Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 1-16417

 


NUSTAR ENERGY L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   74-2956831

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

2330 Loop 1604 West

San Antonio, Texas

(Address of principal executive offices)

78248

(Zip Code)

Telephone number: (210) 918-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Valero L.P.

One Valero Way

San Antonio, Texas 78249

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


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

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

Large accelerated filer  x    Accelerated filer  ¨    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

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

The number of common units outstanding as of May 1, 2007 was 46,809,749.

 



Table of Contents

NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10-Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.         Financial Statements:

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006

   3

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006

   4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006

   5

Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   6

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

   21

Item 3.         Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   31

Item 4.         Controls and Procedures

   32

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1A.     Risk Factors

   33

Item 6.         Exhibits

   33

SIGNATURES

   34

 

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Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit Data)

 

     March 31,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 63,841     $ 68,838  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $844 and $1,220 as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively

     96,787       105,976  

Inventories

     7,436       16,979  

Other current assets

     37,368       21,205  
                

Total current assets

     205,432       212,998  
                

Property and equipment, at cost

     2,725,056       2,694,358  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (373,989 )     (349,223 )
                

Property and equipment, net

     2,351,067       2,345,135  

Intangible assets, net

     53,244       53,532  

Goodwill

     788,339       774,441  

Investment in joint ventures

     75,688       74,077  

Deferred tax asset

     11,081       11,342  

Deferred charges and other assets, net

     22,283       22,683  
                

Total assets

   $ 3,507,134     $ 3,494,208  
                

Liabilities and Partners’ Equity

    
    

Current liabilities:

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 614     $ 647  

Payable to related party

     6,074       2,315  

Notes payable

     4,895       —    

Accounts payable

     83,474       86,307  

Accrued interest payable

     10,646       17,528  

Accrued liabilities

     38,058       37,651  

Taxes other than income taxes

     10,106       10,219  

Income taxes payable

     907       2,068  
                

Total current liabilities

     154,774       156,735  
                

Long-term debt, less current portion

     1,386,439       1,353,720  

Long-term payable to related party

     5,743       5,749  

Deferred tax liability

     33,880       32,926  

Other long-term liabilities

     66,179       69,397  

Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)

    

Partners’ equity:

    

Limited partners (46,809,749 common units outstanding as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006)

     1,813,885       1,830,047  

General partner

     38,405       38,815  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     7,829       6,819  
                

Total partners’ equity

     1,860,119       1,875,681  
                

Total liabilities and partners’ equity

   $ 3,507,134     $ 3,494,208  
                

See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit and Per Unit Data)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2007     2006  

Revenues:

    

Services revenues:

    

Third parties

   $ 157,282     $ 87,258  

Related party

     —         60,671  
                

Total services revenues

     157,282       147,929  

Product sales

     139,542       126,075  
                

Total revenues

     296,824       274,004  
                

Costs and expenses:

    

Cost of product sales

     127,927       114,218  

Operating expenses:

    

Third parties

     59,879       50,613  

Related party

     21,333       20,457  
                

Total operating expenses

     81,212       71,070  

General and administrative expenses:

    

Third parties

     5,102       2,860  

Related party

     9,806       5,700  
                

Total general and administrative expenses

     14,908       8,560  

Depreciation and amortization expense

     27,342       24,189  
                

Total costs and expenses

     251,389       218,037  
                

Operating income

     45,435       55,967  

Equity earnings from joint ventures

     1,611       1,206  

Interest expense, net

     (18,854 )     (15,696 )

Other income, net

     6,623       231  
                

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

     34,815       41,708  

Income tax expense

     3,692       2,119  
                

Income from continuing operations

     31,123       39,589  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax

     —         (138 )
                

Net income

     31,123       39,451  

Less net income applicable general partner

     (4,454 )     (4,199 )
                

Net income applicable to limited partners

   $ 26,669     $ 35,252  
                

Weighted average number of basic units outstanding

     46,809,749       46,809,749  
                

Income per unit applicable to limited partners:

    

Continuing operations

   $ 0.57     $ 0.75  

Discontinued operations

     —         —    
                

Net income

   $ 0.57     $ 0.75  
                

Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners

   $ 0.915     $ 0.885  
                

See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2007     2006  

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

    

Net income

   $ 31,123     $ 39,451  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     27,342       24,189  

Equity earnings from joint ventures

     (1,611 )     (1,293 )

Distributions from joint ventures

     —         1,278  

Changes in current assets and current liabilities

     5,288       (4,576 )

Other, net

     (4,168 )     (1,997 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     57,974       57,052  
                

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

    

Reliability capital expenditures

     (4,620 )     (6,164 )

Strategic and other capital expenditures

     (42,255 )     (9,428 )

Acquisition

     —         (12,827 )

Investment in other noncurrent assets

     (34 )     (1,512 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     586       68,628  

Distributions in excess of equity earnings from joint ventures

     —         246  

Other

     38       992  
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (46,285 )     39,935  
                

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

    

Long-term debt borrowings

     121,247       34,000  

Long-term debt repayments

     (88,567 )     (11,480 )

Repayments of notes payable

     (2,458 )     —    

Increase (decrease) in cash book overdrafts

     345       (4,273 )

Distributions to unitholders and general partner

     (47,695 )     (43,950 )

Other

     12       —    
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (17,116 )     (25,703 )
                

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

     430       (1,905 )
                

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (4,997 )     69,379  

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

     68,838       36,054  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

   $ 63,841     $ 105,433  
                

See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. ORGANIZATION, OPERATIONS AND ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Organization

NuStar Energy L.P., formerly Valero L.P., is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership engaged in the crude oil and refined product transportation, terminalling and storage business in the United States, the Netherland Antilles, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

As used in this report, references to “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Partnership” collectively refer, depending on the context, to NuStar Energy L.P. or a wholly owned subsidiary of NuStar Energy L.P.

These unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership and subsidiaries in which the Partnership has a controlling interest. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Investments in 50% or less owned entities are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.

These unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. Financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 included in these Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2007.

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date. You should read these consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

NuStar GP Holdings, LLC, formerly Valero GP Holdings, LLC (NuStar GP Holdings), a publicly held Delaware limited liability company, owns our general partner, which is represented by a 2% general partner interest. NuStar GP Holdings, through various affiliates, also owns a 21.4% limited partner interest, resulting in a combined partnership ownership of 23.4%. The remaining 76.6% limited partnership interests are held by public unitholders.

Operations

Our operations are managed by NuStar GP, LLC, formerly Valero GP, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NuStar GP Holdings.

We conduct our operations through our subsidiaries, primarily NuStar Logistics, L.P., formerly Valero Logistics Operations, L.P. (NuStar Logistics), and Kaneb Pipe Line Operating Partnership, L.P. (KPOP). We have four business segments: refined product terminals, refined product pipelines, crude oil pipelines and crude oil storage tanks.

New Accounting Pronouncements

FASB Statement 159

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” Statement No. 159 creates a fair value option under which an entity may irrevocably elect fair value as the initial and subsequent measurement attribute for certain financial assets and financial liabilities on an instrument-by-instrument basis, with changes in fair value recognized in earnings as those changes occur. The adoption of Statement No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the effect of Statement No. 159.

FASB Interpretation No. 48

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertain income tax positions recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” by defining a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. An enterprise recognizes a tax position if

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

it is more-likely-than-not that the tax position will be sustained, based on the technical merits of the position, upon examination. An uncertain tax position is measured in the financial statements at the largest amount of benefit that is more-likely-than-not to be realized. We adopted FIN 48 effective January 1, 2007, which did not affect our financial position or results of operations. We had no unrecognized tax benefits as of March 31, 2007.

NuStar Energy L.P. or certain of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and foreign jurisdictions. For U.S. federal and state purposes, tax years subject to examination are three to four years and for our major non-U.S. jurisdictions, tax years subject to examination are typically three to six years.

EITF Issue No. 06-3

In June 2006, the FASB ratified its consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-3, “How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement” (EITF No. 06-3). EITF No. 06-3 includes any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer and may include sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes. These taxes should be presented on either a gross or a net basis, and if reported on a gross basis, a company should disclose amounts of those taxes in interim and annual financial statements for each period for which an income statement is presented. We adopted EITF No. 06-3 effective January 1, 2007, which did not significantly affect our financial position or results of operations.

Reclassifications

Certain previously reported amounts in the 2006 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2007 presentation.

2. ACQUISITIONS

St. James Crude Oil Storage Facility

On December 1, 2006, we acquired a crude oil storage and blending facility in St. James, Louisiana from Koch Supply and Trading, L.P. for approximately $141.9 million. The facility includes 17 crude oil tanks with a total capacity of approximately 3.3 million barrels. Additionally, the facility has three docks with barge and ship access. The facility is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River approximately 60 miles west of New Orleans. We funded the acquisition with borrowings under our revolving credit agreement. The results of operations are included in the refined product terminal segment.

The acquisition of the St. James crude facility was accounted for using the purchase method. The purchase price and preliminary purchase price allocation were as follows (in thousands):

 

Cash paid for St. James Terminal

   $ 140,900

Transaction costs

     759

Fair value of liabilities assumed

     271
      

Total

   $ 141,930
      
  

Current assets

   $ 53

Property and equipment

     126,529

Goodwill

     13,898

Intangible assets

     1,450
      

Total

   $ 141,930
      

Pro forma financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 that give effect to the St. James acquisition as of January 1, 2007 and 2006 is not presented as the effect is not significant.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

3. PRODUCT IMBALANCES

Product imbalances occur when customers deliver more or less refined product volumes into our pipelines than they are entitled to receive. We value assets and liabilities related to product imbalances at current market prices. Included in other current assets on the consolidated balance sheets are $19.0 million and $9.9 million of product imbalance assets as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. Included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets are $17.5 million and $7.8 million of product imbalance liabilities as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

4. LONG-TERM DEBT

Revolving Credit Agreement

During the three months ended March 31, 2007, we borrowed $121.2 million under our $600 Million Revolving Credit Agreement (Revolving Credit Agreement) to fund a portion of our capital expenditures. Additionally, we repaid $68.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2007. The Revolving Credit Agreement bears interest based on either an alternative base rate or LIBOR, which was 5.9% as of March 31, 2007. As of March 31, 2007, we had $354.9 million available for borrowing under our Revolving Credit Agreement.

Senior Notes

The NuStar Logistics senior notes include a change-in-control provision, which requires (1) that Valero Energy Corporation (Valero Energy) or an investment grade entity own, directly or indirectly, 51% of our general partner interests and (2) that we (or an investment grade entity) own, directly or indirectly, all of the general partner and limited partner interests in NuStar Logistics.

Due to Valero Energy’s sale of its remaining interests in NuStar GP Holdings on December 22, 2006, the change-in-control provision was triggered, and NuStar Logistics offered to purchase the senior notes at a price equal to 100% of their outstanding principal balance plus accrued interest through the date of purchase. This offer expired on January 23, 2007, with approximately $20.1 million of the 6.05% senior notes tendered to us for repurchase. We retired the senior notes that were tendered with borrowings under our Revolving Credit Agreement on February 1, 2007. The effect of the retirement of those senior notes was not significant to our financial position or results of operations.

Interest Rate Swaps

As of March 31, 2007, the weighted-average interest rate for our interest rate swaps was 6.9%. As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the aggregate estimated fair value of the interest rate swaps included in other long-term liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets was $4.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively.

5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Litigation and Environmental Matters

We have contingent liabilities resulting from various litigation, claims and commitments, the most significant of which are discussed below. We record accruals for loss contingencies when losses are considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Legal fees associated with defending the Partnership in legal matters are expensed as incurred. As of March 31, 2007, we have recorded $2.5 million of accruals related to settled matters and $48.6 million of accruals for contingent losses. The actual payment of any amounts accrued and the timing of such payments ultimately made is uncertain. We believe that should we be unable to successfully defend ourselves in any of these matters, the ultimate payment of any or all of the amounts reserved would not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or liquidity. However, if any actual losses ultimately exceed the amounts accrued, there could be a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Grace Energy Corporation Matter. In 1997, Grace Energy Corporation (Grace Energy) sued subsidiaries of Kaneb Pipe Line Partners, L.P. (KPP) and Kaneb Services, LLC (KSL and, collectively with KPP and their respective subsidiaries, Kaneb) in Texas state court. The complaint sought recovery of the cost of remediation of fuel leaks in the 1970s from a pipeline that had once connected a former Grace Energy terminal with Otis Air Force Base in Massachusetts (Otis AFB). Grace Energy alleges the Otis AFB pipeline and related environmental liabilities had been transferred in 1978 to an entity that was part of Kaneb’s acquisition of Support Terminal Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries from Grace Energy in 1993. Kaneb contends that it did not acquire the Otis AFB pipeline and never assumed any responsibility for any associated environmental damage.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

In 2000, the court entered final judgment that: (i) Grace Energy could not recover its own remediation costs of $3.5 million, (ii) Kaneb owned the Otis AFB pipeline and its related environmental liabilities and (iii) Grace Energy was awarded $1.8 million in attorney costs. Both Kaneb and Grace Energy appealed the trial court’s final judgment to the Texas Court of Appeals in Dallas. In 2001, Grace Energy filed a petition in bankruptcy, which created an automatic stay of actions against Grace Energy. Once that stay is lifted, we intend to resume vigorous prosecution of the appeal.

The Otis AFB is a part of a Superfund Site pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). The site contains a number of groundwater contamination plumes, two of which are allegedly associated with the Otis AFB pipeline. Relying on the Texas state court’s final judgment assigning ownership of the Otis AFB pipeline to Kaneb, the U.S. Department of Justice advised Kaneb in 2001 that it intends to seek reimbursement from Kaneb for the remediation costs associated with the two spill areas. In 2002, the Department of Justice asserted that it had incurred over $49.0 million in costs and expected to incur additional costs of approximately $19.0 million for remediation of the two spill areas. The Department of Justice has not filed a lawsuit against us related to this matter, and we have not made any payments toward costs incurred by the Department of Justice.

Port of Vancouver Matter. We own a chemical and refined products terminal on property owned by the Port of Vancouver, and we lease the land under the terminal from the Port of Vancouver. Under an Agreed Order entered into with the Washington Department of Ecology when Kaneb purchased the terminal in 1998, Kaneb agreed to investigate and remediate groundwater contamination by the previous owner and operator of the terminal originating from the terminal. Investigation and remediation at the terminal are ongoing, in compliance with the Agreed Order. In April 2006, the Washington Department of Ecology commented on our site investigation work plan and asserted that the groundwater contamination at the terminal was commingled with a groundwater contamination plume under other property owned by the Port of Vancouver. We dispute this assertion. No lawsuits have been filed against us in this matter, and we have not made any payments toward remediation of the allegedly commingled plume. Factors that could affect estimated remediation costs include whether Kaneb will be found to have ultimate responsibility for some portion of the allegedly commingled plume, the Port of Vancouver’s contribution to the remediation effort and the amount the Port of Vancouver actually receives from other potentially responsible parties.

EPA Investigation. On November 14, 2006, agents of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the EPA) presented a search warrant issued by a U.S. District Court at one of our terminals. Since then, the U.S. District Court has also served us with four subpoenas. The search warrant and subpoenas all seek information regarding allegations of potential illegal conduct by us, certain of our subsidiaries and/or our employees concerning compliance with certain environmental and safety laws and regulations.

We are cooperating fully with the EPA in producing documents in response to the subpoenas. We have no information as to when the EPA will conclude their investigation, and we are also conducting an internal investigation of any possible noncompliance. At this time, the EPA has not suggested any fines or penalties.

There can be no assurances that the conclusion of the EPA’s investigation will not result in a determination that we violated applicable laws. If we are found to have violated such laws, we could be subject to fines, civil penalties and criminal penalties. A final determination that we violated applicable laws could, among other things, result in our debarment from future federal government contracts.

Because of the preliminary nature of the investigation, we are not able to estimate a loss or range of loss, if any. However, if any of the consequences described above ultimately occur, it is reasonably possible that the effects could be material to our results of operations in the period we would be required to record a liability, and could be material to our cash flows in the periods we would be required to pay such liability.

Other

We are also a party to additional claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We believe the possibility is remote that the final outcome of any of these claims or proceedings to which we are a party would

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity; however, due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim or proceeding would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

Commitments

In the first quarter of 2007, we entered into a three-year agreement to purchase a minimum amount of inventory for resale to our customers. We estimated the value of this commitment to be approximately $203.0 million, which will fluctuate with market prices.

The building lease for our new headquarters became effective the first quarter of 2007. We have a commitment of approximately $13.5 million over almost 11 years.

6. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Prior to December 22, 2006, we reported transactions with Valero Energy as related party transactions. These transactions included pipeline tariff, terminalling fee and crude oil storage tank fee revenues, certain employee costs, insurance costs, administrative costs, and lease expense. Under the terms of various services agreements with Valero Energy, we reimbursed Valero Energy for payroll costs of employees working on our behalf. Additionally, Valero Energy charged us an administrative service fee. Due to Valero Energy’s sale of its interest in Valero GP Holdings on December 22, 2006, we ceased reporting these transactions with Valero Energy as related party transactions.

Since we do not have any employees, we rely upon employees of NuStar GP, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NuStar GP Holdings. We reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for all employee-related costs. The amount of employee benefit plan expenses we incurred was $12.5 million and $7.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, including compensation expense related to restricted common units and unit options. These employee benefit plan expenses and the related payroll costs are included in operating expenses and general and administrative expenses. As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, we had a payable to NuStar GP Holdings of $6.1 million and $2.3 million, respectively, with both amounts representing payroll and related benefit plan costs for employees. We also had a long-term payable as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 of $5.7 million to NuStar GP Holdings related to amounts payable for retiree medical benefits and other post-employment benefits.

For the three months ended March 31, 2006, we have presented transactions with Valero Energy for pipeline tariff, terminalling fee and crude oil storage tank fee revenues in the consolidated statement of income as related party transactions.

The following table summarizes information pertaining to related party transactions with NuStar GP, LLC for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and with Valero Energy for the three months ended March 31, 2006:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2007    2006
     (Thousands of Dollars)

Revenues

   $ —      $ 60,671

Operating expenses

     21,333      20,457

General and administrative expenses

     9,806      5,700

Services Agreement

Prior to our separation from Valero Energy, the employees of NuStar GP, LLC were provided to us under the terms of various services agreements between us and Valero Energy. The terms of these services agreements generally provided that the costs of employees who performed services directly on our behalf, including salaries, wages and employee benefits, were charged directly to us. In addition, Valero Energy charged us an administrative services fee, which was $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006.

Although Valero Energy no longer provides employees that work directly on our behalf, Valero Energy continues to provide certain services to us under the terms of a services agreement dated December 22, 2006 (the 2007 Services Agreement). Beginning January 1, 2007, under the 2007 Services Agreement, we pay Valero Energy approximately $97,000 per month for administrative services (primarily information system services and human resource services) and approximately $93,000 per month for telecommunication services.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

On April 16, 2007, Valero Energy exercised its option to terminate the 2007 Services Agreement. As a result, Valero Energy will cease providing services according to the terms of the 2007 Services Agreement. Generally, these services will discontinue over a period of time sufficient to allow us to assume those functions. Additionally, since Valero Energy elected to terminate the 2007 Services Agreement prior to December 31, 2010, they are required to pay us a termination fee of $13.0 million, which we expect to receive in the second quarter of 2007.

Non-Compete Agreement

On July 19, 2006, we entered into a non-compete agreement with NuStar GP Holdings, Riverwalk Logistics, L.P., and NuStar GP, LLC (the Non-Compete Agreement). The Non-Compete Agreement became effective when Valero Energy completed its sale of its remaining interest in NuStar GP Holdings on December 22, 2006. Under the Non-Compete Agreement, we will have a right of first refusal with respect to the potential acquisition of assets that relate to the transportation, storage or terminalling of crude oil, feedstocks or refined petroleum products (including petrochemicals) in the United States and internationally. NuStar GP Holdings will have a right of first refusal with respect to the potential acquisition of general partner and other equity interests in publicly traded partnerships under common ownership with the general partner interest. With respect to any other business opportunities, neither the Partnership nor NuStar GP Holdings are prohibited from engaging in any business, even if the Partnership and NuStar GP Holdings would have a conflict of interest with respect to such other business opportunity. The Non-Compete agreement remains in effect for so long as NuStar GP Holdings or any of its affiliates own 20% or more of NuStar GP, LLC or Riverwalk Logistics, L.P.

Administration Agreement

On July 19, 2006, in connection with NuStar GP Holdings’ initial public offering, NuStar GP, LLC entered into an administration agreement with NuStar GP Holdings (the Administration Agreement). The Administration Agreement provides, among other things, that NuStar GP, LLC will provide employee services to NuStar GP Holdings. NuStar GP, LLC will provide all executive management, accounting, legal, cash management, corporate finance and other administrative services to NuStar GP Holdings. Under the Administration Agreement, NuStar GP Holdings will pay NuStar GP, LLC $0.5 million annually. This fee will be increased annually to reflect NuStar GP, LLC’s annual merit increases. NuStar GP Holdings will also reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for all direct public company costs and any other direct costs, such as outside legal and accounting fees, that NuStar GP, LLC incurs while providing services to NuStar GP Holdings pursuant to the Administration Agreement. The Administration Agreement will terminate on December 31, 2011, with automatic two-year renewals unless terminated by either party on six months’ written notice. NuStar GP Holdings may cancel or reduce the services provided by NuStar GP, LLC under the Administration Agreement on 60 days’ written notice. The Administration Agreement will terminate upon a change of control of either NuStar GP Holdings or NuStar GP, LLC.

7. PARTNERS’ EQUITY

Allocation of Income and Income Per Unit

Our partnership agreement, as amended, sets forth the calculation to be used to determine the amount and priority of cash distributions that the common unitholders and general partner will receive. The partnership agreement also contains provisions for the allocation of net income and loss to the unitholders and the general partner. For purposes of maintaining partner capital accounts, the partnership agreement specifies that items of income and loss shall be allocated among the partners in accordance with their respective percentage interests. Normal allocations according to percentage interests are done after giving effect, if any, to priority income allocations in an amount equal to incentive cash distributions allocated 100% to the general partner.

We identified our general partner interest as participating securities and we use the two-class method when calculating “income per unit applicable to limited partners,” which is based on the weighted-average number of common units outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted net income per unit applicable to limited partners is the same because we have no potentially dilutive securities outstanding.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

The following table details the calculation of net income applicable to the general partner:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  
     2007     2006  
     (Thousands of Dollars)  

Net income applicable to general partner and limited partners’ interest

   $ 31,123     $ 39,451  

General partner incentive distribution

     3,910       3,480  
                

Net income after general partner incentive distribution

     27,213       35,971  

General partner interest

     2 %     2 %
                

General partner allocation of net income after general partner incentive distribution

     544       719  

General partner incentive distribution

     3,910       3,480  
                

Net income applicable to general partner

   $ 4,454     $ 4,199  
                

Cash Distributions

On January 25, 2007, we declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.915 per unit paid on February 14, 2007 to unitholders of record on February 7, 2007. This distribution related to the fourth quarter of 2006 totaled $47.7 million. On April 24, 2007, we declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.915 per unit to be paid on May 14, 2007 to unitholders of record on May 7, 2007, which will total $47.7 million.

The following table reflects the allocation of total cash distributions to the general and limited partners applicable to the period in which the distributions were earned:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2007    2006
     (Thousands of Dollars)

General partner interest

   $ 954    $ 916

General partner incentive distribution

     3,910      3,480
             

Total general partner distribution

     4,864      4,396

Limited partners’ distribution

     42,831      41,427
             

Total cash distributions

   $ 47,695    $ 45,823
             

Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners

   $ 0.915    $ 0.885
             

Comprehensive Income

For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, the difference between our net income and our comprehensive income resulted from foreign currency translation adjustments. Our total comprehensive income was as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2007    2006
     (Thousands of Dollars)

Net income

   $ 31,123    $ 39,451

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     1,010      2,201
             

Comprehensive income

   $ 32,133    $ 41,652
             

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

8. STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Changes in current assets and current liabilities are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2007     2006  
     (Thousands of Dollars)  

Decrease (increase) in current assets:

    

Receivable from related party

   $ —       $ 2,093  

Accounts receivable

     11,673       31,738  

Inventories

     9,542       2,870  

Other current assets

     (8,753 )     (3,412 )

Increase (decrease) in current liabilities:

    

Payable to related party

     3,759       (3,577 )

Accrued interest payable

     (6,882 )     (6,679 )

Accounts payable, other accrued liabilities and income taxes payable

     (3,939 )     (27,314 )

Taxes other than income taxes

     (112 )     (295 )
                

Changes in current assets and current liabilities

   $ 5,288     $ (4,576 )
                

Cash flows related to interest and income taxes were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
     2007    2006
     (Thousands of Dollars)

Cash paid for interest

   $ 28,460    $ 25,179
             

Cash paid for income taxes, net of tax refunds received

   $ 3,881    $ 1,839
             

Non-cash investing and financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007 included:

 

   

adjustments to property and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets resulting from adjustments to the purchase price allocations related to the St. James crude oil storage facility acquisition.

 

   

acquisition of other current assets in exchange for a note payable.

Non-cash investing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2006 included adjustments to property and equipment, goodwill and other balance sheet accounts resulting from adjustments to the purchase price allocations related to the Kaneb acquisition.

9. SEGMENT INFORMATION

Our operating segments consist of refined product terminals, refined product pipelines, crude oil pipelines and crude oil storage tanks. These reportable segments are strategic business units that offer different services and performance is evaluated based on operating income, before general and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses are not allocated to the operating segments since those expenses relate primarily to the overall management at the entity level. Our principal services include providing pipeline transportation services, terminalling services, storage lease services and crude oil storage handling services. Our product sales primarily consist of the sale of bunker fuel to marine vessels.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

Results of operations for the reportable segments were as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2007    2006
     (Thousands of Dollars)

Revenues:

     

Refined product terminals

   $ 220,238    $ 196,148

Refined product pipelines

     53,424      52,046

Crude oil pipelines

     12,349      14,049

Crude oil storage tanks

     10,813      11,761
             

Total revenues

   $ 296,824    $ 274,004
             

Operating income:

     

Refined product terminals

   $ 28,130    $ 27,045

Refined product pipelines

     18,340      22,105

Crude oil pipelines

     7,743      9,103

Crude oil storage tanks

     6,130      6,274
             

Total segment operating income

     60,343      64,527

Less general and administrative expenses

     14,908      8,560
             

Total operating income

   $ 45,435    $ 55,967
             

Total assets by reportable segment were as follows:

 

     March 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006
     (Thousands of Dollars)

Refined product terminals

   $ 1,839,444    $ 1,830,584

Refined product pipelines

     1,256,826      1,250,466

Crude oil pipelines

     130,022      132,407

Crude oil storage tanks

     196,668      197,902
             

Total segment assets

     3,422,960      3,411,359

Other partnership assets (including current assets and other noncurrent assets)

     84,174      82,849
             

Total consolidated assets

   $ 3,507,134    $ 3,494,208
             

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

10. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NuStar Energy L.P. has no operations and its assets consist mainly of its investments in NuStar Logistics, KSL and KPP. KPP is the majority owner of KPOP. NuStar Logistics and KPOP own and operate pipelines, terminals and storage tanks and are issuers of publicly traded senior notes. The senior notes issued by NuStar Logistics and KPOP are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by NuStar Energy L.P. In addition, both NuStar Logistics and KPOP fully and unconditionally guaranteed the outstanding senior notes of the other.

As a result, the following condensed consolidating financial statements are presented for 2007 and 2006 as an alternative to providing separate financial statements for NuStar Logistics and KPOP.

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

March 31, 2007

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

    

NuStar
Energy

L.P.

   NuStar
Logistics
   KPOP    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries (a)
   Eliminations     Consolidated

Assets

                

Current assets

   $ 172    $ 107,421    $ 664,211    $ 140,553    $ (706,925 )   $ 205,432

Property and equipment, net

     —        916,087      672,487      762,493      —         2,351,067

Intangible assets, net

     —        4,612      —        48,632      —         53,244

Goodwill

     —        18,613      172,116      597,610      —         788,339

Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries

     2,356,010      14,263      689,608      1,368,440      (4,428,321 )     —  

Equity investments

     —        16,181      —        59,507      —         75,688

Other noncurrent assets, net

     228      15,342      549      17,245      —         33,364
                                          

Total assets

   $ 2,356,410    $ 1,092,519    $ 2,198,971    $ 2,994,480    $ (5,135,246 )   $ 3,507,134
                                          

Liabilities and Partners’ Equity

                

Current liabilities

   $ 504,120    $ 38,668    $ 36,340    $ 282,571    $ (706,925 )   $ 154,774

Long-term debt, less current portion

     —        801,149      543,964      41,326      —         1,386,439

Long-term payable to related party

     —        —        —        5,743      —         5,743

Deferred tax liability

     —        —        —        33,880      —         33,880

Other long-term liabilities

     —        4,745      3,156      58,278      —         66,179

Partners’ equity

     1,852,290      247,957      1,615,511      2,572,682      (4,428,321 )     1,860,119
                                          

Total liabilities and partners’ equity

   $ 2,356,410    $ 1,092,519    $ 2,198,971    $ 2,994,480    $ (5,135,246 )   $ 3,507,134
                                          

(a) Non-guarantor subsidiaries are wholly owned by NuStar Energy L.P., NuStar Logistics or KPOP.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet

December 31, 2006

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

     NuStar
Energy L.P.
   NuStar
Logistics
   KPOP    Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries (a)
   Eliminations     Consolidated

Assets

                

Current assets

   $ 403    $ 115,210    $ 653,221    $ 145,807    $ (701,643 )   $ 212,998

Property and equipment, net

     —        935,109      676,494      733,532      —         2,345,135

Intangible assets, net

     —        3,427      —        50,105      —         53,532

Goodwill

     —        4,715      172,116      597,610      —         774,441

Investment in wholly owned subsidiaries

     2,372,469      24,172      668,796      1,345,791      (4,411,228 )     —  

Investments in joint ventures

     —        15,902      —        58,175      —         74,077

Deferred charges and other assets, net

     228      5,807      604      27,386      —         34,205
                                          

Total assets

   $ 2,373,100    $ 1,104,342    $ 2,171,231    $ 2,958,406    $ (5,112,871 )   $ 3,494,208
                                          

Liabilities and Partners’ Equity

                

Current liabilities

   $ 504,238    $ 44,397    $ 29,385    $ 280,358    $ (701,643 )   $ 156,735

Long-term debt, less current portion

     —        767,031      545,571      41,118      —         1,353,720

Long-term payable to related party

     —        —        —        5,749      —         5,749

Deferred tax liability

     —        —        —        32,926      —         32,926

Other long-term liabilities

     —        5,797      3,517      60,083      —         69,397

Partners’ equity

     1,868,862      287,117      1,592,758      2,538,172      (4,411,228 )     1,875,681
                                          

Total liabilities and partners’ equity

   $ 2,373,100    $ 1,104,342    $ 2,171,231    $ 2,958,406    $ (5,112,871 )   $ 3,494,208
                                          

(a) Non-guarantor subsidiaries are wholly owned by NuStar Energy L.P., NuStar Logistics or KPOP.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

     NuStar
Energy L.P.
    NuStar
Logistics
    KPOP     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries (a)
   Eliminations     Consolidated  

Revenues

   $ —       $ 61,518     $ 31,663     $ 203,932    $ (289 )   $ 296,824  

Costs and expenses

     113       40,627       23,275       187,663      (289 )     251,389  
                                               

Operating income

     (113 )     20,891       8,388       16,269      —         45,435  

Equity earnings in subsidiaries

     31,236       41       20,813       22,754      (74,844 )     —    

Equity earnings from joint ventures

     —         279       —         1,332      —         1,611  

Interest expense, net

     —         (12,619 )     (6,458 )     223      —         (18,854 )

Other income, net

     —         147       11       6,465      —         6,623  
                                               

Income before income tax expense

     31,123       8,739       22,754       47,043      (74,844 )     34,815  

Income tax expense

     —         289       —         3,403      —         3,692  
                                               

Net income

   $ 31,123     $ 8,450     $ 22,754     $ 43,640    $ (74,844 )   $ 31,123  
                                               

(a) Non-guarantor subsidiaries are wholly owned by NuStar Energy L.P., NuStar Logistics or KPOP.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

     NuStar
Energy L.P.
    NuStar
Logistics
    KPOP     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries (a)
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Revenues

   $ —       $ 60,683     $ 27,200     $ 186,371     $ (250 )   $ 274,004  

Costs and expenses

     450       33,398       19,729       164,710       (250 )     218,037  
                                                

Operating income

     (450 )     27,285       7,471       21,661       —         55,967  

Equity earnings in subsidiaries

     39,901       286       19,339       20,022       (79,548 )     —    

Equity earnings from joint ventures

     —         15       —         1,191       —         1,206  

Interest expense, net

     —         (7,642 )     (7,015 )     (1,039 )     —         (15,696 )

Other income, net

     —         12       1       218       —         231  
                                                

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

     39,451       19,956       19,796       42,053       (79,548 )     41,708  

Income tax expense

     —         —         —         2,119       —         2,119  
                                                

Income from continuing operations

     39,451       19,956       19,796       39,934       (79,548 )     39,589  

Income from discontinued operations

     —         —         298       (436 )     —         (138 )
                                                

Net income

   $ 39,451     $ 19,956     $ 20,094     $ 39,498     $ (79,548 )   $ 39,451  
                                                

(a) Non-guarantor subsidiaries are wholly owned by NuStar Energy L.P., NuStar Logistics or KPOP.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

     NuStar
Energy L.P.
    NuStar
Logistics
    KPOP     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries(a)
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flows from operating activities:

            

Net income

   $ 31,123     $ 8,450     $ 22,754     $ 43,640     $ (74,844 )   $ 31,123  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

            

Depreciation and amortization

     —         10,976       6,216       10,150       —         27,342  

Equity income, net of distributions

     16,459       (41 )     (20,813 )     (22,749 )     27,144       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other

     147       (5,802 )     765       4,399       —         (491 )
                                                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     47,729       13,583       8,922       35,440       (47,700 )     57,974  
                                                

Cash flows from investing activities:

            

Capital expenditures

     —         (6,460 )     (2,203 )     (38,212 )     —         (46,875 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     —         —         7       579       —         586  

Acquisition and investment in noncurrent assets

     —         (28 )     —         (6 )     —         (34 )

Other

     —         —         —         38       —         38  
                                                

Cash flows used in investing activities

     —         (6,488 )     (2,196 )     (37,601 )     —         (46,285 )
                                                

Cash flows from financing activities:

            

Distributions

     (47,695 )     (47,695 )     —         (5 )     47,700       (47,695 )

Repayments of notes payable

     —         (2,458 )     —         —         —         (2,458 )

Long-term debt borrowings

     —         121,247       —         —         —         121,247  

Long-term debt repayments

     —         (88,567 )     —         —         —         (88,567 )

Net intercompany borrowings (repayments)

     (34 )     506       (6,181 )     5,709       —         —    

Other

     —         52       —         305       —         357  
                                                

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

     (47,729 )     (16,915 )     (6,181 )     6,009       47,700       (17,116 )
                                                

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

     —         412       —         18       —         430  

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     —         (9,408 )     545       3,866       —         (4,997 )

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

     137       12,345       992       55,364       —         68,838  
                                                

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

   $ 137     $ 2,937     $ 1,537     $ 59,230     $ —       $ 63,841  
                                                

(a) Non-guarantor subsidiaries are wholly owned by NuStar Energy L.P., NuStar Logistics or KPOP.

 

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NUSTAR ENERGY L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)

 

Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2006

(Thousands of Dollars)

 

     NuStar
Energy
L.P.
    NuStar
Logistics
    KPOP     Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries(a)
    Eliminations     Consolidated  

Cash flows from operating activities:

            

Net income

   $ 39,451     $ 19,956     $ 20,094     $ 39,498     $ (79,548 )   $ 39,451  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

            

Depreciation and amortization

     —         8,938       6,045       9,206       —         24,189  

Equity income, net of distributions

     4,049       (286 )     (19,339 )     (20,017 )     35,593       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities and other

     (2,521 )     (10,292 )     (7,156 )     13,381       —         (6,588 )
                                                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     40,979       18,316       (356 )     42,068       (43,955 )     57,052  
                                                

Cash flows from investing activities:

            

Capital expenditures

     —         (9,516 )     (611 )     (5,465 )     —         (15,592 )

Other acquisition

     —         (12,827 )     —         —         —         (12,827 )

Proceeds from sale of assets

     —         —         —         68,628       —         68,628  

Other

     (77 )     (1,654 )     4,211       (4,413 )     1,659       (274 )
                                                

Cash flows provided by (used in) investing activities

     (77 )     (23,997 )     3,600       58,750       1,659       39,935  
                                                

Cash flows from financing activities:

            

Distributions

     (43,950 )     (43,950 )     —         (5 )     43,955       (43,950 )

Long-term debt borrowings

     —         34,000       —         —         —         34,000  

Long-term debt repayments

     —         (11,480 )     —         —         —         (11,480 )

Net intercompany borrowings (repayments)

     3,048       91,657       (3,031 )     (91,674 )     —         —    

Other

     —         (3,060 )     (221 )     667       (1,659 )     (4,273 )
                                                

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

     (40,902 )     67,167       (3,252 )     (91,012 )     42,296       (25,703 )
                                                

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash

     —         —         —         (1,905 )     —         (1,905 )

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     —         61,486       (8 )     7,901       —         69,379  

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

     10       1,590       114       34,340       —         36,054  
                                                

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

   $ 10     $ 63,076     $ 106     $ 42,241     $ —       $ 105,433  
                                                

(a) Non-guarantor subsidiaries are wholly owned by NuStar Energy L.P., NuStar Logistics or KPOP.

 

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

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Form 10-Q contains certain estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions and other forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested in this report. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “estimates,” “forecasts,” “budgets,” “projects,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “may” and similar expressions. These statements reflect our current views with regard to future events and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Please read our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” for a discussion of certain of those risks, uncertainties and assumptions.

If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from those described in any forward-looking statement. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on our future results. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is as of the date of the Form 10-Q. We do not intend to update these statements unless it is required by the securities laws to do so, and we undertake no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Overview

NuStar Energy L.P., formerly Valero L.P., is a publicly traded Delaware limited partnership formed in 1999 engaged in the crude oil and refined product transportation, terminalling and storage business. NuStar Energy L.P. has terminal facilities in 28 U.S. states, the Netherlands Antilles, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

As used in this report, references to “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Partnership” collectively refer, depending on the context, to NuStar Energy L.P. or a wholly owned subsidiary of NuStar Energy L.P.

We conduct our operations through our wholly owned subsidiaries, primarily NuStar Logistics, L.P., formerly Valero Logistics Operations, L.P. (NuStar Logistics), and Kaneb Pipe Line Operating Partnership, L.P. (KPOP). Our operations are divided into four reportable business segments: refined product terminals, refined product pipelines, crude oil pipelines and crude oil storage tanks.

Refined Product Terminals. We own 56 terminals in the United States that provide storage and handling services on a fee basis for petroleum products, specialty chemicals and other liquids, including crude oil and other feedstocks. We also own international terminal operations on the island of St. Eustatius in the Caribbean, Point Tupper in Nova Scotia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Nuevo Laredo in Mexico.

Refined Product Pipelines. We own common carrier pipelines in Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota covering approximately 6,259 miles, consisting of the Central West System which is connected to Valero Energy refineries and the East Pipeline and the North Pipeline which we acquired from Kaneb. In addition, we own a 2,000 mile anhydrous ammonia pipeline located in Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Nebraska.

Crude Oil Pipelines. We own 797 miles of crude oil pipelines which transport crude oil and other feedstocks, such as gas oil, from various points in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado to Valero Energy’s McKee, Three Rivers and Ardmore refineries as well as associated crude oil storage facilities in Texas and Oklahoma that are located along the crude oil pipelines. We also own 57 miles of crude oil pipeline in Illinois, which serves ConocoPhillips’ Wood River refinery.

Crude Oil Storage Tanks. We own 60 crude oil and intermediate feedstock storage tanks and related assets that store and deliver crude oil and intermediate feedstock to Valero Energy Corporation’s (Valero Energy) refineries in Benicia, California and Corpus Christi and Texas City in Texas.

 

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We provide transportation, storage services and ancillary services to our customers, and the following factors affect the results of our operations:

 

   

company-specific factors, such as integrity issues and maintenance requirements that impact the throughput rates of our assets;

 

   

seasonal factors that affect the demand for refined products and fertilizers transported by and/or stored in our assets;

 

   

industry factors, such as changes in the prices of petroleum products that affect demand and operations of our competitors; and

 

   

other factors such as refinery utilization rates and maintenance turnaround schedules that impact the operations of refineries served by our assets.

 

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Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2006

Financial Highlights

(Unaudited, Thousands of Dollars, Except Unit and Per Unit Data)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,        
     2007     2006     Change  

Statement of Income Data:

      

Revenues:

      

Services revenues

   $ 157,282     $ 147,929     $ 9,353  

Product sales

     139,542       126,075       13,467  
                        

Total revenues

     296,824       274,004       22,820  
                        

Costs and expenses:

      

Cost of product sales

     127,927       114,218       13,709  

Operating expenses

     81,212       71,070       10,142  

General and administrative expenses

     14,908       8,560       6,348  

Depreciation and amortization

     27,342       24,189       3,153  
                        

Total costs and expenses

     251,389       218,037       33,352  
                        

Operating income

     45,435       55,967       (10,532 )

Equity earnings from joint ventures

     1,611       1,206       405  

Interest expense, net

     (18,854 )     (15,696 )     (3,158 )

Other income, net

     6,623       231       6,392  
                        

Income from continuing operations before income tax expense

     34,815       41,708       (6,893 )

Income tax expense

     3,692       2,119       1,573  
                        

Income from continuing operations

     31,123       39,589       (8,466 )

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax

     —         (138 )     138  
                        

Net income

     31,123       39,451       (8,328 )

Less net income applicable to general partner

     (4,454 )     (4,199 )     (255 )
                        

Net income applicable to limited partners

   $ 26,669     $ 35,252     $ (8,583 )
                        

Weighted-average number of basic units outstanding

     46,809,749       46,809,749       —    
                        

Income (loss) per unit applicable to limited partners:

      

Continuing operations

   $ 0.57     $ 0.75     $ (0.18 )

Discontinued operations

     —         —         —    
                        

Net income

   $ 0.57     $ 0.75     $ (0.18 )
                        

 

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Segment Operating Highlights

(Thousands of Dollars, Except Barrels/Day Information)

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,       
     2007    2006    Change  

Refined Product Terminals:

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     230,781      252,275      (21,494 )

Throughput revenues

   $ 11,448    $ 10,540    $ 908  

Storage lease revenues

     69,248      59,533      9,715  

Product sales (bunkering)

     139,542      126,075      13,467  
                      

Total revenues

     220,238      196,148      24,090  

Cost of product sales

     127,927      114,218      13,709  

Operating expenses

     50,993      43,979      7,014  

Depreciation and amortization

     13,188      10,906      2,282  
                      

Segment operating income

   $ 28,130    $ 27,045    $ 1,085  
                      

Refined Product Pipelines:

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     616,728      700,969      (84,241 )

Revenues

   $ 53,424    $ 52,046    $ 1,378  

Operating expenses

     24,076      19,802      4,274  

Depreciation and amortization

     11,008      10,139      869  
                      

Segment operating income

   $ 18,340    $ 22,105    $ (3,765 )
                      

Crude Oil Pipelines:

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     347,617      427,675      (80,058 )

Revenues

   $ 12,349    $ 14,049    $ (1,700 )

Operating expenses

     3,373      3,697      (324 )

Depreciation and amortization

     1,233      1,249      (16 )
                      

Segment operating income

   $ 7,743    $ 9,103    $ (1,360 )
                      

Crude Oil Storage Tanks:

        

Throughput (barrels/day)

     539,214      513,073      26,141  

Revenues

   $ 10,813    $ 11,761    $ (948 )

Operating expenses

     2,770      3,592      (822 )

Depreciation and amortization

     1,913      1,895      18  
                      

Segment operating income

   $ 6,130    $ 6,274    $ (144 )
                      

Consolidated Information:

        

Revenues

   $ 296,824    $ 274,004    $ 22,820  

Cost of product sales

     127,927      114,218      13,709  

Operating expenses

     81,212      71,070      10,142  

Depreciation and amortization

     27,342      24,189      3,153  
                      

Segment operating income

     60,343      64,527      (4,184 )

General and administrative expenses

     14,908      8,560      6,348  
                      

Consolidated operating income

   $ 45,435    $ 55,967    $ (10,532 )
                      

 

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Highlights

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 decreased $8.3 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, due to lower segmental operating income and increased general and administrative expense, interest expense and income tax expense, offset by an increase in other income.

Consolidated segmental operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2007 decreased $4.2 million compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to a $3.8 million decrease in operating income for the refined product pipelines segment and a $1.4 million decrease in operating income for the crude oil pipelines segment, partially offset by a $1.1 million increase in operating income for the refined product terminals segment.

Except for storage lease revenues and bunker sales, operating income for our segments depends upon the level of throughputs moving through our assets. In February 2007, Valero Energy’s McKee refinery experienced a fire and was shut down the remainder of the first quarter, which affected the throughputs on the refined product pipelines, the refined product terminals and the crude oil pipelines segments. In addition to the McKee fire, all of our segments were affected by lower throughputs in 2007 resulting from scheduled maintenance turnarounds or other operational issues at the refineries we serve.

Refined Product Terminals

Revenues increased by $24.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to the following:

 

   

an increase in product sales of $13.5 million relating to bunker fuel due to increased vessel calls at our St. Eustatius facility;

 

   

the St. James terminal acquisition in December 2006 resulted in additional revenues of $5.1 million; and

 

   

an increase in storage lease revenues of $4.6 million due to additional customers and higher reimbursable project revenue.

Partially offsetting the increases above were lower revenues related to our terminals serving the McKee refinery.

Cost of product sales increased $13.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006 consistent with the increase in product sales revenues. Cost of product sales reflects the cost of bunker fuel sold to marine vessels at our facilities at St. Eustatius in the Caribbean and Point Tupper in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Operating expenses increased $7.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to higher salaries and wages, higher reimbursable project expenses and higher operating expenses at St. Eustatius resulting from the increased vessel calls. Reimbursable project expenses are charged back to our customers, and its increase is consistent with the increase in reimbursable project revenues. Operating expenses also increased due to the acquisition of the St. James terminal in December 2006.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, due to the acquisition of the St. James terminal in December 2006 and the completion of various capital projects.

Refined Product Pipelines

Throughputs decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to the impact of the McKee fire. Despite lower throughputs, revenues increased by $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to an increase in tariffs effective July 1, 2006, a turnaround in the first quarter of the prior year impacting the East Pipeline and the completion of the Burgos Pipeline project in the third quarter of 2006.

Operating expenses increased $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to higher salaries and wages and maintenance expenses.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, mainly due to the completion of the Burgos Pipeline project and various other capital projects.

 

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Crude Oil Pipelines

Throughputs and revenues decreased for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to the impact of the McKee fire.

Crude Oil Storage Tanks

Throughputs increased for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to a change in the Corpus Christi (North Beach) crude oil storage tank agreement from a storage lease to a throughput fee agreement effective January 1, 2007. Throughputs for the Corpus Christi (North Beach) crude oil storage tanks were not included prior to January 1, 2007. However, revenues decreased by $0.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to turnarounds at Valero Energy’s Three Rivers and Corpus Christi refineries and a fire at Valero Energy’s Texas City refinery in January 2007. The Corpus Christi refinery further experienced multiple operating issues during the three months ended March 31, 2007.

Operating expenses decreased by $0.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to increased maintenance expenses related to the inspection, cleaning and repair of certain tanks at the Texas City and Corpus Christi facilities.

General

General and administrative expenses increased by $6.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006, primarily due to increased costs related to unit option and restricted unit compensation expense as a result of the increase in the NuStar Energy L.P. unit price. Increased headcount resulting from a reduction in administrative services received from Valero Energy and increased information systems costs as a result of the separation from Valero Energy further contributed to the increase in general and administrative expenses.

Interest expense increased by $3.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006 primarily due to higher average debt balances resulting from debt incurred to fund the acquisition of the St. James crude oil storage facility and various terminal expansion projects combined with higher interest rates.

Other income, net increased primarily due to a gain of $5.2 million related to a settlement for the dock damage at our Westwego terminal and a gain of $1.3 million on the sale of an idle asset.

Income tax expense increased $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006. Income tax expense was higher in 2007 primarily due to higher taxable income in our taxable entities and the impact of the Texas margin tax effective January 1, 2007.

Related Party Transactions

Services Agreement

Prior to our separation from Valero Energy, the employees of NuStar GP, LLC were provided to us under the terms of various services agreements between us and Valero Energy. The terms of these services agreements generally provided that the costs of employees who performed services directly on our behalf, including salaries, wages and employee benefits, were charged directly to us. In addition, Valero Energy charged us an administrative services fee, which was $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006.

Although Valero Energy no longer provides employees that work directly on our behalf, Valero Energy continues to provide certain services to us under the terms of a services agreement dated December 22, 2006 (the 2007 Services Agreement). Beginning January 1, 2007, under the 2007 Services Agreement, we pay Valero Energy approximately $97,000 per month for administrative services (primarily information system services and human resource services) and approximately $93,000 per month for telecommunication services.

On April 16, 2007, Valero Energy exercised its option to terminate the 2007 Services Agreement. As a result, Valero Energy will cease providing services according to the terms of the 2007 Services Agreement. Generally, these services will discontinue over a period of time sufficient to allow us to assume those functions. Additionally, since Valero Energy elected to terminate the 2007 Services Agreement prior to December 31, 2010, they are required pay us a termination fee of $13.0 million, which we expect to receive in the second quarter of 2007.

 

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Non-Compete Agreement

On July 19, 2006, we entered into a non-compete agreement with NuStar GP Holdings, Riverwalk Logistics, L.P., and NuStar GP, LLC (the Non-Compete Agreement). The Non-Compete Agreement became effective when Valero Energy completed its sale of its remaining interest in NuStar GP Holdings on December 22, 2006. Under the Non-Compete Agreement, we will have a right of first refusal with respect to the potential acquisition of assets that relate to the transportation, storage or terminalling of crude oil, feedstocks or refined petroleum products (including petrochemicals) in the United States and internationally. NuStar GP Holdings will have a right of first refusal with respect to the potential acquisition of general partner and other equity interests in publicly traded partnerships under common ownership with the general partner interest. With respect to any other business opportunities, neither the Partnership nor NuStar GP Holdings are prohibited from engaging in any business, even if the Partnership and NuStar GP Holdings would have a conflict of interest with respect to such other business opportunity. The Non-Compete agreement remains in effect for so long as NuStar GP Holdings or any of its affiliates own 20% or more of NuStar GP, LLC or Riverwalk Logistics, L.P.

Administration Agreement

On July 19, 2006, in connection with NuStar GP Holdings’ initial public offering, NuStar GP, LLC entered into an administration agreement with NuStar GP Holdings (the Administration Agreement). The Administration Agreement provides, among other things, that NuStar GP, LLC will provide employee services to NuStar GP Holdings. NuStar GP, LLC will provide all executive management, accounting, legal, cash management, corporate finance and other administrative services to NuStar GP Holdings. Under the Administration Agreement, NuStar GP Holdings will pay NuStar GP, LLC $0.5 million annually. This fee will be increased annually to reflect NuStar GP, LLC’s annual merit increases. NuStar GP Holdings will also reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for all direct public company costs and any other direct costs, such as outside legal and accounting fees, that NuStar GP, LLC incurs while providing services to NuStar GP Holdings pursuant to the Administration Agreement. The Administration Agreement will terminate on December 31, 2011, with automatic two-year renewals unless terminated by either party on six months’ written notice. NuStar GP Holdings may cancel or reduce the services provided by NuStar GP, LLC under the Administration Agreement on 60 days’ written notice. The Administration Agreement will terminate upon a change of control of either NuStar GP Holdings or NuStar GP, LLC.

Outlook

We expect our operations to continue to be impacted by the effect of the fire at Valero Energy’s McKee refinery until Valero Energy has the refinery running at full operations. We believe we have adequate insurance to cover the amount of losses resulting from the McKee refinery outage. However, the timing and amounts of insurance payments are uncertain. As a result, our earnings and cash flows may continue to be negatively impacted until we finalize the insurance claim.

We expect results for the second half of 2007 to benefit from several of our terminal expansion projects coming on-line, increases in our pipeline tariffs effective July 1 and fewer turnarounds at the refineries we serve.

Additionally, we have created a new product marketing and trading business to capitalize on opportunities to optimize the use and profitability of our assets, to manage our risk as we diversify our business and to enhance our competitive position when pursuing acquisitions. We expect this new business to positively impact our earnings for the remainder of 2007; however, we may experience additional volatility in our earnings and cash flows. Further, we will be exposed to commodity price risk related to the inventory we own to support the product marketing and trading business.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

General

Our primary cash requirements are for distributions to partners, debt service, reliability and strategic and other capital expenditures, acquisitions and normal operating expenses. We typically generate sufficient cash from our current operations to fund day-to-day operating and general and administrative expenses, reliability capital expenditures and distribution requirements. We also have available borrowing capacity under our existing revolving credit facility and,

 

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to the extent necessary, we may raise additional funds through equity or debt offerings under our $750 million universal shelf registration statement to fund strategic capital expenditures or other cash requirements not funded from operations. However, there can be no assurance regarding the availability of any additional funds or whether such additional funds can be provided on terms acceptable to us.

Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006

Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $58.0 million compared to $57.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. The $8.3 million decrease in net income was primarily offset by a net increase of $9.9 million in working capital.

The net cash generated by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007, combined with available cash on hand, was used primarily to fund distributions to unitholders and the general partner in the aggregate amount of $47.7 million. The proceeds from long-term debt borrowings, net of repayments, were used to fund capital expenditures, primarily related to the various terminal expansions.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $57.1 million. The net cash provided by operations, combined with available cash on hand, was used primarily to fund distributions to unitholders and the general partner in the aggregate amount of $44.0 million. The proceeds from long-term debt borrowings totaling $34.0 million were used to fund the purchase of the Capwood pipeline and capital expenditures. The proceeds from the sale of the Australia and New Zealand subsidiaries totaling $68.6 million contributed to the cash balance as of March 31, 2006.

Cash Distributions

On January 25, 2007, we declared a quarterly distribution of $0.915 per unit paid on February 14, 2007 to unitholders of record on February 7, 2007, which totaled $47.7 million. On April 24, 2007, we declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.915 per unit to be paid on May 14, 2007 to unitholders of record on May 7, 2007, which will total $47.7 million.

The following table reflects the allocation of total cash distributions to the general and limited partners applicable to the period in which the distributions were earned:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,
     2007    2006
     (Thousands of Dollars)

General partner interest

   $ 954    $ 916

General partner incentive distribution

     3,910      3,480
             

Total general partner distribution

     4,864      4,396

Limited partners’ distribution

     42,831      41,427
             

Total cash distributions

   $ 47,695    $ 45,823
             

Cash distributions per unit applicable to limited partners

   $ 0.915    $ 0.885
             

Capital Requirements

The petroleum pipeline and terminalling industry is capital intensive, requiring significant investments to maintain, upgrade or enhance existing operations and to comply with environmental and safety laws and regulations.

Our capital expenditures consist primarily of:

 

   

reliability capital expenditures, formerly referred to as maintenance capital expenditures, such as those required to maintain equipment reliability and safety and to address environmental and safety regulations; and

 

   

strategic capital expenditures, such as those to expand and upgrade pipeline capacity and to construct new pipelines, terminals and storage tanks. In addition, strategic capital expenditures may include acquisitions of pipelines, terminals or storage tank assets.

 

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During the three months ended March 31, 2007, we incurred reliability capital expenditures of $4.6 million, primarily related to system automation and maintenance upgrade projects at our terminals and pipelines. Strategic and other capital expenditures of $42.3 million during the three months ended March 31, 2007, primarily related to the Amsterdam and St. Eustatius tank expansions and other terminal expansion projects as well as expenditures required as a result of our separation from Valero Energy, such as separating our information systems and modifying our new headquarters.

For the full year of 2007, we expect to incur approximately $287.0 million of capital expenditures, including $45.0 million for reliability capital projects and $242.0 million for strategic and other capital projects, including $12.0 million for capital expenditures required as a result of our separation from Valero Energy. We continuously evaluate our capital budget and make changes as economic conditions warrant. If conditions warrant, our actual capital expenditures for 2007 may exceed the budgeted amounts. We believe cash generated from operations combined with other sources of liquidity will be sufficient to fund our capital expenditures in 2007.

Long-Term Contractual Obligations

Revolving Credit Agreement

The $600 Million Revolving Credit Agreement (the Revolving Credit Agreement) bears interest based on either an alternative base rate or LIBOR, which was 5.9% as of March 31, 2007. As of March 31, 2007, we had $354.9 million available for borrowing under our Revolving Credit Agreement.

Senior Notes

The NuStar Logistics senior notes include a change-in-control provision, which requires (1) that Valero Energy or an investment grade entity own, directly or indirectly, 51% of our general partner interests and (2) that we (or an investment grade entity) own, directly or indirectly, all of the general partner and limited partner interests in NuStar Logistics.

Due to Valero Energy’s sale of its remaining interests in NuStar GP Holdings on December 22, 2006, the change-in-control provision was triggered, and NuStar Logistics offered to purchase the senior notes at a price equal to 100% of their outstanding principal balance plus accrued interest through the date of purchase. This offer expired on January 23, 2007, with approximately $20.1 million of the 6.05% senior notes tendered to us for repurchase. We retired the senior notes that were tendered with borrowings under our Revolving Credit Agreement on February 1, 2007. The effect of the retirement of those senior notes was not significant to our financial position or results of operations.

Interest Rate Swaps

As of March 31, 2007, the weighted-average interest rate for our interest rate swaps was 6.9%. As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the aggregate estimated fair value of the interest rate swaps included in other long-term liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets was $4.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively.

Other

Our term loan agreement, Revolving Credit Agreement and UK term loan all require that we maintain certain financial ratios and include other restrictive covenants, including a prohibition on distributions if any defaults, as defined in the agreements, exist or would result from the distribution. Our management believes that we are in compliance with all of these ratios and covenants as of March 31, 2007.

Environmental, Health and Safety

We are subject to extensive federal, state and local environmental and safety laws and regulations, including those relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, waste management, pollution prevention measures, pipeline integrity and operator qualifications, among others. Because environmental and safety laws and regulations are becoming more complex and stringent and new environmental and safety laws and regulations are continuously being enacted or proposed, the level of future expenditures required for environmental, health and safety matters is expected to increase.

 

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Other Contingencies

We are subject to certain loss contingencies, the outcome of which could have an effect on our cash flows. Specifically, we may be required to make substantial payments to the U.S. Department of Justice for certain remediation costs as further disclosed in Note 5 of Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Our critical accounting policies are disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The principal market risk (i.e., the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices) to which we are exposed is interest rate risk on our debt. Additionally, we are exposed to exchange rate fluctuations on transactions related to our foreign operations.

We manage our debt considering various financing alternatives available in the market and we manage our exposure to changing interest rates principally through the use of a combination of fixed-rate debt and variable-rate debt. In addition, we utilize interest rate swap agreements to manage a portion of the exposure to changing interest rates by converting certain fixed-rate debt to variable-rate debt. Borrowings under the revolving credit agreement and term loan agreement expose us to increases in the benchmark interest rate underlying these variable rate debt instruments.

The following table provides information about our long-term debt and interest rate derivative instruments, all of which are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For long-term debt, principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates are presented. For interest rate swaps, the table presents notional amounts and weighted-average interest rates by expected (contractual) maturity dates. Weighted-average variable rates are based on implied forward interest rates in the yield curve at the reporting date.

 

     March 31, 2007  
     Expected Maturity Dates              
     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011    

There-

after

    Total    

Fair

Value

 
     (Thousands of Dollars, Except Interest Rates)  

Long-term Debt:

                

Fixed rate

   $ 5,509     $ 660     $ 713     $ 770     $ 42,158     $ 833,980     $ 883,790     $ 925,082  

Average interest rate

     6.1 %     8.0 %     8.0 %     8.0 %     6.7 %     6.6 %     6.6 %  

Variable rate

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 468,720       —       $ 468,720     $ 468,720  

Average interest rate

     —         —         —         —         6.0 %     —         6.0 %  

Interest Rate Swaps

    Fixed to Variable:

                

Notional amount

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 167,500     $ 167,500     $ (3,975 )

Average pay rate

     6.9 %     6.5 %     6.5 %     6.7 %     6.8 %     6.8 %     6.7 %  

Average receive rate

     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.2 %     6.3 %  

 

     December 31, 2006  
     Expected Maturity Dates              
     2007     2008     2009     2010     2011    

There-

after

    Total     Fair Value  
     (Thousands of Dollars, Except Interest Rates)  

Long-term Debt:

                

Fixed rate

   $ 647     $ 660     $ 713     $ 770     $ 41,950     $ 854,048     $ 898,789     $ 939,191  

Average interest rate

     8.0 %     8.0 %     8.0 %     8.0 %     6.7 %     6.6 %     6.6 %  

Variable rate

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 415,526     $ —       $ 415,526     $ 415,526  

Average interest rate

     —         —         —         —         6.1 %     —         6.1 %  

Interest Rate Swaps

    Fixed to Variable:

                

Notional amount

   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 167,500     $ 167,500     $ (4,908 )

Average pay rate

     7.0 %     6.7 %     6.7 %     6.8 %     6.9 %     6.8 %     6.8 %  

Average receive rate

     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.3 %     6.2 %     6.3 %  

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

  (a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

Our management has evaluated, with the participation of the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of NuStar GP, LLC, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this report, and has concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2007.

 

  (b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting.

There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our new product marketing and trading business may expose us to trading losses, and non-compliance with the related risk management policies we will establish could result in significant financial losses

We are in the process of establishing a new product marketing and trading business for the purchase and sale of crude oil and petroleum products, including gasoline, distillates, fuel oil and asphalt. These activities may expose us to price volatility risk and basis risk due to ineffective hedging. We may also be exposed to inventory and financial liquidity risk due to the inability to trade certain products on demand or rising costs of carrying some inventories. Further, our product marketing and trading activities, including our hedging activities, may cause volatility in our earnings. In addition, we will be exposed to credit risk in the event of non-performance by counterparties.

Our board of directors has established a risk management committee composed of members of management to enforce the risk limits and risk management policies we expect to establish in June 2007. Our risk management policies will not eliminate all price risk since open trading positions will expose us to price volatility.

Further, there is a risk that our risk management policies will not be complied with. While we are currently designing procedures to anticipate and detect non-compliance, we cannot assure you that these steps will detect and prevent all violations of our trading policies and procedures, particularly if deception and other intentional misconduct are involved.

As a result of the risks described above, the activities associated with our product marketing and trading business may expose us to volatility in earnings and financial losses, which may adversely affect our financial condition and our ability to distribute cash to our unitholders.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

    Exhibit 3.01   Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valero L.P., dated March 21, 2007 and effective April 1, 2007, incorporated by reference to Valero L.P.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed March 27, 2007 (File No. 001-16417), Exhibit 3.01.
  *Exhibit 3.02   Amendment to Certificate of Formation of Valero GP, LLC, dated March 21, 2007 and effective April 1, 2007.
  *Exhibit 3.03   Amendment to Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valero Logistics Operations, L.P., dated March 21, 2007 and effective April 1, 2007.
  *Exhibit 12.01   Statement of Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  *Exhibit 31.01   Rule 13a-14(a) Certifications (under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).
  *Exhibit 32.01   Section 1350 Certifications (as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002).

* Filed herewith.
+ Identifies management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements required to be filed as an exhibit hereto.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

NUSTAR ENERGY L.P.  
(Registrant)  
By:   Riverwalk Logistics, L.P., its general partner
  By: NuStar GP, LLC, its general partner
By:  

/s/ Curtis V. Anastasio

 
  Curtis V. Anastasio  
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  May 9, 2007  
By:  

/s/ Steven A. Blank

 
  Steven A. Blank  
  Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
  May 9, 2007  
By:  

/s/ Thomas R. Shoaf

 
  Thomas R. Shoaf  
  Vice President and Controller
  May 9, 2007  

 

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