Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)

Registration No. 333-150682

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT Subject to Completion, dated March 16, 2010

(To Prospectus dated May 22, 2008)

 

4,400,000 Common Units

 

 

Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.

 

COMMON UNITS REPRESENTING LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

 

 

 

 

We are selling 4,400,000 of our common units, representing limited partner interests. We have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to 660,000 additional common units to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

 

 

 

Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOO.” The last reported sale price of our common units on the New York Stock Exchange on March 15, 2010 was $20.17 per common unit.

 

 

 

 

Investing in our common units involves risks. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement and page 7 of the accompanying prospectus before you make an investment in our common units.

 

 

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus are truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the common units on or about          , 2010.

 

 

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

Co-Managers

 

          , 2010

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering of common units. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering of common units. Generally, when we refer to the “prospectus,” we refer to both parts combined. If information varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

 

Any statement made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document that is also incorporated by reference into this prospectus modified or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any “free writing prospectus” we may authorize to be delivered to you. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with additional, different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any “free writing prospectus” we may authorize to be delivered to you, as well as the information we previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or the SEC) that is incorporated by reference herein, is accurate as of any date other than its respective date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since such dates.

 

We are offering to sell the common units, and are seeking offers to buy the common units, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of the common units in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about and observe any restrictions relating to the offering of the common units and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC and incorporated into this prospectus, automatically will update information previously filed with the SEC and may replace information in this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below:

 

 

These reports contain important information about us, our financial condition and our results of operations.

 

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through its public reference facilities or its website at the addresses provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference into this prospectus (excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost by visiting our internet website at www.teekayoffshore.com. The information contained in our website, or any other website, is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus. You may also make requests for such documents at no cost by writing or calling us at the following address:

 

Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.

4th Floor, Belvedere Building,

69 Pitts Bay Road

Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda Attn: Corporate Secretary

(441) 298-2530

 

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document.

 

In reviewing any agreements included as exhibits to the registration statement relating to the securities covered by this prospectus or to other SEC filings incorporated by reference into this prospectus, please be aware that these agreements are attached as exhibits to provide you with information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or disclosure information about us or the other parties to the agreements. The agreements may contain representations and warranties by each of the parties to the

applicable agreement, which representations and warranties may have been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the applicable agreement and, as applicable:

 

 

Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time and should not be relied upon by investors in considering whether to invest in our securities.

 

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus are forward-looking statements. In addition, we and our representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that are also forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in our business, and the markets in which we operate. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

 

Forward-looking statements in this prospectus or incorporated by reference herein include, among others, statements about the following matters:

 

 

 

These and other forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those risks discussed in “Risk Factors” set forth in the prospectus and those risks discussed in other reports we file with the SEC and that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions involve known and unknown risks and are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control.

 

Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events affecting us and, therefore, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks discussed in “Risk Factors” and otherwise incorporated into this prospectus. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

 

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors. Further, we cannot assess the effect of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

 

SUMMARY

	•	35 shuttle tankers, 26 of which are owned by OPCO (including five through 50%-owned subsidiaries and three through a 67%-owned subsidiary), seven of which are chartered-in by OPCO and two of which are owned by us (including one through a 50%-owned subsidiary);
	•	five FSO units, four of which are owned by OPCO;
	•	11 Aframax-class conventional crude oil tankers, all of which are owned by OPCO; and
	•	one FPSO unit.

	•	Expand Global Operations in High Growth Regions.  We seek to expand our shuttle tanker and FSO unit operations into growing offshore markets such as Brazil, the North Sea and Australia. In addition, we intend to pursue opportunities in new markets such as the Arctic, Eastern Canada, the Gulf of Mexico, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
	•	Pursue Further Opportunities in the FPSO Sector.  We believe that Teekay Corporation’s ownership of Teekay Petrojarl, a leading operator in the FPSO sector, will enable us to competitively pursue additional FPSO projects anywhere in the world by combining Teekay Petrojarl’s engineering and operational expertise with Teekay Corporation’s global marketing organization and extensive customer and shipyard relationships.
	•	Acquire Additional Vessels on Long-Term, Fixed-Rate Contracts.  We intend to continue acquiring shuttle tankers, FSO units and FPSO units with long-term contracts, rather than ordering vessels on a speculative basis. We believe this approach facilitates the financing of new vessels based on their anticipated future revenues and ensures that new vessels will be employed upon acquisition, which should provide stable cash flows. Additionally, we anticipate growing by acquiring additional limited partner interests in OPCO that Teekay Corporation may offer us in the future.
	•	Provide Superior Customer Service by Maintaining High Reliability, Safety, Environmental and Quality Standards.  Energy companies seek transportation partners that have a reputation for high reliability, safety, environmental and quality standards. We intend to leverage OPCO’s and Teekay Corporation’s operational expertise and customer relationships to further expand a sustainable competitive advantage with consistent delivery of superior customer service.
	•	Manage Our Conventional Tanker Fleet to Provide Stable Cash Flows.  We believe the fixed-rate time charters for our conventional oil tankers will provide stable cash flows during their terms and a source of funding for expanding our offshore operations. Depending on prevailing market conditions during and at the end of each existing charter and subject to certain rights of first refusal in favor of Teekay

		Corporation under the omnibus agreement, we may seek to extend the charter, enter into a new charter, operate the vessel on the spot market or sell the vessel in an effort to maximize returns on the conventional fleet while managing residual risk.

	•	Leading Position in the Shuttle Tanker Sector.  We are the world’s largest owner and operator of shuttle tankers, as we own or operate 35 of the 75 vessels in the world shuttle tanker fleet. Our large fleet size enables us to provide comprehensive coverage of charterers’ requirements and provides opportunities to enhance the efficiency of operations and increase fleet utilization.
	•	Offshore Operational Expertise and Enhanced Growth Opportunities through Our Relationship with Teekay Corporation.   Teekay Corporation has achieved a global brand name in the shipping industry and the offshore market, developed an extensive network of long-standing relationships with major energy companies and earned a reputation for reliability, safety and excellence. Some benefits we believe we receive due to our relationship with Teekay Corporation include:

	—	access through services agreements to its comprehensive market intelligence and operational and technical sophistication gained from over 25 years of providing shuttle tanker services and FSO services to offshore energy customers. We believe this expertise will also assist us in successfully operating the Petrojarl Varg and continuing to expand our position in the FPSO sector through Teekay Corporation’s ownership of Teekay Petrojarl and our rights to participate in certain FPSO projects under the omnibus agreement;
	—	access to Teekay Corporation’s general commercial and financial core competencies, practices and systems, which we believe enhances the efficiency and quality of operations;
	—	enhanced growth opportunities and added competitiveness in bidding for transportation requirements for offshore projects and in attracting and retaining long-term contracts throughout the world; and
	—	improved leverage with leading shipyards during periods of vessel production constraints, which are anticipated over the next few years, due to Teekay Corporation’s established relationships with these shipyards and the high number of newbuilding orders it places.

	•	Cash Flow Stability from Contracts with Leading Energy Companies.  We benefit from stability in cash flows due to the long-term, fixed-rate contracts underlying most of our business. We have been able to secure long-term contracts because our services are an integrated part of offshore oil field projects and a critical part of the logistics chain of the fields. Due to the integrated nature of our services, the high cost of field development and the need for uninterrupted oil production, contractual relationships with customers with respect to any given field typically last until the field is no longer producing.
	•	Disciplined Vessel Acquisition Strategy and Successful Project Execution.  Our fleet has been built through successful new project tenders and acquisitions, and this strategy has contributed significantly to our leading position in the shuttle tanker market. A significant portion of OPCO’s shuttle tanker fleet was established through the acquisition of Ugland Nordic Shipping AS in 2001 and Navion AS, StatoilHydro ASA’s shipping subsidiary, in 2003. In addition, we have increased the size of our fleet through customized shuttle tanker, FSO and FPSO projects for major energy companies around the world.

Issuer		Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.
Common units offered by us		4,400,000 common units.
		5,060,000 common units if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase up to an additional 660,000 common units to cover any over-allotments.
Units outstanding after this offering		42,100,000 common units. 42,760,000 common units if the underwriters exercise in full their over-allotment option.
Use of proceeds		We will use the net proceeds from this offering of common units, including our general partner’s related capital contribution, to repay the outstanding debt under our unsecured subordinated debt facility with Teekay Corporation and to partially finance the purchase of the Falcon Spirit. Please read “Use of Proceeds” on page S-9 of this prospectus supplement.
New York Stock Exchange Symbol		TOO.

 

Before investing in our common units you should carefully consider all of the information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Although many of our business risks are comparable to those of a corporation engaged in a similar business, limited partner interests are inherently different from the capital stock of a corporation. When evaluating an investment in our common units, you should carefully consider those risks discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of the accompanying prospectus, as well as the discussion of risk factors beginning on page 8 of our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008 and the discussion of risk factors in our Report on Form 6-K for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In that case, our ability to pay distributions on our common units may be reduced, the trading price of our common units could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. In addition, we are subject to the following risks and uncertainties:

 

Risks Inherent in an Investment in Us

 

After completion of this offering, we will continue to have a significant amount of indebtedness, which may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing, pursuing other business opportunities and paying distributions to you.

 

Assuming we had completed this offering on December 31, 2009, as of that date, we would have had an aggregate of approximately $1.7 billion of debt outstanding and would have been able to borrow an additional aggregate amount of approximately $184 million under our revolving credit facilities, subject to certain liquidity requirements. We have a significant amount of indebtedness and we may incur additional indebtedness in the future. In addition, if we are awarded contracts for additional offshore projects or otherwise acquire additional vessels or businesses, our consolidated debt may significantly increase. Our level of indebtedness will have several important effects on our future operations, including, without limitation:

 

 

In addition, our credit facilities require us to make substantial interest and principal payments, including principal payments of approximately $108 million in 2010 and $184 million in 2011. Our ability to service our debt depends upon, among other things, our future financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. If our operating results are not sufficient to service our current or future indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions such as reducing distributions, reducing or delaying our business activities, acquisitions, investments or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our debt, or seeking additional equity capital or bankruptcy protection. We may not be able to effect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms, or at all.

 

Tax Risks

 

U.S. tax authorities could treat us as a “passive foreign investment company,” which could have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. holders.

 

A foreign entity taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (or PFIC) for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75.0% of its gross

income for any taxable year consists of certain types of “passive income,” or at least 50.0% of the average value of the entity’s assets produce or are held for the production of those types of “passive income.” For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties, other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.”

 

There are legal uncertainties involved in determining whether the income derived from our time chartering activities constitutes rental income or income derived from the performance of services, including the decision in Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.2d 299 (5th Cir. April 13, 2009), which held that income derived from certain time chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a foreign sales corporation provision of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the Code), and a recent unofficial U.S. Internal Revenue Service (or the IRS) pronouncement issued to provide guidance to IRS field employees and examiners, which cites the Tidewater decision favorably in support of the conclusion that income derived by foreign taxpayers from time chartering vessels engaged in the exploration for, or exploitation of, natural resources on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico is characterized as leasing or rental income for purposes of the income sourcing provisions of the Code. However, we believe that the nature of our time chartering activities, as well as our time charter contracts, differ in certain material respects from those at issue in Tidewater. Consequently, we intend to take the position that we are not now and have never been a PFIC, and our counsel, Perkins Coie LLP, is of the opinion that it is more likely than not we are not a PFIC based on representations we have made to them regarding the composition of our assets, the source of our income and the nature of our activities and other operations following this offering. No assurance can be given, however, that the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP would be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS, or that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if there were to be changes in our assets, income or operations.

 

If the IRS were to determine that we are or have been a PFIC for any taxable year, U.S. holders of our common units will face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences. Under the PFIC rules, unless those U.S. holders make certain elections available under the Code, such holders would be liable to pay tax at ordinary income tax rates plus interest upon certain distributions and upon any gain from the disposition of our common units, as if such distribution or gain had been recognized ratably over the U.S. holder’s holding period. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders — Consequences of Possible PFIC Classification.”

 

We are subject to taxes, which reduces our cash available for distribution to you.

 

We or our subsidiaries are subject to tax in certain jurisdictions in which we or our subsidiaries are organized, own assets or have operations, which reduces the amount of our cash available for distribution. In computing our tax obligations in these jurisdictions, we are required to take various tax accounting and reporting positions on matters that are not entirely free from doubt and for which we have not received rulings from the governing authorities. We cannot assure you that upon review of these positions, the applicable authorities will agree with our positions. A successful challenge by a tax authority could result in additional tax imposed on us or our subsidiaries, further reducing the cash available for distribution. For example, authorities in Norway recently asserted certain positions that may result in additional tax imposed on our subsidiaries in Norway. We have established reserves in our financial statements that we believe are adequate to cover our liability for any such additional taxes. We cannot assure you, however, that such reserves will be sufficient to cover any additional tax liability that may be imposed on our Norwegian subsidiaries. In addition, changes in our operations or ownership could result in additional tax being imposed on us, OPCO or our or its subsidiaries in jurisdictions in which operations are conducted. For example, Teekay Corporation now holds less than 50.0% of the value of our outstanding units, and therefore we expect that our U.S. source income will be subject to taxation under Section 883 of the Code for taxable years beginning in 2010.

 

We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $      million from the sale of common units we are offering (including from our general partner’s related capital contribution to maintain its 2% general partner interest in us), after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We expect to receive net proceeds of approximately $      million (including from our general partner’s related capital contribution) if the underwriters exercise in full their over-allotment option to acquire additional common units.

 

We will use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering, and the related capital contribution by our general partner, to repay the $60.0 million of outstanding debt under our unsecured subordinated debt facility with Teekay Corporation, which bears interest at 10% per annum and matures on September 10, 2014. We borrowed from Teekay Corporation under this facility to partially finance the purchase of the Petrojarl Varg. We will use the remaining net proceeds from this offering, together with cash on hand, to pay the approximately $45.0 million purchase price for the Falcon Spirit. Any proceeds from the exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option will be used to finance the purchase of the Falcon Spirit.

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of September 30, 2009 on a historical basis and on an as adjusted basis to give effect to this offering, the related capital contribution by our general partner to maintain its 2% general partner interest in us, and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

The historical data in the table is derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, our historical financial statements, including accompanying notes, and the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, and from our Reports on Form 6-K for the first three quarters of 2009, each of which is incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

 

 

Our common units were first offered on the New York Stock Exchange on December 14, 2006, at an initial price of $21.00 per unit. Our common units are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOO.”

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales price per common unit, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, and the amount of quarterly cash distributions declared per unit. The closing sales price of our common units on the New York Stock Exchange on March 15, 2010 was $20.17 per common unit.

 

 

 

 

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP, our U.S. counsel, insofar as it relates to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters. The opinion of our counsel is dependent on the accuracy of representations made by us to them, including descriptions of our operations contained herein.

 

This discussion is based upon provisions of the Code, final, temporary and proposed regulations thereunder (or Treasury Regulations), and administrative rulings and court decisions, all as currently in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we,” “our” or “us” are references to Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.

 

The following summary applies only to beneficial owners of our common units that own the units as “capital assets” (generally, for investment purposes) and does not comment on all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation which may be important to particular unitholders in light of their individual circumstances, such as unitholders subject to special tax rules (e.g., financial institutions, insurance companies, broker-dealers, tax-exempt organizations, or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States) or to persons that will hold the units as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale, or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, partnerships (or other entities treated as pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or their partners or owners thereof, or persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. If a partnership (or other entity treated as a pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds our common units, the tax treatment of a partner or owner thereof will generally depend upon the status of the partner or owner and upon the activities of the partnership or pass-through entity. If you are a partner in a partnership or owner of a pass-through entity holding our common units, you should consult your tax advisor.

 

No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or our unitholders. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made here may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS.

 

This summary does not discuss any U.S. state or local, estate or alternative minimum tax considerations regarding the ownership or disposition of common units. Each unitholder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and other tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of common units.

 

Election to be Taxed as a Corporation

 

We have elected to be taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, unitholders are not directly subject to U.S. federal income tax on our income, but rather are subject to U.S. federal income tax on distributions received from us and dispositions of units as described below.

 

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders

 

As used herein, the term U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of our common units that is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, that was created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or a trust that either is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and has one or more U.S. persons with authority to control all of its substantial decisions or has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person.

Distributions

 

We have elected to be taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Subject to the discussion of passive foreign investment companies (or PFICs) below, any distributions made by us with respect to our common units to a U.S. Holder generally will constitute dividends, which may be taxable as ordinary income or “qualified dividend income” as described in more detail below, to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its common units on a dollar-for-dollar basis and thereafter as capital gain. U.S. Holders that are corporations generally will not be entitled to claim a dividends received deduction with respect to any distributions they receive from us. Dividends paid with respect to our common units generally will be treated as “passive category income” or, in the case of certain types of U.S. Holders, “general category income” for purposes of computing allowable foreign tax credits for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Dividends paid on our common units to a U.S. Holder who is an individual, trust or estate (or a U.S. Individual Holder) will be treated as “qualified dividend income” that currently is taxable to such U.S. Individual Holder at preferential capital gain tax rates provided that: (i) our common units are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (such as the New York Stock Exchange on which our common units are traded); (ii) we are not a PFIC for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (which we do not believe we are, have been or will be, as discussed below); (iii) the U.S. Individual Holder has owned the common units for more than 60 days in the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the common units become ex-dividend (and has not entered into certain risk-limiting transactions with respect to such units); and (iv) the U.S. Individual Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. There is no assurance that any dividends paid on our common units will be eligible for these preferential rates in the hands of a U.S. Individual Holder. Any dividends paid on our common units not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a U.S. Individual Holder. In the absence of legislation extending the term of the preferential tax rates for qualified dividend income, all dividends received by a taxpayer in tax years beginning on January 1, 2011 or later will be taxed at ordinary graduated tax rates.

 

Special rules may apply to any “extraordinary dividend” paid by us. An extraordinary dividend is, generally, a dividend with respect to a share of stock if the amount of the dividend is equal to or in excess of 10.0% of a stockholder’s adjusted basis (or fair market value in certain circumstances) in such stock. If we pay an “extraordinary dividend” on our common units that is treated as “qualified dividend income,” then any loss derived by a U.S. Individual Holder from the sale or exchange of such common units will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of such dividend.

 

Consequences of Possible PFIC Classification

 

A non-U.S. entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be a PFIC in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to a “look through” rule, either: (i) at least 75.0% of its gross income is “passive” income; or (ii) at least 50.0% of the average value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.”

 

There are legal uncertainties involved in determining whether the income derived from our time chartering activities constitutes rental income or income derived from the performance of services, including the decision in Tidewater Inc. v. United States, 565 F.2d 299 (5th Cir. April 13, 2009), which held that income derived from certain time chartering activities should be treated as rental income rather than services income for purposes of a foreign sales corporation provision of the Code, and a recent unofficial IRS pronouncement

issued to provide guidance to IRS field employees and examiners, which cites the Tidewater decision favorably in support of the conclusion that income derived by foreign taxpayers from time chartering vessels engaged in the exploration for, or exploitation of, natural resources on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico is characterized as leasing or rental income for purposes of the income sourcing provisions of the Code. However, we believe that the nature of our time chartering activities, as well as our time charter contracts, differ in certain material respects from those at issue in Tidewater. Consequently, we intend to take the position that we are not now and have never been a PFIC, and our counsel, Perkins Coie LLP, is of the opinion that it is more likely than not that we are not a PFIC based on applicable law, including the Code, legislative history, published revenue rulings and court decisions, and representations we have made to them regarding the composition of our assets, the source of our income and the nature of our activities and other operations following this offering, including:

 

 

An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Further, no assurance can be given that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if there were to be changes in our assets, income or operations.

 

Current law provides that dividends received by a U.S. Individual Holder from a qualified foreign corporation are subject to U.S. federal income tax at preferential rates through 2010. However, if we are classified as a PFIC for a taxable year in which we pay a dividend or the immediately preceding taxable year, we would not be considered a qualified foreign corporation, and a U.S. Individual Holder receiving such dividends would not be eligible for the reduced rate of U.S. federal income tax.

 

Additionally, as discussed more fully below, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder would be subject to different taxation rules depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes an election to treat us as a “Qualified Electing Fund” (a QEF election). As an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder should be able to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common units, as discussed below.

 

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a Timely QEF Election.  If a U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF election (an Electing Holder), the Electing Holder must report for U.S. federal income tax purposes the Electing Holder’s pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and net capital gain, if any, for our taxable years that end with or within the Electing Holder’s taxable year, regardless of whether or not the Electing Holder received distributions from us in that year. The Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common units will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits. Distributions of earnings and profits that were previously taxed will result in a corresponding reduction in the Electing Holder’s adjusted tax basis in common units and will not be taxed again once distributed. An Electing Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units. A U.S. Holder makes a QEF election with respect to any year that we are a PFIC by filing IRS Form 8621 with his U.S. federal income tax return.

 

If a U.S. Holder has not made a timely and effective QEF election with respect to the first year in the holder’s holding period of our common units during which we qualified as a PFIC, the holder may be treated as having made a timely and effective QEF election by filing IRS Form 8621 with the holder’s timely filed U.S. federal income tax return (including extensions) and, under the rules of Section 1291 of the Code, a “deemed sale election” to recognize any gain that the holder would otherwise recognize if the holder sold the holder’s common units on the “qualification date.” The qualification date is the first day of our taxable year in which we qualified as a “qualified electing fund” with respect to such U.S. Holder. In addition to the above

rules, under very limited circumstances, a U.S. Holder may make a retroactive QEF election if the holder failed to file the QEF election documents in a timely manner.

 

If a U.S. Holder has made a QEF election with respect to us, then we would have to annually provide the holder with certain information concerning the subsidiary’s income and gain, calculated in accordance with the Code, and also would have to comply with certain record-keeping requirements imposed on a qualified electing fund in order for the holder to satisfy the qualified electing fund reporting rules. We have not provided our U.S. Holders with such qualified electing fund information in prior tax years and do not intend to provide such qualified electing fund information in the current tax year. If contrary to our expectations, we determine that we are or will be a PFIC for any taxable year, we will provide each U.S. Holder with the information necessary to make the QEF election described above.

 

A U.S. Holder’s QEF election will not be valid unless we agree to provide certain information annually to the holder to be included with his U.S. federal income tax return. Accordingly, you will not be able to make a QEF election at this time, notwithstanding the present uncertainty regarding whether we are a PFIC.

 

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a “Mark-to-Market” Election.  If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and, as we anticipate, our units were treated as “marketable stock,” then, as an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder would be allowed to make a “mark-to-market” election with respect to our common units, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury Regulations. If that election is made, the U.S. Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the U.S. Holder’s common units at the end of the taxable year over the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common units. The U.S. Holder also would be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common units over the fair market value thereof at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in his common units would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss recognized. Gain recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss recognized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the common units would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included in income by the U.S. Holder. Because the mark-to-market election only applies to marketable stock, however, it would not apply to a U.S. Holder’s indirect interest in any of our subsidiaries that were also determined to be PFICs.

 

Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election.  If we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder who does not make either a QEF election or a “mark-to-market” election for that year (a Non-Electing Holder) would be subject to special rules resulting in increased tax liability with respect to (1) any excess distribution (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder on our common units in a taxable year in excess of 125.0% of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non-Electing Holder’s holding period for the common units), and (2) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the units. Under these special rules:

 

 

These rules generally would not apply to a qualified pension, profit sharing or other retirement trust or other tax-exempt organization that did not borrow money or otherwise utilize leverage in connection with its acquisition of our common units. If we were treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and a Non-Electing Holder

who is an individual dies while owning our common units, such holder’s successor generally would not receive a step-up in tax basis with respect to such units.

 

U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability and advisability of, and procedure for, making QEF, mark-to-market elections and other available elections with respect to us, and the U.S. federal income tax consequences of making such elections.

 

Consequences of Possible Controlled Foreign Corporation Classification

 

If more than 50.0% of either the total combined voting power of our outstanding units entitled to vote or the total value of all of our outstanding units were owned, directly, indirectly or constructively, by citizens or residents of the United States, U.S. partnerships or corporations, or U.S. estates or trusts (as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes), each of which owned, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10.0% or more of the total combined voting power of our outstanding units entitled to vote (a United States Stockholder), we generally would be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (or CFC). United States Stockholders of a CFC are treated as receiving current distributions of their shares of certain income of the CFC without regard to any actual distributions and are subject to other burdensome U.S. federal income tax and administrative requirements, but generally are not also subject to the requirements generally applicable to owners of a PFIC. In addition, a person who is or has been a United States Stockholder of a CFC may recognize ordinary income on the disposition of shares of the CFC. Although we currently are not a CFC, U.S. persons purchasing a substantial interest in us should consult their tax advisors about the potential implications of being treated as a United States Stockholder in the event we were to become a CFC in the future.

 

Sale, Exchange or other Disposition of Common Units

 

Assuming we do not constitute a PFIC or CFC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such units. Subject to the discussion of extraordinary dividends above, such gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition, and subject to preferential capital gain tax rates. Such capital gain or loss will generally be treated as U.S.-source gain or loss, as applicable, for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. A U.S. Holder’s ability to deduct capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

 

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

 

As used herein, the term Non-U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of our common units (other than a partnership, including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. Holder.

 

Distributions

 

Distributions we make to a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If the Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business, distributions we make will be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent those distributions constitute income effectively connected with that Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. trade or business. However, distributions made to a Non-U.S. Holder that is engaged in a trade or business may be exempt from taxation under an income tax treaty if the income represented thereby is not attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder.

 

Disposition of Common Units

 

The U.S. federal income taxation of Non-U.S. Holders on any gain resulting from the disposition of our common units generally is the same as described above regarding distributions. However, an individual Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to tax on gain resulting from the disposition of our common units if the

holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which those shares are disposed and meets certain other requirements.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

In general, payments of distributions or the proceeds of a disposition of common units to a non-corporate U.S. Holder will be subject to information reporting requirements. These payments to a non-corporate U.S. Holder also may be subject to backup withholding if the non-corporate U.S. Holder:

 

 

Non-U.S. Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding on payments within the United States, or through a U.S. payor or U.S. middleman (within the meaning of the Treasury Regulations) by certifying their status on IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI or W-8IMY, as applicable.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, a unitholder generally may obtain a credit for any amount withheld against its liability for U.S. federal income tax (and a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of such liability) by filing a return with the IRS.

 

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are acting as joint book-running managers of this offering and as representatives for the other underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement, dated the date of this prospectus supplement, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the number of common units set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the units included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the units (other than those covered by their option to purchase additional units described below) if they purchase any of the units.

 

The business address of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 and of Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated is 4 World Financial Center, New York, NY 10080.

 

We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, to purchase up to 660,000 additional common units at the public offering price less the underwriting discount and commissions. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter must purchase a number of additional units approximately proportionate to that underwriter’s initial purchase commitment.

 

The underwriters propose to sell some of the common units directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and some of the common units to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not to exceed $      per common unit. If all of the common units are not sold at the initial offering price, the representatives may change the public offering price and the other selling terms.

 

The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we will pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional common units.

 

 

We estimate that our portion of the total expenses of this offering will be approximately $660,000 (exclusive of underwriting discounts and commissions).

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

We, Teekay Holdings Limited, our general partner and each of our general partner’s officers and directors, including nominees for directors, have agreed that, for a period of 60 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, dispose of or hedge any of our common units or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common units, subject to certain exceptions. Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, in their sole discretion, may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. The representatives have no present intent or arrangement to release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements. The release of any lock-up is considered on a case-by-case basis. Factors in deciding whether to release any common units may include the length of time before the lock-up period expires, the number of common units involved, the reason for the requested release, market conditions, the trading price of our common units, historical trading volume of our common units and whether the person seeking the release is an officer, director or affiliate of us.

 

Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOO.”

 

In connection with the offering, the representatives, on behalf of the underwriters, may purchase and sell the common units in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve syndicate sales of common units in excess of the number of units to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position. “Covered” short sales are sales of units made in an amount up to the number of units represented by the underwriters’ over-allotment option. In determining the source of units to close out the covered syndicate short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of units available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units through their option to purchase common units through the over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the covered syndicate short position involve either purchases of the common units in the open market after the distribution has been completed or the exercise of the over-allotment option. The underwriters may also make “naked” short sales of units in excess of the over-allotment option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing common units in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the units in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of units in the open market while the offering is in progress.

 

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when an underwriter repurchases units originally sold by that syndicate member in order to cover syndicate short positions or make stabilizing purchases.

 

Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common units. They may also cause the price of the common units to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.

 

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates from time to time have performed investment banking, commercial banking and advisory services for us and our affiliates Teekay Corporation, Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Teekay Tankers Ltd., for which they have received customary fees and expenses. The underwriters and their affiliates may from time to time perform investment banking and advisory services for us and our affiliates, including Teekay Corporation, Teekay LNG Partners L.P. and Teekay Tankers Ltd., and in the ordinary course of business for which they may in the future receive customary fees and expenses.

 

Pursuant to a requirement by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (or FINRA), the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker/dealer may not be greater than 8% of the gross proceeds received by us for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the underwriters. The representatives may agree to allocate a number of common units to underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. The representatives will allocate units to underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, common units may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell units to online brokerage account holders.

 

Other than the prospectus in electronic format, the information on any underwriter’s or selling group member’s website and any information contained in any other website maintained by any underwriter or selling group member is not part of the prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part, has not been approved and/or endorsed by us or any underwriter or selling group member in its capacity as underwriter or selling group member and should not be relied upon by investors.

 

The common units are offered for sale in those jurisdictions in the United States and elsewhere where it is lawful to make such offers.

 

The validity of the common units offered hereby and certain other legal matters with respect to the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands will be passed upon for us by our counsel as to Marshall Islands law, Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP. Certain other legal matters will be passed upon for us by Perkins Coie LLP, Portland, Oregon, which may rely on the opinions of Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP for all matters of Marshall Islands law. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. will pass upon certain legal matters in connection with the offering on behalf of the underwriters.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. appearing in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, and the effectiveness of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.’s internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, and the consolidated balance sheet of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. as at December 31, 2008, filed as Exhibit 15.2 to Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2008, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements, given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The carve-out financial statements of Petrojarl Varg appearing in the Report on Form 6-K from October 1 — December 31, 2006, January 1 — December 31, 2007, and January 1 — December 31, 2008 (Successor) and January 1 — September 30, 2006 (Predecessor) furnished by Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. on March 16, 2010 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such carve-out financial statements are incorporated herein in reliance upon the report of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements, given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The following table sets forth estimated costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discount, we expect to incur in connection with the issuance and distribution of the common units covered by this prospectus.

 

PROSPECTUS

 

$750,000,000

 

 

Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Units

 

 

 

 

 

 

We may offer from time to time common units, which represent limited partnership interests in Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.

 

The common units we may offer will have a maximum aggregate offering price of $750,000,000 and will be offered at prices and on terms to be set forth in one or more accompanying prospectus supplements.

 

We may offer these securities directly or to or through underwriters, dealers or other agents. The names of any underwriters or dealers will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOO.”

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer to sell securities we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about those securities and the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. This prospectus may be used to offer and sell securities only if accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. You should also read the documents we refer to in the “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” sections of this prospectus for information about us and our financial statements.

 

Limited partnerships are inherently different than corporations. You should carefully consider each of the factors described or referred to under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 7 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

May 22, 2008

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone else to give you different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not offering these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents. We will disclose material changes in our affairs in an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement or a future filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or SEC ) incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we have filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell, in one or more offerings, up to $750,000,000 in total aggregate offering price of the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus generally describes us and the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities with this prospectus, we will provide this prospectus and a prospectus supplement that will describe, among other things, the specific amounts and prices of the securities being offered and the terms of the offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to “Teekay Offshore Partners,” “we,” “us” and “our” and similar terms refer to Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries (including Teekay Offshore Operating L.P.), except that those terms, when used in this prospectus in connection with the common units described herein, shall mean specifically Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. References in this prospectus to “Teekay Corporation” refer to Teekay Corporation and/or any one or more of its subsidiaries.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all references in this prospectus to “dollars” and “$” are to, and amounts are presented in, U.S. Dollars, and financial information presented in this prospectus is prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (or GAAP).

 

The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. You should read carefully this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and the additional information described below under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

 

Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. is an international provider of marine transportation and storage services to the offshore oil industry. We were formed in August 2006 by Teekay Corporation (NYSE:TK), a leading provider of marine services to the global oil and gas industries, to further develop its operations in the offshore market. Our growth strategy focuses on expanding our fleet of shuttle tankers and floating storage and offtake (or FSO) units under long-term, fixed-rate time charters. We intend to continue our practice of acquiring shuttle tankers and FSO units as needed for approved projects only after the long-term charters for the projects have been awarded to us, rather than ordering vessels on a speculative basis. We intend to follow this same practice in acquiring floating production, storage and offloading (or FPSO) units, which produce and process oil offshore in addition to providing storage and offloading capabilities. We may enter into joint ventures and partnerships with companies that may provide increased access to opportunities emerging from the global expansion of the offshore transportation, storage and production sectors, or we may engage in vessel or business acquisitions. We seek to leverage the expertise, relationships and reputation of Teekay Corporation and its affiliates to pursue these growth opportunities in the offshore sectors and may consider other opportunities to which our competitive strengths are well suited. Teekay Corporation owns and controls our general partner and currently owns a 57.8% limited partner interest in us.

 

Our assets include, among others, a 26.0% interest in Teekay Offshore Operating L.P. (or OPCO), which owns and operates the world’s largest fleet of shuttle tankers, in addition to FSO units and conventional oil tankers. We control OPCO through our ownership of its general partner and Teekay Corporation owns the remaining 74.0% interest in OPCO. We believe that Teekay Corporation will offer us the opportunity to acquire additional limited partner interests in OPCO in the future.

 

As of April 30, 2008, our fleet consisted of: 38 shuttle tankers, 25 of which are owned by OPCO (including five through 50%-controlled joint ventures), 11 of which are chartered-in by OPCO, and 2 or which are owned by us (including one through a 50%-controlled joint venture); 5 FSO units, four of which are owned by OPCO; and 9 Aframax-class conventional crude oil tankers, all of which are owned by OPCO. All of these vessels operate under fixed-rate contracts or, for some of our shuttle tankers, under contracts of affreightment where payments are based upon the volume of oil transported. Our fleet consists of double-hull vessels, other than two FSO units.

 

Pursuant to an omnibus agreement we entered into in connection with our initial public offering in December 2006, Teekay Corporation is obligated to offer us shuttle tankers, FSO units, and FPSO units it may acquire in the future if the vessels are servicing contracts with terms in excess of three years.

 

Teekay Corporation has ordered four Aframax shuttle tanker newbuildings that are scheduled to deliver in 2010 and 2011, for a total delivered cost of approximately $485.0 million. These vessels will be offered to us pursuant to the omnibus agreement and, if we acquire them, we anticipate they will be used to service either new long-term, fixed-rate contracts Teekay Corporation may be awarded prior to vessel delivery or OPCO’s contracts of affreightment in the North Sea.

 

The omnibus agreement also obligates Teekay Corporation to offer to us (a) its interest in future FPSO and FSO projects it may undertake through its 50%-owned joint venture with Teekay Petrojarl ASA, one of the largest independent FPSO operators, and (b) if Teekay Corporation obtains 100% ownership of Teekay Petrojarl ASA, the existing FPSO units owned by Teekay Petrojarl ASA that are servicing contracts in excess of three years in length. As of April 30, 2008, Teekay Corporation owned 65% of Teekay Petrojarl ASA, which owns four FPSO units.

 

Our operations are conducted through, and our operating assets are owned by, our subsidiaries, including OPCO. Our subsidiary, Teekay Offshore Operating GP L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company, is OPCO’s general partner and manages OPCO’s operations and activities. Our general partner, Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C., a Marshall Islands limited liability company, has an economic interest in us and manages our operations and activities. Our general partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation in connection with its management of our business, but it is entitled to be reimbursed for all direct and indirect expenses incurred on our behalf. Pursuant to services agreements between us, OPCO and our and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and other subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation, on the other hand, the Teekay Corporation subsidiaries provide to us and OPCO substantially all of our and its administrative services and to our and OPCO’s subsidiaries substantially all of their strategic consulting, advisory, ship management, technical and administrative services.

 

We are a limited partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands. Our principal executive offices are located at 4th floor, Belvedere Building, 69 Pitts Bay Road, Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda, and our phone number is (441) 298-2530. Our principal operating office is located at Suite 2000, Bentall 5, 550 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6C 2K2, and our telephone number at such address is (604) 683-3529.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 regarding the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus does not contain all of the information found in the registration statement. For further information regarding us and the securities offered in this prospectus, you may wish to review the full registration statement, including its exhibits. The registration statement, including the exhibits, may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of this material can also be obtained upon written request from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates or from the SEC’s web site on the Internet at www.sec.gov free of charge. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on public reference rooms. Our registration statement can also be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

We are subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or the Exchange Act), and, in accordance therewith, we are required to file with the SEC annual reports on Form 20-F within six months of our fiscal year-end, and provide to the SEC other material information on Form 6-K. We intend to file our annual reports on Form 20-F earlier than the SEC currently requires. These reports and other information may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC or obtained from the SEC’s website as provided above. Our website on the Internet is located at www.teekayoffshore.com, and we expect to make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports and other information are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Securities Exchange Act from, among other things, certain rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers, directors and principal unitholders are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, we are not required under the Exchange Act to file periodic reports and financial statements with the SEC as frequently or as promptly as U.S. companies whose securities are registered under the Exchange Act, including the filing of quarterly reports or current reports on Form 8-K. However, we intend to make available quarterly reports containing our unaudited interim financial information for the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus information that we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, automatically will update information previously filed with the SEC, and may replace information in this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below:

 

 

These reports contain important information about us, our financial condition and our results of operations.

 

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through its public reference facilities or its website at the addresses provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (excluding any exhibits to those documents, unless the exhibit is specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our internet website at www.teekayoffshore.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:

 

Teekay Offshore Partners, L.P.

4th floor, Belvedere Building,

69 Pitts Bay Road

Hamilton HM 08, Bermuda Attn: Corporate Secretary

(441) 298-2530

 

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of each document.

 

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplements are forward-looking statements. In addition, we and our representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that also forward-looking statements. Such statements include, in particular, statements about our plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in our business, and the markets in which we operate. In some cases, you can identify the forward-looking statements by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “forecast,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “propose,” “potential,” “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

 

Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to, among other things:

 

 

 

These and other forward-looking statements are subject to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those risks discussed in “Risk Factors” below and those risks discussed in other reports we file with the SEC and that are incorporated in this prospectus by reference. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions involve known and unknown risks and are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control.

 

Forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and, therefore, involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks discussed in “Risk Factors.” We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

 

We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of these factors. Further, we cannot assess the impact of each such factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement.

 

Although many of our business risks are comparable to those of a corporation engaged in a similar business, limited partner interests are inherently different from the capital stock of a corporation. When evaluating an investment in our common units, you should carefully consider the following risk factors together with all other information included in this prospectus, including those risks discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and information included in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

If any of the risks actually occur, our business, financial condition, operating results or cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In that case, we might be unable to pay distributions on our common units, the trading price of our common units could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Our Partnership Agreement Limits Our General Partner’s Fiduciary Duties to Our Unitholders and Restricts the Remedies Available to Unitholders for Actions Taken by our General Partner.

 

Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held by Marshall Islands law. For example, our partnership agreement:

 

 

In order to become a limited partner of our partnership, a common unitholder agrees to be bound by the provisions in the partnership agreement, including the provisions discussed above.

 

Fees and Cost Reimbursements, Which Our General Partner Determines for Services Provided to us, are Substantial and Reduce Our Cash Available for Distribution to You.

 

Prior to making any distribution on the common units, we and OPCO pay fees for services provided to us, OPCO and our and its operating subsidiaries by certain subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation, and we reimburse our general partner for all expenses it incurs on our behalf. These fees are negotiated on our behalf by our general partner, and our general partner also determines the amounts it is reimbursed. These fees and expenses include all costs incurred in providing certain administrative services to us and OPCO and certain advisory, ship management, technical and administrative services to our and OPCO’s operating subsidiaries,

including services rendered to us pursuant to certain advisory and administrative services agreements. The payment of fees to Teekay Corporation and reimbursement of expenses to our general partner could adversely affect our ability to pay cash distributions to you.

 

Our General Partner, Which is Owned and Controlled by Teekay Corporation, Makes all Decisions on Our Behalf, Subject to the Limited Voting Rights of Our Common Unitholders. Even if Public Unitholders are Dissatisfied, they cannot Remove Our General Partner without Teekay Corporation’s Consent.

 

Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our business. Unitholders did not elect our general partner or its board of directors and have no right to elect our general partner or its board of directors on an annual or other continuing basis. Teekay Corporation, which owns and controls our general partner, appoints our general partner’s board of directors, which in turn appoints the board of directors of OPCO’s general partner. Our general partner makes all decisions on our behalf. If the unitholders are dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they have little ability to remove our general partner. As a result of these limitations, the price at which the common units trade could be diminished because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price.

 

The vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3% of all outstanding units, voting together as a single class, is required to remove our general partner. Teekay Corporation currently owns 58.9% of the units. Also, if our general partner is removed without “cause” during the subordination period and no units held by our general partner and Teekay Corporation are voted in favor of that removal, all remaining subordinated units (which are held by Teekay Corporation) will automatically convert into common units and any existing arrearages on the common units will be extinguished. A removal of our general partner under these circumstances would adversely affect the common units by prematurely eliminating their distribution and liquidation preference over the subordinated units, which would otherwise have continued until we had met certain distribution and performance tests. “Cause” is narrowly defined to mean that a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-appealable judgment finding our general partner liable for actual fraud or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as our general partner. Cause does not include most cases of charges of poor management of the business.

 

In addition, unitholders’ voting rights are further restricted by our partnership agreement provision providing that any units held by a person that owns 20.0% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than our general partner, its affiliates, their transferees, and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner, cannot vote on any matter. Our partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.

 

The Control of Our General Partner may be Transferred to a Third Party without Unitholder Consent.

 

Our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the unitholders. In addition, our partnership agreement does not restrict the ability of the members of our general partner from transferring their respective membership interests in our general partner to a third party. In the event of any such transfer, the new members of our general partner would be in a position to replace the board of directors and officers of our general partner with their own choices and to control the decisions taken by the board of directors and officers.

 

If We Cease to Control OPCO, We may be Deemed to be an Investment Company Under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

If we cease to manage and control OPCO and are deemed to be an investment company under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940 because of our ownership of OPCO partnership interests, we would

either have to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, obtain exemptive relief from the SEC or modify our organizational structure or our contract rights to fall outside the definition of an investment company. Registering as an investment company could, among other things, materially limit our ability to engage in transactions with affiliates, including the purchase and sale of certain securities or other property to or from our affiliates, restrict our ability to borrow funds or engage in other transactions involving leverage, and require us to add additional directors who are independent of us or our affiliates.

 

Common Unitholders may Experience Immediate and Substantial Dilution of their Interest.

 

In the past, purchasers of our common units have experienced immediate and substantial dilution of their ownership interest in us. This dilution results primarily because the assets contributed by our general partner and its affiliates in connection with our initial public offering are recorded at their historical cost, and not their fair value, in accordance with GAAP. Depending on whether the offering price for any common units exceeds the pro forma net tangible book value per common unit, you could incur immediate and substantial dilution.

 

We may Issue Additional Equity Securities without Your Approval, Which would Dilute Your Ownership Interests.

 

Our general partner, without the approval of our unitholders, may cause us to issue an unlimited number of additional units or other equity securities.

 

The issuance by us of additional common units or other equity securities will have the following effects:

 

 

In Establishing Cash Reserves, Our General Partner may Reduce the Amount of Cash Available for Distribution to You.

 

OPCO’s partnership agreement provides that the board of directors of our general partner, on our behalf, approves the amount of reserves from OPCO’s cash flow that is retained by OPCO to fund its future operating expenditures. Our partnership agreement requires our general partner to deduct from our operating surplus cash reserves that it determines are necessary to fund our future operating expenditures. These reserves affect the amount of cash available for distribution by OPCO to us and by us to our unitholders. In addition, our general partner may establish reserves for distributions on the subordinated units, but only if those reserves will not prevent us from distributing the full minimum quarterly distribution, plus any arrearages, on our common units for the following four quarters. Furthermore, our partnership agreement requires our general partner each quarter to deduct from operating surplus estimated maintenance capital expenditures, as opposed to actual expenditures, which could reduce the amount of available cash for distribution.

 

Our General Partner has a Call Right that may Require you to Sell Your Common Units at an Undesirable Time or Price.

 

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80.0% of the common units, our general partner has the right, which it may assign to any of its affiliates or to us, but not the obligation, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price not less than their then-current market price as determined in accordance with our partnership agreement. As a result, you may be required to sell your common units at an undesirable time or price and may not receive any return on your investment. You may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of your units.

Teekay Corporation, an affiliate of our general partner, currently owns approximately 17.9% of the common units. At the end of the subordination period applicable to our subordinated units, and assuming no additional issuances of common units and conversion of our subordinated units into common units, Teekay Corporation will own approximately 58.9% of the common units. Teekay Corporation may acquire additional common units from us in connection with future transactions or through open-market or negotiated purchases.

 

Our Partnership Agreement Restricts the Voting Rights of Unitholders Owning 20% or More of Our Common Units.

 

Our partnership agreement restricts unitholders’ voting rights by providing that any units held by a person that owns 20.0% or more of any class of units then outstanding, other than our general partner, its affiliates, their transferees and persons who acquired such units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner, cannot vote on any matter. The partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.

 

You may not have Limited Liability if a Court Finds that Unitholder Action Constitutes Control of Our Business.

 

As a limited partner in a partnership organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, you could be held liable for our obligations to the same extent as a general partner if you participate in the “control” of our business. Our general partner generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership, such as its debts and environmental liabilities, except for those contractual obligations of the partnership that are expressly made without recourse to our general partner. In addition, the Marshall Islands Limited Partnership Act (or the Marshall Islands Act) provides that a unitholder may be liable to us for the amount of a distribution for a period of three years from the date of the distribution, as described below under “— Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions.” In addition, the limitations on the liability of holders of limited partner interests for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in some jurisdictions in which we do business.

 

We can Borrow Money to Pay Distributions, Which would Reduce the Amount of Credit Available to Operate Our Business.

 

Our partnership agreement allows us to make working capital borrowings to pay distributions. Accordingly, we can make distributions on all our units even though cash generated by our operations may not be sufficient to pay such distributions. Any working capital borrowings by us to make distributions will reduce the amount of working capital borrowings we can make for operating our business.

 

Increases in Interest Rates may Cause the Market Price of Our Common Units to Decline.

 

An increase in interest rates may cause a corresponding decline in demand for equity investments in general, and in particular for yield-based equity investments such as our common units. Any such increase in interest rates or reduction in demand for our common units resulting from other relatively more attractive investment opportunities may cause the trading price of our common units to decline.

 

Unitholders may have Liability to Repay Distributions.

 

Unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully distributed to them. Under the Marshall Islands Act, we may not make a distribution to you if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Marshall Islands law provides that for a period of three years from the date of the impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Marshall Islands law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Purchasers of units who become limited partners are liable for the obligations of the transferring limited partner to make contributions to the partnership that are known to the purchaser at the time it became a limited partner and for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from the partnership agreement. Liabilities to

partners on account of their partnership interest and liabilities that are non-recourse to the partnership are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.

 

We have been Organized as a Limited Partnership Under the Laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Which does not have a Well-Developed Body of Partnership Law.

 

Our partnership affairs are governed by our partnership agreement and by the Marshall Islands Act. The provisions of the Marshall Islands Act resemble provisions of the limited partnership laws of a number of states in the United States, most notably Delaware. The Marshall Islands Act also provides that it is to be applied and construed to make it uniform with the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act and, so long as it does not conflict with the Marshall Islands Act or decisions of the Marshall Islands courts, interpreted according to the non-statutory law (or case law) of the courts of the State of Delaware. There have been, however, few, if any, court cases in the Marshall Islands interpreting the Marshall Islands Act, in contrast to Delaware, which has a fairly well-developed body of case law interpreting its limited partnership statute. Accordingly, we cannot predict whether Marshall Islands courts would reach the same conclusions as Delaware courts. For example, the rights of our unitholders and the fiduciary responsibilities of our general partner under Marshall Islands law are not as clearly established as under judicial precedent in existence in Delaware. As a result, unitholders may have more difficulty in protecting their interests in the face of actions by our general partner and its officers and directors than would unitholders of a limited partnership formed in the United States.

 

Because we are Organized Under the Laws of the Marshall Islands, It may be Difficult to Serve us with Legal Process or Enforce Judgments Against Us, Our Directors or Our Management.

 

We are organized under the laws of the Marshall Islands, and all of our assets are located outside of the United States. Our business is operated primarily from our offices in Bermuda, Norway and Singapore. In addition, our general partner is a Marshall Islands limited liability company and a majority of its directors and officers are non-residents of the United States, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of these non-residents are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for you to bring an action against us or against these individuals in the United States if you believe that your rights have been infringed under securities laws or otherwise. Even if you are successful in bringing an action of this kind, the laws of the Marshall Islands and of other jurisdictions may prevent or restrict you from enforcing a judgment against our assets or the assets of our general partner or its directors and officers. For more information regarding the relevant laws of the Marshall Islands, please read “Service of Process and Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.”

 

In addition to the following risk factors, you should read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Non-United States Tax Considerations” for a more complete discussion of the expected material U.S. federal and non-U.S. income tax considerations relating to us and the ownership and disposition of our common units, as well as the information included in Item 4(E) of our latest Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC and any updates thereof, which information is incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

U.S. Tax Authorities could Treat us as a “Passive Foreign Investment Company,” Which could have Adverse U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders.

 

A foreign entity taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (or PFIC), for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75.0% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of “passive income,” or at least 50.0% of the average value of the entity’s assets produce or are held for the production of those types of “passive income.” For purposes of these tests, “passive income” includes dividends, interest, and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties that are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business. For purposes of these tests, income

derived from the performance of services does not constitute “passive income.” U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC, and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the PFIC.

 

While there are legal uncertainties involved in this determination, our counsel, Perkins Coie LLP, is of the opinion that we should not be a PFIC based on certain assumptions made by them as well as certain representations we made to them regarding the composition of our assets, the source of our income, and the nature of our operations. However, no assurance can be given that the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will accept this position or that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if there were to be changes in our assets, income or operations.

 

The Preferential Tax Rates Applicable to Qualified Dividend Income are Temporary, and the Enactment of Proposed Legislation could Affect Whether Dividends Paid by Us Constitute Qualified Dividend Income Eligible for the Preferential Rate.

 

Certain of our distributions may be treated as qualified dividend income eligible for preferential rates of U.S. federal income tax to U.S. individual unitholders (and certain other U.S. unitholders). In the absence of legislation extending the term for these preferential tax rates, all dividends received by such U.S. taxpayers in tax years beginning on January 1, 2011 or later will be taxed at ordinary graduated tax rates. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — United States Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders — Distributions.”

 

Legislation has been, and may in the future be, proposed which, if enacted, could deny the preferential rate of U.S. federal income tax currently imposed on distributions paid by us. As of the date of this prospectus, it is not possible to predict with any certainty whether such proposed legislation will be enacted.

 

We are Subject to Taxes, Which Reduces Our Cash Available for Distribution to You.

 

Some of our subsidiaries are subject to tax in the jurisdictions in which they are organized or operate, which reduces the amount of our cash available for distribution. In computing our tax obligation in these jurisdictions, we are required to take various tax accounting and reporting positions on matters that are not entirely free from doubt and for which we have not received rulings from the governing authorities. We cannot assure you that upon review of these positions the applicable authorities will agree with our positions. A successful challenge by a tax authority could result in additional tax imposed on our subsidiaries, further reducing the cash available for distribution. In addition, changes in our operations or ownership could result in additional tax being imposed on us, OPCO or our or its subsidiaries in jurisdictions in which operations are conducted. For example, if Teekay Corporation holds less than 50.0% of the value of our units in the future, our U.S. source income may become subject to taxation under Section 883 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

 

You may be Subject to Income Tax in One or More Non-U.S. Countries, Including Canada, as a Result of Owning Our Common Units If, Under the Laws of any Such Country, We or OPCO are Considered to be Carrying on Business there. Such Laws may Require You to file a Tax Return with and Pay Taxes to those Countries.

 

We intend that our affairs and the business of each of our controlled affiliates, including OPCO, be conducted and operated in a manner that minimizes income taxes imposed upon us and these controlled affiliates or which may be imposed upon you as a result of owning our common units. However, because we are organized as a partnership, there is a risk in some jurisdictions that our activities and the activities of OPCO and our or its subsidiaries may be attributed to our unitholders for tax purposes and, thus, that you will be subject to tax in one or more non-U.S. countries, including Canada, as a result of owning our common units if, under the laws of any such country, we or OPCO are considered to be carrying on business there. Under the Income Tax Act (Canada), our election to be treated as a corporation for U.S. tax purposes has no effect. Therefore, we will continue to be treated as a partnership for Canadian tax purposes. If you are subject to tax in any such country, you may be required to file a tax return with and to pay tax in that country based

on your allocable share of our income. We may be required to reduce distributions to you on account of any withholding obligations imposed upon us by that country in respect of such allocation to you. The United States may not allow a tax credit for any foreign income taxes that you directly or indirectly incur.

 

We believe we conduct our and OPCO’s activities in a manner so that our unitholders should not be considered to be carrying on business in Canada solely as a consequence of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of our common units. However, the question of whether either we or any of our controlled affiliates will be treated as carrying on business in any country, including Canada, will largely be a question of fact determined through an analysis of contractual arrangements, including the services agreements we, OPCO and our and its operating subsidiaries have entered into and, will enter into in the future, with subsidiaries of Teekay Corporation, and the way we and OPCO conduct business or operations, all of which may change over time. Please read “Non-United States Tax Considerations — Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations.” The laws of Canada or any other foreign country may also change, which could cause the country’s taxing authorities to determine that we or OPCO are carrying on business in such country and are subject to its taxation laws. Any foreign taxes imposed on us, OPCO or any subsidiaries will reduce our cash available for distribution to you.

 

Unless we specify otherwise in any prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from our sale of securities covered by this prospectus for general partnership purposes, which may include, among other things:

 

 

The actual application of proceeds from the sale of any particular offering of securities covered by this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering.

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2007.

 

This table is derived from and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, including accompanying notes, incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should also read this table in conjunction with the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto, which are incorporated by reference herein from our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

 

As of April 30, 2008, there were 9,800,000 common units outstanding, held by approximately 4 holders of record. Our common units were first offered on the New York Stock Exchange on December 14, 2006, at an initial price of $21.00 per unit. Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOO.”

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices for our common units, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, and quarterly cash distributions declared per common unit. The last reported sale price of common units on the New York Stock Exchange on May 15, 2008 was $22.11 per common unit.

 

 

 

Our common units and our subordinated units represent limited partner interests in us. The holders of units are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the relative rights and privileges of holders of common units, holders of subordinated units and our general partner in and to partnership distributions, together with a description of the circumstances under which subordinated units convert into common units, please read “How We Make Cash Distributions.”

 

We currently have 9,800,000 common units outstanding, of which 1,750,000 are held by Teekay Corporation, which owns our general partner. We also have 9,800,000 subordinated units outstanding, for which there is no established public trading market, all of which are held by Teekay Corporation. The common units and the subordinated units represent an aggregate 98% limited partner interest and the general partner interest represents a 2% general partner interest in us.

 

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership securities and rights to buy partnership securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions determined by our general partner without the approval of our unitholders.

 

We may fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.

 

In accordance with Marshall Islands law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership securities interests that, as determined by the general partner, have special voting or other rights to which the common units are not entitled.

 

Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner will have the right, but not the obligation to make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its 2% general partner interest in us. In addition, our general partner and its affiliates have the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units, subordinated units or other equity securities whenever, and on the same terms that, we issue those securities to persons other than our general partner and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain its and its affiliates’ percentage interest, including its interest represented by common units and subordinated units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance. Other holders of common units do not have similar preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership securities.

 

Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, the holders of our units have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our business. They have no right to elect our general partner (who manages our operations and activities), or the directors of our general partner, on an annual or other continuing basis. On those matters that are submitted to a vote of unitholders, each record holder of a unit may vote according to the holder’s percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, or a direct or subsequently approved transferee of our general partner or its affiliates or a transferee approved by the board of directors of our general partner, acquires, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices

of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum, or for other similar purposes.

 

Holders of our subordinated units sometimes vote as a single class together with the holders of our common units and sometimes vote as a class separate from the holders of common units. Holders of subordinated units, like holders of common units, have very limited voting rights. During the subordination period, common units (excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates) and subordinated units each vote separately as a class generally on the following matters:

 

 

Neither the subordinated units nor any common units held by our general partners or any of its affiliates are entitled to vote on approval of the withdrawal of our general partner or the transfer by our general partner of its general partner interest or incentive distribution rights under some circumstances. Removal of our general partner requires:

 

 

Except as described above regarding a person or group owning 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, unitholders or assignees who are record holders of units on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited. Common units that are owned by an assignee who is a record holder, but who has not yet been admitted as a limited partner, will be voted by the general partner at the written direction of the record holder. Absent direction of this kind, the common units will not be voted, except that, in the case of common units held by our general partner on behalf of unpermitted citizen assignees, our general partner will distribute the votes on those common units in the same ratios as the votes of limited partners on other units are cast.

 

Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting if consents in writing describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be the greater percentage.

 

Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise.

 

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates hold more than 80% of the then-issued and outstanding partnership securities of any class, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining partnership securities of the class held by unaffiliated persons as of a record date to be selected by our general partner, on at least 10 but not more than 60 days’ notice. The purchase price in this event is the greater of (x) the average of the daily closing prices of the partnership securities of such class over the 20 trading days preceding the date three days before notice of exercise of the call right is first mailed and (y) the highest price paid by our general partner or any of its affiliates for partnership securities of such class during the 90-day period preceding the date such notice is first mailed.

 

As a result of our general partner’s right to purchase outstanding partnership securities, a holder of partnership securities may have the holder’s partnership securities purchased at an undesirable time or price. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as a sale by that unitholder of common units in the market. Please read “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations — United States Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders — Sale, Exchange or other Disposition of Common Units” and “— United States Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders — Disposition of Units.”

 

Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, where they trade under the symbol “TOO.”

 

BNY Mellon Shareowner Services serves as registrar and transfer agent for our common units. We pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units, except the following, which must be paid by unitholders:

 

 

There is no charge to unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.

 

By transfer of common units in accordance with our partnership agreement, each transferee of common units automatically shall be admitted as a limited partner with respect to the common units transferred when such transfer and admission is reflected in our books and records. Our general partner will cause any transfers to be recorded on our books and records no less frequently than quarterly. Each transferee automatically shall be deemed to:

 

 

We are entitled to treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holder’s rights are limited solely to those that it has against the nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.

Common units are securities and are transferable according to the laws governing transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to become a limited partner in our partnership for the transferred common units.

 

Merger, Sale, or Other Disposition of Assets.  A merger or consolidation of us requires the consent of our general partner, in addition to the unitholder vote described above under “— Meetings; Voting.” However, our general partner will have no duty or obligation to consent to any merger or consolidation and may decline to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. In addition, our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval of the holders of units representing a unit majority, from causing us to, among other things, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, including by way of merger, consolidation, or other combination, or approving on our behalf the sale, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of our subsidiaries. Our general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without that approval. Our general partner may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without that approval. The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal under our partnership agreement or applicable law in the event of a conversion, merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets, or any other transaction or event.

 

Registration Rights.  Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws any common units, subordinated units or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available or advisable. These registration rights continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. as our general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

A copy of our partnership agreement is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. A summary of the important provisions of our partnership agreement and the rights and privileges of our unitholders is included in our registration statement on Form 8-A/A as filed with the SEC on May 6, 2008, including any subsequent amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. Please read “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference.”

 

General

 

Within approximately 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash (defined below) to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.

 

Available Cash

 

Available cash generally means, for each fiscal quarter, all cash on hand at the end of the quarter (including our proportionate share of cash on hand of certain subsidiaries we do not wholly own, including OPCO):

 

 

 

 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

 

Common unitholders are entitled under our partnership agreement to receive a quarterly distribution of $0.35 per unit, or $1.40 per unit per year, prior to any distribution on our subordinated units, to the extent we have sufficient cash on hand to pay the distribution after we establish cash reserves and pay fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner. Our general partner has the authority to determine the amount of our available cash for any quarter. This determination, as well as all determinations made by our general partner, must be made in good faith. Our general partner’s board of directors declared an increase in our quarterly distribution to $0.385 per unit, or $1.54 per year, commencing with the third quarter of 2007, and a subsequent increase to $0.40 per unit, or $1.60 per year, commencing with the fourth quarter of 2007. There is no guarantee that we will pay the quarterly distribution in this amount or the minimum quarterly distribution on our common units in any quarter, and we and OPCO will be prohibited from making any distributions to our common unitholders or us, respectively, if any such distribution would cause an event of default, or an event of default is existing, under our or OPCO’s credit facilities.

 

General

 

All cash distributed to unitholders is characterized as either “operating surplus” or “capital surplus.” We treat distributions of available cash from operating surplus differently than distributions of available cash from capital surplus.

Definition of Operating Surplus

 

Operating surplus, for any period, generally means:

 

 

If a working capital borrowing, which increases operating surplus, is not repaid during the 12-month period following the borrowing, it will be deemed repaid at the end of such period, thus decreasing operating surplus at such time. When such working capital borrowing is in fact repaid, it will not be treated as a reduction in operating surplus because operating surplus will have been previously reduced by the deemed repayment.

 

As described above, operating surplus includes a provision that will enable us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $15.0 million of cash we receive in the future from non-operating sources, such as asset sales, issuances of securities and long-term borrowing, that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. In addition, the effect of including, as described above, certain cash distributions on equity securities or interest payments on debt in operating surplus also would be to increase operating surplus by the amount of any such cash distributions or interest payments. As a result, we may distribute as operating surplus up to the amount of any such cash distributions or interest payments of cash we receive from non-operating sources.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

For purposes of determining operating surplus, maintenance capital expenditures are those capital expenditures required to maintain over the long term the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by

capital assets, and expansion capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that increase the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by capital assets. To the extent, however, that capital expenditures associated with acquiring a new vessel increase the revenues or the operating capacity of the fleet, those capital expenditures would be classified as expansion capital expenditures.

 

Investment capital expenditures are those capital expenditures that are neither maintenance capital expenditures nor expansion capital expenditures. Investment capital expenditures largely consist of capital expenditures made for investment purposes.

 

Examples of investment capital expenditures include traditional capital expenditures for investment purposes, such as purchases of securities, as well as other capital expenditures that might be made in lieu of such traditional investment capital expenditures, such as the acquisition of a capital asset for investment purposes.

 

Examples of maintenance capital expenditures include capital expenditures associated with drydocking a vessel or acquiring a new vessel to the extent such expenditures are incurred to maintain the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by the fleet. Maintenance capital expenditures also include interest (and related fees) on debt incurred and distributions on equity issued to finance the construction of a replacement vessel and paid during the construction period, which we define as the period beginning on the date of entry into a binding construction contract and ending on the earlier of the date that the replacement vessel commences commercial service or the date that the replacement vessel is abandoned or disposed of. Debt incurred to pay or equity issued to fund construction period interest payments, and distributions on such equity, are also considered maintenance capital expenditures.

 

Because maintenance capital expenditures may be very large and vary significantly in timing, the amount of actual maintenance capital expenditures may differ substantially from period to period, which could cause similar fluctuations in the amounts of operating surplus, adjusted operating surplus, and available cash for distribution to our unitholders if we subtracted actual maintenance capital expenditures from operating surplus each quarter. Accordingly, to eliminate the effect on operating surplus of these fluctuations, our partnership agreement requires that an amount equal to an estimate of the average quarterly maintenance capital expenditures necessary to maintain the operating capacity of or the revenue generated by our capital assets over the long term be subtracted from operating surplus each quarter, as opposed to the actual amounts spent. The amount of estimated maintenance capital expenditures deducted from operating surplus is subject to review and change by the board of directors of our general partner at least once a year, provided that any change must be approved by the board’s conflicts committee. The estimate is made at least annually and whenever an event occurs that is likely to result in a material adjustment to the amount of our maintenance capital expenditures, such as a major acquisition or the introduction of new governmental regulations that will affect our fleet. For purposes of calculating operating surplus, any adjustment to this estimate is prospective only. The partnership agreement of OPCO requires that the board of directors of our general partner, on our behalf, must approve the amount of maintenance capital reserves for OPCO.

 

Our use of estimated maintenance capital expenditures in calculating operating surplus has the following effects:

 

 

Definition of Capital Surplus

 

Capital surplus generally is generated only by:

 

 

Characterization of Cash Distributions

 

We treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since we began operations equals the operating surplus as of the most recent date of determination of available cash. We treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. As described above, operating surplus does not reflect actual cash on hand that is available for distribution to our unitholders. For example, it includes a provision that enables us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $15.0 million of cash we receive in the future from non-operating sources such as asset sales, issuances of securities and long-term borrowings that would otherwise be distributed as capital surplus. We do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus.

 

General

 

During the subordination period, which we define below, our common units have the right to receive distributions of available cash from operating surplus in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.35 per quarter, plus any arrearages in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the common units from prior quarters, before any distributions of available cash from operating surplus may be made on our subordinated units. Distribution arrearages do not accrue on the subordinated units. The purpose of the subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that during the subordination period there will be available cash from operating surplus to be distributed on the common units.

 

Definition of Subordination Period

 

Except as described below under “Early Termination of Subordination Period,” the subordination period will extend until the first day of any quarter, beginning after December 31, 2009, that each of the following tests are met:

 

 

If the unitholders remove our general partner without cause, the subordination period may end before December 31, 2009.

Early Termination of Subordination Period.

 

The subordination period will automatically terminate and the subordinated units will convert into common units on a one-for-one basis if the following tests are met:

 

 

For purposes of determining whether sufficient adjusted operating surplus has been generated under these conversion tests, the conflicts committee of our general partner’s board of directors may adjust adjusted operating surplus upwards or downwards if it determines in good faith that the estimated amount of maintenance capital expenditures used in the determination of operating surplus was materially incorrect, based on circumstances prevailing at the time of original determination of the estimate.

 

Definition of Adjusted Operating Surplus

 

Adjusted operating surplus, for any period, generally means:

 

 

Adjusted operating surplus is intended to reflect the cash generated from operations during a particular period and therefore excludes net increases in working capital borrowings and net drawdowns of reserves of cash generated in prior periods.

 

Effect of Expiration of the Subordination Period

 

Upon expiration of the subordination period, each outstanding subordinated unit will convert into one common unit and will then participate pro rata with the other common units in distributions of available cash. In addition, if the unitholders remove our general partner other than for cause and units held by our general partner and its affiliates are not voted in favor of such removal:

 

 

 

We make distributions of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter during the subordination period in the following manner:

 

 

The preceding paragraph is based on the assumption that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

 

We will make distributions of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter after the subordination period in the following manner:

 

 

The preceding paragraph is based on the assumption that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

 

Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels have been achieved. Our general partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its general partner interest. Except for transfers of incentive distribution rights to an affiliate or another entity as part of our general partner’s merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to such entity, the approval of a majority of our common units (excluding common units held by our general partner and its affiliates), voting separately as a class, generally is required for a transfer of the incentive distributions rights to a third party prior to December 31, 2016. Any transfer by our general partner of the incentive distribution rights would not change the percentage allocations of quarterly distributions with respect to such rights.

 

If for any quarter:

 

 

 

then, we distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus for that quarter among the unitholders and our general partner in the following manner:

 

 

In each case, the amount of the target distribution set forth above is exclusive of any distributions to common unitholders to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests set forth above assume that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and has not transferred the incentive distribution rights and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

 

The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of the additional available cash from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner up to the various target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under “Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions” are the percentage interests of the unitholders and our general partner in any available cash from operating surplus we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column “Total Quarterly Distribution Target Amount,” until available cash from operating surplus we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the unitholders and our general partner for the minimum quarterly distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the minimum quarterly distribution. The percentage interests shown for our general partner include its 2.0% general partner interest and assume our general partner has contributed any capital necessary to maintain its 2.0% general partner interest and has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

 

 

How Distributions From Capital Surplus Are Made

 

We make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following manner:

 

 

 

The preceding paragraph is based on the assumption that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

 

Effect of a Distribution From Capital Surplus

 

Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from our initial public offering on December 19, 2006, which is a return of capital. Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as the distribution had to the fair market value of the common units prior to the announcement of the distribution. Because distributions of capital surplus will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution, after any of these distributions are made, it may be easier for our general partner to receive incentive distributions and for the subordinated units to convert into common units. However, any distribution of capital surplus before the minimum quarterly distribution is reduced to zero cannot be applied to the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution or any arrearages.

 

Once we reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels to zero, we will then make all future distributions from operating surplus, with 50.0% being paid to the holders of units and 50.0% to our general partner. The percentage interests shown for our general partner include its 2.0% general partner interest and assume the general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

 

In addition to adjusting the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units, we will proportionately adjust:

 

 

For example, if a two-for-one split of the common and subordinated units should occur, the minimum quarterly distribution, the target distribution levels and the initial unit price would each be reduced to 50.0% of its initial level. If we combine our common units into a lesser number of units or subdivide our common units into a greater number of units, we will combine our subordinated units or subdivide our subordinated units, using the same ratio applied to the common units. We will not make any adjustment by reason of the issuance of additional units for cash or property.

 

In addition, if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted by a governmental taxing authority so that OPCO or any subsidiary becomes subject to additional taxation as an entity for U.S. federal, state, local or foreign tax purposes, our partnership agreement specifies that the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels for each quarter will be reduced by multiplying each distribution level by a fraction, the numerator of which is available cash for that quarter and the denominator of which is the sum of available cash for that quarter plus our general partner’s estimate of our direct or indirect aggregate liability for the quarter for such taxes payable by reason of such legislation or interpretation. To the extent that the actual tax liability differs from the estimated tax liability for any quarter, the difference will be accounted for in subsequent quarters.

 

If we dissolve in accordance with our partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will apply the proceeds of liquidation in the manner set forth below.

 

If, as of the date three trading days prior to the announcement of the proposed liquidation, the average closing price of our common units for the preceding 20 trading days (or the current market price ) is greater than the sum of:

 

 

then the proceeds of the liquidation will be applied as follows:

 

 

If, as of the date three trading days prior to the announcement of the proposed liquidation, the current market price of our common units is equal to or less than the sum of:

 

 

then the proceeds of the liquidation will be applied as follows:

 

 

The immediately preceding two paragraphs are based on the assumption that our general partner maintains its 2.0% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

 

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to prospective unitholders and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP, our U.S. counsel, insofar as it relates to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters. The opinion of our counsel is dependent on the accuracy of representations made by us to them, including descriptions of our operations contained herein.

 

This discussion is based upon provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or the Code) as in effect on the date of this prospectus, existing final and temporary regulations thereunder (or Treasury Regulations), and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we,” “our” or “us” are references to Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.

 

The following summary does not comment on all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation which may be important to particular unitholders in light of their individual circumstances, such as unitholders subject to special tax rules (e.g., financial institutions, insurance companies, broker-dealers, tax-exempt organizations, or former citizens or long-term residents of the United States) or to persons that will hold the units as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion, constructive sale, or other integrated transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes, partnerships or their partners, or persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, all of whom may be subject to tax rules that differ significantly from those summarized below. If a partnership or other entity taxed as a pass-through entity holds our common units, the tax treatment of a partner or owner thereof will generally depend upon the status of the partner or owner and upon the activities of the partnership or pass-through entity. If you are a partner in a partnership or owner of a pass-through entity holding our common units, you should consult your tax advisor.

 

No ruling has been or will be requested from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (or the IRS) regarding any matter affecting us or our unitholders. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made here may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS.

 

This summary does not discuss any U.S. state or local, estate or alternative minimum tax considerations regarding the ownership or disposition of common units. This summary is written for unitholders that hold their units as “capital assets” under the Code. Each unitholder is urged to consult its tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and other tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of common units.

 

We have elected to be taxed as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As such, unitholders are not directly subject to U.S. federal income tax on our income, but rather are subject to U.S. federal income tax on distributions received from us and dispositions of units as described below.

 

As used herein, the term U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of our common units that is a U.S. citizen or resident (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes), U.S. corporation or other U.S. entity taxable as a corporation, an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.

 

Distributions

 

Subject to the discussion of the rules applicable to passive foreign investment companies (or PFICs) below, any distributions made by us with respect to our common units to a U.S. Holder generally will

constitute dividends, which may be taxable as ordinary income or “qualified dividend income” as described in more detail below, to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its common units on a dollar-for-dollar basis and thereafter as capital gain. U.S. Holders that are corporations generally will not be entitled to claim a dividends received deduction with respect to any distributions they receive from us. Dividends paid with respect to our common units generally will be treated as “passive category income” or, in the case of certain types of U.S. Holders, “general category income” for purposes of computing allowable foreign tax credits for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Dividends paid on our common units to a U.S. Holder who is an individual, trust or estate (or a U.S. Individual Holder) will be treated as “qualified dividend income” that is taxable to such U.S. Individual Holder at preferential capital gain tax rates provided that: (i) our common units are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (such as the New York Stock Exchange on which our common units are currently traded); (ii) we are not a PFIC for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (which we do not believe we are, have been or will be, as discussed below); (iii) the U.S. Individual Holder has owned the common units for more than 60 days in the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the common units become ex-dividend; and (iv) the U.S. Individual Holder is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to positions in substantially similar or related property. There is no assurance that any dividends paid on our common units will be eligible for these preferential rates in the hands of a U.S. Individual Holder. Dividends paid on our common units that are not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a U.S. Individual Holder. In the absence of legislation extending the term of the preferential tax rates for qualified dividend income, all dividends received by a taxpayer in tax years beginning on January 1, 2011 or later will be taxed at ordinary graduated tax rates.

 

Special rules may apply to any “extraordinary dividend” paid by us. An extraordinary dividend is, generally, a dividend with respect to a common unit if the amount of the dividend is equal to or in excess of 10.0% of a unitholder’s adjusted basis (or fair market value in certain circumstances) in such common unit. If we pay an “extraordinary dividend” on our common units that is treated as “qualified dividend income,” then any loss derived by a U.S. Individual Holder from the sale or exchange of such common units will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of such dividend.

 

Consequences of Possible PFIC Classification

 

A non-U.S. entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes will be a PFIC in any taxable year in which, after taking into account the income and assets of the corporation and certain subsidiaries pursuant to a “look through” rule, either: (i) at least 75.0% of its gross income is “passive” income; or (ii) at least 50.0% of the average value of its assets is attributable to assets that produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income.

 

While there are legal uncertainties involved in this determination, our counsel, Perkins Coie LLP, is of the opinion that we should not be a PFIC based on certain representations that we have made to them regarding the composition of our assets, the source of our income, and the nature of our chartering activities and other operations following this offering, including:

 

 

In addition to these representations, the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP that we should not be a PFIC is based principally on the position that at least a majority, if not all, the gross income we derive from our time charters and contracts of affreightment should constitute services income, rather than rental income. Correspondingly, such services income should not constitute passive income, and the assets that we own and

operate in connection with the production of such income, in particular the vessels operating under time charters or servicing contracts of affreightment, should not constitute passive assets for purposes of determining whether we are a PFIC. Substantial legal authority supports this position, including case law and IRS pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters, contracts of affreightment and similar contracts for other tax purposes. However, in the absence of any legal authority specifically relating to the statutory provisions governing PFICs, the IRS or a court could disagree with this position and the opinion we have received from Perkins Coie LLP. Regarding this position, the opinion of Perkins Coie LLP assumes that all future time charters and contracts of affreightment that we will enter into are substantially similar to those we provided to them for their review. There is no assurance that the nature of our assets, income and operations will remain the same in the future. Moreover, the market value of our units may be treated as reflecting the value of our assets at any given time. Therefore, a decline in the market value of our units (which is not within our control) may impact the determination of whether we are a PFIC.

 

If we were classified as a PFIC, for any year during which a U.S. Holder owns units, such U.S. Holder generally will be subject to special rules (regardless of whether we continue thereafter to be a PFIC) with respect to:

 

(i) any “excess distribution” (generally, any distribution received by a unitholder in a taxable year that is greater than 125.0% of the average annual distributions received by the unitholder in the three preceding taxable years or, if shorter, the unitholder’s holding period for the units), and (ii) any gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of units. Under these rules:

 

 

Certain elections that would alter the tax consequences to a U.S. Holder, such as a qualified electing fund election or mark to market election, may be available to a U.S. Holder if we were to be classified as a PFIC. If we determine that we are or will be a PFIC, we will provide unitholders with information concerning the potential availability of such elections.

 

As described above, current law provides that dividends received by an individual U.S. Holder from a qualified foreign corporation are subject to U.S. federal income tax at preferential rates through 2010. However, if we were to be classified as a PFIC for a taxable year in which we pay a dividend or the immediately preceding taxable year, we would not be considered a qualified foreign corporation, and a U.S. Individual Holder receiving such dividends would not be eligible for the reduced rate of U.S. federal income tax.

 

Consequences of Possible Controlled Foreign Corporation Classification

 

If more than 50.0% of either the total combined voting power of our outstanding units entitled to vote or the total value of all of our outstanding units were owned, directly, indirectly or constructively, by citizens or residents of the United States, U.S. partnerships or corporations, or U.S. estates or trusts (as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes), each of which owned, directly, indirectly or constructively, 10.0% or more of the total combined voting power of our outstanding units entitled to vote (each, a United States Shareholder), we generally would be treated as a controlled foreign corporation (or CFC). United States Shareholders of a CFC are treated as receiving current distributions of their shares of certain income of the CFC (not including, under current law, certain undistributed earnings attributable to shipping income) without regard to any actual distributions and are subject to other burdensome U.S. federal income tax and administrative requirements but generally are not also subject to the requirements generally applicable to

owners of a PFIC. Although we are not currently a CFC, U.S. persons owning a substantial interest in us should consider the potential implications of being treated as a United States Shareholder in the event we were to become a CFC in the future.

 

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Units

 

Assuming we do not constitute a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common units in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in such units. Subject to the discussion of extraordinary dividends above, such gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition, and subject to preferential capital gain tax rates. Such capital gain or loss generally will be treated as U.S.-source gain or loss, as applicable, for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. A U.S. Holder’s ability to deduct capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

 

A beneficial owner of our common units (other than a partnership, including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) that is not a U.S. Holder is a Non-U.S. Holder.

 

Distributions

 

Distributions we pay to a Non-U.S. Holder are not subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax if the Non-U.S. Holder is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business. If the Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business, distributions we pay will be subject to U.S. federal income tax to the extent those distributions constitute income effectively connected with that Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. trade or business. However, distributions paid to a Non-U.S. Holder who is engaged in a trade or business may be exempt from taxation under an income tax treaty if the income represented thereby is not attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder.

 

Disposition of Units

 

The U.S. federal income taxation of Non-U.S. Holders on any gain resulting from the disposition of our common units generally is the same as described above regarding distributions. However, individual Non-U.S. Holders are subject to tax on gain resulting from the disposition of our common units if they are present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which those shares are disposed and meet certain other requirements.

 

In general, payments of distributions or the proceeds of a disposition of common units to a non-corporate U.S. Holder will be subject to information reporting requirements. These payments to a non-corporate U.S. Holder also may be subject to backup withholding, if the non-corporate U.S. Holder:

 

 

Non-U.S. Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding on payments within the United States by certifying their status on IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8ECI or W-8IMY, as applicable.

 

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, a unitholder generally may obtain a credit for any amount withheld against its liability for U.S. federal income tax (and a refund of any amounts withheld in excess of such liability) by filing a return with the IRS.

 

The following discussion is based upon the opinion of Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP, our counsel as to matters of the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, and the current laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands and is applicable only to persons who do not reside in, maintain offices in or engage in business in the Republic of The Marshall Islands.

 

Because we, OPCO and our respective subsidiaries do not, and we do not expect that we, OPCO or our respective subsidiaries will, conduct business or operations in the Republic of The Marshall Islands, and because all documentation related to this offering will be executed outside of the Republic of The Marshall Islands, under current Marshall Islands law you will not be subject to Marshall Islands taxation or withholding on distributions, including upon a return of capital, we make to you as a unitholder. In addition, you will not be subject to Marshall Islands stamp, capital gains or other taxes on the purchase, ownership or disposition of common units, and you will not be required by the Republic of The Marshall Islands to file a tax return relating to the common units.

 

It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, including the Marshall Islands, of its investment in us. Accordingly, each unitholder is urged to consult its tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal, tax returns that may be required of him.

 

 

The following discussion is a summary of the material Canadian federal income tax considerations under the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the Canada Tax Act), as of the date of this prospectus, that we believe are relevant to holders of common units who are, at all relevant times, for the purposes of the Canada Tax Act and the Canada-United States Tax Convention 1980 (the Canada-U.S. Treaty) resident in the United States and entitled to all of the benefits of the Canada-U.S. Treaty and who deal at arm’s length with us and Teekay Corporation (U.S. Resident Holders).

 

Under the Canada Tax Act, no taxes on income (including taxable capital gains) are payable by U.S. Resident Holders in respect of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of the common units, provided that we do not carry on business in Canada and such U.S. Resident Holders do not, for the purposes of the Canada-U.S. Treaty, otherwise have a permanent establishment or fixed base in Canada to which such common units pertain and, in addition, do not use or hold and are not deemed or considered to use or hold such common units in the course of carrying on a business in Canada and, in the case of any U.S. Resident Holders that carry on an insurance business in Canada and elsewhere, such U.S. Resident Holders establish that the common units are not effectively connected with their insurance business carried on in Canada.

 

In this connection, we believe that our activities and affairs and the activities and affairs of OPCO, a Marshall Island limited partnership in which we own a 26.0% limited partnership interest, can be conducted in a manner that both we and OPCO will not be carrying on business in Canada. As a result, U.S. Resident Holders should not be considered to be carrying on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act solely by reason of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of their common units. We intend that this is and continues to be the case, notwithstanding that in providing certain services to Teekay Offshore Partners L.P., OPCO and its operating subsidiaries, Teekay Shipping Limited (a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation that is resident and based in Bermuda) will contract for assistance in the delivery of such services with Canadian service providers, as discussed below.

 

Under the Canada Tax Act, our election to be treated as a corporation for U.S. tax purposes has no effect. Therefore, we will continue to be treated as a partnership for Canadian tax purposes. Under the Canada Tax Act, a resident of Canada (which may include a foreign corporation the central management and control of which is in Canada) is subject to Canadian tax on its world-wide income, subject to any relief that may be provided by any relevant tax treaty. A non-resident corporation or individual that carries on a business in Canada directly or through a partnership, including through a partnership that owns an interest in another

partnership, is subject to tax in Canada on income attributable to its business (or that of the partnership or the partnership’s interest in another partnership, as the case may be) carried on in Canada. The taxation under the Canada Tax Act is subject to the provisions of any relevant tax treaty.

 

The Canada Tax Act contains special rules that provide assurance to qualifying international shipping corporations that they will not be considered resident in Canada even if they are, in whole or in part, managed from Canada. Further, the Canada Tax Act and many of the tax treaties to which Canada is a party also contain special exemptions for profits derived from international shipping operations.

 

We and OPCO have entered and may in the future enter into agreements with Teekay Shipping Limited for the provision of administrative services. Certain of OPCO’s operating subsidiaries have entered and may in the future enter into agreements with:

 

 

Certain of the services that Teekay Shipping Limited provides to us, to OPCO and to OPCO’s operating subsidiaries under the services agreements are and may in the future be obtained by Teekay Shipping Limited through subcontracts with a Canadian subsidiary of Teekay Corporation. The special rules in the Canada Tax Act and various relevant tax treaties relating to qualifying international shipping corporations and income from international shipping operations may provide relief to OPCO’s operating subsidiaries to the extent that the services provided to them by Canadian entities would otherwise result in such operating subsidiaries being considered to be resident in Canada or to be taxable in Canada on certain income from such operations by virtue of carrying on business in Canada. However, such rules would not apply to us or OPCO, as holding limited partnerships, or to our general partner or unitholders. While we do not believe it to be the case, if the arrangements described herein result in our being considered to carry on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act, our unitholders would be considered to be carrying on business in Canada and may be required to file Canadian tax returns and, subject to any relief provided in any relevant treaty (including, in the case of U.S. Resident Holders, the Canada-U.S. Treaty), would be subject to taxation in Canada on any income that is considered to be attributable to the business carried on by us in Canada.

 

On September 21, 2007, Canada and the United States signed the fifth protocol (or the Fifth Protocol) to the Canada-U.S. Treaty. The Fifth Protocol has been ratified in Canada, but must still be ratified in the United States prior to entering into force. The Fifth Protocol contains new Article IV(7)(a), a treaty benefit denial rule, which may have the effect of denying relief from Canadian taxation to U.S. Resident Holders under the Canada-U.S. Treaty in respect of any income attributable to a business carried on by us in Canada and any other Canadian source income earned by us. Article IV(7)(a) will not come into force until the first day of the third calendar year that ends after the Fifth Protocol enters into force.

 

We believe that we and OPCO can each conduct our respective activities and affairs in a manner so that our unitholders should not be considered to be carrying on business in Canada solely as a consequence of the acquisition, holding, disposition or redemption of our common units. Consequently, we believe our unitholders should not be subject to tax filing or other tax obligations in Canada under the Canada Tax Act. However, although we do not intend to do so, there can be no assurance that the manner in which we and OPCO carry on our respective activities will not change from time to time as circumstances dictate or warrant in a manner that may cause our unitholders to be carrying on business in Canada for purposes of the Canada Tax Act. Further, the relevant Canadian federal income tax law may change by legislation or judicial interpretation and the Canadian taxing authorities may take a different view than we have of the current law.

 

It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, including Canada, of its investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult, and depend upon, its tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal, tax returns that may be required of him.

 

We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus and applicable prospectus supplements:

 

 

If underwriters are used to sell securities, we will enter into an underwriting agreement or similar agreement with them at the time of the sale to them. In that connection, underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agent. Any such underwriter, dealer or agent may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement relating to the securities will set forth, among other things:

 

 

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange:

 

 

The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.

 

Securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus and a prospectus supplement is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain specified institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject to any conditions set forth in the prospectus

supplement and the prospectus supplement will set forth the commissions payable for solicitation of such contracts. The underwriters and other persons soliciting such contracts will have no responsibility for the validity or performance of any such contracts.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to be indemnified by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution by us to payments which they may be required to make. The terms and conditions of such indemnification will be described in an applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any securities.

 

Certain persons participating in any offering of securities may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities offered. In connection with any such offering, the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, may purchase and sell securities in the open market. These transactions may include over-allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the securities and syndicate short positions involve the sale by the underwriters or agents, as the case may be, of a greater number of securities than they are required to purchase from us in the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. These activities will be described in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Pursuant to a requirement by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (or FINRA), the maximum commission or discount to be received by any NASD member or independent broker/dealer may not be greater than 8% of the gross proceeds received by us for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415 under the Securities Act.

 

In the event that more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by NASD members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such NASD members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 2710(h).

 

Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. is organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands as a limited partnership. Our general partner is organized under the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands as a limited liability company. The Republic of The Marshall Islands has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides protections for investors to a significantly lesser extent.

 

Most of the directors and officers of our general partner and those of our controlled affiliates are residents of countries other than the United States. Substantially all of our and our controlled affiliates’ assets and a substantial portion of the assets of the directors and officers of our general partner are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for United States investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us, our general partner, our controlled affiliates or the directors and officers of our general partner or to realize against us or them judgments obtained in United States courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States. However, we have expressly submitted to the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts sitting in the City of New York for the purpose of any suit, action or proceeding arising under the securities laws of the United States or any state in the United States, and we have appointed Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP to accept service of process on our behalf in any such action.

 

Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP, our counsel as to Marshall Islands law, has advised us that there is uncertainty as to whether the courts of the Republic of The Marshall Islands would (1) recognize or enforce against us, our general partner or our general partner’s directors or officers judgments of courts of the United States based on civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws or (2) impose liabilities against us, our general partner or our general partner’s directors and officers in original actions brought in the Republic of The Marshall Islands, based on these laws.

 

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities and certain other legal matters with respect to the laws of the Republic of The Marshall Islands will be passed upon for us by our counsel as to Marshall Islands law, Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP. Certain other legal matters may be passed upon for us by Perkins Coie LLP, Portland, Oregon, who may rely upon the opinion of Watson, Farley & Williams (New York) LLP, for all matters of Marshall Islands law. Any underwriter will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by its own legal counsel.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. included in its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007, and the effectiveness of Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, and the consolidated balance sheet of Teekay Offshore GP L.L.C. as at December 31, 2007, filed as Exhibit 15.2 to Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such financial statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The following table sets forth costs and expenses, other than any underwriting discounts and commissions, we expect to incur in connection with the issuance and distribution of the common units covered by this prospectus. All amounts are estimated except the SEC registration and FINRA fees.

 

 

 

4,400,000 Common Units

REPRESENTING LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS

 

 

 

 

 

Teekay Offshore Partners L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

          , 2010

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

 

Co-Managers