sv3
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Registration No. 333- |
|
|
|
|
Registration No. 333- |
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
MARTIN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS L.P.
MARTIN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
|
|
Delaware
|
|
05-0527861 |
Delaware
|
|
76-0712100 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
|
|
(I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization)
|
|
Identification No.) |
4200 Stone Road
Kilgore, Texas 75662
(903) 983-6200
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
Ruben S. Martin
Martin Midstream Partners L.P.
4200 Stone Road
Kilgore, Texas 75662
(903) 983-6200
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Neel Lemon
Baker Botts L.L.P.
2001 Ross Avenue
600 Trammell Crow Center
Dallas, Texas 75201-2980
Telephone: (214) 953-6500
Facsimile: (214) 953-6503
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
public: From time to time after this registration statement
becomes effective, as determined by market conditions and
other factors
If the only securities being registered on this form are
being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment
plans, please check the following box. o
If any of the securities being registered on this form are
to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than
securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following
box.
þ
If this form is filed to register additional securities for
an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities
Act, please check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. o
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant
to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration
statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering. o
If this form is a registration statement pursuant to
General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment
thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities
Act, check the following box. o
If this form is a post-effective amendment to a
registration statement filed pursuant to General
Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or
additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b)
under the Securities Act, check the following box.
¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
maximum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
aggregate |
|
|
Amount of |
|
|
Title of each class of |
|
|
offering price |
|
|
registration fee |
|
|
securities to be registered |
|
|
(1)(2)(3) |
|
|
(3) |
|
|
Common Units representing limited partner interests(4) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt Securities of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. (4)(5)(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Debt Securities of Martin Operating Partnership L.P.(4)(5)(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantees of Debt Securities(4)(5)(6) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
$400,000,000 |
|
|
$12,280 |
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Rule 457(a) permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum
offering price of all the securities listed and, therefore, with respect to the securities
offered by the registrants, the table does not specify by each class information as to the
amount to be registered or the proposed maximum offering price per security. In no event will
the aggregate initial offering price of all securities offered from time to time pursuant to
this Registration Statement exceed $400,000,000. To the extent applicable, the aggregate
amount of common units registered is further limited to that which is permissible under Rule
415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold
separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. |
|
(2) |
|
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o). |
|
(3) |
|
In accordance with Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, the Prospectus included herein
is a combined prospectus which also relates to the Registration Statement on Form
S-3, File Nos. 333-117023 and 333-117023-1 (the Prior Registration
Statement) filed by Martin Midstream Partners L.P. and Martin
Operating Partnership L.P. This Registration Statement,
which is a new Registration Statement, also constitutes the first post-effective amendment to
the Prior Registration Statement. Such post-effective amendment shall hereafter become
effective concurrently with the effectiveness of this Registration Statement in accordance
with Section 8-A of the Securities Act of 1933. The amount of securities eligible to be sold
under the Prior Registration Statement ($4,300,000) shall be carried forward to this
Registration Statement. The amount of the registration fee associated with such securities
that was previously paid with the Prior Registration Statement was
$25,340 of which $544.81 is
remaining, which amount will be used to offset the $12,280 that is to be paid in connection
with this registration statement. |
|
(4) |
|
Subject to notes (1) and (3) above, there are being registered hereunder a presently
indeterminate number of common units and an indeterminate principal amount of debt securities
and guarantees of debt securities. |
|
(5) |
|
If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of
such debt securities shall be in such amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering
price not to exceed $400,000,000 less the dollar amount of any registered securities
previously issued. |
|
(6) |
|
Martin Midstream Partners L.P. will fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee on an
unsecured basis the debt securities of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. If a series of debt
securities of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. is guaranteed, Martin Operating Partnership L.P.
will fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee on an unsecured basis the debt
securities of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) no separate fee is
payable with respect to the guarantees of the debt securities being registered. |
Each registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary
to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically
states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with
Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become
effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said
Section 8(a), may determine.
The prospectus that forms a part of this Registration Statement also applies to Registration
Statement Nos. 333-117023 and 333-117023-1 in accordance with Rule 429(b) of the Securities Act of 1933.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these
securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is
effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting any
offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PROSPECTUS
Subject
to Completion, dated December 18, 2007
$400,000,000
Martin Midstream Partners L.P.
COMMON UNITS
DEBT SECURITIES
Martin Operating Partnership L.P.
DEBT SECURITIES
The following securities may be offered under this prospectus:
|
|
|
Common units representing limited partner interests in Martin Midstream Partners L.P.; |
|
|
|
|
Debt securities of Martin Midstream Partners L.P.; and |
|
|
|
|
Debt securities of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
The aggregate initial offering price of the securities that we offer by this prospectus will
not exceed $400,000,000. We will offer the securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be
determined by market conditions at the time of our offerings. This prospectus describes only the
general terms of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer these securities.
The specific terms of any securities we offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus.
The prospectus supplement will describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities
and also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. The common units are
traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol MMLP.
You should read this prospectus and the prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in
any of our securities. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of our securities unless
it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors
described under Risk Factors beginning on page 3 of this prospectus before you make any
investment in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has
approved or disapproved of these securities or determined whether this prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The
date of this prospectus is December 18, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus
supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone else
to give you different information. We are not offering these securities in any state where the
offer 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 any material changes in our affairs in an amendment to this prospectus,
a prospectus supplement or a future filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission incorporated
by reference in this prospectus.
i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission using a shelf registration process. Under this shelf
registration process, we may sell, in one or more offerings, up to $400,000,000 in total aggregate
initial offering price of securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you
with a general description of Martin Midstream Partners L.P., Martin Operating Partnership L.P. and
the securities offered under this prospectus.
Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement
that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities being
offered. The prospectus supplement also may 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. You should
read carefully this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the additional information described
below under the heading Where You Can Find More Information.
As used in this prospectus, Martin Midstream Partners, we, us, and our and similar
terms mean Martin Midstream Partners L.P., and, unless the context requires otherwise, our
operating partnership, Martin Operating Partnership L.P. References to Martin Midstream Partners
Predecessor, we, ours, us, or like terms when used in a historical context for periods prior
to November 2002 refer to the assets and operations of Martin Resource Management Corporations
businesses that were contributed to us in connection with the closing of our initial public
offering in November 2002. References in this prospectus to Martin Operating Partnership refer to
our operating partnership, Martin Operating Partnership L.P. References in this prospectus to
Martin Resource Management refer to Martin Resource Management Corporation and its direct and
indirect consolidated and unconsolidated subsidiaries.
MARTIN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS L.P.
We are a publicly traded limited partnership with a diverse set of operations focused
primarily in the United States Gulf Coast region. Our five primary business lines include:
|
|
|
Terminalling and storage services for petroleum products and by-products |
|
|
|
|
Natural gas services |
|
|
|
|
Marine transportation services for petroleum products and by-products |
|
|
|
|
Sulfur gathering, processing and distribution |
|
|
|
|
Fertilizer manufacturing and distribution |
The petroleum products and by-products we collect, transport, store and market are produced
primarily by major and independent oil and gas companies who often turn to third parties, such as
us, for the transportation and disposition of these products. In addition to these major and
independent oil and gas companies, our primary customers include independent refiners, large
chemical companies, fertilizer manufacturers and other wholesale purchasers of these products. We
operate primarily in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. This region is a major hub for
petroleum refining, natural gas gathering and processing and support services for the exploration
and production industry.
Primary Business Segments
Our primary business segments can be generally described as follows:
|
|
|
Terminalling and Storage. We own or operate 17 marine terminal facilities and four
inland terminal facilities located in the United States Gulf Coast region that provide
storage and handling services for producers and suppliers of petroleum products and
by-products, lubricants and other liquids. We also provide land rental to oil and gas
companies along with storage and handling services for lubricants and fuel oil. |
|
|
|
Natural Gas Services. We have ownership interests in over 500 miles of natural gas
gathering pipelines located in the natural gas producing regions of Central and East
Texas, Northwest Louisiana, the Texas |
1
|
|
|
Gulf Coast and offshore Texas and federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico as well as 210
million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of natural gas processing capacity in East Texas
which is currently being expanded to 280 MMcfd. In addition, we distribute natural gas
liquids (NGLs). We purchase NGLs primarily from natural gas processors. We store NGLs
in our supply and storage facilities for resale to propane retailers, refineries and
industrial NGL users in Texas and the Southeastern United States. We own three NGL supply
and storage facilities with an aggregate above ground storage capacity of approximately
132,000 gallons and we lease approximately 72 million gallons of underground storage
capacity for NGLs. |
|
|
|
|
Marine Transportation. We own a fleet of 37 inland marine tank barges, 16 inland
push boats and four offshore tug barge units that transport petroleum products and
by-products primarily in the United States Gulf Coast region. We provide these
transportation services on a fee basis primarily under annual contracts. In addition,
our marine segment manages our sulfur segments marine assets. |
|
|
|
|
Sulfur. We gather, process and distribute sulfur predominately produced by oil
refineries primarily located in the United States Gulf Coast region. We process molten
sulfur into prilled, or pelletized, sulfur under both fee-based volume contracts and
buy/sell contracts at our facilities in Port of Stockton, California and our Neches
terminal in Beaumont, Texas. |
|
|
|
|
Fertilizer. We own and operate six fertilizer production plants and one emulsified
sulfur blending plant that manufacture primarily sulfur-based fertilizer products for
wholesale distributors and industrial users. These plants are located in Illinois,
Texas and Utah. |
Our principal executive offices are located at 4200 Stone Road, Kilgore, Texas 75662, our
phone number is (903) 983-6200, and our web site is www.martinmidstream.com.
Recent Developments
On May 2, 2007, we acquired the outstanding stock of Woodlawn Pipeline Company, Inc.
(Woodlawn), a natural gas gathering and processing company with integrated gathering and
processing assets in East Texas for $30.6 million. In addition, we purchased a compressor for $0.4
million from an affiliate of the selling parties. In conjunction with this transaction, we also
acquired a pipeline that delivers residue gas from the Woodlawn processing plant to the Texas
Eastern Transmission pipeline system for $2.1 million. The business will be included in our Natural
Gas Services segment.
Our Relationship with Martin Resource Management
We were formed in 2002 by Martin Resource Management, a privately-held company whose initial
predecessor was incorporated in 1951 as a supplier of products and services to drilling rig
contractors. Since then, Martin Resource Management has expanded its operations through
acquisitions and internal expansion initiatives as its management identified and capitalized on the
needs of producers and purchasers of hydrocarbon products and by-products and other bulk liquids.
Martin Resource Management owns an approximate 35.4% limited partnership interest in us.
Furthermore, it owns and controls our general partner, which owns a 2.0% general partner interest
and incentive distribution rights in us. Martin Resource Management directs our business operations
through its ownership and control of our general partner. In addition, under the terms of an
omnibus agreement with Martin Resource Management, the employees of Martin Resource Management are
responsible for conducting our business and operating our assets. Martin Resource Management is
also an important supplier and customer of ours.
THE GUARANTORS
Martin Midstream Partners will unconditionally guarantee any series of debt securities of
Martin Operating Partnership offered by this prospectus, as set forth in a related prospectus
supplement. If a series of debt securities of Martin Midstream Partners is guaranteed, Martin
Operating Partnership will unconditionally guarantee such series of debt securities of Martin
Midstream Partners offered by this prospectus, as set forth in a related prospectus supplement. As
used in this prospectus, the term Guarantor means, Martin Midstream Partners in its role as
guarantor of the debt securities of Martin Operating Partnership or Martin Operating Partnership in
its role as guarantor of the debt securities of Martin Midstream Partners.
2
RISK FACTORS
Limited partner interests are inherently different from the capital stock of a corporation,
although many of the business risks to which we are subject are similar to those that would be
faced by a corporation engaged in a business similar to ours. You should carefully consider the
following risk factors together with all of the other information included in this prospectus in
evaluating an investment in our common units. If any of the following risks were actually to occur,
our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
In this case, we might not be able to pay distributions on our common units or make principal or
interest payments on our debt securities, the trading price of our common units or our debt
securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations
include, but are not limited to, the risks set forth below. The risks described below should not be
considered to be comprehensive and all-inclusive. Additional risks that we do not yet know of or
that we currently think are immaterial may also impair our business operations, financial condition
and results of operations. If any events occur that give rise to the following risks, our business,
financial condition, or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, and as a
result, the trading price of our common units or our debt securities could be materially and
adversely impacted. Many of such factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Investors
are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
We may not have sufficient cash after the establishment of cash reserves and payment of our general
partners expenses to enable us to pay distributions to our unitholders or make principal or
interest payments on our debt securities.
We may not have sufficient available cash each quarter in the future to pay the minimum
quarterly distribution on all our units or make principal or interest payments on our debt
securities. Under the terms of our partnership agreement, we must pay our general partners
expenses and set aside any cash reserve amounts before making a distribution to our unitholders.
The amount of cash we can distribute on our common units or use to make principal or interest
payments on our debt securities principally depends upon the amount of net cash generated from our
operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:
|
|
|
the costs of acquisitions, if any; |
|
|
|
|
the prices of petroleum products and by-products; |
|
|
|
|
fluctuations in our working capital; |
|
|
|
|
the level of capital expenditures we make; |
|
|
|
|
restrictions contained in our debt instruments and our debt service requirements; |
|
|
|
|
our ability to make working capital borrowings under our credit facility; and |
|
|
|
|
the amount, if any, of cash reserves established by our general partner in its
discretion. |
You should also be aware that the amount of cash we have available for distribution depends
primarily on our cash flow, including cash flow from working capital borrowings, and not solely on
profitability, which will be affected by non-cash items. In addition, our general partner
determines the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales, capital expenditures, borrowings,
issuances of additional partnership securities and the establishment of reserves, each of which can
affect the amount of cash available for distribution to our unitholders. As a result, we may make
cash distributions or make principal or interest payments on our debt securities during periods
when we record losses and may not make cash distributions or may not make principal and interest
payments on our debt securities during periods when we record net income.
Adverse weather conditions, including droughts, hurricanes, tropical storms and other severe
weather, could reduce our results of operations and ability to make distributions to our
unitholders or make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Our distribution network and operations are primarily concentrated in the Gulf Coast region
and along the Mississippi River inland waterway. Weather in these regions is sometimes severe
(including tropical storms and
3
hurricanes) and can be a major factor in our day-to-day operations. Our marine transportation
operations can be significantly delayed, impaired or postponed by adverse weather conditions, such
as fog in the winter and spring months, and certain river conditions. Additionally, our
terminalling and storage and marine transportation operations and our assets in the Gulf of Mexico,
including our barges, push boats, tugboats and terminals, can be adversely impacted or damaged by
hurricanes, tropical storms, tidal waves or other related events. Demand for our lubricants and the
diesel fuel we throughput in our terminalling and storage segment can be affected if offshore
drilling operations are disrupted by weather in the Gulf of Mexico.
National weather conditions have a substantial impact on the demand for our products.
Unusually warm weather during the winter months can cause a significant decrease in the demand for
NGL products, fuel oil and gasoline. Likewise, extreme weather conditions (either wet or dry) can
decrease the demand for fertilizer. For example, an unusually wet spring can delay planting of
seeds, which can leave insufficient time to apply fertilizer at the planting stage. Conversely,
drought conditions can kill or severely stunt the growth of crops, thus eliminating the need to
nurture plants with fertilizer. Any of these or similar conditions could result in a decline in our
net income and cash flow, which would reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders
or make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
If we incur material liabilities that are not fully covered by insurance, such as liabilities
resulting from accidents on rivers or at sea, spills, fires or explosions, our results of
operations and ability to make distributions to our unitholders or make principal and interest
payments on our debt securities could be adversely affected.
Our operations are subject to the operating hazards and risks incidental to terminalling and
storage, marine transportation and the distribution of petroleum products and by-products and other
industrial products. These hazards and risks, many of which are beyond our control, include:
|
|
|
accidents on rivers or at sea and other hazards that could result in releases,
spills and other environmental damages, personal injuries, loss of life and suspension
of operations; |
|
|
|
|
leakage of NGLs and other petroleum products and by-products; |
|
|
|
|
fires and explosions; |
|
|
|
|
damage to transportation, terminalling and storage facilities, and surrounding
properties caused by natural disasters; and |
|
|
|
|
terrorist attacks or sabotage. |
Our insurance coverage may not be adequate to protect us from all material expenses related to
potential future claims for personal injury and property damage, including various legal
proceedings and litigation resulting from these hazards and risks. If we incur material liabilities
that are not covered by insurance, our operating results, cash flow and ability to make
distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities
could be adversely affected.
Changes in the insurance markets attributable to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and
their aftermath, may make some types of insurance more difficult or expensive for us to obtain. In
addition, changes in the insurance markets attributable to the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, and their aftermath, may make some types of insurance more difficult or expensive for us to
obtain. As a result, we may be unable to secure the levels and types of insurance we would
otherwise have secured prior to such events. Moreover, the insurance that may be available to us
may be significantly more expensive than our existing insurance coverage.
The price volatility of petroleum products and by-products can reduce our results of operations and
ability to make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our
debt securities.
We purchase petroleum products and by-products such as molten sulfur, sulfur derivatives and
NGLs, and sell these products to wholesale and bulk customers and to other end users. Since the
closing of the Tesoro Marine asset acquisition, we and our affiliates also distribute and market
lubricants. We also generate revenues through the terminalling and storage of certain products for
third parties. The price and market value of petroleum products and by-products can be volatile.
Our revenues have been adversely affected by this volatility during periods of decreasing prices
because of the reduction in the value and resale price of our inventory. Future price volatility
could have an adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flow and ability to make
distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
4
Increasing energy prices could adversely affect our results of operations.
Increasing energy prices could adversely affect our results of operations. Diesel fuel,
natural gas, chemicals and other supplies are recorded in operating expenses. An increase in price
of these products would increase our operating expenses which could adversely affect our results of
operations including net income and cash flows. We cannot assure unitholders or debt security
holders that we will be able to pass along increased operating expenses to our customers.
Restrictions in our credit facility may prevent us from making distributions to our unitholders or
to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
The payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness reduces the cash available for
distribution to our unitholders. In addition, we are prohibited by our credit facility from making
cash distributions during an event of default or if the payment of a distribution would cause an
event of default thereunder. Our leverage and various limitations in our credit facility may reduce
our ability to incur additional debt, engage in certain transactions and capitalize on acquisition
or other business opportunities that could increase cash flows and distributions to our
unitholders.
If we do not have sufficient capital resources for acquisitions or opportunities for expansion, our
growth will be limited.
We intend to explore acquisition opportunities in order to expand our operations and increase
our profitability. We may finance acquisitions through public and private financing, or we may use
our limited partner interests for all or a portion of the consideration to be paid in acquisitions.
Distributions of cash with respect to these equity securities or limited partner interests may
reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our unitholders or to make principal and
interest payments on our debt securities. In addition, in the event our limited partner interests
do not maintain a sufficient valuation, or potential acquisition candidates are unwilling to accept
our limited partner interests as all or part of the consideration, we may be required to use our
cash resources, if available, or rely on other financing arrangements to pursue acquisitions. If we
use funds from operations, other cash resources or increased borrowings for an acquisition, the
acquisition could adversely impact our ability to make distributions to our unitholders or to make
principal and interest payments on our debt securities. Additionally, if we do not have sufficient
capital resources or are not able to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us for acquisitions,
our ability to implement our growth strategies may be adversely impacted.
Our recent and future acquisitions may not be successful, may substantially increase our
indebtedness and contingent liabilities, and may create integration difficulties.
As part of our business strategy, we intend to acquire businesses or assets we believe
complement our existing operations. We may not be able to successfully integrate recent or any
future acquisitions into our existing operations or achieve the desired profitability from such
acquisitions. These acquisitions may require substantial capital expenditures and the incurrence of
additional indebtedness. If we make acquisitions, our capitalization and results of operations may
change significantly. Further, any acquisition could result in:
|
|
|
post-closing discovery of material undisclosed liabilities of the acquired business
or assets; |
|
|
|
|
the unexpected loss of key employees or customers from the acquired businesses; |
|
|
|
|
difficulties resulting from our integration of the operations, systems and
management of the acquired business; and |
|
|
|
|
an unexpected diversion of our managements attention from other operations. |
If recent or any future acquisitions are unsuccessful or result in unanticipated events or if
we are unable to successfully integrate acquisitions into our existing operations, such
acquisitions could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flow and ability to make
distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
5
Demand for our terminalling and storage services is substantially dependent on the level of
offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production activity.
The level of offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production activity
historically has been volatile and is likely to continue to be so in the future. The level of
activity is subject to large fluctuations in response to relatively minor changes in a variety of
factors that are beyond our control, including:
|
|
|
prevailing oil and natural gas prices and expectations about future prices and price
volatility; |
|
|
|
|
the cost of offshore exploration for, and production and transportation of, oil and
natural gas; |
|
|
|
|
worldwide demand for oil and natural gas; |
|
|
|
|
consolidation of oil and gas and oil service companies operating offshore; |
|
|
|
|
availability and rate of discovery of new oil and natural gas reserves in offshore
areas; |
|
|
|
|
local and international political and economic conditions and policies; |
|
|
|
|
technological advances affecting energy production and consumption; |
|
|
|
|
weather conditions; |
|
|
|
|
environmental regulation; and |
|
|
|
|
the ability of oil and gas companies to generate or otherwise obtain funds for
exploration and production. |
We expect levels of offshore oil and gas exploration, development and production activity to
continue to be volatile and affect demand for our terminalling and storage services.
Our natural gas services and fertilizer businesses are seasonal and could cause our revenues to
vary.
The demand for NGLs and natural gas is highest in the winter. Therefore, revenue from our
natural gas services business is higher in the winter than in other seasons. Our fertilizer
business experiences an increase in demand during the spring, which increases the revenue generated
by this business line in this period compared to other periods. The seasonality of the revenue from
these business lines may cause our results of operations to vary on a quarter to quarter basis and
thus could cause our cash available for distributions or payments on our debt securities to
fluctuate from period to period.
The highly competitive nature of our industry could adversely affect our results of operations and
ability to make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our
debt securities.
We operate in a highly competitive marketplace in each of our primary business segments. Most
of our competitors in each segment are larger companies with greater financial and other resources
than we possess. We may lose customers and future business opportunities to our competitors and any
such losses could adversely affect our results of operations and ability to make distributions to
our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Our business is subject to compliance with environmental laws and regulations that may expose us to
significant costs and liabilities and adversely affect our results of operations and ability to
make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt
securities.
Our business is subject to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations
governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to protection of
human health, natural resources and the environment. These laws and regulations may impose numerous
obligations that are applicable to our operations, such as requiring the acquisition of permits to
conduct regulated activities; restricting the manner in which we can release materials into the
environment; requiring remedial activities or capital expenditures to mitigate pollution from
former of current operations; and imposing substantial liabilities on us for pollution resulting
from our operations. Numerous governmental authorities, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and analogous state agencies, have the power to enforce compliance with these laws and
regulations and the permits issued under them, oftentimes requiring difficult and costly actions.
Many environmental laws and regulations can impose joint and several strict liability, and any
failure to comply with environmental laws, regulations and permits may result in the assessment of
administrative, civil, and criminal penalties, the imposition of investigatory and
6
remedial obligations, and, in some circumstances, the issuance of injunctions that can limit
or prohibit our operations. The clear trend in environmental regulation is to place more
restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment, and, thus, any changes
in environmental laws and regulations that result in more stringent and costly waste handling,
storage, transport, disposal, or remediation requirements could have a material adverse effect on
our operations and financial position.
The loss or insufficient attention of key personnel could negatively impact our results of
operations and ability to make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest
payments on our debt securities. Additionally, if neither Ruben Martin nor Scott Martin is the
chief executive officer of our general partner, amounts we owe under our credit facility may become
immediately due and payable.
Our success is largely dependent upon the continued services of members of the senior
management team of Martin Resource Management. Those senior executive officers have significant
experience in our businesses and have developed strong relationships with a broad range of industry
participants. The loss of any of these executives could have a material adverse effect on our
relationships with these industry participants, our results of operations and our ability to make
distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Additionally, if neither Ruben Martin nor Scott Martin is the chief executive officer of our
general partner, the lender under our credit facility could declare amounts outstanding thereunder
immediately due and payable. If such event occurs, our results of operations and our ability to
make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt
securities could be negatively impacted.
We do not have employees. We rely solely on officers and employees of Martin Resource
Management to operate and manage our business. Martin Resource Management operates businesses and
conducts activities of its own in which we have no economic interest. There could be competition
for the time and effort of the officers and employees who provide services to our general partner.
If these officers and employees do not or cannot devote sufficient attention to the management and
operation of our business, our results of operation and ability to make distributions to our
unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities may be reduced.
Our loss of significant commercial relationships with Martin Resource Management could adversely
impact our results of operations and ability to make distributions to our unitholders or to make
principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Martin Resource Management provides us with various services and products pursuant to various
commercial contracts. The loss of any of these services and products provided by Martin Resource
Management could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flow and ability
to make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt
securities. Additionally, we provide terminalling and storage and marine transportation services to
Martin Resource Management to support its businesses under various commercial contracts. The loss
of Martin Resource Management as a customer could have a material adverse impact on our results of
operations, cash flow and ability to make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and
interest payments on our debt securities.
Our business would be adversely affected if operations at our transportation, terminalling and
storage and distribution facilities experienced significant interruptions. Our business would also
be adversely affected if the operations of our customers and suppliers experienced significant
interruptions.
Our operations are dependent upon our terminalling and storage facilities and various means of
transportation. We are also dependent upon the uninterrupted operations of certain facilities owned
or operated by our suppliers and customers. Any significant interruption at these facilities or
inability to transport products to or from these facilities or to or from our customers for any
reason would adversely affect our results of operations, cash flow and ability to make
distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Operations at our facilities and at the facilities owned or operated by our suppliers and customers
could be partially or completely shut down, temporarily or permanently, as the result of any number
of circumstances that are not within our control, such as:
7
|
|
|
catastrophic events, including hurricanes; |
|
|
|
|
environmental remediation; |
|
|
|
|
labor difficulties; and |
|
|
|
|
disruptions in the supply of our products to our facilities or means of
transportation. |
Additionally, terrorist attacks and acts of sabotage could target oil and gas production
facilities, refineries, processing plants, terminals and other infrastructure facilities. Any
significant interruptions at our facilities, facilities owned or operated by our suppliers or
customers, or in the oil and gas industry as a whole caused by such attacks or acts could have a
material adverse affect on our results of operations, cash flow and ability to make distributions
to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Our marine transportation business would be adversely affected if we do not satisfy the
requirements of the Jones Act, or if the Jones Act were modified or eliminated.
The Jones Act is a federal law that restricts domestic marine transportation in the United
States to vessels built and registered in the United States. Furthermore, the Jones Act requires
that the vessels be manned and owned by United States citizens. If we fail to comply with these
requirements, our vessels lose their eligibility to engage in coastwise trade within United States
domestic waters.
The requirements that our vessels be United States built and manned by United States citizens,
the crewing requirements and material requirements of the Coast Guard and the application of United
States labor and tax laws significantly increase the costs of United States flagged vessels when
compared with foreign flag vessels. During the past several years, certain interest groups have
lobbied Congress to repeal the Jones Act to facilitate foreign flag competition for trades and
cargoes reserved for United States flagged vessels under the Jones Act and cargo preference laws.
If the Jones Act were to be modified to permit foreign competition that would not be subject to the
same United States government imposed costs, we may need to lower the prices we charge for our
services in order to compete with foreign competitors, which would adversely affect our cash flow
and ability to make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on
our debt securities. Following Hurricane Katrina and again after Hurricane Rita, emergency
suspensions of the Jones Act were effectuated by the United States government. The last suspension
ended on October 24, 2005. Future suspensions of the Jones Act or other similar actions could
result in similar consequences.
Our marine transportation business would be adversely affected if the United States Government
purchases or requisitions any of our vessels under the Merchant Marine Act.
We are subject to the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which provides that, upon proclamation by
the President of the United States of a national emergency or a threat to the national security,
the United States Secretary of Transportation may requisition or purchase any vessel or other
watercraft owned by United States citizens (including us, provided that we are considered a United
States citizen for this purpose). If one of our push boats, tugboats or tank barges were purchased
or requisitioned by the United States government under this law, we would be entitled to be paid
the fair market value of the vessel in the case of a purchase or, in the case of a requisition, the
fair market value of charter hire. However, if one of our push boats or tugboats is requisitioned
or purchased and its associated tank barge is left idle, we would not be entitled to receive any
compensation for the lost revenues resulting from the idled barge. We also would not be entitled to
be compensated for any consequential damages we suffer as a result of the requisition or purchase
of any of our push boats, tugboats or tank barges. If any of our vessels are purchased or
requisitioned for an extended period of time by the United States government, such transactions
could have a material adverse affect on our results of operations, cash flow and ability to make
distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Regulations affecting the domestic tank vessel industry may limit our ability to do business,
increase our costs and adversely impact our results of operations and ability to make distributions
to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA 90, provides for the phase out of single-hull
vessels and the phase-in of the exclusive operation of double-hull tank vessels in U.S. waters.
Under OPA 90, substantially all tank vessels that do not have double hulls will be phased out by
2015 and will not be permitted to enter U.S. ports or trade in U.S. waters. The phase out dates
vary based on the age of the vessel and other factors. All but one of our offshore tank barges are
double-hull vessels and have no phase out date. We have 13 single-hull barges that will be
8
phased out of the petroleum product trade by the year 2015. The phase out of these
single-hull vessels in accordance with OPA 90 may require us to make substantial capital
expenditures, which could adversely affect our operations and market position and reduce our cash
available for distribution or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Risks Relating to Prism Gas
A decline in the volume of natural gas and NGLs delivered to our facilities could adversely affect
our results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
Our profitability could be materially impacted by a decline in the volume of natural gas and
NGLs transported, gathered or processed at our facilities. A material decrease in natural gas
production, as a result of depressed commodity prices, a decrease in exploration and development
activities or otherwise, could result in a decline in the volume of natural gas and NGLs handled by
our facilities.
The natural gas and NGLs available to our facilities will be derived from reserves produced
from existing wells. These reserves naturally decline over time. To offset this natural decline,
our facilities will need access to additional reserves.
Our profitability is dependent upon prices and market demand for natural gas and NGLs, which are
beyond our control and have been volatile.
We are subject to significant risks due to fluctuations in commodity prices. These risks
relate primarily to: (1) the purchase of certain volumes of natural gas at a price that is a
percentage of a relevant index; and (2) certain processing contracts for Prism Gas whereby we are
exposed to natural gas and NGL commodity price risks.
The margins we realize from purchasing and selling a portion of the natural gas that we
transport through our pipeline systems decrease in periods of low natural gas prices because our
gross margins are based on a percentage of the index price. For the years ended December 31, 2006
and 2005, Prism Gas purchased approximately 40% and 54%, respectively, of our gas at a percentage
of relevant index. Accordingly, a decline in the price of natural gas could have an adverse impact
on our results of operations.
In the past, the prices of natural gas and NGLs have been extremely volatile and we expect
this volatility to continue. For example, in 2005, the spot price of Henry Hub natural gas ranged
from a high of $15.39 per MMBtu to a low of $5.50 per MMBtu. From January 1, 2006 through December
31, 2006, the same price ranged from $11.23 per MMBtu to $4.75 per MMBtu.
We may not be successful in balancing our purchases and sales. In addition, a producer could
fail to deliver contracted volumes or deliver in excess of contracted volumes, or a consumer could
purchase less than contracted volumes. Any of these actions could cause our purchases and sales not
to be balanced. If our purchases and sales are not balanced, we will face increased exposure to
commodity price risks and could have increased volatility in our operating income.
The markets and prices for residue gas and NGLs depend upon factors beyond our control. These
factors include demand for oil, natural gas and NGLs, which fluctuate with changes in market and
economic conditions and other factors, including:
|
|
|
the impact of weather on the demand for oil and natural gas; |
|
|
|
|
the level of domestic oil and natural gas production; |
|
|
|
|
the level of domestic industrial and manufacturing activity; |
|
|
|
|
the availability of imported oil and natural gas; |
|
|
|
|
actions taken by foreign oil and gas producing nations; |
|
|
|
|
the availability of local, intrastate and interstate transportation systems; |
9
|
|
|
the availability and marketing of competitive fuels; |
|
|
|
|
the impact of energy conservation efforts; and |
|
|
|
|
the extent of governmental regulation and taxation. |
Our hedging activities may have a material adverse effect on our earnings, profitability, cash
flows and financial condition.
As of December 31, 2006, Prism Gas had hedged approximately 60%, 45% and 14% of its commodity
risk by volume for 2007, 2008 and 2009, respectively. Based on estimated volumes, as of September
31, 2007, Prism Gas had hedged approximately 50%, 50%, 22% and 16% of its commodity risk by volume
for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. These hedging arrangements are in the form of swaps
for crude oil, natural gas and ethane. We anticipate entering into additional hedges in 2007 and
beyond to further reduce our exposure to commodity price movements. The intent of these
arrangements is to reduce the volatility in our cash flows resulting from fluctuations in commodity
prices.
We entered into these derivative transactions with an investment grade subsidiary of a major
oil company and investment grade banks. While we anticipate that future derivative transactions
will be entered into with investment grade counterparties, and that we will actively monitor the
credit rating of such counterparties, it is nevertheless possible that losses will result from
counterparty credit risk in the future.
Management will continue to evaluate whether to enter into any new hedging arrangements, but
there can be no assurance that we will enter into any new hedging arrangements or that our future
hedging arrangements will be on terms similar to our existing hedging arrangements. Also, we may
seek in the future to further limit our exposure to changes in natural gas, NGL and condensate
commodity prices and we may seek to limit our exposure to changes in interest rates by using
financial derivative instruments and other hedging mechanisms from time to time. To the extent we
hedge our commodity price and interest rate risk, we may forego the benefits we would otherwise
experience if commodity prices or interest rates were to change in our favor.
Despite our hedging program, we remain exposed to risks associated with fluctuations in
commodity prices. The extent of our commodity price risk is related largely to the effectiveness
and scope of our hedging activities. For example, the derivative instruments we utilize are based
on posted market prices, which may differ significantly from the actual natural gas, NGL and
condensate prices that we realize in our operations. Furthermore, we have entered into derivative
transactions related to only a portion of the volume of our expected natural gas supply and
production of NGLs and condensate from our processing plants. As a result, we will continue to have
direct commodity price risk to the unhedged portion. Our actual future production may be
significantly higher or lower than we estimated at the time we entered into the derivative
transactions for that period. If the actual amount is higher than we estimated, we will have
greater commodity price risk than we intended. If the actual amount is lower than the amount that
is subject to our derivative financial instruments, we might be forced to satisfy all or a portion
of our derivative transactions without the benefit of the cash flow from our sale of the underlying
physical commodity, resulting in a reduction of our liquidity.
As a result of these factors, our hedging activities may not be as effective as we intend in
reducing the volatility of our cash flows, and in certain circumstances may actually increase the
volatility of our cash flows. In addition, even though our management monitors our hedging
activities, these activities can result in substantial losses. Such losses could occur under
various circumstances, including if a counterparty does not perform its obligations under the
applicable hedging arrangement, the hedging arrangement is imperfect or ineffective, or our hedging
policies and procedures are not properly followed or do not perform as planned. We cannot assure
our unitholders that the steps we take to monitor our hedging activities will detect and prevent
violations of our risk management policies and procedures, particularly if deception or other
intentional misconduct is involved.
We typically do not obtain independent evaluations of natural gas reserves dedicated to our
gathering and pipeline systems; therefore, volumes of natural gas on our systems in the future
could be less than we anticipate.
We make internal evaluations of natural gas reserves based on publicly available information.
However, we typically do not obtain independent evaluations of natural gas reserves connected to
our systems due to the unwillingness of producers to provide reserve information as well as the
cost of such evaluations to verify publicly available information. Accordingly, we do not have
independent estimates of total reserves dedicated to our systems
10
or the anticipated life of such reserves. If the total reserves or estimated life of the
reserves connected to our gathering systems are less than we anticipate and we are unable to secure
additional sources of natural gas, then the volumes of natural gas on our systems in the future
could be less than we anticipate. A decline in the volumes of natural gas on our systems could have
a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and our
ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on
our debt securities.
We depend on certain natural gas producer customers for a significant portion of our supply of
natural gas and NGLs. The loss of any of these customers could result in a decline in our volumes,
revenues and cash available for distribution to our unitholders or to make principal and interest
payments on our debt securities.
We rely on certain natural gas producer customers for a significant portion of our natural gas
and NGL supply. While some of these customers are subject to long-term contracts, we may be unable
to negotiate extensions or replacements of these contracts on favorable terms, if at all. The loss
of all or even a portion of the natural gas volumes supplied by these customers, as a result of
competition or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations and financial condition, unless we were able to acquire comparable volumes from other
sources.
We may not successfully balance our purchases and sales of natural gas, which would increase our
exposure to commodity price risks.
We purchase from producers and other customers a significant amount of the natural gas that
flows through our natural gas gathering, processing and transportation systems for resale to third
parties, including natural gas marketers and end-users. We may not be successful in balancing our
purchases and sales. A producer or supplier could fail to deliver contracted volumes or deliver in
excess of contracted volumes, or a purchaser could purchase less than contracted volumes. Any of
these actions could cause our purchases and sales to be unbalanced. While we attempt to balance our
purchases and sales, if our purchases and sales are unbalanced, we will face increased exposure to
commodity price risks and could have increased volatility in our operating income and cash flows.
If third-party pipelines and other facilities interconnected to our natural gas and NGL pipelines
and facilities become unavailable to transport or produce natural gas and NGLs, our revenues and
cash available for distribution to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on
our debt securities could be adversely affected.
We depend upon third party pipelines and other facilities that provide delivery options to and
from our pipelines and facilities for the benefit of our customers. Since we do not own or operate
any of these pipelines or other facilities, their continuing operation is not within our control.
If any of these third-party pipelines and other facilities become unavailable to transport or
produce natural gas and NGLs, our revenues and cash available for distribution to our unitholders
or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities could be adversely affected.
The industry in which we operate is highly competitive, and increased competitive pressure could
adversely affect our business and operating results.
We compete with similar enterprises in our respective areas of operation. Some of our
competitors are large oil, natural gas and petrochemical companies that have greater financial
resources and access to supplies of natural gas and NGLs than we do. Some of these competitors may
expand or construct gathering, processing and transportation systems that would create additional
competition for the services we provide to our customers. In addition, our customers who are
significant producers of natural gas may develop their own gathering, processing and transportation
systems in lieu of using ours. Likewise, our customers who produce NGLs may develop their own
systems to transport NGLs in lieu of using ours. Our ability to renew or replace existing contracts
with our customers at rates sufficient to maintain current revenues and cash flows could be
adversely affected by the activities of our competitors and our customers. All of these competitive
pressures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial
condition and ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and
interest payments on our debt securities.
11
A change in the jurisdictional characterization of some of our assets by federal, state or local
regulatory agencies or a change in policy by those agencies may result in increased regulation of
our assets, which may cause our revenues to decline and operating expenses to increase.
We believe that our natural gas gathering operations meet the tests the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, or FERC, uses to establish a pipelines status as a gatherer exempt from
FERC regulation under the Natural Gas Act of 1938, or NGA, but FERC regulation still affects these
businesses and the markets for products derived from these businesses. FERCs policies and
practices across the range of its oil and natural gas regulatory activities, including, for
example, its policies on open access transportation, ratemaking, capacity release and market center
promotion, indirectly affect intrastate markets. In recent years, FERC has pursued pro-competitive
policies in its regulation of interstate oil and natural gas pipelines. However, we cannot assure
our unitholders that FERC will continue this approach as it considers matters such as pipeline
rates and rules and policies that may affect rights of access to oil and natural gas transportation
capacity. In addition, the distinction between FERC-regulated transmission services and federally
unregulated gathering services has been the subject of regular litigation, so, in such a
circumstance, the classification and regulation of some of our gathering facilities and intrastate
transportation pipelines may be subject to change based on future determinations by FERC and the
courts.
Other state and local regulations also affect our business. Our gathering lines are subject to
ratable take and common purchaser statutes in Louisiana and Texas. Ratable take statutes generally
require gatherers to take, without undue discrimination, oil or natural gas production that may be
tendered to the gatherer for handling. Similarly, common purchaser statutes generally require
gatherers to purchase without undue discrimination as to source of supply or producer. These
statutes restrict our right as an owner of gathering facilities to decide with whom we contract to
purchase or transport oil or natural gas. Federal law leaves any economic regulation of natural gas
gathering to the states. The states in which we operate have adopted complaint-based regulation of
oil and natural gas gathering activities, which allows oil and natural gas producers and shippers
to file complaints with state regulators in an effort to resolve grievances relating to oil and
natural gas gathering access and rate discrimination. Other state regulations may not directly
regulate our business, but may nonetheless affect the availability of natural gas for purchase,
processing and sale, including state regulation of production rates and maximum daily production
allowable from gas wells. While our gathering lines currently are subject to limited state
regulation, there is a risk that state laws will be changed, which may give producers a stronger
basis to challenge the rates, terms and conditions of a gathering line providing transportation
service.
Panther Interstate Pipeline Energy, LLC is also subject to regulation by FERC with respect to
issues other than ratemaking.
Under the NGA, FERC has the authority to regulate natural gas companies, such as Panther
Interstate Pipeline Energy, LLC with respect to: rates, terms and conditions of service; the types
of services Panther Interstate Pipeline Energy, LLC may provide to its customers; the construction
of new facilities; the acquisition, extension, expansion or abandonment of services or facilities;
the maintenance and retention of accounts and records; and relationships of affiliated companies
involved in all aspects of the natural gas and energy business. FERCs actions in any of these
areas or modifications to its current regulations could impair Panther Interstate Pipeline Energy,
LLCs ability to compete for business, the costs it incurs to operate, or the acquisition or
construction of new facilities.
We may incur significant costs and liabilities resulting from pipeline integrity programs and
related repairs.
Pursuant to the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, the United States Department of
Transportation, or DOT, has adopted regulations requiring pipeline operators to develop integrity
management programs for transportation pipelines located where a leak or rupture could do the most
harm in high consequence areas. The regulations require operators to:
|
|
|
perform ongoing assessments of pipeline integrity; |
|
|
|
|
identify and characterize applicable threats to pipeline segments that could impact
a high consequence area; |
|
|
|
|
improve data collection, integration and analysis; |
|
|
|
|
repair and remediate the pipeline as necessary; and |
|
|
|
|
implement preventive and mitigating actions. |
12
We currently estimate that we will incur costs of less than $1.0 million between 2006 and 2010
to implement pipeline integrity management program testing along certain segments of our natural
gas and NGL pipelines. This does not include the costs, if any, of any repair, remediation,
preventative or mitigating actions that may be determined to he necessary as a result of the
testing program, which costs could be substantial.
We do not own all of the land on which our pipelines and facilities are located, which could
disrupt our operations.
We do not own all of the land on which our pipelines and facilities have been constructed, and
we are therefore subject to the possibility of more onerous terms and/or increased costs to retain
necessary land use if we do not have valid rights of way or if such rights of way lapse or
terminate. We obtain the rights to construct and operate our pipelines on land owned by third
parties and governmental agencies for a specific period of time. Our loss of these rights, through
our inability to renew right-of-way contracts or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on
our business, results of operations and financial condition and our ability to make cash
distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Risks Relating to an Investment in Us
Units available for future sales by us or our affiliates could have an adverse impact on the price
of our common units or on any trading market that may develop.
Martin Resource Management and its subsidiaries currently hold 1,701,346 subordinated units
and 3,483,471 common units. All of the subordinated units will convert into common units at the end
of the subordination period and some may convert earlier.
Common units are generally be freely transferable without restriction or further registration
under the Securities Act, except that any common units held by an affiliate of ours may not be
resold publicly except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or under an exemption under Rule 144 or otherwise.
Our partnership agreement provides that, after the subordination period, we may issue an
unlimited number of limited partner interests of any type without a vote of the unitholders. During
the subordination period, our general partner, without the approval of our unitholders, may cause
us to issue up to 1,500,000 additional common units. Our general partner may also cause us to issue
an unlimited number of additional common units or other equity securities of equal rank with the
common units, without unitholder approval, in a number of circumstances such as:
|
|
|
the issuance of common units in additional public offerings or in connection with
acquisitions that increase cash flow from operations on a pro forma, per unit basis; |
|
|
|
|
the conversion of subordinated units into common units; |
|
|
|
|
the conversion of units of equal rank with the common units into common units under
some circumstances; or |
|
|
|
|
the conversion of our general partners general partner interest in us and its
incentive distribution rights into common units as a result of the withdrawal of our
general partner. |
Our partnership agreement does not restrict our ability to issue equity securities ranking
junior to the common units at any time. Any issuance of additional common units or other equity
securities would result in a corresponding decrease in the proportionate ownership interest in us
represented by, and could adversely affect the cash distributions to and market price of, common
units then outstanding.
Under our partnership agreement, our general partner and its affiliates have the right to
cause us to register under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws the offer and
sale of any units that they hold. Subject to the terms and conditions of our partnership agreement,
these registration rights allow the general partner and its affiliates or their assignees holding
any units to require registration of any of these units and to include any of these units in a
registration by us of other units, including units offered by us or by any unitholder. Our general
partner will continue to have these registration rights for two years following its withdrawal or
removal as a general partner.
13
In connection with any registration of this kind, we will indemnify each unitholder
participating in the registration and its officers, directors, and controlling persons from and
against any liabilities under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws arising
from the registration statement or prospectus. Except as described below, the general partner and
its affiliates may sell their units in private transactions at any time, subject to compliance with
applicable laws. Our general partner and its affiliates, with our concurrence, have granted
comparable registration rights to their bank group to which their partnership units have been
pledged.
The sale of any common or subordinated units could have an adverse impact on the price of the
common units or on any trading market that may develop.
Unitholders have less power to elect or remove management of our general partner than holders of
common stock in a corporation. Common unitholders will not have sufficient voting power to elect
or remove our general partner without the consent of Martin Resource Management.
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 managements
decisions regarding our business. Unitholders did not elect our general partner or its directors
and will have no right to elect our general partner or its directors on an annual or other
continuing basis. Martin Resource Management elects the directors of our general partner. Although
our general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage our partnership in a manner beneficial to us and
our unitholders, the directors of our general partner also have a fiduciary duty to manage our
general partner in a manner beneficial to Martin Resource Management and its shareholders.
If unitholders are dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they will have a
limited ability to remove our general partner. Our general partner generally may not be removed
except upon the vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding units voting together as
a single class. Because our general partner and its affiliates, including Martin Resource
Management, control 35.7% of our outstanding limited partnership units, our general partner
initially cannot be removed without the consent of it and its affiliates.
If our general partner is removed without cause during the subordination period and units held
by our general partner and its affiliates are not voted in favor of removal, all remaining
subordinated units will automatically be converted into common units and any existing arrearages on
the common units will be extinguished. A removal under these circumstances would adversely affect
the common units by prematurely eliminating their contractual right to distributions and
liquidation preference over the subordinated units, which preferences 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, gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in
its capacity as our general partner. Cause does not include most cases of charges of poor
management of our business, so the removal of our general partner because of the unitholders
dissatisfaction with our general partners performance in managing our partnership will most likely
result in the termination of the subordination period.
Unitholders voting rights are further restricted by our partnership agreement provision
prohibiting any units held by a person owning 20% 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 our general partners directors, from voting on any matter. In
addition, our partnership agreement 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.
As a result of these provisions, it will be more difficult for a third party to acquire our
partnership without first negotiating the acquisition with our general partner. Consequently, it is
unlikely the trading price of our common units will ever reflect a takeover premium.
Our general partners discretion in determining the level of our cash reserves may adversely affect
our ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest
payments on our debt securities.
Our partnership agreement requires our general partner to deduct from operating surplus cash
reserves it determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary to fund our future operating
expenditures. In addition, our partnership agreement permits our general partner to reduce
available cash by establishing cash reserves for the proper conduct of our business, to comply with
applicable law or agreements to which we are a party or to provide funds for future distributions
to partners. These cash reserves will affect the amount of cash available for distribution to our
unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
14
Unitholders may not have limited liability if a court finds that we have not complied with
applicable statutes or that unitholder action constitutes control of our business.
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 states. The holder of one of our
common units could be held liable in some circumstances for our obligations to the same extent as a
general partner if a court were to determine that:
|
|
|
we had been conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable
limited partnership statute; or |
|
|
|
|
the right or the exercise of the right by our unitholders as a group to remove or
replace our general partner, to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement,
or to take other action under our partnership agreement constituted participation in
the control of our business. |
Our general partner generally has unlimited liability for our obligations, such as our debts
and environmental liabilities, except for our contractual obligations that are expressly made
without recourse to our general partner. In addition, under some circumstances, a unitholder may be
liable to us for the amount of a distribution for a period of nine years from the date of the
distribution.
Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the remedies available to unitholders for
actions that might otherwise constitute a breach of fiduciary duty by our general partner.
Our partnership agreement limits the liability and reduces the fiduciary duties of our general
partner to the unitholders. Our partnership agreement also restricts the remedies available to
unitholders for actions that would otherwise constitute breaches of our general partners fiduciary
duties. For example, our partnership agreement:
|
|
|
permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its sole discretion.
This entitles our general partner to consider only the interests and factors that it
desires, and it has no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of,
or factors affecting, us, our affiliates or any limited partner; |
|
|
|
|
provides that our general partner is entitled to make other decisions in its
reasonable discretion which may reduce the obligations to which our general partner
would otherwise be held; |
|
|
|
|
generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of
interest not involving a required vote of unitholders must be fair and reasonable to
us and that, in determining whether a transaction or resolution is fair and
reasonable, our general partner may consider the interests of all parties involved,
including its own; and |
|
|
|
|
provides that our general partner and its officers and directors will not be liable
for monetary damages to us, our limited partners or assignees for errors of judgment or
for any acts or omissions if our general partner and those other persons acted in good
faith. |
Unitholders are treated as having consented to the various actions contemplated in our
partnership agreement and conflicts of interest that might otherwise be considered a breach of
fiduciary duties under applicable state law.
We may issue additional common units without unitholder approval, which would dilute unitholder
ownership interests.
During the subordination period, our general partner, without the approval of our unitholders,
may cause us to issue up to 1,500,000 additional common units. Our general partner may also cause
us to issue an unlimited number of additional common units or other equity securities of equal rank
with the common units, without unitholder approval, in a number of circumstances such as:
|
|
|
the issuance of common units in additional public offerings or in connection with
acquisitions that increase cash flow from operations on a pro forma, per unit basis; |
15
|
|
|
the conversion of subordinated units into common units; |
|
|
|
|
the conversion of units of equal rank with the common units into common units under
some circumstances; or |
|
|
|
|
the conversion of our general partners general partner interest in us and its
incentive distribution rights into common units as a result of the withdrawal of our
general partner. |
After the subordination period, we may issue an unlimited number of limited partner interests
of any type without the approval of our unitholders. Our partnership agreement does not give our
unitholders the right to approve our issuance of equity securities ranking junior to the common
units at any time.
On
each of November 14, 2005, 2006 and 2007, 850,672 of our subordinated units owned by Martin
Resource Management and its subsidiaries converted into common units on a one for one basis
following our distribution of available cash on such date. Additional conversion of our
outstanding subordinated units will occur following our quarterly distributions of available cash
provided that certain distribution thresholds are met by us.
The issuance of additional common units or other equity securities of equal or senior rank
will have the following effects:
|
|
|
our unitholders proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease; |
|
|
|
|
the amount of cash available for distribution on a per unit basis may decrease; |
|
|
|
|
because a lower percentage of total outstanding units will be subordinated units,
the risk that a shortfall in the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution will be
borne by our common unitholders will increase; |
|
|
|
|
the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit will diminish; |
|
|
|
|
the market price of the common units may decline; and |
|
|
|
|
the ratio of taxable income to distributions may increase. |
The control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party, and that party could
replace our current management team, without unitholder consent. Additionally, if Martin Resource
Management no longer controls our general partner, amounts we owe under our credit facility may
become immediately due and payable.
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.
Furthermore, there is no restriction in our partnership agreement on the ability of the owner of
our general partner to transfer its ownership interest in our general partner to a third party. A
new owner of our general partner could replace the directors and officers of our general partner
with its own designees and to control the decisions taken by our general partner. Martin Resource
Management and its affiliates have pledged their interests in our general partner and us to their
bank group. If, at any time, Martin Resource Management no longer controls our general partner, the
lenders under our credit facility may declare all amounts outstanding thereunder immediately due
and payable. If such event occurs, we may be required to refinance our debt on unfavorable terms,
which could negatively impact our results of operations and our ability to make distribution to our
unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our debt securities.
Our general partner has a limited call right that may require unitholders to sell their common
units at an undesirable time or price.
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the common units,
our general partner will have the right, but not the obligation, which it may assign to any of its
affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining common units held by
unaffiliated persons at a price not less than the then-current market price. As a result,
unitholders may be required to sell their common units at an undesirable time or price and may not
receive any return on their investment. Unitholders may also incur a tax liability upon a sale of
their units. No provision in our partnership agreement, or in any other agreement we have with our
general partner
16
or Martin Resource Management, prohibits our general partner or its affiliates from acquiring
more than 80% of our common units. For additional information about this call right and
unitholders potential tax liability, please read Tax Risks Tax gain or loss on the disposition
of our common units could be different than expected.
Our common units have a limited trading volume compared to other publicly traded securities.
Our common units are quoted on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol MMLP. However,
daily trading volumes for our common units are, and may continue to be, relatively small compared
to many other securities quoted on the NASDAQ National Market. The price of our common units may,
therefore, be volatile.
Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls in accordance with Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act could have a material adverse effect on our unit price.
In order to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we periodically document and
test our internal control procedures. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires annual
management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting and a
report by our independent auditors addressing these assessments. During the course of our testing
we may identify deficiencies which we may not be able to address in time to meet the deadline
imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for compliance with the requirements of Section 404. In addition,
if we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified,
supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an
ongoing basis that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting in accordance with
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal
control environment could have a material adverse effect on the price of our common units or debt
securities.
Risks Relating to Our Relationship with Martin Resource Management
Cash reimbursements due to Martin Resource Management may be substantial and will reduce our cash
available for distribution to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our
debt securities.
Under our omnibus agreement with Martin Resource Management, Martin Resource Management
provides us with corporate staff and support services on behalf of our general partner that are
substantially identical in nature and quality to the services it conducted for our business prior
to our formation. The omnibus agreement requires us to reimburse Martin Resource Management for the
costs and expenses it incurs in rendering these services, including an overhead allocation to us of
Martin Resource Managements indirect general and administrative expenses from its corporate
allocation pool. These payments may be substantial. Payments to Martin Resource Management will
reduce the amount of available cash for distribution to our unitholders or to make principal and
interest payments on our debt securities.
Martin Resource Management has conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary responsibilities, which
may permit it to favor it(s own interests to the detriment of our unitholders.
Martin Resource Management owns an approximate 35.7% limited partnership interest in us.
Furthermore, it owns and controls our general partner, which owns a 2.0% general partner interest
and incentive distribution rights in us. Conflicts of interest may arise between Martin Resource
Management and our general partner, on the one hand, and our unitholders, on the other hand. As a
result of these conflicts, our general partner may favor its own interests and the interests of
Martin Resource Management over the interests of our unitholders. Potential conflicts of interest
between us, Martin Resource Management and our general partner could occur in many of our
day-to-day operations including, among others, the following situations:
|
|
|
Officers of Martin Resource Management who provide services to us also devote
significant time to the businesses of Martin Resource Management and are compensated by
Martin Resource Management for that time. |
|
|
|
|
Neither our partnership agreement nor any other agreement requires Martin Resource
Management to pursue a business strategy that favors us or utilizes our assets or
services. Martin Resource Managements directors and officers have a fiduciary duty to
make these decisions in the best interests of the shareholders of Martin Resource
Management without regard to the best interests of the unitholders. |
17
|
|
|
Martin Resource Management may engage in limited competition with us. |
|
|
|
|
Our general partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other
than us, such as Martin Resource Management, in resolving conflicts of interest, which
has the effect of reducing its fiduciary duty to our unitholders. |
|
|
|
|
Under our partnership agreement, our general partner may limit its liability and
reduce its fiduciary duties, while also restricting the remedies available to our
unitholders for actions that, without the limitations and reductions, might constitute
breaches of fiduciary duty. As a result of purchasing units, our unitholders will be
treated as having consented to some actions and conflicts of interest that, without
such consent, might otherwise constitute a breach of fiduciary or other duties under
applicable state law. |
|
|
|
|
Our general partner determines which costs incurred by Martin Resource Management
are reimbursable by us. |
|
|
|
|
Our partnership agreement does not restrict our general partner from causing us to
pay it or its affiliates for any services rendered on terms that are fair and
reasonable to us or from entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of
these entities on our behalf. |
|
|
|
|
Our general partner controls the enforcement of obligations owed to us by Martin
Resource Management. |
|
|
|
|
Our general partner decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or
others to perform services for us. |
|
|
|
|
The audit committee of our general partner retains our independent auditors. |
|
|
|
|
In some instances, our general partner may cause us to borrow funds to permit us to
pay cash distributions, even if the purpose or effect of the borrowing is to make a
distribution on the subordinated units, to make incentive distributions or to
accelerate the expiration of the subordination period. |
|
|
|
|
Our general partner has broad discretion to establish financial reserves for the
proper conduct of our business. These reserves also will affect the amount of cash
available for distribution. Our general partner may establish reserves for distribution
on the subordinated units, but only if those reserves will not prevent us from
distributing the full minimum quarterly distribution, plus any arrearages, on the
common units for the following four quarters. |
Martin Resource Management and its affiliates may engage in limited competition with us.
Martin Resource Management and its affiliates may engage in limited competition with us. If
Martin Resource Management does engage in competition with us, we may lose customers or business
opportunities, which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flow and
ability to make distributions to our unitholders or to make principal and interest payments on our
debt securities.
Tax Risks
You should read Material Tax Considerations for a full discussion of the expected material
federal income tax considerations of owning and disposing of common units.
The IRS could treat us as a corporation for tax purposes, which would substantially reduce the cash
available for distribution to unitholders.
The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in us depends largely on our
classification as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We have not requested, and do not
plan to request, a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, on this or any other matter
affecting us.
If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay tax on our
income at corporate rates, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and would likely pay state income
tax at various rates. Distributions to unitholders would generally be taxed again to them as
corporate distributions, and no income, gains,
18
losses or deductions would flow through to unitholders. Because a tax would be imposed upon us
as a corporation, the cash available for distribution to unitholders would be substantially
reduced. Treatment of us as a corporation would result in a material reduction in the anticipated
cash flow and after-tax return to our unitholders and therefore would likely result in a
substantial reduction in the value of the common units.
Current law may change so as to cause us to be taxable as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes or otherwise subject us to entity-level taxation. Our partnership agreement provides that
if a law is enacted or existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects us to
taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects us to entity-level taxation for federal, state or
local income tax purposes, then the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target
distribution amount will be adjusted to reflect the impact of that law on us.
A successful IRS contest of the federal income tax positions we take may adversely affect the
market for our common units and the costs of any contest will be borne by our unitholders, debt
security holders and our general partner.
We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes or any other matter affecting us. The IRS may adopt positions that
differ from our counsels conclusions. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court
proceedings to sustain some or all of our counsels conclusions or the positions we take. A court
may not agree with some or all our counsels conclusions or the positions we take. Any contest
with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for our common units and the prices at
which they trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne directly or
indirectly by all of our unitholders, debt security holders and our general partner.
Unitholders may be required to pay taxes on income from us even if they do not receive any cash
distributions from us.
Unitholders may be required to pay federal income taxes and, in some cases, state, local and
foreign income taxes on their share of our taxable income even if they receive no cash
distributions from us. Unitholders may not receive cash distributions from us equal to their share
of our taxable income or even the tax liability that results from the taxation of their share of
our taxable income.
Tax gain or loss on the disposition of our common units could be different than expected.
If our unitholders sell their common units, they will recognize gain or loss equal to the
difference between the amount realized and their tax basis in those common units. Prior
distributions in excess of the total net taxable income unitholders were allocated for a common
unit, which decreased unitholder tax basis in that common unit, will, in effect, become taxable
income to our unitholders if the common unit is sold at a price greater than their tax basis in
that common unit, even if the price they receive is less than their original cost. A substantial
portion of the amount realized, whether or not representing gain, may be ordinary income to our
unitholders. Should the IRS successfully contest some positions we take, our unitholders could
recognize more gain on the sale of units than would be the case under those positions, without the
benefit of decreased income in prior years. In addition, if our unitholders sell their units, they
may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash they receive from the sale.
Tax-exempt entities and foreign persons face unique tax issues from owning common units that may
result in adverse tax consequences to them.
Investment in common units by tax-exempt entities, such as individual retirement accounts
(known as IRAs), and non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of
our income allocated to organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual
retirement accounts and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business income and will be
taxable to them. Distributions to non-U.S. persons will be reduced by withholding taxes at the
highest effective tax rate applicable to individuals, and non-U.S. persons will be required to file
federal income tax returns and pay tax on their share of our taxable income.
We treat a purchaser of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the
sellers identity. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of
the common units.
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units and because of other
reasons, we have adopted depreciation positions that may not conform to all aspects of the Treasury
regulations. Please read Material Tax Considerations Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Section 754 Election. A successful IRS
19
challenge to those positions could adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to
our unitholders. It also could affect the timing of these tax benefits or the amount of gain from
the sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or
result in audit adjustments to our unit holders tax returns. read Material Tax Considerations
Uniformity of Units for an further discussion of the effect of, and reasons for, the depreciation
and amortization positions we will adopt.
Unitholders may be subject to state, local and foreign taxes and return filing requirements as a
result of investing in our common units.
In addition to federal income taxes, unitholders may be subject to other taxes, such as state,
local and foreign income taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance, or
intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own
property. Unitholders may be required to file state, local and foreign income tax returns and pay
state and local income taxes in some or all of the various jurisdictions in which we do business or
own property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. We own
property and conduct business in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Florida, Illinois,
Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Utah. We may do business or own property in other states or
foreign countries in the future. It is the unitholders responsibility to file all federal, state,
local and foreign tax returns. Our counsel has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or
foreign tax consequences of an investment in our common units.
Risks Relating to the Debt Securities
Martin Midstream Partners is a holding company and we conduct our operations through our
subsidiary, Martin Operating Partnership, and depend on cash flow from Martin Operating Partnership
to service any of our debt obligations.
Martin Midstream Partners conducts all of its operations through its subsidiary, Martin
Operating Partnership, and owns no significant assets other than the limited partnership interests
in Martin Operating Partnership and ownership of membership interests in Martin Operating GP LLC,
the general partner of Martin Operating Partnership. Therefore, our ability, and the ability of
Martin Operating Partnership, to make required payments on any debt securities issued will depend
on the performance of Martin Operating Partnership and its ability to make required payments and/or
to distribute funds to us. The ability of this subsidiary to make required payments and/or make
such distributions may be restricted by, among other things, its debt agreements and applicable
state partnership laws and other laws and regulations. Under our debt agreements, Martin Operating
Partnership is prohibited from making a distribution to us that would result in a default in such
debt agreements. Furthermore, applicable state partnership laws restrict Martin Operating
Partnership from making distributions to us that would result in its insolvency. If we or Martin
Operating Partnership are unable to obtain the funds necessary to pay the principal amount at
maturity of our debt securities, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as a
refinancing of the debt securities. We cannot assure you that we would be able to so refinance our
debt securities.
Your right to receive payments on our debt securities is unsecured and will be effectively
subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness.
Any debt securities, including any guarantees, issued by Martin Midstream Partners or Martin
Operating Partnership will be effectively subordinated to the claims of our secured creditors. In
the event of the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding up of
the business of Martin Midstream Partners or Martin Operating Partnership, secured creditors would
generally have the right to be paid in full before any distribution is made to the holders of our
debt securities. As of December 31, 2007, Martin Midstream Partners had outstanding approximately
$174.1 million o f secured indebtedness. As of September 30, 2007, Martin Midstream Partners had
outstanding approximately $210.0 million of secured indebtedness.
A guarantee by Martin Midstream Partners or Martin Operating Partnership could be deemed to be a
fraudulent conveyance under certain circumstances, and a court may try to subordinate or void such
guarantee.
Under federal bankruptcy laws and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a
guarantee by Martin Midstream Partners or Martin Operating Partnership could be voided, or claims
in respect of a guarantee could be subordinated to all other debts of that guarantor if, among
other things, the guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its guarantee,
received less than reasonably equivalent fair value or fair consideration for the incurrence of
such guarantee, and
|
|
|
was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such incurrence; |
20
|
|
|
was engaged in a business or transaction for which the guarantors remaining assets
constituted unreasonably small capital; or |
|
|
|
|
intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay
such debts as they mature. |
In addition, any payment by that guarantor pursuant to its guarantee could be voided and
required to be returned to the guarantor, or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the
guarantor. The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws will vary
depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has
occurred. Generally, however, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:
|
|
|
the sum of its assets, including contingent liabilities, were greater than the fair
saleable value of all of its assets; |
|
|
|
|
the present fair saleable value of its assets were less than the amount that would
be required to pay its procurable liability, including contingent liabilities, on its
existing debts, as they become absolute or mature; or |
|
|
|
|
it could not pay its debts as they become due. |
Martin Midstream Partners and Martin Operating Partnership are required to distribute all of their
available cash to their partners and are not required to accumulate cash for the purpose of meeting
their future obligations to holders of our debt securities, which may limit the cash available to
service those debt securities.
The partnership agreements of Martin Midstream Partners and Martin Operating Partnership require us
to distribute all of our available cash each fiscal quarter to our partners. Available cash is
generally defined to mean all cash on hand at the end of the quarter, plus certain working capital
borrowings after the end of the quarter, less reserves established by the general partner in its
sole discretion to provide for the proper conduct of our business (including reserves for future
capital expenditures), to comply with applicable law or agreements, including debt agreements, or
to provide funds for future distributions to partners. Depending on the timing and amount of the
cash distributions to our partners and because we are not required to accumulate cash for the
purpose of meeting obligations to holders of any debt securities, such distributions could
significantly reduce the cash available to us in subsequent periods to make payments on any debt
securities.
21
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Statements included in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the
documents we incorporate by reference that are not historical facts (including any statements
concerning plans and objectives of management for future operations or economic performance, or
assumptions or forecasts related thereto), are forward-looking statements. These statements can be
identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including forecast, may, believe,
will, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue or other similar words. These statements
discuss future expectations, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition
or state other forward-looking information. We and our representatives may from time to time make
other oral or written statements that are also forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are made based upon managements current plans, expectations,
estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and therefore involve a
number of risks and uncertainties. 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.
Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results could
differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements for a number
of important reasons, including those discussed under Risk Factors and elsewhere in this
prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference
herein.
22
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we specify otherwise in any prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds (after
the payment of offering expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions) from the sale of
securities offered hereby for general partnership purposes, which may include, among other things:
|
|
|
paying or refinancing all or a portion of our indebtedness outstanding at the time,
including indebtedness incurred in connection with acquisitions; and |
|
|
|
|
funding working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions. |
The actual application of proceeds from the sale of any particular offering of securities
using this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such
offering. The precise amount and timing of the application of these proceeds will depend upon our
funding requirements and the availability and cost of other funds.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The table below sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of Martin Midstream Partners
and Martin Midstream Partners Predecessor on a consolidated basis for the periods indicated. The
ratio of earnings to fixed charges is presented below for the period
from January 1, 2002 through November 5, 2002, for the years ending December 31, 2002, 2003,
2004, 2005 and 2006, and for the period from January 1, 2007
through September 30, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Martin Midstream |
|
|
|
|
Partners Predecessor |
|
Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period from |
|
|
|
|
Period from |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
January 1, |
|
|
|
|
November 6, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007 |
|
|
Period from January |
|
2002 through |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
through |
|
|
1, 2002 through |
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September |
|
|
November 5, 2002 |
|
2002 |
|
2003 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
|
2006 |
|
30, 2007 |
Ratio of Earnings
to Fixed Charges |
|
|
1.78x |
|
|
|
8.29x |
|
|
|
5.97x |
|
|
|
3.81x |
|
|
|
2.46x |
|
|
|
2.19x |
|
|
|
2.16x |
|
For these ratios, earnings is the amount resulting from adding the following items:
|
|
|
pre-tax income from continuing operations, before minority interest and equity in
earnings of unconsolidated partnership; |
|
|
|
|
distributed income of equity investments; and |
|
|
|
|
fixed charges. |
The term fixed charges means the sum of the following:
|
|
|
interest expense; |
|
|
|
|
amortized debt issuance costs; and |
|
|
|
|
estimated interest element of rentals. |
23
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
Martin Midstream Partners may issue senior debt securities under an indenture between Martin
Midstream Partners, as issuer, Martin Operating Partnership, as the Guarantor, if applicable, and a
trustee that we will name in the related prospectus supplement. We refer to this indenture as the
Martin Midstream Partners senior indenture. Martin Midstream Partners may also issue subordinated
debt securities under an indenture to be entered into among Martin Midstream Partners, Martin
Operating Partnership, as the Guarantor, if applicable, and a trustee that we will name in the
related prospectus supplement. We refer to this indenture as the Martin Midstream Partners
subordinated indenture.
Martin Operating Partnership may issue senior debt securities under an indenture among Martin
Operating Partnership, as issuer, Martin Midstream Partners, as the Guarantor, and a trustee that
we will name in the related prospectus supplement. We refer to this indenture as the Martin
Operating Partnership senior indenture. Martin Operating Partnership may also issue subordinated
debt securities under an indenture to be entered into among Martin Operating Partnership, Martin
Midstream Partners, as the Guarantor, and a trustee that we will name in the related prospectus
supplement. We refer to this indenture as the Martin Operating Partnership subordinated
indenture.
We refer to the Martin Midstream Partners senior indenture, the Martin Operating Partnership
senior indenture, the Martin Midstream Partners subordinated indenture and the Martin Operating
Partnership subordinated indenture collectively as the indentures. The debt securities will be
governed by the provisions of the related indenture and those made part of the indenture by
reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
We have summarized material provisions of the indentures, the debt securities and the
guarantees below. This summary is not complete. We have filed the form of senior indentures and the
form of subordinated indentures with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which
this prospectus forms a part, and you should read the indentures for provisions that may be
important to you.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Description of the Debt Securities
to we, us and our mean Martin Midstream Partners and Martin Operating Partnership and
references herein to an indenture refer to the particular indenture under which we issue a series
of debt securities.
Provisions Applicable to Each Indenture
General. Any series of debt securities:
|
|
|
will be general obligations of the issuer; |
|
|
|
|
will be general obligations of the Guarantor if they are guaranteed by the
Guarantor; and |
|
|
|
|
may be subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of Martin Midstream Partners and
Martin Operating Partnership. |
The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued under any
indenture, and do not limit the amount of other indebtedness or securities that we may issue. We
may issue debt securities under the indentures from time to time in one or more series, each in an
amount authorized prior to issuance.
No indenture contains any covenants or other provisions designed to protect holders of the
debt securities in the event we participate in a highly leveraged transaction or upon a change of
control. The indentures also do not contain provisions that give holders the right to require us to
repurchase their securities in the event of a decline in our credit ratings for any reason,
including as a result of a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or otherwise.
Terms. We will prepare a prospectus supplement and either a supplemental indenture, or
authorizing resolutions of the board of directors of our general partner, accompanied by an
officers certificate, relating to any series of debt securities that we offer, which will include
specific terms relating to some or all of the following:
|
|
|
whether the debt securities will be senior or subordinated debt securities; |
|
|
|
|
the form and title of the debt securities of that series; |
|
|
|
|
whether the debt securities will be secured or not; |
|
|
|
|
the total principal amount of the debt securities of that series; |
|
|
|
|
whether the debt securities will be issued in individual certificates to each holder
or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on
behalf of holders; |
24
|
|
|
the date or dates on which the principal of and any premium on the debt securities
of that series will be payable; |
|
|
|
|
any interest rate which the debt securities of that series will bear, the date from
which interest will accrue, interest payment dates and record dates for interest
payments; |
|
|
|
|
any right to extend or defer the interest payment periods and the duration of the
extension; |
|
|
|
|
whether and under what circumstances any additional amounts with respect to the debt
securities will be payable; |
|
|
|
|
whether the debt securities are entitled to the benefit of any guarantee by any
Guarantor; |
|
|
|
|
the place or places where payments on the debt securities of that series will be
payable; |
|
|
|
|
any provisions for optional redemption or early repayment; |
|
|
|
|
any provisions that would require the redemption, purchase or repayment of debt
securities; |
|
|
|
|
the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued; |
|
|
|
|
whether payments on the debt securities will be payable in foreign currency or
currency units or another form and whether payments will be payable by reference to any
index or formula; |
|
|
|
|
the portion of the principal amount of debt securities that will be payable if the
maturity is accelerated, if other than the entire principal amount; |
|
|
|
|
any additional means of defeasance of the debt securities, any additional conditions
or limitations to defeasance of the debt securities or any changes to those conditions
or limitations; |
|
|
|
|
any changes or additions to the events of default or covenants described in this
prospectus; |
|
|
|
|
any restrictions or other provisions relating to the transfer or exchange of debt
securities; |
|
|
|
|
any terms for the conversion or exchange of the debt securities for our other
securities or securities of any other entity; |
|
|
|
|
any changes to the subordination provisions for the subordinated debt securities;
and |
|
|
|
|
any other terms of the debt securities of that series. |
This description of debt securities will be deemed modified, amended or supplemented by any
description of any series of debt securities set forth in a prospectus supplement related to that
series.
We may sell the debt securities at a discount, which may be substantial, below their stated
principal amount. These debt securities may bear no interest or interest at a rate that at the time
of issuance is below market rates. If we sell these debt securities, we will describe in the
prospectus supplement any material United States federal income tax consequences and other special
considerations.
If we sell any of the debt securities for any foreign currency or currency unit or if payments
on the debt securities are payable in any foreign currency or currency unit, we will describe in
the prospectus supplement the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other
information relating to those debt securities and the foreign currency or currency unit.
Guarantee of Martin Midstream Partners. Martin Midstream Partners will fully, irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantee on an unsecured basis all series of debt securities of Martin Operating
Partnership, and may execute a notation of guarantee as further evidence of its guarantee. The
applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such guarantee by Martin Midstream
Partners.
Martin Midstream Partners guarantee of the senior debt securities will be Martin Midstream
Partners unsecured and unsubordinated general obligation, and will rank on a parity with all of
Martin Midstream Partners other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Martin Midstream
Partners guarantee of the subordinated debt securities will be Martin Midstream Partners
unsecured general obligation and will be subordinated to all of Martin Midstream Partners other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
Guarantee of Martin Operating Partnership. Martin Operating Partnership may fully, irrevocably
and unconditionally guarantee on an unsecured basis all series of debt securities of Martin
Midstream Partners and may execute a notation of guarantee as further evidence of such guarantee.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such guarantee by Martin
Operating Partnership.
25
If a series of senior debt securities of Martin Midstream Partners is guaranteed, Martin
Operating Partnerships guarantee of the senior debt securities will be Martin Operating
Partnerships unsecured and unsubordinated general obligation, and will rank on a parity with all
of Martin Operating Partnerships other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. If a series of
subordinated debt securities of Martin Midstream Partners is guaranteed, Martin Operating
Partnerships guarantee of the subordinated debt securities will be Martin Operating Partnerships
unsecured general obligation and will be subordinated to all of Martin Operating Partnerships
other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
The obligations of each Guarantor under its guarantee of the debt securities will be limited
to the maximum amount that will not result in the obligations of the Guarantor under the guarantee
constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under federal or state law, after
giving effect to:
|
|
|
all other contingent and fixed liabilities of the Guarantor; and |
|
|
|
|
any collections from or payments made by or on behalf of any other Guarantor in
respect of the obligations of the Guarantor under its guarantee. |
The guarantee of any Guarantor may be released under certain circumstances. If we exercise our
legal or covenant defeasance option with respect to debt securities of a particular series as
described below in Defeasance, then any Guarantor will be released with respect to that series.
Further, if no default has occurred and is continuing under the indentures, and to the extent not
otherwise prohibited by the indentures, a Guarantor will be unconditionally released and discharged
from the guarantee:
|
|
|
automatically upon any sale, exchange or transfer, whether by way of merger or
otherwise, to any person that is not our affiliate, of all of our direct or indirect
limited partnership or other equity interests in the Guarantor; |
|
|
|
|
automatically upon the merger of the Guarantor into us or the liquidation and
dissolution of the Guarantor; or |
|
|
|
|
following delivery of a written notice by us to the trustee, upon the release of all
guarantees by the Guarantor of any debt of ours for borrowed money for a purchase money
obligation or for a guarantee of either, except for any series of debt securities. |
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets. Each of Martin Midstream Partners and Martin
Operating Partnership has agreed, however, that it will not consolidate with or merge into any
entity (other than Martin Midstream Partners, Martin Operating Partnership or their subsidiaries,
as applicable) or lease, transfer or dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to any
entity (other than Martin Midstream Partners, Martin Operating Partnership or their subsidiaries,
as applicable) unless:
|
|
|
it is the continuing entity; or |
|
|
|
|
if it is not the continuing entity, the resulting entity or transferee is organized
and existing under the laws of any United States jurisdiction and assumes the
performance of its covenants and obligations under the indentures; and |
|
|
|
|
in either case, immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or
event of default would occur and be continuing or would result from the transaction. |
Upon any such consolidation, merger or asset lease, transfer or disposition involving Martin
Midstream Partners or Martin Operating Partnership, the resulting entity or transferee will be
substituted for Martin Midstream Partners or Martin Operating Partnership, as applicable, under the
applicable indenture and debt securities. In the case of an asset transfer or disposition other
than a lease, Martin Midstream Partners or Martin Operating Partnership, as applicable, will be
released from the applicable indenture.
Events of Default. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the
following are events of default with respect to a series of debt securities:
|
|
|
failure to pay interest on that series of debt securities when due that continue for
30 days; |
|
|
|
|
default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on any debt securities of
that series when due at its stated maturity, upon redemption, upon required repurchase
or otherwise; |
|
|
|
|
default in the payment of any sinking fund payment on any debt securities of that
series when due; |
|
|
|
|
failure by the issuer or, if the series of debt securities is guaranteed by the
Guarantor, by such Guarantor, to comply for 60 days with the other agreements contained
in the indentures, any |
26
|
|
|
supplement to the indentures or any board resolution authorizing the issuance of
that series after written notice by the trustee or by the holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities issued under that indenture that
are affected by that failure; |
|
|
|
|
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the issuer or, if the
series of debt securities is guaranteed by the Guarantor, of the Guarantor; |
|
|
|
|
if the series is guaranteed by the Guarantor, |
|
|
|
any of the guarantees ceases to be in full force and effect, except as otherwise
provided in the indentures; |
|
|
|
|
any of the guarantees is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding; or |
|
|
|
|
the Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the indentures or its
guarantee; and |
|
|
|
any other event of default provided for in that series of debt securities. |
A default under one series of debt securities will not necessarily be a default under another
series. The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the debt securities of any default or
event of default (except in any payment on the debt securities) if the trustee considers it in the
interest of the holders of the debt securities to do so.
If an event of default for any series of debt securities occurs and is continuing, the trustee
or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series
affected by the default (or, in some cases, 25% in principal amount of all debt securities issued
under the applicable indenture that are affected, voting as one class) may declare the principal of
and all accrued and unpaid interest on those debt securities to be due and payable. If an event of
default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs, the
principal of and interest on all the debt securities issued under the applicable indenture will
become immediately due and payable without any action on the part of the trustee or any holder. The
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series affected
by the default (or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture
that are affected, voting as one class) may in some cases rescind this accelerated payment
requirement.
A holder of a debt security of any series issued under each indenture may pursue any remedy
under that indenture only if:
|
|
|
the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default for
that series; |
|
|
|
|
the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities
of that series make a written request to the trustee to pursue the remedy; |
|
|
|
|
the holders offer to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to the trustee; |
|
|
|
|
the trustee fails to act for a period of 60 days after receipt of the request and
offer of indemnity; and |
|
|
|
|
during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt
securities of that series do not give the trustee a direction inconsistent with the
request. |
This provision does not, however, affect the right of a holder of a debt security to sue for
enforcement of any overdue payment.
In most cases, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities
of a series (or of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected,
voting as one class) may direct the time, method and place of:
|
|
|
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee; and |
|
|
|
|
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee relating to or arising as a
result of an event of default. |
The issuer is required to file each year with the trustee a written statement as to its
compliance with the covenants contained in the applicable indenture.
Modification and Waiver. Each indenture may be amended or supplemented if the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under that
indenture that are affected by the
27
amendment or supplement (acting as one class) consent to it. Without the consent of the holder of
each debt security affected, however, no modification may:
|
|
|
reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, a
supplement or a waiver; |
|
|
|
|
reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on the debt security; |
|
|
|
|
reduce the principal of the debt security or change its stated maturity; |
|
|
|
|
reduce any premium payable on the redemption of the debt security or change the time
at which the debt security may or must be redeemed; |
|
|
|
|
change any obligation to pay additional amounts on the debt security; |
|
|
|
|
make payments on the debt security payable in currency other than as originally
stated in the debt security; |
|
|
|
|
impair the holders right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or
with respect to the debt security; |
|
|
|
|
make any change in the percentage of principal amount of debt securities necessary
to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or to make any change in
the provision related to modification; |
|
|
|
|
modify the provisions relating to the subordination of any subordinated debt
security in a manner adverse to the holder of that security; |
|
|
|
|
waive a continuing default or event of default regarding any payment on the debt
securities; or |
|
|
|
|
release the Guarantor, or modify the guarantee of the Guarantor in any manner
adverse to the holders. |
Each indenture may be amended or supplemented or any provision of that indenture may be waived
without the consent of any holders of debt securities issued under that indenture:
|
|
|
to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency; |
|
|
|
|
to provide for the assumption of the issuers obligations under the indentures by a
successor upon any merger, consolidation or asset transfer permitted under the
indenture; |
|
|
|
|
to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of
certificated debt securities or to provide for bearer debt securities; |
|
|
|
|
to provide any security for, any guarantees of or any additional obligors on any
series of debt securities or, with respect to the senior indentures, the related
guarantees; |
|
|
|
|
to comply with any requirement to effect or maintain the qualification of that
indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; |
|
|
|
|
to add covenants that would benefit the holders of any debt securities or to
surrender any rights the issuer has under the indentures; |
|
|
|
|
to add events of default with respect to any debt securities; and |
|
|
|
|
to make any change that does not adversely affect any outstanding debt securities of
any series issued under that indenture in any material respect. |
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series
(or, in some cases, of all debt securities issued under the applicable indenture that are affected,
voting as one class) may waive any existing or past default or event of default with respect to
those debt securities. Those holders may not, however, waive any default or event of default in any
payment on any debt security or compliance with a provision that cannot be amended or supplemented
without the consent of each holder affected.
Defeasance. When we use the term defeasance, we mean discharge from some or all of our
obligations under the indentures. If any combination of funds or government securities are
deposited with the trustee under an indenture sufficient to make payments on the debt securities of
a series issued under that indenture on the dates those payments are due and payable, then, at our
option, either of the following will occur:
28
|
|
|
we will be discharged from our or their obligations with respect to the debt
securities of that series and, if applicable, the related guarantees (legal
defeasance); or |
|
|
|
|
we will no longer have any obligation to comply with the restrictive covenants, the
merger covenant and other specified covenants under the applicable indenture, and the
related events of default will no longer apply (covenant defeasance). |
If a series of debt securities is defeased, the holders of the debt securities of the series
affected will not be entitled to the benefits of the applicable indenture, except for obligations
to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt
securities or maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust. In the case of
covenant defeasance, our obligation to pay principal, premium and interest on the debt securities
and, if applicable, guarantees of the payments will also survive.
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, we will be required to deliver to
the trustee an opinion of counsel that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the
holders of the debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion of counsel must be based upon a ruling from
the U.S. Internal Revenue Service or a change in law to that effect.
No Personal Liability of General Partner. Martin Midstream GP LLC, the general partner of
Martin Midstream Partners, and its directors, managers, officers, employees and members, in such
capacity, will not be liable for the obligations of Martin Midstream Partners or Martin Operating
Partnership under the debt securities, the indentures or the guarantees or for any claim based on,
in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a debt security,
each holder of that debt security will have agreed to this provision and waived and released any
such liability on the part of Martin Midstream GP LLC and its directors, managers, officers,
employees and members. This waiver and release are part of the consideration for our issuance of
the debt securities. It is the view of the SEC that a waiver of liabilities under the federal
securities laws is against public policy and unenforceable.
Governing Law. New York law will govern the indentures and the debt securities.
Trustee. We may appoint a separate trustee for any series of debt securities. We use the term
trustee to refer to the trustee appointed with respect to any such series of debt securities. We
may maintain banking and other commercial relationships with the trustee and its affiliates in the
ordinary course of business, and the trustee may own debt securities.
Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer. The debt securities will be issued in registered
form, without interest coupons. There will be no service charge for any registration of transfer or
exchange of the debt securities. However, payment of any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable for that registration may be required.
Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same
series, the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized
denominations in accordance with the applicable indenture. Holders may present debt securities for
registration of transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent we
designate. The security registrar or transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange if its
requirements and the requirements of the applicable indenture are met.
The trustee will be appointed as security registrar for the debt securities. If a prospectus
supplement refers to any transfer agent we initially designate, we may at any time rescind that
designation or approve a change in the location through which any transfer agent acts. We are
required to maintain an office or agency for transfers and exchanges in each place of payment. We
may at any time designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.
In the case of any redemption, we will not be required to register the transfer or exchange
of:
|
|
|
any debt security during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the mailing of
the relevant notice of redemption and ending on the close of business on the day of
mailing of such notice; or |
|
|
|
|
any debt security that has been called for redemption in whole or in part, except
the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part. |
Payment and Paying Agents. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, payments
on the debt securities will be made in U.S. dollars at the office of the trustee or any paying
agent. At our option, however, payments may be made by wire transfer for global debt securities or
by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to the payment as it appears in the security
register. Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, interest payments may be made
to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the record
date for the interest payment.
29
Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the trustee under the applicable
indenture will be designated as the paying agent for payments on debt securities issued under that
indenture. We may at any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any
paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts.
If the principal of or any premium or interest on debt securities of a series is payable on a
day that is not a business day, the payment will be made on the following business day. For these
purposes, unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, a business day is any day
that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or a
place of payment on the debt securities of that series is authorized or obligated by law,
regulation or executive order to remain closed.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws, the trustee and paying
agent will pay to us upon written request any money held by them for payments on the debt
securities that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become
due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment. In that case,
all liability of the trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.
Book-Entry Debt Securities. The debt securities of a series may be issued in the form of one
or more global debt securities that would be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified
in the prospectus supplement. Global debt securities may be issued in either temporary or permanent
form. We will describe in the prospectus supplement the terms of any depositary arrangement and the
rights and limitations of owners of beneficial interests in any global debt security.
Provisions Applicable Solely to the Martin Midstream Partners and Martin Operating Partnership
Subordinated Indentures
Subordination. Debt securities of a series may be subordinated to the issuers Senior
Indebtedness, which is defined generally to include any obligation created or assumed by the
issuer (or, if the series is guaranteed, the Guarantor) for the repayment of borrowed money, any
purchase money obligation created or assumed by the issuer, and any guarantee therefor, whether
outstanding or hereafter issued, unless, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing such
obligation, it is provided that such obligation is subordinate or not superior in right of payment
to the debt securities (or, if the series is guaranteed, the guarantee of the Guarantor), or to
other obligations which are pari passu with or subordinated to the debt securities (or, if the
series is guaranteed, the guarantee of the Guarantor). Subordinated debt securities will be
subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the subordinated
indentures and the prospectus supplement relating to such series, to the prior payment of all of
the issuers indebtedness and that of the Guarantor that is designated as Senior Indebtedness
with respect to the series.
The holders of Senior Indebtedness of the issuer or, if applicable, the Guarantor, will
receive payment in full of the Senior Indebtedness before holders of subordinated debt securities
will receive any payment of principal, premium or interest with respect to the subordinated debt
securities upon any payment or distribution of our assets or, if applicable to any series of
outstanding debt securities, the Guarantors assets, to creditors:
|
|
|
upon a liquidation or dissolution of the issuer or, if applicable to any series of
outstanding debt securities, the Guarantor; or |
|
|
|
|
in a bankruptcy, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the issuer or, if
applicable to any series of outstanding debt securities, to the Guarantor. |
Until the Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, any distribution to which holders of
subordinated debt securities would otherwise be entitled will be made to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, except that the holders of subordinated debt securities may receive units
representing limited partner interests and any debt securities that are subordinated to Senior
Indebtedness to at least the same extent as the subordinated debt securities.
If the issuer does not pay any principal, premium or interest with respect to Senior
Indebtedness within any applicable grace period (including at maturity), or any other default on
Senior Indebtedness occurs and the maturity of the Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance
with its terms, the issuer may not:
|
|
|
make any payments of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to
subordinated debt securities; |
|
|
|
|
make any deposit for the purpose of defeasance of the subordinated debt securities;
or |
|
|
|
|
repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire any subordinated debt securities, except that
in the case of subordinated debt securities that provide for a mandatory sinking fund,
the issuer may deliver subordinated debt securities to the trustee in satisfaction of
our sinking fund obligation, |
30
unless, in either case,
|
|
|
the default has been cured or waived and any declaration of acceleration has been
rescinded; |
|
|
|
|
the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; or |
|
|
|
|
the issuer and the trustee receive written notice approving the payment from the
representatives of each issue of Designated Senior Indebtedness. |
Generally, Designated Senior Indebtedness will include:
|
|
|
any specified issue of Senior Indebtedness of at least $100.0 million; and |
|
|
|
|
any other Senior Indebtedness that we may designate in respect of any series of
subordinated debt securities. |
During the continuance of any default, other than a default described in the immediately
preceding paragraph, that may cause the maturity of any Designated Senior Indebtedness to be
accelerated immediately without further notice, other than any notice required to effect such
acceleration, or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the issuer may not pay the
subordinated debt securities for a period called the Payment Blockage Period. A Payment Blockage
Period will commence on the receipt by the issuer and the trustee of written notice of the default,
called a Blockage Notice, from the representative of any Designated Senior Indebtedness
specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period and will end 179 days thereafter.
The Payment Blockage Period may be terminated before its expiration:
|
|
|
by written notice from the person or persons who gave the Blockage Notice; |
|
|
|
|
by repayment in full in cash of the Designated Senior Indebtedness with respect to
which the Blockage Notice was given; or |
|
|
|
|
if the default giving rise to the Payment Blockage Period is no longer continuing. |
Unless the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness have accelerated the maturity of the
Designated Senior Indebtedness, we may resume payments on the subordinated debt securities after
the expiration of the Payment Blockage Period.
Generally, not more than one Blockage Notice may be given in any period of 360 consecutive
days. The total number of days during which any one or more Payment Blockage Periods are in effect,
however, may not exceed an aggregate of 179 days during any period of 360 consecutive days.
After all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full and until the subordinated debt securities are
paid in full, holders of the subordinated debt securities shall be subrogated to the rights of
holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness.
As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of insolvency, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness, as well as certain of our general creditors, may recover more,
ratably, than the holders of the subordinated debt securities.
31
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS
Our common units represent limited partner interests that entitle the holders to participate
in our partnership distributions and to exercise the rights and privileges available to limited
partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the relative rights and preferences
of holders of common units and our general partner in and to partnership distributions, see Cash
Distribution Policy. For a general discussion of the expected federal income tax consequences of
owning and disposing of common units, see Material Tax Considerations. References in this
Description of the Common Units to we, us and our mean Martin Midstream Partners L.P.
Number of Units
We currently have 12,837,480 common units outstanding, 9,354,009 of which are held by the
public, and 3,483,471 are held by Martin Resource Management and its affiliates, including certain
officers and directors of our general partner. In addition, we currently have 1,701,346
subordinated units outstanding, all of which are held by Martin Resource Management and its
affiliates. For a description of our subordinated units, please read Subordinated Units. The
common units, together with our subordinated units, represent an aggregate 98.0% limited partner
interest. Our general partner owns an aggregate 2.0% general partner interest in us.
Listing
Our outstanding common units are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol MMLP.
Any additional common units that we issue also will be traded on the Nasdaq National Market.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
Duties. Mellon Investor Services LLC serves as transfer agent and registrar for our common
units. We will pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units, except the
following must be paid by unitholders:
|
|
|
surety bond premiums to replace lost or stolen certificates, taxes and other
governmental charges; |
|
|
|
|
special charges for services requested by a holder of a common unit; and |
|
|
|
|
other similar fees or charges. |
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 in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional
misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.
Resignation or Removal. The transfer agent may resign, by notice to us, or be removed by us.
The resignation or removal of the transfer agent will become effective upon our appointment of a
successor transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If no successor has
been appointed and accepted the appointment within 30 days after notice of the resignation or
removal, our general partner may act as the transfer agent and registrar until a successor is
appointed.
Transfer of Common Units
Each purchaser of common units offered by this prospectus must execute a transfer application.
Any subsequent transfers of a common unit will not be recorded by the transfer agent or recognized
by us unless the transferee executes and delivers a transfer application. By executing and
delivering a transfer application, the transferee of common units:
|
|
|
becomes the record holder of the common units and is an assignee until admitted into
our partnership as a substituted limited partner; |
|
|
|
|
automatically requests admission as a substituted limited partner in our
partnership; |
|
|
|
|
agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of, and executes, our partnership
agreement; |
|
|
|
|
represents that the transferee has the capacity, power and authority to enter into
our partnership agreement; |
|
|
|
|
grants powers of attorney to officers of our general partner and any liquidator of
us as specified in our partnership agreement; and |
|
|
|
|
makes the consents and waivers contained in our partnership agreement. |
32
An assignee will become a substituted limited partner of our partnership for the transferred
common units upon the consent of our general partner and the recording of the name of the assignee
on our books and records. Our general partner may withhold its consent in its sole discretion.
A transferees broker, agent or nominee may complete, execute and deliver a transfer
application. We are entitled to treat the record holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In
that case, the beneficial holders rights are limited solely to those that it has against the
record holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the record 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 request admission as a substituted limited partner in our partnership for the
transferred common units. A purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and
deliver a transfer application obtains only:
|
|
|
the right to assign the common unit to a purchaser or other transferee; and |
|
|
|
|
the right to transfer the right to seek admission as a substituted limited partner
in our partnership for the transferred common units. |
Thus, a purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer
application:
|
|
|
will not receive cash distributions, unless the common units are held in a nominee
or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a
transfer application; and |
|
|
|
|
may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record
holders of common units. |
Our partnership agreement requires that a transferor of common units must provide the
transferee with all information that may be necessary to transfer the common units. The transferor
is not required to insure the execution of the transfer application by the transferee and has no
liability or responsibility if the transferee neglects or chooses not to execute and forward the
transfer application to the transfer agent. Please read The Partnership Agreement Status as
Limited Partner or Assignee.
Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the
record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by
law or applicable stock exchange regulations.
Voting
Each holder of common units is entitled to the voting rights specified under The Partnership
Agreement Voting Rights below.
Subordinated Units
Our subordinated units are a separate class of limited partner interests in Martin Midstream
Partners, and the rights of holders to participate in distributions to partners differ from, and
are subordinate to, the rights of the holders of common units. For any given quarter, any available
cash will first be distributed to our general partner and to the holders of our common units, until
the holders of our common units have received the minimum quarterly distribution plus any
arrearages, and then will be distributed to the holders of subordinated units. Please read Cash
Distribution Policy.
The subordinated units may also convert into common units under certain circumstances. Please
read Cash Distribution Policy Subordination Period.
Limited Voting Rights
Holders of subordinated units sometimes vote as a single class together with the common units
and sometimes vote as a class separate from the holders of common units and, as in the case of
holders of common units, will have very limited voting rights. During the subordination period,
common units and subordinated units each vote separately as a class on the following matters:
|
|
|
a sale or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets; |
|
|
|
|
the election of a successor general partner in connection with the removal of the
general partner; |
|
|
|
|
dissolution or reconstitution of our partnership; |
|
|
|
|
a merger of our partnership; |
33
|
|
|
issuance of limited partner interests in some circumstances; and |
|
|
|
|
some amendments to our partnership agreement including any amendment that would
cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation. |
The subordinated units are not entitled to a separate class 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:
|
|
|
a 66 2/3% vote of all outstanding units voting as a single class, and |
|
|
|
|
the election of a successor general partner by the holders of a majority of the
outstanding common units and subordinated units, voting as separate classes. |
Under our partnership agreement, our general partner generally will be permitted to effect
amendments to our partnership agreement that do not materially adversely affect unitholders without
the approval of any unitholders.
Distributions upon Liquidation
If we liquidate during the subordination period, in some circumstances, holders of outstanding
common units will be entitled to receive more per unit in liquidating distributions than holders of
outstanding subordinated units. The per unit difference will be dependent upon the amount of gain
or loss that we recognize in liquidating our assets. Following conversion of the subordinated units
into common units, all units will be treated the same upon liquidation.
34
CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY
Distributions of Available Cash
General. Within 45 days after the end of each quarter, Martin Midstream Partners will
distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date. During
the subordination period, which we define below and in the glossary located in Appendix A, the
common units will have the right to receive distributions of available cash from operating surplus
in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.50 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 the subordinated
units.
Available Cash. We define available cash in the glossary located in Appendix A, and it
generally means, for each fiscal quarter, all cash on hand at the end of the quarter:
|
|
|
less the amount of cash our general partner determines in its reasonable discretion
is necessary or appropriate to: |
|
|
|
|
provide for the proper conduct of our business; |
|
|
|
|
comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments, or other agreements; or |
|
|
|
|
provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and to our general partner for
any one or more of the next four quarters; |
|
|
|
|
plus all cash on hand on the date of determination of available cash for the quarter
resulting from working capital borrowings made after the end of the quarter. Working
capital borrowings are generally borrowings that are made under our revolving credit
facility and in all cases are used solely for working capital purposes or to pay
distributions to partners. |
Intent to Distribute the Minimum Quarterly Distribution. We intend to distribute to the
holders of common units and subordinated units on a quarterly basis at least the minimum quarterly
distribution of $0.50 per unit, or $2.00 per year, to the extent we have sufficient cash from our
operations after the establishment of cash reserves and payment of expenses, including payments to
our general partner. There is no guarantee, however, that we will pay the minimum quarterly
distribution on the common units in any quarter, and we will be prohibited from making any
distributions to unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default is
existing, under our revolving credit facility.
Restrictions on Our Ability to Distribute Available Cash Contained in Our Credit Agreement.
Our ability to distribute available cash is contractually restricted by the terms of our credit
agreement. Our credit agreement contains covenants requiring us to maintain certain financial
ratios. We are prohibited from making any distributions to unitholders if the distribution would
cause an event of default, or an event of default is existing, under our credit agreement.
Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus
General. All cash distributed to unitholders will be characterized as either operating
surplus or capital surplus. We distribute available cash from operating surplus differently than
available cash from capital surplus.
Operating Surplus. We define operating surplus in the glossary located in Appendix A. For any
period it generally means:
|
|
|
our cash balance at the closing of our initial public offering; plus |
|
|
|
|
$8.5 million (as described below); plus |
|
|
|
|
all of our cash receipts since our initial public offering, excluding cash from
borrowings that are not working capital borrowings, sales of equity and debt securities
and sales or other dispositions of assets outside the ordinary course of business; plus |
|
|
|
|
working capital borrowings made after the end of a quarter but before the date of
determination of operating surplus for the quarter; less |
|
|
|
|
all of our operating expenditures since our initial public offering, including the
repayment of working capital borrowings, but not the repayment of other borrowings, and
including maintenance capital expenditures; less |
35
|
|
|
the amount of cash reserves our general partner deems necessary or advisable to
provide funds for future operating expenditures. |
Capital Surplus. We also define capital surplus in the glossary located in Appendix A. It will
generally be generated only by:
|
|
|
borrowings other than working capital borrowings; |
|
|
|
|
sales of debt and equity securities; and |
|
|
|
|
sales or other disposition of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts
receivable and other current assets sold in the ordinary course of business or as part
of normal retirements or replacements of assets. |
Characterization of Cash Distributions. We will 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 will
treat any amount distributed in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, as capital
surplus. As reflected above, operating surplus includes $8.5 million in addition to our cash
balance at the closing of our initial public offering, cash receipts from our operations and cash
from working capital borrowings. This amount does not reflect actual cash on hand at the closing of
our initial public offering that was available for distribution to our unitholders. Rather, it is a
provision that will enable us, if we choose, to distribute as operating surplus up to $8.5 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. While
we do not currently anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus in the near
term, we may determine that the sale or disposition of an asset or business owned or acquired by us
may be beneficial to our unitholders. If we distribute to you the equity we own in a subsidiary or
the proceeds from the sale of one of our businesses, such a distribution would be characterized as
a distribution from capital surplus.
Subordination Period
General. During the subordination period, which we define below and in the glossary located in
Appendix A, the common units will have the right to receive distributions of available cash from
operating surplus in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.50 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
the subordinated units. The purpose of the subordinated units is to increase the likelihood that
during the subordination period there will be available cash to be distributed on the common units.
Subordination Period. We define the subordination period in the glossary located in
Appendix A. The subordination period will extend until the first day of any quarter beginning after
September 30, 2009 in which each of the following tests are met:
|
|
|
distributions of available cash from operating surplus on each of the outstanding
common units and subordinated units equaled or exceeded the minimum quarterly
distribution for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods
immediately preceding that date; |
|
|
|
|
the adjusted operating surplus (as defined below) generated during each of the
three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods immediately preceding that date
equaled or exceeded the sum of the minimum quarterly distributions on all of the
outstanding common units and subordinated units during those periods on a fully diluted
basis and the related distribution on the 2% general partner interest during those
periods; and |
|
|
|
|
there are no arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the
common units. |
Early Conversion of Subordinated Units. Our Partnership Agreement provides that before the end
of the subordination period, a portion of the subordinated units may convert into common units on a
one-for-one basis immediately after the distribution of available cash to the partners in respect
of any quarter ending on or after:
|
|
|
September 30, 2005 with respect to 20% of the subordinated units; |
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2006 with respect to 20% of the subordinated units; |
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2007 with respect to 20% of the subordinated units; and |
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2008 with respect to 20% of the subordinated units. |
36
The early conversions will occur if at the end of the applicable quarter each of the following
occurs:
|
|
|
distributions of available cash from operating surplus on the common units and the
subordinated units equal or exceed the minimum quarterly distribution for each of the
three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods immediately preceding that
date; |
|
|
|
|
the adjusted operating surplus generated during each of the three consecutive,
non-overlapping four-quarter periods immediately preceding that date equaled or
exceeded the sum of the minimum quarterly distributions on all of the outstanding
common units and subordinated units during those periods on a fully diluted basis and
the related distribution on the 2% general partner interest during those periods; and |
|
|
|
|
there are no arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the
common units. |
However, the early conversion of the second, third or fourth 20% of the subordinated units may
not occur until at least one year following the early conversion of the first, second or third 20%
of the subordinated units, as the case may be.
As a result of achieving
the defined financial test, 850,672 subordinated units were converted into common units on November 14,
2005, November 14, 2006 and November 14, 2007, respectively. When the subordination period ends,
any remaining subordinated units will convert into common units on a one-for-one basis and the
common units will no longer be entitled to arrearages.
Adjusted Operating Surplus. We define adjusted operating surplus in the glossary located in
Appendix A and for any period it generally means:
|
|
|
operating surplus generated with respect to that period; less |
|
|
|
|
any net increase in working capital borrowings with respect to that period; less |
|
|
|
|
any net reduction in cash reserves for operating expenditures with respect to that
period not relating to an operating expenditure made with respect to that period; plus |
|
|
|
|
any net decrease in working capital borrowings with respect to that period; plus |
|
|
|
|
any net increase in cash reserves for operating expenditures with respect to that
period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or
premium. |
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:
|
|
|
the subordination period will end and each subordinated unit will immediately
convert into one common unit; |
|
|
|
|
any existing arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the
common units will be extinguished; and |
|
|
|
|
the general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest and
its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for
those interests based on the fair market value of those interests at the time. |
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus during the Subordination Period
We will make distributions of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter during the
subordination period in the following manner:
|
|
|
First, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner until
we distribute for each outstanding unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly
distribution for that quarter; |
|
|
|
|
Second, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner,
until we distribute for each outstanding common unit an amount equal to any arrearages
in payment of the |
37
|
|
|
minimum quarterly distribution on the common units for any prior
quarters during the subordination period; |
|
|
|
|
Third, 98% to the subordinated unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner,
until we distribute for each subordinated unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly
distribution for that quarter; and |
|
|
|
|
Thereafter, in the manner described in Incentive Distribution Rights below. |
Distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus after the Subordination Period
We will make distributions of available cash from operating surplus for any quarter after
the subordination period in the following manner:
|
|
|
First, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we
distribute for each outstanding unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly
distribution for that quarter; and |
|
|
|
|
Thereafter, in the manner described in Incentive Distribution Rights below. |
Incentive Distribution Rights
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, subject to restrictions in our partnership agreement.
If for any quarter:
|
|
|
we have distributed available cash from operating surplus on each common unit and
subordinated unit in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution; and |
|
|
|
|
we have distributed available cash from operating surplus on each outstanding common
unit in an amount necessary to eliminate any cumulative arrearages in payment of the
minimum quarterly distribution; |
then we will distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus for that quarter among
the unitholders and our general partner in the following manner:
|
|
|
First, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until each
unitholder receives a total of $0.55 per unit for that quarter (the first target
distribution); |
|
|
|
|
Second, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner, until each
unitholder receives a total of $0.625 per unit for that quarter (the second target
distribution); |
|
|
|
|
Third, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner, until each
unitholder receives a total of $0.75 per unit for that quarter (the third target
distribution); |
|
|
|
|
Thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to our general partner. |
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.
Percentage Allocations of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of the additional available cash
from operating surplus between the unitholders and our general partner up to various target
distribution levels. The amounts set forth under Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions
are the percentage interests of our general partner and the unitholders 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% general partner interest and
assumes the general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.
38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marginal Percentage Interest |
|
|
Total Quarterly |
|
in Distributions |
|
|
Distribution |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Target Amount |
|
Unitholder |
|
General Partner |
Minimum Quarterly Distribution |
|
$0.50 |
|
|
98 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
First Target Distribution |
|
up to $0.55 |
|
|
98 |
% |
|
|
2 |
% |
Second Target Distribution |
|
above $0.55 up to $0.625 |
|
|
85 |
% |
|
|
15 |
% |
Third Target Distribution |
|
above $0.625 up to $0.75 |
|
|
75 |
% |
|
|
25 |
% |
Thereafter |
|
above $0.75 |
|
|
50 |
% |
|
|
50 |
% |
Distributions from Capital Surplus
How Distributions from Capital Surplus Will Be Made. We will make distributions of available
cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following manner:
|
|
|
First, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we
distribute for each common unit that was issued in this offering an amount of available
cash from capital surplus equal to the initial public offering price; |
|
|
|
|
Second, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner,
until we distribute for each common unit an amount of available cash from capital
surplus equal to any unpaid arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution
on the common units; and |
|
|
|
|
Thereafter, we will make all distributions of available cash from capital surplus as
if they were from operating surplus. |
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 the initial public offering,
which is a return of capital. The initial public offering price less any distributions of capital
surplus per unit is referred to as the unrecovered initial unit price. 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 corresponding reduction in the unrecovered initial
unit price. 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. Any
distribution of capital surplus before the unrecovered initial unit price is reduced to zero,
however, cannot be applied to the payment of the minimum quarterly distribution or any arrearages.
Once we distribute capital surplus on a unit in an amount equal to the initial unit price, we
will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels to zero. We will
then make all future distributions from operating surplus, with 50% being paid to the holders of
units, 48% to the holders of the incentive distribution rights and 2% to our general partner.
Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels
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:
|
|
|
the minimum quarterly distribution; |
|
|
|
|
target distribution levels; |
|
|
|
|
unrecovered initial unit price; |
|
|
|
|
the number of common units issuable during the subordination period without a
unitholder vote; and |
|
|
|
|
the number of common units into which a subordinated unit is convertible. |
For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units should occur, the minimum quarterly
distribution, the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price would each be
reduced to 50% of its initial level. 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 in a
manner that causes us to become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an
entity for federal, state or local income tax
39
purposes, we will reduce the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels by
multiplying the same by one minus the sum of the highest marginal federal corporate income tax rate
that could apply and any increase in the effective overall state and local income tax rates. For
example, if we became subject to a maximum marginal federal and effective state and local income
tax rate of 38%, then the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distributions levels would
each be reduced to 62% of their previous levels.
Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation
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 first apply the proceeds of liquidation to
the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and our
general partner, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain
or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.
The allocations of gain and loss upon liquidation are intended, to the extent possible, to
entitle the holders of outstanding common units to a preference over the holders of outstanding
subordinated units upon our liquidation, to the extent required to permit common unitholders to
receive their unrecovered initial unit price plus the minimum quarterly distribution for the
quarter during which liquidation occurs plus any unpaid arrearages in payment of the minimum
quarterly distribution on the common units. However, there may not be sufficient gain upon our
liquidation to enable the holders of common units to fully recover all of these amounts, even
though there may be cash available for distribution to the holders of subordinated units. Any
further net gain recognized upon liquidation will be allocated in a manner that takes into account
the incentive distribution rights of our general partner.
Manner of Adjustments for Gain. The manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in our
partnership agreement. If our liquidation occurs before the end of the subordination period, we
will allocate any gain to the partners in the following manner:
|
|
|
First, to our general partner and the holders of units who have negative balances in
their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to those negative balances; |
|
|
|
|
Second, 98% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner until
the capital account for each common unit is equal to the sum of: |
|
(1) |
|
the unrecovered initial unit price; plus |
|
|
(2) |
|
the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the
quarter during which our liquidation occurs; plus |
|
|
(3) |
|
any unpaid arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly
distribution; |
|
|
|
Third, 98% to the subordinated unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner
until the capital account for each subordinated unit is equal to the sum of: |
|
(1) |
|
the unrecovered initial unit price; and |
|
|
(2) |
|
the amount of the minimum quarterly distribution for the
quarter during which our liquidation occurs; |
|
|
|
Fourth, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to our general partner, until we
allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
|
(1) |
|
the sum of the excess of the first target distribution per
unit over the minimum quarterly distribution per unit for each quarter of
our existence; less |
|
|
(2) |
|
the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of
available cash from operating surplus in excess of the minimum quarterly
distribution per unit that we distributed 98% to the unitholders, pro rata,
and 2% to our general partner, for each quarter of our existence; |
|
|
|
Fifth, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner, pro rata,
until we allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
|
(1) |
|
the sum of the excess of the second target distribution per
unit over the first target distribution per unit for each quarter of our
existence; less |
|
|
(2) |
|
the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of
available cash from operating surplus in excess of the minimum quarterly
distribution per unit that we distributed 85% |
40
|
|
|
to the units, pro rata, and 15% to our general partner, pro rata, for
each quarter of our existence; |
|
|
|
Sixth, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to our general partner, until we
allocate under this paragraph an amount per unit equal to: |
|
(1) |
|
the sum of the excess of the third target distribution per unit
over the second target distribution per unit for each quarter of our existence;
less |
|
|
(2) |
|
the cumulative amount per unit of any distributions of
available cash from operating surplus in excess of the first target
distribution per unit that we distributed 75% to the unitholders, pro rata, and
25% to our general partner for each quarter of our existence; |
|
|
|
Thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to our general partner. |
If the liquidation occurs after the end of the subordination period, the distinction between
common units and subordinated units will disappear, so that clause (3) of the second bullet point
above and all of the third bullet point above will no longer be applicable.
Manner of Adjustments for Losses. Upon our liquidation, we will generally allocate any loss to
our general partner and the unitholders in the following manner:
|
|
|
First, 98% to holders of subordinated units in proportion to the positive balances
in their capital accounts and 2% to our general partner until the capital accounts of
the subordinated unitholders have been reduced to zero; |
|
|
|
|
Second, 98% to the holders of common units in proportion to the positive balances in
their capital accounts and 2% to our general partner until the capital accounts of the
common unitholders have been reduced to zero; and |
|
|
|
|
Thereafter, 100% to our general partner. |
If the liquidation occurs after the end of the subordination period, the distinction between
common units and subordinated units will disappear, so that all of the first priority above will no
longer be applicable.
Adjustments to Capital Accounts. We will make adjustments to capital accounts upon the
issuance of additional units. In doing so, we will allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes,
unrecognized gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and our general partner
in the same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that we make positive
adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, we will allocate any
later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional units
or upon our liquidation in a manner that results, to the extent possible, in the general partners
capital account balances equaling the amount that they would have been if no earlier positive
adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.
THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. A copy of
the partnership agreement of Martin Midstream Partners is filed as an exhibit to this registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part.
We summarize the following provisions of our partnership agreement elsewhere in this
prospectus:
|
|
|
With regard to distributions of available cash, please read Cash Distribution
Policy. |
|
|
|
|
With regard to the transfer of common units, please read Description of the Common
Units Transfer of Common Units. |
|
|
|
|
With regard to allocations of taxable income and taxable loss, please read Material
Tax Considerations. |
Organization and Duration
We were organized in June 2002 and have a perpetual existence.
Purpose
Our purposes under our partnership agreement are limited to owning the equity of the general
partner of our operating partnership, serving as the limited partner of our operating partnership
and engaging in any business activities that may be engaged in by our operating partnership or that
are approved by our general partner. The
41
partnership agreement of our operating partnership provides that our operating partnership may,
directly or indirectly, engage in:
|
|
|
its operations as conducted immediately after our initial public offering; |
|
|
|
|
any other activity approved by our general partner but only to the extent that our
general partner reasonably determines that, as of the date of the acquisition or
commencement of the activity, the activity generates qualifying income as this term
is defined in Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code; or |
|
|
|
|
any activity that enhances the operations of an activity that is described in either
of the two preceding clauses. |
Although our general partner has the ability to cause us and our operating partnership to
engage in activities other than those described in this prospectus, our general partner has no
current plans to do so. Our general partner is authorized in general to perform all acts as it may
deem, in its sole discretion, necessary to carry out our purposes and to conduct our business.
Power of Attorney
Each limited partner, and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and
delivers a transfer application, grants to our general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a
power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for our
qualification, continuance or dissolution. The power of attorney also grants our general partner
the authority to amend, and to make consents and waivers under, our partnership agreement.
Capital Contributions
Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described
under Limited Liability.
Limited Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the
meaning of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act, or the Delaware Act, and that he
otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership agreement, his liability under
the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital he is
obligated to contribute to us for his common units plus his share of any undistributed profits and
assets. If it were determined, however, that the right, or exercise of the right, by the limited
partners as a group:
|
|
|
to remove or replace our general partner; |
|
|
|
|
to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement; or |
|
|
|
|
to take other action under our partnership agreement; |
constituted participation in the control of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act,
then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the laws of
Delaware, to the same extent as our general partner. This liability would extend to persons who
transact business with us who reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner.
Neither our partnership agreement nor the Delaware Act specifically provides for legal recourse
against our general partner if a limited partner were to lose limited liability through any fault
of our general partner. While this does not mean that a limited partner could not seek legal
recourse, we know of no precedent for this type of a claim in Delaware case law.
Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if,
after the distribution, all liabilities of the limited partnership, other than liabilities to
partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of
creditors is limited to specific property of the partnership, would exceed the fair value of the
assets of the limited partnership. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a
limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of property subject to liability
for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited
partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds that liability. The
Delaware Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of
the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act is liable to the
limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act,
unless otherwise agreed, an assignee who becomes a substituted limited partner of a limited
partnership is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to the partnership,
except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities
42
unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and that could not be ascertained from our
partnership agreement.
Our operating partnership currently conducts business in 10 states. Maintenance of our limited
liability as a limited partner of our operating partnership may require compliance with legal
requirements in the jurisdictions in which our operating partnership conducts business, including
qualifying our subsidiaries to do business there. Limitations on the liability of limited partners
for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in many
jurisdictions. If, by virtue of our limited partner interest in our operating partnership or
otherwise, it were determined that we were conducting business in any state without compliance with
the applicable limited partnership or limited liability company statute, or that the right or
exercise of the right to remove or replace the general partner of our operating partnership, to
approve some amendments to our partnership agreement of our operating partnership, or to take other
action under our partnership agreement of our operating partnership constituted participation in
the control of its business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then we
could be held personally liable for the obligations of our operating partnership under the law of
that jurisdiction to the same extent as its general partner under the circumstances.
Voting Rights
The following matters require the unitholder vote specified below. Matters requiring the
approval of a unit majority require:
|
|
|
during the subordination period, the approval of a majority of the outstanding
common units, excluding those common units held by our general partner and its
affiliates, and a majority of the outstanding subordinated units, voting as separate
classes; and |
|
|
|
|
after the subordination period, the approval of a majority of the outstanding common
units. |
|
|
|
Matter |
|
Vote Requirement |
Issuance of additional common units or units of equal
rank with the common units during the subordination
period
|
|
Unit majority, with
certain exceptions
described under
"Issuance of
Additional
Securities. |
|
|
|
Issuance of units senior to the common units during
the subordination period
|
|
Unit majority. |
|
|
|
Issuance of units junior to the common units during
the subordination period
|
|
No approval rights. |
|
|
|
Issuance of additional units after the subordination
period
|
|
No approval rights. |
|
|
|
Amendment of the partnership agreement
|
|
Certain amendments
may be made by the
general partner
without the
approval of the
unitholders. Other
amendments
generally require
the approval of a
unit majority.
Please read Amendment of the
Partnership
Agreement. |
|
|
|
Merger of our partnership or the sale of all or
substantially all of our assets
|
|
Unit majority.
Please read
Merger, Sale or
Other Disposition
of Assets. |
|
|
|
Dissolution of our partnership
|
|
Unit majority.
Please read
Termination and
Dissolution. |
|
|
|
Reconstitution of our partnership upon dissolution
|
|
Unit majority. |
|
|
|
Withdrawal of the general partner
|
|
The approval of a
majority of the
outstanding common
units, excluding
common units held
by the general
partner and its
affiliates, is
required for the
withdrawal of the
general partner
prior to September
30, 2012 in a
manner which would
cause a dissolution
of our partnership.
Please read
Withdrawal or
Removal of the
General Partner. |
43
|
|
|
Matter |
|
Vote Requirement |
Removal of the general partner
|
|
Not less than 66
2/3% of the
outstanding units,
including units
held by our general
partner and its
affiliates. Please
read Withdrawal
or Removal of the
General Partner. |
|
|
|
Transfer of ownership interests in the general partner
|
|
Our general partner
may transfer its
general partner
interest without a
vote of our
unitholders in
connection with the
general partners
merger or
consolidation with
or into, or sale of
all or
substantially all
of its assets to, a
third person. Our
general partner may
also transfer all
of its general
partner interest to
an affiliate
without a vote of
our unitholders.
The approval of a
majority of the
outstanding common
units, excluding
common units held
by the general
partner and its
affiliates, is
required in other
circumstances for a
transfer of the
general partner
interest to a third
party prior to
September 30, 2012.
Please read
Transfer of
General Partner
Interests and
Incentive
Distribution
Rights. |
|
|
|
Transfer of incentive distribution rights
|
|
Except for
transfers to an
affiliate or
another person as
part of the general
partners merger or
consolidation with
or into, or sale of
all or
substantially all
of its assets to,
such affiliate or
person, the
approval of a
majority of the
outstanding common
units is required
in most
circumstances for a
transfer of the
incentive
distribution rights
to a third party
prior to September
30, 2012. Please
read Transfer of
General Partner
Interests and
Incentive
Distribution
Rights. |
|
|
|
Transfer of ownership interests in the general partner
|
|
No approval
required at any
time. Please read
Transfer of
Ownership Interests
in the General
Partner. |
Issuance of Additional Securities
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 established by our general partner in its sole discretion without the approval of the
unitholders. During the subordination period, however, except as discussed in the following
paragraph, we may not issue equity securities ranking senior to the common units or an aggregate of
more than 1,500,000 additional common units or units on a parity with the common units without the
approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units and subordinated units,
voting as separate classes.
During and after the subordination period, we may issue an unlimited number of common units as
follows:
|
|
|
upon conversion of the subordinated units; |
|
|
|
|
under employee benefit plans; |
|
|
|
|
upon conversion of the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights as
a result of a withdrawal of our general partner; |
|
|
|
|
in the event of a combination or subdivision of common units; |
|
|
|
|
in connection with an acquisition or a capital improvement that increases cash flow
from operations per unit on a pro forma basis; or |
|
|
|
|
if the proceeds of the issuance are used exclusively to repay up to $15 million of
certain of our indebtedness. |
It is possible that we will 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 partnership interests may dilute the value of the
interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.
44
In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also
issue additional partnership securities that, in the sole discretion of our general partner, have
special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled.
Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner will be required to
make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its 2% general partner
interest in us. Moreover, our general partner will 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
percentage interest, including its interest represented by common units and subordinated units,
that existed immediately prior to each issuance. The holders of common units will not have
preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership securities.
Amendment of the Partnership Agreement
General. Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by or with the consent
of our general partner, which consent may be given or withheld in its sole discretion. In order to
adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed below, our general partner must
seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or
call a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as
described below, an amendment must be approved by a unit majority.
Prohibited Amendments. No amendment may be made that would:
|
|
|
enlarge the obligations of any limited partner without its consent, unless approved
by at least a majority of the type or class of limited partner interests so affected; |
|
|
|
|
enlarge the obligations of, restrict in any way any action by or rights of, or
reduce in any way the amounts distributable, reimbursable or otherwise payable by us to
our general partner or any of its affiliates without the consent of our general
partner, which may be given or withheld in its sole discretion; |
|
|
|
|
change the duration of our partnership; |
|
|
|
|
provide that our partnership is not dissolved upon an election to dissolve our
partnership by our general partner that is approved by a unit majority; or |
|
|
|
|
give any person the right to dissolve our partnership other than our general
partners right to dissolve our partnership with the approval of a unit majority. |
The provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described
in any of the clauses above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the
outstanding units voting together as a single class.
No Unitholder Approval. Our general partner may generally make amendments to our partnership
agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee to reflect:
|
|
|
a change in our name, the location of our principal place of business, our
registered agent or our registered office; |
|
|
|
|
the admission, substitution, withdrawal, or removal of partners in accordance with
our partnership agreement; |
|
|
|
|
the reduction in the vote needed to remove the general partner from not less than 66
2/3% of all outstanding units to a lesser percentage of all outstanding units; |
|
|
|
|
an increase in the percentage of a class of units that a person or group may own
without losing their voting rights from 20% to a higher percentage; |
|
|
|
|
change that, in the sole discretion of our general partner, is necessary or
advisable for us to qualify or to continue our qualification as a limited partnership
or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability under the laws of
any state or to ensure that neither we, our operating partnership nor its subsidiaries
will be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an
entity for federal income tax purposes; |
|
|
|
|
an amendment changing our fiscal or taxable year and any changes that are necessary
as a result of a change in our fiscal or taxable year; |
45
|
|
|
an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent us or our
general partner or its directors, officers, agents, or trustees from in any manner
being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment
Advisors Act of 1940, or plan asset regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset
regulations currently applied or proposed; |
|
|
|
|
subject to the limitations on the issuance of additional partnership securities
described above, an amendment that in the discretion of our general partner is
necessary or advisable for the authorization of additional partnership securities or
rights to acquire partnership securities; |
|
|
|
|
any amendment expressly permitted in our partnership agreement to be made by our
general partner acting alone; |
|
|
|
|
an amendment effected, necessitated or contemplated by a merger agreement that has
been approved under the terms of our partnership agreement; |
|
|
|
|
any amendment that, in the sole discretion of our general partner, is necessary or
advisable for the formation by us of, or our investment in, any corporation,
partnership or other entity, as otherwise permitted by our partnership agreement; |
|
|
|
|
a change in our fiscal year or taxable year and related changes; |
|
|
|
|
a merger of the partnership or any of its subsidiaries into, or a conveyance of
assets to, a newly-created limited liability entity the sole purpose of which is to
effect a change in the legal form of the partnership into another limited liability
entity; and |
|
|
|
|
any other amendments substantially similar to any of the matters described in the
clauses above. |
In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement without the
approval of any limited partner or assignee if those amendments, in the sole discretion of our
general partner:
|
|
|
do not adversely affect the limited partners (or any particular class of limited
partners) in any material respect; |
|
|
|
|
are necessary or advisable to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines
contained in any opinion, directive, order, ruling or regulation of any federal or
state agency or judicial authority or contained in any federal or state statute; |
|
|
|
|
are necessary or advisable to facilitate the trading of limited partner interests or
to comply with any rule, regulation, guideline or requirement of any securities
exchange or trading system on which the limited partner interests are or will be listed
for trading, compliance with any of which our general partner deems to be in our best
interest and the best interest of the limited partners; |
|
|
|
|
are necessary or advisable for any action taken by our general partner relating to
splits or combinations of units under the provisions of our partnership agreement; or |
|
|
|
|
are required to effect the intent expressed in this prospectus or the intent of the
provisions of our partnership agreement or are otherwise contemplated by our
partnership agreement. |
Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval. Our general partner will not be required to obtain
an opinion of counsel that an amendment will not result in a loss of limited liability to the
limited partners or result in our being treated as an entity for federal income tax purposes if one
of the amendments described above under No Unitholder Approval should occur. No other
amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at
least 90% of the units unless we obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will
not affect the limited liability under applicable law of any of our limited partners or cause us,
our operating partnership or our subsidiaries to be taxable as a corporation or otherwise to be
taxed as an entity for federal income tax purposes (to the extent not previously taxed as such).
Any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any
type or class of outstanding units in relation to other classes of units will require the approval
of at least a majority of the type or class of units so affected. Any amendment that reduces the
voting percentage required to take any action must be approved by the affirmative vote of limited
partners constituting not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.
46
Action Relating to our Operating Partnership
Without the approval of the holders of units representing a unit majority, our general partner
is prohibited from consenting on our behalf or on behalf of the general partner of our operating
partnership to any amendment to the partnership agreement of our operating partnership or taking
any action on our behalf permitted to be taken by a partner of our operating partnership in each
case that would adversely affect our limited partners (or any particular class of limited partners)
in any material respect.
Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets
Our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval
of 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.
If conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general partner may
merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey some or all of our assets to, a newly formed
entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance is to change our legal form into another
limited liability entity. The unitholders are not entitled to dissenters rights of appraisal under
our partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a merger or consolidation, a
sale of substantially all of our assets or any other transaction or event.
Termination and Dissolution
We will continue as a limited partnership until terminated under our partnership agreement. We
will dissolve upon:
|
|
|
the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if approved by a unit majority; |
|
|
|
|
the sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets
and properties and our subsidiaries; |
|
|
|
|
the entry of a judicial order dissolving us; or |
|
|
|
|
the withdrawal or removal of our general partner or any other event that results in
its ceasing to be our general partner other than by reason of a transfer of its general
partner interest in accordance with our partnership agreement or withdrawal or removal
following approval and admission of a successor. |
Upon a dissolution under the last clause, the holders of a majority of the outstanding common
units and subordinated units, voting as separate classes, may also elect, within specific time
limitations, to reconstitute us and continue our business on the same terms and conditions
described in our partnership agreement by forming a new limited partnership on terms identical to
those in our partnership agreement and having as general partner an entity approved by the holders
of a majority of the outstanding common units and subordinated units, voting as separate classes,
subject to our receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect that:
|
|
|
the action would not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited partner;
and |
|
|
|
|
neither our partnership, the reconstituted limited partnership nor our operating
partnership would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise be
taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes upon the exercise of that right to
continue. |
Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds
Upon our dissolution, unless we are reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership,
the liquidator authorized to wind up our affairs will, acting with all of the powers of our general
partner that the liquidator deems necessary or desirable in its judgment, liquidate our assets and
apply the proceeds of the liquidation as provided in Cash Distribution Policy Distributions of
Cash upon Liquidation. The liquidator may defer liquidation of our assets for a reasonable period
or distribute assets to partners in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would
cause undue loss to the partners.
47
Withdrawal or Removal of the General Partner
Except as described below, our general partner has agreed not to withdraw voluntarily as our
general partner prior to September 30, 2012 without obtaining the approval of the holders of at
least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by our general
partner and its affiliates, and furnishing an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and
tax matters. On or after September 30, 2012, our general partner may withdraw as general partner
without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days written notice, and that
withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, our general partner may withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days notice to the
limited partners if at least 50% of the outstanding common units are held or controlled by one
person and its affiliates other than our general partner and its affiliates. In addition, our
partnership agreement permits our general partner in some instances to sell or otherwise transfer
all of its general partner interest in us without the approval of the unitholders. Please read
Transfer of General Partner Interests and Incentive Distribution Rights.
Upon the withdrawal of our general partner under any circumstances, other than as a result of
a transfer by our general partner of all or a part of its general partner interest in us, the
holders of a majority of the outstanding common units and subordinated units, voting as separate
classes, may select a successor to that withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected,
or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be
obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within 180 days after that
withdrawal, the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units and subordinated units,
voting as separate classes, agree in writing to continue our business and to appoint a successor
general partner.
Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the
holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding units, including units held by our general
partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and
tax matters. Any removal of our general partner is also subject to the approval of a successor
general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units and
subordinated units, voting as separate classes. The ownership of more than 33 1/3% of the
outstanding units by our general partner and its affiliates would give it the practical ability to
prevent its removal. As of September 30, 2007, affiliates of our general partner owned
approximately 35.7% of our outstanding units.
Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed under
circumstances where cause does not exist and units held by our general partner and its affiliates
are not voted in favor of that removal:
|
|
|
the subordination period will end and all outstanding subordinated units will
immediately convert into common units on a one-for-one basis; |
|
|
|
|
any existing arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the
common units will be extinguished; and |
|
|
|
|
our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest and
its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for
those interests based on the fair market value of those interests at the time. |
In the event of removal of a general partner under circumstances where cause exists or
withdrawal of a general partner where that withdrawal violates our partnership agreement, a
successor general partner will have the option to purchase the general partner interest and
incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair
market value of those interests. Under all other circumstances where our general partner withdraws
or is removed by the limited partners, the departing general partner will have the option to
require the successor general partner to purchase the general partner interest of the departing
general partner and its incentive distribution rights for the fair market value. In each case, this
fair market value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the
successor general partner. If no agreement is reached, an independent investment banking firm or
other independent expert selected by the departing general partner and the successor general
partner will determine the fair market value. If the departing general partner and the successor
general partner cannot agree upon an expert, then an expert chosen by agreement of the experts
selected by each of them will determine the fair market value.
If the option described above is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the
successor general partner, the departing general partners general partner interest and its
incentive distribution rights will automatically convert into common units equal to the fair market
value of those interests as determined by an investment banking firm or other independent expert
selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.
In addition, we will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts
due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities,
including severance liabilities,
48
incurred for the termination of any employees employed by the departing general partner or its
affiliates for our benefit.
Transfer of General Partner Interests and Incentive Distribution Rights
Except for transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general
partner interest in us or its incentive distribution rights to:
|
|
|
an affiliate of our general partner (other than an individual); or |
|
|
|
|
another entity as part of the merger or consolidation of our general partner with or
into another entity or the transfer by our general partner of all or substantially all
of its assets to another entity, |
Our general partner may not transfer all or any part of its general partner interest in us or its
incentive distribution rights to another person prior to September 30, 2012 without the approval of
the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding common units held by
our general partner and its affiliates. In the case of a transfer by our general partner of its
general partner interest in us, as a condition of this transfer, the transferee must, among other
things, assume the rights and duties of our general partner, agree to be bound by the provisions of
our partnership agreement, furnish an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax
matters, and agree to be bound by the provisions of our partnership agreement and the partnership
agreement of our operating partnership.
The general partner and its affiliates may at any time transfer units to one or more persons,
without unitholder approval, except that they may not transfer subordinated units to us.
Transfer of Ownership Interests in General Partner
At any time, the members of our general partner may sell or transfer all or part of their
membership interests in our general partner to an affiliate without the approval of the
unitholders.
Change of Management Provisions
Our partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are intended to discourage a
person or group from attempting to remove Martin Midstream GP LLC as our general partner or
otherwise change management. If any person or group other than our general partner and its
affiliates acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or group
loses voting rights on all of its units. The general partner has the discretion to increase, but
not subsequently decrease, the ownership percentage at which voting rights are forfeited. This loss
of voting rights does not apply to any person or group that acquires the units from our general
partner or its affiliates and any transferees of that person or group approved by our general
partner or to any person or group who acquires the units with the prior approval of the directors
of our general partner.
Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed under
circumstances where cause does not exist and units held by our general partner and its affiliates
are not voted in favor of that removal:
|
|
|
the subordination period will end and all outstanding subordinated units will
immediately convert into common units on a one-for-one basis; |
|
|
|
|
any existing arrearages in payment of the minimum quarterly distribution on the
common units will be extinguished; and |
|
|
|
|
our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest and
its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for
those interests. |
Limited Call Right
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own 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 ten but not more than 60 days
notice. Our general partner may exercise this right in its sole discretion. The purchase price in
the event of this purchase will be the greater of:
|
|
|
the highest cash price paid by either of our general partner or any of its
affiliates for any partnership securities of the class purchased within the 90 days
preceding the date on which our general partner first mails notice of its election to
purchase those partnership securities; and |
|
|
|
|
the current market price as of the date three days before the date the notice is
mailed. |
49
As a result of our general partners right to purchase outstanding partnership securities, a
holder of partnership securities may have his 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 his common units in the market. Please read Material Tax
Considerations Disposition of Common Units.
Meetings and Voting
Except as described below 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, 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 our 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 non-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.
Our general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of unitholders will be called in the
foreseeable future. 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,
subject to the provision described in the next paragraph, 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.
Each record holder of a unit has a vote according to his percentage interest in us, although
additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. Please read
Issuance of Additional Securities. 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, 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. 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. Except as
our partnership agreement otherwise provides, subordinated units will vote together with common
units as a single class.
Any notice, demand, request, report or proxy material required or permitted to be given or
made to record holders of common units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the
record holder by us or by the transfer agent.
Status as Limited Partner or Assignee
Except as described above under Limited Liability, the common units will be fully paid and
unitholders will not be required to make additional contributions.
An assignee of a common unit, after executing and delivering a transfer application, but
pending its admission as a substituted limited partner, is entitled to an interest equivalent to
that of a limited partner for the right to share in allocations and distributions from us,
including liquidating distributions. Our general partner will vote and exercise other powers
attributable to common units owned by an assignee that has not become a substitute limited partner
at the written direction of the assignee. Please read Meetings and Voting. Transferees that do
not execute and deliver a transfer application will not be treated as assignees or as record
holders of common units, and will not receive cash distributions, federal income tax allocations or
reports furnished to holders of common units. Please read Description of the Common Units
Transfer of Common Units.
Non-citizen Assignees; Redemption
If we are or become subject to federal, state or local laws or regulations that, in the
reasonable determination of our general partner, create either (i) a substantial risk of
cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which we have an interest because of the nationality,
citizenship or other related status of any limited partner or assignee, or (ii) a substantial risk
that we or one or more of our subsidiaries or other entities in which we have at least a 25% equity
interest will not be permitted to conduct business as a United States maritime company under the
50
Jones Act and other United States federal statutes based on the status of any limited partner or
assignee as a non-United States citizen, we may redeem the units held by any of these limited
partners or assignees at the units current market price. In order to avoid any cancellation or
forfeiture, our general partner may require each limited partner or assignee to furnish information
about his nationality, citizenship or related status. If a limited partner or assignee fails to
furnish information about his nationality, citizenship or other related status within 30 days after
a request for the information or if our general partner determines after receipt of the information
that the limited partner or assignee is not an eligible citizen, the limited partner or assignee
may be treated as a non-citizen assignee. In addition to other limitations on the rights of an
assignee that is not a substituted limited partner, a non-citizen assignee does not have the right
to direct the voting of his units and may not receive distributions in kind upon our liquidation.
Indemnification
Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following
persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages or
similar events:
|
|
|
our general partner; |
|
|
|
|
any departing general partner; |
|
|
|
|
any person who is or was an affiliate of a general partner or any departing general
partner; |
|
|
|
|
any person who is or was a member, partner, officer, director, employee, agent or
trustee of our general partner, any departing general partner, or any affiliate of a
general partner or any departing general partner; or |
|
|
|
|
any person who is or was serving at the request of a general partner or any
departing general partner or any affiliate of a general partner or any departing
general partner, as an officer, director, manager, employee, member, partner, agent or
trustee of another person. |
Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Our general partner
will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to
us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We may purchase insurance against liabilities
asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we
would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.
Books and Reports
Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal
offices. The books will be maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual
basis. For tax and fiscal reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.
We will furnish or make available to record holders of common units, within 120 days after the
close of each fiscal year, an annual report containing audited financial statements and a report on
those financial statements by our independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we
will also furnish or make available summary financial information within 90 days after the close of
each quarter.
We will furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax
reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information is
expected to be furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of
partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders will depend
on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder will
receive information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his
federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies us with information.
Right to Inspect our Books and Records
Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably
related to his interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand and at his own expense, have
furnished to him:
|
|
|
a current list of the name and last known address of each partner; |
|
|
|
|
a copy of our tax returns; |
|
|
|
|
information as to the amount of cash, and a description and statement of the agreed
value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by each
partner and the date on which each became a partner; |
51
|
|
|
copies of the partnership agreement, the certificate of limited partnership of the
partnership, related amendments and powers of attorney under which they have been
executed; |
|
|
|
|
information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; and |
|
|
|
|
any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable. |
Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade
secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is
not in our best interests or which we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to
keep confidential.
Registration Rights
Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities
Act 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. These registration
rights continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of Martin Midstream GP LLC as our
general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions.
MATERIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section addresses all of the material tax consequences that may be relevant to
prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and, except
as otherwise indicated, is the opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P., counsel to our general partner and
us, insofar as it relates to legal conclusions with respect to matters of United States federal
income tax law that are addressed in this section. This section is based upon current provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code, existing regulations, proposed regulations to the extent noted and
current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. 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 us or we
are references to Martin Midstream Partners and Martin Operating Partnership.
No attempt has been made in this section to comment on all federal income tax matters
affecting us or the unitholders. Moreover, this section focuses on unitholders who are individual
citizens or residents of the United States and has only limited application to corporations,
estates, trusts, nonresident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such
as tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), real estate
investment trusts (REITs) or mutual funds. Accordingly, we urge each prospective unitholder to
consult, and depend on, his own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and foreign tax
consequences particular to him of the ownership or disposition of common units.
All statements of law and legal conclusions, but not statements of facts, contained in this
section, except as otherwise indicated, are the opinions of Baker Botts L.L.P. Such opinions are
based on the accuracy and completeness of facts described in this prospectus and representations
made by us to Baker Botts L.L.P. Baker Botts L.L.P. has not undertaken any obligation to update its
opinions discussed in this section after the date of this prospectus.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us or
prospective unitholders. An opinion of counsel represents only that counsels best legal judgment
and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions expressed in this section may
not be sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS. Any such challenge by the IRS may materially
and adversely impact the market for the common units and the prices at which common units trade. In
addition, the costs of any dispute with the IRS will be borne directly or indirectly by the
unitholders and our general partner. Furthermore, the tax treatment of us, or of an investment in
us, may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court
decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively applied.
For the reasons described below, Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect
to the following specific federal income tax issues:
(1) the treatment of a unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to
cover a short sale of common units (please read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Treatment of Short Sales);
(2) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is
permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read Disposition of Common Units
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees);
52
(3) whether our method for depreciating Section 743 adjustments is sustainable (please
read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Section 754 Election); and
(4) whether assignees of common units who fail to execute and deliver transfer
applications will be treated as partners for federal income tax purposes (please read
Limited Partner Status).
Partnership Status
A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax liability. Instead,
each partner of a partnership is required to take into account his share of items of income, gain,
loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his federal income tax liability, regardless of
whether cash distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions by a partnership to a
partner are generally not taxable unless the amount of cash distributed is in excess of the
partners adjusted basis in his partnership interest.
Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that publicly traded partnerships will, as
a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the Qualifying
Income Exception, exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the
gross income for every taxable year consists of qualifying income. Qualifying income includes
income and gains derived from the marketing, transportation, storage and processing of crude oil,
natural gas and products thereof (including sales of propane to retail customers or end users), and
certain other natural resources and products, including sulfur, sulfur products and fertilizer.
Other types of qualifying income include interest other than from a financial business, dividends,
real property rents, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other
disposition of assets held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying
income. We estimate that, as of the date of this prospectus, less than 7% of our gross income is
not qualifying income. In reliance upon facts provided by Martin Resource Management, us and our
general partner concerning the sources and amounts of gross income attributable to our businesses
for the current calendar year through the month-end prior to the date of this prospectus, together
with the representation that the composition of such gross income remained materially unchanged
through the date of this prospectus, and based on applicable legal authority, Baker Botts L.L.P. is
of the opinion that at least 90% of our gross income as of the date of this prospectus constitutes
qualifying income.
No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination of our
status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the status of the operating partnership
for federal income tax purposes or whether our operations generate qualifying income under
Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Instead, we will rely on the opinion of Baker Botts
L.L.P., based upon the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations, published revenue rulings and
court decisions and the representations and assumptions described below, that as of the date of
this prospectus Martin Midstream Partners L.P. will be classified as a partnership and our
operating partnership will be disregarded as an entity separate from Martin Midstream Partners L.P.
for federal income tax purposes.
In rendering its opinion, Baker Botts L.L.P. has relied on certain assumptions, and on factual
representations made by us and our general partner. Such assumptions and representations are:
|
|
|
Neither we nor our operating partnership has elected or will elect to be treated as
a corporation; and |
|
|
|
|
For each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income
from sources that Baker Botts L.L.P. has opined, or will opine, is qualifying income
within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code. |
We intend to monitor our income on a continuing basis and to manage our operations in
subsequent taxable years with the objective to assure, although we cannot completely assure, that
the ratio of our qualifying income to our total gross income will remain at 90% or above for each
such taxable year.
If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by
the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery, we will be
treated as if we had transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed
corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception,
in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed that stock to the unitholders in
liquidation of their interests in us. This contribution and liquidation should be tax-free to
unitholders and us so long as we, at that time, do not have liabilities in excess of the tax basis
of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.
If we were taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to
meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction
would be reflected only on our tax return rather than being passed through to the unitholders, and
our net income would be taxed at corporate rates. In
53
addition, any distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as either taxable dividend income,
to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings
and profits, a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholders tax basis in his
common units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholders tax basis in his common units is
reduced to zero. Accordingly, taxation as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a
unitholders cash flow and after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction
of the value of the units.
The remainder of this section is based on Baker Botts L.L.P.s opinion that Martin Midstream
Partners will be classified as a partnership and our operating partnership will be disregarded as
an entity separate from Martin Midstream Partners for federal income tax purposes.
Limited Partner Status
Unitholders who have become limited partners of Martin Midstream Partners will be treated as
partners of Martin Midstream Partners for federal income tax purposes. Also:
|
|
|
assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting
admission as limited partners; and |
|
|
|
|
unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have
the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to
the ownership of their common units, |
will be treated as partners of Martin Midstream Partners for federal income tax purposes. Because
there is no direct authority dealing with the status of assignees of common units who are entitled
to execute and deliver transfer applications and become entitled to direct the exercise of
attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, counsel is unable to
opine that such persons are partners for federal income tax purposes. If not partners, such persons
will not be eligible for the federal income tax treatment described in this discussion.
Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a
transfer application may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to
record holders of common units unless the common units are held in a nominee or street name account
and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those common units.
A beneficial owner of common units whose units have been transferred to a short seller to
complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those units for
federal income tax purposes. Please read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Treatment of Short
Sales.
Income, gain, deductions or losses would not appear to be reportable by a unitholder who is
not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by a unitholder
who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes would therefore be fully taxable as ordinary
income. These holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to their status as
partners in Martin Midstream Partners L.P. for federal income tax purposes.
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Flow-Through of Taxable Income. We will not pay any federal income tax. Instead, each
unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his share of our income, gains,
losses and deductions without regard to whether cash distributions are received by him.
Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash
distribution from us. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of
our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable
year.
Treatment of Distributions. Our distributions to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to
the unitholder for federal income tax purposes to the extent of his tax basis in his common units
immediately before the distribution. Our cash distributions in excess of a unitholders tax basis
generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the common units, taxable in
accordance with the rules described under Disposition of Common Units. To the extent our
distributions cause a unitholders at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable
year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years. Please read Limitations on
Deductibility of Losses.
Any reduction in a unitholders share of our liabilities for which no partner, including our
general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as nonrecourse liabilities, will be
treated as a distribution of cash to that unitholder. A decrease in a unitholders percentage
interest in us because of our issuance of additional common units will decrease his share of our
nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. A
non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a unitholder,
regardless of his tax basis in his common units, if the distribution reduces the unitholders share
of our unrealized receivables,
54
including depreciation recapture and/or substantially appreciated inventory items, both as
defined in the Internal Revenue Code, and collectively, Section 751 Assets. To that extent, he
will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and
having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual
distribution made to him. This latter deemed exchange will generally result in the unitholders
realization of ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that
distribution over (2) the unitholders tax basis for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed
relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Common Units. A unitholders initial tax basis for his common units will be the
amount he paid for the common units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will
be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse
liabilities. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from us, by the
unitholders share of our losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and
by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not
required to be capitalized. A limited partner will have no share of our debt that is recourse to
our general partner, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our
nonrecourse liabilities. Please read Disposition of Common Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses. The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our
losses will be limited to the tax basis in his common units and, in the case of an individual
unitholder or a corporate unitholder, if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholders
stock is owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer individuals or some tax-exempt
organizations, to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be at risk with respect to
our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. A unitholder must recapture losses deducted in
previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at risk amount to be less than zero at
the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these
limitations will carry forward and will be allowable to the extent that his tax basis or at risk
amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon the taxable disposition
of a unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously
suspended by the at risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis
limitation. Any excess loss above that gain previously suspended by the at risk or basis
limitations is no longer utilizable.
In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his common units,
excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities,
reduced by any amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his common units, if the lender of
those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the
common units for repayment. A unitholders at risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax
basis of the unitholders common units increases or decreases, other than tax basis increases or
decreases attributable to increases or decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities.
The passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some
closely-held corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from passive
activities, which are generally activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate,
only to the extent of the taxpayers income from those passive activities. The passive loss
limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly traded partnership. Consequently,
any losses we generate will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future
and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including
our investments or investments in other publicly traded partnerships, or salary or active business
income. Similarly, a unitholders share of our net income may be offset by our passive losses, but
it may not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from other passive activities,
including those attributable to other publicly traded partnerships. Passive losses that are not
deductible because they exceed a unitholders share of income we generate may be deducted in full
when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated
party. The passive activity loss rules are applied after other applicable limitations on
deductions, including the at risk rules and the basis limitation.
Limitations on Interest Deductions. The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayers
investment interest expense is generally limited to the amount of that taxpayers net investment
income. Investment interest expense includes:
|
|
|
interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment; |
|
|
|
|
our interest expense attributed to portfolio income; and |
|
|
|
|
the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a
passive activity to the extent attributable to portfolio income. |
55
The computation of a unitholders investment interest expense will take into account interest on
any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit.
Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts
treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than
interest, directly connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not
include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment. The IRS has
indicated that net passive income from a publicly traded partnership constitutes investment income
for purposes of the limitations on the deductibility of investment interest. In addition, the
unitholders share of our portfolio income will be treated as investment income.
Entity-Level Collections. If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal,
state, local or foreign income tax on behalf of any unitholder or our general partner or any former
unitholder, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be
treated as a distribution of cash to the unitholder on whose behalf the payment was made. If the
payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to
treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. We are authorized to amend our
partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax
characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these
distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under our
partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described above
could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual unitholder in which event the
unitholder would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction. In general, if we have a net profit, our items
of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among our general partner and the unitholders
in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that distributions are made to the
common units in excess of distributions to the subordinated units, or incentive distributions are
made to our general partner, gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of
these distributions. If we have a net loss for the entire year, that loss will be allocated first
to our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to
the extent of their positive capital accounts and, second, to our general partner.
Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for the
difference between the tax basis and fair market value of property contributed or deemed
contributed to us, referred to in this discussion as Contributed Property. The effect of these
allocations to a unitholder purchasing common units in this offering essentially will be the same
as if the tax basis of our assets were equal to their fair market value at the time of this
offering. In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the
unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture
income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders. Finally,
although we do not expect that our operations will result in the creation of negative capital
accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be
allocated in an amount and manner to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.
Baker Botts L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in
Section 754 Election and Disposition of Common Units Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees, allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect for federal income
tax purposes in determining a partners share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.
Treatment of Short Sales. A unitholder whose units are loaned to a short seller to cover a
short sale of units may be considered as having disposed of those units. If so, he would no longer
be a partner for those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the
disposition. As a result, during this period:
|
|
|
any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units would not be
reportable by the unitholder; |
|
|
|
|
any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units would be fully
taxable; and |
|
|
|
|
all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income. |
Baker Botts L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the treatment of a unitholder where
common units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units; therefore,
unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from
a loan to a short seller should modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit
their brokers from borrowing their units. The IRS has announced that it is studying issues relating
to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please also read Disposition of
Common Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Alternative Minimum Tax. Each unitholder will be required to take into account his
distributive share of any items of our income, gain, loss or deduction for purposes of the
alternative minimum tax. The current minimum tax
56
rate for noncorporate taxpayers is 26% on the first $175,000 ($87,500 in the case of married
individuals filing separately) of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption
amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective unitholders are
urged to consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in units on their
liability for the alternative minimum tax.
Tax Rates. In general, the highest effective United States federal income tax rate for
individuals for 2007 is 35% and the maximum United States federal income tax rate for net capital
gains of an individual for 2007 is 15% if the asset disposed of was held for more than 12 months at
the time of disposition.
Section 754 Election. We made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal Revenue
Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The election generally permits
us to adjust a common unit purchasers tax basis in our assets (inside basis) under Section
743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does not apply to
a person who purchases common units directly from us. The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the
purchaser and not to other partners. For purposes of this discussion, a partners inside basis in
our assets will be considered to have two components: (1) his share of our tax basis in our assets
(common basis) and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.
Treasury regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code require, if the remedial
allocation method is adopted, a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to recovery
property to be depreciated over the remaining cost recovery period for the Section 704(c) built-in
gain. Under Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6), a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable
to property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code rather than cost
recovery deductions under Section 168 is generally required to be depreciated using either the
straight-line method or the 150% declining balance method. In addition, the holder of a common unit
(other than a common unit that is sold in this offering) may be entitled by reason of a Section
743(b) adjustment to amortization deductions in respect of property to which the traditional method
of eliminating differences in book and tax basis applies. It would not be possible to maintain
uniformity of units if this requirement were literally followed; therefore under our partnership
agreement, our general partner is authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of units
even if that position is not consistent with these Treasury Regulations. Please read Tax
Treatment of Operations and Uniformity of Units.
Although Baker Botts L.L.P. is unable to opine as to the validity of this approach because
there is no clear authority on this issue, we intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b)
adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the
extent of any unamortized book-tax disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived
from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the common basis of the
property, or treat that portion as non-amortizable to the extent attributable to property the
common basis of which is not amortizable. This method is consistent with the regulations under
Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code but is arguably inconsistent with Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-l(a)(6). Although Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) is not
expected to directly apply to a material portion of our assets, if we determine that our position
cannot reasonably be taken, we may take a depreciation or amortization position under which all
purchasers acquiring units in the same month would receive depreciation or amortization, whether
attributable to common basis or a Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as
if they had purchased a direct interest in our assets. This kind of aggregate approach may result
in lower annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some
unitholders. This position will not be adopted if we determine that the loss of depreciation and
amortization deductions will have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. If we choose not to
utilize this aggregate method, we may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization method
to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any units that would not have a
material adverse effect on the unitholders. In addition, if purchasers of common units (other than
those that are sold in this offering) are entitled to different treatment in respect of property as
to which we are using the traditional method of eliminating differences in book and tax basis, we
may also take a position that results in lower annual deductions to some or all of our unitholders
than might otherwise be available. The IRS may challenge any method of depreciating the Section
743(b) adjustment described in this paragraph. If this challenge were sustained, the uniformity of
units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit
of additional deductions. Please read Disposition of Common Units Recognition of Gain or
Loss. Please read Tax Treatment of Operations and Uniformity of Units.
A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferees tax basis in his units is higher
than the units share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer.
In that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have a higher tax basis in his
share of our assets for purposes of computing, among other items, his depreciation and depletion
deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of our assets. Conversely, a Section 754
election is disadvantageous if the transferees tax basis in his units is lower than those units
share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair
market value of the units may be affected either favorably or unfavorably by the election.
57
The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the
basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. For example, the allocation
of the Section 743(b) adjustment among our assets must be made in accordance with the Internal
Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment
allocated by us to our tangible assets to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is
generally amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our
tangible assets. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully
challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or disallowed
altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our
opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from
the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of
units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been
revoked.
Tax Treatment of Operations
Accounting Method and Taxable Year. We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and
the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required
to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year ending
within or with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date
other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his units following the close of our taxable year
but before the close of his taxable year must include his share of our income, gain, loss and
deduction in income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be required to include in
income for his taxable year his share of more than one year of our income, gain, loss and
deduction. Please read Disposition of Common Units Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees.
Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization. The tax basis of our assets is used for purposes of
computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the
disposition of these assets. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference between
the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis immediately prior to this offering will be
borne by our general partner, its affiliates and our other unitholders as of that time. Please
read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.
To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that
will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets are placed in
service. We are not entitled to any amortization deductions with respect to any goodwill conveyed
to us on formation. Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using
accelerated methods permitted by the Internal Revenue Code.
If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure, or otherwise, all or a portion of
any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the nature
of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than
capital gain. Similarly, a partner who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with
respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all, of those deductions as
ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. Please read Tax Consequences of Unit
Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction and Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss.
The costs incurred in selling our units (called syndication expenses) must be capitalized
and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. There are uncertainties
regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and
as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us. The underwriting discounts and
commissions we incur will be treated as a syndication expenses.
Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties. The federal income tax consequences of the
ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market
values, and the initial tax bases, of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with
professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market
value estimates ourselves. These estimates of basis are subject to challenge and will not be
binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to
be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously
reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax
liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.
Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss. Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of units equal to the
difference between the amount realized and the unitholders tax basis for the units sold. A
unitholders amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of
other property received by him plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount
realized includes a unitholders share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the
sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.
58
Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a common unit that
decreased a unitholders tax basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income if
the common unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholders tax basis in that common unit,
even if the price received is less than his original cost.
Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other than a dealer in
units, on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than one year will generally be taxable as
capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of units held more than
12 months will generally be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%. However, a portion of this gain or
loss, which will likely be substantial, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or
loss under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent attributable to assets giving
rise to depreciation recapture or other unrealized receivables or to inventory items we own.
The term unrealized receivables includes potential recapture items, including depreciation
recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation
recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may be recognized even
if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize
both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units. Capital losses may offset capital
gains and no more than $3,000 of ordinary income, in the case of individuals, and may only be used
to offset capital gains in the case of corporations.
The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate
transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those
interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that
tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an equitable apportionment method.
Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Internal Revenue Code allow a selling unitholder who
can identify common units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the
actual holding period of the common units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling, a common
unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell as would be the case
with corporate stock, but, according to the regulations, may designate specific common units sold
for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use
the actual holding period of common units transferred must consistently use that identification
method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of common units. A unitholder considering the purchase
of additional units or a sale of common units purchased in separate transactions is urged to
consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the
regulations.
Specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code affect the taxation of some financial
products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an
appreciated partnership interest (one in which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned
or terminated at its fair market value) if the taxpayer or related persons enter(s) into:
|
|
|
a short sale; |
|
|
|
|
an offsetting notional principal contract; or |
|
|
|
|
a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest or
substantially identical property. |
Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional
principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the
taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then
acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of Treasury is
also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or
positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having
constructively sold the financial position.
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees. In general, our taxable income and losses
will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently
apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of
the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month, which we refer to in
this prospectus as the Allocation Date. However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other
disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among the
unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a
result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized
after the date of transfer.
It is uncertain, due to the absence of interpretative authority, whether this method conforms
to the requirements of applicable Treasury Regulations. Accordingly, Baker Botts L.L.P. is unable
to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between unitholders. If
this method is disallowed or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholders
interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the
59
unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between unitholders to conform to
a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
A unitholder who owns units at any time during a quarter and who disposes of them prior to the
record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income,
gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter but will not be entitled to receive that
cash distribution.
Notification Requirements. A person who purchases units from a unitholder is required to
notify us in writing of that purchase within 30 days after purchase. We are required to notify the
IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee.
However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of
the United States and who effects the sale or exchange through a broker.
Constructive Termination. We will be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if
there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within
a 12-month period. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all
unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year
ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than 12 months of our
taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. We would
be required to make new tax elections after a termination, including a new election under
Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code, and a termination would result in a deferral of our
deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to
determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the
application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination.
Uniformity of Units
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units, we must maintain uniformity of
the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of
uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements,
both statutory and regulatory. A lack of uniformity can result from a literal application of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6). Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on
the value of the units. Please read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Section 754 Election.
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident
aliens, foreign corporations, other foreign persons and regulated investment companies raises
issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax
consequences to them.
Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal income tax, including
individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on
unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder that is a
tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them.
A regulated investment company or mutual fund is required to derive 90% or more of its gross
income from interest, dividends and gains from the sale of stocks or securities or foreign currency
or specified related sources. It is not anticipated that any significant amount of our gross income
will include that type of income.
Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own units will be
considered to be engaged in business in the United States because of the ownership of units. As a
consequence, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income,
gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net
income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, we will withhold
at the highest applicable tax rate from cash distributions made quarterly to foreign unitholders.
Each foreign unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that
number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8 or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit
for these withholding taxes.
In addition, because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as engaged in a
United States trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the United States branch
profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income
and gain, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporations U.S. net equity, which are
effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. That tax may be
reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which
the foreign corporate unitholder is a qualified resident. In addition, this type of unitholder is
subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Internal Revenue
Code.
Under a ruling of the IRS, a foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will
be subject to federal income tax on gain realized on the sale or disposition of that unit to the
extent that this gain is effectively
60
connected with a United States trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Apart from the ruling,
a foreign unitholder will not be taxed or subject to withholding upon the sale or disposition of a
unit if he has owned 5% or less in value of the units during the five-year period ending on the
date of the disposition and if the units are regularly traded on an established securities market
at the time of the sale or disposition.
Administrative Matters
Information Returns and Audit Procedures. We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within
90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1,
which describes his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year.
In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by Baker Botts L.L.P., we will take
various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine
each unitholders share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure you that those
positions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code,
regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor Baker Botts L.L.P. can
assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those
positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the
units.
The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an
IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior years tax liability, and possibly may
result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a unitholders return could result in adjustments
not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns.
Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of federal tax audits,
judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax
treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership
proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Internal Revenue Code
requires that one partner be designated as the Tax Matters Partner for these purposes. Our
partnership agreement names Martin Midstream GP LLC as our Tax Matters Partner.
The Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of
unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for
assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters
Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% interest in profits in us to a settlement with
the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that
authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which
all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax
Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder
having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at
least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and
each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.
A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his
federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return.
Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to
substantial penalties.
Nominee Reporting. Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are
required to furnish to us:
(a) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and
the nominee;
(b) whether the beneficial owner is:
(1) a person that is not a United States person;
(2) a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly-owned
agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or
(3) a tax-exempt entity;
(c) the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the
beneficial owner; and
(d) specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of
acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net
proceeds from sales.
Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including
whether they are United States persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or
transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up to a maximum of $100,000 per
calendar year, is imposed by the Internal Revenue
61
Code for failure to report that information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial
owner of the units with the information furnished to us.
Registration as a Tax Shelter. The Internal Revenue Code requires that tax shelters be
registered with the Secretary of the Treasury. It is arguable that we are not subject to the
registration requirement on the basis that we may not constitute a tax shelter. However, we have
registered as a tax shelter with the Secretary of Treasury in the absence of assurance that we are
not be subject to tax shelter registration and in light of the substantial penalties that might be
imposed if registration is required and not undertaken. Our tax shelter registration number is
02318000009.
Issuance of this tax shelter registration number does not indicate that investment in us or
the claimed tax benefits have been reviewed, examined or approved by the IRS.
A unitholder who sells or otherwise transfers a unit in a later transaction must furnish the
registration number to the transferee. The penalty for failure of the transferor of a unit to
furnish the registration number to the transferee is $100 for each failure. The unitholders must
disclose our tax shelter registration number on Form 8271 to be attached to the tax return on which
any deduction, loss or other benefit we generate is claimed or on which any of our income is
included. A unitholder who fails to disclose the tax shelter registration number on his return,
without reasonable cause for that failure, will be subject to a $250 penalty for each failure. Any
penalties discussed are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Recently issued Treasury Regulations require taxpayers to report certain information on
Internal Revenue Service Form 8886 if they participate in a reportable transaction. You may be
required to file this form with the IRS if we participate in a reportable transaction. A
transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors. You are urged to
consult with your own tax advisor concerning the application of any of these factors to your
investment in our common units. Congress is considering legislative proposals that, if enacted,
would impose significant penalties for failure to comply with these disclosure requirements. The
Treasury Regulations also impose obligations on material advisors that organize, manage or sell
interests in registered tax shelters. As described in this prospectus, we have registered as a
tax shelter, and, thus one of our material advisors will be required to maintain a list with
specific information, including your name and tax identification number, and to furnish this
information to the IRS upon request. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor concerning
any possible disclosure obligation with respect to your investment and should be aware that we and
our material advisors intend to comply with the list and disclosure requirements.
Accuracy-Related Penalties. An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an
underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or
disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial
valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. No penalty will be imposed,
however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for
that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.
A substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the
understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return for the
taxable year or $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). The amount of any understatement subject to
penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return:
(1) for which there is, or was, substantial authority; or
(2) as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of that position
are disclosed on the return.
More stringent rules apply to tax shelters, a term that in this context does not appear to
include us. If any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of
unitholders might result in that kind of an understatement of income for which no substantial
authority exists, we must disclose the pertinent facts on our return. In addition, we will make a
reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on
their returns to avoid liability for this penalty.
A substantial valuation misstatement exists if the value of any property, or the adjusted
basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 150% or more of the amount determined to be the
correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis. No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the
underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 for most
corporations). If the valuation claimed on a return is 200% or more than the correct valuation, the
penalty imposed increases to 40%.
State, Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to federal income taxes, you will be subject to other taxes, including state,
local and foreign income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or
intangible taxes that may be imposed by the
62
various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property or in which you are a resident.
Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder is
urged to consider their potential impact on his investment in us. We will initially own property or
do business in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Texas and Utah. We may also own property or do business in other states or foreign
jurisdictions in the future. Although you may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in
some jurisdictions because your income from that jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment
requirements, you will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of
these jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for
failure to comply with those requirements.
In some jurisdictions, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and may
not be available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the jurisdictions may
require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a
unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be
greater or less than a particular unitholders income tax liability to the jurisdiction, generally
does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts
withheld may be treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts
distributed by us. Please read Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership Entity-Level Collections.
Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, our general partner anticipates
that any amounts required to be withheld will not be material.
It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences,
under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective
unitholder is urged to consult, and depend upon, his tax counsel or other advisor with regard to
those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local and
foreign, as well as United States federal tax returns, that may be required of him. Baker Botts
L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or foreign tax consequences of an investment
in us.
Tax Consequences of Ownership of Debt Securities
A description of the material federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership
and disposition of debt securities will be set forth on the prospectus supplement relating to the
offering of debt securities.
63
INVESTMENT IN US BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
An equity investment in us by an employee benefit plan is subject to additional considerations
because the investments of such plans are subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited
transaction provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(ERISA), and restrictions imposed by Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code. For these
purposes, the term employee benefit plan includes, but is not limited to, qualified pension,
profit-sharing and stock bonus plans established or maintained by an employer or employee
organization and IRAs. Among other things, consideration should be given to:
(a) whether the investment is prudent under Section 404(a)(1)(B) of ERISA;
(b) whether in making the investment, the employee benefit plan will satisfy the
diversification requirements of Section 404(a)(l)(C) of ERISA; and
(c) whether the investment will result in recognition of unrelated business taxable
income by the employee benefit plan and, if so, the potential after-tax investment return.
The person with investment discretion with respect to the assets of an employee benefit plan,
often called a fiduciary, should determine whether an investment in us is authorized by the
appropriate governing instruments and is a proper investment for the employee benefit plan.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code prohibit employee benefit
plans from engaging in specified transactions involving plan assets with parties that are
parties in interest under ERISA or disqualified persons under the Internal Revenue Code with
respect to the employee benefit plan.
In addition to considering whether the purchase of common units is a prohibited transaction, a
fiduciary of an employee benefit plan should consider whether the plan will, by investing in us, be
deemed to own an undivided interest in our assets, with the result that our general partner also
would be a fiduciary of the plan and our operations would be subject to the regulatory restrictions
of ERISA, including its prohibited transaction rules, as well as the prohibited transaction rules
of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Department of Labor has issued a regulation (the Plan Assets Regulation) that provides
guidance with respect to whether the assets of an entity in which employee benefit plans acquire
equity interests would be deemed plan assets under some circumstances. Under the Plan Assets
Regulation, an entitys assets would not be considered to be plan assets if, among other things:
(a) the equity interests acquired by employee benefit plans are publicly offered
securities; i.e., the equity interests are held by 100 or more investors independent of the
issuer and each other, freely transferable and registered under certain provisions of the
federal securities laws;
(b) the entity is an operating company, i.e., it is primarily engaged in the
production or sale of a product or service other than the investment of capital either
directly or through a majority owned subsidiary or subsidiaries; or
(c) equity investment in the entity by benefit plan investors is not significant, which
means that less than 25% of the value of each class of equity interest, disregarding
interests held by the issuer, its affiliates, and some other persons, is held by employee
benefit plans and certain other plans not subject to ERISA, including governmental plans.
Our assets should not be considered plan assets under the Plan Assets Regulation because it
is expected that the common units will constitute publicly-offered securities, within the meaning
of (a) immediately above.
Plan fiduciaries contemplating a purchase of common units should consult with their own
counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code in light of the
serious penalties imposed on persons who engage in prohibited transactions or other violations.
64
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities being offered hereby directly to purchasers, through agents,
through underwriters or through dealers.
We, or agents designated by us, may directly solicit, from time to time, offers to purchase
the securities. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter as that term is defined in the
Securities Act. We will name the agents involved in the offer or sale of the securities and
describe any commissions payable by us to these agents in the prospectus supplement. Unless
otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, these agents will be acting on a best efforts
basis for the period of their appointment. The agents may be entitled under agreements which may be
entered into with us to indemnification by us against specific civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. The agents may also be our customers or may engage in
transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
If we utilize any underwriters in the sale of the securities in respect of which this
prospectus is delivered, we will enter into an underwriting agreement with those underwriters at
the time of sale to them. We will set forth the names of these underwriters and the terms of the
transaction in the prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of
the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered to the public. We may indemnify the
underwriters under the relevant underwriting agreement to indemnification by us against specific
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The underwriters may also be our
customers or may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of
business.
If we utilize a dealer in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is
delivered, we will sell those securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell
those securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of
resale. We may indemnify the dealers against specific liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act. The dealers may also be our customers or may engage in transactions with, or
perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.
Common units and debt securities may also be sold directly by us. In this case, no
underwriters or agents would be involved. We may use electronic media, including the Internet, to
sell offered securities directly.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to
describe a specific plan of distribution or such specific plan of distribution may be set forth in
the related prospectus supplement. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of
which this prospectus is delivered are set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Baker
Botts L.L.P. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this
prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed on by counsel for the underwriters of
such offering, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement related to that
offering.
EXPERTS
The following financial statements and managements assessment have been incorporated in this
prospectus by reference in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing: (i) the
consolidated financial statements of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. and subsidiaries as of December
31, 2006 and 2005, and for the years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2006, (ii) the balance sheet of Martin Midstream GP LLC, our general partner, as of December 31,
2006, and (iii) the financial statements of Waskom Gas Processing Company, one of our
unconsolidated entities, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2006.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933 that
registers the securities offered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the
attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of
the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the registration statement from this
prospectus.
In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC.
You may read and copy any document we file at the SECs public reference room at 100 F Street, NE,
Washington, DC 20549-2521. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the
operation of the SECs public reference room. Our SEC filings are available on the SECs web site
at www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website, at www.martinmidstream.com,
all materials that we file electronically with the SEC, including our
65
annual report on Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 reports and
amendments to these reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are
electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Information contained on our website or any
other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part
of this prospectus.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information we have
filed 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. These other documents contain important information about us, our
financial condition and results of operations. The information incorporated by reference is an
important part of this prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically
update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the
SEC.
We incorporate by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below:
|
|
|
our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the
SEC on March 5, 2007; |
|
|
|
|
our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 filed with
the SEC on May 7, 2007, for the quarter ended June 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on
August 7, 2007 and for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, filed with the SEC on
November 6, 2008; |
|
|
|
|
our current reports on Form 8-K filed January 23, 2007, May 2, 2007, May 4, 2007,
May 15, 2007 May 18, 2007, June 4, 2007, July 23, 207, August 2, 2007, August 7, 2007,
August 9, 2007, October 22, 2007, November 2, 2007,
November 6, 2007, November 8, 2007, November 15, 2007
and December 18, 2007; |
|
|
|
|
the description of our common units in our registration statement on Form 8-A (File
No. 1-02801862) filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on October 29,
2002; and |
|
|
|
|
all documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or l5(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 between the date of this prospectus and the termination of the
registration statement (excluding any portions thereof that are deemed to be furnished
and not filed). |
You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC
through the SECs web site at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any
document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents
specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our internet
website at www.martinmidstream.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:
Martin Midstream Partners L.P.
4200 Stone Road
Kilgore, Texas 75662
Attention: Robert D. Bondurant
Telephone: (903) 983-6200
66
APPENDIX A
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
adjusted operating surplus: For any period, operating surplus generated during that period is
adjusted to:
(a) decrease operating surplus by:
(1) any net increase in working capital borrowings during that period; and
(2) any net reduction in cash reserves for operating expenditures during that
period not relating to an operating expenditure made during that period; and
(b) increase operating surplus by:
(1) any net decrease in working capital borrowings during that period; and
(2) any net increase in cash reserves for operating expenditures during that
period required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or
premium.
Adjusted operating surplus does not include that portion of operating surplus included in clause
(a) (1) or the definition of operating surplus.
available cash: For any quarter ending prior to liquidation:
(a) the sum of:
(1) all cash and cash equivalents of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. and its
subsidiaries, or in the case of Martin Operating Partnership L.P., all cash and cash
equivalents of Martin Operating Partnership L.P., on hand at the end of that
quarter; and
(2) all additional cash and cash equivalents of Martin Midstream Partners L.P.
and its subsidiaries, or in the case of Martin Operating Partnership L.P., all cash
and cash equivalents of Martin Operating Partnership L.P., on hand on the date of
determination of available cash for that quarter resulting from working capital
borrowings made after the end of that quarter;
(b) less the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or appropriate in the reasonable
discretion of our general partner to:
(1) provide for the proper conduct of the business of Martin Midstream Partners
L.P. and its subsidiaries, or in the case of Martin Operating Partnership L.P., the
proper conduct of the business of Martin Operating Partnership L.P., (including
reserves for future capital expenditures and for future credit needs of Martin
Midstream Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries, or in the case of Martin Operating
Partnership L.P., future capital expenditures and future credit needs of Martin
Operating Partnership L.P.) after that quarter;
(2) comply with applicable law or any debt instrument or other agreement or
obligation to which Martin Midstream Partners L.P. or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or its assets are subject; and
(3) provide funds for minimum quarterly distributions and cumulative common
unit arrearages for any one or more of the next four quarters;
provided, however, that our general partner may not establish cash reserves for distributions to
the subordinated units unless our general partner has determined that in its judgment the
establishment of reserves will not prevent Martin Midstream Partners L.P. from distributing the
minimum quarterly distribution on all common units and any cumulative common unit arrearages
thereon for the next four quarters; and
provided, further, that disbursements made by Martin Midstream Partners L.P. or any of its
subsidiaries or cash reserves established, increased or reduced after the end of that quarter but
on or before the date of determination of available cash for that quarter shall be deemed to have
been made, established, increased or reduced, for purposes of determining available cash, within
that quarter if our general partner so determines.
capital account: The capital account maintained for a partner under our partnership agreement.
The capital account of a partner for a common unit, a subordinated unit, an incentive distribution
right or any other partnership interest will be the amount which that capital account would be if
that common unit, subordinated unit, incentive distribution right or other partnership interest
were the only interest in us held by a partner.
A- 1
capital surplus: All available cash distributed by Martin Midstream Partners L.P. from any
source will be treated as distributed from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash
distributed since the closing of Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s initial public offering equals
the operating surplus as of the end of the quarter before that distribution. Any excess available cash
will be deemed to be capital surplus.
closing price: The last sale price on a day, regular way, or in case no sale takes place on
that day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on that day, regular way. In either case,
as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system for securities listed or
admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which the units of that class
are listed or admitted to trading. If the units of that class are not listed or admitted to trading
on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price on that day. If no quoted price exists,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices on that day in the over-the-counter market, as
reported by the Nasdaq National Market or any other system then in use. If on any day the units of
that class are not quoted by any organization of that type, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices on that day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the units
of the class selected by Martin Midstream GP LLC. If on that day no market maker is making a market
in the units of that class, the fair value of the units on that day as determined reasonably and in
good faith by Martin Midstream GP LLC.
common unit arrearage: The amount by which the minimum quarterly distribution for a quarter
during the subordination period exceeds the distribution of available cash from operating surplus
actually made for that quarter on a common unit, cumulative for that quarter and all prior quarters
during the subordination period.
current market price: For any class of units listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange as of any date, the average of the daily closing prices for the 20 consecutive
trading days immediately prior to that date.
incentive distribution right: A non-voting limited partner partnership interest issued to
Martin Midstream GP LLC in connection with the transfer of interests in Martin Operating
Partnership L.P. to Martin Midstream Partners L.P. under Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s
partnership agreement. The partnership interest will confer upon its holder only the rights and
obligations specifically provided in Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s partnership agreement for
incentive distribution rights.
incentive distributions: The distributions of available cash from operating surplus initially
made to Martin Midstream GP LLC that are in excess of Martin Midstream GP LLCs aggregate 2%
general partner interest.
interim capital transactions: The following transactions if they occur prior to liquidation:
(a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of indebtedness and sales of debt securities
(other than for working capital borrowings and other than for items purchased on open
account in the ordinary course of business) by Martin Midstream Partners L.P. or any of its
subsidiaries;
(b) sales of equity interests by Martin Midstream Partners L.P. or any of its
subsidiaries;
(c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of any assets of Martin
Midstream Partners L.P. or any of its subsidiaries (other than sales or other dispositions
of inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business, and
sales or other dispositions of assets as a part of normal retirements or replacements).
operating expenditures: All expenditures of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. and its
subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, taxes, reimbursements of Martin Midstream GP LLC,
repayment of working capital borrowings, debt service payments and capital expenditures, subject to
the following:
(a) Payments (including prepayments) of principal of and premium on indebtedness, other
than working capital borrowings will not constitute operating expenditures.
(b) Operating expenditures will not include:
(1) capital expenditures made for acquisitions or for capital improvements;
(2) payment of transaction expenses relating to interim capital transactions;
or
(3) distributions to partners.
operating surplus: For any period prior to liquidation, on a cumulative basis and without
duplication:
(a) the sum of
(1) $8.5 million plus all the cash of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. and its
subsidiaries on hand as of the closing date of its initial public offering;
A- 2
(2) all cash receipts of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries
for the period beginning on the closing date of its initial public offering and
ending with the last day of that period, other than cash receipts from interim
capital transactions; and
(3) all cash receipts of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries
after the end of that period but on or before the date of determination of operating
surplus for the period resulting from working capital borrowings; less
(b) the sum of:
(1) operating expenditures for the period beginning on the closing date of
Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s initial public offering and ending with the last
day of that period; and
(2) the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or advisable in the
reasonable discretion of Martin Midstream GP LLC to provide funds for future
operating expenditures; provided however, that disbursements made or cash reserves
established, increased or reduced after the end of that period but on or before the
date of determination of available cash for that period shall be deemed to have been
made, established, increased or reduced for purposes of determining operating
surplus, within that period if Martin Midstream GP LLC so determines.
subordination period: The subordination period will generally extend from the closing of
Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s initial public offering until the first to occur of:
(a) the first day of any quarter beginning after September 30, 2009 for which:
(1) distributions of available cash from operating surplus on each of the
outstanding common units and subordinated units equaled or exceeded the sum of the
minimum quarterly distribution on all of the outstanding common units and
subordinated units for each of the three consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter
periods immediately preceding that date;
(2) the adjusted operating surplus generated during each of the three
consecutive, non-overlapping four-quarter periods immediately preceding that date
equaled or exceeded the sum of the minimum quarterly distribution on all of the
common units and subordinated units that were outstanding during those periods on a
fully-diluted basis, and the related distribution on the general partner interest in
Martin Midstream Partners L.P. and our operating partnership; and
(3) there are no outstanding cumulative common units arrearages.
(b) the date on which Martin Midstream GP LLC is removed as general partner of Martin
Midstream Partners L.P. upon the requisite vote by the limited partners under circumstances
where cause does not exist and units held by Martin Midstream GP LLC and its affiliates are
not voted in favor of the removal.
unit majority: When a matter must be approved by a unit majority, as the term is used in this
prospectus, such matter must be approved as follows:
(a) during the subordination period, the approval of a majority of the outstanding
common units, excluding those common units held by Martin Midstream GP LLC and its
affiliates, and a majority of the outstanding subordinated units, voting as separate
classes; and
(b) after the subordination period, the approval of a majority of the outstanding
common units.
working capital borrowings: Borrowings exclusively for working capital purposes made under a
revolving credit facility or other arrangement requiring all borrowings thereunder to be reduced to
a relatively small amount each year for an economically meaningful period of time.
A- 3
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
Set forth below are the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) expected
to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities registered
hereby. With the exception of the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, the amounts
set forth below are estimates:
|
|
|
|
|
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee |
|
$ |
12,280 |
|
FINRA filing fee |
|
$ |
40,500 |
|
Legal fees and expenses |
|
$ |
150,000 |
|
Accounting fees and expenses |
|
$ |
50,000 |
|
Printing and engraving expenses |
|
$ |
75,000 |
|
Trustees fees and expenses |
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
Miscellaneous |
|
$ |
10,290 |
|
Total |
|
$ |
353,070 |
|
|
|
|
|
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The section of the prospectus entitled The Partnership AgreementIndemnification is
incorporated herein by this reference. Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set forth
in the Partnership Agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership
Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other
person from and against all claims and demands whatsoever.
The partnership agreement of Martin Operating Partnership provides that it will, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify and advance expenses to indemnitees (as defined therein)
from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (joint or several), expenses
(including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts arising from
any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, in which any indemnitee may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party
or otherwise, by reason of its status as an indemnitee, provided that in each case the indemnitee
acted in good faith and in a manner which such indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to the best interests of, the operating company. This indemnification would under certain
circumstances include indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, each
indemnitee would automatically be entitled to the advancement of expenses in connection with the
foregoing indemnification. Any indemnification under these provisions will be only out of the
assets of the operating company.
Martin Midstream Partners and Martin Operating Partnership, and their respective general
partners, are authorized to purchase (or to reimburse the general partner for the costs of)
insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by the persons described in
the paragraphs above in connection with their activities, whether or not they would have the power
to indemnify such person against such liabilities under the provisions described in the paragraphs
above. The general partner of Martin Midstream Partners has purchased insurance, the cost of which
is reimbursed by Martin Midstream Partners, covering its officers and directors against liabilities
asserted and expenses incurred in connection with their activities as officers and directors of the
general partner or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries including the operating company and
the subsidiary guarantors.
Any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with the sale of the securities offered
pursuant to this registration statement will provide for indemnification of officers and directors
of the general partner, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
II- 1
Item 16. Exhibits
(a) |
|
Exhibits. The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration: |
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
Number |
|
Description |
1.1*
|
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement. |
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Martin Midstream Partners L.P., dated June 21,
2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated
herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Martin Midstream
Partners L.P., dated November 6, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Martin Midstream
Partners L.P.s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 19, 2002, and
incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Martin Midstream Partners L.P., dated November 1, 2007 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to
Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 2, 2007,
and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Martin Operating Partnership L.P., dated June
21, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.3 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated
herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Martin Operating
Partnership L.P., dated November 6, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Martin Midstream
Partners L.P.s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 19, 2002, and
incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.6
|
|
Certificate of Formation of Martin Midstream GP LLC, dated June 21, 2002 (filed as
Exhibit 3.5 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.7
|
|
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Martin Midstream GP LLC, dated June 21, 2002
(filed as Exhibit 3.6 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Red. No. 33-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated herein by
reference). |
|
|
|
3.8
|
|
Certificate of Formation of Martin Operating GP LLC, dated June 21, 2002 (filed as
Exhibit 3.7 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.9
|
|
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Martin Operating GP LLC, dated June 21, 2002
(filed as Exhibit 3.8 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated herein by
reference). |
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Specimen Unit Certificate for Common Units (contained in Exhibit 3.2) |
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
Specimen Unit Certificate for Subordinated Units (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment
No. 4 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg.
No. 333-91706), filed October 25, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
4.3**
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
4.4**
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
4.5**
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
|
|
|
4.6**
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
II- 2
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
Number |
|
Description |
5.1**
|
|
Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities registered hereby. |
|
|
|
8.1**
|
|
Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to tax matters. |
|
|
|
12.1**
|
|
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges. |
|
|
|
23.1**
|
|
Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1). |
|
|
|
23.2**
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP. |
|
|
|
23.3**
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP. |
|
|
|
23.4**
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP. |
|
|
|
24.1**
|
|
Power of Attorney (contained on signature page). |
|
|
|
25.1*
|
|
Form T -1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Senior Indenture
of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
25.2*
|
|
Form T -1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Subordinated
Indenture of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
25.3*
|
|
Form T -1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Senior Indenture
of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
|
|
|
25.4*
|
|
Form T -1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Subordinated
Indenture of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
|
|
|
* |
|
To be filed by a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to
a current report on Form 8-K. |
|
** |
|
Filed herewith. |
(b) Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions, are
inapplicable, or the information is included in the consolidated financial statements, and have
therefore been omitted.
(c) Reports, Opinions, and Appraisals
The following reports, opinions, and appraisals are included herein: None.
Item 17. Undertakings
(a) Each of the undersigned registrants hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease
in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not
exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price
represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement;
II- 3
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained
in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or
section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that
is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any
purchaser:
(i) If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be
deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus
was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or
(b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an
offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of
providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933
shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the
earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the
date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the
prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any
person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new
effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the
registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus
that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or
deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that
is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of
contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement
that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the
registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such
effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act
of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant
undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this
registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the
purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following
communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered
to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to
the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of
the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering
containing material information about the registrant or its securities provided by or on
behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned
registrant to the purchaser.
(b) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant
to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,
each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
II- 4
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of any registrant in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, each registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
(d) Each undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of
determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust
Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under
Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
II- 5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each of the
registrants certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Kilgore, State of Texas,
on December 18, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARTIN MIDSTREAM PARTNERS L.P. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
Martin Midstream GP LLC |
|
|
|
|
Its General Partner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Ruben S. Martin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name: Ruben S. Martin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MARTIN OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
Martin Operating GP LLC. |
|
|
|
|
Its General Partner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
|
Its Sole Member |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
Martin Midstream GP LLC |
|
|
|
|
Its General Partner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
|
/s/ Ruben S. Martin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name: Ruben S. Martin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
Each person whose signature appears below appoints Ruben S. Martin and Robert D. Bondurant,
and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or
her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any
Registration Statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective
upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the
same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as
fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in fact and agents or any of them or their or his or her
substitute and substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated below.
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Ruben S. Martin
Ruben S. Martin
|
|
Chief Executive Officer, President and
Director (Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
December 18,
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Robert D. Bondurant
Robert D. Bondurant
|
|
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
|
|
December 18,
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
Signature |
|
Title |
|
Date |
|
/s/ Wesley M. Skelton
Wesley M. Skelton
|
|
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative
Officer and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
|
|
December 18,
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Scott D. Martin
Scott D. Martin
|
|
Director
|
|
December 18,
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ John P. Gaylord
John P. Gaylord
|
|
Director
|
|
December 18,
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ C. Scott Massey
C. Scott Massey
|
|
Director
|
|
December 18,
2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Howard Hackney
Howard Hackney
|
|
Director
|
|
December 18,
2007 |
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
Number |
|
Description |
1.1*
|
|
Form of Underwriting Agreement. |
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Martin Midstream Partners L.P., dated June 21,
2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated
herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Martin Midstream
Partners L.P., dated November 6, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Martin Midstream
Partners L.P.s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 19, 2002, and
incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
Amendment No. 1 to First Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of
Martin Midstream Partners L.P., dated November 1, 2007 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to
Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 2, 2007,
and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Martin Operating Partnership L.P., dated June
21, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.3 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated
herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Martin Operating
Partnership L.P., dated November 6, 2002 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Martin Midstream
Partners L.P.s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 19, 2002, and
incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.6
|
|
Certificate of Formation of Martin Midstream GP LLC, dated June 21, 2002 (filed as
Exhibit 3.5 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.7
|
|
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Martin Midstream GP LLC, dated June 21, 2002
(filed as Exhibit 3.6 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Red. No. 33-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated herein by
reference). |
|
|
|
3.8
|
|
Certificate of Formation of Martin Operating GP LLC, dated June 21, 2002 (filed as
Exhibit 3.7 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
3.8
|
|
Limited Liability Company Agreement of Martin Operating GP LLC, dated June 21, 2002
(filed as Exhibit 3.8 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-91706), filed July 1, 2002, and incorporated herein by
reference). |
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Specimen Unit Certificate for Common Units (contained in Exhibit 3.2) |
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
Specimen Unit Certificate for Subordinated Units (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment
No. 4 to Martin Midstream Partners L.P.s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg.
No. 333-91706), filed October 25, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference). |
|
|
|
4.3**
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
4.4**
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
4.5**
|
|
Form of Senior Indenture of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
|
|
|
4.6**
|
|
Form of Subordinated Indenture of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
|
|
|
Exhibit |
|
|
Number |
|
Description |
5.1**
|
|
Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities registered hereby. |
|
|
|
8.1**
|
|
Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to tax matters. |
|
|
|
12.1**
|
|
Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges. |
|
|
|
23.1**
|
|
Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1). |
|
|
|
23.2**
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP. |
|
|
|
23.3**
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP. |
|
|
|
23.4**
|
|
Consent of KPMG LLP. |
|
|
|
24.1**
|
|
Power of Attorney (contained on signature page). |
|
|
|
25.1*
|
|
Form T -1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Senior Indenture
of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
25.2*
|
|
Form T -1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Subordinated
Indenture of Martin Midstream Partners L.P. |
|
|
|
25.3*
|
|
Form T -1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Senior Indenture
of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
|
|
|
25.4*
|
|
Form T -1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification respecting the Subordinated
Indenture of Martin Operating Partnership L.P. |
|
|
|
* |
|
To be filed by a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to
a current report on Form 8-K. |
|
** |
|
Filed herewith. |