resources Inc., et al. On December 18, 2003, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the Delaware Chancery Court, New Castle County, entitled Alfons Sperber v. Plains Resources Inc., et al. This suit, brought on behalf of a putative class of Plains All American Pipeline,
61
L.P. common unitholders, asserts breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims against us, Plains AAP, L.P., and Plains All American GP LLC and its directors, as well as breach of fiduciary duty claims against Plains Resources Inc. and its directors. The complaint seeks to enjoin or rescind a proposed acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of Plains Resources Inc., as well as declaratory relief, an accounting, disgorgement and the imposition of a constructive trust, and an award of damages, fees, expenses and costs, among other things. This lawsuit has been settled in principle, subject to the preparation and execution of appropriate settlement documentation and court approval.
General. We, in the ordinary course of business, are a claimant and/or a defendant in various legal proceedings. We do not believe that the outcome of these legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Environmental. We may experience future releases of crude oil into the environment from our pipeline, gathering and storage operations, or discover past releases that were previously unidentified. Although we maintain an inspection program designed to prevent and, as applicable, to detect and address such releases promptly, damages and liabilities incurred due to any such environmental releases from our assets may substantially affect our business. At September 30, 2004, our reserve for environmental liabilities totaled approximately $21.4 million. Approximately $13.8 million of the reserve is related to liabilities assumed as part of the Link acquisition. Although we believe our reserve is adequate, no assurance can be given that any costs incurred in excess of this reserve would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Other. A pipeline, terminal or other facility may experience damage as a result of an accident or natural disaster. These hazards can cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment, pollution or environmental damage and suspension of operations. We maintain insurance of various types that we consider adequate to cover our operations and properties. The insurance covers our assets in amounts considered reasonable. The insurance policies are subject to deductibles that we consider reasonable and not excessive. Our insurance does not cover every potential risk associated with operating pipelines, terminals and other facilities, including the potential loss of significant revenues. The trend appears to be a contraction in the breadth and depth of available coverage, while costs, deductibles and retention levels have increased. Absent a material favorable change in the insurance markets, this trend is expected to continue as we continue to grow and expand. As a result, we anticipate that we will elect to self-insure more of our activities.
The occurrence of a significant event not fully insured, indemnified or reserved against, or the failure of a party to meet its indemnification obligations, could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial condition. We believe we are adequately insured for public liability and property damage to others with respect to our operations. With respect to all of our coverage, no assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable, or that we have established adequate reserves to the extent that such risks are not insured.
We may experience future releases of crude oil into the environment from our pipeline and storage operations, or discover past releases that were previously unidentified. Although we maintain an inspection program designed to prevent and, as applicable, to detect and address such releases promptly, damages and liabilities incurred due to any such environmental releases from our assets may substantially affect our business.
Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt
During August 2004, we completed the sale of the outstanding Notes to which this exchange relates. We used the proceeds from the sale of the outstanding Notes to repay amounts outstanding
62
under our credit facilities, including the remaining balance under the $200 million, 364-day facility funded in connection with the Link acquisition, and for general partnership purposes. In connection with this repayment, we terminated the facility. The repayment and termination of this facility resulted in a non-cash charge of approximately $0.7 million associated with the write-off of unamortized debt issue costs. Subsequent to the Notes offering, we also terminated our $125 million, 364-day facility that was scheduled to expire in November 2004.
During December 2003, we completed the sale of $250 million of 5.625% senior notes due December 2013. The notes were issued by us and a 100% owned finance subsidiary (neither of which have independent assets or operations) at a discount of $0.7 million, resulting in an effective interest rate of 5.66%. Interest payments are due on June 15 and December 15 of each year. The notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by all of our existing 100% owned subsidiaries, except for subsidiaries that are minor.
In November 2004, we entered into a new $750 million, five-year senior unsecured credit facility, which contains a sub-facility for Canadian borrowings of up to $300 million. The new credit facility extends our maturities, lowers our cost of credit and provides an additional $125 million of liquidity over our previous facilities. This facility can be expanded to $1 billion. As of November 30, 2004, we had approximately $195.5 million outstanding under this credit facility, as well as $58.7 million in letters of credit outstanding, resulting in unused capacity under the facility of approximately $495.8 million.
Also in November 2004, we amended and restated our secured hedged inventory facility; increasing the facility to $400 million, with the ability to further increase the facility in the future by an incremental $100 million. This facility is an uncommitted working capital facility, which is used to finance the purchase of hedged crude oil inventory for storage when market conditions warrant. Borrowings under the hedged inventory facility are secured by the inventory purchased under the facility and the associated accounts receivable, and will be repaid with the proceeds from the sale of such inventory. This facility expires in November 2005. As of November 30, 2004, we had approximately $124.8 million outstanding and no letters of credit issued under our hedged crude oil inventory facility resulting in unused uncommitted capacity under this facility of approximately $275.2 million.
Our credit agreements, the indentures governing the outstanding Notes and our other senior notes contain cross default provisions. Our credit agreements prohibit distributions on, or purchases or redemptions of, units if any default or event of default is continuing. In addition, the agreements contain various covenants limiting our ability to, among other things:
Our credit facility treats a change of control as an event of default and also requires us to maintain:
For covenant compliance purposes, letters of credit and borrowings to fund hedged inventory and margin requirements are excluded when calculating the debt coverage ratio.
63
A default under our credit facility would permit the lenders to accelerate the maturity of the outstanding debt. As long as we are in compliance with our credit agreements, our ability to make distributions of available cash is not restricted. We are currently in compliance with the covenants contained in our credit agreements and indentures.
Commitments
Contractual Obligations. In the ordinary course of doing business we enter into various contractual obligations for varying terms and amounts. The following table includes our non-cancelable contractual obligations as of September 30, 2004, and our best estimate of the period in which the obligation will be settled:
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
Thereafter |
Total |
||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt | $ | | $ | | $ | 0.4 | $ | 30.0 | $ | | $ | 810.0 | $ | 840.4 | |||||||
Operating leases(1) | 4.1 | 15.9 | 13.9 | 10.3 | 5.7 | 13.1 | 63.0 | ||||||||||||||
Capital expenditure obligations | 46.0 | 8.7 | | | | | 54.7 | ||||||||||||||
Other long-term liabilities | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | | | | 1.5 | ||||||||||||||
Total | $ | 50.9 | $ | 25.1 | $ | 14.5 | $ | 40.3 | $ | 5.7 | $ | 823.1 | $ | 959.6 | |||||||
In addition to the items in the table above, we have entered into various operational commitments and agreements related to pipeline operations and to the marketing, transportation, terminalling and storage of crude oil and the marketing and storage of LPG. The majority of these contractual commitments are for the purchase of crude oil and LPG that are made under contracts that range in term from a thirty-day evergreen to three years. A substantial portion of the contracts that extend beyond thirty days include cancellation provisions that allow us to cancel the contract with thirty days written notice. From time to time, we also enter into various types of sale and exchange transactions including fixed price delivery contracts, floating price collar arrangements, financial swaps and crude oil futures contracts as hedging devices. Through these transactions, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between crude oil and LPG purchases and sales and future delivery obligations. The volume and prices of these purchase and sale contracts are subject to market volatility and fluctuate with changes in the NYMEX price of crude oil from period to period. During the third quarter 2004, these purchases averaged approximately $1.8 billion per month.
Letters of Credit. In connection with our crude oil marketing, we provide certain suppliers and transporters with irrevocable standby letters of credit to secure our obligation for the purchase of crude oil. Our liabilities with respect to these purchase obligations are recorded in accounts payable on our balance sheet in the month the crude oil is purchased. Generally, these letters of credit are issued for up to seventy-day periods and are terminated upon completion of each transaction. At September 30, 2004, we had outstanding letters of credit of approximately $123.9 million.
Distributions. We will distribute 100% of our available cash within 45 days after the end of each quarter to unitholders of record and to our general partner. Available cash is generally defined as all cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of the quarter less reserves established by our general partner for future requirements. On November 12, 2004, we paid a cash distribution of $0.60 per unit on all outstanding units. The total distribution paid was approximately $43.9 million, with approximately $40.4 million paid to our common unitholders and approximately $3.5 million paid to our general partner for its general partner ($0.8 million) and incentive distribution interests ($2.7 million).
Our general partner is entitled to incentive distributions if the amount we distribute with respect to any quarter exceeds levels specified in our partnership agreement. Under the quarterly incentive
64
distribution provisions, our general partner is entitled, without duplication, to 15% of amounts we distribute in excess of $0.450 per limited partner unit, 25% of amounts we distribute in excess of $0.495 per limited partner unit and 50% of amounts we distribute in excess of $0.675 per limited partner unit.
In 2003, we paid $4.9 million in incentive distributions to our general partner. Thus far in 2004 (through November 12, 2004), we have paid $8.3 million in incentive distributions to our general partner. See "Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsOur General Partner."
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined by Item 307 of Regulation S-K.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks
We are exposed to various market risks, including volatility in (i) crude oil and LPG commodity prices, (ii) interest rates and (iii) currency exchange rates. We utilize various derivative instruments to manage such exposure. Our risk management policies and procedures are designed to monitor interest rates, currency exchange rates, NYMEX and over-the-counter positions, and physical volumes, grades, locations and delivery schedules to ensure our hedging activities address our market risks. We have a risk management function that has direct responsibility and authority for our risk policies and our trading controls and procedures and certain aspects of corporate risk management. To hedge the risks discussed above we engage in price risk management activities that we categorize by the risks we are hedging. The following discussion addresses each category of risk.
Commodity Price Risk
We hedge our exposure to price fluctuations with respect to crude oil and LPG in storage, and expected purchases, sales and transportation of these commodities. The derivative instruments utilized consist primarily of futures and option contracts traded on the NYMEX and over-the-counter transactions, including crude oil swap and option contracts entered into with financial institutions and other energy companies (see Note 5 to our December 31, 2003 Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of the mitigation of credit risk). Our policy is to purchase only crude oil for which we have a market, and to structure our sales contracts so that crude oil price fluctuations do not materially affect the segment profit we receive. Except for the controlled trading program discussed below, we do not acquire and hold crude oil futures contracts or other derivative products for the purpose of speculating on crude oil price changes that might expose us to indeterminable losses.
While we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within our crude oil lease purchase and LPG activities, we may experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time as a result of production, transportation and delivery variances as well as logistical issues associated with inclement weather conditions. In connection with managing these positions and maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace, both necessary for our core business, we engage in a controlled trading program for up to an aggregate of 500,000 barrels of crude oil.
In order to hedge margins involving our physical assets and manage risks associated with our crude oil purchase and sale obligations, we use derivative instruments, including regulated futures and options transactions, as well as over-the-counter instruments. In analyzing our risk management activities, we draw a distinction between enterprise level risks and trading related risks. Enterprise level risks are those that underlie our core businesses and may be managed based on whether there is value in doing so. Conversely, trading related risks (the risks involved in trading in the hopes of generating an increased return) are not inherent in the core business; rather, those risks arise as a result of engaging in the trading activity. We have a Risk Management Committee that approves all new risk management strategies through a formal process. With the partial exception of the controlled trading program, our
65
approved strategies are intended to mitigate enterprise level risks that are inherent in our core businesses of gathering and marketing and storage.
Although the intent of our risk-management strategies is to hedge our margin, not all of our derivatives qualify for hedge accounting. In such instances, changes in the fair values of these derivatives will receive mark-to-market treatment in current earnings, and result in greater potential for earnings volatility than in the past. This accounting treatment is discussed further under Note 2 "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" of our December 31, 2003 Consolidated Financial Statements.
All of our open commodity price risk derivatives at September 30, 2004 were categorized as non-trading. The fair value of these instruments and the change in fair value that would be expected from a 10 percent price decrease are shown in the table below (in millions):
|
Fair Value |
Effect of 10% Price Decrease |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Crude oil: | |||||||
Futures contracts | $ | 29.2 | $ | (15.5 | ) | ||
Swaps and options contracts | (16.0 | ) | (1.2 | ) | |||
LPG: | |||||||
Futures contracts | | | |||||
Swaps and option contracts | (2.6 | ) | 3.6 |
The fair values of the futures contracts are based on quoted market prices obtained from the NYMEX. 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 year end. 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. The assumptions in these estimates as well as the source is maintained by the independent risk control function. All hedge positions offset physical exposures to the cash 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 percent 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 percent change in prompt month crude 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.
Interest Rate Risk
We utilize both fixed and variable rate debt, and are exposed to market risk due to the floating interest rates on our credit facilities. Therefore, from time to time we utilize interest rate swaps and collars to hedge interest obligations on specific debt issuances, including anticipated debt issuances. The table below presents principal payments and the related weighted average interest rates by expected maturity dates for variable rate debt outstanding at September 30, 2004. The 7.75% senior notes issued during 2002 and the 5.625% senior notes issued during 2003 and the outstanding Notes issued in 2004 are fixed rate notes and their interest rates are not subject to market risk. Our variable rate debt bears interest at LIBOR, prime or the bankers acceptance plus the applicable margin. The average interest rates presented below are based upon rates in effect at September 30, 2004. The carrying values of the
66
variable rate instruments in our credit facilities approximate fair value primarily because interest rates fluctuate with prevailing market rates.
|
Expected Year of Maturity |
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
Thereafter |
Total |
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
(in millions) |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Short-term debtvariable rate | $ | 122.9 | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | 122.9 | ||||||||
Average interest rate | 2.7 | % | | | | | | 2.7 | % | |||||||||||||
Long-term debtvariable rate | $ | | $ | | $ | 0.4 | $ | 30.0 | $ | | $ | 10.0 | $ | 40.4 | ||||||||
Average interest rate | | | 6.5 | % | 4.7 | % | | 2.8 | % | 4.3 | % |
Currency Exchange Rate Risk Hedging
Our cash flow stream relating to our Canadian operations is based on the U.S. dollar equivalent of such amounts measured in Canadian dollars. Assets and liabilities of our Canadian subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars using the applicable exchange rate as of the end of a reporting period. Revenues, expenses and cash flow are translated using the average exchange rate during the reporting period.
Because a significant portion of our Canadian business is conducted in Canadian dollars, we use certain financial instruments to minimize the risks of changes in the exchange rate. These instruments include forward exchange contracts and cross currency swaps. The forward exchange contracts qualify for hedge accounting as cash flow hedges and the cross currency swaps qualify for hedge accounting as fair value hedges, both in accordance with SFAS 133.
At September 30, 2004, we had forward exchange contracts that allow us to exchange Canadian dollars for U.S. dollars, quarterly, at set exchange rates as detailed below:
|
Canadian Dollars |
US Dollars |
Rate |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
($ in millions) |
|
||||||
2004 | $ | 5.0 | $ | 3.8 | 1.32 to 1 | |||
2005 | $ | 3.0 | $ | 2.3 | 1.33 to 1 | |||
2006 | $ | 2.0 | $ | 1.5 | 1.32 to 1 |
In addition, at September 30, 2004, we also had cross currency swap contracts for an aggregate notional principal amount of $21.0 million effectively converting this amount of our U.S. dollar denominated debt to $32.5 million of Canadian dollar debt (based on Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate of 1.55 to 1). The notional principal amount reduces by $2.0 million U.S. in May 2005 and has a final maturity in May 2006 ($19.0 million U.S.). At September 30, 2004, $6.2 million of our long-term debt was denominated in Canadian dollars ($7.8 million Canadian based on a Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate of 1.26 to 1). All of these financial instruments are placed with what we believe to be large, creditworthy financial institutions.
We estimate the fair value of these instruments based on current termination values. The table shown below summarizes the fair value of our foreign currency hedges by year of maturity (in millions):
|
Year of Maturity |
|||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
Total |
|||||||||||
Forward exchange contracts | $ | (0.1 | ) | $ | (0.4 | ) | $ | (0.2 | ) | $ | | $ | (0.7 | ) | ||
Cross currency swaps | (0.1 | ) | (0.8 | ) | (4.1 | ) | | (5.0 | ) | |||||||
Total | $ | (0.2 | ) | $ | (1.2 | ) | $ | (4.3 | ) | $ | | $ | (5.7 | ) | ||
67
We are a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership, formed in 1998 and engaged in interstate and intrastate crude oil transportation, and crude oil gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage, as well as the marketing and storage of liquefied petroleum gas and natural gas related petroleum products. We refer to liquefied petroleum gas and other petroleum products collectively as "LPG." We have an extensive network of pipeline transportation, storage and gathering assets in key oil producing basins and at major market hubs in the United States and Canada. Our operations can be categorized into two primary business activities:
Our principal business strategy is to capitalize on the regional crude oil supply and demand imbalances that exist in the United States and Canada by combining the strategic location and distinctive capabilities of our transportation and terminalling assets with our extensive marketing and distribution expertise to generate sustainable earnings and cash flow.
We intend to execute our business strategy by:
68
To a lesser degree, we also engage in a similar business strategy with respect to the wholesale marketing and storage of LPG. Since commencing LPG activities in mid-2001, the portion of our Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage Operations segment profit associated with those activities has increased from $4.2 million in 2001 to $10.0 million in 2002 and $11.6 million in 2003. The segment profit for 2001 reflects results from July 1 through December 31.
Targeted Credit Profile
We believe that a major factor in our continued success will be our ability to maintain a competitive cost of capital and access to the capital markets. Since our initial public offering in 1998, we have consistently communicated to the financial community our intention to maintain a strong credit profile that we believe is consistent with an investment grade credit rating. We have targeted a general credit profile with the following attributes:
Based on our third quarter 2004 results, we were within our targeted credit profile. In order for us to maintain our targeted credit profile and achieve growth through acquisitions, we intend to fund acquisitions using approximately equal proportions of equity and debt. In certain cases, acquisitions will initially be financed using debt since it is difficult to predict the actual timing of accessing the market to raise equity. Accordingly, from time to time we may be outside the parameters of our targeted credit profile.
Credit Rating
As of November 30, 2004, our senior unsecured rating with Standard & Poors and Moody's Investment Services was BBB-stable and Baa3 stable, both of which are considered investment grade. We cannot assure you that these ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that one or both of these ratings will not be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency. You should note that a credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities, and may be revised or withdrawn at any time.
69
Competitive Strengths
We believe that the following competitive strengths position us to successfully execute our principal business strategy:
70
Unitholder Meeting
On December 7, 2004, we filed a proxy statement to call a special meeting of our unitholders. At the meeting, our unitholders will consider and vote on the following matters:
Our board of directors unanimously recommended that the common unitholders approve the Class B Listing Proposal, the Class C Listing Proposal and the 2005 LTIP Proposal. Pursuant to our partnership agreement, if the approval of our common unitholders is not obtained within 120 days of the request, the holders of the Class B common units and the Class C common units (unless and until converted into common units) will be entitled to receive distributions, on a per unit basis, equal to 110% of the amount of distributions paid on a common unit. If the approval of our common unitholders is not secured within 90 days after the end of the 120-day period, the distribution right increases to 115%. If the approval of our common unitholders is not obtained for the 2005 LTIP Proposal, we will not be able to award any grants under the 2005 LTIP. See "Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsTransactions with Related PartiesClass B Common Units" and "Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsTransactions with Related PartiesClass C Common Units" for a discussion of the Class B and Class C common units.
Board of Directors
On July 23, 2004, in connection with the acquisition of Plains Resources Inc. by Vulcan Energy Corporation, Plains All American GP LLC (the general partner of our general partner Plains AAP, L.P.), amended its limited liability company agreement to expand its board of directors from seven members to eight. As amended, the limited liability company agreement provides that the mechanism for determining the constituency of the board remains the same except that three independent directors, rather than two, are elected by majority vote of the owners of Plains All American GP LLC. Mr. J. Taft Symonds, the previous designee of Plains Holdings Inc., was elected as an independent director by majority vote of the members of Plains All American GP LLC to fill the vacancy created by the expansion of the board.
On July 26, 2004, Plains Holdings Inc. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Plains Resources Inc.) designated Mr. David N. Capobianco as one of our directors. Mr. Capobianco is a member of the board of Vulcan Energy Corporation and a managing director of Vulcan Capital, an affiliate of Vulcan Inc.
Distribution Payment
On November 12, 2004, we paid a cash distribution of $0.60 per unit on our outstanding common units, Class B common units and Class C common units. The total distribution paid was approximately
71
$43.9 million, with approximately $40.4 million paid to our common unitholders and approximately $3.5 million paid to our general partner for its general partner ($0.8 million) and incentive distribution interests ($2.7 million).
Common Unit Offering
During the third quarter of 2004, we completed a public offering of 4,968,000 common units. The net proceeds from the offering, including our general partner's proportionate capital contribution and expenses associated with the offering, were approximately $160.9 million. We used the net proceeds to pay down outstanding indebtedness and reduce the commitment level under our $200 million, 364-day credit facility.
Debt Offering
On August 12, 2004, we sold the outstanding Notes. We used the net proceeds, after deducting initial purchaser discounts and offering costs, of approximately $345.3 million to repay amounts outstanding under our credit facilities, including the remaining balance under the $200 million, 364-day facility we used to fund the Link acquisition, and for general partnership purposes. In connection with this repayment, we terminated the facility. Subsequent to the notes offering, we also terminated our $125 million, 364-day facility, which was scheduled to expire in November 2004.
Credit Facility
In November 2004, we entered into a new $750 million, five-year senior credit facility, which contains a sub-facility for Canadian borrowings up to $300 million. The new facility extends our maturities, lowers our cost of credit and provides an additional $125 million of liquidity over our previous facility. The facility can be expanded to $1 billion. Also in November 2004, we increased the capacity of our uncommitted senior secured hedged inventory facility to $400 million (with the ability to increase in the future by an incremental $100 million), and extended the maturity to November 2005.
LTIP Vesting
From January 1, 2004 through September 30, 2004, we have issued approximately 363,000 common units in satisfaction of the vesting of phantom units under our Long-Term Incentive Plan.
Other Acquisition Activities
Since 1998, including our recent Schaefferstown acquisition, we have completed numerous acquisitions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.9 billion. Consistent with our business strategy, we are continuously engaged in discussions with potential sellers regarding the possible purchase by us of assets and operations that are strategic and complementary to our existing operations. Such assets and operations include crude oil related assets and LPG assets, as well as energy assets that are closely related to, or intertwined with, these business lines, and enable us to leverage our asset base, knowledge base and skill sets. Such acquisition efforts involve participation by us in processes that have been made public, involve a number of potential buyers and are commonly referred to as "auction" processes, as well as situations in which we believe we are the only party or one of a very limited number of potential buyers in negotiations with the potential seller. These acquisition efforts often involve assets which, if acquired, would have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We were formed in September 1998 as a separate, publicly traded master limited partnership, to acquire and operate the midstream crude oil business and assets of Plains Resources Inc. and its wholly
72
owned subsidiaries. We completed our initial public offering in November 1998. Unless the context otherwise requires, we refer to Plains Resources Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries as Plains Resources. As a result of subsequent equity offerings and the purchase in 2001 by senior management and a group of financial investors of majority control of our general partner and a portion of the limited partner units held by Plains Resources, Plains Resources' overall effective ownership in us was reduced to approximately 18.9% as of September 30, 2004. See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholders' Matters."
Since June 2001, our 2% general partner interest has been held by Plains AAP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership. Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, is Plains AAP, L.P.'s general partner. Unless the context otherwise requires, we use the term "general partner" to refer to both Plains AAP, L.P. and Plains All American GP LLC. Plains AAP, L.P. and Plains All American GP LLC are essentially held by seven owners with the largest interest, 44%, held by Plains Resources. We use the phrase "former general partner" to refer to the subsidiary of Plains Resources that formerly held the general partner interest.
Partnership Structure and Management
Our operations are conducted through, and our operating assets are owned by, our subsidiaries. We own our interests in our subsidiaries through two operating partnerships, Plains Marketing, L.P. and Plains Pipeline, L.P. Our Canadian operations are conducted through Plains Marketing Canada, L.P.
Our general partner, Plains AAP, L.P., is a limited partnership. Our general partner is managed by its general partner, Plains All American GP LLC, which has ultimate responsibility for conducting our business and managing our operations. References to our general partner, unless the context otherwise requires, include Plains All American GP LLC. Our general partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation in connection with its management of our business, but it is reimbursed for all direct and indirect expenses incurred on our behalf.
The chart on the next page depicts the current structure and ownership of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and certain subsidiaries.
73
An integral component of our business strategy and growth objective is to acquire assets and operations that are strategic and complementary to our existing operations. Such assets and operations include crude oil related assets and LPG assets, as well as energy assets that are closely related to, or intertwined with, these business lines, and enable us to leverage our asset base, knowledge base and skill sets. We have established a target to complete, on average, $200 million to $300 million in acquisitions per year, subject to availability of attractive assets on acceptable terms. Since 1998, we have completed numerous acquisitions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.9 billion. In addition, from time to time we have sold assets that are no longer considered essential to our operations.
74
Following is a brief description of selected acquisitions completed to date in 2004 and in 2003, and major acquisitions and dispositions that have occurred since our initial public offering in November 1998.
Link Energy LLC
On April 1, 2004, we completed the acquisition of all of the North American crude oil and pipeline operations of Link for approximately $332 million, including $268 million of cash (net of approximately $5.5 million subsequently returned to PAA from an indemnity escrow account) and approximately $64 million of net liabilities assumed and acquisition related costs. The Link crude oil business consists of approximately 7,000 miles of active crude oil pipeline and gathering systems, over 10 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity, a fleet of approximately 200 owned or leased trucks and approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil linefill and working inventory. The Link assets complement our assets in West Texas and along the Gulf Coast and allow us to expand our presence in the Rocky Mountain and Oklahoma/Kansas regions. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition (the "Link acquisition") have been included in our consolidated financial statements and both our pipeline operations and gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations segments since April 1, 2004.
Cal Ven Pipeline System
On May 7, 2004 we completed the acquisition of the Cal Ven Pipeline System from Cal Ven Limited, a subsidiary of Unocal Canada Limited. The total purchase price was approximately $19 million, including transaction costs. The Cal Ven Pipeline System includes approximately 195 miles of 8-inch and 10-inch gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines. The system is located in northern Alberta and delivers crude oil into the Rainbow Pipeline System. The Rainbow Pipeline System then transports the crude south to the Edmonton market, where it can be used in local refineries or shipped on connecting pipelines to the U.S. market. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and our pipeline operations segment since May 1, 2004.
Capline and Capwood Pipeline System
In March 2004, we completed the acquisition of all of Shell Pipeline Company LP's ("SPLC") interests in two entities for approximately $158.0 million in cash (including a $15.8 million deposit paid in December 2003) and approximately $0.5 million of transaction and other costs. The principal assets of the entities are: (i) an approximate 22% undivided joint interest in the Capline Pipe Line System, and (ii) an approximate 76% undivided joint interest in the Capwood Pipeline System. The Capline Pipeline System is a 633-mile, 40-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in St. James, Louisiana, and terminating in Patoka, Illinois. The Capline system is one of the primary transportation routes for crude oil shipped into the Midwestern U.S., accessing over 2.7 million barrels of refining capacity in PADD II, including refineries owned by ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, BP, MarathonAshland, CITGO and Premcor. Capline has direct connections to a significant amount of sweet and light sour crude production in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, with its two active docks capable of handling 600,000-barrel tankers as well as access to LOOP, the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the Capline System is a key transporter of sweet and light sour foreign crude to PADD II. With a total system operating capacity of 1.14 million barrels per day, approximately 248,000 barrels per day are subject to the interest acquired. During 2003, throughput on the interest we acquired averaged approximately 125,000 barrels per day.
The Capwood Pipeline System is a 57-mile, 20-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in Patoka, Illinois, and terminating in Wood River, Illinois. The Capwood system has an operating capacity of 277,000 barrels per day of crude oil. Of that capacity, approximately 211,000 barrels per day are subject to the interest acquired. The Capwood System has the ability to deliver crude at Wood
75
River to several other PADD II refineries and pipelines, including those owned by Koch and ConocoPhillips. Movements on the Capwood system are driven by the volumes shipped on Capline as well as Canadian crude that can be delivered to Patoka via the Mustang Pipeline. Since closing, we have assumed the operatorship of the Capwood system from SPLC.
South Saskatchewan Pipeline System
In November 2003, we completed the acquisition of the South Saskatchewan Pipeline System from South Saskatchewan Pipe Line Company. The South Saskatchewan Pipeline System originates approximately 75 miles southwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, and traverses north and east until it reaches its terminus at Regina, Saskatchewan. The system consists of a 158-mile, 16-inch mainline and 203 miles of gathering lines ranging in diameter from three to twelve inches. In 2002, the system transported approximately 52,000 barrels of crude oil per day. During the period of 2003 that we owned the system, it transported approximately 52,000 barrels of crude oil per day. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, the system transported approximately 48,000 barrels of crude oil per day. At Regina, the system can deliver crude oil to the Enbridge Pipeline System, as well as to local markets, and through the Enbridge connection crude can be delivered into our Wascana Pipeline System. Total purchase price for these assets was approximately $48 million, including transaction costs.
ArkLaTex Pipeline System
In October 2003, we completed the acquisition of the ArkLaTex Pipeline System from Link Energy (formerly EOTT Energy). The ArkLaTex Pipeline System consists of 240 miles of active crude oil gathering and mainline pipelines and connects to our Red River Pipeline System near Sabine, Texas. Also included in the transaction were 470,000 barrels of active crude oil storage capacity, the assignment of certain of Link Energy's crude oil supply contracts and crude oil linefill and working inventory comprising approximately 108,000 barrels. The total purchase price for these assets of approximately $21.3 million included approximately $14.0 million of cash paid to Link Energy for the pipeline system, approximately $2.9 million of cash paid to Link Energy to purchase crude oil linefill and working inventory, approximately $3.6 million for estimated near-term capital costs and transaction costs and approximately $0.8 million associated with the satisfaction of outstanding claims for accounts receivable and inventory balances.
Iraan to Midland Pipeline System
In June 2003, we acquired the Iraan to Midland Pipeline System from a unit of Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC ("MAP") for aggregate consideration of approximately $17.6 million. The Iraan to Midland Pipeline System is a 16-inch, 98-mile mainline crude oil pipeline that originates in Iraan, Texas and terminates in Midland, Texas. At Midland, the system has the ability to deliver crude oil to our Basin Pipeline System and to the Mesa Pipeline System. The Iraan to Midland Pipeline System transported approximately 22,000 barrels per day of crude oil in the first nine months of 2004. The results of operations and assets of the Iraan to Midland Pipeline System have been included in our consolidated financial statements and our pipeline operations since June 30, 2003. The aggregate purchase price included $13.6 million in cash, approximately $3.6 million associated with the satisfaction of outstanding claims for accounts receivable and inventory balances, and approximately $0.4 million of estimated transaction costs.
South Louisiana Assets
In June 2003, we completed the acquisition of terminalling and gathering assets from El Paso Corporation for approximately $13.4 million, including transaction costs. These assets are located in southern Louisiana and include various interests in five pipelines and gathering systems and two terminal facilities. These assets complement our existing activities in south Louisiana and we believe
76
will help leverage our exposure to the growing volume of crude oil and condensate production from the Gulf of Mexico. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and in our pipeline operations segment since June 1, 2003. The assets acquired in this acquisition include a 331/3% interest in Atchafalaya Pipeline, L.L.C. In December 2003, we acquired the remaining 662/3% interests in two separate transactions totaling $4.4 million.
Iatan Gathering System
In March 2003, we completed the acquisition of a West Texas crude oil gathering system from Navajo Refining Company, L.P. for approximately $24.3 million, including transaction costs. The assets are located in the Permian Basin in West Texas and consist of approximately 360 miles of active crude oil gathering lines. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and in our pipeline operations segment since March 1, 2003.
Red River Pipeline System
In February 2003, we completed the acquisition of a 334-mile crude oil pipeline from BP Pipelines (North America) Inc. for approximately $19.4 million, including transaction costs. The system originates at Sabine in East Texas and terminates near Cushing, Oklahoma. Subsequent to the acquisition, we connected the pipeline system to our Cushing Terminal. The system also includes approximately 645,000 barrels of crude oil storage capacity. The results of operations and assets from this acquisition have been included in our consolidated financial statements and in our pipeline operations segment since February 1, 2003. This pipeline complements our existing assets in East Texas.
Shell West Texas Assets
On August 1, 2002, we acquired interests in approximately 2,000 miles of gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines and approximately 9.0 million barrels (net to our interest) of above ground crude oil terminalling and storage assets in West Texas from Shell Pipeline Company LP and Equilon Enterprises LLC (the "Shell acquisition"). The primary assets included in the transaction are interests in the Basin Pipeline System ("Basin System"), the Permian Basin Gathering System ("Permian Basin System") and the Rancho Pipeline System ("Rancho System"). The total purchase price of $324.4 million consisted of (i) $304.0 million in cash, (ii) approximately $9.1 million related to the settlement of pre-existing accounts receivable and inventory balances and (iii) approximately $11.3 million of estimated transaction and closing costs.
The acquired assets are primarily fee-based mainline crude oil pipeline transportation assets that gather crude oil in the Permian Basin and transport that crude oil to major market locations in the Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast regions. The acquired assets complement our existing asset infrastructure in West Texas and represent a transportation link to Cushing, Oklahoma, where we provide storage and terminalling services. In addition, we believe that the Basin system is poised to benefit from potential shut-downs of refineries and other pipelines due to the shifting market dynamics in the West Texas area. As was contemplated at the time of the acquisition, the Rancho system was taken out of service in March 2003, pursuant to the terms of its operating agreement. See "Shutdown and Sale of Rancho Pipeline System."
Canadian Expansion
In 2001, we consummated the two transactions that enabled us to establish a presence in Canada to complement our operations in the United States. The combination of these assets, an established fee-based pipeline transportation business and a rapidly growing, entrepreneurial gathering and marketing business, allowed us to optimize both businesses and establish a solid foundation for future growth in Canada.
77
CANPET Energy Group, Inc. In July 2001, we purchased substantially all of the assets of CANPET Energy Group Inc., a Calgary based Canadian crude oil and LPG marketing company, for approximately $24.6 million plus $25.0 million for additional inventory owned by CANPET. In December 2003 we recorded an additional $24.3 million related to a portion of the purchase price that had previously been deferred subject to various performance standards of the business acquired. See Note 7 "Partners' Capital and Distributions" in the December 31, 2003 "Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements." The principal assets acquired included a crude oil handling facility, a 130,000-barrel tank facility, LPG facilities, existing business relationships and operating inventory.
Murphy Oil Company Ltd. Midstream Operations. In May 2001, we completed the acquisition of substantially all of the Canadian crude oil pipeline, gathering, storage and terminalling assets of Murphy Oil Company Ltd. for approximately $158.4 million in cash (after post-closing adjustments), including financing and transaction costs. The purchase price included $6.5 million for excess inventory in the systems. The principal assets acquired include (i) approximately 560 miles of crude oil and condensate mainlines (including dual lines on which condensate is shipped for blending purposes and blended crude is shipped in the opposite direction) and associated gathering and lateral lines, (ii) approximately 1.1 million barrels of crude oil storage and terminalling capacity located primarily in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, (iii) approximately 254,000 barrels of pipeline linefill and tank inventories, and (iv) 121 trailers used primarily for crude oil transportation.
West Texas Gathering System
In July 1999, we completed the acquisition of the West Texas Gathering System from Chevron Pipe Line Company for approximately $36.0 million, including transaction costs. The assets acquired include approximately 420 miles of crude oil mainlines, approximately 295 miles of associated gathering and lateral lines, and approximately 2.7 million barrels of tankage located along the system.
Scurlock Permian
In May 1999, we completed the acquisition of Scurlock Permian LLC ("Scurlock") and certain other pipeline assets from Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC. Including working capital adjustments and closing and financing costs, the cash purchase price was approximately $141.7 million.
Scurlock, previously a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Ashland Petroleum, was engaged in crude oil transportation, gathering and marketing. The assets acquired included approximately 2,300 miles of active pipelines, numerous storage terminals and a fleet of trucks. The largest asset consists of an approximately 954-mile pipeline and gathering system located in the Spraberry Trend in West Texas that extends into Andrews, Glasscock, Martin, Midland, Regan and Upton Counties, Texas. The assets we acquired also included approximately one million barrels of crude oil linefill.
Ongoing Acquisition Activities
Consistent with our business strategy, we are continuously engaged in discussions with potential sellers regarding the possible purchase by us of assets and operations that are strategic and complimentary to our existing operations. Such assets and operations include crude oil related assets and LPG assets, as well as energy assets that are closely related to, or intertwined with, these business lines, and enable us to leverage our asset base, knowledge base and skill sets. Such acquisition efforts involve participation by us in processes that have been made public, involve a number of potential buyers and are commonly referred to as "auction" processes, as well as situations where we believe we are the only party or one of a very limited number of potential buyers in negotiations with the potential seller. These acquisition efforts often involve assets which, if acquired, would have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
78
In connection with our acquisition activities, we routinely incur third party costs, which are capitalized and deferred pending final outcome of the transaction. Deferred costs associated with successful transactions are capitalized as part of the transaction, while deferred costs associated with unsuccessful transactions are expensed at the time of such final determination. We had a total of approximately $0.2 million in deferred costs at September 30, 2004. We can give no assurance that our current or future acquisition efforts will be successful or that any such acquisition will be completed on terms considered favorable to us.
Shutdown and Sale of Rancho Pipeline System
We acquired an interest in the Rancho Pipeline System from Shell in August 2002. The Rancho Pipeline System Agreement dated November 1, 1951, pursuant to which the system was constructed and operated, would terminate in March 2003. Upon termination, the agreement required the owners to take the pipeline system, in which we owned an approximate 50% interest, out of service. Accordingly, we notified our shippers and did not accept nominations for movements after February 28, 2003. This shutdown was contemplated at the time of the acquisition and was accounted for under purchase accounting in accordance with SFAS No. 141 "Business Combinations." The pipeline was shut down on March 1, 2003 and a purge of the crude oil linefill was completed in April 2003. In June 2003, we completed transactions whereby we transferred our ownership interest in approximately 241 miles of the total 458 miles of the pipeline in exchange for $4.0 million and approximately 500,000 barrels of crude oil tankage in West Texas. In August 2004, we sold our interest in the remaining portion of the system to Kinder Morgan Texas Pipeline, L.P. for approximately $0.9 million, including the assumption of all liabilities typically associated with pipelines of this type. We recognized a gain of approximately $0.6 million on this transaction.
All American Pipeline Linefill Sale and Asset Disposition
In March 2000, we sold the segment of the All American Pipeline that extends from Emidio, California to McCamey, Texas to a unit of El Paso Corporation for $129.0 million. Except for minor third party volumes, one of our subsidiaries, Plains Marketing, L.P., was the sole shipper on this segment of the pipeline since its predecessor acquired the line from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in July 1998. We realized net proceeds of approximately $124.0 million after the associated transaction costs and estimated costs to remove equipment. We used the proceeds from the sale to reduce outstanding debt. We recognized a gain of approximately $20.1 million in connection with the sale.
We had suspended shipments of crude oil on this segment of the pipeline in November 1999. At that time, we owned approximately 5.2 million barrels of crude oil in the segment of the pipeline. We sold this crude oil from November 1999 to February 2000 for net proceeds of approximately $100.0 million, which were used for working capital purposes. We recognized an aggregate gain of approximately $44.6 million, of which approximately $28.1 million was recognized in 2000 in connection with the sale of the linefill.
Description of Segments and Associated Assets
Our business activities are conducted through two primary segments, Pipeline Operations and Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage Operations. Our operations are conducted in approximately 40 states in the United States and six provinces in Canada. The majority of our operations are conducted in Texas, Oklahoma, California, Kansas and Louisiana and in the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
79
Following is a description of the activities and assets for each of our business segments:
Pipeline Operations
As of September 30, 2004, we owned approximately 15,000 miles of gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines located throughout the United States and Canada, of which approximately 13,100 miles are included in our pipeline segment. Our activities from pipeline operations generally consist of transporting crude oil for a fee and third party leases of pipeline capacity, as well as barrel exchanges and buy/sell arrangements.
Substantially all of our pipeline systems are controlled or monitored from one of two central control rooms with computer systems designed to continuously monitor real-time operational data, including measurement of crude oil quantities injected into and delivered through the pipelines, product flow rates, and pressure and temperature variations. The systems are designed to enhance leak detection capabilities, sound automatic alarms in the event of operational conditions outside of pre-established parameters and provide for remote controlled shut-down of pump stations on the pipeline systems. Pump stations, storage facilities and meter measurement points along the pipeline systems are linked by telephone, satellite, radio or a combination thereof to provide communications for remote monitoring and in some instances control, which reduces our requirement for full-time site personnel at most of these locations.
We perform scheduled maintenance on all of our pipeline systems and make repairs and replacements when necessary or appropriate. We attempt to control corrosion of the mainlines through the use of cathodic protection, corrosion inhibiting chemicals injected into the crude stream and other protection systems typically used in the industry. Maintenance facilities containing equipment for pipe repairs, spare parts and trained response personnel are strategically located along the pipelines and in concentrated operating areas. We believe that all of our pipelines have been constructed and are maintained in all material respects in accordance with applicable federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations, standards prescribed by the American Petroleum Institute, Canadian Standards Association and accepted industry practice. See "RegulationPipeline and Storage Regulation."
Following is a description of our major pipeline assets in the United States and Canada, grouped by geographic location:
Southwest U.S.
Basin Pipeline System. We acquired an approximate 87% undivided joint interest in the Basin System in the Shell acquisition. The Basin System is a 515-mile mainline, telescoping crude oil system with a capacity ranging from approximately 144,000 barrels per day to 394,000 barrels per day depending on the segment. System throughput (as measured by system deliveries) was approximately 275,000 barrels per day (net to our interest) during the first nine months of 2004. The Basin System consists of three primary movements of crude oil: (i) barrels are shipped from Jal, New Mexico to the West Texas markets of Wink and Midland, where they are exchanged and/or further shipped to refining centers; (ii) barrels are shipped to the Mid-Continent region on the Midland to Wichita Falls segment and the Wichita Falls to Cushing segment; and (iii) foreign and Gulf of Mexico barrels are delivered into Basin at Wichita Falls and delivered to a connecting carrier or shipped to Cushing for further distribution to Mid-Continent or Midwest refineries. The size of the pipe ranges from 20 to 24 inches in diameter. The Basin system also includes approximately 5.8 million barrels (5.0 million barrels, net to our interest) of crude oil storage capacity located along the system. TEPPCO Partners, L.P. owns the remaining approximately 13% interest in the system. In 2004, we expanded a 424-mile section of the system extending from Midland, Texas to Cushing, Oklahoma. With the completion of this expansion, the capacity of this section has increased approximately 15%, from 350,000 barrels per day to approximately 400,000 barrels per day. The Basin system is subject to tariff rates regulated by the
80
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the "FERC"). See "RegulationTransportation Regulation."
West Texas Gathering System. The West Texas Gathering System is a common carrier crude oil pipeline system located in the heart of the Permian Basin producing area, and includes approximately 420 miles of crude oil mainlines and approximately 295 miles of associated gathering and lateral lines. The West Texas Gathering System has the capability to transport approximately 190,000 barrels per day. Total system volumes were approximately 81,000 barrels per day in the first nine months of 2004. Chevron USA has agreed to transport its equity crude oil production from fields connected to the West Texas Gathering System on the system through July 2011 (representing approximately 18,000 barrels per day, or 21% of the total system volumes during 2003). The system also includes approximately 2.7 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity, located primarily in Monahans, Midland, Wink and Crane, Texas.
Permian Basin Gathering System. The Permian Basin System, acquired in the Shell acquisition, includes several gathering systems and trunk lines with connecting injection stations and storage facilities. In total, the system consists of 919 miles of pipe and primarily transports crude oil from wells in the Permian Basin to the Basin System. The Permian Basin System gathered approximately 49,000 barrels per day in the first nine months of 2004. The Permian Basin System includes approximately 3.9 million barrels of crude oil storage capacity.
Spraberry Pipeline System. The Spraberry Pipeline System, acquired in the Scurlock acquisition, gathers crude oil from the Spraberry Trend of West Texas and transports it to Midland, Texas, where it interconnects with the West Texas Gathering System and other pipelines. The Spraberry Pipeline System consists of approximately 954 miles of pipe of varying diameter, and has a throughput capacity of approximately 50,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The Spraberry Trend is one of the largest producing areas in West Texas, and we are one of the largest gatherers in the Spraberry Trend. For the first nine months of 2004, the Spraberry Pipeline System gathered approximately 38,000 barrels per day of crude oil. The Spraberry Pipeline System also includes approximately 659,000 barrels of tank capacity located along the pipeline, including the recent expansion.
Dollarhide Pipeline System. The Dollarhide Pipeline System, acquired from Unocal Pipeline Company in October 2001, is a common carrier pipeline system that is located in West Texas. In the first nine months of 2004, the Dollarhide Pipeline System delivered approximately 6,000 barrels of crude oil per day into the West Texas Gathering System. The system also includes approximately 55,000 barrels of crude oil storage capacity along the system.
Mesa Pipeline System. The Mesa Pipeline System, in which we acquired an 8.8% undivided interest from Unocal Corporation in May 2003, is located in the Permian Basin in West Texas, originating at Midland and terminating at Colorado City, and serves to complement our Basin Pipeline System. We have access to a net capacity of approximately 28,000 barrels of crude oil per day on the system. This system is operated by an affiliate of ChevronTexaco.
Iraan to Midland Pipeline System. The Iraan to Midland Pipeline System, acquired from a unit of Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC in June 2003, is a 16-inch, 98-mile mainline crude oil pipeline that originates in Iraan, Texas and terminates in Midland, Texas. At Midland, the system has the ability to deliver crude oil to our Basin Pipeline System and to the Mesa Pipeline System. In the first nine months of 2004, deliveries averaged approximately 22,000 barrels per day.
Iatan Gathering System. The Iatan gathering system, acquired from Navajo Refining Company, L.P. in March 2003, is located in the Permian Basin in West Texas and consists of approximately 360 miles of active crude oil gathering lines. During the first nine months of 2004, volumes on this system averaged 22,000 barrels per day.
81
New Mexico Pipeline System. The New Mexico Pipeline System, included in the April 2004 Link transaction, is an extensive crude oil mainline and gathering system primarily located in Lea and Eddy Counties, New Mexico. The system consists of approximately 1,200 miles of active pipe and approximately 1.3 million barrels of associated storage. The system delivers primarily to the Basin Pipeline System, an Amoco Pipeline System, and the Kaston Pipeline system. For the third quarter of 2004, volumes averaged approximately 66,000 barrels per day.
Texas Pipeline System. The Texas Pipeline System, included in the April 2004 Link transaction, is an extensive crude oil mainline and gathering system delivering crude oil produced in the Permian Basin primarily to Midland, McCamey, and Colorado City, Texas. Also, included in the system is a 10-inch mainline from McCamey, Texas to Healdton, Oklahoma and approximately 2.0 million barrels of storage. For the third quarter of 2004, volumes averaged approximately 109,000 barrels per day.
Western U.S.
All American Pipeline System. The segment of the All American Pipeline that we retained following the sale of the line segment to El Paso is a common carrier crude oil pipeline system that transports crude oil produced from certain outer continental shelf, or OCS, fields offshore California to locations in California. This segment is subject to tariff rates regulated by the FERC.
We own and operate the segment of the system that extends approximately 10 miles along the California coast from Las Flores to Gaviota (24-inch diameter pipe) and continues from Gaviota approximately 126 miles to our station in Emidio, California (30-inch diameter pipe). Between Gaviota and our Emidio Station, the All American Pipeline interconnects with our San Joaquin Valley, or SJV, Gathering System as well as various third party intrastate pipelines, including the Unocap Pipeline System, the Shell Pipeline Company, L.P. and the Pacific Pipeline.
The All American Pipeline currently transports OCS crude oil received at the onshore facilities of the Santa Ynez field at Las Flores and the onshore facilities of the Point Arguello field located at Gaviota. ExxonMobil, which owns all of the Santa Ynez production, and PXP and other producers, which together own approximately 75% of the Point Arguello production, have entered into transportation agreements committing to transport all of their production from these fields on the All American Pipeline. These agreements, which expire in August 2007, provide for a minimum tariff with annual escalations based on specific composite indices. The producers from the Point Arguello field who do not have contracts with us have no other means of transporting their production and, therefore, ship their volumes on the All American Pipeline at the posted tariffs. Volumes attributable to PXP are purchased and sold to a third party under our marketing agreement with PXP before such volumes enter the All American Pipeline. See "Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsTransactions with Related PartiesGeneral." The third party pays the same tariff as required in the transportation agreements. At December 31, 2003, the tariffs averaged $1.71 per barrel. Effective January 1, 2004, based on the contractual escalator, the average tariff increased to $1.81 per barrel. The agreements do not require these owners to transport a minimum volume.
A significant portion of our revenues less direct field operating costs is derived from the pipeline transportation business associated with these two fields. The relative contribution to our revenues less direct field operating costs from these fields has decreased from approximately 23% in 1999 to 17% in 2003, as we have grown and diversified through acquisitions and organic expansions and as a result of declines in volumes produced and transported from these fields, offset somewhat by an increase in pipeline tariffs. Over the last several years, transportation volumes received from the Santa Ynez and Point Arguello fields have declined from 92,000 and 60,000 average daily barrels, respectively, in 1995 to 45,000 and 10,000 average daily barrels, respectively, for the first nine months of 2004. We expect that there will continue to be natural production declines from each of these fields as the underlying reservoirs are depleted. A 5,000 barrel per day decline in volumes shipped from these fields would
82
result in a decrease in annual pipeline tariff revenues of approximately $3.1 million, based on a tariff of $1.81 per barrel.
In October 2004, PXP announced that it had successfully completed an initial development well into the Rocky Point field which is accessible from the Point Arguello platforms and that drilling operations are underway on a second development well. Such activities are not expected to have a significant impact on pipeline shipments on our All American Pipeline system in 2004. If successful, such incremental drilling activity could lead to increased volumes on our All American Pipeline System in future periods. However, we can give no assurance that our volumes transported would increase as a result of this drilling activity.
The table below sets forth the historical volumes received from both of these fields for the past five years and the nine months ended September 30, 2004:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
|||||||||
|
(barrels in thousands) |
|||||||||||||
Average daily volumes received from: | ||||||||||||||
Point Arguello (at Gaviota) | 10 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 20 | ||||||||
Santa Ynez (at Las Flores) | 45 | 46 | 50 | 51 | 56 | 59 | ||||||||
Total | 55 | 59 | 66 | 69 | 74 | 79 | ||||||||
SJV Gathering System. The SJV Gathering System is connected to most of the major fields in the San Joaquin Valley. The SJV Gathering System was constructed in 1987 with a design capacity of approximately 140,000 barrels per day. The system consists of a 16-inch pipeline that originates at the Belridge station and extends 45 miles south to a connection with the All American Pipeline at the Pentland station. The SJV Gathering System also includes approximately 730,000 barrels of tank capacity, which can be used to facilitate movements along the system as well as to support our other activities.
The table below sets forth the historical volumes received into the SJV Gathering System for the past five years and the nine months ended September 30, 2004:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 |
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
|||||||
|
(barrels in thousands) |
|||||||||||
Total average daily volumes | 72 | 78 | 73 | 61 | 60 | 84 |
Butte Pipeline System. We own an approximate 22% equity interest in Butte Pipe Line Company, which in turn owns the Butte Pipeline System, a 370-mile mainline system that runs from Baker, Montana to Guernsey, Wyoming. The Butte Pipeline System is connected to the Poplar Pipeline System, which in turn is connected to the Wascana Pipeline System, which is located in our Canadian Region and is wholly owned by us. The total system volumes for the Butte Pipeline System during the first nine months of 2004 were approximately 69,000 barrels of crude oil per day (approximately 15,000 barrels per day, net to our 22% interest). The operator of the system is Bridger Pipeline.
North Dakota Systems. The North Dakota Systems, included in the April 2004 Link acquisition, consist of the Bowman Baker Pipeline System, the Trenton Pipeline System and the North Dakota Gathering System. Aggregate volumes on the systems averaged approximately 52,000 barrels per day for the third quarter of 2004. The Bowman Baker System is a 283 mile, FERC regulated common carrier pipeline system from Harding County, South Dakota to the Butte Pipeline System at Baker, Montana.
83
The Trenton Pipeline System consists of 116 miles of active pipeline from Richland County, Montana to Williston County, North Dakota delivering crude to Enbridge's Portal Pipeline System. The North Dakota Gathering System consists of approximately 220 miles of active pipeline located in the Williston Basin region of North Dakota. The system delivers primarily to Tesoro pipeline for consumption at Tesoro's Mandan Refinery or to the Little Missouri Pipeline, a feeder of the Butte Pipeline System.
U.S. Gulf Coast
Capline/Capwood Pipeline System. The Capline Pipeline System, in which we acquired a 22% undivided joint interest from Shell in March 2004, is a 633-mile, 40-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in St. James, Louisiana, and terminating in Patoka, Illinois. The Capline Pipeline System is one of the primary transportation routes for crude oil shipped into the Midwestern U.S., accessing over 2.7 million barrels of refining capacity in PADD II, including refineries owned by ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, BP, MarathonAshland, CITGO and Premcor. Capline has direct connections to a significant amount of sweet and light sour crude production in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, with its two active docks capable of handling 600,000-barrel tankers as well as access to LOOP, the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, it is a key transporter of sweet and light sour foreign crude to PADD II. With a total system operating capacity of 1.14 million barrels per day of crude oil, approximately 248,000 barrels per day are subject to the interest acquired by us. Since acquisition, throughput on the interest acquired has averaged approximately 148,000 barrels per day. The Capwood Pipeline System, in which we acquired a 76% undivided joint interest from Shell in March 2004, is a 57-mile, 20-inch mainline crude oil pipeline originating in Patoka, Illinois, and terminating in Wood River, Illinois. The Capwood Pipeline System has an operating capacity of 277,000 barrels per day of crude oil. Of that capacity, approximately 211,000 barrels per day are subject to the interest acquired by us. The system has the ability to deliver crude at Wood River to several other PADD II refineries and pipelines, including those owned by Koch and ConocoPhillips. Movements on the Capwood system are driven by the volumes shipped on Capline as well as Canadian crude that can be delivered to Patoka via the Mustang Pipeline. Since closing, we have assumed the operatorship of the Capwood system from SPLC. Since acquisition, throughput on the interest acquired has averaged approximately 117,000 barrels per day.
Mississippi/Alabama Pipeline System. The Mississippi/Alabama Pipeline System, included in the April 2004 Link transaction, consists of a 331 mile proprietary gathering system and a 355 mile common carrier trunk system delivering crude oil primarily to three local refineries and to the Capline Pipeline System at Liberty, Mississippi. Also included in this system is approximately 4.5 million barrels of storage. Approximately 2.8 million barrels of this storage capacity is located at a deep water terminal in Mobile, Alabama capable of handling tankers with a draft of approximately 37 feet. For the third quarter of 2004, volumes averaged approximately 35,000 barrels per day.
La Gloria Pipeline System. The La Gloria Pipeline System, acquired in the Scurlock acquisition, is a proprietary crude oil pipeline system that during the first nine months of 2004, transported approximately 23,000 barrels of crude oil per day to Crown Central's refinery in Longview, Texas. Crown Central's deliveries are subject to a throughput and deficiency agreement, which extends through 2004.
Atchafalaya Pipeline System. The Atchafalaya Pipeline System, which we own 100% through three separate transactions in 2003, originates near Garden City, Louisiana and traverses east to its terminus near Gibson, Louisiana. The system consists of 35 miles of active 8-inch crude oil and condensate pipelines. During the first nine months of 2004, the system transported approximately 15,000 barrels per day of crude oil and condensate.
Sabine Pass Pipeline System. The Sabine Pass Pipeline System, acquired in the Scurlock acquisition, is a common carrier crude oil pipeline system. The Sabine Pass Pipeline System primarily gathers crude oil from onshore facilities of offshore production near Johnson's Bayou, Louisiana, and
84
delivers it to tankage and barge loading facilities in Sabine Pass, Texas. The Sabine Pass Pipeline System consists of approximately 51 miles of pipe ranging from 4 to 10 inches in diameter and has a throughput capacity of approximately 26,000 barrels of crude oil per day. During the first nine months of 2004, the system transported approximately 15,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The Sabine Pass Pipeline System also includes 245,000 barrels of tank capacity located along the pipeline.
Eugene Island Flowline System. The Eugene Island Flowline System ("EIFS") is a 57-mile offshore gathering pipeline located in the Eugene Island federal lease block area of the Gulf of Mexico. The system delivers crude oil gathered offshore to the Burns Terminal and to the Burns dock barge loading facility in south Louisiana. The total system volumes for the EIFS during the first nine months of 2004 were approximately 12,000 barrels per day of crude oil.
Red River Pipeline System. The Red River Pipeline System, acquired in 2003, is a 334-mile crude oil pipeline system that originates at Sabine in East Texas, and terminates near Cushing, Oklahoma. The Red River system has a capacity of up to 22,000 barrels of crude oil per day, depending upon the type of crude oil being transported. During the first nine months of 2004, the system transported approximately 11,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The system also includes approximately 645,000 barrels of crude oil storage capacity. In 2003, we completed a connection of the pipeline system to our Cushing Terminal.
ArkLaTex Pipeline System. The ArkLaTex Pipeline System, acquired from Link Energy in September 2003, consists of 240 miles of active crude oil gathering and mainline pipelines and connects to our Red River Pipeline System near Sabine, Texas. Also included in the transaction were 470,000 barrels of active crude oil storage capacity. During the first nine months of 2004, volumes transported averaged 8,000 barrels per day.
Ferriday Pipeline System. The Ferriday Pipeline System, acquired in the Scurlock acquisition, is a common carrier crude oil pipeline system located in eastern Louisiana and western Mississippi. The Ferriday Pipeline System consists of approximately 570 miles of pipe ranging from 2 inches to 12 inches in diameter. During the first nine months of 2004, the Ferriday Pipeline System delivered approximately 7,000 barrels of crude oil per day to third party pipelines that supplied refiners in the Midwest. The Ferriday Pipeline System also includes approximately 332,000 barrels of tank capacity located along the pipeline.
Southwest Louisiana Pipeline System. The Southwest Louisiana Pipeline System, included in the April 2004 Link transaction, consists of approximately 254 miles of primarily 6 to 10-inch pipe. The system originates in Rapides Parish, Louisiana and delivers to the Citgo refinery in Lake Charles, LA and to Nederland, Texas. For the third quarter of 2004, volumes averaged approximately 6,000 barrels per day.
Central U.S.
Oklahoma Pipeline System. The Oklahoma Pipeline System, included in the April 2004 Link transaction, consists of approximately 1,354 miles of active pipe, originating at various points in Oklahoma and terminating at Cushing, Oklahoma. In addition to the pipeline, there are approximately 1.7 million barrels of storage included in the system. For the third quarter of 2004, volumes averaged approximately 74,000 barrels per day.
Midcontinent Pipeline System. The Midcontinent Pipeline System, included in the April 2004 Link transaction, consists of approximately 1,200 miles of pipe, originating at various points in Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado. Deliveries are primarily to Jayhawk pipeline and our Oklahoma Pipeline System. Also included in the system are approximately 0.4 million barrels of storage. For the third quarter of 2004, volumes averaged approximately 29,000 barrels per day.
85
Canada
Milk River Pipeline System. The Milk River Pipeline System, acquired in the Murphy acquisition, is a National Energy Board ("NEB") regulated system located in Alberta, Canada. The Milk River Pipeline System consists of three parallel 11-mile crude oil pipelines that connect the Bow River Pipeline in Alberta to the Cenex Pipeline at the United States border. The Milk River Pipeline System transported approximately 104,000 barrels of crude oil per day during the first nine months of 2004.
Manito Pipeline System. The Manito Pipeline System, acquired in the Murphy acquisition, is a provincially regulated system located in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Manito Pipeline System is a 101-mile crude oil pipeline and a parallel 101-mile condensate pipeline that connects our North Saskatchewan Pipeline System and multiple gathering lines to the Enbridge system at Kerrobert. The Manito Pipeline System volumes were approximately 70,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day in the first nine months of 2004.
South Saskatchewan Pipeline System. The South Saskatchewan Pipeline System, which was acquired in November 2003, originates approximately 75 miles southwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, and traverses north and east until it reaches its terminus at Regina. The system consists of a 158-mile, 16-inch mainline and 203 miles of gathering lines ranging in diameter from three to twelve inches. During the first nine months of 2004, the system transported approximately 48,000 barrels of crude oil per day. At Regina, the system can deliver crude oil to the Enbridge Pipeline System and to local markets. In addition, the system can indirectly deliver crude oil into our Wascana Pipeline System.
Cactus Lake/Bodo Pipeline System. The Cactus Lake/Bodo Pipeline System, acquired in the Murphy acquisition, is located in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. The Bodo portion of the system is NEB-regulated, and the remainder is provincially regulated. We operate the Cactus Lake/Bodo Pipeline System, which is a 55-mile crude oil pipeline and a parallel 55-mile condensate pipeline that connects to our storage and terminalling facility at Kerrobert. During the first nine months of 2004, the Cactus Lake/Bodo Pipeline System transported approximately 24,000 barrels per day (approximately 3,200 barrels per day, net to our interest) of crude oil and condensate. Our ownership interest in the Cactus Lake segment is 15% and our ownership interest in the Bodo Pipeline is 100%. We also own various interests in the lateral lines in these systems.
Cal Ven Pipeline System. The Cal Ven Pipeline System, acquired in the Cal Ven acquisition in May 2004, is a provincially regulated crude oil pipeline that is located in Northern Alberta, Canada. The Cal Ven Pipeline System is comprised of approximately 195 miles of 8-inch and 10-inch gathering and mainline crude oil pipelines. The Cal Ven Pipeline System delivers crude oil into the Rainbow Pipeline System at Utikuma. The Cal Ven Pipeline System transported approximately 16,000 barrels per day in the third quarter of 2004.
Wapella Pipeline System. The Wapella Pipeline System is a 79-mile, NEB-regulated system located in southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba. During the first nine months of 2004, the Wapella Pipeline System delivered approximately 13,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the Enbridge Pipeline at Cromer, Manitoba. The system also includes approximately 18,500 barrels of crude oil storage capacity.
Wascana Pipeline System. The Wascana Pipeline System, acquired in the Murphy acquisition, is an NEB-regulated system located in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Wascana Pipeline System is a 107-mile crude oil pipeline that connects to the Bridger Pipeline system at the United States border near Raymond, Montana. During the first nine months of 2004, the Wascana Pipeline System transported approximately 9,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
86
North Saskatchewan Pipeline System. The North Saskatchewan Pipeline System, acquired in the Murphy acquisition, is a provincially regulated system located in Saskatchewan, Canada. We operate the North Saskatchewan Pipeline System, which is a 34-mile crude oil pipeline and a parallel 34-mile condensate pipeline that connects to our Manito Pipeline at Dulwich. During the first nine months of 2004, the North Saskatchewan Pipeline System delivered approximately 4,400 barrels of crude oil per day into the Manito Pipeline. Our ownership interest in the North Saskatchewan Pipeline System is approximately 69%.
Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage Operations
The combination of our gathering and marketing operations and our terminalling and storage operations provides a counter cyclical balance that has a stabilizing effect on our operations and cash flow. The strategic use of our terminalling and storage assets in conjunction with our gathering and marketing operations provides us with the flexibility to optimize margins irrespective of whether a strong or weak market exists. Following is a description of our activities with respect to this segment.
Gathering and Marketing Operations
Crude Oil. The majority of our gathering and marketing activities are in the geographic locations previously discussed. These activities include:
We purchase crude oil from many independent producers and believe that we have established broad based relationships with crude oil producers in our areas of operations. Gathering and marketing activities involve relatively large volumes of transactions with lower margins compared to pipeline and terminalling and storage operations.
The following table shows the average daily volume of our lease gathering and bulk purchases for the past five years and the nine months ended September 30, 2004:
|
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 |
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
||||||||
|
(barrels in thousands) |
||||||||||||
Lease gathering | 576 | 437 | 410 | 348 | 262 | 265 | |||||||
Bulk purchases(1) | 143 | 90 | 68 | 46 | 28 | 138 | |||||||
Total volumes | 719 | 527 | 478 | 394 | 290 | 403 | |||||||
Crude Oil Purchases. We purchase crude oil from producers under contracts, the majority of which range in term from a thirty-day evergreen to three years. In a typical producer's operation, crude oil flows from the wellhead to a separator where the petroleum gases are removed. After separation, the crude oil is treated to remove water, sand and other contaminants and is then moved into the
87
producer's on-site storage tanks. When the tank is approaching capacity, the producer contacts our field personnel to purchase and transport the crude oil to market. We utilize our truck fleet and gathering pipelines as well as third party pipelines, trucks and barges to transport the crude oil to market. We own or lease approximately 400 trucks used for gathering crude oil.
Since 1998, we have had a marketing arrangement with Plains Resources, under which we have been the exclusive marketer and purchaser for all of Plains Resources' equity crude oil production (including its subsidiaries that conduct exploration and production activities). In connection with the separation of Plains Resources and one of its subsidiaries discussed below, Plains Resources divested the bulk of its producing properties. As a result, we do not anticipate the marketing arrangement with Plains Resources to be material to our operating results in the future.
In December 2002, Plains Resources completed a spin-off to its stockholders of PXP. We currently have a marketing agreement with PXP for certain of its equity crude oil production and that of its subsidiaries. The marketing agreement provides that we will purchase PXP's equity crude oil production for resale at market prices, for which we charge a fee of $0.20 per barrel. For any new contracts for the sale of the crude oil entered into after January 1, 2005, the marketing fee will be adjusted to $0.15 per barrel, subject to further adjustment in November 2007 based upon then existing market conditions. See "Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsTransactions with Related PartiesGeneral."
Bulk Purchases. In addition to purchasing crude oil at the wellhead from producers, we purchase crude oil in bulk at major pipeline terminal locations. This oil is transported from the wellhead to the pipeline by major oil companies, large independent producers or other gathering and marketing companies. We purchase crude oil in bulk when we believe additional opportunities exist to realize margins further downstream in the crude oil distribution chain. The opportunities to earn additional margins vary over time with changing market conditions. Accordingly, the margins associated with our bulk purchases will fluctuate from period to period.
Crude Oil Sales. The marketing of crude oil is complex and requires current detailed knowledge of crude oil sources and end markets and a familiarity with a number of factors including grades of crude oil, individual refinery demand for specific grades of crude oil, area market price structures for the different grades of crude oil, location of customers, availability of transportation facilities and timing and costs (including storage) involved in delivering crude oil to the appropriate customer. We sell our crude oil to major integrated oil companies, independent refiners and other resellers in various types of sale and exchange transactions, at market prices for terms ranging from one month to three years.
We establish a margin for crude oil we purchase by selling crude oil for physical delivery to third party users, such as independent refiners or major oil companies, or by entering into a future delivery obligation with respect to futures contracts on the NYMEX or over-the-counter. Through these transactions, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between crude oil purchases and sales and future delivery obligations. From time to time, we enter into various types of sale and exchange transactions including fixed price delivery contracts, floating price collar arrangements, financial swaps and crude oil futures contracts as hedging devices. Except for pre-defined inventory positions, our policy is generally to purchase only crude oil for which we have a market, to structure our sales contracts so that crude oil price fluctuations do not materially affect the segment profit we receive, and to not acquire and hold crude oil, futures contracts or other derivative products for the purpose of speculating on crude oil price changes that might expose us to indeterminable losses. In November 1999, we discovered a significant violation of this policy. As a result, we incurred an aggregate loss of approximately $181 million in unauthorized trading losses, including associated costs and legal expenses.
88
Crude Oil Exchanges. We pursue exchange opportunities to enhance margins throughout the gathering and marketing process. When opportunities arise to increase our margin or to acquire a grade of crude oil that more closely matches our physical delivery requirement or the preferences of our refinery customers, we exchange physical crude oil with third parties. These exchanges are effected through contracts called exchange or buy-sell agreements. Through an exchange agreement, we agree to buy crude oil that differs in terms of geographic location, grade of crude oil or physical delivery schedule from crude oil we have available for sale. Generally, we enter into exchanges to acquire crude oil at locations that are closer to our end markets, thereby reducing transportation costs and increasing our margin. We also exchange our crude oil to be physically delivered at a later date, if the exchange is expected to result in a higher margin net of storage costs, and enter into exchanges based on the grade of crude oil, which includes such factors as sulfur content and specific gravity, in order to meet the quality specifications of our physical delivery contracts.
Producer Services. Crude oil purchasers who buy from producers compete on the basis of competitive prices and highly responsive services. Through our team of crude oil purchasing representatives, we maintain ongoing relationships with producers in the United States and Canada. We believe that our ability to offer high-quality field and administrative services to producers is a key factor in our ability to maintain volumes of purchased crude oil and to obtain new volumes. Field services include efficient gathering capabilities, availability of trucks, willingness to construct gathering pipelines where economically justified, timely pickup of crude oil from tank batteries at the lease or production point, accurate measurement of crude oil volumes received, avoidance of spills and effective management of pipeline deliveries. Accounting and other administrative services include securing division orders (statements from interest owners affirming the division of ownership in crude oil purchased by us), providing statements of the crude oil purchased each month, disbursing production proceeds to interest owners, and calculation and payment of ad valorem and production taxes on behalf of interest owners. In order to compete effectively, we must maintain records of title and division order interests in an accurate and timely manner for purposes of making prompt and correct payment of crude oil production proceeds, together with the correct payment of all severance and production taxes associated with such proceeds.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Other Petroleum Products. We also market and store LPG and other petroleum products throughout the United States and Canada, concentrated primarily in Washington, California, Kansas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Montana, Nebraska and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Ontario. These activities include:
We purchase LPG from numerous producers and have established long-term, broad based relationships with LPG producers in our areas of operation. We purchase LPG directly from gas plants, major pipeline terminals and storage locations. Marketing activities for LPG typically consist of smaller volumes and generally higher margin per barrel transactions relative to crude oil.
LPG Purchases. We purchase LPG from producers, refiners, and other LPG marketing companies under contracts that range from immediate delivery to one year in term. In a typical producer's or refiner's operation, LPG that is produced at the gas plant or refinery is fractionated into various
89
components including propane and butane and then purchased by us for movement via tank truck, railcar or pipeline.
In addition to purchasing LPG at gas plants or refineries, we also purchase LPG in bulk at major pipeline terminal points and storage facilities from major oil companies, large independent producers or other LPG marketing companies. We purchase LPG in bulk when we believe additional opportunities exist to realize margins further downstream in our LPG distribution chain. The opportunities to earn additional margins vary over time with changing market conditions. Accordingly, the margins associated with our bulk purchases will fluctuate from period to period.
LPG Sales. The marketing of LPG is complex and requires current detailed knowledge of LPG sources and end markets and a familiarity with a number of factors including the various modes and availability of transportation, area market prices and timing and costs of delivering LPG to customers.
We sell LPG primarily to industrial end users and retailers, and limited volumes to other marketers. Propane is sold to small independent retailers who then transport the product via bobtail truck to residential consumers for home heating and to some light industrial users such as forklift operators. Butane is used by refiners for gasoline blending and as a diluent for the movement of conventional heavy oil production. Butane demand for use as heavy oil diluent has increased as supplies of Canadian condensate have declined.
We establish a margin for propane by transporting it in bulk, via various transportation modes, to our controlled terminals where we deliver the propane to our retailer customers for subsequent delivery to their individual heating customers. We also create margin by selling propane for future physical delivery to third party users, such as retailers and industrial users. Through these transactions, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between propane purchases and sales and future delivery obligations. From time to time, we enter into various types of sale and exchange transactions including floating price collar arrangements, financial swaps and crude oil and LPG-related futures contracts as hedging devices. Except for pre-defined inventory positions, our policy is generally to purchase only LPG for which we have a market, and to structure our sales contracts so that LPG spot price fluctuations do not materially affect the segment profit we receive. Margin is created on the butane purchased by delivering large volumes during the short refinery blending season through the use of our extensive leased railcar fleet and the use of our own storage facilities and third party storage facilities. We also create margin on butane by capturing the difference in price between condensate and butane when butane is used to replace condensate as a diluent for the movement of Canadian heavy oil production. While we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within our LPG activities, as a result of production, transportation and delivery variances as well as logistical issues associated with inclement weather conditions, from time to time we experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time. In connection with managing these positions and maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace, both necessary for our core business, our policies provide that any net imbalance may not exceed 250,000 barrels. These activities are monitored independently by our risk management function and must take place within predefined limits and authorizations.
LPG Exchanges. We pursue exchange opportunities to enhance margins throughout the marketing process. When opportunities arise to increase our margin or to acquire a volume of LPG that more closely matches our physical delivery requirement or the preferences of our customers, we exchange physical LPG with third parties. These exchanges are effected through contracts called exchange or buy-sell agreements. Through an exchange agreement, we agree to buy LPG that differs in terms of geographic location, type of LPG or physical delivery schedule from LPG we have available for sale. Generally, we enter into exchanges to acquire LPG at locations that are closer to our end markets in order to meet the delivery specifications of our physical delivery contracts.
90
Credit. Our merchant activities involve the purchase of crude oil and LPG for resale and require significant extensions of credit by our suppliers of crude oil and LPG. In order to assure our ability to perform our obligations under crude oil purchase agreements, various credit arrangements are negotiated with our suppliers. These arrangements include open lines of credit directly with us, and standby letters of credit issued under our senior unsecured revolving credit facility.
When we market crude oil, we must determine the amount, if any, of the line of credit to be extended to any given customer. We manage our exposure to credit risk through credit analysis, credit approvals, credit limits and monitoring procedures. If we determine that a customer should receive a credit line, we must then decide on the amount of credit that should be extended. Because our typical sales transactions can involve tens of thousands of barrels of crude oil, the risk of nonpayment and nonperformance by customers is a major consideration in our business. We believe our sales are made to creditworthy entities or entities with adequate credit support. Generally, sales of crude oil are settled within 30 days of the month of delivery, and pipeline, transportation and terminalling services also settle within 30 days from invoice for the provision of services.
We also have credit risk with respect to our sales of LPG; however, because our sales are typically in relatively small amounts to individual customers, we do not believe that we have material concentration of credit risk. Typically, we enter into annual contracts to sell LPG on a forward basis, as well as sell LPG on a current basis to local distributors and retailers. In certain cases our customers prepay for their purchases, in amounts ranging from $0.05 per gallon to 100% of their contracted amounts. Generally, sales of LPG are settled within 30 days of the date of invoice.
Terminalling and Storage Operations
We own approximately 37 million barrels of terminalling and storage assets. Approximately 13.6 million barrels of capacity are used in our Gathering, Marketing, Terminalling and Storage segment, and the remaining 23.4 million barrels are used in our Pipeline Operating segment. Our storage and terminalling operations increase our margins in our business of purchasing and selling crude oil and also generate revenue through a combination of storage and throughput charges to third parties. Storage fees are generated when we lease tank capacity to third parties. Terminalling fees, also referred to as throughput fees, are generated when we receive crude oil from one connecting pipeline and redeliver crude oil to another connecting carrier in volumes that allow the refinery to receive its crude oil on a ratable basis throughout a delivery period. Both terminalling and storage fees are generally earned from:
The tankage that is used to support our arbitrage activities positions us to capture margins in a contango market (when the oil prices for future deliveries are higher than the current prices) or when the market switches from contango to backwardation (when the oil prices for future deliveries are lower than the current prices).
Our most significant terminalling and storage asset is our Cushing Terminal located at the Cushing Interchange. The Cushing Interchange is one of the largest wet-barrel trading hubs in the U.S. and the delivery point for crude oil futures contracts traded on the NYMEX. The Cushing Terminal has been designated by the NYMEX as an approved delivery location for crude oil delivered under the NYMEX light sweet crude oil futures contract. As the NYMEX delivery point and a cash market hub, the Cushing Interchange serves as a primary source of refinery feedstock for the Midwest refiners and plays an integral role in establishing and maintaining markets for many varieties of foreign and domestic crude oil. Our Cushing Terminal was constructed in 1993, with an initial tankage capacity of 2 million
91
barrels, to capitalize on the crude oil supply and demand imbalance in the Midwest. The Cushing Terminal is also used to support and enhance the margins associated with our merchant activities relating to our lease gathering and bulk purchasing activities. See "Gathering and Marketing OperationsBulk Purchases." Since 1999, we have completed four separate expansion phases, which increased the capacity of the Cushing Terminal to a total of approximately 6.3 million barrels. The Cushing Terminal now consists of fourteen 100,000-barrel tanks, four 150,000-barrel tanks and sixteen 270,000-barrel tanks, all of which are used to store and terminal crude oil. We believe that the facility can be further expanded to meet additional demand should market conditions warrant. The Cushing Terminal also includes a pipeline manifold and pumping system that has an estimated throughput capacity of approximately 800,000 barrels per day. The Cushing Terminal is connected to the major pipelines and other terminals in the Cushing Interchange through pipelines that range in size from 10 inches to 24 inches in diameter.
The Cushing Terminal is designed to serve the needs of refiners in the Midwest. In order to service an expected increase in the volumes as well as the varieties of foreign and domestic crude oil projected to be transported through the Cushing Interchange, we incorporated certain attributes into the design of the Cushing Terminal including:
As a result of incorporating these attributes into the design of the Cushing Terminal, we believe we are favorably positioned to serve the needs of Midwest refiners to handle an increase in the number of varieties of crude oil transported through the Cushing Interchange. The pipeline manifold and pumping system of our Cushing Terminal is designed to support more than 10 million barrels of tank capacity and we have sufficient land holdings in and around the Cushing Interchange on which to construct additional tankage. Our tankage in Cushing ranges in age from less than a year old to approximately 11 years old and the average age is approximately 5.1 years old. In contrast, we estimate that of the approximately 21 million barrels of remaining tanks in Cushing owned by third parties, the average age is approximately 50 years and of that, approximately 9 million barrels has an average age of over 70 years. We believe that provides us with a competitive advantage over our competitors. In addition, we believe that we are well positioned to accommodate construction of replacement tankage that may be required as a result of the imposition of stricter regulatory standards and related attrition among our competitors' tanks in connection with the requirements of API 653 and similar Canadian regulations. See "RegulationPipeline and Storage Regulation."
Our Cushing Terminal also incorporates numerous environmental and operational safeguards. We believe that our terminal is the only one at the Cushing Interchange in which each tank has a secondary liner (the equivalent of double bottoms), leak detection devices and secondary seals. The Cushing Terminal is the only terminal at the Cushing Interchange equipped with aboveground pipelines. Like the pipeline systems we operate, the Cushing Terminal is operated by a computer system designed to monitor real-time operational data and each tank is cathodically protected. In addition, each tank is equipped with a high-level alarm system to prevent overflows; a double seal floating roof designed to minimize air emissions and prevent the possible accumulation of potentially flammable gases between
92
fluid levels and the roof of the tank; and a foam dispersal system that, in the event of a fire, is fed by a fully automated fire water distribution network.
We also own LPG storage facilities located in Alto, Michigan and Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania. The Alto facility is approximately 20 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. The Alto facility was acquired from Ohio-Northwest Development Inc. in 2003 and is capable of storing over 50 million gallons of LPG. The Schaefferstown facility is approximately 65 miles northwest of Philadelphia and is capable of storing over 20 million gallons of propane. We believe these facilities will further support the expansion of our LPG business in Canada and the northern tier of the U.S. as we combine the facilities' existing fee-based storage business with our wholesale propane marketing expertise. In addition, there may be opportunities to expand these facilities as LPG markets continue to develop in the region.
Crude Oil Volatility; Counter Cyclical Balance; Risk Management
Crude oil prices have historically been very volatile and cyclical, with NYMEX benchmark prices ranging from a high of over $55 per barrel in October, 2004 to as low as $10.00 per barrel over the last 14 years. Segment profit from terminalling and storage activities is dependent on the crude oil throughput volume, capacity leased to third parties, capacity that we use for our own activities, and the level of other fees generated at our terminalling and storage facilities. Segment profit from our gathering and marketing activities is dependent on our ability to sell crude oil at a price in excess of our aggregate cost. Although margins may be affected during transitional periods, these operations are not directly affected by the absolute level of crude oil prices, but are affected by overall levels of supply and demand for crude oil and relative fluctuations in market related indices.
During periods when supply exceeds the demand for crude oil, the market for crude oil is often in contango, meaning that the price of crude oil for future deliveries is higher than current prices. A contango market has a generally negative impact on marketing margins, but is favorable to the storage business, because storage owners at major trading locations (such as the Cushing Interchange) can simultaneously purchase production at current prices for storage and sell at higher prices for future delivery.
When there is a higher demand than supply of crude oil in the near term, the market is backwardated, meaning that the price of crude oil for future deliveries is lower than current prices. A backwardated market has a positive impact on marketing margins because crude oil gatherers can capture a premium for prompt deliveries. In this environment, there is little incentive to store crude oil as current prices are above future delivery prices.
The periods between a backwardated market and a contango market are referred to as transition periods. Depending on the overall duration of these transition periods, how we have allocated our assets to particular strategies and the time length of our crude oil purchase and sale contracts and storage lease agreements, these transition periods may have either an adverse or beneficial affect on our aggregate segment profit. A prolonged transition from a backwardated market to a contango market, or vice versa (essentially a market that is neither in pronounced backwardation nor contango), represents the most difficult environment for our gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage activities. When the market is in contango, we will use our tankage to improve our gathering margins by storing crude oil we have purchased for delivery in future months that are selling at a higher price. In a backwardated market, we use and lease less storage capacity but increased marketing margins provide an offset to this reduced cash flow. We believe that the combination of our terminalling and storage activities and gathering and marketing activities provides a counter cyclical balance that has a stabilizing effect on our operations and cash flow. References to counter cyclical balance elsewhere in this report are referring to this relationship between our terminalling and storage activities and our gathering and marketing activities in transitioning crude oil markets.
As use of the financial markets for crude oil has increased by producers, refiners, utilities and trading entities, risk management strategies, including those involving price hedges using NYMEX
93
futures contracts and derivatives, have become increasingly important in creating and maintaining margins. Such hedging techniques require significant resources dedicated to managing these positions. Our risk management policies and procedures are designed to monitor both NYMEX and over-the-counter positions and physical volumes, grades, locations and delivery schedules to ensure that our hedging activities are implemented in accordance with such policies. We have a risk management function that has direct responsibility and authority for our risk policies, our trading controls and procedures and certain other aspects of corporate risk management.
Our policy is to purchase only crude oil for which we have a market, and to structure our sales contracts so that crude oil price fluctuations do not materially affect the segment profit we receive. Except for the controlled trading program discussed below, we do not acquire and hold crude oil futures contracts or other derivative products for the purpose of speculating on crude oil price changes that might expose us to indeterminable losses.
While we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within our crude oil lease purchase and LPG activities, we may experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time as a result of production, transportation and delivery variances as well as logistical issues associated with inclement weather conditions. In connection with managing these positions and maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace, both necessary for our core business, we engage in a controlled trading program for up to an aggregate of 500,000 barrels of crude oil. This controlled trading activity is monitored independently by our risk management function and must take place within predefined limits and authorizations.
In order to hedge margins involving our physical assets and manage risks associated with our crude oil purchase and sale obligations, we use derivative instruments, including regulated futures and options transactions, as well as over-the-counter instruments. In analyzing our risk management activities, we draw a distinction between enterprise level risks and trading related risks. Enterprise level risks are those that underlie our core businesses and may be managed based on whether there is value in doing so. Conversely, trading related risks (the risks involved in trading in the hopes of generating an increased return) are not inherent in the core business; rather, those risks arise as a result of engaging in the trading activity. We have a Risk Management Committee that approves all new risk management strategies through a formal process. With the partial exception of the controlled trading program, our approved strategies are intended to mitigate enterprise level risks that are inherent in our core businesses of crude oil gathering and marketing and storage.
Although the intent of our risk-management strategies is to hedge our margin, not all of our derivatives qualify for hedge accounting. In such instances, changes in the fair values of these derivatives will receive mark-to-market treatment in current earnings, and result in greater potential for earnings volatility.
Marathon Ashland Petroleum accounted for 12%, 10% and 11% of our revenues for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, Marathon Ashland Petroleum and BP Oil Supply Company each accounted for approximately 10% of our revenues. No other customers accounted for 10% or more of our revenues during the three years ended December 31, 2003 or the nine months ended September 30, 2004. The majority of the revenues from Marathon Ashland Petroleum and BP Oil Supply Company pertain to our gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations. We believe that the loss of these customers would have only a short-term impact on our operating results. There can be no assurance, however, that we would be able to identify and access a replacement market at comparable margins.
94
Competition among pipelines is based primarily on transportation charges, access to producing areas and demand for the crude oil by end users. We believe that high capital requirements, environmental considerations and the difficulty in acquiring rights-of-way and related permits make it unlikely that competing pipeline systems comparable in size and scope to our pipeline systems will be built in the foreseeable future. However, to the extent there are already third party owned pipelines or owners with joint venture pipelines with excess capacity in the vicinity of our operations, we will be exposed to significant competition based on the incremental cost of moving an incremental barrel of crude oil.
We face intense competition in our gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage operations. Our competitors include other crude oil pipeline companies, the major integrated oil companies, their marketing affiliates and independent gatherers, brokers and marketers of widely varying sizes, financial resources and experience. Some of these competitors have capital resources many times greater than ours, and control greater supplies of crude oil.
Our operations are subject to extensive regulations. We estimate that we are subject to regulatory oversight by over 70 federal, state, provincial and local departments and agencies, many of which are authorized by statute to issue and have issued laws and regulations binding on the oil pipeline industry, related businesses and individual participants. The failure to comply with such rules and regulations can result in substantial penalties. The regulatory burden on our operations increases our cost of doing business and, consequently, affects our profitability. However, except for certain exemptions that apply to smaller companies, we do not believe that we are affected in a significantly different manner by these laws and regulations than are our competitors. Due to the myriad of complex federal, state, provincial and local regulations that may affect us, directly or indirectly, you should not rely on the following discussion of certain laws and regulations as an exhaustive review of all regulatory considerations affecting our operations.
Pipeline and Storage Regulation
A substantial portion of our petroleum pipelines and storage tanks in the United States are subject to regulation by the U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") with respect to the design, installation, testing, construction, operation, replacement and management of pipeline and tank facilities. In addition, we must permit access to and copying of records, and must make certain reports available and provide information as required by the Secretary of Transportation. Comparable regulation exists in some states in which we conduct intrastate common carrier or private pipeline operations, as well as in Canada under the National Energy Board ("NEB") and provincial agencies.
Federal pipeline safety rules require pipeline operators to develop and maintain a written qualification program for individuals performing covered tasks on pipeline facilities, and establish pipeline integrity management programs. In particular, since 2000, the DOT has adopted a series of rules requiring operators of interstate pipelines transporting hazardous liquids or natural gas to develop and follow an integrity management program that provides for continual assessment of the integrity of all pipeline segments that could affect so-called "high consequence areas," including high population areas, areas that are sources of drinking water, ecological resource areas that are unusually sensitive to environmental damage from a pipeline release, and commercially navigable waterways. Segments of our pipelines transporting hazardous liquids in high consequence areas are subject to these DOT rules and therefore obligate us to evaluate pipeline conditions by means of periodic internal inspection, pressure testing, or other equally effective assessment means, and to correct identified anomalies. If, as a result of our evaluation process, we determine that there is a need to provide further protection to high consequence areas, then we will be required to implement additional spill prevention, mitigation and risk control measures for our pipelines. The DOT rules also require us to evaluate and, as necessary,
95
improve our management and analysis processes for integrating available integrity related data relating to our pipeline segments and to remediate potential problems found as a result of the required assessment and evaluation process. Costs associated with this program were approximately $1.0 million in 2003. Based on currently available information, we estimate that the costs to implement and carry out this program will be approximately $6.0 million in 2004. Our preliminary estimate for 2005 is $7.9 million. The relative increase in program cost for 2004 is primarily attributable to pipeline segments acquired in 2003 and 2004 (including the Link assets), which are subject to the new rules and which were scheduled for assessment in 2004. These costs are recurring in nature and thus will impact future periods. We will continue to refine our estimates as information from our assessments is collected. Our estimates do not include the potential costs associated with assets acquired in the future. Although we believe that our pipeline operations are in substantial compliance with currently applicable regulatory requirements, we cannot predict the potential costs associated with additional, future regulation.
The DOT is currently considering expanding the scope of its pipeline regulation to include certain gathering pipeline systems that are not currently subject to regulation. This expanded scope would likely include the establishment of additional pipeline integrity management programs for these newly regulated pipelines. The DOT is in the initial stages of evaluating this initiative and we do not currently know what, if any, impact this will have on our operating expenses. However, we cannot assure you that future costs related to the potential programs will not be material. However, even if the DOT does not expand the scope of its pipeline regulation to include pipeline systems not currently regulated, we may still need to implement pipeline integrity management programs to remain in compliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and other environmental laws. We could be required to spend substantial sums to ensure the integrity of and upgrade our pipeline systems to maintain environmental compliance, and in some cases, we may take pipelines out of service if we believe the cost of upgrades will exceed the value of the pipelines. We cannot provide any assurance as to the ultimate amount or timing of future pipeline integrity expenditures for environmental compliance.
States are largely preempted by federal law from regulating pipeline safety but may assume responsibility for enforcing federal intrastate pipeline regulations and inspection of intrastate pipelines. In practice, states vary considerably in their authority and capacity to address pipeline safety. We do not anticipate any significant problems in complying with applicable state laws and regulations in those states in which we operate.
The DOT has adopted API 653 as the standard for the inspection, repair, alteration and reconstruction of existing crude oil storage tanks subject to DOT jurisdiction (approximately 83% of our 37 million barrels). API 653 requires regularly scheduled inspection and repair of tanks remaining in service. Full compliance is required by 2009. We have commenced our compliance activities and, based on currently available information, we estimate that we will spend approximately $3 million in 2004 and an approximate average of $6.2 million per year from 2005 through 2009 in connection with API 653 compliance activities. Such amounts incorporate the costs associated with the assets acquired in 2003 and 2004. Our estimates do not include the potential costs associated with assets acquired in the future. We will continue to refine our estimates as information from our assessments is collected.
We have instituted security measures and procedures, in accordance with DOT guidelines, to enhance the protection of certain of our facilities from terrorist attack. We cannot assure you that these security measures would fully protect our facilities from a concentrated attack. See "Operational Hazards and Insurance."
In Canada, the NEB and provincial agencies such as the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and the Saskatchewan Industry and Resources have promulgated regulations similar to the domestic pipeline integrity management rules and API 653 standards. We estimate that the costs associated with compliance will be approximately $5.0 million in 2004. Our preliminary estimate for 2005 is $5.0 million. In addition, we expect to incur compliance costs under other regulations related to
96
pipeline and storage tank integrity, such as operator competency programs, regulatory upgrades to our operating and maintenance systems and environmental upgrades of buried sump tanks. Our preliminary estimate for such costs for 2005 is approximately $1.0 million. These costs are recurring in nature and thus will impact future periods. We will continue to refine our estimates as information from our assessments is collected. Our estimates do not include the potential costs associated with assets acquired in the future. Although we believe that our pipeline operations are in substantial compliance with currently applicable regulatory requirements, we cannot predict the potential costs associated with additional, future regulation.
Asset acquisitions are an integral part of our business strategy. As we acquire additional assets, we may be required to incur additional costs in order to ensure that the acquired assets comply with the regulatory standards in the U.S. and Canada. The timing of such additional costs is uncertain and could vary materially from our current projections.
Transportation Regulation
General Interstate Regulation. Our interstate common carrier pipeline operations are subject to rate regulation by the FERC under the Interstate Commerce Act. The Interstate Commerce Act requires that tariff rates for petroleum pipelines, which includes both crude oil pipelines and refined product pipelines, be just and reasonable and non-discriminatory.
State Regulation. Our intrastate pipeline transportation activities are subject to various state laws and regulations, as well as orders of state regulatory bodies.
Canadian Regulation. Our Canadian pipeline assets are subject to regulation by the NEB and by provincial agencies. With respect to a pipeline over which it has jurisdiction, each of these agencies has the power, upon application by a third party, to determine the rates we are allowed to charge for transportation on, and set other terms of access to, such pipeline. In such circumstances, if the relevant regulatory agency determines that the applicable terms and conditions of service are not just and reasonable, the agency can amend the offending provisions of an existing transportation contract.
Energy Policy Act of 1992 and Subsequent Developments. In October 1992, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 1992 ("EPAct"), which among other things, required the FERC to issue rules establishing a simplified and generally applicable ratemaking methodology for petroleum pipelines and to streamline procedures in petroleum pipeline proceedings. The FERC responded to this mandate by issuing several orders, including Order No. 561. Beginning January 1, 1995, Order No. 561 enables petroleum pipelines to change their rates within prescribed ceiling levels that are tied to an inflation index. Rate increases made pursuant to the indexing methodology are subject to protest, but such protests must show that the portion of the rate increase resulting from application of the index is substantially in excess of the pipeline's increase in costs. If the indexing methodology results in a reduced ceiling level that is lower than a pipeline's filed rate, Order No. 561 requires the pipeline to reduce its rate to comply with the lower ceiling unless doing so would reduce a rate "grandfathered" by EPAct (see below) below the grandfathered level. A pipeline must, as a general rule, utilize the indexing methodology to change its rates. The FERC, however, retained cost-of-service ratemaking, market based rates, and settlement as alternatives to the indexing approach, which alternatives may be used in certain specified circumstances. The EPAct deemed petroleum pipeline rates in effect for the 365-day period ending on the date of enactment of EPAct that had not been subject to complaint, protest or investigation during that 365-day period to be just and reasonable under the Interstate Commerce Act. Generally, complaints against such "grandfathered" rates may only be pursued if the complainant can show that a substantial change has occurred since the enactment of EPAct in either the economic circumstances of the oil pipeline, or in the nature of the services provided, that were a basis for the rate. EPAct places no such limit on challenges to a provision of an oil pipeline tariff as unduly discriminatory or preferential.
97
On July 20, 2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ("D.C. Circuit") issued its opinion in BP West Coast Products, LLC v. FERC, which upheld FERC's determination that the rates of an interstate petroleum products pipeline, SFPP, L.P. ("SFPP"), were grandfathered rates under EPAct and that SFPP's shippers had not demonstrated substantially changed circumstances that would justify modification of those rates. The court also vacated the portion of the FERC's decision applying the Lakehead policy, under which the FERC allowed a regulated entity organized as a master limited partnership to include in its cost-of-service an income tax allowance to the extent that entity's unitholders were corporations subject to income tax. We are uncertain what action, if any, FERC will take in response to the court's disapproval of the FERC's Lakehead policy and what effect, if any, such action might have on our rates should they be challenged.
Additionally, in BP West Coast, the court remanded to the FERC the issue of whether SFPP's revised cost-of-service without a tax allowance would qualify as a substantially changed circumstance that would justify modification of SFPP's rates. Because the court remanded to the FERC and because the FERC's ruling on the substantially changed circumstances issue will focus on the facts and record presented to it, it is not clear what impact, if any, the opinion will have on our rates or on the rates of other FERC-jurisdictional pipelines organized as tax pass-through entities. Moreover, it is not clear to what extent FERC's actions taken in response to BP West Coast will be challenged and, if so, whether they will withstand further FERC or judicial review.
In a subsequent FERC proceeding involving SFPP, certain shippers again challenged SFPP's grandfathered rates on the basis of substantially changed circumstances since the passage of EPAct. On March 26, 2004, the FERC issued an order in that case, finding that some of SFPP's rates were no longer grandfathered. Several of the participants in the proceeding have requested rehearing of the FERC's order, and several participants have filed petitions with the D.C. Circuit for review of the order. FERC and court action on those petitions is pending. We are uncertain whether FERC's order will remain intact and, if it does, what effect, if any, that order might have on our grandfathered rates should they be challenged.
Our Pipelines. The FERC generally has not investigated rates on its own initiative when those rates have not been the subject of a protest or complaint by a shipper. Substantially all of our segment profit on transportation is produced by rates that are either grandfathered or set by agreement with one or more shippers.
Trucking Regulation
We operate a fleet of trucks to transport crude oil and oilfield materials as a private, contract and common carrier. We are licensed to perform both intrastate and interstate motor carrier services. As a motor carrier, we are subject to certain safety regulations issued by the Department of Transportation. The trucking regulations cover, among other things, driver operations, maintaining log books, truck manifest preparations, the placement of safety placards on the trucks and trailer vehicles, drug and alcohol testing, safety of operation and equipment, and many other aspects of truck operations. We are also subject to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, as amended ("OSHA"), with respect to our trucking operations.
Our trucking assets in Canada are subject to regulation by both federal and provincial transportation agencies in the provinces in which they are operated. These regulatory agencies do not set freight rates, but do establish and administer rules and regulations relating to other matters including equipment and driver licensing, equipment inspection, hazardous materials and safety.
Cross Border Regulation
As a result of our Canadian acquisitions and cross border activities, we are subject to regulatory matters including export licenses, tariffs, Canadian and U.S. customs and tax issues and toxic substance certifications. Regulations include the Short Supply Controls of the Export Administration Act, the
98
North American Free Trade Agreement and the Toxic Substances Control Act. Violations of these license, tariff and tax reporting requirements could result in the imposition of significant administrative, civil and criminal penalties. Furthermore, the failure to comply with U.S., Canadian, state, provincial and local tax requirements could lead to the imposition of additional taxes, interest and penalties.
Environmental, Health and Safety Regulation
General
Our operations involving the storage, treatment, processing, and transportation of liquid hydrocarbons including crude oil are subject to stringent federal, state, provincial and local laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to protection of the environment. As with the industry generally, compliance with these laws and regulations increases our overall cost of business, including our capital costs to construct, maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may result in the assessment of administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory and remedial liabilities, and even the issuance of injunctions that may restrict or prohibit our operations. Environmental laws and regulations are subject to change, and we cannot provide any assurance that compliance with current and future laws and regulations will not have a material affect on our results of operations or earnings. A discharge of hazardous liquids into the environment could, to the extent such event is not insured, subject us to substantial expense, including both the cost to comply with applicable laws and regulations and any claims made by neighboring landowners and other third parties for personal injury and property damage.
Water
The Oil Pollution Act, as amended ("OPA"), was enacted in 1990 and amends provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended ("Clean Water Act"), and other statutes as they pertain to prevention and response to oil spills. The OPA and analogous state and Canadian federal and provincial laws subject owners of facilities to strict, joint and potentially unlimited liability for containment and removal costs, natural resource damages, and certain other consequences of an oil spill, where such spill is into navigable waters, along shorelines or in the exclusive economic zone of the U.S. The OPA establishes a liability limit of $350 million for onshore facilities. However, a party cannot take advantage of this liability limit if the spill is caused by gross negligence or willful misconduct, resulted from a violation of a federal safety, construction, or operating regulation, or if there is a failure to report a spill or cooperate in the cleanup. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with applicable OPA requirements.
The Clean Water Act and analogous state and Canadian federal and provincial laws impose restrictions and strict controls regarding the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters of the United States and Canada, as well as state and provincial waters. Permits must be obtained to discharge pollutants into these waters. The Clean Water Act imposes substantial potential liability for the removal and remediation of pollutants. Although we can give no assurances, we believe that compliance with existing permits and compliance with foreseeable new permit requirements will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Some states and all provinces maintain groundwater protection programs that require permits for discharges or operations that may impact groundwater conditions. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with any such applicable state requirements.
In addition to the costs described above we could also be required to spend substantial sums to ensure the integrity of and upgrade our pipeline systems as a result of oil spills, and in some cases, we may take pipelines out of service if we believe the cost of upgrades will exceed the value of the pipelines. We cannot provide any assurance as to the ultimate amount or timing of future pipeline integrity expenditures for environmental compliance.
99
Air Emissions
Our operations are subject to the Federal Clean Air Act, as amended, and comparable state and provincial laws. We believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with these laws in those areas in which we operate.
Amendments to the Federal Clean Air Act enacted in 1990 (the "1990 Federal Clean Air Act Amendments") as well as changes to state implementation plans for controlling air emissions in regional non-attainment areas may require most industrial operations in the U.S. to incur capital expenditures in order to meet air emission control standards developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA") and state environmental agencies. The 1990 Federal Clean Air Act Amendments also imposed an operating permit requirement for major sources of air emissions ("Title V permits"), which applies to some of our facilities. We may be required to incur certain capital expenditures in the next several years for air pollution control equipment in connection with obtaining or maintaining permits and approvals addressing air emission related issues. Although we can provide no assurance, we believe future compliance with the 1990 Federal Clean Air Act Amendments will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
The federal government of Canada recently ratified the Kyoto Protocol. As a result, the already stringent air emissions regulations will be replaced, by 2010, with even stricter guidelines. We are currently assessing the impact the Protocol will have on our operations.
Solid Waste
We generate wastes, including hazardous wastes, that are subject to the requirements of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act ("RCRA") and comparable state and provincial laws. We are not required to comply with a substantial portion of the RCRA requirements because our operations generate primarily oil and gas wastes, which currently are excluded from consideration as RCRA hazardous wastes. However, it is possible that in the future the exclusion of oil and gas wastes from regulation as RCRA hazardous wastes may be eliminated, in which event, our wastes as well as the wastes of our competitors in the oil and gas industry will be subject to more rigorous and costly disposal requirements, resulting in additional capital expenditures or operating expenses for us and the industry in general.
Hazardous Substances
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended ("CERCLA"), also known as "Superfund," and comparable state and provincial laws impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original act, on certain classes of persons that contributed to the release of a "hazardous substance" into the environment. These persons include the owner or operator of the site or sites where the release occurred and companies that disposed of, or arranged for the disposal of, the hazardous substances found at the site. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to strict joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources, and for the costs of certain health studies. It is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third parties to file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by hazardous substances or other pollutants released into the environment. In the course of our ordinary operations, we may generate waste that falls within CERCLA's definition of a "hazardous substance," in which event, we may be held jointly and severally liable under CERCLA for all or part of the costs required to clean up sites at which such hazardous substances have been released into the environment.
100
OSHA
We are subject to the requirements of OSHA, and comparable state statutes that regulate the protection of the health and safety of workers. In addition, the OSHA hazard communication standard requires that certain information be maintained about hazardous materials used or produced in operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens. We believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with OSHA requirements, including general industry standards, record keeping requirements and monitoring of occupational exposure to regulated substances. OSHA has also been given jurisdiction over enforcement of legislation designed to protect employees who provide evidence in fraud cases from retaliation by their employer.
Similar regulatory requirements exist in Canada under the federal and provincial Occupational Health and Safety Acts and related regulations. The agencies with jurisdiction under these regulationsare empowered to enforce them through inspection, audit, incident investigation or public or employee complaint. Additionally, recent legislation directly ties corporate accountability to the Criminal Code of Canada. This legislation will enable OH&S regulators to prosecute organizations and individuals criminally for violations of the regulations. We believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with applicable OH&S requirements.
Endangered Species Act
The federal Endangered Species Act, as amended ("ESA"), restricts activities that may affect endangered species or their habitats. Although certain of our facilities are in areas that may be designated as habitat for endangered species, we believe that we are in substantial compliance with the ESA. However, the discovery of previously unidentified endangered species could cause us to incur additional costs or operation restrictions or bans in the affected area, which costs, restrictions, or bans could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. Similar regulation (the Species Risk Act) applies to our Canadian operations.
Hazardous Materials Transportation Requirements
The DOT regulations affecting pipeline safety require pipeline operators to implement measures designed to reduce the environmental impact of oil discharge from onshore oil pipelines. These regulations require operators to maintain comprehensive spill response plans, including extensive spill response training for pipeline personnel. In addition, DOT regulations contain detailed specifications for pipeline operation and maintenance. We believe our operations are in substantial compliance with such regulations. See "RegulationPipeline and Storage Regulation."
Environmental Remediation
We currently own or lease, and have in the past owned or leased, properties where hazardous liquids, including hydrocarbons, are being or have been handled. Although we have utilized operating and disposal practices that were standard in the industry at the time, hazardous liquids or associated generated wastes may have been disposed of or released on or under the properties owned or leased by us or on or under other locations where these wastes have been taken for disposal. In addition, many of these properties have been operated by third parties whose treatment and disposal or release of hazardous liquids or associated generated wastes was not under our control. These properties and the hazardous liquids or associated generated wastes disposed thereon may be subject to CERCLA, RCRA and analogous state and Canadian federal and provincial laws. Under such laws, we could be required to remove or remediate previously spilled hazardous liquids or associated generated wastes (including wastes disposed of or released by prior owners or operators), to clean up contaminated property (including contaminated groundwater) or to perform remedial plugging operations to prevent future
101
contamination. We are currently involved in remediation activities at a number of sites, which involve potentially significant expense.
Contamination resulting from spills of liquid hydrocarbons, including crude oil and associated generated wastes, is not unusual within the petroleum pipeline industry. Historic spills along our pipelines as well as at our terminalling and storage facilities as a result of past operations have resulted in contamination of the environment, including soils and groundwater. Properties acquired by us through acquisitions from predecessor operators, such as the properties recently acquired in the Link acquisition, oftentimes have similar impacts to soils and groundwater arising from historical operations on those properties. We are currently addressing site conditions, including soils and groundwater, at a number of our properties, including recently acquired properties, where historical or more recent operations by predecessor operators or us may have resulted in releases of hydrocarbons and other wastes. In addition, we have received contractual protections in the form of environmental indemnifications from several predecessor operators for properties acquired by us that are contaminated as a result of historical operations. These contractual indemnifications typically are subject to specific monetary and term limits that must be satisfied before indemnification will apply.
We may experience future releases of crude oil into the environment from our pipeline and storage operations, or discover past releases that were previously unidentified. Although we maintain an inspection program designed to prevent and, as applicable, to detect and address such releases promptly, damages and liabilities incurred due to any such environmental releases from our assets may substantially affect our business. At September 30, 2004, our reserve for environmental liabilities totaled approximately $21.4 million. Approximately $13.8 million of the reserve is related to liabilities assumed as part of the Link acquisition. Although we believe our reserve is adequate, no assurance can be given that any costs incurred in excess of this reserve would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
For instance, in connection with the Link acquisition, we identified a number of known environmental claims and estimated an amount for potential claims that are currently unknown, for which we received a purchase price reduction from Link. A substantial portion of the known environmental liabilities are associated with the former Texas New Mexico ("TNM") pipeline assets. On the effective date of the acquisition, we and TNM entered into a cost-sharing agreement whereby, on a tiered basis, we will bear $11 million of the first $20 million of pre-May 1999 known environmental issues. We will also bear the first $25,000 per site for unknown sites (capped at 100 sites). TNM will pay all costs in excess of $20 million (excluding the deductible for unknown sites). TNM's obligations are guaranteed by Shell Oil Products.
In connection with the acquisition of certain Shell crude oil transmission and gathering assets in 2002, Shell purchased an environmental insurance policy covering known and unknown environmental matters associated with operations prior to closing. We are a named beneficiary under the policy, which has a $100,000 deductible per site, an aggregate coverage limit of $70 million, and expires in 2012. Shell has recently made a claim against the policy; however, we do not believe that the claim will substantially reduce our coverage under the policy.
Allocation of environmental liability is an issue negotiated in connection with each of our acquisition transactions. In each case, we make an assessment of potential environmental exposure based on available information. Based on that assessment and relevant economic and risk factors, we determine whether to negotiate an indemnity, what the terms of any indemnity should be (for example, minimum thresholds or caps on exposure) and whether to obtain insurance, if available. The acquisitions we completed in 2003 and 2004 include a variety of provisions dealing with the allocation of responsibility for environmental costs that range from no or limited indemnities from the sellers to indemnification from sellers with defined limitations on their maximum exposure. We have not obtained insurance for any of the conditions related to our 2003 acquisitions, and only limited
102
circumstances for our 2004 acquisitions. We believe our exposure with respect to the acquired properties is reasonable in light of all the information available to us, but can give no assurance in that regard.
We believe that the environmental reserve described above is adequate, and in conjunction with our indemnification arrangements, should prevent remediation costs from having a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows. Nevertheless, no assurances can be made that any costs incurred in excess of this reserve or outside of the indemnifications would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Other assets we have acquired or will acquire in the future may have environmental remediation liabilities for which we are not indemnified. We have in the past experienced and in the future will likely experience releases of crude oil into the environment from our pipeline and storage operations, or discover releases that were previously unidentified. Although we maintain a program designed to prevent and, as applicable, to detect and address such releases promptly, damages and liabilities incurred due to environmental releases from our assets may substantially affect our business.
Operational Hazards and Insurance
Pipelines, terminals, trucks or other facilities or equipment may experience damage as a result of an accident or natural disaster. These hazards can cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment, pollution or environmental damage and suspension of operations. Since we and our predecessors commenced midstream crude oil activities in the early 1990s, we have maintained insurance of various types and varying levels of coverage that we consider adequate under the circumstances to cover our operations and properties. The insurance policies are subject to deductibles and retention levels that we consider reasonable and not excessive. However, such insurance does not cover every potential risk associated with operating pipelines, terminals and other facilities, including the potential loss of significant revenues. Consistent with insurance coverage generally available to the industry, our insurance policies provide limited coverage for losses or liabilities relating to pollution, with broader coverage for sudden and accidental occurrences. Over the last several years, our operations have expanded significantly, with total assets increasing over 300% since the end of 1998. At the same time that the scale and scope of our business activities have expanded, the breadth and depth of the available insurance markets have contracted. Notwithstanding what we believe is a favorable claims history, the overall cost of such insurance as well as the deductibles and overall retention levels that we maintain have increased. As a result, it is anticipated that we will elect to self insure more activities against certain of these operating hazards. Certain aspects of these conditions were exacerbated by the events of September 11, 2001, and their overall effect on the insurance industry have adversely impacted the availability and cost of certain coverages. Due to these events, insurers have excluded acts of terrorism and sabotage from our insurance policies and on certain of our key assets, we have elected to purchase a separate insurance policy for acts of terrorism and sabotage.
Since the terrorist attacks, the United States Government has issued numerous warnings that energy assets, including our nation's pipeline infrastructure, may be future targets of terrorist organizations. These developments expose our operations and assets to increased risks. We have instituted security measures and procedures in conformity with DOT guidance. We will institute, as appropriate, additional security measures or procedures indicated by the DOT or the Transportation Safety Administration. However, we cannot assure you that these or any other security measures would protect our facilities from a concentrated attack. Any future terrorist attacks on our facilities, those of our customers and, in some cases, those of our competitors, could have a material adverse effect on our business, whether insured or not.
103
The occurrence of a significant event not fully insured, indemnified or reserved against, or the failure of a party to meet its indemnification obligations, could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial condition. We believe we are adequately insured for public liability and property damage to others with respect to our operations. We believe that our levels of coverage and retention are generally consistent with those of similarly situated companies in our industry. With respect to all of our coverage, no assurance can be given that we will be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates we consider reasonable, or that we have established adequate reserves to the extent that such risks are not insured.
Title to Properties and Rights-of-Way
We believe that we have satisfactory title to all of our assets. Although title to such properties are subject to encumbrances in certain cases, such as customary interests generally retained in connection with acquisition of real property, liens related to environmental liabilities associated with historical operations, liens for current taxes and other burdens and minor easements, restrictions and other encumbrances to which the underlying properties were subject at the time of acquisition by our predecessor or us, we believe that none of these burdens will materially detract from the value of such properties or from our interest therein or will materially interfere with their use in the operation of our business.
Substantially all of our pipelines are constructed on rights-of-way granted by the apparent record owners of such property and, in some instances, such rights-of-way are revocable at the election of the grantor. In many instances, lands over which rights-of-way have been obtained are subject to prior liens that have not been subordinated to the right-of-way grants. In some cases, not all of the apparent record owners have joined in the right-of-way grants, but in substantially all such cases, signatures of the owners of majority interests have been obtained. We have obtained permits from public authorities to cross over or under, or to lay facilities in or along water courses, county roads, municipal streets and state highways, and in some instances, such permits are revocable at the election of the grantor. We have also obtained permits from railroad companies to cross over or under lands or rights-of-way, many of which are also revocable at the grantor's election. In some cases, property for pipeline purposes was purchased in fee. All of the pump stations are located on property owned in fee or property under long-term leases. In certain states and under certain circumstances, we have the right of eminent domain to acquire rights-of-way and lands necessary for our common carrier pipelines.
Some of the leases, easements, rights-of-way, permits and licenses transferred to us, upon our formation in 1998 and in connection with acquisitions we have made since that time, required the consent of the grantor to transfer such rights, which in certain instances is a governmental entity. We believe that we have obtained such third party consents, permits and authorizations as are sufficient for the transfer to us of the assets necessary for us to operate our business in all material respects as described in this report. With respect to any consents, permits or authorizations that have not yet been obtained, we believe that such consents, permits or authorizations will be obtained within a reasonable period, or that the failure to obtain such consents, permits or authorizations will have no material adverse effect on the operation of our business.
To carry out our operations, our general partner or its affiliates employed approximately 1,950 employees at September 30, 2004. None of the employees of our general partner were represented by labor unions, and our general partner considers its employee relations to be good.
104
Export License Matter. In our gathering and marketing activities, we import and export crude oil from and to Canada. Exports of crude oil are subject to the "short supply" controls of the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR") and must be licensed by the Bureau of Industry and Security (the "BIS") of the U.S. Commerce Department. In 2002, we determined that we may have exceeded our licenses with respect to the quantity of crude oil exported and the end-users in Canada. Export of crude oil except as authorized by license is a violation of the EAR. In October 2002, we submitted to the BIS an initial notification of voluntary disclosure. The BIS subsequently informed us that we could continue to export while previous exports were under review. We applied for and received several new licenses allowing for export volumes and end users that more accurately reflect our anticipated business and customer needs. We also conducted reviews of new and existing contracts and implemented new procedures and practices in order to monitor compliance with applicable laws regarding the export of crude oil to Canada. As a result, we subsequently submitted additional information to the BIS in October 2003 and May 2004. In August 2004, we received a request from the BIS for additional information. We have responded to this and subsequent requests, and continue to cooperate fully with BIS officials. At this time, we have received neither a warning letter nor a charging letter, which could involve the imposition of penalties, and no indication of what penalties the BIS might assess. As a result, we cannot reasonably estimate the ultimate impact of this matter.
Alfons Sperber v. Plains Resources Inc., et al. On December 18, 2003, a putative class action lawsuit was filed in the Delaware Chancery Court, New Castle County, entitled Alfons Sperber v. Plains Resources Inc., et al. This suit, brought on behalf of a putative class of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. common unitholders, asserts breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims against us, Plains AAP, L.P., and Plains All American GP LLC and its directors, as well as breach of fiduciary duty claims against Plains Resources Inc. and its directors. The complaint seeks to enjoin or rescind a proposed acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of Plains Resources Inc., as well as declaratory relief, an accounting, disgorgement and the imposition of a constructive trust, and an award of damages, fees, expenses and costs, among other things. This lawsuit has been settled in principle, subject to the preparation and execution of appropriate settlement documentation and court approval.
General. We, in the ordinary course of business, are a claimant and/or a defendant in various legal proceedings. We do not believe that the outcome of these legal proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Environmental. We may experience future releases of crude oil into the environment from our pipeline and storage operations, or discover past releases that were previously unidentified. Although we maintain an inspection program designed to prevent and, as applicable, to detect and address such releases promptly, damages and liabilities incurred due to any such environmental releases from our assets may substantially affect our business. At September 30, 2004, our reserve for environmental liabilities totaled approximately $21.4 million. Approximately $13.8 million of the reserve is related to liabilities assumed as part of the Link acquisition. Although we believe our reserve is adequate, no assurance can be given that any costs incurred in excess of this reserve would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Other. We, in the ordinary course of business, are a claimant and /or a defendant in various other legal proceedings. We do not believe that the outcome of these other legal proceedings, individually and in the aggregate, will have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
105
In November 1999, we discovered that a former employee had engaged in unauthorized trading activity that resulted in significant losses and litigation and had a temporary, but material adverse impact on our liquidity and our relationship with our customers. A full investigation into the unauthorized trading activities by outside legal counsel and independent accountants and consultants determined that the vast majority of the losses occurred in 1999, but also extended into 1998 and required restatements of our financial statements for the applicable periods. Including litigation settlement costs, the aggregate losses associated with this event totaled approximately $181 million. All of the cases were settled and paid. Additionally, based on recommendations from experts involved in the investigation, we made significant enhancements to our systems, policies and procedures and developed and adopted a written policy document and manual of procedures designed to enhance our processes and procedures and improve our ability to detect any activity that might occur at an early stage. We can give no assurance that the above steps will serve to detect and prevent all violations of our trading policy; however, we believe that such steps substantially reduce the possibility of a recurrence of unauthorized trading activities, and that any unauthorized trading that does occur would be detected at an early stage.
106
Partnership Management and Governance
As is the case with many publicly traded partnerships, we do not directly have officers, directors or employees. Our operations and activities are managed by the general partner of our general partner, Plains All American GP LLC, which employs our management and operational personnel. References to our general partner, unless the context otherwise requires, include Plains All American GP LLC. References to our officers, directors and employees are references to the officers, directors and employees of Plains All American GP LLC (or, in the case of our Canadian operations, PMC (Nova Scotia) Company).
Our general partner manages our operations and activities. Unitholders do not directly or indirectly participate in our management or operation. Our general partner owes a fiduciary duty to the unitholders, as limited by our partnership agreement. As a general partner, our general partner is liable for all of our debts (to the extent not paid from our assets), except for indebtedness or other obligations that are made specifically non-recourse to it. Whenever possible, our general partner intends to incur indebtedness or other obligations on a non-recourse basis.
Our partnership agreement provides that the general partner will manage and operate us and that, unlike holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders will have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business or governance. Specifically, our partnership agreement defines "Board of Directors" to mean the board of directors of Plains All American GP LLC, which is elected by the members of Plains All American GP LLC, and not by the unitholders. Thus, the corporate governance of Plains All American GP LLC is, in effect, the corporate governance of our partnership, subject in all cases to any specific unitholder rights contained in our partnership agreement. Because we are a limited partnership, the new listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange do not require that we or our general partner have a majority of independent directors or a nominating or compensation committee of the board of directors.
We have an audit committee that reviews our external financial reporting, engages our independent auditors and reviews the adequacy of our internal accounting controls. The Board of Directors has determined that (i) each member of our audit committee is "independent" under applicable New York Stock Exchange Rules and (ii) that each member of our audit committee is an "Audit Committee Financial Expert," as that term is defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K. The members of our audit committee and other committees are indicated in the table below.
In determining the independence of the members of our audit committee, the Board of Directors considered the relationships described below:
Mr. Everardo Goyanes, the Chairman of our Audit Committee, is the Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Energy Corporation ("LEC"), a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. Mr. Goyanes is an employee of Liberty Mutual Insurance Company. LEC makes investments in producing properties, from some of which Plains Marketing, L.P. buys the production. LEC does not operate the properties in which it invests. Plains Marketing pays the same amount per barrel to LEC that it pays to other interest owners in the properties. In 2003, the amount paid to LEC by Plains Marketing was approximately $1,085,000 ($974,000 net of severance taxes),
Mr. J. Taft Symonds, a member of our Audit Committee, is a director and the non-executive Chairman of the Board of Tetra Technologies, Inc. ("Tetra"). A subsidiary of Tetra owns crude oil producing properties, from some of which Plains Marketing buys the production. We paid approximately $7.9 million to the Tetra subsidiary in 2003. Until July 2004, Mr. Symonds was also a director of Plains Resources Inc., with whom Plains Marketing has a marketing arrangement. We paid approximately $25.7 million to Plains Resources in 2003, and recognized segment profit of approximately $0.2 million. Mr. Symonds was not and is not an officer of Tetra or Plains Resources,
107
and does not participate in operational decision making, including decisions concerning selection of crude oil purchasers or entering into sales or marketing arrangements.
We have a compensation committee, which reviews and makes recommendations regarding the compensation for the executive officers and administers our equity compensation plans for officers and key employees. We also have a governance committee that periodically reviews our governance guidelines. In addition, our partnership agreement provides for the establishment/activation of a conflicts committee as circumstances warrant to review conflicts of interest between us and our general partner or the owners of our general partner. Such a committee would consist of a minimum of two members, none of whom are officers or employees of our general partner or directors, officers or employees of its affiliates. Any matters approved by the conflicts committee will be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to us, approved by all of our partners, and not a breach by our general partner of any duties owed to us or our unitholders.
Our committee charters and governance guidelines are available on our website at www.paalp.com.
108
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the executive officers and members of the Board of Directors of our general partner. Directors are elected annually thereafter. Certain owners of our general partner each have the right to separately designate a member of our board. Such designees are indicated in the footnote to the following table.
Name |
Age (as of 11/30/04) |
Position with Our General Partner |
||
---|---|---|---|---|
Greg L. Armstrong(1) | 46 | Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
Harry N. Pefanis | 47 | President and Chief Operating Officer | ||
Phillip D. Kramer | 48 | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
George R. Coiner | 54 | Senior Group Vice President | ||
W. David Duckett | 49 | PresidentPMC (Nova Scotia) Company | ||
Mark F. Shires | 47 | Senior Vice PresidentOperations | ||
Alfred A. Lindseth | 35 | Senior Vice PresidentTechnology, Process & Risk Management | ||
Lawrence J. Dreyfuss | 50 | Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary; Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company (the general partner of Plains Marketing Canada, L.P.) | ||
James B. Fryfogle | 53 | Vice PresidentLease Operations | ||
Jim G. Hester | 45 | Vice PresidentAcquisitions | ||
Tim Moore | 47 | Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||
John F. Russell | 55 | Vice PresidentPipeline Operations | ||
Al Swanson | 40 | Vice President and Treasurer | ||
Tina L. Val | 35 | Vice PresidentAccounting and Chief Accounting Officer | ||
Troy E. Valenzuela | 43 | Vice PresidentEnvironmental, Health and Safety | ||
John P. vonBerg | 50 | Vice PresidentTrading | ||
David N. Capobianco(1) | 35 | Director and Member of Compensation Committee | ||
Everardo Goyanes | 60 | Director and Member of Audit* Committee | ||
Gary R. Petersen(1) | 58 | Director and Member of Compensation* Committee | ||
John T. Raymond(1) | 34 | Director | ||
Robert V. Sinnott(1) | 55 | Director and Member of Compensation Committee | ||
Arthur L. Smith | 52 | Director and Member of Audit and Governance* Committees | ||
J. Taft Symonds | 65 | Director and Member of Governance and Audit Committees |
109
designated by Sable Investments, L.P. Sable Investments, L.P. is controlled by James M. Flores, a director of Vulcan Energy Corporation and also the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of PXP. Mr. Sinnott has been designated by KAFU Holdings, L.P., which is affiliated with Kayne Anderson Investment Management, Inc., of which he is a Vice President. See "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholder MattersBeneficial Ownership of General Partner Interest."
Greg L. Armstrong has served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since our formation. He has also served as a director of our general partner or former general partner since our formation. In addition, he was President, Chief Executive Officer and director of Plains Resources from 1992 to May 2001. He previously served Plains Resources as: President and Chief Operating Officer from October to December 1992; Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from June to October 1992; Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1991 to 1992; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1984 to 1991; Corporate Secretary from 1981 to 1988; and Treasurer from 1984 to 1987. Mr. Armstrong is also a director of Varco International, Inc.
Harry N. Pefanis has served as President and Chief Operating Officer since our formation. He was also a director of our former general partner. In addition, he was Executive Vice PresidentMidstream of Plains Resources from May 1998 to May 2001. He previously served Plains Resources as: Senior Vice President from February 1996 until May 1998; Vice PresidentProducts Marketing from 1988 to February 1996; Manager of Products Marketing from 1987 to 1988; and Special Assistant for Corporate Planning from 1983 to 1987. Mr. Pefanis was also President of several former midstream subsidiaries of Plains Resources until our formation in 1998.
Phillip D. Kramer has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since our formation. In addition, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Plains Resources from May 1998 to May 2001. He previously served Plains Resources as: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from May 1997 until May 1998; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1992 to 1997; Vice President from 1988 to 1992; Treasurer from 1987 to March 2001; and Controller from 1983 to 1987.
George R. Coiner has served as Senior Group Vice President since February 2004 and as Senior Vice President from our formation to February 2004. In addition, he was Vice President of Plains Marketing & Transportation Inc., a former midstream subsidiary of Plains Resources from November 1995 until our formation in 1998. Prior to joining Plains Marketing & Transportation Inc., he was Senior Vice President, Marketing with Scurlock Permian Corp.
W. David Duckett has been President of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company since June 2003, and Executive Vice President of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company from July 2001 to June 2003. Mr. Duckett was previously with CANPET Energy Group Inc. since 1985, where he served in various capacities, including most recently as President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
Mark F. Shires has served as Senior Vice PresidentOperations since June 2003 and as Vice PresidentOperations from August 1999 to June 2003. He served as Manager of Operations from April 1999 to August 1999. In addition, he was a business consultant from 1996 until April 1999. He served as a consultant to Plains Marketing & Transportation Inc. and Plains All American Pipeline, LP from May 1998 until April 1999. He previously served as President of Plains Terminal & Transfer Corporation, a former midstream subsidiary of Plains Resources, from 1993 to 1996.
Alfred A. Lindseth has served as Senior Vice PresidentTechnology, Process & Risk Management since June 2003 and as Vice PresidentAdministration from March 2001 to June 2003. He served as Risk Manager from March 2000 to March 2001. He previously served PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in its Financial Risk Management Practice section as a Consultant from 1997 to 1999 and as Principal Consultant from 1999 to March 2000. He also served GSC Energy, an energy risk management brokerage and consulting firm, as Manager of its Oil & Gas Hedging Program from 1995 to 1996 and as Director of Research and Trading from 1996 to 1997.
110
Lawrence J. Dreyfuss has served as Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of our general partner since February 2004 and as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of our general partner from June 2001 to February 2004 and held a senior management position in the Law Department since May 1999. In addition, he was a Vice President of Scurlock Permian LLC from 1987 to 1999.
James B. Fryfogle has served as Vice PresidentLease Operations since July 2004. Prior to joining PAA in January 2004, Mr. Fryfogle served as Manager of Crude Supply and Trading for Marathon Ashland Petroleum. Mr. Fryfogle had held numerous positions of increasing responsibility with Marathon Ashland Petroleum or its affiliates or predecessors since 1975.
Jim G. Hester has served as Vice PresidentAcquisitions since March 2002. Prior to joining us, Mr. Hester was Senior Vice PresidentSpecial Projects of Plains Resources. From May 2001 to December 2001, he was Senior Vice PresidentOperations for Plains Resources. From May 1999 to May 2001, he was Vice PresidentBusiness Development and Acquisitions of Plains Resources. He was Manager of Business Development and Acquisitions of Plains Resources from 1997 to May 1999, Manager of Corporate Development from 1995 to 1997 and Manager of Special Projects from 1993 to 1995. He was Assistant Controller from 1991 to 1993, Accounting Manager from 1990 to 1991 and Revenue Accounting Supervisor from 1988 to 1990.
Tim Moore has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since May 2000. In addition, he was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Plains Resources from May 2000 to May 2001. Prior to joining Plains Resources, he served in various positions, including General CounselCorporate, with TransTexas Gas Corporation from 1994 to 2000. He previously was a corporate attorney with the Houston office of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP. Mr. Moore also has seven years of energy industry experience as a petroleum geologist.
John F. Russell has served as Vice PresidentPipeline Operations since July 2004. Prior to joining PAA, Mr. Russell served as Vice President of Business Development & Joint Interest for ExxonMobil Pipeline Company. Mr. Russell had held numerous positions of increasing responsibility with ExxonMobil Pipeline Company or its affiliates or predecessors since 1974.
Al Swanson has served as Vice President and Treasurer since February 2004 and as Treasurer from May 2001 to February 2004. In addition, he held several finance related positions at Plains Resources including Treasurer from February 2001 to May 2001 and Director of Treasury from November 2000 to February 2001. Prior to joining Plains Resources, he served as Treasurer of Santa Fe Snyder Corporation from 1999 to October 2000 and in various capacities at Snyder Oil Corporation including Director of Corporate Finance from 1998, ControllerSOCO Offshore, Inc. from 1997, and Accounting Manager from 1992. Mr. Swanson began his career with Apache Corporation in 1986 serving in internal audit and accounting.
Tina L. Val has served as Vice PresidentAccounting and Chief Accounting Officer since June 2003. She served as Controller from April 2000 until she was elected to her current position. From January 1998 to January 2000, Ms. Val served as a consultant to Conoco de Venezuela S.A. She previously served as Senior Financial Analyst for Plains Resources from October 1994 to July 1997.
Troy E. Valenzuela has served as Vice PresidentEnvironmental, Health and Safety, or EH&S, since July 2002, and has had oversight responsibility for the environmental, safety and regulatory compliance efforts of us and our predecessors for the last 12 years. He was Director of EH&S with Plains Resources from January 1996 to June 2002, and Manager of EH&S from July 1992 to December 1995. Prior to his time with Plains Resources, Mr. Valenzuela spent seven years with Chevron USA Production Company in various EH&S roles.
John P. vonBerg has served as Vice President of Trading since May 2003 and Director of these activities since joining us in January of 2002. He was with Genesis Energy in differing capacities as a
111
Director, Vice Chairman, President and CEO from 1996 through 2001, and from 1993 to 1996 he served as a Vice President and a Crude Oil Manager for Phibro Energy USA. Mr. VonBerg began his career with Marathon Oil Company, spending 13 years in various disciplines.
David N. Capobianco has served as a director of our general partner since July 2004. Mr. Capobianco is a member of the board of directors of Vulcan Energy Corporation and a Managing Director of Vulcan Capital, an affiliate of Vulcan Inc., where he has been employed since April 2003. Previously, he served as a Vice President of Greenhill Capital from July 2001 to April 2003 and a Vice President of Harvest Partners from July 1995 to January 2001. Mr. Capobianco holds a BA in economics from Duke University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Everardo Goyanes has served as a director of our general partner or former general partner since May 1999. Mr. Goyanes has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty Energy Holdings LLC (an energy investment firm) since May 2000. From 1999 to May 2000, he was a financial consultant specializing in natural resources. From 1989 to 1999, he was Managing Director of the Natural Resources Group of ING Barings Furman Selz (a banking firm). He was a financial consultant from 1987 to 1989 and was Vice PresidentFinance of Forest Oil Corporation from 1983 to 1987. Mr. Goyanes received a BA in Economics from Cornell University and a Masters degree in Finance (honors) from Babson Institute.
Gary R. Petersen has served as a director since June 2001. Mr. Petersen co-founded EnCap Investments L.P. (an investment management firm) and has been a Managing Director and principal of the firm since 1988. He had previously served as Senior Vice President and Manager of the Corporate Finance Division of the Energy Banking Group for RepublicBank Corporation. Prior to his position at RepublicBank, he was Executive Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors of Nicklos Oil & Gas Company in Houston, Texas from 1979 to 1984. He served from 1970 to 1971 in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant in the Finance Corps and as an Army Officer in the National Security Agency. He is also a director of Equus II Incorporated.
John T. Raymond has served as a director since June 2001. He has been a director and the Chief Executive Officer of Vulcan Energy Corporation since July 2004. Mr. Raymond has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Plains Resources since December 2002. Prior thereto, Mr. Raymond served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Plains Resources from May 2001 to November 2001 and President and Chief Operating Officer since November 2001. Mr. Raymond also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Plains Exploration and Production from December 2002 to March 2004. He was Director of Corporate Development of Kinder Morgan, Inc. from January 2000 to May 2001. He served as Vice President of Corporate Development of Ocean Energy, Inc. from April 1998 to January 2000. He was Vice President of Howard Weil Labouisse Friedrichs, Inc. from 1992 to April 1998.
Robert V. Sinnott has served as a director of our general partner or former general partner since September 1998. Mr. Sinnott has been a Senior Managing Director of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. (an investment management firm) since 1996, and was a Managing Director from 1992 to 1996. He is also a vice president of Kayne Anderson Investment Management Inc., the general partner of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P. He was Vice President and Senior Securities Officer of the Investment Banking Division of Citibank from 1986 to 1992. He is also a director of Glacier Water Services, Inc. (a vended water company). Mr. Sinnott was previously a director of Plains Resources.
Arthur L. Smith has served as a director of our general partner or former general partner since February 1999. Mr. Smith is Chairman and CEO of John S. Herold, Inc. (a petroleum research and consulting firm), a position he has held since 1984. From 1976 to 1984 Mr. Smith was a securities analyst with Argus Research Corp., The First Boston Corporation and Oppenheimer & Co., Inc. Mr. Smith has prior public board experience with Pioneer Natural Resources, Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation and Evergreen Resources, Inc. Mr. Smith holds the CFA designation. He serves on the
112
board of non-profit Dress for Success Houston and the Board of Visitors for the Duke Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences. Mr. Smith received a BA from Duke University and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.
J. Taft Symonds has served as a director since June 2001. Mr. Symonds is Chairman of the Board of Symonds Trust Co. Ltd. (an investment firm) and Chairman of the Board of Tetra Technologies, Inc. (an oilfield services firm). From 1978 to 2004 he was Chairman of the Board and Chief Financial Officer of Maurice Pincoffs Company, Inc. (an international marketing firm). Mr. Symonds was previously a director of Plains Resources. Mr. Symonds has a background in both investment and commercial banking, including merchant banking in New York, London and Hong Kong with Paine Webber Jackson & Curtis, Robert Fleming Group and Banque de la Societe Financiere Europeenne. He is a director of Intercorr International and President of the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center. Mr. Symonds received a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard.
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to other members of our management team and officers of the general partner of our Canadian operating partnership:
Name |
Age (as of 11/30/04) |
Position with Our General Partner/Canadian General Partner |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Management Team/Other Officers: | |||||
A. Patrick Diamond | 31 | ManagerSpecial Projects | |||
Canadian Officers: | |||||
D. Mark Alenius | 45 | Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company | |||
Ralph R. Cross | 49 | Vice PresidentBusiness Development of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company | |||
Ronald H. Gagnon | 46 | Vice PresidentOperations of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company | |||
M.D. (Mike) Hallahan | 44 | Vice PresidentCrude Oil of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company | |||
Richard (Rick) Henson | 50 | Vice PresidentCorporate Services of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company | |||
Ron F. Wunder | 36 | Vice PresidentLPG of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company |
A. Patrick Diamond has served as ManagerSpecial Projects since June 2001. In addition, he was ManagerSpecial Projects of Plains Resources from August 1999 to June 2001. Prior to joining Plains Resources, Mr. Diamond served Salomon Smith Barney Inc. in its Global Energy Investment Banking Group as an Associate from July 1997 to May 1999 and as a Financial Analyst from July 1994 to June 1997.
D. Mark Alenius has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company since November 2002. In addition, Mr. Alenius was Managing Director, Finance of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company from July 2001 to November 2002. Mr. Alenius was previously with CANPET Energy Group Inc. where he served as Vice President, Finance, Secretary and Treasurer, and was a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Alenius joined CANPET in February 2000. Prior to joining CANPET Energy, Mr. Alenius briefly served as Chief Financial Officer of Bromley-Marr ECOS Inc., a manufacturing and processing company, from January to July 1999. Mr. Alenius was previously with Koch Industries, Inc.'s Canadian group of businesses, where he served in various capacities, including most recently as Vice-President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Koch Pipelines Canada, Ltd.
Ralph R. Cross has been Vice President of Business Development of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company since July 2001. Mr. Cross was previously with CANPET Energy Group Inc. since 1992, where he served in various capacities, including most recently as Vice President of Business Development.
113
Ronald H. Gagnon has been Vice President, Operations of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company since January 2004, Managing Director, Information and Transportation Services from June 2003 to January 2004 and Director, Information Services from July 2001 to May 2003. Mr. Gagnon was previously with CANPET Energy Group Inc. since 1987, where he served in various capacities, including Vice President, Producer Services.
M.D. (Mike) Hallahan has served as Vice President, Crude Oil of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company since February 2004 and Managing Director, Facilities from July, 2001 to February, 2004. He was previously with CANPET Energy Group inc. where he served in various capacities since 1996, most recently General Manager, Facilities.
Richard (Rick) Henson joined PMC (Nova Scotia) Company in December 2004 as Vice President of Corporate Services. Mr. Henson was previously with Nova Chemicals Corporation, serving in various executive positions from 1999 through 2004, including Vice President, Petrochemicals and Feedstocks, and Vice President, Ethylene and Petrochemicals Business.
Ron F. Wunder has served as Vice President, LPG of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company since February 2004 and as Managing Director, Crude Oil from July 2001 to February 2004. He was previously with CANPET Energy Group Inc. since 1992, where he served in various capacities, including most recently as General Manager, Crude Oil.
The following table sets forth certain compensation information for our Chief Executive Officer and the four other most highly compensated executive officers in 2003 (the "Named Executive Officers"). Messrs. Armstrong, Pefanis and Kramer were compensated by Plains Resources prior to July 2001. However, we reimburse our general partner and its affiliates (and, for a portion of 2001, we reimbursed our former general partner and its affiliates, which included Plains Resources) for expenses incurred on our behalf, including the costs of officer compensation allocable to us. The Named Executive Officers have also received certain equity-based awards from our general partner and from our former general partner and its affiliates, which awards (other than awards under the Long-Term
114
Incentive Plan) are not subject to reimbursement by us. See "Long-Term Incentive Plan" and "Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsTransactions with Related Parties."
|
|
Annual Compensation |
Long-Term Compensation |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name and Principal Position |
|
|
|
Other Compensation |
||||||||||
Year |
Salary |
Bonus |
LTIP Payout |
|||||||||||
Greg L. Armstrong Chairman and CEO |
2003 2002 2001 |
$ |
330,000 330,000 165,000 |
(1) |
$ |
1,000,000 600,000 450,000 |
$ |
12,000 11,000 |
(2) (2) (1)(2) |
$ |
|
|||
Harry N. Pefanis President and COO |
2003 2002 2001 |
$ |
235,000 235,000 117,500 |
(1) |
$ |
800,000 475,000 350,000 |
$ |
12,000 11,000 |
(2) (2) (1)(2) |
$ |
452,400 |
|||
Phillip D. Kramer Executive V.P. and CFO |
2003 2002 2001 |
$ |
200,000 200,000 100,000 |
(1) |
$ |
500,000 275,000 100,000 |
$ |
12,000 11,000 |
(2) (2) (1)(2) |
$ |
|
|||
George R. Coiner Senior Group Vice President |
2003 2002 2001 |
$ |
200,000 200,000 175,000 |
$ |
719,600 451,000 430,100 |
(3) (4) (5) |
$ |
12,000 11,000 10,500 |
(2) (2) (2) |
$ |
226,200 |
|||
W. David Duckett(6) PresidentPMC (Nova Scotia Company) |
2003 2002 2001 |
$ |
190,658 163,891 80,020 |
$ |
724,883 270,070 15,182 |
$ |
|
$ |
|
Employment Contracts and Termination of Employment and Change-in-Control Arrangements
Messrs. Armstrong and Pefanis have employment agreements with our general partner. Mr. Armstrong is employed as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The initial three-year term of Mr. Armstrong's employment agreement commenced on June 30, 2001, and is automatically extended for one year on June 30 of each year (such that the term is reset to three years) unless Mr. Armstrong receives notice from the Chairman of the Compensation Committee that the Board of Directors has elected not to extend the agreement. Mr. Armstrong has agreed, during the term of the agreement and
115
for five years thereafter, not to disclose (subject to typical exceptions) any confidential information obtained by him while employed under the agreement. The agreement provides for a current base salary of $330,000 per year, subject to annual review. If Mr. Armstrong's employment is terminated without cause, he will be entitled to receive an amount equal to his annual base salary plus his highest annual bonus, multiplied by the lesser of (i) the number of years (including fractional years) remaining on the agreement and (ii) two. If Mr. Armstrong terminates his employment as a result of a change in control he will be entitled to receive an amount equal to three times the aggregate of his annual base salary and bonus. Under Mr. Armstrong's agreement, a "change of control" is defined to include (i) the acquisition by an entity or group (other than Plains Resources and its wholly owned subsidiaries) of 50% or more of our general partner or (ii) the existing owners of our general partner ceasing to own more than 50% of our general partner. If Mr. Armstrong's employment is terminated because of his death, a lump sum payment will be paid to his designee equal to his annual salary plus his highest annual bonus, multiplied by the lesser of (i) the number of years (including fractional years) remaining on the agreement and (ii) two. Under the agreement, Mr. Armstrong will be reimbursed for any excise tax due as a result of compensation (parachute) payments.
Mr. Pefanis is employed as President and Chief Operating Officer. The initial three-year term of Mr. Pefanis' employment agreement commenced on June 30, 2001, and is automatically extended for one year on June 30 of each year (such that the term is reset to three years) unless Mr. Pefanis receives notice from the Chairman of the Board of Directors that the Board has elected not to extend the agreement. Mr. Pefanis has agreed, during the term of the agreement and for one year thereafter, not to disclose (subject to typical exceptions) any confidential information obtained by him while employed under the agreement. The agreement provides for a current base salary of $235,000 per year, subject to annual review. The provisions in Mr. Pefanis' agreement with respect to termination, change in control and related payment obligations are substantially similar to the parallel provisions in Mr. Armstrong's agreement.
Our general partner has adopted the Plains All American GP LLC 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") for employees and directors of our general partner and its affiliates who perform services for us. The LTIP consists of two components, a restricted ("phantom") unit plan and a unit option plan. The LTIP currently permits the grant of phantom units and unit options covering an aggregate of 1,425,000 common units delivered upon vesting of such phantom units or unit options. No options have been granted under the unit option plan. The plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of our general partner's board of directors. Our general partner's board of directors in its discretion may terminate the LTIP at any time with respect to any common units for which a grant has not yet been made. Our general partner's board of directors also has the right to alter or amend the LTIP or any part of the plan from time to time, including, subject to any applicable NYSE listing requirements, increasing the number of common units with respect to which awards may be granted; provided, however, that no change in any outstanding grant may be made that would materially impair the rights of the participant without the consent of such participant.
Restricted Unit Plan. A restricted unit is a "phantom" unit that entitles the grantee to receive, upon the vesting of the phantom unit, a common unit (or cash equivalent, depending on the terms of the grant). A substantial number of phantom units have vested in 2003 and 2004. As of September 30, 2004, giving effect to vested grants, grants of approximately 134,000 unvested phantom units remain outstanding to employees, officers and directors of our general partner. The Compensation Committee may, in the future, make additional grants under the plan to employees and directors containing such terms as the Compensation Committee shall determine.
If a grantee terminates employment or membership on the board for any reason, the grantee's phantom units will be automatically forfeited unless, and to the extent, the Compensation Committee
116
provides otherwise. Vested phantom units may be satisfied in common units or cash equivalents. Common units to be delivered upon the vesting of rights may be common units acquired by our general partner in the open market or in private transactions, common units already owned by our general partner, or any combination of the foregoing. Our general partner will be entitled to reimbursement by us for the cost incurred in acquiring common units. In addition, over the term of the plan we may issue up to 975,000 new common units to satisfy delivery obligations under the grants, less any common units issued upon exercise of unit options under the plan (see below). When we issue new common units upon vesting of the phantom units, the total number of common units outstanding increases. The compensation committee, in its discretion, may grant tandem distribution equivalent rights with respect to phantom units.
Other than grants to directors (discussed below), none of the phantom units vested until November 2003. Since that time, approximately 927,000 phantom units have vested. Including grants to directors, approximately 418,000 units have been purchased and delivered or issued in satisfaction of vesting, after payment of cash-equivalents and netting for taxes. As a result of the vesting of these awards, we recognized an expense of approximately $28.8 million as of December 31, 2003 and an expense of approximately $4.2 million as of September 30, 2004.
New tax rules concerning deferred compensation will become effective January 1, 2005. Until Treasury Regulations are issued, the application of this new law to the LTIP is unclear. We intend to operate the LTIP, and make any amendments to it that may be necessary, for the LTIP and awards granted thereunder to comply with this new law.
The issuance of the common units pursuant to the restricted unit plan is primarily intended to serve as a means of incentive compensation for performance. Therefore, no consideration is paid to us by the plan participants upon receipt of the common units.
In 2000, the three non-employee directors of our former general partner (Messrs. Goyanes, Sinnott and Smith) were each granted 5,000 phantom units. These units vested and were paid in connection with the transfer of the general partner interest in 2001. Additional grants of 5,000 phantom units were made in 2002 to each non-employee director of our general partner. These units vest and are payable in 25% increments on each anniversary of June 8, 2001. The first three vestings took place on June 8 of 2002, 2003 and 2004. See "Compensation of Directors."
The following table shows the vesting of phantom units granted to the Named Executive Officers.
|
|
November 2003 Vesting |
February 2004 Vesting |
May 2004 Vesting |
August 2004 Vesting |
Remaining Unvested Grants(2) |
|||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name |
Total Units |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Units |
Value(1) |
Units |
Value(1) |
Units |
Value(1) |
Units |
Value(1) |
Units |
Value(3) |
||||||||||||||||||
Greg L. Armstrong | 70,000 | | | 17,500 | $ | 551,250 | 17,500 | $ | 580,650 | 17,500 | $ | 560,700 | 17,500 | $ | 629,650 | ||||||||||||
Harry N. Pefanis | 70,000 | 15,000 | $ | 452,400 | 47,500 | $ | 1,511,550 | 2,500 | $ | 82,950 | 2,500 | $ | 80,100 | 2,500 | $ | 89,950 | |||||||||||
Phillip D. Kramer | 50,000 | | | 12,500 | $ | 393,750 | 12,500 | $ | 414,750 | 12,500 | $ | 400,500 | 12,500 | $ | 449,750 | ||||||||||||
George R. Coiner | 67,500 | 7,500 | $ | 226,200 | 31,875 | $ | 1,028,869 | 9,375 | $ | 311,063 | 9,375 | $ | 300,375 | 9,375 | $ | 337,313 | |||||||||||
W. David Duckett | | | | | | | | | | | |
Unit Option Plan. The unit option plan under our LTIP currently permits the grant of options covering common units. No grants have been made under the unit option plan to date. However, the Compensation Committee may, in the future, make grants under the plan to employees and directors
117
containing such terms as the committee shall determine, provided that unit options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the units on the date of grant.
Upon exercise of a unit option, our general partner may deliver common units acquired by it in the open market or in private transactions or use common units already owned by our general partner, or any combination of the foregoing. In addition, we may issue up to 975,000 new common units to satisfy delivery obligations under the grants, less any common units issued upon vesting of restricted units under the plan. Our general partner will be entitled to reimbursement by us for the difference between the cost incurred by our general partner in acquiring such common units and the proceeds received by our general partner from an optionee at the time of exercise. Thus, the cost of the unit options will be borne by us. If we issue new common units upon exercise of the unit options, the total number of common units outstanding will increase, and our general partner will remit to us the proceeds received by it from the optionee upon exercise of the unit option.
Our board of directors has unanimously approved, subject to the approval of our unitholders, our 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "2005 LTIP"). The 2005 LTIP would provide awards to our employees and directors. Awards contemplated under the 2005 LTIP include phantom units, restricted units, unit appreciation rights and unit options, as determined by the Compensation Committee (each an "Award"). If approved by our unitholders, up to 3,000,000 units may be issued in satisfaction of Awards. Certain Awards may also include, in the discretion of the Compensation Committee, a "distribution equivalent right," or "DER," that entitles the grantee to a cash payment, either while the Award is outstanding or upon vesting, equal to any cash distributions paid on a unit while the Award is outstanding. As of November, 2004, approximately 2,000 individuals (of which we expect that approximately 200 to 250 would be participants) would be eligible for Awards under the 2005 LTIP.
Certain other employees and officers have also received grants of equity not associated with the LTIP described above, and for which we have no cost or reimbursement obligations. For example, in 2001 our general partner established a Performance Option Plan funded by common units owned by the general partner. See "Certain Relationships and Related TransactionsTransactions with Related Parties."
Each director of our general partner who is not an employee of our general partner is currently paid an annual retainer fee of $45,000, plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses related to meeting attendance. In 2001, Messrs. Goyanes and Smith each received $10,000 for their service on a special committee of the Board of Directors of our former general partner. Mr. Armstrong is otherwise compensated for his services as an employee and therefore receives no separate compensation for his services as a director. Each committee chairman (other than the Audit Committee) receives $2,000 annually. The chairman of the Audit Committee receives $30,000 annually, and the other members of the Audit Committee receive $15,000 annually. Mr. Petersen assigns any compensation he receives in his capacity as a director to EnCap Energy Capital Fund III, L.P., which is controlled by EnCap Investments L.P., of which Mr. Petersen is a Managing Director. Mr. Capobianco assigns any compensation he receives in his capacity as a director to Vulcan Capital.
In 2000, Messrs. Goyanes, Sinnott and Smith, as directors of our former general partner, received a grant of 5,000 phantom units each under our LTIP. The phantom units vested and were paid in 2001 in connection with the consummation of the General Partner Transition. Each non-employee director of our general partner at the time received a grant of 5,000 phantom units in 2002. Mr. Peterson's grant was subsequently converted into cash payment of equivalent value to EnCap III. The units vest and are
118
payable in 25% increments annually on each anniversary of June 8, 2001. The final vesting will occur in June 2005.
Reimbursement of Expenses of Our General Partner and its Affiliates
We do not pay our general partner a management fee, but we do reimburse our general partner for all expenses incurred on our behalf, including the costs of employee, officer and director compensation and benefits, as well as all other expenses necessary or appropriate to the conduct of our business. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner will determine the expenses that are allocable to us in any reasonable manner determined by our general partner in its sole discretion. Prior to July 1, 2001, an allocation was made for overhead associated with officers and employees who divided time between us and Plains Resources. As a result of the transfer of the general partner interest (and related transactions) in 2001, all of the employees and officers of the general partner now devote 100% of their efforts to our business and there are no allocated expenses. See "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions."
119
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Our operations and activities are managed by, and our officers and personnel are employed by, our general partner (or, in the case of our Canadian operations, PMC (Nova Scotia) Company). Prior to the consummation of the General Partner Transition, some of the senior executives who managed our business also managed and operated the business of Plains Resources. The transition of employment of such executives to our general partner was effected on June 30, 2001. We do not pay our general partner a management fee, but we do reimburse our general partner for all expenses incurred on our behalf.
Our general partner owns the 2% general partner interest and all of the incentive distribution rights. Our general partner is entitled to receive incentive distributions if the amount we distribute with respect to any quarter exceeds levels specified in our partnership agreement. Under the quarterly incentive distribution provisions, generally our general partner is entitled, without duplication, to 15% of amounts we distribute in excess of $0.450 ($1.80 annualized) per unit, 25% of the amounts we distribute in excess of $0.495 ($1.98 annualized) per unit and 50% of amounts we distribute in excess of $0.675 ($2.70 annualized) per unit.
The following table illustrates the allocation of aggregate distributions at different per-unit levels:
Annual Distribution Per Unit |
Distribution to Unitholders(1)(2) |
Distribution to GP(1)(2)(3) |
Total Distribution(1) |
GP Percentage of Total Distribution |
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$1.80 | $ | 126,000 | $ | 2,571 | $ | 128,571 | 2.0 | % | ||||
$1.98 | $ | 138,600 | $ | 4,795 | $ | 143,395 | 3.3 | % | ||||
$2.31 | $ | 161,700 | $ | 12,495 | $ | 174,195 | 7.2 | % | ||||
$2.40 | $ | 168,000 | $ | 14,595 | $ | 182,595 | 8.0 | % | ||||
$2.60 | $ | 182,000 | $ | 19,262 | $ | 201,262 | 9.6 | % | ||||
$2.80 | $ | 196,000 | $ | 28,595 | $ | 224,595 | 12.7 | % | ||||
$3.00 | $ | 210,000 | $ | 42,595 | $ | 252,595 | 16.9 | % |
Transactions with Related Parties
General
Before the General Partner Transition, Plains Resources indirectly owned and controlled our former general partner interest. In 2001, our former general partner and its affiliates incurred $31.2 million of direct and indirect expenses on our behalf, which we reimbursed. Of this amount, approximately $218,000, $655,000 and $127,000 represented allocated salary and bonus (for the year 2000) reimbursement for the services of Messrs. Armstrong, Pefanis and Kramer, respectively, as officers of our former general partner.
As of September 30, 2004 Vulcan Energy, through its wholly owned subsidiary Plains Resources, owned an effective 44% of our general partner interest, as well as approximately 18.4% of our outstanding limited partner units. Mr. John Raymond, one of our directors, is a director and the Chief Executive Officer of Vulcan Energy. Mr. Raymond was designated as a member of our board by Sable Investments, L.P., which is controlled by Mr. James C. Flores. Mr. Flores is a director of Vulcan
120
Energy, the 100% owner of Plains Resources, and is the Chief Executive Officer of Plains Exploration and Production Company ("PXP"). We have ongoing relationships with Plains Resources. These relationships include but are not limited to:
On December 18, 2002, Plains Resources completed a spin-off of one of its subsidiaries, PXP, to its shareholders. PXP is a successor participant to the Plains Resources Marketing agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2003, PXP produced approximately 26,000 barrels per day that were subject to the Marketing Agreement. We paid approximately $277.9 million for such production and recognized segment profit of approximately $1.7 million. In our opinion, these purchases were made at prevailing market prices. We are also party to a Letter Agreement with Stocker Resources, L.P. (now PXP) that provides that if the Marketing Agreement terminates before our crude oil sales agreement with Tosco Refining Co. terminates, PXP will continue to sell and we will continue to purchase PXP's equity crude oil production from the Arroyo Grande field (now owned by a subsidiary of PXP) under the same terms as the Marketing Agreement until our Tosco sales agreement terminates. In July 2004, we amended and restated the Marketing Agreement to, among other things, reflect the change in parties as a result of the spin-off. We sell PXP's crude under sales contracts that range from one year to seven years in length. In October, 2004, we further amended the PXP Marketing Agreement to exclude any
121
newly acquired properties and to adjust the marketing fee to $0.15 per barrel for any new contracts entered into after January 1, 2005.
Transaction Grant Agreements
In connection with our initial public offering, our former general partner, at no cost to us, agreed to transfer, subject to vesting, approximately 400,000 of its affiliates' common units (including distribution equivalent rights attributable to such units) to certain key officers and employees of our former general partner and its affiliates, including Messrs. Armstrong, Pefanis, Coiner and Kramer. Approximately 70,000 units vested in 2000, and the remainder in 2001. The value of the units and associated distribution equivalent rights that vested under the Transaction Grant Agreements for all grantees in 2001 was $5.7 million. Although we recorded noncash compensation expenses with respect to these vestings, the compensation expense incurred in connection with these grants was funded by our former general partner, without reimbursement by us.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
Our general partner has adopted the Plains All American GP LLC 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan for employees and directors of our general partner and its affiliates who perform services for us. The LTIP consists of two components, a restricted unit plan and a unit option plan. The LTIP permits the grant of restricted units and unit options covering delivery of an aggregate of 1,425,000 common units. The plan is administered by the compensation committee of our general partner's board of directors.
A restricted unit is a "phantom" unit that entitles the grantee to receive a common unit (or cash equivalent) upon the vesting of the phantom unit. As of September 30, 2004, approximately 418,000 common units have been issued or purchased and delivered upon vesting and grants of approximately 134,000 phantom units remain outstanding to employees, officers and directors of our general partner. See "ManagementExecutive Compensation."
Performance Option Plan
In connection with the General Partner Transition, the owners of the general partner (other than PAA Management, L.P.) contributed an aggregate of 450,000 subordinated units (now converted into common units) to the general partner to provide a pool of units available for the grant of options to management and key employees. In that regard, the general partner adopted the Plains All American 2001 Performance Option Plan, pursuant to which options to purchase approximately 391,000 units have been granted. Of this amount, 75,000, 55,000, 45,000 and 42,500 were granted to Messrs. Armstrong, Pefanis, Kramer and Coiner, respectively, and approximately 346,000 to executive officers as a group. These options vest in 25% increments based upon achieving quarterly distribution levels on our units of $0.525, $0.575, $0.625 and $0.675 ($2.10, $2.30, $2.50 and $2.70, annualized). The first such level was reached in 2002, and 25% of the options vested. The second level was reached in 2004, and an incremental 25% of the options vested. The options will vest in their entirety immediately upon a change in control (as defined in the grant agreements). The original purchase price under the options was $22 per subordinated unit, declining over time in an amount equal to 80% of each quarterly distribution per unit. As of September 30, 2004, the purchase price was $16.39 per unit. The terms of future grants may differ from the existing grants. Because the units underlying the plan were contributed to the general partner, we will have no obligation to reimburse the general partner for the cost of the units upon exercise of the options.
Stock Option Replacement
In connection with the General Partner Transition, certain members of the management team that had been employed by Plains Resources, including Messrs. Armstrong, Pefanis and Kramer, were
122
transferred to the general partner. At that time, such individuals held in-the-money but unvested stock options in Plains Resources, which were subject to forfeiture because of the transfer of employment. Plains Resources, through its affiliates, agreed to substitute a contingent grant of subordinated units, which are now common units pursuant to conversion, with a value equal to the spread on the unvested options, with distribution equivalent rights from the date of grant. The grant included 8,548, 4,602 and 9,742 units to Messrs. Armstrong, Pefanis and Kramer, respectively. The units vested on the same schedule as the stock options would have vested. The units granted to Messrs. Armstrong, Pefanis and Kramer vested in their entirety in 2002. The general partner administered the vesting and delivery of the units under the grants. Because the units necessary to satisfy the delivery requirements under the grants were provided by Plains Resources, we had no obligation to reimburse the general partner for the cost of such units.
CANPET Energy Group Inc.
In July 2001, we acquired the assets of CANPET Energy Group Inc., a Calgary based Canadian crude oil and LPG marketing company (the "CANPET acquisition"), for approximately $24.6 million plus excess inventory at the closing date of approximately $25.0 million. A portion of the purchase price, payable in common units or cash, at our option, was deferred subject to various performance standards being met. On April 30, 2004, we satisfied the deferred payment with the issuance of approximately 385,000 common units (representing approximately $13.1 million in value as of the date of issuance) and the payment of $6.5 million in cash. In addition, an incremental $3.7 million in cash was paid for the distributions that would have been paid on the common units had they been outstanding since the effective date of the acquisition. Mr. W. David Duckett, the President of PMC (Nova Scotia) Company, the general partner of Plains Marketing Canada, L.P., owns approximately 37.8% of CANPET, and received a proportionate share of the proceeds from the contingent payment of purchase price for the CANPET assets.
Tank Car Lease and CANPET
In connection with the CANPET acquisition, Plains Marketing Canada, L.P. assumed CANPET's rights and obligations under a Master Railcar Leasing Agreement between CANPET and Pivotal Enterprises Corporation ("Pivotal"). The agreement provides for Plains Marketing Canada, L.P. to lease approximately 57 railcars from Pivotal at a lease price of $1,000 (Canadian) per month, per car. The lease extends until June of 2008, with an option for Pivotal to extend the term of the lease for an additional five years. Pivotal is substantially owned by former employees of CANPET, including Mr. W. David Duckett. Mr. Duckett owns a 22% interest in Pivotal.
Class B Common Units
In May 1999, we sold 1,307,190 unregistered Class B common units (the "Class B common units") to our general partner at the time, Plains All American Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Plains Resources Inc., pursuant to Rule 4(2) of the Securities Act. We received $19.125 per Class B common unit, a price equal to the then-market value of our common units for total proceeds of approximately $25 million. We used the net proceeds from the offering to defray costs associated with our acquisition of Scurlock Permian LLC and certain other pipeline assets from Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC.
Class C Common Units
In April 2004, we sold 3,245,700 unregistered Class C common units (the "Class C common units") to a group of investors comprised of affiliates of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, Vulcan Capital and Tortoise Capital pursuant to Rule 4(2) under the Securities Act. For more detailed information with respect to our relationship with Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors and Vulcan Capital, see "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Unitholder Matters." We
123
received $30.81 per Class C common unit, an amount which represented 94% of the average closing price of our common units for the twenty trading days immediately ending and including March 26, 2004. Net proceeds from the private placement, including the general partner's proportionate capital contribution and expenses associated with the sale, were approximately $101.0 million. We used the net proceeds from the offering to repay indebtedness under our revolving credit facility incurred in connection with the Link acquisition.
Other
An affiliate of KAFU Holdings, L.P., an owner of our general partner interest, participated in our December 2003 and July 2004 equity offerings. In the aggregate for both offerings, it earned approximately $672,000 in commissions for its participation.
124
We issued the outstanding Notes, and will issue the new Notes, under an indenture (the "Base Indenture") dated September 25, 2002, among us, the subsidiary guarantors and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as trustee, and two supplemental indentures thereto (each applicable to one of the series of the Notes) dated as of August 12, 2004 (each such supplemental indenture, together with the Base Indenture, the "Indenture"). We refer to both the new Notes and the outstanding Notes in this description as the "Notes."
The Notes constitute two new series of debt securities under the Indenture. The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We urge you to read the Indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of Notes. A copy of the Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Capitalized terms that are used in this prospectus have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture, and we have included some of those definitions at the end of this section. See "Definitions."
We have summarized some of the material provisions of the Notes and the Indenture below. The following description of the Notes is not complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indenture.
General Description of the Notes and the Guarantees
The Notes of each series are:
Initially our obligations under the Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed by all of the existing subsidiaries of Plains All American Pipeline other than PAA Finance Corp., and those considered minor, which we sometimes refer to collectively as the "non-guarantor subsidiaries." Each guarantee by a subsidiary guarantor of the Notes is:
As of September 30, 2004, the Notes and the guarantees would have been effectively subordinated to $59.5 million of short-term secured indebtedness. See "Risk FactorsRisks Related to the Exchange
125
Offers and the NotesYour right to receive payments on the Notes and the guarantees is unsecured and will be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness as well as to any existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the Notes."
The Indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder and provides that debt securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in one or more additional series. Except to the extent described below, the Indenture does not limit our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness.
We may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the Notes, create and issue additional notes ranking equally and ratably with the Notes in all respects (except for the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional notes), so that such additional notes form a single series with either series of the Notes and have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as that series of Notes. If we issue such additional notes of either series prior to the completion of the exchange offers, the period of the resale restrictions applicable to any Notes of that series previously offered and sold in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act will be automatically extended to the last day of the period of any resale restrictions imposed on any such additional notes.
Principal, Maturity and Interest
We have issued the outstanding Notes of each series in an initial aggregate principal amount of $175 million, and the new Notes of each series, together with any outstanding Notes of the same series that are not exchanged for new Notes, will aggregate $175 million in principal amount. The 2009 Notes will mature on August 15, 2009, and the 2016 Notes will mature on August 15, 2016. The 2009 Notes and the 2016 Notes bear interest at the annual rate of 4.750% and 5.875%, respectively. Additional interest may also accrue on the Notes of either series in the circumstances described under "Exchange Offers." All references to "interest" in this description of Notes include any such additional interest. Interest on the Notes accrues from August 12, 2004 and is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing February 15, 2005. We will make each interest payment to the holders of record at the close of business on the February 1 and August 1 preceding such interest payment dates. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. We will issue the Notes in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $2,000.
No Liability of General Partner
Plains All American Pipeline's general partner and its directors, officers, employees and partners (in their capacities as such) will not have any liability for our obligations under the Notes. In addition, the Managing General Partner, and its directors, officers, employees and members, will not have any liability for our obligations under the Notes. By accepting the Notes, each holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes. This waiver may not be effective, however, to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
Initially, our payment obligations under the Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed by all existing Subsidiaries of Plains All American Pipeline other than the non-guarantor subsidiaries. The obligations of each subsidiary guarantor under its guarantee are limited to the maximum amount that will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the subsidiary guarantor and to any
126
collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other subsidiary guarantor in respect of the obligations of the other subsidiary guarantor under its guarantee, result in the obligations of the subsidiary guarantor under the guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law.
Provided that no default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under the Indenture, a subsidiary guarantor will be unconditionally released and discharged from its guarantee:
If at any time after the issuance of the Notes, including following any release of a subsidiary guarantor from its guarantee under the Indenture, a Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline (including any future Subsidiary) guarantees any of our debt or any debt of Plains All American Pipeline's other Subsidiaries, we will cause such Subsidiary to guarantee the Notes in accordance with the Indenture by simultaneously executing and delivering a supplemental indenture.
The 2009 Notes and the 2016 Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option at any time and from time to time prior to maturity at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, and (b) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed (not including any portion of those payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming 360-day years, each consisting of twelve 30-day months), at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 20 basis points, in the case of the 2009 Notes, and 25 basis points, in the case of the 2016 Notes plus, in each case, accrued interest to the date of redemption.
"Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any date of redemption, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the date of redemption.
"Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of those Notes.
"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any date of redemption (a) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the date of redemption, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the trustee obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.
"Quotation Agent" means Banc of America Securities LLC or another Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by us.
127
"Reference Treasury Dealer" means (a) Banc of America Securities LLC and its successors; provided, however, that if the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), we shall substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer; and (b) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by us.
"Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any date of redemption, the average, as determined by the trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the trustee by that Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding that date of redemption.
Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
On or before a redemption date, we will deposit with a paying agent (or with the trustee) sufficient money to pay the redemption price and accrued interest on the Notes to be redeemed.
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select Notes (or any portion of Notes in integral multiples of $2,000) for redemption as follows:
However, no Note with a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. Notice of redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note will state the portion of the principal amount of that Note to be redeemed.
Each of the following constitutes an "Event of Default" with respect to a series of Notes:
128
been so accelerated, aggregates $25 million or more; provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such debt is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;
An Event of Default for a particular series of Notes will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for the other series of Notes or for any other series of debt securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving us, but not any subsidiary guarantor, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to a series of Notes, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of that series may declare all the Notes of that series to be due and payable immediately.
We will not merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Person or sell, convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any Person, whether in a single transaction or series of related transactions, except in accordance with the provisions of the partnership agreement of Plains All American Pipeline, and unless:
129
Thereafter, the surviving Person will be substituted for us under the Indenture. If we sell or otherwise dispose of (except by lease) all or substantially all of our assets and the above stated requirements are satisfied, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the Indenture. If we lease all or substantially all of our assets, we will not be so released from our obligations under the Indenture.
Generally, we, the subsidiary guarantors and the trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, the guarantees and the Notes with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of the affected series. However, without the consent of each holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a nonconsenting holder):
130
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any holder of Notes, we, the subsidiary guarantors and the trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes:
Limitations on Liens
We will not, nor will we permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any lien upon any Principal Property or upon any Capital Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned or leased or hereafter acquired, to secure any of our debt or any debt of any other Person (other than debt securities issued under the Indenture), without in any such case making effective provision whereby all of the Notes shall be secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such debt so long as such debt shall be so secured. The following are excluded from this restriction:
131
Notwithstanding the preceding, we may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist any lien upon any Principal Property or Capital Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary to secure our debt or debt of any Person (other than debt securities issued under the Indenture), that is not excepted above without securing the Notes, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all debt then outstanding secured by such lien and all other liens not excepted above, together with all Attributable Indebtedness from Sale-leaseback Transactions, excluding Sale-leaseback Transactions permitted under "Limitations on Sale-Leasebacks," does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
Limitations on Sale-Leasebacks
We will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in a Sale-leaseback Transaction, unless:
132
Property used or to be used in the ordinary course of the business of Plains All American Pipeline or that of its Subsidiaries.
Notwithstanding the preceding, we may, and may permit any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline to, effect any Sale-leaseback Transaction that is not excepted above, provided that the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-leaseback Transaction, together with the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding debt (other than debt securities issued under the Indenture) secured by liens upon Principal Properties not excepted in "Limitations on Liens," do not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
Regardless of whether Plains All American Pipeline is required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will electronically file with the SEC, so long as either series of Notes is outstanding, the annual, quarterly and other periodic reports that it is required to file (or would otherwise be required to file) with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and such documents will be filed with the SEC on or prior to the respective dates (the "Required Filing Dates") by which it is required to file (or would otherwise be required to file) such documents, unless, in each case, such filings are not then permitted by the SEC.
If such filings are not then permitted by the SEC, or such filings are not generally available on the Internet free of charge, we will provide the trustee with, and the trustee will mail to any holder of Notes requesting in writing to the trustee copies of, such annual, quarterly and other periodic reports specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act within 15 days after its Required Filing Date.
In addition, we will furnish to the holders of Notes and to prospective investors, upon the requests of holders of Notes, any information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, so long as the Notes are not freely transferable under the Securities Act.
We may choose to either discharge our obligations under the Notes of either series in a legal defeasance, or to release ourselves from our covenant restrictions applicable to the Notes of either series in a covenant defeasance. We may do so at any time (provided certain other conditions contained in the Indenture are met) after we deposit with the trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, interest, premium, if any, and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or redemption date of the Notes of the relevant series.
If we choose the legal defeasance option, the holders of Notes of the relevant series will not be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of Notes, replacement of lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Notes, receipt of principal and interest on the original stated due dates and other specified provisions in the Indenture.
We may discharge our obligations under the Indenture or release ourselves from covenant restrictions only if, in addition to making the deposit with the trustee, we meet some specific requirements. Among other things:
133
Wachovia Bank, National Association, acts as indenture trustee, security registrar and paying agent with respect to the Notes. The trustee makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in this prospectus, except for such information that specifically pertains to the trustee.
The Indenture and the Notes are governed by and will be construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.
"Attributable Indebtedness," when used with respect to any Sale-leaseback Transaction, means, as at the time of determination, the present value, discounted at the rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in such transaction, of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments, other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items that do not constitute payments for property rights during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale-leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty or other termination payment, such amount shall be the lesser of the amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated, in which case the amount shall also include the amount of the penalty or termination payment, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated, or the amount determined assuming no such termination.
"Board of Directors" means (a) with respect to Plains All American Pipeline, the board of directors of the Managing General Partner, and (b) with respect to PAA Finance Corp., its board of directors or, in each case, with respect to any determination or resolution permitted to be made under the Indenture, any authorized committee or subcommittee of such board.
"Capital Interests" means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, including, without limitation, with respect to partnerships, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, such Person.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, at any date of determination, the total amount of assets after deducting therefrom:
134
all as set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of Plains All American Pipeline for its most recently completed fiscal quarter, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Funded Debt" means all debt maturing one year or more from the date of the creation thereof, all debt directly or indirectly renewable or extendible, at the option of the debtor, by its terms or by the terms of any instrument or agreement relating thereto, to a date one year or more from the date of the creation thereof, and all debt under a revolving credit or similar agreement obligating the lender or lenders to extend credit over a period of one year or more.
"Issue Date" means with respect to the Notes, the date on which the Notes are initially issued.
"Managing General Partner" means Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its successors and permitted assigns, as general partner of Plains AAP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (and its successors and permitted assigns, as general partner of Plains All American Pipeline) or as the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of Plains All American Pipeline.
"Pari Passu Debt" means any of our Funded Debt, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, unless, in the case of any particular Funded Debt, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such Funded Debt shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes.
"Permitted Liens" means:
135
"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, other entity, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
136
"Principal Property" means, whether owned or leased on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired:
"Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline owning or leasing, directly or indirectly through ownership in another Subsidiary, any Principal Property.
"Sale-leaseback Transaction" means the sale or transfer by us or any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline of any Principal Property to a Person (other than us or a Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline) and the taking back by us or any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline, as the case may be, of a lease of such Principal Property.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person:
137
The following discussion is a summary of certain federal income tax considerations relevant to the exchange of outstanding Notes for new Notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury Regulations, Internal Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and judicial decisions now in effect, all of which may be subject to change at any time by legislative, judicial or administrative action. These changes may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of new Notes. The description does not consider the effect of any applicable foreign, state, local or other tax laws or estate or gift tax considerations.
We believe that the exchange of outstanding Notes for new Notes should not be an exchange or otherwise a taxable event to a holder for United States federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a holder should have the same adjusted issue price, adjusted basis and holding period in the new Notes as it had in the outstanding Notes immediately before the exchange.
Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC in no action letters issued to third parties, we believe that you may transfer new Notes issued under either exchange offer in exchange for the outstanding Notes if:
You may not participate in either exchange offer if you are:
Each broker-dealer that receives new Notes for its own account pursuant to either exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new Notes. To date, the staff of the SEC has taken the position that broker-dealers may fulfill their prospectus delivery requirements with respect to transactions involving an exchange of securities such as these exchange offers, other than a resale of an unsold allotment from the original sale of the outstanding Notes, with the prospectus contained in this registration statement. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new Notes received in exchange for outstanding Notes where such outstanding Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of up to one year after the consummation of the exchange offers, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, promptly available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale.
If you wish to exchange your outstanding Notes for new Notes in the applicable exchange offer, you will be required to make representations to us as described in "Exchange OffersPurpose and Effect of the Exchange Offers" and "Procedures for TenderingYour Representations to Us" in this prospectus and in the applicable letter of transmittal. In addition, if you are a broker-dealer who receives new Notes for your own account in exchange for outstanding Notes that were acquired by you as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, you will be required to acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale by you of such new Notes.
138
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new Notes by broker-dealers. New Notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the applicable exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions:
Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such new Notes. Any broker-dealer that resells new Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offers and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such new Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit from any such resale of new notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. Each letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of one year after the consummation of each exchange offer, we will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in a letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to each exchange offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the outstanding Notes) other than commissions or concessions of any broker-dealers and will indemnify the holders of the outstanding Notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
The validity of the new Notes will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas.
The consolidated financial statements of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003 and the balance sheet of Plains AAP, L.P. as of December 31, 2003 included in this Prospectus have been so included in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The combined financial statements of the Capline Pipe Line Business, Capwood Pipe Line Business and Patoka Pipe Line Business (the "Businesses") as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 and for the year ended December 31, 2003 and for the periods from February 14, 2002 through December 31, 2002 and January 1, 2002 through February 13, 2002 included in this Prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report (which report contains an explanatory paragraph relating to the Businesses being sold to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. as described in Note 6 to the combined financial statements) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
139
The consolidated financial statements of Link Energy LLC and its subsidiaries (Successor Company) at December 31, 2003 and for the period from March 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003 and of EOTT Energy Partners, L.P. and its subsidiaries (Predecessor Company) at December 31, 2002 and for the period from January 1, 2003 to February 28, 2003 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2002 included in this Prospectus have been so included in reliance on the reports (which contain an explanatory paragraph relating to the Successor Company's and Predecessor Company's ability to continue as a going concern as described in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of fresh start accounting as described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements and an explanatory paragraph relating to the restatement of the financial results as described in Notes 1 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can inspect and/or copy these reports and other information at offices maintained by the SEC, including:
In addition, please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on their public reference room.
Further, our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and you can inspect similar information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, located at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
You can read and copy any of our materials filed with the SEC at our website at http://www.paalp.com or you may request a copy of these filings at no cost by making written or telephone requests for copies to:
Plains
All American Pipeline, L.P.
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Tim Moore
Telephone: (713) 646-4100
We intend to furnish or make available to our unitholders within 75 days following the close of our fiscal year end annual reports containing audited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and furnish or make available within 40 days following the close of each fiscal quarter quarterly reports containing unaudited interim financial information, including the information required by Form 10-Q, for the first three fiscal quarters of each of our fiscal years. Our annual report will include a description of any transactions with the general partner or its affiliates, and of fees, commissions, compensation and other benefits paid, or accrued to the general partner or its affiliates for the fiscal year completed, including the amount paid or accrued to each recipient and the services performed.
You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus. The information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. You should not assume that the information provided in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the cover of this prospectus.
140
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this prospectus are forward looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements identified by the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "intend" and "forecast," and similar expressions and statements regarding our business strategy, plans and objectives for future operations. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, based on what we believe are reasonable assumptions. Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from results anticipated in the forward looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:
Other factors described herein, or factors that are unknown or unpredictable, could also have a material adverse effect on future results. Please read "Risk Factors" beginning on page 6 of this prospectus. Except as required by securities laws, we do not intend to update these forward looking statements and information.
141
F-1
F-2
CAPLINE PIPE LINE BUSINESS, CAPWOOD PIPE LINE BUSINESS AND PATOKA PIPE LINE BUSINESS |
||
COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: | ||
Report of Independent Auditors | ||
Combined Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2003 and 2002 | ||
Combined Statements of Income and Owner's Net Investment for the year ended December 31, 2003 and for the periods from January 1, 2002 to February 13, 2002 and February 14, 2002 to December 31, 2002 | ||
Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2003 and for the periods from January 1, 2002 to February 13, 2002 and February 14, 2002 to December 31, 2002 | ||
Notes to Combined Financial Statements | ||
PLAINS AAP, L.P. |
||
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENT: | ||
Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2004 | ||
Notes to the Financial Statement | ||
PLAINS AAP, L.P. |
||
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: | ||
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | ||
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2003 | ||
Notes to the Financial Statement |
F-3
PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. ("PAA") is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership engaged in interstate and intrastate crude oil transportation, and crude oil gathering, marketing, terminalling and storage, as well as the marketing and storage of liquefied petroleum gas and other petroleum products. The following unaudited pro forma financial statements are presented to give effect to the transactions described below:
The acquisition of the North American crude oil and pipeline operations of Link Energy LLC, ("Link Energy" and the "Link acquisition"). The acquisition price of approximately $332 million includes the assumption of liabilities and net working capital items and transaction and other acquisition costs. The acquisition closed and was effective on April 1, 2004 and has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.
The acquisition of Shell Pipeline Company LP's ("SPLC") interest in certain entities. The principal assets of the entities include interests in the Capline Pipe Line System, the Capwood Pipe Line System and the Patoka Pipe Line System (referred to in this report as "the SPLC acquisition"). The purchase price, including transaction and closing costs, was approximately $158.5 million. The acquisition closed and was effective on March 1, 2004. The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.
The transactions described above are included in PAA's historical unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2004. Accordingly, a pro forma balance sheet is not presented. The unaudited pro forma statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and the year ended December 31, 2003 are based upon the following:
The unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results of the actual or future operations that would have been achieved had the transactions occurred at the dates assumed (as noted below). The unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations should be read in conjunction with: i) the notes thereto; ii) the historical unaudited financial statements of PAA for the nine months ended September 30, 2004; iii) the historical unaudited financial statements of Link Energy for the three months ended March 31, 2004; and iv) the audited financial statements of PAA for the year ended December 31, 2003, as well as those for Link Energy and the businesses acquired in the SPLC acquisition, for the same period.
The following unaudited pro forma combined statements of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and the year ended December 31, 2003 have been prepared as if the transactions described above had taken place at the beginning of the period presented.
F-4
PLAINS ALL AMERICAN PIPELINE, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004
(in thousands, except per unit data)
|
Plains All American Historical |
Link Energy Historical |
SPLC Acquisition Historical |
Pro Forma Acquisition Adjustments |
Plains All American Pro Forma |
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
REVENUES | $ | 14,803,384 | $ | 40,682 | $ | 7,416 | $ | (465 | )(a) | $ | 14,851,017 | ||||||
COSTS AND EXPENSES |
|||||||||||||||||
Purchases and related costs | 14,400,426 | 8,081 | | (465 | )(a) | 14,408,042 | |||||||||||
Field operating costs (excluding LTIP charge) |
158,053 |
20,725 |
2,023 |
|
180,801 |
||||||||||||
LTIP chargeoperations | 567 | | | | 567 | ||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses (excluding LTIP charge) | 54,565 | 18,514 | | | 73,079 | ||||||||||||
LTIP charge general and administrative | 3,661 | | | | 3,661 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 45,887 | 5,060 | 874 | (5,934 2,571 |
)(b) (c) |
48,458 | |||||||||||
Total costs and expenses | 14,663,159 | 52,380 | 2,897 | (3,828 | ) | 14,714,608 | |||||||||||
Other, net | | (20 | ) |