EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1323468
Filing Year: 2021
Filename: 1323468_10-K_2021_0001558370-21-002439.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Items 1. and 2. Business and Properties.
Overview
We are a master limited partnership formed in March 2005. We own, control or have access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products and renewable fuels in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (collectively, the “Northeast”). We are one of the region’s largest independent owners, suppliers and operators of gasoline stations and convenience stores. As of December 31, 2020, we had a portfolio of 1,548 owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, including 277 directly operated convenience stores, primarily in the Northeast. We are also one of the largest distributors of gasoline, distillates, residual oil and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers in the New England states and New York. We engage in the purchasing, selling, gathering, blending, storing and logistics of transporting petroleum and related products, including gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol), distillates (such as home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane and in the transportation of petroleum products and renewable fuels by rail from the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada.
We purchase refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil primarily from domestic and foreign refiners and ethanol producers, crude oil producers, major and independent oil companies and trading companies. We operate our businesses under three segments: (i) Wholesale, (ii) Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations (“GDSO”) and (iii) Commercial.
Global GP LLC, our general partner, manages our operations and activities and employs our officers and substantially all of our personnel, except for most of our gasoline station and convenience store employees who are employed by our wholly owned subsidiary, Global Montello Group Corp. (“GMG”).
2020 Events
COVID-19 Pandemic-The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to make its presence felt at home, in the office workplace and at our retail sites and terminal locations. We have successfully executed our business continuity plans and at this time our in-office employees continue to work remotely. We remain active in responding to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to provide essential products and services while prioritizing the safety of our employees, customers and vendors in the communities where we operate. Please read Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Our Perspective on Global and the COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Purchase Agreement-On December 14, 2020, we announced the signing of an agreement to purchase retail fuel and convenience store assets from Connecticut-based Consumers Petroleum of Connecticut, Incorporated. The acquisition includes 27 company-operated gasoline stations with “Wheels”-branded convenience stores in Connecticut. The transaction also includes fuel supply agreements for approximately 25 gasoline stations located in Connecticut and New York. The stations market fuel under the Citgo and Sunoco brands. The purchase is expected to close in the first half of 2021 subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
2029 Notes Offering and 2023 Notes Redemption-On October 7, 2020, we and GLP Finance Corp. (the “Issuers”) issued $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% senior notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) to several initial purchasers (the “2029 Notes Initial Purchasers”) in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). We used the net proceeds from the offering to fund the redemption of our 7.00% senior notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) and to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement. The redemption of the 2023 Notes occurred on October 23, 2020.
On February 1, 2021, we completed an exchange offer whereby holders of the 2029 Notes exchanged all of the 2029 Notes for an equivalent amount of senior notes registered under the Securities Act. The exchange notes are substantially identical to the 2029 Notes, except that the exchange notes are not subject to the restrictions on transfers or to any increase in annual interest rates for failure to comply with the 2029 Notes Registration Rights Agreement (defined below). Please read Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the 2029 Notes.
Amended Credit Agreement-On May 7, 2020, we and certain of our subsidiaries entered into the fourth amendment to our third amended and restated credit agreement which, among other things, provides temporary adjustments to certain covenants and reduced the total aggregate commitment by $130.0 million. Please read Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on our credit agreement.
Operating Segments
We operate our businesses under three segments: (i) Wholesale, (ii) GDSO and (iii) Commercial. In 2020, our Wholesale, GDSO and Commercial sales accounted for approximately 55%, 36% and 9% of our total sales, respectively.
Wholesale
In our Wholesale segment, we engage in the logistics of selling, gathering, blending, storing and transporting refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane. We transport these products by railcars, barges, trucks and/or pipelines pursuant to spot or long-term contracts. From time to time, we aggregate crude oil by truck or pipeline in the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada, transport it by rail and ship it by barge to refiners. We sell home heating oil, branded and unbranded gasoline and gasoline blendstocks, diesel, kerosene and residual oil to home heating oil retailers and wholesale distributors. Generally, customers use their own vehicles or contract carriers to take delivery of the gasoline, distillates and propane at bulk terminals and inland storage facilities that we own or control or at which we have throughput or exchange arrangements. Ethanol is shipped primarily by rail and by barge.
Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations
In our GDSO segment, gasoline distribution includes sales of branded and unbranded gasoline to gasoline station operators and sub-jobbers. Station operations include (i) convenience store sales, (ii) rental income from gasoline stations leased to dealers, from commissioned agents and from cobranding arrangements and (iii) sundries (such as car wash sales and lottery and ATM commissions).
As of December 31, 2020, we had a portfolio of owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, primarily in the Northeast, that consisted of the following:
Company operated
Commissioned agents
Lessee dealers
Contract dealers
Total
1,548
Commercial
In our Commercial segment, we include sales and deliveries to end user customers in the public sector and to large commercial and industrial end users of unbranded gasoline, home heating oil, diesel, kerosene, residual oil and bunker fuel. In the case of public sector commercial and industrial end user customers, we sell products primarily either through a competitive bidding process or through contracts of various terms. We respond to publicly issued requests for product proposals and quotes. We generally arrange for the delivery of the product to the customer’s designated location. Our Commercial segment also includes sales of custom blended fuels delivered by barges or from a terminal dock to ships through bunkering activity.
Products
General
The following table presents our product sales and other revenues as a percentage of our consolidated sales for the years ended December 31:
Gasoline sales: gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol)
%
%
%
Distillates (home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil and propane sales
%
%
%
Crude oil sales and crude oil logistics revenue
%
%
%
Convenience store sales, rental income and sundries
%
%
%
Total
%
%
%
Gasoline. We sell substantially all grades of branded and unbranded gasoline and we sell gasoline blendstocks, such as ethanol, that comply with seasonal and geographical requirements in the areas in which we market.
Distillates. Distillates are primarily divided into home heating oil, diesel and kerosene. In 2020, sales of home heating oil, diesel and kerosene accounted for approximately 42%, 56% and 2%, respectively, of our total volume of distillates sold. The distillates we sell are used primarily for fuel for trucks and off-road construction equipment and for space heating of residential and commercial buildings.
We sell generic home heating oil and Heating Oil Plus™, our proprietary premium branded heating oil that is electronically blended at the delivery facility, to wholesale distributors and retailers. In addition, we sell the additive used to create Heating Oil Plus™ to some wholesale distributors, make injection systems available to them and provide technical support to assist them with blending. We also educate the sales force of our customers to better prepare them for marketing our products to their customers.
We have a fixed price sales program that we market primarily to wholesale distributors and retailers which uses the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”) heating oil contract as the pricing benchmark and as the vehicle to manage the commodity risk. Please read “-Commodity Risk Management.” In 2020, approximately 32% of our home heating oil volume was sold using forward fixed price contracts. A forward fixed price contract requires our customer to purchase a specific volume at a specific price during a specific period. The remaining home heating oil volume was sold on either a posted price or a price based on various indices which, in both instances, reflect current market conditions.
We sell generic diesel and Diesel One®, our proprietary premium diesel fuel product. We offer marketing and technical support for those customers who purchase Diesel One®.
Residual Oil. We sell residual oil to industrial, commercial and marine customers. We specially blend product for users in accordance with their individual power specifications and for marine transport.
Propane. We sold propane to home heating oil and propane retailers and wholesale distributors primarily from our rail-fed propane storage and distribution facility near our Church Street terminal in Albany, New York. For calendar year 2020, we ceased marketing propane during the second quarter ended June 30, 2020.
Crude Oil. We engage in the purchasing, selling, storing and logistics of transporting domestic and Canadian crude oil and other products via pipeline, rail and barge from the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada for distribution to refiners and other customers.
Convenience Store Items and Sundries. We sell a broad selection of food, beverages, snacks, grocery and non-food merchandise at our convenience store locations and generate sundry sales, such as car wash sales and lottery and ATM commissions, at our convenience store locations.
Significant Customers
None of our customers accounted for greater than 10% of total sales for years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Assets
Terminals
As of December 31, 2020, we owned, leased or maintained dedicated storage facilities at 25 bulk terminals, each with the capacity of more than 50,000 barrels, with a collective storage capacity of approximately 11.8 million barrels. Twenty-two of these bulk terminals are located throughout the Northeast. Some of our storage tankage is versatile, allowing us to switch tankage from one product to another.
In addition to refined products, we also own or operate two rail facilities in New York and Oregon capable of handling ethanol, renewable diesel (only in Oregon) and other products and two rail facilities in North Dakota that are permitted to receive, store or distribute crude oil. At select locations, we have capacity to store renewable fuels, and in Albany, New York, we also have an additional rail-fed storage terminal capable of handling propane.
The bulk terminals and inland storage facilities from which we distribute product are supplied by ship, barge, truck, pipeline and/or rail. The inland storage facilities, which we use primarily to store distillates, are supplied with product delivered by truck and/or pipeline from bulk terminals. Our customers receive product from our network of bulk terminals and inland storage facilities primarily via truck, pipeline and/or rail.
In connection with our businesses, we may lease or otherwise secure the right to use certain third-party assets (such as railcars, pipelines and barges). As of December 31, 2020, we supported our rail activity with a fleet of approximately 180 leased railcars. The makeup of this fleet is split between general-purpose cars and pressurized tank cars. We lease railcars from third parties through various lease arrangements with various expiration dates, and we also lease barges from third parties through various time charter lease arrangements also with various expiration dates. We also have various pipeline connection agreements that extend for one to five years.
Many of our bulk terminals operate 24 hours a day and consist of multiple storage tanks and automated truck loading equipment. These automated systems monitor terminal access, volumetric allocations, credit control and carrier certification through the remote identification of customers. In addition, some of the bulk terminals from which we market are equipped with truck loading racks capable of providing automated blending and additive packages which meet our customers’ specific requirements.
Throughput arrangements allow storage of product at terminals owned by others. We or our customers can load product at these terminals, and we pay the owners of these terminals fees for services rendered in connection with the receipt, storage and handling of such product. Compensation to the terminal owners may be fixed or based upon the volume of our product that is delivered and sold at the terminal. Throughput agreements may require counterparties to throughput a minimum volume over an agreed-upon period and may include make-up rights if the minimum volume is not met.
We have exchange agreements with customers and suppliers. An exchange is a contractual agreement where the parties exchange product at their respective terminals or facilities. For example, we (or our customers) receive product that is owned by our exchange partner from such party’s facility or terminal, and we deliver the same volume of our product to such party (or to such party’s customers) out of one of the terminals in our terminal network. Generally, both sides of an exchange transaction pay a handling fee (similar to a throughput fee), and often one party also pays a location differential that covers any excess transportation costs incurred by the other party in supplying product to the location at which the first party receives product. Other differentials that may occur in exchanges (and result in additional payments) include product value differentials and timing differentials.
Gasoline Stations
As of December 31, 2020, we had a portfolio of 1,548 owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, including 277 directly operated convenience stores, primarily in the Northeast.
At our company-operated stores, we operate the gasoline stations and convenience stores with our employees, and we set the retail price of gasoline at the station. At commissioned agent locations, we own the gasoline inventory, and we set the retail price of gasoline at the station and pay the commissioned agent a fee related to the gallons sold. We receive rental income from commissioned agent leased gasoline stations for the leasing of the convenience store premises, repair bays and other businesses that may be conducted by the commissioned agent. At dealer-leased locations, the dealer purchases gasoline from us, and the dealer sets the retail price of gasoline at the dealer’s station. We also receive rental income from (i) dealer-leased gasoline stations and (ii) cobranding arrangements. We also supply gasoline to locations owned and/or leased by independent contract dealers. Additionally, we have contractual relationships with distributors in certain New England states pursuant to which we source and supply these distributors’ gasoline stations with ExxonMobil-branded gasoline.
Supply
Our products come from some of the major energy companies in the world as well as North American crude oil producers. Products can be sourced from the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, Russia and occasionally from Asia. Most of our products are delivered by water, pipeline, rail or truck. During 2020, we purchased an average of approximately 360,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil. We enter into supply agreements with these suppliers on a term basis or a spot basis. With respect to trade terms, our supply purchases vary depending on the particular contract from prompt payment (usually two days) to net 30 days. Please read “-Commodity Risk Management.” We obtain our convenience store inventory from traditional suppliers.
Seasonality
Due to the nature of our businesses and our reliance, in part, on consumer travel and spending patterns, we may experience more demand for gasoline during the late spring and summer months than during the fall and winter. Travel and recreational activities are typically higher in these months in the geographic areas in which we operate, increasing the demand for gasoline. Therefore, our volumes in gasoline are typically higher in the second and third quarters of the calendar year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on gasoline demand and the extent and duration of that impact is uncertain. As demand for some of our refined petroleum products, specifically home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes, is generally greater during the winter months, heating oil and residual oil volumes are generally higher during the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year. These factors may result in fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.
Commodity Risk Management
When we take title to the products that we sell, we are exposed to commodity risk. Commodity risk is the risk of unfavorable market fluctuations in the price of commodities such as refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil. We endeavor to minimize commodity risk in connection with our daily operations through hedging by the use of exchange-traded futures contracts on regulated exchanges or using other over-the-counter derivatives, and then lift hedges as we sell the product for physical delivery to third parties. Products are generally purchased and sold at spot market prices, fixed prices or indexed prices, with certain adjustments based on quality and freight due to location differences and prevailing supply and demand conditions, as well as other factors. While we use these transactions to seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within our commodity product purchase and sales activities, we may experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time as a result of variances in daily purchases and sales and transportation and delivery schedules as well as other logistical issues inherent in our businesses, such as weather conditions. In connection with managing these positions, we are aided by maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace. We also engage in a controlled trading program for up to an aggregate of 250,000 barrels of commodity products at any one point in time. Our policy is generally to purchase only products for which we have a market and to structure our sales contracts so that price fluctuations do not materially affect our profit. While our policies
are designed to minimize market risk, as well as inherent basis risk, exposure to fluctuations in market conditions remains.
In addition, because a portion of our crude oil business may be conducted in Canadian dollars, we may use foreign currency derivatives to minimize the risks of unfavorable exchange rates. These instruments may include foreign currency exchange contracts and forwards. In conjunction with entering into the commodity derivative, we may enter into a foreign currency derivative to hedge the resulting foreign currency risk. These foreign currency derivatives are generally short-term in nature and not designated for hedge accounting.
Operating results are sensitive to a number of factors. Such factors include commodity location, grades of product, individual customer demand for grades or location of product, localized market price structures, availability of transportation facilities, daily delivery volumes that vary from expected quantities and timing and costs to deliver the commodity to the customer. Basis risk is the inherent market price risk created when a commodity of a certain grade or location is purchased, sold or exchanged as compared to a purchase, sale or exchange of a commodity at a different time or place, including transportation costs and timing differentials. We attempt to reduce our exposure to basis risk by grouping our purchase and sale activities by geographical region and commodity quality in order to stay balanced within such designated region. However, basis risk cannot be entirely eliminated, and basis exposure, particularly in backward markets (when prices for future deliveries are lower than current prices) or other adverse market conditions, can adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
With respect to the pricing of commodities, we utilize exchange-traded futures contracts and other derivative instruments to minimize or hedge the impact of commodity price changes on our inventories and forward fixed price commitments. Any hedge ineffectiveness is reflected in our results of operations. We utilize regulated exchanges, including the NYMEX, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) and the Intercontinental-Exchange (“ICE”), which are exchanges for the respective commodities that each trades, thereby reducing potential delivery and supply risks. Generally, our practice is to close all exchange positions rather than to make or receive physical deliveries.
We monitor processes and procedures to prevent unauthorized trading by our personnel and to maintain substantial balance between purchases and sales or future delivery obligations. We can provide no assurance, however, that these steps will eliminate commodity risk or detect and prevent all violations of such trading processes and procedures, particularly if deception or other intentional misconduct is involved.
In our Wholesale segment, we obtain Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) in connection with our purchase of ethanol which is used for bulk trading purposes or for blending with gasoline through our terminal system. A RIN is a renewable identification number associated with government-mandated renewable fuel standards. To evidence that the required volume of renewable fuel is blended with gasoline, obligated parties must retire sufficient RINs to cover their Renewable Volume Obligation (“RVO”). Our U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) obligations relative to renewable fuel reporting are comprised of foreign gasoline and diesel that we may import and blending operations at certain facilities. As a wholesaler of transportation fuels through our terminals, we separate RINs from renewable fuel through blending with gasoline and can use those separated RINs to settle our RVO. While the annual compliance period for the RVO is a calendar year and the settlement of the RVO typically occurs by March 31 of the following year, the settlement of the RVO can occur, under certain EPA deferral actions, more than one year after the close of the compliance period. Our Wholesale segment operating results may be sensitive to the timing associated with our RIN position relative to our RVO at a point in time, and we may recognize a mark-to-market liability for a shortfall in RINs at the end of each reporting period. To the extent that we do not have a sufficient number of RINs to satisfy our RVO as of the balance sheet date, we charge cost of sales for such deficiency based on the market price of the RINs as of the balance sheet date and record a liability representing our obligation to purchase RINs. Our 2016 RIN obligation may change due to a court decision requiring the EPA to revise the calculation methodology for determining the 2016 renewable fuel obligation. In 2019, the EPA proposed a rule that would retain the 2016 obligation, though the agency continues to assess how to proceed. A coalition of agriculture and biofuels groups have filed suit, seeking a court order to force EPA to revise its calculation of the 2016 obligations. However, we do not believe that any impacts associated with any such change will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
For more information about our policies and procedures to minimize our exposure to market risk, including commodity market risk, please read Part II, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
Competition
In each of our operating segments, we encounter varying degrees of competition based on product and geographic locations and available logistics. Our competitors include terminal companies, major integrated oil companies and their marketing affiliates, wholesalers, producers and independent marketers of varying sizes, financial resources and experience. In our markets, we compete in various product lines and for all customers. In the residual oil markets, however, where product is heated when stored and cannot be delivered long distances, we face less competition because of the strategic locations of our residual oil storage facilities. We supply oil to industrial, commercial and marine customers. We compete with other transloaders in our logistics activities including, in part, storage and transportation of renewable fuels, gasoline and gasoline blendstocks, crude oil and the movement of product by alternative means (e.g., pipelines). We also compete with natural gas suppliers and marketers in our home heating oil and residual oil product lines. Bunkering requires facilities at ports to service vessels. In various other geographic markets, particularly with respect to unbranded gasoline and distillates markets, we compete with integrated refiners, merchant refiners and regional marketing companies. Our retail gasoline stations compete with unbranded and branded retail gasoline stations as well as supermarket and warehouse stores that sell gasoline, and our convenience stores compete with other convenience store chains, independent convenience stores, supermarkets, drugstores, discount warehouse clubs, motor fuel stations, mass merchants, fast food operations and other similar retail outlets.
Employees and Human Capital
To carry out our operations, our general partner and certain of our operating subsidiaries employed a total of approximately 3,540 employees, including approximately 2,375 full-time employees as of December 31, 2020, of which approximately 105 employees were represented by labor unions under collective bargaining agreements with various expiration dates. We believe we have good relations with our employees.
Our values and culture are key to our ability to attract, hire and retain skilled and talented employees for our businesses. Those values, that culture and our employees are critical to our success as we build and sustain our company. We offer competitive compensation and benefit programs to motivate and reward performance.
We also value diversity throughout or organization and continuously look to extend our diversity and inclusion initiatives across the workforce. We believe our employees embody our core values of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation and, in doing so, contribute to our long-standing character and reputation.
We maintain an environment of open communications where the contributions of all employees are valued. We encourage many forms of company-wide communications, including town hall meetings. Our culture is founded upon core principles of respect, fair treatment and providing equal opportunities for our workforce.
Safeguarding the health and safety of our employees is our first and foremost priority. We are committed to providing a safe working environment for all our employees and operating in a safe and environmentally sound manner. We support our local communities and we are working to obtain sustainability throughout the company. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have remained focused on safeguarding the health of our employees by implementing new safety protocols and procedures across all our offices and facilities. We continuously monitor the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our employees and proactively modify and adopt new measures and practices for the health and safety of our employees and in response to applicable laws.
We operate in an evolving regulatory environment and our operations are subject to numerous and varying regulatory requirements. We proactively manage compliance and work collaboratively with stakeholder groups, including government agencies and committees in this endeavor.
Title to Properties, Permits and Licenses
We believe we have all of the assets needed, including leases, permits and licenses, to operate our businesses in all material respects. With respect to any consents, permits or authorizations that have not been obtained, we believe that the failure to obtain these consents, permits or authorizations will have no material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
We believe we have satisfactory title to all of our assets. Title to property, including certain sites within our GDSO segment, may be subject to encumbrances, including repurchase rights and use, operating and environmental covenants and restrictions. We believe that none of these encumbrances will materially detract from the value of our properties or from our interest in these properties, nor will they materially interfere with the use of these properties in the operation of our businesses.
The name GLOBAL®, our Global logos and the name Global Petroleum Corp.® are our trademarks. In addition, we have trademarks for our premium fuels and additives: Heating Oil Plus™ and the Heating Oil Plus® logo, SubZero® and the SubZero® logo, Diesel One® and the Diesel One® logo, Diesel 1®, the Diesel 1™ logo and the tagline Legacy.Technology.Performance.®. Our Global online customer portal for buying, bidding and contract management is operated under the name GlobalCONNECT™.
We also use the following trademarks for our convenience store business: ALLTOWN®, ALLTOWN INSIDERS®, ALLTOWN FRESH® and the ALLTOWN FRESH® logos, YOUR TOWN.MYTOWN.ALLTOWN!®, ALLTOWN MARKET®, CENTRE ST. KITCHEN®, Buck Stop®, Fast Freddie’s®, Mr. Mike’s®, Deli Joe’s® and the Deli Joe’s® logo, Diamond Fuels®, Xtra® and the XtraCafé® logo, Xtra Mart® and the Xtramart® logo, the Honey Farms® logo, Honey Money® and the Honey Money® logo.
Facilities
We lease office space for our principal executive office in Waltham, Massachusetts. This lease expires on July 31, 2026 with extension options through July 31, 2036. In addition, we lease office space in Branford, Connecticut. This lease expires on July 31, 2024 with extension options through July 31, 2034.
Environmental
General
Our businesses of supplying primarily refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil involve a number of activities that are subject to extensive and stringent environmental laws. In addition, these laws are frequently modified or revised to impose new obligations.
Our operations use a number of petroleum and other products storage and distribution facilities. These facilities include rail transloading facilities and gasoline stations that we do not own or operate, but at which refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil are stored. We use these facilities through several different contractual arrangements, including leases and throughput and terminalling services agreements. If facilities with which we contract that are owned and operated by third parties fail to comply with environmental laws, they could be shut down or their operations could be compromised, requiring us to incur costs to use alternative facilities.
State, federal, and municipal laws and regulations, including, without limitation, those governing environmental matters can restrict or impact our business activities in many ways, such as:
● requiring remedial action to mitigate releases of hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or wastes caused by our operations or attributable to former operators;
● requiring our operations to obtain, maintain and renew permits which can obligate us to incur capital expenditures to comply with environmental control requirements and which may restrict our operations;
● enjoining the operations of facilities found to be noncompliant with applicable laws and regulations; and
● inability to renew, modify or obtain permits on terms and conditions that are satisfactory to maintain existing operations, to modify and/or expand existing operations and to conduct new operations.
Any such failures to comply may also trigger administrative, civil and possibly criminal enforcement measures, including monetary penalties and remedial requirements. Certain statutes impose strict, joint and several liability for costs required to clean up and restore sites where hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or wastes have been released or disposed of. Moreover, neighboring landowners and other third parties may file claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly caused by the release of hydrocarbons, hazardous substances or other wastes into the environment.
Our operating permits are subject to modification, renewal and revocation. We regularly monitor and review our operations, procedures and policies for compliance with permits, laws and regulations. Risk of noncompliance, permit interpretation, permit modification, renewal of permits on less favorable terms, judicial or administrative challenges of permits or permit revocation are inherent in the operation of our businesses, as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses.
The trend in environmental regulation has been to place more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment over time. As a result, there can be no assurance as to the amount or timing of future expenditures for environmental compliance or remediation, and actual future expenditures may be different from the amounts we currently anticipate. We try to anticipate future regulatory requirements that might be imposed and plan accordingly to remain in compliance with changing environmental laws and regulations and minimize the costs of such compliance.
We do not believe that compliance with federal, state or municipal laws, including environmental laws and regulations will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders. We can provide no assurance, however, that future events, such as changes in existing laws (including changes in the interpretation of existing laws), the promulgation of new laws, or the development or discovery of new facts or conditions will not cause us to incur significant costs or will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
For additional information concerning certain environmental proceedings, please read Notes 14 and 23 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Hazardous Substance Releases and Waste Handling
Our businesses are subject to laws that relate to the release of hazardous substances into the water, air or soils and require, among other things, measures to control pollution of the environment. For instance, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended, also known as CERCLA or the Superfund law, and comparable state laws impose liability, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, on certain classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for the release of hazardous substances into the environment. Under the Superfund law, these persons may be subject to joint and several liability for the costs of cleaning up hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies. In the course of our ordinary operations, we may generate, store or otherwise handle materials and wastes that fall within the Superfund law’s definition of a hazardous substance and, as a result, we may be jointly and severally liable under the Superfund law for all or part of the costs required to clean up sites at which those hazardous substances have been released into the environment. Under these laws, we could be required to remove or remediate previously disposed wastes, including wastes disposed of or released by prior owners or operators, clean up contaminated property, including groundwater contaminated by prior owners or operators, or make capital improvements to prevent future contamination.
Our operations generate a variety of wastes, including some hazardous wastes that are subject to the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (“RCRA”) and comparable state laws. These regulations impose detailed requirements for the handling, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste. Our operations also generate solid wastes which are regulated under state law or the less stringent solid waste requirements of the federal Solid Waste
Disposal Act. We believe that our operations are in substantial compliance with the existing requirements of RCRA, the Solid Waste Disposal Act and similar state and municipal laws, and the cost involved in complying with these requirements is not material. We also incur ongoing costs for monitoring groundwater and/or remediation of contamination at several facilities that we operate.
We believe we are in substantial compliance with applicable hazardous substance releases and waste handling requirements related to our operations. We do not believe that compliance with federal, state or municipal hazardous substance releases and waste handling regulations will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders. However, these and future statutes, regulatory changes or initiatives regarding hazardous substance releases and waste handling could directly and indirectly increase our operating and compliance costs. We cannot assure that costs incurred to comply with standards and regulations emerging from these and future rulemakings will not be material to our businesses, financial condition or results of operations.
Above Ground Storage Tanks
Above ground tanks that contain petroleum and other hazardous substances are subject to comprehensive regulation under environmental and other laws. Generally, these laws require secondary containment systems for tanks or that the operators take alternative precautions to ensure that no contamination results from tank leaks or spills and impose liability for releases from the tanks. We believe we are in substantial compliance with environmental laws and regulations applicable to above ground storage tanks.
Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA”) and comparable state laws, responsible parties for a regulated facility from which products are spilled may be subject to strict, joint and several liability for removal costs and certain other consequences of any spill such as natural resource damages, where the spill is into navigable waters, groundwater or along shorelines and other resource areas, and damages to private properties.
Under the authority of the federal Clean Water Act, the EPA imposes specific requirements for Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Plans and Facility Response Plans that are designed to prevent, and minimize the impacts of, releases of oil and other products from above ground storage tanks. We believe we are in substantial compliance with regulations pursuant to OPA, the Clean Water Act and similar state laws. We follow the American Petroleum Institute’s inspection, maintenance and repair standard applicable to our above ground storage tanks.
Underground Storage Tanks
We are required to make financial expenditures to comply with regulations governing underground storage tanks (“USTs”) which store gasoline or other regulated substances adopted by federal, state and municipal regulatory agencies. Pursuant to RCRA, the EPA has established a comprehensive regulatory program for the detection, prevention, investigation and cleanup of leaking USTs. State or local agencies may be delegated the responsibility for implementing the federal program or developing and implementing equivalent or stricter state or local regulations. We have a comprehensive program in place for performing routine tank testing and other compliance activities which are intended to promptly detect and investigate any potential releases. We believe we are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental requirements, including those applicable to our USTs. Compliance with existing and future environmental laws regulating UST systems of the kind we use may require significant capital expenditures in the future. These expenditures may include upgrades, modifications, and the replacement of USTs and related piping to comply with current and future regulatory requirements designed to ensure the detection, prevention, investigation and remediation of leaks and spills.
Water Discharges
The federal Clean Water Act imposes restrictions regarding the discharge of pollutants, including oil and refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil, into waters of the United States. This law and comparable state laws may require permits for discharging pollutants into state and federal waters, including certain underground sources, and impose substantial liabilities and remedial obligations for noncompliance. We hold these discharge permits for our facilities, as applicable. These state and federal laws are subject to uncertainty due to
ongoing proposed regulatory revisions, ongoing litigation and the current change in federal administration. This uncertainty extends to, among other regulatory provisions, the definition of waters of the United States, which has been the subject of several regulatory redefinitions in recent years (as well as ongoing litigation), potential changes in regulated pollutants and applicable standards and the regulation of discharges to groundwater, all of which could expand jurisdiction or restrict discharges due to revised standards. This regulatory uncertainty may result in a need for additional or amended permits in areas that were not formerly subject to the Clean Water Act, which may impact operations in the future.
EPA regulations also may require us to obtain permits to discharge certain storm water runoff. Storm water discharge permits also may be required by certain states in which we operate. We believe that we hold the required permits and operate in material compliance with those permits. While we have experienced periodic permit discharge exceedences at some of our terminals, we do not expect any noncompliance with existing permits and foreseeable new permit requirements to have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Air Emissions
Under the federal Clean Air Act (the “CAA”) and comparable state and local laws, permits are typically required to emit regulated air pollutants into the atmosphere above certain thresholds. We believe that we currently hold or have applied for all necessary air permits and that we are in substantial compliance with applicable air laws and regulations. Although we can give no assurances, we are aware of no changes to air quality regulations that will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Various federal, state and municipal agencies have the authority to prescribe product quality specifications for the petroleum products and renewable fuels that we sell, largely in an effort to reduce air pollution. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in substantial penalties. Although we can give no assurances, we believe we are currently in substantial compliance with these regulations.
Changes in product quality specifications could require us to incur additional handling costs or reduce our throughput volume. For instance, different product specifications for different markets, such as sulfur content for transportation fuels and home heating fuels, could require the construction of additional storage.
In addition, the CAA and similar state laws impose requirements on emissions to the air from motor fueling activities in certain areas of the country, including those that do not meet state or national ambient air quality standards. These laws may require the installation of vapor recovery systems to control emissions of volatile organic compounds to the air during the motor fueling process.
In November 2015, the EPA also revised the existing National Ambient Air Quality Standards (“NAAQS”) for ground-level ozone, which made the standard more stringent. Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are recognized as precursors of ozone, and emissions of those materials are associated with mobile sources and the petroleum industry. A designation of nonattainment can lead the governing state to issue more stringent limits on existing sources of those precursor pollutants within the designated nonattainment area. Also, a nonattainment designation may increase the burdens on permitting new activities in those areas. The EPA completed area designations for the 2015 ozone standards in July 2018. States with areas designated nonattainment have at least two years from the effective date of the nonattainment designation to submit any required State Implementation Plan revisions. While the full extent of the impacts of this new standard are not clear, the finalized nonattainment designations have the potential to have a material impact on our operations and cost-structure, which will be determined on an individual permit by permit basis as States finalize State Implementation Plan revisions.
Climate Change
The threat of climate change continues to attract considerable attention in the United States and in foreign countries. In the United States, no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented at the federal level;
however, President Biden has indicated that addressing climate change will be a focus of his administration, and several states have implemented their own efforts to curb greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions. To the extent that our operations are subject to restrictions on GHG emissions, we may face increased capital and operating costs associated with new or expanded facilities. Significant expansions of our existing facilities or construction of new facilities may be subject to the CAA’s requirements for review of pollutants regulated under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Title V programs. Some of our facilities and operations are also subject to the EPA’s Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases rule, and any further regulation may increase our operational costs. Some states in which we do business, including New York, have enacted measures requiring regulatory agencies to consider potential sea level rise in the performance of their regulatory duties.
The EPA has proposed or finalized New Source Performance Standards (“NSPS”) for a number of emissions categories, including methane and volatile organic compound emissions from certain activities in the oil and gas production sector. Although the Trump administration reduced certain of these requirements, President Biden has issued an executive order calling for the development of new or more stringent emissions standards for new, modified, and existing sources in the oil and gas sector, including those involved in transportation and storage. These rules, if enacted, could impose new compliance costs and additional permitting burdens on upstream oil and gas operations, which could in turn affect the companies that produce the products that we transport. Currently, however, it is not possible to estimate the likely financial impact of potential future regulation on our operations.
Under Subpart MM of the Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule (“MRR”), importers and exporters of petroleum products, including distillates and natural gas liquids, must report the GHG emissions that would result from the complete combustion of all imported and exported products if such combustion would result in the emission of at least 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. We currently report under Subpart MM because of the volume of petroleum products we typically import. Compliance with the MRR does not substantially impact our operations. However, any change in regulations based on GHG emissions reported in compliance with MRR may limit our ability to import petroleum products or increase our costs to import such products.
The EPA has also issued Corporate Average Fuel Economy (“CAFE”) standards to regulate emissions of GHGs from the use of fossil fuels for mobile sources. Generally, the CAFE standards have incremental annual increases; however, in recent years, significant regulatory changes and related litigation have cast uncertainty on the pace of state and federal efforts to further accelerate fuel economy objectives, which are tied to regulatory strategies to reduce vehicle emissions. In April 2020, the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) finalized a rule to fix the CAFE standards at 2020 levels through at least 2026; however, this rulemaking also revoked California’s authority to set its own fuel economy standards, which are as strict, and often stricter, than the federal standards. The April 2020 rulemaking may be the subject of litigation, and President Biden has signed an executive order calling for the suspension, revision, or rescission of this rule. Additionally, various state and regional programs have been proposed which would curtail or prevent the sale of new gasoline-powered personal vehicles in their jurisdictions within identified time periods. Such programs to achieve reductions in emissions of GHGs from the operation of motor vehicles may be required, which may reduce demand for our products and services.
Overall, there has been a trend towards increased regulation of GHGs and initiatives, both domestically and internationally, to limit GHG emissions. Future efforts to limit emissions associated with transportation fuels and heating fuels could reduce the market for, or effect pricing of, our products, and thus adversely impact our businesses. For example, at the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris, the United States and nearly 200 other nations entered into an international climate agreement. Although this agreement does not create any binding obligations for nations to limit their GHG emissions, it does include pledges to voluntarily limit or reduce future emissions. Although the United States had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement, President Biden has signed an executive order recommitting the United States to the Paris Agreement. The impacts of this order, and of any legislation or regulation that may be passed to implement the United States’ commitment under the Paris Agreement, are unclear at this time.
In the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington, D.C. and Rhode Island have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to implement the Transportation and Climate Initiative program (“TCI”). The MOU calls for those jurisdictions to set a cap on CO2 emissions from the transportation sector by 2023 and
introduces a process for auctioning allowances. Many important details of the TCI are not yet finalized including the identity of the State fuel suppliers who will be responsible to obtain CO2 allowances. It remains to be seen how the various jurisdictions will implement the MOU. The obligation to purchase allowances and perform the required reporting may entail considerable cost and expense and may have an adverse impact on our operations.
Separately, it should be noted that many scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHG in the earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, and floods and other climatic events. If any of those effects were to occur, they could have an adverse effect on our assets and operations. In addition, various suits have been filed, alleging that certain companies created public nuisances by producing fuels that contributed to climate change, or alleging that such companies have been aware of the adverse impacts of climate change for some time but failed to adequately disclose such impacts to their investors or customers. Any such litigation could have an adverse effect on operations in the future.
There are increasing financial risks associated with our operations. Activists concerned about the potential effects of climate change have, in certain instances, directed their attention at sources of funding for energy companies whose businesses are related to the use of fossil fuels. Additionally, the Federal Reserve has joined the Network for Greening the Financial System (“NGFS”), a network of financial regulators committed to addressing climate-related risks in the financial system. While the impacts of the Federal Reserve joining the NGFS are uncertain, financial institutions may be required to adopt policies that could have the effect of reducing funding available to the fossil fuel industry. This could make it more difficult to secure funding.
Convenience Store Regulations
Our convenience store operations are subject to extensive governmental laws and regulations that include legal restrictions on the sale of alcohol, tobacco and lottery products, food labelling, safety and health requirements and public accessibility, as well as sanitation, environmental, safety and fire standards. State and local regulatory agencies have the authority to approve, revoke, suspend or deny applications for, and renewals of, permits and licenses. Our operations are also subject to federal and state laws governing matters such as wage rates, overtime, working conditions and citizenship requirements. At the federal level, there are proposals under consideration from time to time to increase minimum wage rates and to introduce a system of mandated health insurance, each of which could adversely affect our results of operations.
In June 2009, Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (“FSPTCA”) which gave the FDA broad authority to regulate tobacco and nicotine products. Under the FSPTCA, the FDA has enacted numerous regulations restricting the sale of such products to anyone under the age of 18 years (state laws are permitted to set a higher minimum age); prohibit the sale of single cigarettes or packs with less than 20 cigarettes; and prohibit the sale or distribution of non-tobacco items such as hats and t-shirts with tobacco brands, names or logos. These governmental actions, as well as national, state and municipal campaigns to discourage smoking, tax increases, and imposition of regulations restricting the sale of e-cigarettes and vapor products, have and could result in reduced consumption levels, higher costs which we may not be able to pass on to our customers, and reduced overall customer traffic. Also, increasing regulations related to and restricting the sale of vapor products and e-cigarettes may offset some of the gains we have experienced from selling these types of products. These factors could materially affect the sale of this product mix which in turn could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Ethanol Market
The market for ethanol is dependent on several economic incentives and regulatory mandates for blending ethanol into gasoline, including the availability of federal tax incentives, ethanol use mandates and oxygenate blending requirements. For instance, the Renewable Fuels Standard (“RFS”) requires that a certain amount of renewable fuels, such as ethanol, be utilized in transportation fuels, including gasoline, in the United States each year. Additionally, the EPA imposes oxygenate blending requirements for reformulated gasoline that are best met with ethanol blending. Gasoline marketers may also choose to discretionally blend ethanol into conventional gasoline for economic reasons. A change or waiver of the RFS mandate or the reformulated gasoline oxygenate blending requirements could adversely
affect the availability and pricing of ethanol. Any change in the RFS mandate could also result in reduced discretionary blending of ethanol into conventional gasoline.
In addition, the EPA has not set the biofuels mandate for 2021 for any renewable fuel other than biodiesel. President Biden’s administration will need to determine the mandated amounts of conventional and advanced biofuels for 2021. This decision and the resolution of the questions relating to small refinery waivers could have a significant impact on the amount of RINs needed and their pricing, which could in turn increase our costs of RFS compliance and operations.
Environmental Insurance
We maintain insurance which may cover, in whole or in part, certain costs relating to environmental matters associated with releases of products we store, sell and/or ship. We maintain insurance policies with insurers in amounts and with coverage and deductibles we believe are reasonable and prudent. These policies may not cover all environmental risks and costs and may not provide sufficient coverage in the event an environmental claim is made against us.
Security Regulation
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the U.S. government has issued warnings that energy infrastructure assets may be future targets of terrorist organizations. These developments have subjected our operations to increased risks. Increased security measures taken by us as a precaution against possible terrorist attacks have resulted in increased costs to our businesses. Where required by federal or municipal laws, we have prepared security plans for the storage and distribution facilities we operate. Terrorist attacks aimed at our facilities and any global and domestic economic repercussions from terrorist activities could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. For instance, terrorist activity could lead to increased volatility in prices for home heating oil, gasoline and other products we sell.
Insurance carriers are currently required to offer coverage for terrorist activities as a result of the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (“TRIA”). Pursuant to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2015, TRIA has been extended through December 31, 2027. We elect to purchase terrorism coverage through a stand-alone insurance program for both liability and property. Although we cannot determine the future availability and cost of insurance coverage for terrorist acts, we do not expect the availability and cost of such insurance to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Hazardous Materials Transportation
Our operations include the preparation and shipment of some hazardous materials by truck, rail, marine vessel and/or pipeline. We are subject to regulations promulgated under the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (and subsequent amendments) and administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT”) under the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the United States Coast Guard and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”).
We conduct loading and unloading of primarily refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil to and from cargo transports, including tanker trucks, railcars, marine vessels and pipelines. In large part, the cargo transports are owned and operated by third parties. In addition, we lease a fleet of railcars and charter barges associated with the shipment of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil. We conduct ongoing training programs to help ensure that our operations are in compliance with applicable regulations.
The trend in hazardous material transportation is to increase oversight and regulation of these operations. These regulations address: the testing and ensuing designations of crude oil; the safety of tank cars that are used in transporting crude oil and other flammable or petroleum type liquids by rail, including the phase out of DOT-111 tank cars that have not been retro-fitted; braking standards for certain trains; new operational protocols for trains transporting large volumes of flammable liquids, such as routing requirements, speed restrictions and the provision of information to local
government agencies; and comprehensive oil spill response plans for any railroad that transports liquid petroleum oil in a single train carrying either a continuous block of 20 or more loaded tank cars or 35 or more loaded tank cars in total. PHMSA recently withdrew an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking announcing potential revisions of the Hazardous Materials Regulations to establish vapor pressure limits for the transportation of crude oil and potentially all Class 3 flammable liquid hazardous materials. This or other regulations regarding the movement of hazardous liquids by rail may be pursued by the Biden Administration. In addition to action taken or proposed by federal agencies, a number of states have proposed or enacted laws in recent years that encourage safer rail operations or urge the federal government to enhance requirements for these operations.
Regulations for rail transport are similar in Canada, though specific requirements may vary. Transport Canada has implemented regulations imposing speed limit restrictions on certain trains carrying hazardous materials in highly populated areas, requiring railways to give municipalities and first responders more information about the hazardous materials they carry, requiring that approved Emergency Response Assistance Plans be in place prior to transporting certain quantities of dangerous goods, and requiring railways to carry minimum levels of insurance depending on the quantity of crude oil or dangerous goods that they transport.
We believe we are in substantial compliance with applicable hazardous materials transportation requirements related to our operations. We do not believe that compliance with federal, state or municipal hazardous materials transportation regulations will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders. However, these and future statutes, regulatory changes or initiatives regarding hazardous material transportation, could directly and indirectly increase our operation, compliance and transportation costs and lead to shortages in availability of tank cars. We cannot assure that costs incurred to comply with standards and regulations emerging from these and future rulemakings will not be material to our businesses, financial condition or results of operations. Furthermore, we can provide no assurance that future events, such as changes in existing laws (including changes in the interpretation of existing laws), the promulgation of new laws and regulations, including any voluntary measures by the rail industry, that result in new requirements for the design, construction or operation of tank cars used to transport crude oil or other products, or, or the development or discovery of new facts or conditions will not cause us to incur significant costs. Any such requirements would apply to the industry as a whole.
Employee Safety
We are subject to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”) and comparable state statutes that regulate the protection of the health and safety of workers. In addition, OSHA’s hazard communication standard requires that information be maintained about hazardous materials used or produced in operations and that this information be provided to employees, state and local government authorities and citizens. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with the applicable OSHA requirements.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
Summary of Risk Factors
We are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation risks related to (i) our businesses and underlying regulations governing our operations, (ii) changes in the regulatory and permitting environment, (iii) environmental risks, (iv) tax matters and (v) the COVID-19 pandemic, each of which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Additional discussion of these risks, and other risks that we face, can be found below.
● The COVID-19 pandemic and certain developments in global oil markets have had, and may continue to have, material adverse consequences for general economic, financial and business conditions.
● We may not have sufficient cash from operations to enable us to pay distributions on our Series A preferred units or maintain distributions on our common units at current levels.
● Certain of our financial results are subject to seasonality.
● Our debt levels may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing and in pursuing other business
opportunities.
● Our risk management policies cannot eliminate all commodity risk, basis risk or the impact of unfavorable market conditions. In addition, any noncompliance with our risk management policies could result in significant financial losses.
● We are exposed to trade credit risk and risk associated with our trade credit support in the ordinary course of our business activities.
● Higher prices, new technology and alternative fuels, such as electric, hybrid, battery powered, hydrogen or other alternative fuel-powered motor vehicles, and energy efficiency could reduce demand for our products.
● We depend upon marine, pipeline, rail and truck transportation services for logistics activities. Implementation of regulations and directives related to these transportation services as well as disruption in any of these transportation services could adversely affect our logistics activities.
● Changes in government usage mandates and tax credits could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol and renewable fuels, which could negatively impact our sales.
● We may not be able to obtain state fund or insurance reimbursement of our environmental remediation costs.
● Our results can be adversely affected by unforeseen events, such as adverse weather, natural disasters, terrorism, pandemics or other catastrophic events.
● Our businesses are subject to federal, state and municipal environmental and non-environmental regulations which could have a material adverse effect on such businesses.
● New, stricter environmental laws and other industry-related regulations or environmental litigation could significantly impact our operations and/or increase our costs.
● Our operations are subject to a series of risks arising from climate change.
● We depend on unionized labor for the operation of certain of our terminals. Any work stoppages or labor disturbances at these terminals could disrupt our businesses.
● Our general partner and its affiliates have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary duties, which could permit them to favor their own interests to the detriment of our unitholders.
● Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
● Unitholders may be required to pay taxes on their share of our income even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us.
Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic and certain developments in global oil markets have had, and may continue to have, material adverse consequences for general economic, financial and business conditions, and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operation and those of our customers, suppliers and other counterparties.
The COVID-19 pandemic across the United States and the responses of governmental bodies (federal, state and municipal), companies and individuals, including mandated and/or voluntary restrictions to mitigate the spread of the virus, have caused a significant economic downturn. Because there are fewer people commuting to and from work and elsewhere, fewer people traveling, fewer people on the road to purchase goods or services, and fewer companies engaged in their traditional business activities who would otherwise seek such goods and/or services, there has been a decline in the demand for the products we sell and the services we provide. These declines may be further impacted by world-wide events related to the production of crude oil and the pricing of that product.
There is continuing uncertainty surrounding the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 to the national and state economies. The inability to project a timely economic recovery and/or the extent of same on each of a national, state and regional basis remain prevalent. Any prolonged period of economic distress and/or prolonged and disparate periods of economic recovery have had and could continue to have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of
operation and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. These events could also have or cause significant adverse effects on the financial condition of our counterparties, suppliers of goods and services we purchase, and purchasers of customers of the goods and services we sell, resulting in disruption to and a decline in our business activities resulting in an adverse impact to our financial condition and results of operations.
Any of the foregoing events or conditions, or other unforeseen consequences of COVID-19 and certain developments in global oil markets, could significantly adversely affect our business and financial condition and the business and financial condition of our customers, suppliers and counterparties. The ultimate extent of the impact of COVID-19 on our business, financial condition and results of operations depends in large part on future developments which are uncertain and cannot be predicted with any certainty at this time. That uncertainty includes the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the geographic regions so impacted, the extent of such impact within specific boundaries of those areas and the impact to the local, state and national economies.
To the extent COVID-19 and certain developments in global oil markets adversely affect our business activities, financial condition and results of operations, the COVID-19 pandemic and such developments in global oil markets may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risk factors described herein.
Risks Related to Our Business
We may not have sufficient cash from operations to enable us to pay distributions on our Series A preferred units or maintain distributions on our common units at current levels following establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner.
We may not have sufficient available cash each quarter to pay distributions on our Series A preferred units and maintain distributions on our common units at current levels. The amount of cash we can distribute on our units principally depends upon the amount of cash we generate from our operations, which will fluctuate from quarter to quarter based on, among other things:
● competition from other companies that sell refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil and convenience store items and sundries;
● demand for refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil in the markets we serve;
● absolute price levels, as well as the volatility of prices, of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, RINs and crude oil in both the spot and futures markets;
● supply, extreme weather and logistics disruptions;
● seasonal variation in temperatures which affects demand for home heating oil and residual oil to the extent that it is used for space heating;
● the level of our operating costs, including payments to our general partner; and
● prevailing economic conditions.
In addition, the actual amount of cash we have available for distribution will depend on other factors such as:
● the level of capital expenditures we make;
● the restrictions contained in our credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior notes, including financial covenants, borrowing base limitations and advance rates;
● distributions paid on our Series A preferred units;
● our debt service requirements;
● the cost of acquisitions;
● fluctuations in our working capital needs;
● our ability to borrow under our credit agreement to make distributions to our unitholders; and
● the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner.
The amount of cash we have available for distribution to unitholders depends on our cash flow and does not depend solely on profitability.
The amount of cash we have available for distribution depends primarily on our cash flow, including borrowings, and does not depend solely on profitability. Our cash flow will be affected by non-cash items. As a result, we may make cash distributions during periods when we record losses and may not make cash distributions during periods when we record net income.
We may not be able to fully implement or capitalize upon planned growth projects.
We could have a number of organic growth projects that may require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital in the aggregate. Many of these projects involve numerous regulatory, environmental, commercial and legal uncertainties beyond our control. As these projects are undertaken, required approvals, permits and licenses may not be obtained, may be delayed or may be obtained with conditions that materially alter the expected return associated with the underlying projects. Moreover, revenues associated with these organic growth projects may not increase immediately upon the expenditures of funds with respect to a particular project and these projects may be completed behind schedule or in excess of budgeted cost. We may pursue and complete projects in anticipation of market demand that dissipates or market growth that never materializes. As a result of these uncertainties, the anticipated benefits associated with our capital projects may not be achieved.
We commit substantial resources to pursuing acquisitions and expending capital for growth projects, although there is no certainty that we will successfully complete any acquisitions or growth projects or receive the economic results we anticipate from completed acquisitions or growth projects.
We are continuously engaged in discussions with potential sellers and lessors of existing (or suitable for development) terminalling, storage, logistics and/or marketing assets, including gasoline stations, convenience stores and related businesses. Our growth largely depends on our ability to make accretive acquisitions and/or accretive development projects. We may be unable to execute such accretive transactions for a number of reasons, including the following: (1) we are unable to identify attractive transaction candidates or negotiate acceptable terms; (2) we are unable to obtain financing for such transactions on economically acceptable terms; or (3) we are outbid by competitors. In addition, we may consummate transactions that at the time of consummation we believe will be accretive but that ultimately may not be accretive. If any of these events were to occur, our future growth and ability to increase or maintain distributions on our common units could be limited. We can give no assurance that our transaction efforts will be successful or that any such efforts will be completed on terms that are favorable to us.
Even if we consummate acquisitions that we believe will be accretive, they may in fact result in no increase or even a decrease in cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Any acquisition involves potential risks, including:
● performance from the acquired assets and businesses that is below the forecasts we used in evaluating the acquisition;
● mistaken assumptions about price, demand, volumes, revenues and costs, including synergies;
● a significant increase in our indebtedness and working capital requirements;
● an inability to hire, train or retain qualified personnel to manage and operate our businesses and newly acquired assets;
● the inability to timely and effectively integrate the operations of recently acquired businesses or assets, particularly those in new geographic areas or in new lines of business;
● mistaken assumptions about the overall costs of equity or debt;
● the assumption of substantial unknown or unforeseen environmental and other liabilities arising out of the acquired businesses or assets, including liabilities arising from the operation of the acquired businesses or assets prior to our acquisition, for which we are not indemnified or for which the indemnity is inadequate;
● limitations on rights to indemnity from the seller;
● customer or key employee loss from the acquired businesses;
● unforeseen difficulties operating in new and existing product areas or new and existing geographic areas; and
● diversion of our management’s and employees’ attention from other business concerns.
If any acquisitions we ultimately consummate do not generate expected increases in cash available for distribution to our unitholders, our ability to increase or maintain distributions on our common units may be reduced.
Our gasoline financial results in our GDSO segment can be lower in the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year due to seasonal fluctuations in demand.
Due to the nature of our businesses and our reliance, in part, on consumer travel and spending patterns, we may experience more demand for gasoline during the late spring and summer months than during the fall and winter. Travel and recreational activities are typically higher in these months in the geographic areas in which we operate, increasing the demand for gasoline. Therefore, our results of operations in gasoline can be lower in the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on gasoline demand and in-store traffic, and the extent and duration of that impact is uncertain.
Our heating oil and residual oil financial results can be lower in the second and third quarters of the calendar year.
Demand for some refined petroleum products, specifically home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes, is generally higher during November through March than during April through October. We obtain a significant portion of these sales during the winter months. Therefore, our results of operations in heating oil and residual oil for the first and fourth calendar quarters can be better than for the second and third quarters.
Warmer weather conditions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Weather conditions generally have an impact on the demand for both home heating oil and residual oil. Because we supply distributors whose customers depend on home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes during the winter, warmer-than-normal temperatures during the first and fourth calendar quarters can decrease the total volume we sell and the gross profit realized on those sales.
A significant decrease in price or demand for the products we sell or a significant decrease in the pricing of and demand for our logistics activities could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distributions to our unitholders.
A significant decrease in price or demand for the products we sell or a significant decrease in the pricing of and demand for our logistics activities could reduce our revenues and, therefore, reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders or increase distributions to our common unitholders. Factors that could lead to a decrease in market demand for products we sell, including refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil include:
● a recession or other adverse economic conditions or an increase in the market price or of an oversupply of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil or higher taxes or other governmental or regulatory actions that increase, directly or indirectly, the cost of gasoline or other refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil;
● a shift by consumers to more fuel-efficient or alternative fuel vehicles, including hybrids, or an increase in fuel economy of vehicles, whether as a result of technological advances by manufacturers, governmental or regulatory actions or otherwise; and
● conversion from consumption of home heating oil or residual oil to natural gas and utilization of propane and/or natural gas (instead of heating oil) as primary fuel sources.
Certain of our operating costs and expenses are fixed and do not vary with the volumes we store and distribute. Should we experience a reduction in our volumes stored, distributed and sold and in our logistics activities, such costs and expenses may not decrease ratably or at all. As a result, we may experience declines in our margin if these volumes decrease. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on gasoline demand and in-store traffic, and the extent and duration of that impact is uncertain.
Our businesses are influenced by the overall markets for refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane and increases and/or decreases in the prices of these products may adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders and the amount of borrowing available for working capital under our credit agreement.
Results from our purchasing, storing, terminalling, transporting, selling and blending operations are influenced by prices for refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane, price volatility and the market for such products. Prices in the overall markets for these products may affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Our margins can be significantly impacted by the forward product pricing curve, often referred to as the futures market. We typically hedge our exposure to petroleum product and renewable fuel price moves with futures contracts and, to a lesser extent, swaps. In markets where future prices are higher than current prices, referred to as contango, we may use our storage capacity to improve our margins by storing products we have purchased at lower prices in the current market for delivery to customers at higher prices in the future. In markets where future prices are lower than current prices, referred to as backwardation, inventories can depreciate in value and hedging costs are more expensive. For this reason, in these backward markets, we attempt to reduce our inventories in order to minimize these effects.
Our inventory management is dependent on the use of hedging instruments which are managed based on the structure of the forward pricing curve. Daily market changes may impact periodic results due to the point-in-time valuation of these positions. Volatility in oil markets may impact our results. When prices for the products we sell rise, some of our customers may have insufficient credit to purchase supply from us at their historical purchase volumes, and their customers, in turn, may adopt conservation measures which reduce consumption, thereby reducing demand for product. Furthermore, when prices increase rapidly and dramatically, we may be unable to promptly pass our additional costs on to our customers, resulting in lower margins which could adversely affect our results of operations. Higher prices for the products we sell may (1) diminish our access to trade credit support and/or cause it to become more
expensive and (2) decrease the amount of borrowings available for working capital under our credit agreement as a result of total available commitments, borrowing base limitations and advance rates thereunder.
When prices for the products we sell decline, our exposure to risk of loss in the event of nonperformance by our customers of our forward contracts may be increased as they and/or their customers may breach their contracts and purchase the products we sell at the then lower market price from a competitor.
We have contractual obligations for certain transportation assets such as railcars, barges and pipelines.
A decline in demand for (i) the products we sell or (ii) our logistics activities, could result in a decrease in the utilization of our transportation assets, which could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
The condition of credit markets may adversely affect our liquidity.
In the past, world financial markets experienced a severe reduction in the availability of credit. Possible negative impacts in the future could include a decrease in the availability of borrowings under our credit agreement, increased counterparty credit risk on our derivatives contracts and our contractual counterparties could require us to provide collateral. In addition, we could experience a tightening of trade credit from our suppliers.
Our debt levels may limit our flexibility in obtaining additional financing and in pursuing other business opportunities.
As of December 31, 2020, our total debt, including amounts outstanding under our credit agreement and senior notes, was approximately $1.0 billion. We have the ability to incur additional debt, including the capacity to borrow up to $1.17 billion under our credit agreement, subject to limitations in our credit agreement. Our level of indebtedness could have important consequences to us, including the following:
● our ability to obtain additional financing, if necessary, for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other purposes may be impaired or such financing may not be available on favorable terms;
● covenants contained in our existing and future credit and debt arrangements will require us to meet financial tests that may affect our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in our businesses, including possible acquisition opportunities;
● we will need a substantial portion of our cash flow to make principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, reducing the funds that would otherwise be available for operations, future business opportunities and distributions to unitholders;
● our debt level will make us more vulnerable than our competitors with less debt to competitive pressures or a downturn in our businesses; and
● our debt level may limit our flexibility in responding to changing businesses and economic conditions.
Our ability to service our indebtedness depends upon, among other things, our financial and operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. If our operating results are not sufficient to service our current or future indebtedness, we will be forced to take actions, such as reducing or eliminating distributions, reducing or delaying our business activities, acquisitions, investments and/or capital expenditures, selling assets, restructuring or refinancing our indebtedness, or seeking additional equity capital or bankruptcy protection. We may not be able to effect any of these remedies on satisfactory terms or at all.
A significant increase in interest rates could adversely affect our ability to service our indebtedness.
The interest rates on our credit agreement are variable; therefore, we have exposure to movements in interest rates. A significant increase in interest rates could adversely affect our ability to service our indebtedness. The increased cost could make the financing of our business activities more expensive. These added expenses could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. Under our credit agreement, if a comparable or successor rate to LIBOR is approved by Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent under our credit agreement, the approved rate will be applied in a manner consistent with market practice. To the extent market practice is not administratively feasible for the administrative agent, the approved rate will be applied in a manner otherwise reasonably determined by the administrative agent. We currently do not expect the transition from LIBOR to have a material impact on us. However, if clear market standards and replacement methodologies have not developed as of the time LIBOR becomes unavailable, we may have difficulty reaching agreement on acceptable replacement rates under our credit agreement. In the event that we do not reach agreement on an acceptable replacement rate for LIBOR, outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement denominated in U.S. dollars would revert to a floating rate equal to the base rate (which is equal to the greatest of the administrative agent’s prime rate, the Federal Funds effective rate plus 0.50%, or 1-month LIBOR plus 1.00%) plus the applicable margin applicable to the alternative base rate which is currently equal to between 0.75% and 1.75%. If we are unable to negotiate replacement rates on favorable terms, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash distributions to unitholders. For more information about the interest rates under our senior secured credit agreement, please read Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Credit Agreement.”
We may not be able to obtain funding on acceptable terms or obtain additional requested funding in excess of total commitments under our credit agreement, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
In the past, global financial markets and economic conditions were disrupted and volatile. The debt and equity capital markets were exceedingly distressed. These issues, along with significant write-offs in the financial services sector, the re-pricing of credit risk and the economic conditions, had made and, along with any other potential future economic or market uncertainties, could make it difficult to obtain funding. Activists concerned about the potential effects of climate change have, in certain instances, directed their attention at sources of funding for energy companies whose businesses are related to the use of fossil fuels. This could make it more difficult to secure funding.
As a result, the cost of raising money in the debt and equity capital markets could increase while the availability of funds from those markets could diminish. The cost of obtaining money from the credit markets could increase as many lenders and institutional investors increase interest rates, enact tighter lending standards and reduce and, in some cases, cease to provide funding to borrowers.
In addition, we may be unable to obtain adequate funding under our credit agreement because (i) one or more of our lenders may be unable to meet its funding obligations or (ii) our borrowing base under our credit agreement, as redetermined from time to time, may decrease as a result of price fluctuations, counterparty risk, advance rates and borrowing base limitations and customer nonpayment or nonperformance.
Due to these factors, we cannot be certain that funding will be available if needed and to the extent required or requested on acceptable terms. If funding is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to maintain our businesses as currently conducted, enhance our existing businesses, complete acquisitions or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior notes and borrowing base requirements in our credit agreement may restrict our business and financing activities.
The operating and financial restrictions and covenants in our credit agreement and the indentures governing our senior notes and any future financing agreements could restrict our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage, expand or pursue our business activities. For example, our credit agreement restricts our ability to:
● grant liens;
● make certain loans or investments;
● incur additional indebtedness or guarantee other indebtedness;
● make any material change to the nature of our businesses or undergo a fundamental change;
● make any material dispositions;
● acquire another company;
● enter into a merger, consolidation, sale-leaseback transaction or purchase of assets;
● make distributions if any potential default or event of default occurs; or
● modify borrowing base components and advance rates.
In addition, the indentures governing our senior notes limit our ability to, among other things:
● incur additional indebtedness;
● make distributions to equity owners;
● make certain investments;
● restrict distributions by our subsidiaries;
● create liens;
● sell assets; or
● merge with other entities.
Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in our credit agreement and indentures may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. If market or other economic conditions deteriorate, our ability to comply with these covenants may be impaired. If we violate any of the restrictions, covenants, ratios or tests in our credit agreement or indentures, a significant portion of our indebtedness may become immediately due and payable, and our lenders’ commitment to make further loans to us may terminate. We might not have, or be able to obtain, sufficient funds to make these accelerated payments. In addition, our obligations under our credit agreement are secured by substantially all of our assets, and if we are unable to repay our indebtedness under our credit agreement, the lenders could seek to foreclose on such assets.
Restrictions in our credit agreement and indentures limit our ability to pay distributions upon the occurrence of certain events.
Our credit agreement and indentures limit our ability to pay distributions upon the occurrence of certain events. For example, each of our credit agreement and the indentures limits our ability to pay distributions upon the occurrence of the following events, among others:
● failure to pay any principal, interest, fees or other amounts when due;
● failure to perform or otherwise comply with the covenants in the credit agreement, the indentures or in other loan documents to which we are a borrower; and
● a bankruptcy or insolvency event involving us, our general partner or any of our subsidiaries.
Any subsequent refinancing of our current debt or any new debt could have similar restrictions. For more information regarding our credit agreement and indentures, please read Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Credit Agreement” and Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
We can borrow money under our credit agreement to pay distributions, which would reduce the amount of credit available to operate our businesses.
Our partnership agreement allows us to borrow under our credit agreement to pay distributions. Accordingly, we can make distributions on our units even though cash generated by our operations may not be sufficient to pay such distributions. For more information, please read Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The enactment of derivatives legislation could have an adverse effect on our ability to use derivative instruments to reduce the effect of commodity price, interest rate and other risks associated with our businesses.
On July 21, 2010, new comprehensive financial reform legislation, known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Act”), was enacted that establishes federal oversight and regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives market and entities, such as us, that participate in that market. The Act requires the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the SEC and other regulators to promulgate rules and regulations implementing the new legislation. Although the CFTC has finalized certain regulations, others remain to be finalized or implemented and it is not possible at this time to predict when this will be accomplished.
In January 2020, the CFTC proposed new rules that would place limits on positions in certain core futures and equivalent swaps contracts for, or linked to, certain physical commodities, subject to exceptions for certain bona fide hedging transactions. As these new position limit rules are not yet final, the impact of those provisions on us is uncertain at this time.
The CFTC has designated certain interest rate swaps and credit default swaps for mandatory clearing and exchange trading. To the extent we engage in such transactions or transactions that become subject to such rules in the future, we will be required to comply or take steps to qualify for an exemption to such requirements. Although we expect to qualify for the end-user exception to the mandatory clearing requirements for swaps entered to hedge our commercial risks, the application of the mandatory clearing and trade execution requirements to other market participants, such as swap dealers, may change the cost and availability of the swaps that we use for hedging. If our swaps do not qualify for the commercial end-user exception, or the cost of entering into uncleared swaps becomes prohibitive, we may be required to clear such transactions. The ultimate effect of the rules and any additional regulations on our businesses is uncertain at this time.
In addition, the Act requires that regulators establish margin rules for uncleared swaps. Banking regulators and the CFTC have adopted final rules establishing minimum margin requirements for uncleared swaps. Although we expect to qualify for the end-user exception from such margin requirements for swaps entered into to hedge our commercial risks, the application of such requirements to other market participants, such as swap dealers, may change the cost and availability of the swaps that we use for hedging. If any of our swaps do not qualify for the commercial end-user exception, posting of initial or variation margin could impact our liquidity and reduce cash available for capital expenditures, therefore reducing our ability to execute hedges to reduce risk and protect cash flows.
The full impact of the Act and related regulatory requirements upon our businesses will not be known until all of the related regulations are implemented. The Act and any new regulations could significantly increase the cost of derivative contracts (including from swap recordkeeping and reporting requirements and through requirements to post collateral which could adversely affect our available liquidity), materially alter the terms of derivative contracts, reduce the availability of some derivatives to protect against risks we encounter and reduce our ability to monetize or restructure our existing derivative contracts. If we reduce our use of derivatives as a result of the Act and regulations, our results of operations may become more volatile and our cash flows may be less predictable, which could adversely affect our ability to plan for and fund capital expenditures. Any of these consequences could have material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distributions to our unitholders.
In addition, the European Union and other non-U.S. jurisdictions are implementing regulations with respect to the derivatives market. To the extent we transact with counterparties in foreign jurisdictions, we may become subject to such regulations.
Our risk management policies cannot eliminate all commodity risk, basis risk or the impact of unfavorable market conditions, each of which can adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. In addition, any noncompliance with our risk management policies could result in significant financial losses.
While our hedging policies are designed to minimize commodity risk, some degree of exposure to unforeseen fluctuations in market conditions remains. For example, we change our hedged position daily in response to movements in our inventory. If we overestimate or underestimate our sales from inventory, we may be unhedged for the amount of the overestimate or underestimate. Also, significant increases in the costs of the products we sell can materially increase our costs to carry inventory. We use our credit facility as our primary source of financing to carry inventory and may be limited to the amounts we can borrow to carry inventory.
Basis risk is the inherent market price risk created when a commodity of certain grade or location is purchased, sold or exchanged as compared to a purchase, sale or exchange of a like commodity at a different time or place. Transportation costs and timing differentials are components of basis risk. For example, we use the NYMEX to hedge our commodity risk with respect to pricing of energy products traded on the NYMEX. Physical deliveries under NYMEX contracts are made in New York Harbor. To the extent we take deliveries in other ports, such as Boston Harbor, we may have basis risk. In a backward market (when prices for future deliveries are lower than current prices), basis risk is created with respect to timing. In these instances, physical inventory generally loses value as basis declines over time. Basis risk cannot be entirely eliminated, and basis exposure, particularly in backward or other adverse market conditions, can adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
We monitor processes and procedures to prevent unauthorized trading and to maintain substantial balance between purchases and sales or future delivery obligations. We can provide no assurance, however, that these steps will detect and/or prevent all violations of such risk management policies and procedures, particularly if deception or other intentional misconduct is involved.
We are exposed to trade credit risk and risk associated with our trade credit support in the ordinary course of our business activities.
We are exposed to risks of loss in the event of nonperformance by our customers, by counterparties of our forward and futures contracts, options and swap agreements and by our suppliers. Some of our customers, counterparties and suppliers may be highly leveraged and subject to their own operating and regulatory risks. The tightening of credit in the financial markets may make it more difficult for customers and counterparties to obtain financing and, depending on the degree to which it occurs, there may be a material increase in the nonpayment and nonperformance of our customers and counterparties. Even if our credit review and analysis mechanisms work properly, we may experience financial losses in our dealings with other parties. Any increase in the nonpayment or nonperformance by our customers and/or counterparties and the nonperformance by our suppliers could reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
Additionally, our access to trade credit support could diminish and/or become more expensive. Our ability to continue to receive sufficient trade credit on commercially acceptable terms could be adversely affected by fluctuations in prices of petroleum products, renewable fuels and other products we sell or disruptions in the credit markets or for any other reason. Any of these events could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
We are exposed to performance risk in our supply chain.
We rely upon our suppliers to timely produce the volumes and types of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil for which they contract with us. In the event one or more of our suppliers does not perform in accordance with its contractual obligations, we may be required to purchase product on the open market to satisfy forward contracts we have entered into with our customers in reliance upon such supply arrangements. We may purchase refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil from a variety of suppliers under term contracts and on the spot market. In times of extreme market demand, we may be unable to satisfy our supply requirements. Furthermore, a portion of our supply comes from other countries, which could be disrupted by political events. In the event such supply becomes scarce, whether as a result of political events, natural disaster, logistical issues associated with delivery schedules or otherwise, we may not be able to satisfy our supply requirements. If any of these events were to occur, we may be required to pay more for product that we purchase on the open market, which could result in financial losses and adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Historical prices for certain products we sell have been volatile and significant changes in such prices in the future may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Historical prices for certain products we sell have been volatile. General political conditions, acts of war, terrorism and instability in oil producing regions, particularly in the United States, Canada, Middle East, Russia, Africa and South America, could significantly impact crude oil supplies and crude oil and refined petroleum product costs. Significant increases and volatility in wholesale gasoline costs could result in significant increases in the retail price of motor fuel products and in lower margins per gallon. Increases in the retail price of motor fuel products could impact consumer demand for motor fuel. This volatility makes it extremely difficult to predict the impact future wholesale cost fluctuations will have on our operating results and financial condition. Dramatic increases in crude oil prices squeeze fuel margins because fuel costs typically increase faster than these increased costs can be passed along to customers. Higher fuel prices trigger higher credit card expenses, because credit card fees are calculated as a percentage of the transaction amount, not as a percentage of gallons sold. A significant change in any of these factors could materially impact our customers’ needs, motor fuel gallon volumes, gross profit and overall customer traffic, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Our gasoline sales could be significantly reduced by a reduction in demand due to higher prices and to new technologies and alternative fuel sources, such as electric, hybrid, battery powered, hydrogen or other alternative fuel-powered motor vehicles.
Technological advances and alternative fuel sources, such as electric, hybrid, battery powered, hydrogen or other alternative fuel-powered motor vehicles, may adversely affect the demand for gasoline. We could face additional competition from alternative energy sources as a result of future government-mandated controls or regulations which promote the use of alternative fuel sources. A number of new legal incentives and regulatory requirements, and executive initiatives, including various government subsidies including the extension of certain tax credits for renewable energy, have made these alternative forms of energy more competitive. Changing consumer preferences or driving habits could lead to new forms of fueling destinations or potentially fewer customer visits to our sites, resulting in a decrease in gasoline sales and/or sales of food, sundries and other on-site services. Any of these outcomes could negatively affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. In addition, higher prices could reduce the demand for gasoline and adversely impact our gasoline sales. A reduction in gasoline sales could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Energy efficiency, higher prices, new technology and alternative fuels could reduce demand for our products.
Higher prices and new technologies and alternative fuel sources, such as electric, hybrid or battery powered motor vehicles, could reduce the demand for transportation fuels and adversely impact our sales of transportation fuels. A reduction in sales of transportation fuels could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. In addition, increased conservation and technological advances have adversely affected the demand for home heating oil and residual oil. Consumption of residual oil has steadily declined over the last three decades. We could face additional competition from alternative energy sources as a result of future government-mandated controls or regulations further promoting the use of cleaner fuels. End users who are dual-fuel users have the ability to switch between residual oil and natural gas. Other end users may elect to convert to natural gas. During a period of increasing residual oil prices relative to the prices of natural gas, dual-fuel customers may switch and other end users may convert to natural gas. During periods of increasing home heating oil prices relative to the price of natural gas, residential users of home heating oil may also convert to natural gas. As described above, such switching or conversion could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Erosion of the value of major gasoline brands could adversely affect our gasoline sales and customer traffic.
As a significant number of our retail gasoline stations and convenience stores are branded utilizing major gasoline brands, they may be dependent, in part, upon the continuing favorable reputation of such brands. Erosion of the value of major gasoline brands could have a negative impact on our gasoline sales, which in turn may cause our operations to be less profitable.
We depend upon marine, pipeline, rail and truck transportation services for a substantial portion of our logistics activities in transporting the products we sell. Implementation of regulations and directives related to these aforementioned services as well as disruption in any of these transportation services could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Hurricanes, flooding and other severe weather conditions could cause a disruption in the transportation services we depend upon and could affect the flow of service. In addition, accidents, labor disputes between providers and their employees and labor renegotiations, including strikes, lockouts or a work stoppage, shortage of railcars, trucks and barges, mechanical difficulties or bottlenecks and disruptions in transportation logistics could also disrupt our business operations. These events could result in service disruptions and increased costs which could also adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Other disruptions, such as those due to an act of terrorism or war, could also adversely affect our businesses.
Changes in government usage mandates and tax credits could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol and renewable fuels, which could negatively impact our sales.
The EPA has implemented a RFS pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The RFS program seeks to promote the incorporation of renewable fuels in the nation’s fuel supply and, to that end, sets annual quotas for the quantity of renewable fuels (such as ethanol) that must be blended into transportation fuels consumed in the United States. A RIN is assigned to each gallon of renewable fuel produced in or imported into the United States.
We are exposed to volatility in the market price of RINs. We cannot predict the future prices of RINs. RIN prices are dependent upon a variety of factors, including EPA regulations related to the amount of RINs required and the total amounts that can be generated, the availability of RINs for purchase, the price at which RINs can be purchased, and levels of transportation fuels produced, all of which can vary significantly from quarter to quarter. For more information, please read Part I, Items 1. and 2. “Business and Properties-Environmental-Ethanol Market.” If sufficient RINs are unavailable for purchase or if we have to pay a significantly higher price for RINs, or if we are otherwise unable to meet the EPA’s RFS mandates, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected.
Future demand for ethanol will be largely dependent upon the economic incentives to blend based upon the relative value of gasoline and ethanol, taking into consideration the EPA’s regulations on the RFS program and oxygenate blending requirements. A reduction or waiver of the RFS mandate or oxygenate blending requirements could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol, which in turn could adversely affect our future gasoline and ethanol sales. In addition, changes in blending requirements or broadening the definition of what constitutes a renewable fuel could affect the price of RINs which could impact the magnitude of the mark-to-market liability recorded for the deficiency, if any, in our RIN position relative to our RVO at a point in time.
We may not be able to obtain state fund or insurance reimbursement of our environmental remediation costs.
Where releases of products, including, without limitation, refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil have occurred, federal and state laws and regulations require that contamination caused by such releases be assessed and remediated to meet applicable standards. Our obligation to remediate this type of contamination varies, depending upon applicable laws and regulations and the extent of, and the facts relating to, the release. A portion of the remediation costs for certain products may be recoverable from the reimbursement fund of the applicable state and/or from third party insurance after any deductible or self-insured retention has been met, but there are no assurances that such reimbursement funds or insurance proceeds will be available to us.
Future consumer or other litigation could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our retail gasoline and convenience store operations are characterized by a high volume of customer traffic and by transactions involving an array of products.
These operations carry a higher exposure to consumer litigation risk when compared to the operations of companies operating in many other industries. Consequently, we may become a party to individual personal injury or products liability and other legal actions in the ordinary course of our retail gasoline and convenience store business. Any such action could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, we are occasionally exposed to industry-wide or class action claims arising from the products we carry or industry-specific business practices. Our defense costs and any resulting damage awards or settlement amounts may not be fully covered by our insurance policies. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of one or more of these lawsuits could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distributions.
We may incur costs or liabilities as a result of litigation or adverse publicity resulting from concerns over food quality, health or other issues that could cause customers to avoid our convenience stores.
We may be the subject of complaints or litigation arising from food-related illness or injury in general which could have a negative impact on our businesses. Additionally, negative publicity, regardless of whether the allegations are valid, concerning food quality, food safety or other health concerns, employee relations or other matters related to our food preparation operations may materially adversely affect demand for our offerings and could result in a decrease in customer traffic to our convenience stores.
We depend upon a small number of suppliers for a substantial portion of our convenience store merchandise inventory. A disruption in supply or an unexpected change in our relationships with our principal merchandise suppliers could have an adverse effect on our convenience store results of operations.
We purchase convenience store merchandise inventory from a small number of suppliers for our directly operated convenience stores. A change of merchandise suppliers, a disruption in supply or a significant change in our relationships with our principal merchandise suppliers could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Governmental action and campaigns to discourage smoking and use of other products may have a material adverse effect on our revenues and gross profit.
Congress has given the FDA broad authority to regulate tobacco and nicotine products, and the FDA and states have enacted and are pursuing enaction of numerous regulations restricting the sale of such products. These governmental actions, as well as national, state and municipal campaigns to discourage smoking, tax increases, and imposition of regulations restricting the sale of e-cigarettes and vapor products, have and could result in reduced consumption levels, higher costs which we may not be able to pass on to our customers, and reduced overall customer traffic. Also, increasing regulations related to and restricting the sale of vapor products and e-cigarettes may offset some of the gains we have experienced from selling these types of products. These factors could materially affect the sale of this product mix which in turn could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Our results can be adversely affected by unforeseen events, such as adverse weather, natural disasters, terrorism, pandemics, or other catastrophic events which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash available for distributions to our unitholders.
Global and national health concerns, such as the outbreak of a pandemic or contagious disease like the coronavirus, may adversely affect us by reducing demand for our products. Such a health concern could result in people traveling less and avoiding public spaces, such as convenience stores and other locales where food and sundries are sold, either due to self-imposed or government-mandated restrictions to halt the spread of disease, thereby resulting in a decrease in the demand for our products, including gasoline and other refined petroleum products, and a decrease in sales of food, sundries and other on-site services. Such an event may impair our suppliers’ ability to provide the volumes and types of product and goods we sell. A disease outbreak could affect the health of our workforce or result in travel restrictions, in either case rendering employees unable to work or travel. While these factors and the impact of these factors are difficult to predict, any one or more of them could disrupt our business as we may be unable to continue business operations in a continuous manner consistent with the level and extent of business activities prior to the occurrence of an unexpected event or events, lower our revenues, increase our costs, or reduce our cash available for
distribution to our unitholders.
We face intense competition in our purchasing, selling, gathering, blending, terminalling, transporting, storage and logistics activities. Competition from other providers of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil that are able to supply our customers with those products and services at a lower price and have capital resources many times greater than ours could reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
We are subject to competition from distributors and suppliers of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil that may be able to supply our customers with the same or comparable products and gathering, blending, terminalling, transporting and storage services and logistics on a more competitive basis. We compete with terminal companies, major integrated oil companies and their marketing affiliates, wholesalers, producers and independent marketers of varying sizes, financial resources and experience. In our Northeast market, we compete in various product lines and for all customers of those various products lines. In the residual oil markets, however, where product is heated when stored and cannot be delivered long distances, we face less competition because of the strategic locations of our residual oil storage facilities. We compete with other transloaders in our logistics activities. We also compete with natural gas suppliers and marketers in our home heating oil and residual oil product lines. Bunkering requires facilities at ports to service vessels, and we compete with other providers of bunker fuels in those ports. In various other geographic markets, particularly the unbranded gasoline and distillates markets, we compete with integrated refiners, merchant refiners and regional marketing companies. Our retail gasoline stations compete with unbranded and branded retail gas stations as well as supermarket and warehouse stores that sell gasoline.
Some of our competitors are substantially larger than us, have greater financial resources and control greater supplies of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil than we do. If we are unable to compete effectively, we may lose existing customers or fail to acquire new customers, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. For example, if a competitor attempts to increase market share by reducing prices, our operating results and cash available for distribution to our unitholders could be adversely affected. We may not be able to compete successfully with these companies, and our ability to compete could be harmed by factors including price competition and the availability of alternative and less expensive fuels.
New entrants or increased competition in the convenience store industry could result in reduced gross profits.
We compete with numerous other convenience store chains, independent convenience stores, supermarkets, drugstores, discount warehouse clubs, motor fuel service stations, mass merchants, fast food operations, other locales providing food services and other similar retail outlets. Several non-traditional retailers, including supermarkets and club stores, compete directly with convenience stores.
We may not be able to renew our leases or our agreements for dedicated storage when they expire.
The bulk terminals we own or lease or at which we maintain dedicated storage facilities play a key role in moving product to our customers. As of December 31, 2020, we owned, operated and maintained dedicated storage facilities at 18 bulk terminals, leased the entirety of one bulk terminal that we operated exclusively for our businesses, and maintained dedicated storage at six facilities at which we have terminalling agreements. The lease and terminalling agreements are subject to expiration through 2021 and 2023, respectively. If these lease and terminalling agreements are not renewed or we are unable to renew them at rates and on terms and conditions satisfactory us, it could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
We may not be able to lease sites we own or lease and/or sub-lease sites we lease with respect to the sale of gasoline and/or related activities on favorable terms and any such failure could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
If we are unable to obtain tenants on favorable terms for sites we own or lease, the lease payments we receive may not be adequate to cover our rent expense for leased sites and/or may not be adequate to cover costs associated with ownership of that site. We may lease certain sites where the rent expense we pay is more than the lease payments we
collect. We cannot provide any assurance that our gross margin from the sale of transportation fuels and related convenience store items at sites will be adequate to offset unfavorable lease terms. The occurrence of these events could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Some of our sales are generated pursuant to contracts that must be renegotiated or replaced periodically. If we are unable to successfully renegotiate or replace these contracts, our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders could be adversely affected.
Most of our arrangements with our customers are renegotiated or replaced periodically. As these contracts expire, they must be renegotiated or replaced. We may be unable to renegotiate or replace these contracts when they expire, and the terms of any renegotiated contracts may not be as favorable as the contracts they replace. Whether these contracts are successfully renegotiated or replaced is often subject to factors beyond our control. Such factors include fluctuations in refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil prices, counterparty’s ability to pay for or accept contracted volumes and a competitive marketplace for the services offered by us. If we cannot successfully renegotiate or replace our contracts or if we renegotiate or replace them on less favorable terms, sales from these arrangements could decline, and our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders could be adversely affected.
Due to our lack of asset and geographic diversification, adverse developments in the terminals we use or in our operating areas would reduce our ability to make distributions to our unitholders.
We rely primarily on sales generated from products distributed from terminals we own or control or to which we have access. Furthermore, the majority of those assets and operations are located in the Northeast. Due to our lack of diversification in asset type and location, an adverse development in these businesses or areas, including adverse developments due to catastrophic events or weather and corresponding decreases in demand for refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane, could have a significantly greater impact on our results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders than if we maintained more diverse assets and locations.
Our operations are subject to operational hazards and unforeseen interruptions for which we may not be adequately insured.
We are not fully insured against all risks incident to our businesses. Our operations are subject to operational hazards and unforeseen interruptions such as natural disasters, weather, accidents, fires, explosions, hazardous materials releases, mechanical failures, disruptions in supply infrastructure or logistics and other events beyond our control. If any of these events were to occur, we could incur substantial losses because of personal injury or loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment, and pollution or other environmental damage resulting in curtailment or suspension of our related operations.
We primarily store gasoline and gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane in underground and above ground storage tanks. Our operations are also subject to significant hazards and risks inherent in storing such products. These hazards and risks include fires, explosions, spills, discharges and other releases, any of which could result in distribution difficulties and disruptions, environmental pollution, governmentally-imposed fines or clean-up obligations, personal injury or wrongful death claims and other damage to our properties and the properties of others.
Furthermore, we may be unable to maintain or obtain insurance of the type and amount we desire at reasonable rates. As a result of market conditions, premiums and deductibles for certain of our insurance policies have increased and could escalate further. In some instances, certain insurance could become unavailable or available only for reduced amounts of coverage. If we were to incur a significant liability for which we are not fully insured, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to unitholders.
New, stricter environmental laws and other industry-related regulations or environmental litigation could significantly impact our operations and/or increase our costs, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Our operations are subject to federal, state and municipal laws and regulations regulating, among other matters, logistics activities, product quality specifications and other environmental matters. The trend in environmental regulation has been towards more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment over time. For example, President Biden signed an executive order calling for new or more stringent emissions standards for new, modified and existing oil and gas facilities. Our businesses may be adversely affected by increased costs and liabilities resulting from such stricter laws and regulations. We try to anticipate future regulatory requirements that might be imposed and plan accordingly to remain in compliance with changing environmental laws and regulations and to minimize the costs of such compliance. Risks related to our environmental permits, including the risk of noncompliance, permit interpretation, permit modification, renewal of permits on less favorable terms, judicial or administrative challenges to permits by citizens groups or federal, state or municipal entities or permit revocation are inherent in the operation of our businesses as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses. We may not be able to renew the permits necessary for our operations, or we may be forced to accept terms in future permits that limit our operations or result in additional compliance costs. There can be no assurances as to the timing and type of such changes in existing laws or the promulgation of new laws or the amount of any required expenditures associated therewith. Climate change continues to attract considerable public and scientific attention. In recent years environmental interest groups have filed suit against companies in the energy industry related to climate change. Should such suits succeed, we could face additional compliance costs or litigation risks. For more information, please read Part I, Items 1. and 2. “Business and Properties-Environmental-Climate Change.”
Further regulation of the transport by rail of fuel products may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Over the last several years, federal and state agencies have adopted various requirements governing the transport of fuel products, such as crude oil and ethanol. Were these bodies to establish more stringent design or construction standards for railcars, or impose other requirements for such railroad tank cars that are used to transport, by example, crude oil and ethanol, those requirements, individually or in the aggregate, may lead to shortages of compliant railcars, or limitations on deliveries of these products, which in either case could adversely affect our businesses. In recent years, non-governmental groups have intensified their efforts to use federal, state and municipal laws to restrict the transportation of fuels products, including, without limitation, crude oil and ethanol by railroad tank cars. Additional regulations regarding the movement and storage of fossil fuel products by transportation modalities could potentially expose our operations to duplicative and possibly inconsistent regulation.
Our terminalling operations are subject to federal, state and municipal laws and regulations relating to environmental protection and operational safety that could require us to incur substantial costs.
The risk of substantial environmental costs and liabilities is inherent in terminal operations, and we may incur substantial environmental costs and liabilities. Our terminalling operations involving the receipt, storage and delivery of primarily refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil are subject to stringent federal, state and municipal laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, operational safety and related matters. Compliance with these laws and regulations increases our overall cost of business, including our capital costs to maintain and upgrade equipment and facilities. We utilize a number of terminals that are owned and operated by third parties who are also subject to these stringent federal, state and municipal environmental laws in their operations. Their compliance with these requirements could increase the cost of doing business with these facilities. Please read Part I, Items 1. and 2. “Business and Properties-Environmental.”
In addition, our operations could be adversely affected if shippers of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil incur additional costs or liabilities associated with regulations, including environmental regulations. These shippers could increase their charges to us or discontinue service altogether. Similarly, many of our suppliers face a trend of increasing environmental regulations, which could likewise restrict their ability to
produce crude oil or fuels, or increase their costs of production, and thus impact the price of, and/or their ability to deliver, these products.
Various governmental authorities, including the EPA, have the power to enforce compliance with these regulations and the permits issued under them, and violators are subject to administrative, civil and criminal penalties, including fines, injunctions or both. Joint and several liability may be incurred, without regard to fault or the legality of the original conduct, under federal and state environmental laws for the remediation of contaminated areas at our facilities and those where we do business. Private parties, including the owners of properties located near our terminal facilities and those with whom we do business, also may have the right to pursue legal actions against us to enforce compliance with environmental laws, as well as seek damages for personal injury or property damage. We may also be held liable for damages to natural resources.
The possibility exists that new, stricter laws, regulations or enforcement policies could significantly increase our compliance costs and the cost of any remediation that may become necessary, some of which may be material. Our insurance may not cover all environmental risks and costs or may not provide sufficient coverage in the event an environmental claim is made against us. We may incur increased costs because of stricter pollution control requirements or liabilities resulting from noncompliance with, or renewal of required operating or other regulatory permits. New environmental regulations, such as those related to the emissions of GHGs, might adversely affect the market for our products and activities, including the storage of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil, as well as our waste management practices and our control of air emissions. Enactment of laws and passage of regulations regarding GHG emissions, or other actions to limit GHG emissions may reduce demand for fossil fuels and impact our businesses. Federal, state and municipal agencies also could impose additional safety regulations to which we would be subject. Because the laws and regulations applicable to our operations are subject to change, we cannot provide any assurance that compliance with future laws and regulations will not have a material effect on our results of operations.
Additionally, the construction of new terminals or the expansion of an existing terminal involves numerous regulatory, environmental, political and legal uncertainties, most of which are not in our control. Delays, litigation, local concerns and difficulty in obtaining approvals for projects requiring federal, state or municipal permits could impact our ability to build, expand and operate strategic facilities and infrastructure, which could adversely impact growth and operational efficiency.
Our operations are subject to a series of risks arising from climate change.
The threat of climate change continues to attract considerable attention in the United States and in foreign countries. In the United States, no comprehensive climate change legislation has been implemented at the federal level. However, President Biden has highlighted addressing climate change as a priority of his administration, which includes certain potential initiatives for climate change legislation to be proposed and passed into law. Moreover, federal regulators and state and local governments have taken (or announced that they plan to take) actions that have or may have a significant influence on our operations. For example, following the finding that GHG emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane threaten the public health and welfare, the EPA has promulgated or adopted regulations to regulate GHG emissions from certain large stationary sources, require the monitoring and reporting of GHG emissions from certain sources, implement emissions standards for certain sources in the oil and gas sector, and (together with NHTSA), implement GHG emissions limits on vehicles manufactured for operation in the United States. Separately, President Biden has already issued a suite of executive orders that, among other things, recommitted the United States to the Paris Agreement, called for the revision of Trump Administration changes to the CAFE standards, and called for the issuance of methane-emission standards for new, modified, and existing oil and gas facilities, including in the transmission and storage segments. In addition, it is possible federal legislation could be adopted in the future to restrict GHGs, as Congress has considered various proposals to reduce GHG emissions from time to time. Many states and regions have also adopted GHG initiatives. For further information, please read Part I, Items 1. and 2. “Business and Properties-Environmental-Climate Change.”
Future international, federal and state initiatives to control GHG emissions could result in increased costs associated with refined petroleum products consumption, such as costs to install additional controls to reduce GHG
emissions or costs to purchase emissions reduction credits to comply with future emissions trading programs. Please read Part I, Items 1. and 2. “Business and Properties-Environmental-Climate Change.” Such increased costs could result in reduced demand for refined petroleum products and some customers switching to alternative sources of fuel which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distributions to our unitholders.
Climate change continues to attract considerable public and scientific attention. This attention has also resulted in increased political risks, including climate change related pledges made by certain candidates for public office. These have included promises to curtail oil and gas operations on federal land, such as through the cessation of leasing federal land for hydrocarbon development. On January 27, 2021, President Biden issued an executive order that commits to substantial action on climate change calling for, among other things, the increased use of zero-emission vehicles by the federal government, the elimination of subsidies provided to the fossil fuel industry, and increased emphasis on climate-related risk across governmental agencies and economic sectors. Other actions that could be pursued include more restrictive requirements for the development of midstream infrastructure. Additionally, litigation has been filed against companies in the energy industry related to climate change. Although the litigation is varied, many such suits allege that oil and gas companies have created public nuisances by producing fuels that contribute to climate change or allege that the companies have been aware of the adverse effects of climate change for some time but failed to adequately disclose those impacts to their investors and customers. Should such suits succeed, we could face additional costs or litigation risks.
Additionally, in response to concerns related to climate change, companies in the fossil fuel sector may be exposed to increasing financial risks. Certain financial institutions, including investment advisors and certain sovereign wealth, pension, and endowment funds, may elect in the future to shift some or all of their investment into non-fossil fuel related sectors. There is also a risk that financial institutions may be required to adopt policies that have the effect of reducing the funding provided to the fossil fuel sector. Recently, the Federal Reserve announced that it has joined the Network for Greening the Financial System, a consortium of financial regulators focused on addressing climate-related risks in the financial sector. This could make it more difficult to secure funding.
Separately, many scientists have concluded that increasing concentrations of GHG in the earth’s atmosphere may produce climate changes that have significant physical effects, such as increased frequency and severity of storms, droughts, and floods and other climatic events. If any of those effects were to occur in areas where our facilities are located, they could have an adverse effect on our assets and operations.
Our businesses involve the buying, selling, gathering, blending and shipping of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil by various modes of transportation, which involves risks of derailment, accidents and liabilities associated with cleanup and damages, as well as potential regulatory changes that may adversely impact our businesses, financial condition or results of operations.
Our operations involve the buying and selling, gathering and blending of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil and shipping it to various markets including on railcars that we lease. The derailments of trains transporting such products in North America have caused various regulatory agencies and industry organizations, as well as federal, state and municipal governments, to focus attention on transportation by rail of flammable materials. Additional measures have been taken in both the United States. and Canada to regulate the transportation of these products. Please read Part I, Items 1. and 2. “Business and Properties-Environmental- Hazardous Materials Transportation.”
Any changes to the existing laws and regulations, or promulgation of new laws and regulations, including any voluntary measures by the rail industry, that result in new requirements for the design, construction or operation of tank cars, including those used to transport crude oil or other products, may require us to make expenditures to comply with new standards that are material to our operations, and, to the extent that new regulations require design changes or other modifications of tank cars, we may incur significant constraints on transportation capacity during the period while tank cars are being retrofitted or newly constructed to comply with the new regulations. We cannot assure that the totality of costs incurred to comply with any new standards and regulations and any impacts on our operations will not be material to our businesses, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, any derailment of railcars or other events related to products that we have purchased or are shipping may result in claims being brought against us that may
involve significant liabilities. Although we believe that we are adequately insured against such events, we cannot assure you that our policies will cover the entirety of any damages that may arise from such an event.
We are subject to federal, state and municipal laws and regulations that govern the product quality specifications of the refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane we purchase, store, transport and sell.
Various federal, state and municipal government agencies have the authority to prescribe specific product quality specifications to the sale of commodities. Our businesses include such commodities. Changes in product quality specifications, such as reduced sulfur content in refined petroleum products, or other more stringent requirements for fuels, could reduce our ability to procure product and adversely impact related sales volume, require us to incur additional handling costs and/or require the expenditure of capital. For instance, different product specifications for different markets could require additional storage. If we are unable to procure product or recover these costs through increased sales, we may not be able to meet our financial obligations. Failure to comply with these regulations could also result in substantial penalties.
We are subject to federal, state and municipal environmental regulations which could have a material adverse effect on our retail operations business.
Our retail operations are subject to extensive federal, state and municipal laws and regulations, including those relating to the protection of the environment, waste management, discharge of hazardous materials, pollution prevention, as well as laws and regulations relating to public safety and health. Certain of these laws and regulations may require assessment or remediation efforts. Retail operations with USTs are subject to federal and state regulations and legislation. Compliance with existing and future environmental laws regulating USTs may require significant capital expenditures and increased operating and maintenance costs. The operation of USTs also poses certain other risks, including damages associated with soil and groundwater contamination. Leaks from USTs which may occur at one or more of our gas stations may impact soil or groundwater and could result in fines or civil liability for us. We may be required to make material expenditures to modify operations, perform site cleanups or curtail operations.
We are subject to federal and state non-environmental regulations which could have an adverse effect on our convenience store business and results of operations.
Our convenience store business is subject to extensive governmental laws and regulations that include legal restrictions on the sale of alcohol, tobacco and lottery products, food labelling, food preparation, safety and health requirements and public accessibility. Furthermore, state and local regulatory agencies have the power to approve, revoke, suspend, or deny applications for and renewals of permits and licenses relating to the sale of alcohol, tobacco and lottery products or to seek other remedies. A violation of or change in such laws and/or regulations could have an adverse effect on our convenience store business and results of operations.
Regulations related to wages also affect our businesses. Any increase in the statutory minimum wage would result in an increase in our labor costs and such cost increase could adversely affect our businesses, financial condition and results of operations.
Any terrorist attacks aimed at our facilities and any global and domestic economic repercussions from terrorist activities and the government’s response could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, the U.S. government has issued warnings that energy assets may be future targets of terrorist organizations. In addition to the threat of terrorist attacks, we face various other security threats, including cyber security threats to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or systems or to render data or systems unusable; threats to the safety of our employees; threats to the security of our facilities, such as terminals and pipelines, and infrastructure or third-party facilities and infrastructure. These developments have subjected our operations to increased risks.
Although we utilize various procedures and controls to monitor these threats and mitigate our exposure to security threats, there can be no assurance that these procedures and controls will be sufficient in preventing security threats from materializing. If any of these events were to materialize, they could lead to losses of sensitive information, critical infrastructure, personnel or capabilities, essential to our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Cyber security attacks in particular are evolving and include malicious software, attempts to gain unauthorized access to, or otherwise disrupt, pipeline control systems, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in critical systems, including pipeline control systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information and corruption of data. These events could damage our reputation and lead to financial losses from remedial actions, loss of business or potential liability.
We incur costs for providing facility security and may incur additional costs in the future with respect to the receipt, storage and distribution of our products. Additional security measures could also restrict our ability to distribute refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane. Any future terrorist attack on our facilities, or those of our customers, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Terrorist activity could lead to increased volatility in prices for home heating oil, gasoline and other products we sell, which could decrease our customers’ demand for these products. Insurance carriers are required to offer coverage for terrorist activities as a result of federal legislation. We purchase this coverage with respect to our property and casualty insurance programs. This additional coverage resulted in additional insurance premiums which could increase further in the future.
We depend on key personnel for the success of our businesses.
We depend on the services of our senior management team and other key personnel. The loss of the services of any member of senior management or key employee could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. We may not be able to locate or employ on acceptable terms qualified replacements for senior management or other key employees if their services were no longer available.
Certain executive officers of our general partner perform services for one of our affiliates pursuant to a shared services agreement. Please read Part III, Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence-Relationship of Management with Global Petroleum Corp.”
We depend on unionized labor for the operation of certain of our terminals. Any work stoppages or labor disturbances at these terminals could disrupt our businesses.
Any work stoppages or labor disturbances by our unionized labor force at facilities with an organized workforce could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. In addition, employees who are not currently represented by labor unions may seek representation in the future, and any renegotiation of collective bargaining agreements may result in terms that are less favorable to us.
We rely on our information technology systems to manage numerous aspects of our businesses, and a disruption of these systems could adversely affect our businesses.
We depend on our information technology (“IT”) systems to manage numerous aspects of our businesses and to provide analytical information to management. Our IT systems are an essential component of our businesses and growth strategies, and a serious disruption to our IT systems could significantly limit our ability to manage and operate our businesses effectively. These systems are vulnerable to, among other things, damage and interruption from power loss or natural disasters, computer system and network failures, loss of telecommunication services, physical and electronic loss of data, cyber and other security breaches and computer viruses. While we believe we have adequate systems and controls in place, we are continuously working to install new, and upgrade existing, information technology systems and provide employee awareness around phishing, malware and other cyber risks in an effort to ensure that we are protected against cyber risks and security breaches. We have a disaster recovery plan in place, but this plan may not entirely
prevent delays or other complications that could arise from an IT systems failure or disruption. Any failure or interruption in our IT systems could have a negative impact on our operating results, cause our businesses and competitive position to suffer and damage our reputation.
In the normal course of our businesses, we may obtain personal data, including credit card information. While we believe we have adequate cyber and other security controls over individually identifiable customer, employee and vendor data provided to us, a breakdown or a breach in our systems that results in the unauthorized release of individually identifiable customer or other sensitive data could nonetheless occur and have a material adverse effect on our reputation, operating results and financial condition.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of internal controls, then we may not be able to accurately report our financial results or prevent fraud. As a result, current and potential unitholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could harm our businesses and could adversely influence the trading price of our units.
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, prevent fraud and operate successfully as a public company. If our efforts to maintain internal controls are not successful or if we are unable to maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future or if we are unable to comply with our obligations under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, our operating results could be harmed or we may fail to meet our reporting obligations. Ineffective internal controls also could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our units.
Risks Related to our Structure
Our general partner and its affiliates have conflicts of interest and limited fiduciary duties, which could permit them to favor their own interests to the detriment of our unitholders.
As of March 3, 2021, affiliates of our general partner, including directors and executive officers and their affiliates, owned 15.4% of our common units and the entire general partner interest. Although our general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage us in a manner beneficial to us and our unitholders, the directors and officers of our general partner have a fiduciary duty to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to its owners. Furthermore, certain directors and officers of our general partner are directors or officers of affiliates of our general partner. Conflicts of interest may arise between our general partner and its affiliates, on the one hand, and us 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 its affiliates over the interests of our unitholders. Please read “-Our partnership agreement limits our general partner’s fiduciary duties to unitholders and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.” These conflicts include, among others, the following situations:
● Our general partner is allowed to take into account the interests of parties other than us, such as affiliates of its members, in resolving conflicts of interest, which has the effect of limiting its fiduciary duty to our unitholders.
● Affiliates of our general partner may engage in competition with us under certain circumstances. Please read “-Certain members of the Slifka family and their affiliates may engage in activities that compete directly with us.”
● Neither our partnership agreement nor any other agreement requires owners of our general partner to pursue a business strategy that favors us. Directors and officers of our general partner’s owners have a fiduciary duty to make these decisions in the best interest of such owners which may be contrary to our interests.
● Some officers of our general partner who provide services to us devote time to affiliates of our general partner.
● Our general partner has limited its liability and reduced its fiduciary duties under the partnership agreement, while also restricting the remedies available to our unitholders for actions that, without these limitations, might constitute breaches of fiduciary duty. As a result of purchasing common units, common unitholders consent to some actions and conflicts of interest that might otherwise constitute a breach of fiduciary or other duties under applicable state law. Additionally, our partnership agreement provides that we, and the officers and directors of our general partner, do not owe any duties, including fiduciary duties, or have any liabilities to holders of our Series A preferred units.
● Our general partner determines the amount and timing of asset purchases and sales, borrowings, issuances of additional partnership securities and reserves, each of which can affect the amount of cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
● Our general partner determines the amount and timing of any capital expenditures and whether a capital expenditure is a maintenance capital expenditure, which reduces distributable cash flow, or a capital expenditure for acquisitions or capital improvements, which does not, and such determination can affect the amount of cash distributed to our unitholders.
● In some instances, our general partner may cause us to borrow funds in order to permit the payment of cash distributions, even if the purpose or effect of the borrowing is to make incentive distributions.
● Our general partner determines which costs incurred by it and its affiliates 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 entering into additional contractual arrangements with any of these entities on our behalf.
● Our general partner intends to limit its liability regarding our contractual and other obligations.
● Our general partner may exercise its limited right to call and purchase common units if it and its affiliates own more than 80% of the common units.
● Our general partner controls the enforcement of obligations owed to us by it and its affiliates.
● Our general partner decides whether to retain separate counsel, accountants or others to perform services for us.
Please read Part III, Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence-Noncompetition.”
Our partnership agreement limits our general partner’s fiduciary duties to unitholders and restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty.
Our partnership agreement contains provisions that reduce the standards to which our general partner would otherwise be held by state fiduciary duty law. Our partnership agreement provides that we, and the officers and directors of our general partner, do not owe any duties, including fiduciary duties, or have any liabilities to holders of our Series A preferred units. Additionally, our partnership agreement:
● permits our general partner to make a number of decisions in its individual capacity, as opposed to in its capacity as our general partner. 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. Examples include the exercise of its limited call right, its
voting rights with respect to the units it owns, its registration rights and its determination whether or not to consent to any merger or consolidation of us;
● provides that our general partner shall not have any liability to us or our unitholders for decisions made in its capacity as general partner so long as it acted in good faith, meaning it believed that the decision was in our best interests;
● generally provides that affiliated transactions and resolutions of conflicts of interest not approved by the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner and not involving a vote of unitholders must be on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unrelated third parties or 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 totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly advantageous or beneficial to us; 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 any acts or omissions unless there has been a final and non-appealable judgment entered by a court of competent jurisdiction determining that the general partner or those other persons acted in bad faith or engaged in fraud or willful misconduct.
By purchasing a unit, a unitholder will become bound by the provisions of the partnership agreement, including the provisions described above.
Unitholders have limited voting rights and are not entitled to elect our general partner or its directors or remove our general partner without the consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding common units (including common units held by our general partner and its affiliates), which could lower the trading price of our units.
Unlike the holders of common stock in a corporation, unitholders have only limited voting rights on matters affecting our businesses and, therefore, limited ability to influence management’s decisions regarding our businesses. Unitholders have no right to elect our general partner or its board of directors on an annual or other continuing basis. The board of directors of our general partner is chosen entirely by its members and not by the unitholders. Furthermore, if the unitholders are dissatisfied with the performance of our general partner, they have limited ability to remove our general partner. The vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of all outstanding common units (including common units held by our general partner and its affiliates) is required to remove our general partner.
Although the holders of our Series A preferred units are entitled to limited protective voting rights with respect to certain matters, our Series A preferred units generally vote separately as a class along with any other series of parity securities that we may issue upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable. As a result, the voting rights of holders of our Series A preferred units may be significantly diluted, and the holders of such other series of parity securities that we may issue may be able to control or significantly influence the outcome of any vote.
As a result of these limitations, the prices at which our common units and our Series A preferred units trade could diminish because of the absence or reduction of a takeover premium in the trading price.
We may issue additional units without unitholder approval, which would dilute unitholders’ ownership interests.
Except in the case of the issuance of units that rank equal to or senior to our Series A preferred units, we may issue an unlimited number of limited partner interests of any type without the approval of our unitholders. We are allowed to issue additional Series A preferred units and parity securities without any vote of the holders of our Series A preferred units, except where the cumulative distributions on our Series A preferred units or any parity securities are in arrears.
The issuance by us 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 each unit may decrease;
● the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding unit may be diminished; and
● the market price of the units may decline.
We are prohibited from paying distributions on our common units if distributions on our Series A preferred units are in arrears.
The holders of our Series A preferred units are entitled to certain rights that are senior to the rights of holders of our common units, such as rights to distributions and rights upon liquidation of the Partnership. If we do not pay the required distributions on our Series A preferred units, we will be unable to pay distributions on our common units. Additionally, because distributions to our Series A preferred units are cumulative, we will have to pay all unpaid accumulated preferred distributions before we can pay any distributions to our common unitholders. Also, because distributions to our common unitholders are not cumulative, if we do not pay distributions on our common units with respect to any quarter, our common unitholders will not be entitled to receive distributions covering any prior periods if we later commence paying distributions on our common units. The preferences and privileges of our Series A preferred units could adversely affect the market price for our common units, or could make it more difficult for us to sell our common units in the future.
Our Series A preferred units are subordinated to our existing and future debt obligations and could be diluted by the issuance of additional units, including additional Series A preferred units, and by other transactions.
Our Series A preferred units are subordinated to all of our existing and future indebtedness. The payment of principal and interest on our debt reduces cash available for distribution to our limited partners, including the holders of our Series A preferred units. The issuance of additional units on parity with or senior to our Series A preferred units (including additional Series A preferred units) would dilute the interests of the holders of our Series A preferred units, and any issuance of equal or senior ranking securities or additional indebtedness could affect our ability to pay distributions on, redeem or pay the liquidation preference on our Series A preferred units.
We cannot assure that we will be able to pay distributions on our Series A preferred units regularly, and the agreements governing our indebtedness may limit the cash available to make distributions on our Series A preferred units.
Pursuant to our partnership agreement, we distribute all of our “available cash” each quarter to our limited partners. Our partnership agreement defines “Available Cash” to generally mean, for each fiscal quarter, all cash and cash equivalents on hand on the date of determination of available cash with respect to such quarter, less the amount of any cash reserves established by our general partner to:
● provide for the proper conduct of our businesses;
● comply with applicable law or the terms of any of our debt instruments or other agreements; or
● provide funds for distributions to holders of our common units and Series A preferred units for any one or more of the next four quarters.
As a result, we do not expect to accumulate significant amounts of cash. Depending on the timing and amount of our cash distributions, these distributions could significantly reduce the cash available to us in subsequent periods to
make distributions on our Series A preferred units.
Further, our existing debt agreements also may limit our ability to pay distributions on our Series A preferred units.
Change of control conversion rights may make it more difficult for a party to acquire us or discourage a party from acquiring us.
The change of control conversion feature of our Series A preferred units may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making an acquisition proposal for us or of delaying, deferring or preventing certain of our change of control transactions under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our common units and Series A preferred units with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then-current market price of such equity securities or that unitholders may otherwise believe is in their best interests.
The market price of our common units could be adversely affected by sales of substantial amounts of our common units, including sales by our existing unitholders.
A substantial number of our securities may be sold in the future either pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC. Rule 144 under the Securities Act provides that after a holding period of six months, non-affiliates may resell restricted securities of reporting companies, provided that current public information for the reporting company is available. After a holding period of one year, non-affiliates may resell without restriction, and affiliates may resell in compliance with the volume, current public information and manner of sale requirements of Rule 144. Pursuant to our partnership agreement, members of the Slifka family have registration rights with respect to the common units owned by them.
Sales by any of our existing unitholders of a substantial number of our common units, or the perception that such sales might occur, could have a material adverse effect on the price of our common units or could impair our ability to obtain capital through an offering of equity securities.
Future market fluctuations may result in a lower price of our common units.
An increase in interest rates may cause the market price of our units to decline.
Like all equity investments, an investment in our common units is subject to certain risks. In exchange for accepting these risks, investors may expect to receive a higher rate of return than would otherwise be obtainable from lower-risk investments. Accordingly, as interest rates rise, the ability of investors to obtain higher risk-adjusted rates of return by purchasing government-backed debt securities may cause a corresponding decline in demand for riskier investments generally, including yield-based equity investments such as publicly-traded limited partnership interests. Reduced demand for our common units resulting from investors seeking other more favorable investment opportunities may cause the trading price of our common units to decline.
One of the factors that influences the price of our Series A preferred units is the distribution yield on our Series A preferred units (as a percentage of the price of our Series A preferred units) relative to market interest rates. An increase in market interest rates, which are currently at low levels relative to historical rates, may lead prospective purchasers of our Series A preferred units to expect a higher distribution yield, and higher interest rates would likely increase our borrowing costs and potentially decrease funds available for distribution to our limited partners, including the holders of our Series A preferred units. Accordingly, higher market interest rates could cause the market price of our Series A preferred units to decrease.
In addition, on and after August 15, 2023, our Series A preferred units will have a floating distribution rate set each quarterly distribution period at a percentage of the $25.00 liquidation preference equal to a floating rate of the then-current three-month LIBOR (or if LIBOR is no longer available as otherwise provided for in our partnership agreement) plus a spread of 6.774% per annum. The per annum distribution rate that is determined on the relevant determination date will apply to the entire quarterly distribution period following such determination date even if LIBOR (or an
alternative rate, as applicable) increases during that period. As a result, the holders of our Series A preferred units will be subject to risks associated with fluctuation in interest rates and the possibility that holders will receive distributions that are lower than expected. We have no control over a number of factors, including economic, financial and political events, that impact market fluctuations in interest rates, which have in the past and may in the future experience volatility.
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 common units held by unaffiliated persons at a price not less than their 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. Our general partner is not obligated to obtain a fairness opinion regarding the value of the common units to be repurchased by it upon exercise of the limited call right. There is no restriction in our partnership agreement that prevents our general partner from issuing additional common units and exercising its call right. If our general partner exercises its limited call right, the effect would be to take us private and, if the units were subsequently deregistered, we would no longer be subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Our partnership agreement restricts the voting rights of unitholders owning 20% or more of any class of our units.
Our partnership agreement restricts unitholders’ voting rights by providing that any units held by a person that owns 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 the board of directors of our general partner, cannot vote on any matter. Our partnership agreement also contains provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.
Cost reimbursements due to our general partner and its affiliates will reduce cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
Prior to making any distribution on the common units, we reimburse our general partner and its affiliates for all expenses they incur on our behalf, which is determined by our general partner in its sole discretion. These expenses include all costs incurred by the general partner and its affiliates in managing and operating us, including costs for rendering corporate staff and support services to us. We are managed and operated by directors and executive officers of our general partner. In addition, the majority of our operating personnel are employees of our general partner. Please read Part III, Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.” The reimbursement of expenses and payment of fees, if any, to our general partner and its affiliates could adversely affect our ability to pay cash distributions to our unitholders.
Unitholders may not have limited liability if a court finds that unitholder action constitutes control of our businesses.
A general partner of a partnership generally has unlimited liability for the obligations of the partnership, except for those contractual obligations of the partnership that are expressly made without recourse to the general partner. Our partnership is organized under Delaware law, and we conduct business in a number of other states. 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 of the other states in which we do business. A unitholder could be liable for our obligations as if he were a general partner if:
● a court or government agency determined that we were conducting business in a state but had not complied with that particular state’s partnership statute; or
● a unitholder’s right to act with other unitholders to remove or replace the general partner, approve some amendments to our partnership agreement or take other actions under our partnership agreement constitute “control” of our businesses.
Unitholders may have liability to repay distributions.
Under certain circumstances, unitholders may have to repay amounts wrongfully returned or distributed to them. Under Delaware law, we may not make a distribution to unitholders if the distribution would cause our liabilities to exceed the fair value of our assets. Delaware law provides that for a period of three years from the date of the impermissible distribution, limited partners who received the distribution and who knew at the time of the distribution that it violated Delaware law will be liable to the limited partnership for the distribution amount. Purchasers of units who become limited partners are liable for the obligations of the transferring limited partner to make contributions to us that are known to the purchaser of units at the time it became a limited partner and for unknown obligations if the liabilities could be determined from the partnership agreement. Liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities that are non-recourse to us are not counted for purposes of determining whether a distribution is permitted.
The control of our general partner may be transferred to a third party without unitholder consent.
Our general partner may transfer its general partner interest to a third party in a merger or in a sale of all or substantially all of its assets without the consent of the unitholders. Furthermore, there is no restriction in the partnership agreement on the ability of the members of our general partner from transferring their respective membership interests in our general partner to a third party. The new members of our general partner would then be in a position to replace the board of directors and officers of our general partner with their own choices and control the decisions taken by the board of directors and officers of our general partner.
Certain members of the Slifka family and their affiliates may engage in activities that compete directly with us.
Mr. Richard Slifka and his affiliates (other than us) are subject to noncompetition provisions in the omnibus agreement and business opportunity agreement. In addition, Mr. Eric Slifka’s and Mr. Andrew Slifka’s employment agreements contain noncompetition provisions. These agreements do not prohibit Messrs. Richard Slifka, Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka and certain affiliates of our general partner from owning certain assets or engaging in certain businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us. Please read Part III, Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence-Noncompetition.”
Tax Risks
Our tax treatment depends on our status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes and not being subject to a material amount of entity-level taxation. If the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, were to treat us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, or we become subject to entity level taxation for state tax purposes, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders would be substantially reduced.
The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in our common units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Despite the fact that we are organized as a limited partnership under Delaware law, we would be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless we satisfy a “qualifying income” requirement. Based upon our current operations and current Treasury Regulations, we believe we satisfy the qualifying income requirement. However, no ruling has been or will be requested regarding our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Failing to meet the qualifying income requirement or a change in current law could cause us to be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise subject us to taxation as an entity.
If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate. Distributions to our unitholders would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses or deductions would flow through to our unitholders. Because a tax would be
imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for distribution to our unitholders would be substantially reduced. Therefore, treatment of us as a corporation would result in a material reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to our unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our common units.
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 additional amounts of entity level taxation for federal, state, municipal or foreign income tax purposes, the minimum quarterly distribution amount and the target distribution amounts may be adjusted to reflect the impact of that law or interpretation on us. At the state level, several states have been evaluating ways to subject partnerships to entity-level taxation through the imposition of state income, franchise or other forms of taxation. We currently own assets and conduct business in several states that impose a margin or franchise tax. In the future, we may expand our operations. Imposition of a similar tax on us in other jurisdictions that we may expand to could substantially reduce our cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
The tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships or an investment in our units could be negatively impacted by future legislative, judicial or administrative changes in applicable tax laws or differing interpretations thereof, possibly applied on a retroactive basis.
The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our units, may be negatively impacted by future administrative, legislative or judicial changes or differing interpretations thereof at any time. From time to time, members of Congress have proposed and considered substantive changes to the existing U.S. federal income tax laws that would affect publicly traded partnerships, including proposals that would eliminate our ability for partnership tax treatment.
Any modification to the U.S. federal income tax laws or interpretations thereof may be applied retroactively and could make it more difficult or impossible for us to meet the exception for certain publicly traded partnerships to be treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We are unable to predict whether any changes or other proposals will ultimately be enacted. In addition, there can be no assurance that there will not be any legislative, judicial or administrative changes in tax law generally that would negatively impact the value of an investment in our units. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor with respect to the status of legislative, regulatory or administrative developments and proposals in tax law generally and their potential effect on your investment in our units.
We have subsidiaries that are treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes and subject to corporate-level income taxes.
As of December 31, 2020, we conducted substantially all of our operations of our end-user business through six subsidiaries that are treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes. These corporations primarily engage in the retail sale of gasoline and/or operate convenience stores and collect rents on personal property leased to dealers and commissioned agents at other stations. We may elect to conduct additional operations through these corporate subsidiaries in the future. These corporate subsidiaries are subject to corporate-level taxes, which reduce the cash available for distribution to us and, in turn, to common unitholders. If the IRS were to successfully assert that these corporations have more tax liability than we anticipate or legislation were enacted that increased the corporate tax rate, our cash available for distribution to common unitholders would be further reduced.
If the IRS were to contest the federal income tax positions we take, it may adversely impact the market for our common units, and the costs of any such contest would reduce our cash available for distribution to our common unitholders.
We have not requested a ruling from the IRS with respect to our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The IRS may adopt positions that differ from the positions we take. It may be necessary to resort to administrative or court proceedings to sustain some or all of the positions we take. A court may not agree with some or all of the positions we take. Any contest with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for our common units and the price at which they trade. Moreover, the costs of any contest between us and the IRS will result in a reduction in our cash available for distribution to our common unitholders and thus will be borne indirectly by our common unitholders.
If the IRS makes audit adjustments to our income tax returns for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, it (and some states) may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustments directly from us, in which case our cash available for distribution to our common unitholders might be substantially reduced and our current and former common unitholders may be required to indemnify us for any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustments that were paid on such common unitholders’ behalf.
Pursuant to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, if the IRS makes an audit adjustment to our income tax return, it (and some states) may assess and collect any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustment directly from us. To the extent possible under the new rules, our general partner may elect to either pay the taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) directly to the IRS or, if we are eligible, issue a revised information statement to each common unitholder and former common unitholder with respect to an audited and adjusted return. Although our general partner may elect to have our common unitholders and former common unitholders take such audit adjustment into account and pay any resulting taxes (including applicable penalties or interest) in accordance with their interests in us during the tax year under audit, there can be no assurance that such election will be practical, permissible or effective in all circumstances. As a result, our current common unitholders may bear some or all of the tax liability resulting from such audit adjustment, even if such common unitholders did not own units in us during the tax year under audit. If, as a result of any such audit adjustment, we are required to make payments of taxes, penalties and interest, our cash available for distribution to our common unitholders might be substantially reduced and our current and former common unitholders may be required to indemnify us for any taxes (including any applicable penalties and interest) resulting from such audit adjustments that were paid on such common unitholders’ behalf. These rules are not applicable for tax years beginning on or prior to December 31, 2017.
Even if our common unitholders do not receive any cash distributions from us, they will be required to pay taxes on their share of our taxable income.
Because common unitholders are treated as partners to whom we allocate taxable income, which could be different in amount than the cash we distribute, common unitholders are required to pay any federal income taxes and, in some cases, state and local income taxes on their share of our taxable income even if they do not receive any cash distributions from us. For example, if we sell assets and use the proceeds to repay existing debt or fund capital expenditures, you may be allocated taxable income and gain resulting from the sale and our cash available for distribution would not increase. Similarly, taking advantage of opportunities to reduce our existing debt, such as debt exchanges, debt repurchases, or modifications of our existing debt could result in “cancellation of indebtedness income” being allocated to our common unitholders as taxable income without any increase in our cash available for distribution. Our common unitholders may not receive cash distributions from us equal to their share of our taxable income or even equal to the tax liability that results from that income.
Tax gain or loss on the disposition of our common units could be more or less than expected.
If a unitholder sells common units, the unitholder will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized and that unitholder’s tax basis in those common units. Because distributions in excess of a common
unitholder’s allocable share of our net taxable income decrease such unitholder’s tax basis in its common units, the amount, if any, of such prior excess distributions with respect to the common units a unitholder sells will, in effect, become taxable income to a unitholder if it sells such units at a price greater than its tax basis in those units, even if the price such unitholder receives is less than its original cost. In addition, because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities, if a unitholder sells its common units, the unitholder may incur a tax liability in excess of the amount of cash received from the sale.
A substantial portion of the amount realized from a unitholder’s sale of our common units, whether or not representing gain, may be taxed as ordinary income to such unitholder due to potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. Thus, a common unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and capital loss from the sale of units if the amount realized on a sale of such units is less than such unitholder’s adjusted basis in the common units. Net capital loss may only offset capital gains and, in the case of individuals, up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year. In the taxable period in which a unitholder sells its common units, such unitholder may recognize ordinary income from our allocations of income and gain to such unitholder prior to the sale and from recapture items that generally cannot be offset by any capital loss recognized upon the sale of units.
Common unitholders may be subject to limitation on their ability to deduct interest expense incurred by us.
In general, we are entitled to a deduction for interest paid or accrued on indebtedness properly allocable to our trade or business during our taxable year. However, subject to the exceptions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act,” discussed below), under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, our deduction for “business interest” is limited to the sum of our business interest income and 30% of our “adjusted taxable income.” For the purposes of this limitation, our adjusted taxable income is computed without regard to any business interest expense or business interest income, and in the case of taxable years beginning before January 1, 2022, any deduction allowable for depreciation, amortization, or depletion to the extent such depreciation, amortization, or depletion is not capitalized into cost of goods sold with respect to inventory.
For our 2020 taxable year, the CARES Act increases the 30% adjusted taxable income limitation to 50%, unless we elect not to apply such increase. For purposes of determining our 50% adjusted taxable income limitation, we may elect to substitute our 2020 adjusted taxable income with our 2019 adjusted taxable income, which may result in a greater business interest expense deduction. In addition, unitholders may treat 50% of any excess business interest allocated to them in 2019 as deductible in the 2020 taxable year without regard to the 2020 business interest expense limitations. The remaining 50% of such unitholder’s excess business interest is carried forward and subject to the same limitations as other taxable years.
If our “business interest” is subject to limitation under these rules, our unitholders will be limited in their ability to deduct their share of any interest expense that has been allocated to them. As a result, common unitholders may be subject to limitation on their ability to deduct interest expense incurred by us which could negatively impact the value of an investment in our common units. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor with respect to this potential limitation on the deductibility of interest expense and its impact on your investment in our common units.
Tax-exempt entities face unique tax issues from owning our common units that may result in adverse tax consequences to them.
Investment in our common units by tax-exempt entities, such as employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs) raises issues unique to them. For example, virtually all of our income allocated to organizations that are exempt from U.S. federal income tax, including IRAs and other retirement plans, will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them. Tax-exempt entities should consult a tax advisor before investing in our common units.
Non-U.S. Unitholders will be subject to U.S. taxes and withholding with respect to their income and gain from owning our units.
Non-U.S. unitholders are generally taxed and subject to income tax filing requirements by the United States on
income effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Income allocated to our common unitholders and any gain from the sale of our units will generally be considered to be “effectively connected” with a U.S. trade or business. As a result, distributions to a non-U.S. common unitholder will be subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate and a non-U.S. unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will also be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit.
Moreover, the transferee of an interest in a partnership that is engaged in a U.S. trade or business is generally required to withhold 10% of the “amount realized” by the transferor unless the transferor certifies that it is not a foreign person. While the determination of a partner’s “amount realized” generally includes any decrease of a partner’s share of the partnership’s liabilities, recently issued Treasury regulations provide that the “amount realized” on a transfer of an interest in a publicly traded partnership, such as our units, will generally be the amount of gross proceeds paid to the broker effecting the applicable transfer on behalf of the transferor, and thus will be determined without regard to any decrease in that partner’s share of a publicly traded partnership’s liabilities. The Treasury regulations further provide that withholding on a transfer of an interest in a publicly traded partnership will not be imposed on a transfer that occurs prior to January 1, 2022, and after that date, if effected through a broker, the obligation to withhold is imposed on the transferor’s broker.
We treat each purchaser of our common units as having the same tax benefits without regard to the common units actually purchased. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could adversely affect the value of our common units.
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of common units, we have adopted certain methods for allocating depreciation and amortization deductions that may not conform to all aspects of existing Treasury Regulations. A successful IRS challenge to the use of these methods 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 any sale of common units and could have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit adjustments to a unitholder’s tax returns.
We generally prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of our common units each month based upon the ownership of our common units on the first day of each month, instead of on the basis of the date a particular common unit is transferred. The IRS may challenge this treatment, which could change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.
We generally prorate our items of income, gain, loss and deduction between transferors and transferees of our common units each month based upon the ownership of our common units on the first day of each month (the “Allocation Date”), instead of on the basis of the date a particular common unit is transferred. Similarly, we generally allocate (i) certain deductions for depreciation of capital additions, (ii) gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets, and (iii) in the discretion of the general partner, any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction based upon ownership on the Allocation Date. Treasury Regulations allow a similar monthly simplifying convention, but such regulations do not specifically authorize all aspects of our proration method. If the IRS were to challenge our proration method, we may be required to change the allocation of items of income, gain, loss and deduction among our unitholders.
A unitholder whose common units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of common units) may be considered to have disposed of those common units. If so, such unitholder would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition.
Because there are no specific rules governing the U.S. federal income tax consequences of loaning a partnership interest, a unitholder whose common units are the subject of a securities loan may be considered to have disposed of the loaned units. In that case, the unitholder may no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those common units during the period of the loan to the short seller and the unitholder may recognize gain or loss from such disposition. Moreover, during the period of the loan, any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those common units may not be reportable by the unitholder and any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those
common units could be fully taxable as ordinary income. Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a securities loan are urged consult a tax advisor to determine whether it is advisable to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing their common units.
We have adopted certain valuation methodologies in determining a unitholder’s allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction. The IRS may challenge these methodologies or the resulting allocations, which could adversely affect the value of our common units.
In determining the items of income, gain, loss and deduction allocable to our unitholders, we must routinely determine the fair market value of our assets. Although we may, from time to time, consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we make many fair market value estimates using a methodology based on the market value of our common units as a means to measure the fair market value of our assets. The IRS may challenge these valuation methods and the resulting allocations of income, gain, loss and deduction.
A successful IRS challenge to these methods or allocations could adversely affect the timing or amount of taxable income or loss being allocated to our unitholders. It also could affect the amount of gain recognized from the sale of our common units, have a negative impact on the value of our common units or result in audit adjustments to our unitholders’ tax returns without the benefit of additional deductions.
Unitholders may be subject to state and local taxes and return filing requirements in jurisdictions where they do not live as a result of investing in our common units.
In addition to U.S. federal income taxes, our unitholders may be subject to other taxes, including foreign, state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or own property now or in the future, even if they do not live in any of those jurisdictions. Our unitholders will likely be required to file foreign, state and local income tax returns and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of these various jurisdictions. Further, our unitholders may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements.
We currently own assets and conduct business in several states, some of which impose a personal income tax on individuals, corporations and other entities. As we make acquisitions or expand our businesses, we may own assets or conduct business in additional states that impose a personal income tax. It is our unitholders’ responsibility to file all U.S. federal, state, municipal and non-U.S. tax returns and pay any taxes due in these jurisdictions. Unitholders should consult with their own tax advisors regarding the filing of such tax returns, the payment of such taxes, and the deductibility of any taxes paid.
Treatment of distributions on our Series A preferred units as guaranteed payments for the use of capital creates a different tax treatment for the holders of our Series A preferred units than the holders of our common units and such distributions are not eligible for the 20% deduction for qualified business income.
The tax treatment of distributions on our Series A preferred units is uncertain. We will treat each of the holders of our Series A preferred units as partners for tax purposes and will treat income attributable to distributions on our Series A preferred units as a guaranteed payment for the use of capital that will generally be taxable to each of the holders of our Series A preferred units as ordinary income. Holders of our Series A preferred units will recognize taxable income from the accrual of such income (even in the absence of a contemporaneous cash distribution). Otherwise, except in the case of our liquidation, the holders of our Series A preferred units are generally not anticipated to share in our items of income, gain, loss or deduction, nor will we allocate any share of our nonrecourse liabilities to the holders of our Series A preferred units. If distributions on our Series A preferred units were treated as payments on indebtedness for tax purposes, rather than as guaranteed payments for the use of capital, the distributions likely would be treated as payments of interest by us to each of the holders of our Series A preferred units.
Although we expect that much of the income we earn is generally eligible for the 20% deduction for qualified publicly traded partnership income, recently issued final Treasury Regulations provide that income attributable to a
guaranteed payment for the use of capital is not eligible for the 20% deduction for qualified publicly traded partnership income. As a result, income attributable to a guaranteed payment for use of capital recognized by holders of our Series A preferred units is not eligible for the 20% deduction for qualified business income.
A holder of our Series A preferred units will be required to recognize gain or loss on a sale of Series A preferred units equal to the difference between the amount realized by such holder and such holder’s tax basis in the Series A preferred units sold. The amount realized generally will equal the sum of the cash and the fair market value of other property such holder receives in exchange for such Series A preferred units. Subject to general rules requiring a blended basis among multiple partnership interests, the tax basis of a Series A preferred unit will generally equal the sum of the cash and the fair market value of other property paid by the holder of such Series A preferred unit to acquire such Series A preferred unit. Gain or loss recognized by a holder of Series A preferred units on the sale or exchange of a Series A preferred unit held for more than one year generally will be taxable as long-term capital gain or loss. Because holders of our Series A preferred units will generally not be allocated a share of our items of depreciation, depletion or amortization, it is not anticipated that such holders will be required to recharacterize any portion of their gain as ordinary income as a result of the recapture rules.
Investment in our Series A preferred units by tax-exempt investors, such as employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts, and non-United States persons raises issues unique to them. The treatment of guaranteed payments for the use of capital to tax-exempt investors is not certain and the income resulting from such payments may be treated as unrelated business taxable income for federal income tax purposes. Distributions to non-United States holders of our Series A preferred units will be subject to withholding taxes. If the amount of withholding exceeds the amount of United States federal income tax due, non-United States holders of our Series A preferred units may be required to file United States federal income tax returns in order to seek a refund of such excess.
All holders of our Series A preferred units are urged to consult a tax advisor with respect to the consequences of owning our Series A preferred units.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The information required by this item is included in Note 23 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
Market Information and Holders
Our common units trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “GLP.” At the close of business on March 1, 2021, based upon information received from our transfer agent and brokers and nominees, we had 14,012 common unitholders, including beneficial owners of common units held in street name.
Distributions of Available Cash
Common Units and General Partner Interest
We intend to make cash distributions to common unitholders on a quarterly basis, although there is no assurance as to the future cash distributions since they are dependent upon future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors. Our credit agreement prohibits us from making cash distributions if any potential default or event of default, as defined in the credit agreement, occurs or would result from the cash distribution. The indentures governing our outstanding senior notes and our partnership agreement also limit our ability to make distributions to our common unitholders in certain circumstances.
Within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we will distribute all of our Available Cash (as defined in our partnership agreement) to common unitholders of record on the applicable record date. The amount of Available Cash is all cash on hand on the date of determination of Available Cash for the quarter, less the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to provide for the proper conduct of our businesses, to comply with applicable law, any of our debt instruments or other agreements, or to provide funds for distributions to unitholders and our general partner for any one or more of the next four quarters.
We will make distributions of Available Cash from distributable cash flow for any quarter in the following manner: 99.33% to the common unitholders, pro rata, and 0.67% to the general partner, until we distribute for each outstanding common unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter; and thereafter, cash in excess of the minimum quarterly distribution is distributed to the common unitholders and the general partner based on the percentages as provided below.
As holder of the incentive distribution rights, the general partner is entitled to incentive distributions if the amount we distribute with respect to any quarter exceeds specified target levels shown below:
Marginal Percentage
Total Quarterly Distribution
Interest in Distributions
Target Amount
Unitholders
General Partner
First Target Distribution
up to $0.4625
99.33
%
0.67
%
Second Target Distribution
above $0.4625 up to $0.5375
86.33
%
13.67
%
Third Target Distribution
above $0.5375 up to $0.6625
76.33
%
23.67
%
Thereafter
above $0.6625
51.33
%
48.67
%
Series A Preferred Units
On August 7, 2018, we issued 2,760,000 of our Series A preferred units at a price of $25.00 per Series A preferred unit. We used the proceeds, net of underwriting discount and expenses, of $66.4 million to reduce indebtedness under our credit agreement.
Distributions on the Series A preferred units are cumulative from August 7, 2018, the original issue date of the Series A preferred units, and payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each
year, commencing on November 15, 2018 (each, a “Distribution Payment Date”), to holders of record as of the opening of business on the February 1, May 1, August 1 or November 1 next preceding the Distribution Payment Date, in each case, when, as, and if declared by the General Partner out of legally available funds for such purpose. Distributions on the Series A preferred units will be paid out of Available Cash with respect to the quarter immediately preceding the applicable Distribution Payment Date.
No distribution may be declared or paid or set apart for payment on any junior securities (other than a distribution payable solely in junior securities) unless full cumulative distributions have been or contemporaneously are being paid or provided for on all outstanding Series A preferred units and any parity securities through the most recent respective distribution periods.
The initial distribution rate for the Series A preferred units from and including the Original Issue Date, but excluding, August 15, 2023 is 9.75% per annum of the $25.00 liquidation preference per Series A preferred unit (equal to $2.4375 per Series A preferred unit per annum). On and after August 15, 2023, distributions on the Series A preferred units will accumulate for each distribution period at a percentage of the $25.00 liquidation preference equal to an annual floating rate of the three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 6.774% per annum.
Equity Compensation Plan
The equity compensation plan information required by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K in response to this item is incorporated by reference from Part III, Item 12, “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters-Equity Compensation Plan Table.”
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not repurchase any of our common units during the quarter ended December 31, 2020.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Item 6. Selected Financial Data.
The following table presents selected historical financial and operating data of Global Partners LP for the years and as of the dates indicated. The selected historical financial data is derived from the historical consolidated financial statements of Global Partners LP.
This table should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical consolidated financial statements of Global Partners LP and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this report. In addition, this table presents non-GAAP financial measures which we use in our businesses. These measures are not calculated or presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). We explain these measures and present reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Results of Operations-Key Performance Indicators.”
Year Ended December 31,
(dollars in millions except per unit amounts)
Statement of Income Data:
Sales
$
8,321.6
$
13,081.7
$
12,672.6
$
8,920.6
$
8,239.6
Cost of sales
7,600.5
12,419.0
12,022.2
8,337.5
7,693.1
Gross profit
721.1
662.7
650.4
583.1
546.5
Selling, general and administrative expenses
192.5
170.9
171.0
155.0
149.7
Operating expenses
323.3
342.4
321.1
283.6
288.5
(Gain) loss on trustee taxes
-
-
(52.6)
16.2
-
Lease exit and termination (gain) expenses
-
(0.5)
(3.5)
-
80.7
Amortization expense
10.8
11.4
11.0
9.2
9.4
Net loss (gain) on sale and disposition of assets
0.3
(2.7)
5.9
(1.6)
20.5
Goodwill and long-lived asset impairment
1.9
2.0
0.4
0.8
149.9
Total operating costs and expenses
528.8
523.5
453.3
463.3
698.7
Operating income (loss)
192.3
139.2
197.1
119.8
(152.2)
Interest expense
(83.5)
(89.9)
(89.1)
(86.2)
(86.3)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
(7.2)
(13.1)
-
-
-
Income (loss) before income tax (expense) benefit
101.6
36.2
108.0
33.5
(238.5)
Income tax benefit (expense)
0.1
(1.0)
(5.6)
23.6
(0.1)
Net income (loss)
101.7
35.2
102.4
57.1
(238.6)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest (1)
0.5
0.7
1.5
1.6
39.2
Net income (loss) attributable to Global Partners LP
102.2
35.9
103.9
58.8
(199.4)
Less: General partners’ interest in net income (loss)
1.4
1.4
1.0
0.4
(1.3)
Less: Series A preferred limited partner interest in net income
6.7
6.7
2.7
-
-
Net income (loss) attributable to common limited partners
$
94.1
$
27.8
$
100.2
$
58.4
$
(198.1)
Per Unit Data
Basic net income (loss) per common limited partner unit (2)
$
2.77
$
0.82
$
2.97
$
1.74
$
(5.91)
Diluted net income (loss) per common limited partner unit (2)
$
2.74
$
0.81
$
2.95
$
1.74
$
(5.91)
Cash distributions per common limited partner unit (3)
$
1.88
$
2.05
$
1.88
$
1.85
$
1.85
Cash Flow Data:
Net cash provided by (used in):
Operating activities
$
312.5
$
94.4
$
168.9
$
348.4
$
(119.9)
Investment activities
$
(69.7)
$
(67.2)
$
(225.7)
$
(61.6)
$
6.4
Financing activities
$
(245.1)
$
(23.3)
$
50.1
$
(282.0)
$
122.4
Other Financial Data:
EBITDA (4)
$
285.5
$
234.4
$
304.3
$
225.0
$
(4.9)
Adjusted EBITDA (4)
$
287.7
$
233.7
$
310.6
$
224.2
$
129.7
Distributable cash flow (5)
$
156.4
$
95.7
$
173.7
$
108.3
$
(121.4)
Capital expenditures-acquisitions (6)
$
-
$
-
$
171.6
$
38.5
$
-
Capital expenditures-maintenance and expansion (6)
$
76.3
$
82.9
$
69.2
$
49.8
$
71.3
Operating Data:
Normal heating degree days (7)
5,630
5,630
5,630
5,630
5,661
Actual heating degree days
5,029
5,152
5,391
5,310
5,177
Variance from normal heating degree days
(11)
%
(8)
%
(4)
%
(6)
%
(9)
%
Variance from prior year actual degree days
(2)
%
(4)
%
%
%
(8)
%
Total gallons sold (in millions)
5,528
6,519
5,863
4,766
5,133
Variance in volume sold from prior year
(15)
%
%
%
(7)
%
(9)
%
Balance Sheet Data (at period end):
Total assets
$
2,540.5
$
2,808.4
$
2,424.3
$
2,320.2
$
2,564.0
Long-term debt
$
1,009.6
$
1,058.2
$
1,034.5
$
957.8
$
1,025.9
Total debt
$
1,044.0
$
1,207.1
$
1,137.8
$
1,084.5
$
1,300.5
Total liabilities
$
2,045.0
$
2,349.2
$
1,925.1
$
1,925.9
$
2,166.2
Partners’ equity
$
495.5
$
459.2
$
499.2
$
394.3
$
397.8
The above table reflects certain rounding conventions.
(1) On February 1, 2013, we acquired a 60% membership interest in Basin Transload, LLC (“Basin Transload”). The net loss in the table above is attributable to the noncontrolling interest which represents Basin Transload’s 40% interest. In connection with the terms of an agreement between us and the minority members of Basin Transload, on September 29, 2020, we acquired the minority members’ collective 40% interest in Basin Transload.
(2) See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for net income (loss) per common limited partner unit calculation.
(3) Cash distributions earned in one calendar quarter are paid in the following calendar quarter. This amount is based on cash distributions paid during each respective year. See Note 18 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.
(4) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and Adjusted EBITDA, which is EBITDA adjusted for gains or losses on the sale and disposition of assets and goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges, are non-GAAP financial measures which are discussed under “Results of Operations-Evaluating Our Results of Operations” and reconciled to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures under “Results of Operations-Key Performance Indicators” in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” In 2016, Adjusted EBITDA includes lease exit and termination expenses of $80.7 million which were recorded as a result of our December 2016 voluntary early termination of a sublease for 1,610 railcars. Excluding these expenses, Adjusted EBITDA would have been $210.4 million for 2016.
(5) Distributable cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which is discussed under “Results of Operations-Evaluating Our Results of Operations” and reconciled to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measures under “Results of Operations-Key Performance Indicators” in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” As defined by our partnership agreement, distributable cash flow is not adjusted for certain non-cash items, such as net losses on the sale and disposition of assets and goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges. In 2016, distributable cash flow includes a net loss on sale and disposition of assets of $20.5 million, a net goodwill and long-lived asset impairment of $114.1 million ($149.9 million, offset by $35.8 million attributed to the noncontrolling interest) and lease exit and termination expenses of $80.7 million. Excluding these charges, distributable cash flow would have been $93.9 million in 2016.
(6) Capital expenditures are discussed under “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
(7) Degree days is an industry measurement of temperature designed to evaluate energy demand and consumption which is further discussed under “Results of Operations-Evaluating Our Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of Global Partners LP should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements of Global Partners LP and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.
Overview
General
We are a master limited partnership formed in March 2005. We own, control or have access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products and renewable fuels in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (collectively, the “Northeast”). We are one of the region’s largest independent owners, suppliers and operators of gasoline stations and convenience stores. As of December 31, 2020, we had a portfolio of 1,548 owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, including 277 directly operated convenience stores, primarily in the Northeast. We are also one of the largest distributors of gasoline, distillates, residual oil and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers in the New England states and New York. We engage in the purchasing, selling, gathering, blending, storing and logistics of transporting petroleum and related products, including gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol), distillates (such as home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane and in the transportation of petroleum products and renewable fuels by rail from the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada.
Collectively, we sold approximately $7.9 billion of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane for the year ended December 31, 2020. In addition, we had other revenues of approximately $0.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020 from convenience store sales at our directly operated stores, rental income from dealer leased and commissioned agent leased gasoline stations and from cobranding arrangements, and sundries.
We base our pricing on spot prices, fixed prices or indexed prices and routinely use the New York Mercantile Exchange (“NYMEX”), Chicago Mercantile Exchange (“CME”) and Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) or other counterparties to hedge the risk inherent in buying and selling commodities. Through the use of regulated exchanges or derivatives, we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced between purchased volumes and sales volumes or future delivery obligations.
Our Perspective on Global and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to make its presence felt at home, in the office workplace and at our retail sites and terminal locations. We have successfully executed our business continuity plans and at this time our in-office employees continue to work remotely. We remain active in responding to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to provide essential products and services while prioritizing the safety of our employees, customers and vendors in the communities where we operate.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an economic downturn and restricted travel to, from and within the states in which we conduct our businesses. Federal, state and municipal “stay at home” or similar-like directives have resulted in decreases in the demand for gasoline and convenience store products. Social distancing guidelines and directives limiting food operations at our convenience stores have further contributed to a reduction in in-store traffic and sales. The demand for diesel fuel has similarly (but not as drastically) been impacted. We remain well positioned to pivot and address different (and, at times, conflicting) directives from federal, state and municipal authorities designed to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, permit the opening of businesses and promote an economic recovery. From mid-March into April of 2020, we saw reductions of more than 50% in gasoline volume and more than 20% in convenience store sales but have since seen increases in both gasoline volume and convenience store sales as some businesses reopened and directives from federal, state and municipal authorities became less restrictive. That said,
notwithstanding the introduction of country-wide vaccination programs, uncertainties surrounding the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and demand at the pump, inside our stores and at our terminals remain.
Given the uncertainty in the early part of 2020 surrounding the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19, including the timing of an economic recovery, early in the second quarter we took certain steps to increase liquidity and create additional financial flexibility. Such steps included a 25% decrease to our quarterly distribution on our common units to $0.39375 per unit for the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020. In addition, we borrowed $50.0 million under our revolving credit facility which was included in cash on our balance sheet. We also reduced planned expenses and 2020 capital spending. We amended our credit agreement to provide temporary adjustments to certain covenants. Given the stronger-than-expected performance in the second quarter, we paid down our revolving credit facility with the $50.0 million cash on hand and increased our planned 2020 capital spending. In addition, we increased our quarterly distribution on our common units for each of the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020.
Moving Forward - Our Perspective
The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic may affect our operating results remains uncertain. The COVID-19 pandemic has had, and may continue to have, material adverse consequences for general economic, financial and business conditions, and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and those of our customers, suppliers and other counterparties.
Our inventory management is dependent on the use of hedging instruments which are managed based on the structure of the forward pricing curve. Daily market changes may impact periodic results due to the point-in-time valuation of these positions. Volatility in the oil markets resulting from COVID-19 and geopolitical events may impact our results.
Business operations today, as compared to how we conducted our business in early March 2020, reflect changes which may well remain for an indefinite period of time. In these uncertain times and volatile markets, we believe that we are operationally nimble and that our portfolio of assets may continue to provide us with opportunities.
2020 Events
Purchase Agreement-On December 14, 2020, we announced the signing of an agreement to purchase retail fuel and convenience store assets from Connecticut-based Consumers Petroleum of Connecticut, Incorporated. The acquisition includes 27 company-operated gasoline stations with “Wheels”-branded convenience stores in Connecticut. The transaction also includes fuel supply agreements for approximately 25 gasoline stations located in Connecticut and New York. The stations market fuel under the Citgo and Sunoco brands. The purchase is expected to close in the first half of 2021 subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.
2029 Notes Offering and 2023 Notes Redemption-On October 7, 2020, we and GLP Finance Corp. (the “Issuers”) issued $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% senior notes due 2029 (the “2029 Notes”) to several initial purchasers (the “2029 Notes Initial Purchasers”) in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). We used the net proceeds from the offering to fund the redemption of our 7.00% senior notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) and to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement. The redemption of the 2023 Notes occurred on October 23, 2020.
On February 1, 2021, we completed an exchange offer whereby holders of the 2029 Notes exchanged all of the 2029 Notes for an equivalent amount of senior notes registered under the Securities Act. The exchange notes are substantially identical to the 2029 Notes, except that the exchange notes are not subject to the restrictions on transfers or to any increase in annual interest rates for failure to comply with the 2029 Notes Registration Rights Agreement (defined below). Please read “-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Senior Notes” for additional information on the 2029 Notes.
2019 Event
2027 Notes Offering and 2022 Notes Tender Offer and Redemption- On July 31, 2019, the Issuers issued
$400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.00% senior notes due 2027 (the “2027 Notes”) to several initial purchasers (the “2027 Notes Initial Purchasers”) in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. The 2027 Notes were resold by the 2027 Notes Initial Purchasers to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to persons outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. We used the net proceeds from the offering to fund the repurchase of our 6.25% senior notes due 2022 (the “2022 Notes”) in a tender offer and to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement. The redemption of the 2022 Notes occurred on August 30, 2019.
On February 18, 2020, we completed an exchange offer whereby holders of the 2027 Notes exchanged all of the 2027 Notes for an equivalent amount of senior notes registered under the Securities Act. Please read “-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Senior Notes” for additional information on the 2027 Notes.
2018 Events
Series A Preferred Unit Offering-On August 7, 2018, we issued 2,760,000 9.75% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units representing limited partner interests for $25.00 per Series A preferred unit in an offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. We used the proceeds, net of underwriting discount and expenses, of $66.4 million to reduce indebtedness under our credit agreement. See Note 18 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Acquisition from Cheshire Oil Company, LLC-On July 24, 2018, we acquired the assets of ten company-operated gasoline stations and convenience stores from New Hampshire-based Cheshire Oil Company, LLC (“Cheshire”) for approximately $33.4 million, including inventory. See Note 20 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Acquisition from Champlain Oil Company, Inc.-On July 17, 2018, we acquired retail fuel and convenience store assets from Vermont-based Champlain Oil Company, Inc. (“Champlain”) for approximately $138.2 million, including inventory. The acquisition included 37 company-operated gasoline stations with Jiffy Mart-branded convenience stores in Vermont and New Hampshire and approximately 24 fuel sites that are either owned or leased, including lessee dealer and commission agent locations. The transaction also included fuel supply agreements for approximately 65 gasoline stations, primarily in Vermont and New Hampshire. See Note 20 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit-In the first quarter of 2018, we recognized a one-time income item of approximately $52.6 million as a result of the extinguishment of a contingent liability related to the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit, which tax credit program expired in 2011. Based upon the significant passage of time from that 2011 expiration date, including underlying statutes of limitation, as of January 31, 2018 we determined that the liability was no longer required. The recognition of this one-time income item did not impact cash flows from operations for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Operating Segments
We purchase refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil primarily from domestic and foreign refiners and ethanol producers, crude oil producers, major and independent oil companies and trading companies. We operate our businesses under three segments: (i) Wholesale, (ii) Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations (“GDSO”) and (iii) Commercial.
Wholesale
In our Wholesale segment, we engage in the logistics of selling, gathering, blending, storing and transporting refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane. We transport these products by railcars, barges, trucks and/or pipelines pursuant to spot or long-term contracts. From time to time, we aggregate crude oil by truck or pipeline in the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada, transport it by rail and ship it by barge to refiners. We sell home heating oil, branded and unbranded gasoline and gasoline blendstocks, diesel, kerosene and residual oil to home heating oil retailers and wholesale distributors. Generally, customers use their own vehicles or contract carriers to take delivery of the gasoline, distillates and propane at bulk terminals and inland storage facilities that we own or control or at which we have throughput or exchange arrangements. Ethanol is shipped primarily by rail and by barge.
In our Wholesale segment, we obtain Renewable Identification Numbers (“RIN”) in connection with our purchase of ethanol which is used for bulk trading purposes or for blending with gasoline through our terminal system. A RIN is a renewable identification number associated with government-mandated renewable fuel standards. To evidence that the required volume of renewable fuel is blended with gasoline, obligated parties must retire sufficient RINs to cover their Renewable Volume Obligation (“RVO”). Our U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) obligations relative to renewable fuel reporting are comprised of foreign gasoline and diesel that we may import and blending operations at certain facilities.
Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations
In our GDSO segment, gasoline distribution includes sales of branded and unbranded gasoline to gasoline station operators and sub-jobbers. Station operations include (i) convenience store sales, (ii) rental income from gasoline stations leased to dealers, from commissioned agents and from cobranding arrangements and (iii) sundries (such as car wash sales and lottery and ATM commissions).
As of December 31, 2020, we had a portfolio of owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, primarily in the Northeast, that consisted of the following:
Company operated
Commissioned agents
Lessee dealers
Contract dealers
Total
1,548
At our company-operated stores, we operate the gasoline stations and convenience stores with our employees, and we set the retail price of gasoline at the station. At commissioned agent locations, we own the gasoline inventory, and we set the retail price of gasoline at the station and pay the commissioned agent a fee related to the gallons sold. We receive rental income from commissioned agent leased gasoline stations for the leasing of the convenience store premises, repair bays and other businesses that may be conducted by the commissioned agent. At dealer-leased locations, the dealer purchases gasoline from us, and the dealer sets the retail price of gasoline at the dealer’s station. We also receive rental income from (i) dealer-leased gasoline stations and (ii) cobranding arrangements. We also supply gasoline to locations owned and/or leased by independent contract dealers. Additionally, we have contractual relationships with distributors in certain New England states pursuant to which we source and supply these distributors’ gasoline stations with ExxonMobil-branded gasoline.
Commercial
In our Commercial segment, we include sales and deliveries to end user customers in the public sector and to large commercial and industrial end users of unbranded gasoline, home heating oil, diesel, kerosene, residual oil and bunker fuel. In the case of public sector commercial and industrial end user customers, we sell products primarily either through a competitive bidding process or through contracts of various terms. We respond to publicly issued requests for product proposals and quotes. We generally arrange for the delivery of the product to the customer’s designated location.
Our Commercial segment also includes sales of custom blended fuels delivered by barges or from a terminal dock to ships through bunkering activity.
Seasonality
Due to the nature of our businesses and our reliance, in part, on consumer travel and spending patterns, we may experience more demand for gasoline during the late spring and summer months than during the fall and winter. Travel and recreational activities are typically higher in these months in the geographic areas in which we operate, increasing the demand for gasoline. Therefore, our volumes in gasoline are typically higher in the second and third quarters of the calendar year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on gasoline demand and the extent and duration of that impact is uncertain. As demand for some of our refined petroleum products, specifically home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes, is generally greater during the winter months, heating oil and residual oil volumes are generally higher during the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year. These factors may result in fluctuations in our quarterly operating results.
Outlook
This section identifies certain risks and certain economic or industry-wide factors, in addition to those described under “-Our Perspective on Global and the COVID-19 Pandemic,” that may affect our financial performance and results of operations in the future, both in the short-term and in the long-term. Our results of operations and financial condition depend, in part, upon the following:
● Our businesses are influenced by the overall markets for refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane and increases and/or decreases in the prices of these products may adversely impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders and the amount of borrowing available for working capital under our credit agreement. Results from our purchasing, storing, terminalling, transporting, selling and blending operations are influenced by prices for refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane, price volatility and the market for such products. Prices in the overall markets for these products may affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Our margins can be significantly impacted by the forward product pricing curve, often referred to as the futures market. We typically hedge our exposure to petroleum product and renewable fuel price moves with futures contracts and, to a lesser extent, swaps. In markets where future prices are higher than current prices, referred to as contango, we may use our storage capacity to improve our margins by storing products we have purchased at lower prices in the current market for delivery to customers at higher prices in the future. In markets where future prices are lower than current prices, referred to as backwardation, inventories can depreciate in value and hedging costs are more expensive. For this reason, in these backward markets, we attempt to reduce our inventories in order to minimize these effects. Our inventory management is dependent on the use of hedging instruments which are managed based on the structure of the forward pricing curve. Daily market changes may impact periodic results due to the point-in-time valuation of these positions. Volatility in oil markets may impact our results. When prices for the products we sell rise, some of our customers may have insufficient credit to purchase supply from us at their historical purchase volumes, and their customers, in turn, may adopt conservation measures which reduce consumption, thereby reducing demand for product. Furthermore, when prices increase rapidly and dramatically, we may be unable to promptly pass our additional costs on to our customers, resulting in lower margins which could adversely affect our results of operations. Higher prices for the products we sell may (1) diminish our access to trade credit support and/or cause it to become more expensive and (2) decrease the amount of borrowings available for working capital under our credit agreement as a result of total available commitments, borrowing base limitations and advance rates thereunder. When prices for the products we sell decline, our exposure to risk of loss in the event of nonperformance by our customers of our forward contracts may be increased as they and/or their customers may breach their contracts and purchase the products we sell at the then lower market price from a competitor.
● We commit substantial resources to pursuing acquisitions and expending capital for growth projects, although there is no certainty that we will successfully complete any acquisitions or growth projects or receive the economic results we anticipate from completed acquisitions or growth projects. We are continuously engaged in discussions with potential sellers and lessors of existing (or suitable for development) terminalling, storage, logistics and/or marketing assets, including gasoline stations, convenience stores and related businesses. Our growth largely depends on our ability to make accretive acquisitions and/or accretive development projects. We may be unable to execute such accretive transactions for a number of reasons, including the following: (1) we are unable to identify attractive transaction candidates or negotiate acceptable terms; (2) we are unable to obtain financing for such transactions on economically acceptable terms; or (3) we are outbid by competitors. In addition, we may consummate transactions that at the time of consummation we believe will be accretive but that ultimately may not be accretive. If any of these events were to occur, our future growth and ability to increase or maintain distributions on our common units could be limited. We can give no assurance that our transaction efforts will be successful or that any such efforts will be completed on terms that are favorable to us.
● The condition of credit markets may adversely affect our liquidity. In the past, world financial markets experienced a severe reduction in the availability of credit. Possible negative impacts in the future could include a decrease in the availability of borrowings under our credit agreement, increased counterparty credit risk on our derivatives contracts and our contractual counterparties could require us to provide collateral. In addition, we could experience a tightening of trade credit from our suppliers.
● We depend upon marine, pipeline, rail and truck transportation services for a substantial portion of our logistics activities in transporting the products we sell. Implementation of regulations and directives related to these aforementioned services as well as disruption in any of these transportation services could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Hurricanes, flooding and other severe weather conditions could cause a disruption in the transportation services we depend upon and could affect the flow of service. In addition, accidents, labor disputes between providers and their employees and labor renegotiations, including strikes, lockouts or a work stoppage, shortage of railcars, trucks and barges, mechanical difficulties or bottlenecks and disruptions in transportation logistics could also disrupt our business operations. These events could result in service disruptions and increased costs which could also adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Other disruptions, such as those due to an act of terrorism or war, could also adversely affect our businesses.
● We have contractual obligations for certain transportation assets such as railcars, barges and pipelines. A decline in demand for (i) the products we sell or (ii) our logistics activities, could result in a decrease in the utilization of our transportation assets, which could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
● Our gasoline financial results in our GDSO segment can be lower in the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year due to seasonal fluctuations in demand. Due to the nature of our businesses and our reliance, in part, on consumer travel and spending patterns, we may experience more demand for gasoline during the late spring and summer months than during the fall and winter. Travel and recreational activities are typically higher in these months in the geographic areas in which we operate, increasing the demand for gasoline. Therefore, our results of operations in gasoline can be lower in the first and fourth quarters of the calendar year. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on gasoline demand and in-store traffic, and the extent and duration of that impact is uncertain.
● Our heating oil and residual oil financial results can be lower in the second and third quarters of the calendar year. Demand for some refined petroleum products, specifically home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes, is generally higher during November through March than during April through October. We obtain a significant portion of these sales during the winter months. Therefore, our results of operations in heating oil and residual oil for the first and fourth calendar quarters can be better than for the second and third quarters.
● Warmer weather conditions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Weather conditions generally have an impact on the demand for both home heating oil and residual oil. Because we supply distributors whose customers depend on home heating oil and residual oil for space heating purposes during the winter, warmer-than-normal temperatures during the first and fourth calendar quarters can decrease the total volume we sell and the gross profit realized on those sales.
● Energy efficiency, higher prices, new technology and alternative fuels could reduce demand for our products. Higher prices and new technologies and alternative fuel sources, such as electric, hybrid or battery powered motor vehicles, could reduce the demand for transportation fuels and adversely impact our sales of transportation fuels. A reduction in sales of transportation fuels could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders. In addition, increased conservation and technological advances have adversely affected the demand for home heating oil and residual oil. Consumption of residual oil has steadily declined over the last three decades. We could face additional competition from alternative energy sources as a result of future government-mandated controls or regulations further promoting the use of cleaner fuels. End users who are dual-fuel users have the ability to switch between residual oil and natural gas. Other end users may elect to convert to natural gas. During a period of increasing residual oil prices relative to the prices of natural gas, dual-fuel customers may switch and other end users may convert to natural gas. During periods of increasing home heating oil prices relative to the price of natural gas, residential users of home heating oil may also convert to natural gas. As described above, such switching or conversion could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
● Changes in government usage mandates and tax credits could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol and renewable fuels, which could negatively impact our sales. The EPA has implemented a RFS pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The RFS program seeks to promote the incorporation of renewable fuels in the nation’s fuel supply and, to that end, sets annual quotas for the quantity of renewable fuels (such as ethanol) that must be blended into transportation fuels consumed in the United States. A RIN is assigned to each gallon of renewable fuel produced in or imported into the United States. We are exposed to volatility in the market price of RINs. We cannot predict the future prices of RINs. RIN prices are dependent upon a variety of factors, including EPA regulations related to the amount of RINs required and the total amounts that can be generated, the availability of RINs for purchase, the price at which RINs can be purchased, and levels of transportation fuels produced, all of which can vary significantly from quarter to quarter. If sufficient RINs are unavailable for purchase or if we have to pay a significantly higher price for RINs, or if we are otherwise unable to meet the EPA’s RFS mandates, our results of operations and cash flows could be adversely affected. Future demand for ethanol will be largely dependent upon the economic incentives to blend based upon the relative value of gasoline and ethanol, taking into consideration the EPA’s regulations on the RFS program and oxygenate blending requirements. A reduction or waiver of the RFS mandate or oxygenate blending requirements could adversely affect the availability and pricing of ethanol, which in turn could adversely affect our future gasoline and ethanol sales. In addition, changes in blending requirements or broadening the definition of what constitutes a renewable fuel could affect the price of RINs which could impact the magnitude of the mark-to-market liability recorded for the deficiency, if any, in our RIN position relative to our RVO at a point in time.
● We may not be able to fully implement or capitalize upon planned growth projects. We could have a number of organic growth projects that may require the expenditure of significant amounts of capital in the aggregate. Many of these projects involve numerous regulatory, environmental, commercial and legal uncertainties beyond our control. As these projects are undertaken, required approvals, permits and licenses may not be obtained, may be delayed or may be obtained with conditions that materially alter the expected return associated with the underlying projects. Moreover, revenues associated with these organic growth projects may not increase immediately upon the expenditures of funds with respect to a particular project and these projects may be completed behind schedule or in excess of budgeted cost. We may pursue and complete projects in anticipation of market demand that dissipates or market growth that never
materializes. As a result of these uncertainties, the anticipated benefits associated with our capital projects may not be achieved.
● Governmental action and campaigns to discourage smoking and use of other products may have a material adverse effect on our revenues and gross profit. Congress has given the FDA broad authority to regulate tobacco and nicotine products, and the FDA and states have enacted and are pursuing enaction of numerous regulations restricting the sale of such products. These governmental actions, as well as national, state and municipal campaigns to discourage smoking, tax increases, and imposition of regulations restricting the sale of e-cigarettes and vapor products, have and could result in reduced consumption levels, higher costs which we may not be able to pass on to our customers, and reduced overall customer traffic. Also, increasing regulations related to and restricting the sale of vapor products and e-cigarettes may offset some of the gains we have experienced from selling these types of products. These factors could materially affect the sale of this product mix which in turn could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash available for distribution to our unitholders.
● New, stricter environmental laws and other industry-related regulations or environmental litigation could significantly impact our operations and/or increase our costs, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Our operations are subject to federal, state and municipal laws and regulations regulating, among other matters, logistics activities, product quality specifications and other environmental matters. The trend in environmental regulation has been towards more restrictions and limitations on activities that may affect the environment over time. For example, President Biden signed an executive order calling for new or more stringent emissions standards for new, modified and existing oil and gas facilities. Our businesses may be adversely affected by increased costs and liabilities resulting from such stricter laws and regulations. We try to anticipate future regulatory requirements that might be imposed and plan accordingly to remain in compliance with changing environmental laws and regulations and to minimize the costs of such compliance. Risks related to our environmental permits, including the risk of noncompliance, permit interpretation, permit modification, renewal of permits on less favorable terms, judicial or administrative challenges to permits by citizens groups or federal, state or municipal entities or permit revocation are inherent in the operation of our businesses, as it is with other companies engaged in similar businesses. We may not be able to renew the permits necessary for our operations, or we may be forced to accept terms in future permits that limit our operations or result in additional compliance costs. There can be no assurances as to the timing and type of such changes in existing laws or the promulgation of new laws or the amount of any required expenditures associated therewith. Climate change continues to attract considerable public and scientific attention. In recent years environmental interest groups have filed suit against companies in the energy industry related to climate change. Should such suits succeed, we could face additional compliance costs or litigation risks.
● Further regulation of the transport by rail of fuel products may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Over the last several years, federal and state agencies have adopted various requirements governing the transport of fuel products, such as crude oil and ethanol. Were these bodies to establish more stringent design or construction standards for railcars, or impose other requirements for such railroad tank cars that are used to transport, by example, crude oil and ethanol, those requirements, individually or in the aggregate, may lead to shortages of compliant railcars, or limitations on deliveries of these products, which in either case could adversely affect our businesses. In recent years, non-governmental groups have intensified their efforts to use federal, state and municipal laws to restrict the transportation of fuels products, including, without limitation, crude oil and ethanol by railroad tank cars. Additional regulations regarding the movement and storage of fossil fuel products by transportation modalities could potentially expose our operations to duplicative and possibly inconsistent regulation.
Results of Operations
Evaluating Our Results of Operations
Our management uses a variety of financial and operational measurements to analyze our performance. These measurements include: (1) product margin, (2) gross profit, (3) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, (4) distributable cash flow, (5) selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”), (6) operating expenses and (7) degree days.
Product Margin
We view product margin as an important performance measure of the core profitability of our operations. We review product margin monthly for consistency and trend analysis. We define product margin as our product sales minus product costs. Product sales primarily include sales of unbranded and branded gasoline, distillates, residual oil, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane, as well as convenience store sales, gasoline station rental income and revenue generated from our logistics activities when we engage in the storage, transloading and shipment of products owned by others. Product costs include the cost of acquiring products and all associated costs including shipping and handling costs to bring such products to the point of sale as well as product costs related to convenience store items and costs associated with our logistics activities. We also look at product margin on a per unit basis (product margin divided by volume). Product margin is a non-GAAP financial measure used by management and external users of our consolidated financial statements to assess our business. Product margin should not be considered an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operations, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our product margin may not be comparable to product margin or a similarly titled measure of other companies.
Gross Profit
We define gross profit as our product margin minus terminal and gasoline station related depreciation expense allocated to cost of sales.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures used as supplemental financial measures by management and may be used by external users of our consolidated financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks and research analysts, to assess:
● our compliance with certain financial covenants included in our debt agreements;
● our financial performance without regard to financing methods, capital structure, income taxes or historical cost basis;
● our ability to generate cash sufficient to pay interest on our indebtedness and to make distributions to our partners;
● our operating performance and return on invested capital as compared to those of other companies in the wholesale, marketing, storing and distribution of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane, and in the gasoline stations and convenience stores business, without regard to financing methods and capital structure; and
● the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return of alternative investment opportunities.
Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA further adjusted for gains or losses on the sale and disposition of assets and goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income, cash flow from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance or liquidity presented in accordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude some, but not all, items that affect net income, and these measures may vary among other companies. Therefore, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies.
Distributable Cash Flow
Distributable cash flow is an important non-GAAP financial measure for our limited partners since it serves as an indicator of our success in providing a cash return on their investment. Distributable cash flow as defined by our partnership agreement is net income plus depreciation and amortization minus maintenance capital expenditures, as well as adjustments to eliminate items approved by the audit committee of the board of directors of our general partner that are extraordinary or non-recurring in nature and that would otherwise increase distributable cash flow.
Distributable cash flow as used in our partnership agreement also determines our ability to make cash distributions on our incentive distribution rights. The investment community also uses a distributable cash flow metric similar to the metric used in our partnership agreement with respect to publicly traded partnerships to indicate whether or not such partnerships have generated sufficient earnings on a current or historic level that can sustain distributions on preferred or common units or support an increase in quarterly cash distributions on common units. Our partnership agreement does not permit adjustments for certain non-cash items, such as net losses on the sale and disposition of assets and goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges.
Distributable cash flow should not be considered as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flow from operations, or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP. In addition, our distributable cash flow may not be comparable to distributable cash flow or similarly titled measures of other companies.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Our SG&A expenses include, among other things, marketing costs, corporate overhead, employee salaries and benefits, pension and 401(k) plan expenses, discretionary bonuses, non-interest financing costs, professional fees and information technology expenses. Employee-related expenses including employee salaries, discretionary bonuses and related payroll taxes, benefits, and pension and 401(k) plan expenses are paid by our general partner which, in turn, are reimbursed for these expenses by us.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses are costs associated with the operation of the terminals, transload facilities and gasoline stations and convenience stores used in our businesses. Lease payments, maintenance and repair, property taxes, utilities, credit card fees, taxes, labor and labor-related expenses comprise the most significant portion of our operating expenses. While the majority of these expenses remains relatively stable, independent of the volumes through our system, they can fluctuate depending on the activities performed during a specific period. In addition, they can be impacted by new directives issued by federal, state and local governments.
Degree Days
A “degree day” is an industry measurement of temperature designed to evaluate energy demand and consumption. Degree days are based on how far the average temperature departs from a human comfort level of 65°F. Each degree of temperature above 65°F is counted as one cooling degree day, and each degree of temperature below 65°F is counted as one heating degree day. Degree days are accumulated each day over the course of a year and can be compared to a monthly or a long-term (multi-year) average, or normal, to see if a month or a year was warmer or cooler than usual. Degree days are officially observed by the National Weather Service and officially archived by the National Climatic Data Center. For purposes of evaluating our results of operations, we use the normal heating degree day amount as reported by the National Weather Service at its Logan International Airport station in Boston, Massachusetts.
Key Performance Indicators
The following table provides a summary of some of the key performance indicators that may be used to assess our results of operations. These comparisons are not necessarily indicative of future results (gallons and dollars in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Net income attributable to Global Partners LP
$
102,210
$
35,867
$
103,905
EBITDA (1)(2)
$
285,529
$
234,374
$
304,312
Adjusted EBITDA (1)(2)
$
287,731
$
233,666
$
310,606
Distributable cash flow (3)(4)
$
156,392
$
95,713
$
173,688
Wholesale Segment:
Volume (gallons)
3,599,794
4,153,831
3,620,983
Sales
Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks
$
3,008,490
$
5,358,550
$
4,732,028
Crude oil (5)
84,046
96,419
109,719
Other oils and related products (6)
1,486,539
1,974,897
2,049,043
Total
$
4,579,075
$
7,429,866
$
6,890,790
Product margin
Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks
$
100,818
$
83,982
$
76,741
Crude oil (5)
(672)
(13,047)
7,159
Other oils and related products (6)
82,999
51,584
53,389
Total
$
183,145
$
122,519
$
137,289
Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations Segment:
Volume (gallons)
1,360,252
1,622,122
1,596,453
Sales
Gasoline
$
2,545,616
$
3,806,892
$
4,081,498
Station operations (7)
431,041
466,761
427,211
Total
$
2,976,657
$
4,273,653
$
4,508,709
Product margin
Gasoline
$
398,016
$
374,550
$
373,303
Station operations (7)
205,926
225,078
203,098
Total
$
603,942
$
599,628
$
576,401
Commercial Segment:
Volume (gallons)
568,230
743,545
645,393
Sales
$
765,867
$
1,378,211
$
1,273,103
Product margin
$
15,195
$
28,540
$
23,611
Combined sales and product margin:
Sales
$
8,321,599
$
13,081,730
$
12,672,602
Product margin (8)
$
802,282
$
750,687
$
737,301
Depreciation allocated to cost of sales
(81,144)
(87,930)
(86,892)
Combined gross profit
$
721,138
$
662,757
$
650,409
GDSO portfolio as of December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:
Company operated
Commissioned agents
Lessee dealers
Contract dealers
Total GDSO portfolio
1,548
1,551
1,579
Year Ended December 31,
Weather conditions:
Normal heating degree days
5,630
5,630
5,630
Actual heating degree days
5,029
5,152
5,391
Variance from normal heating degree days
(11)
%
(8)
%
(4)
%
Variance from prior period actual heating degree days
(2)
%
(4)
%
%
(1) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures which are discussed above under “-Evaluating Our Results of Operations.” The table below presents reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
(2) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA include a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $7.2 million in 2020 related to the 2023 Notes and $13.1 million in 2019 related to the 2022 Notes (see Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in 2018 include a one-time gain of approximately $52.6 million as a result of the extinguishment of a contingent liability related to a Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and a lease exit and termination gain of $3.5 million (see Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
(3) Distributable cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which is discussed above under “-Evaluating Our Results of Operations.” As defined by our partnership agreement, distributable cash flow is not adjusted for certain non-cash items, such as net losses on the sale and disposition of assets and goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges. The table below presents reconciliations of distributable cash flow to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
(4) Distributable cash flow includes a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $7.2 million in 2020 related to the 2023 Notes and $13.1 million in 2019 related to the 2022 Notes (see Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Distributable cash flow in 2018 includes a one-time gain of approximately $52.6 million as a result of the extinguishment of a contingent liability related to a Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (see Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
(5) Crude oil consists of our crude oil sales and revenue from our logistics activities.
(6) Other oils and related products primarily consist of distillates, residual oil and propane.
(7) Station operations consist of convenience stores sales, rental income and sundries.
(8) Product margin is a non-GAAP financial measure which is discussed above under “-Evaluating Our Results of Operations.” The table above includes a reconciliation of product margin on a combined basis to gross profit, a directly comparable GAAP measure.
The following table presents reconciliations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures on a historical basis (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
Net income
$
101,682
$
35,178
$
102,403
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
1,502
Net income attributable to Global Partners LP
102,210
35,867
103,905
Depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest
99,899
107,557
105,639
Interest expense, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest
83,539
89,856
89,145
Income tax (benefit) expense
(119)
1,094
5,623
EBITDA (1)
285,529
234,374
304,312
Net loss (gain) on sale and disposition of assets
(2,730)
5,880
Long-lived asset impairment
1,927
2,022
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$
287,731
$
233,666
$
310,606
Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
312,526
$
94,402
$
168,856
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities and certain non-cash items
(110,709)
48,968
40,385
Net cash from operating activities and changes in operating assets and liabilities attributable to noncontrolling interest
Interest expense, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest
83,539
89,856
89,145
Income tax (benefit) expense
(119)
1,094
5,623
EBITDA (1)
285,529
234,374
304,312
Net loss (gain) on sale and disposition of assets
(2,730)
5,880
Long-lived asset impairment
1,927
2,022
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
$
287,731
$
233,666
$
310,606
(1) EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA include a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $7.2 million in 2020 related to the 2023 Notes and $13.1 million in 2019 related to the 2022 Notes (see Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in 2018 include a one-time gain of approximately $52.6 million as a result of the extinguishment of a contingent liability related to a Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit and a lease exit and termination gain of $3.5 million (see Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following table presents reconciliations of distributable cash flow to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures on a historical basis (in thousands):
Year Ended December 31,
Reconciliation of net income to distributable cash flow:
Net income
$
101,682
$
35,178
$
102,403
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
1,502
Net income attributable to Global Partners LP
102,210
35,867
103,905
Depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest
99,899
107,557
105,639
Amortization of deferred financing fees and senior notes discount
5,241
5,940
6,873
Amortization of routine bank refinancing fees
(3,970)
(3,754)
(4,088)
Maintenance capital expenditures, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest
(46,988)
(49,897)
(38,641)
Distributable cash flow (1)(2)
156,392
95,713
173,688
Distributions to Series A preferred unitholders (3)
(6,728)
(6,728)
(2,691)
Distributable cash flow after distributions to Series A preferred unitholders
$
149,664
$
88,985
$
170,997
Reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to distributable cash flow:
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
312,526
$
94,402
$
168,856
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities and certain non-cash items
(110,709)
48,968
40,385
Net cash from operating activities and changes in operating assets and liabilities attributable to noncontrolling interest
Amortization of deferred financing fees and senior notes discount
5,241
5,940
6,873
Amortization of routine bank refinancing fees
(3,970)
(3,754)
(4,088)
Maintenance capital expenditures, excluding the impact of noncontrolling interest
(46,988)
(49,897)
(38,641)
Distributable cash flow (1)(2)
156,392
95,713
173,688
Distributions to Series A preferred unitholders (3)
(6,728)
(6,728)
(2,691)
Distributable cash flow after distributions to Series A preferred unitholders
$
149,664
$
88,985
$
170,997
(1) Distributable cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which is discussed above under “-Evaluating Our Results of Operations.” As defined by our partnership agreement, distributable cash flow is not adjusted for certain non-cash items, such as net losses on the sale and disposition of assets and goodwill and long-lived asset impairment charges.
(2) Distributable cash flow includes a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $7.2 million in 2020 related to the 2023 Notes and $13.1 million in 2019 related to the 2022 Notes (see Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Distributable cash flow in 2018 includes a one-time gain of approximately $52.6 million as a result of the extinguishment of a contingent liability related to a Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (see Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
(3) Distributions to Series A preferred unitholders represent the distributions payable to the preferred unitholders during the period. Distributions on the Series A preferred units are cumulative and payable quarterly in arrears on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.
Results of Operations for Years 2020, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Sales
Our total sales were $8.3 billion and $13.1 billion for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $4.8 billion, or 36%, due to decreases in prices and volume sold. Our aggregate volume of product sold was 5.5 billion gallons and 6.5 billion gallons for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of 1.0 billion gallons in part due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease in volume sold includes a decrease of 554 million gallons in our Wholesale segment due to a decline in gasoline and gasoline blendstocks, partially offset by increased volume in other oils and related products and crude oil, and decreases of 262 million gallons in our GDSO segment and 175 million gallons in our Commercial segment.
Our total sales were $13.1 billion and $12.7 billion for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $0.4 billion, or 3%, due to an increase in volume sold. Our aggregate volume of product sold was 6.5 billion gallons and 5.8 billion gallons for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of 0.7 billion gallons. The increase in volume sold includes increases of 533 million gallons in our Wholesale segment, primarily in gasoline and gasoline blendstocks, 98 million gallons in our Commercial segment and 26 million gallons in our GDSO segment.
Gross Profit
Our gross profit was $721.1 million and $662.7 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $58.4 million, or 9%, primarily due to more favorable market conditions in our Wholesale segment and higher fuel margins (cents per gallon) in gasoline distribution in our GDSO segment which offset a decrease in GDSO fuel volume and a decrease in our station operations product margin. The increase in gross profit was offset by a decline in our Commercial segment largely due to a decrease in bunkering activity.
Our gross profit was $662.7 million and $650.4 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $12.3 million, or 2%, primarily due to the acquisitions of Champlain and Cheshire in July 2018 (collectively the “2018 Acquisitions”) in our GDSO segment. The increase in gross profit was offset by a decline in crude oil product margin in our Wholesale segment, primarily due to $21.6 million in revenue recognized in 2018 related to a take-or-pay contract with one particular customer which was not recognized in 2019 as that contract expired in June 2018.
Results for Wholesale Segment
Gasoline and Gasoline Blendstocks. Sales from wholesale gasoline and gasoline blendstocks were $3.0 billion and $5.3 billion for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $2.3 billion, or 44%, due to decreases in prices and volume sold. Our gasoline and gasoline blendstocks product margin was $100.8 million and $84.0 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $16.8 million, or 20%. During the second quarter of 2020, there was a significant recovery in the supply/demand imbalance at the end of the first quarter. The forward product pricing curve flattened which positively impacted our product margins. Our product margin also benefitted due to more favorable market conditions in gasoline in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 which was negatively impacted due to unfavorable market conditions. In the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia caused a rapid decline in prices, steepening the forward product pricing curve which negatively impacted our product margin in gasoline.
Sales from wholesale gasoline and gasoline blendstocks were $5.3 billion and $4.7 billion for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $0.6 billion, or 13%, due to an increase in volume sold. Our gasoline and gasoline blendstocks product margin was $84.0 million and $76.7 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $7.3 million, or 9%, primarily due to more favorable market conditions in gasoline, offset by less favorable market conditions in gasoline blendstocks, primarily ethanol.
Crude Oil. Crude oil sales and logistics revenues were $84.0 million and $96.4 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $12.4 million, or 13%, primarily due to a decrease in prices, partially offset by an increase in volume sold. Our crude oil product margin was ($0.7 million) and ($13.0 million) for 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $12.3 million, or 95%, primarily due to more favorable market conditions largely in the second quarter including the flattening of the forward product pricing curve.
Crude oil sales and logistics revenues were $96.4 million and $109.7 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, a decrease of $13.3 million, or 12%, primarily due to the $21.6 million decrease in take-or-pay contract revenue, partially offset by an increase in volume sold. Our crude oil product margin was ($13.0 million) and $7.2 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, a decrease of $20.2 million, or 282%, primarily due to the $21.6 million decrease in take-or-pay contract revenue. Our product margin for 2019 was favorably impacted by lower railcar related expenses.
Other Oils and Related Products. Sales from other oils and related products (primarily distillates and residual oil) were $1.5 billion and $2.0 billion for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $0.5 billion, or 25%, in part due to a decline in prices, partially offset by an increase in volume sold. Our product margin from other oils and related products was $83.0 million and $51.6 million and for 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $31.4 million, or 61%. During the second quarter of 2020, there was a significant recovery in the supply/demand imbalance at the end of the first quarter. The forward product pricing curve flattened which positively impacted our product margins. Our product margin also benefitted from more favorable market conditions in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, largely in distillates. In the first quarter of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and the price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia caused a rapid decline in prices, steepening the forward product pricing curve, which negatively impacted our
product margins.
Sales from other oils and related products were $2.0 billion and $2.1 billion for 2019 and 2018, respectively, a decrease of $0.1 billion, or 4%, in part due to a decline in prices, partially offset by an increase in residual oil volume sold. Our product margin from other oils and related products was $51.6 million and $53.4 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 3%. Our product margin in distillates for 2019 was negatively impacted due to less favorable market conditions, largely in the fourth quarter, and to weather that was both warmer than normal and warmer than in 2018.
Results for Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations Segment
Gasoline Distribution. Sales from gasoline distribution were $2.5 billion and $3.8 billion for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $1.3 billion, or 34%, due to decreases in prices and volume sold largely due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our product margin from gasoline distribution was $398.0 million and $374.5 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $23.5 million, or 6%, primarily due to higher fuel margins (cents per gallon) which more than offset the decline in volume sold. Our product margin for 2020 benefitted from declining wholesale prices in the first quarter of 2020, primarily in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events. Declining wholesale gasoline prices can improve our gasoline distribution product margin, the extent of which depends on the magnitude and duration of the decline.
Sales from gasoline distribution were $3.8 billion and $4.1 billion for 2019 and 2018, respectively, a decrease of $0.3 billion, or 7%, due to a decline in prices, partially offset by an increase in volume sold. Our product margin from gasoline distribution was $374.5 million and $373.3 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $1.2 million, primarily due to the 2018 Acquisitions. Our product margin in 2019 was negatively impacted by lower fuel margins (cents per gallon) in the fourth quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2018 when fuel margins were higher due to a decline in wholesale gasoline prices.
Station Operations. Our station operations, which include (i) convenience stores sales at our directly operated stores, (ii) rental income from gasoline stations leased to dealers or from commissioned agents and from cobranding arrangements and (iii) sale of sundries, such as car wash sales and lottery and ATM commissions, collectively generated revenues of $431.0 million and $466.7 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $35.7 million, or 8%. Our product margin from station operations was $205.9 million and $225.1 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $19.2 million, or 9%. The decreases in sales and product margin are primarily due to less activity at our convenience stores, primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Revenues from our station operations were $466.7 million and $427.2 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $39.5 million, or 9%. Our product margin from station operations was $225.1 million and $203.1 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $22.0 million, or 11%, primarily due to the 2018 Acquisitions.
Results for Commercial Segment
Our commercial sales were $0.8 billion and $1.4 billion for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $0.6 billion, or 43%, due to decreases in prices and volume sold. Our commercial product margin was $15.2 million and $28.5 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $13.3 million, or 47%, largely due to a decrease in bunkering activity.
Our commercial sales were $1.4 billion and $1.3 billion for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $0.1 billion, or 8%, due to an increase in volume sold. Our commercial product margin was $28.5 million and $23.6 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $4.9 million, or 21%, primarily due to favorable market conditions in bunkering.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
SG&A expenses were $192.5 million and $170.9 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of
$21.6 million, or 13%, including increases of $16.6 million in accrued discretionary incentive compensation, $1.6 million in wages and benefits, $1.4 million in costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, $1.3 million in advertising costs and $1.0 million in professional fees, offset by a decrease of $0.3 million in various other SG&A expenses.
SG&A expenses were $170.9 million and $171.0 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, a decrease of $0.1 million, or less than 1%, including decreases of $4.6 million in incentive compensation and $3.9 million in acquisition costs recorded in 2018 that were not incurred in 2019, offset by increases of $5.6 million in wages and $2.1 million in benefits in part to support our GDSO business, including the 2018 Acquisitions, and $0.7 million in various SG&A expenses.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses were $323.3 million and $342.4 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $19.1 million, or 6%, due to a decrease of $21.4 million associated with our GDSO operations, in part due to lower credit card fees related to the reduction in volume and price, lower maintenance and repair expenses and lower salary expense in part attributable to reduced store hours, all of which were partly the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease in operating expenses was offset by an increase of $2.3 million associated with our terminal operations, primarily related to higher maintenance and repair expenses.
Operating expenses were $342.4 million and $321.1 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $21.3 million, or 7%, due to an increase of $21.9 million associated with our GDSO operations, primarily due to the 2018 Acquisitions, partially offset by decreases in expenses associated with our terminal operations and with the sale of sites.
Gain on Trustee Taxes
In 2018, we recognized a one-time gain of approximately $52.6 million as a result of the extinguishment of a contingent liability related to the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit, which tax credit program expired in 2011. Based upon the significant passage of time from that 2011 expiration date, including underlying statutes of limitation, as of January 31, 2018 we determined that the liability was no longer required.
See Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies-Trustee Taxes” for additional information.
Lease Exit and Termination Gain
In December 2016, we voluntarily terminated early a sublease with a counterparty for 1,610 railcars that were underutilized due to unfavorable market conditions in the crude oil by rail market. Separately, we entered into a fleet management services agreement (effective January 1, 2017) (the “Services Agreement”) with the counterparty, pursuant to which we would provide railcar storage, freight, insurance and other services on behalf of the counterparty. During each of 2019 and 2018, we were released from certain of our obligations under the Services Agreement, which resulted in a reduction of the remaining accrued incremental costs of $0.5 million and $3.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which benefit is included in lease exit and termination gain in the accompanying statements of operations.
Amortization Expense
Amortization expense related to our intangible assets was $10.8 million, $11.4 million and $11.0 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Net (Loss) Gain on Sale and Disposition of Assets
Net (loss) gain on sale and disposition of assets was ($0.3 million), $2.7 million and ($5.9 million) for 2020,
2019 and 2018, respectively, primarily due to the sale of GDSO sites. Included in the net (loss) gain on sale and disposition of assets is approximately $0.9 million, $2.9 million and $3.9 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, of goodwill derecognized as part of the site divestitures.
Long-Lived Asset Impairment
We recognized an impairment charge relating to certain right-of-use assets in the amount of $1.9 million for 2020, of which $1.7 million was allocated to the Wholesale segment and $0.2 million was allocated to the GDSO segment. We had no impairment charges relating to right-of-use assets for 2019 and 2018.
We recognized an impairment charge relating to long-lived assets used at certain gasoline stations and convenience stores in the amount of $0.3 million, $2.0 million and $0.4 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, These assets are allocated to the GDSO segment.
Interest Expense
Interest expense was $83.5 million and $89.9 million for 2020 and 2019, respectively, a decrease of $6.4 million, or 7%, due to due to lower average balances on our credit facilities and lower interest rates, which more than offset the $0.7 million write-off of deferred financing fees associated with the amendment to our credit agreement in May 2020.
Interest expense was $89.9 million and $89.1 million for 2019 and 2018, respectively, an increase of $0.7 million, or less than 1%, primarily due to higher interest rates for 2019 compared to 2018, partially offset by lower average balances on our credit facilities.
Loss on Early Extinguishment of Debt
In 2020 as a result of the redemption of the 2023 Notes, we recorded a $7.2 million loss from early extinguishment of debt, consisting of a $5.3 million cash call premium and a $1.9 million non-cash write-off of remaining unamortized deferred financing fees.
In 2019 as a result of the repurchase of the 2022 Notes, we recorded a $13.1 million loss from early extinguishment of debt, consisting of a $6.9 million cash call premium and a $6.2 million non-cash write-off of remaining unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing fees.
Please read “-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Senior Notes” for additional information.
Income Tax Benefit (Expense)
Income tax benefit (expense) was $0.1 million, ($1.1 million) and ($5.6 million) for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which reflects the income tax (benefit) expense from the operating results of GMG, which is a taxable entity for federal and state income tax purposes. For 2020, the income tax benefit consists of an income tax benefit of $6.3 million (discussed below) offset by an income tax expense of ($6.2 million).
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) was enacted and signed into law. The CARES Act is an emergency economic stimulus package that includes spending and tax breaks to strengthen the United States economy and fund a nationwide effort to curtail the effect of COVID-19. The CARES Act provides certain tax changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the temporary removal of certain limitations on the utilization of net operating losses, permitting the carryback of net operating losses generated in 2018, 2019 or 2020 to the five preceding taxable years, increasing the ability to deduct interest expense, deferring the employer share of social security tax payments, as well as amending certain provisions of the previously enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. As a result, we recognized a benefit of $6.3 million related to the CARES Act net operating loss carryback provisions for 2020. On January 15, 2021, we received cash refunds totaling $15.8 million associated with the carryback of losses generated in 2018 with respect to the 2016 and 2017 tax years.
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
In February 2013, we acquired a 60% membership interest in Basin Transload. The net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest was $0.5 million, $0.7 million and $1.5 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which represents the 40% noncontrolling ownership of the net loss reported. In connection with the terms of an agreement between the minority members of Basin Transload and us, on September 29, 2020, we acquired the minority members’ collective 40% interest in Basin Transload (see Note 23 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Our primary liquidity needs are to fund our working capital requirements, capital expenditures and distributions and to service our indebtedness. Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, amounts available under our working capital revolving credit facility and equity and debt offerings. Please read “-Credit Agreement” for more information on our working capital revolving credit facility.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19, including the timing of an economic recovery, early in the second quarter we took certain steps to increase liquidity and create additional financial flexibility. Such steps included a 25% decrease to our quarterly distribution on our common units for the period from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020. In addition, we borrowed $50.0 million under our revolving credit facility which was included in cash on our balance sheet. We also reduced planned expenses and 2020 capital spending. We amended our credit agreement to provide temporary adjustments to certain covenants. Given the stronger-than-expected performance in the second quarter, we paid down our revolving credit facility with the $50.0 million cash on hand and increased our planned 2020 capital spending. In addition, we increased our quarterly distribution on our common units for each of the second, third and fourth quarters of 2020. We believe that our current level of cash and borrowing capacity under our credit agreement will be sufficient to meet our liquidity needs.
Working capital was $283.9 million and $250.6 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, an increase of $33.3 million. Changes in current assets and current liabilities increasing our working capital include decreases of $165.5 million in accounts payable and $114.5 million in the current portion of our working capital revolving credit facility, primarily due to lower prices, for a total increase in working capital of $280.0 million. The increase in working capital was offset by decreases of $185.9 million in accounts receivable and $66.1 million in inventories, also primarily due to lower prices.
Cash Distributions
Common Units
During 2020, we paid the following cash distributions to our common unitholders and our general partner:
Distribution Paid for the
Cash Distribution Payment Date
Total Paid
Quarterly Period Ended
February 14, 2020
$
18.3 million
Fourth quarter 2019
May 15, 2020
$
13.5 million
First quarter 2020
August 14, 2020
$
15.7 million
Second quarter 2020
November 13, 2020
$
17.3 million
Third quarter 2020
In addition, on January 26, 2021, the board of directors of our general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.55 per unit ($2.20 per unit on an annualized basis) on all of our outstanding common units for the period from October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 to our common unitholders of record as of the close of business February 8, 2020. This distribution resulted in our reaching our third target level distribution for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. On February 12, 2021, we paid the total cash distribution of approximately $19.3 million.
Preferred Units
During 2020, we paid the following cash distributions to holders of the Series A preferred units:
Distribution Paid for the
Cash Distribution Payment Date
Total Paid
Quarterly Period Covering
February 18, 2020
$
1.7 million
November 15, 2019 - February 14, 2020
May 15, 2020
$
1.7 million
February 15, 2020 - May 14, 2020
August 17, 2020
$
1.7 million
May 15, 2020 - August 14, 2020
November 16, 2020
$
1.7 million
August 15, 2020 - November 14, 2020
In addition, on January 19, 2021, the board of directors of our general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution of $0.609375 per unit ($2.4375 per unit on an annualized basis) on our Series A preferred units for the period from November 15, 2020 through February 14, 2021 to our preferred unitholders of record as of the opening of business on February 1, 2021. On February 21, 2021, we paid the total cash distribution of approximately $1.7 million.
Contractual Obligations
We have contractual obligations that are required to be settled in cash. The amounts of our contractual obligations at December 31, 2020 were as follows (in thousands):
Payments Due by Period
2025 and
Contractual Obligations
Thereafter
Total
Credit facility obligations (1)
$
43,433
$
274,673
$
-
$
-
$
-
$
318,106
Senior notes obligations (2)
40,031
52,063
52,063
52,063
942,282
1,138,502
Operating lease obligations (3)
94,460
66,371
52,923
41,392
128,925
384,071
Other long-term liabilities (4)
28,916
22,078
13,222
13,123
41,417
118,756
Financing obligations (5)
15,024
15,268
15,518
15,774
82,158
143,742
Total
$
221,864
$
430,453
$
133,726
$
122,352
$
1,194,782
$
2,103,177
(1) Includes principal and interest on our working capital revolving credit facility and our revolving credit facility at December 31, 2020 and assumes a ratable payment through the expiration date. Our credit agreement has a contractual maturity of April 29, 2022 and no principal payments are required prior to that date. However, we repay amounts outstanding and reborrow funds based on our working capital requirements. Therefore, the current portion of the working capital revolving credit facility included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets is the amount we expect to pay down during the course of the year, and the long-term portion of the working capital revolving credit facility is the amount we expect to be outstanding during the entire year. Please read “-Credit Agreement” for more information on our working capital revolving credit facility.
(2) Includes principal and interest on our senior notes. No principal payments are required prior to maturity. See “-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Senior Notes” for additional information on our senior notes.
(3) Includes operating lease obligations related to leases for office space and computer equipment, land, gasoline stations, railcars and barges. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
(4) Includes amounts related to our 15-year brand fee agreement entered into in 2010 with ExxonMobil and amounts related to our pipeline connection agreements, natural gas transportation and reservation agreements and access right agreements (see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on these agreements) and our pension and deferred compensation obligations.
(5) Includes lease rental payments in connection with (i) the acquisition of Capitol related to properties previously sold by Capitol within two sale-leaseback transactions; and (ii) the sale of real property assets at 30 gasoline stations and convenience stores. These transactions did not meet the criteria for sale accounting and the lease rental payments are classified as interest expense on the respective financing obligation and the pay-down of the related financing obligation. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statement for additional information.
See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements with respect to sublease information related to certain lease agreements and Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements with respect to purchase commitments.
Capital Expenditures
Our operations require investments to maintain, expand, upgrade and enhance existing operations and to meet environmental and operational regulations. We categorize our capital requirements as either maintenance capital expenditures or expansion capital expenditures. Maintenance capital expenditures represent capital expenditures to repair or replace partially or fully depreciated assets to maintain the operating capacity of, or revenues generated by, existing assets and extend their useful lives. Maintenance capital expenditures also include expenditures required to maintain equipment reliability, tank and pipeline integrity and safety and to address certain environmental regulations. We anticipate that maintenance capital expenditures will be funded with cash generated by operations. We had approximately $47.0 million, $49.9 million and $38.6 million in maintenance capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, which are included in capital expenditures in the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows, of which approximately $37.3 million, $45.0 million and $33.6 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, are related to our investments in our gasoline station business. Repair and maintenance expenses associated with existing assets that are minor in nature and do not extend the useful life of existing assets are charged to operating expenses as incurred.
Expansion capital expenditures include expenditures to acquire assets to grow our businesses or expand our existing facilities, such as projects that increase our operating capacity or revenues by, for example, increasing dock capacity and tankage, diversifying product availability, investing in raze and rebuilds and new-to-industry gasoline stations and convenience stores, increasing storage flexibility at various terminals and by adding terminals to our storage network. We have the ability to fund our expansion capital expenditures through cash from operations or our credit agreement or by issuing debt securities or additional equity. We had approximately $29.3 million, $33.0 million and $175.7 million in expansion capital expenditures, including acquisitions, for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, primarily related to investments in our gasoline station business.
In 2020, the $29.3 million in expansion capital expenditures included approximately $23.7 million in raze and rebuilds, expansion and improvements at retail gasoline stations and new-to-industry sites and $5.6 million in other expansion capital expenditures, primarily related to investments at our terminals and information technology projects.
In 2019, the $33.0 million in expansion capital expenditures included approximately $31.1 million in raze and rebuilds, expansion and improvements at retail gasoline stations and new-to-industry sites and $1.9 million in other expansion capital expenditures, primarily related to investments at our terminals and information technology projects.
In 2018, the $175.7 million in expansion capital expenditures included approximately $145.1 million in property and equipment associated with the acquisitions of Cheshire and Champlain. In addition, we had $30.6 million in expansion capital expenditures primarily related to investments in our gasoline stations, including, in part, raze and rebuilds and new-to-industry sites.
We currently expect maintenance capital expenditures of approximately $45.0 million to $55.0 million and expansion capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, of approximately $40.0 million to $50.0 million in 2021, relating primarily to investments in our gasoline station business. These current estimates depend, in part, on the timing of completion of projects, availability of equipment and workforce, weather, the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and unanticipated events or opportunities requiring additional maintenance or investments.
We believe that we will have sufficient cash flow from operations, borrowing capacity under our credit agreement and the ability to issue additional equity and/or debt securities to meet our financial commitments, debt service obligations, contingencies and anticipated capital expenditures. However, we are subject to business and operational risks, including uncertainties related to the extent and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events, each of which could adversely affect our cash flow. A material decrease in our cash flows would likely have an adverse effect on our borrowing capacity as well as our ability to issue additional equity and/or debt securities.
Cash Flow
The following table summarizes cash flow activity for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
312,526
$
94,402
$
168,856
Net cash used in investing activities
$
(69,728)
$
(67,214)
$
(225,720)
Net cash used in financing activities
$
(245,126)
$
(23,267)
$
50,127
Operating Activities
Cash flow from operating activities generally reflects our net income, balance sheet changes arising from inventory purchasing patterns, the timing of collections on our accounts receivable, the seasonality of parts of our businesses, fluctuations in product prices, working capital requirements and general market conditions.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $312.5 million, $94.4 million and $168.9 million for 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, for a year-over-year increase in cash flow from operating activities of $218.1 million in 2020 and a decrease of $74.5 million in 2019. For 2018, cash flow from operating activities was not impacted by the non-cash gain of $52.6 million as a result of the extinguishment of a contingent liability related to the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit. This gain was included in net income and offset by the corresponding decrease in the liability which had historically been included in trustee taxes (see Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
Except for net income, the primary drivers of the changes in operating activities include the following for the years ended December 31 (in thousands):
Change
Change
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable
$
185,168
$
(78,978)
$
264,146
$
(78,978)
$
81,898
$
(160,876)
Decrease (increase) in inventories
$
65,588
$
(64,790)
$
130,378
$
(64,790)
$
(29,778)
$
(35,012)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable
$
(165,513)
$
64,407
$
(229,920)
$
64,407
$
(4,433)
$
68,840
(Increase) decrease in derivatives
$
(12,635)
$
30,030
$
(42,665)
$
30,030
(31,764)
$
61,794
In 2020, the decreases in accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable are largely due to the decrease in prices, primarily caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical events. The increase in operating cash flow was also impacted by the year-over-year change in derivatives of $42.7 million due to market direction.
In 2019, the increases in accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable were primarily due to higher prices. The decrease in operating cash flow was also impacted by the year-over-year change in derivatives of $61.8 million due to market direction.
In 2018, the decrease in accounts receivable was due largely to the take-or-pay receivable with one particular crude oil contract customer at December 31, 2017 that was not recognized at December 31, 2018. The increase in inventories was due to higher inventory volume.
Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $69.7 million for 2020 and included $47.0 million in maintenance capital expenditures, $29.3 million in expansion capital expenditures and $1.6 million in seller note issuances, offset by $8.2 million in proceeds from the sale of property and equipment. The seller note issuances represent notes we, the seller, received from buyers in connection with the sale of certain of our gasoline stations.
Net cash used in investing activities was $67.2 million for 2019 and included $49.9 million in maintenance capital expenditures, $33.0 million in expansion capital expenditures and $1.4 million in seller note issuances, offset by $17.1 million in proceeds from the sale of property and equipment.
Net cash used in investing activities was $225.7 million for 2018 and included $138.2 million and $33.4 million in cash used to fund the acquisitions of Champlain and Cheshire, respectively, including inventory, $38.6 million in maintenance capital expenditures, $30.6 million in expansion capital expenditures and $3.3 million in seller note issuances, offset by $18.4 million in proceeds from the sale of property and equipment.
Please read “-Capital Expenditures” for a discussion of our expansion capital expenditures for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $245.1 million for 2020 and included $306.5 million in payments in connection with the redemption of the 2023 Notes and the issuance of the 2029 Notes, $139.5 million in net payments on our working capital revolving credit facility primarily due to lower prices and an increase in net income, $71.3 million in cash distributions to our limited partners (preferred and common unitholders) and our general partner, $70.7 million in net payments on our revolving credit facility, $1.6 million related to the acquisition of our noncontrolling interest at Basin Transload, $0.3 million in the repurchase of common units pursuant to our repurchase program for future satisfaction of our LTIP obligations and $0.3 million in LTIP units withheld for tax obligations related to awards that vested in 2020. Net cash used in financing activities was offset by $344.7 million in proceeds in connection with the issuance of the 2029 Notes and $0.4 million in capital contributions from our noncontrolling interest at Basin Transload.
Net cash used in financing activities was $23.3 million for 2019 and included $381.9 million in payments in connection with the repurchase of the 2022 Notes and the issuance of the 2027 Notes, $76.6 million in cash distributions to our limited partners (preferred and common unitholders) and our general partner, $27.3 million in net payments on our revolving credit facility and $0.7 million in LTIP units withheld for tax obligations related to awards that vested in 2019. Net cash used in financing activities was offset by $392.6 million in proceeds in connection with the issuance of the 2027 Notes and $70.6 million in net borrowings from our working capital revolving credit facility in part due to higher prices.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $50.1 million for 2018 and included $66.4 million in net proceeds from the issuance of the Series A preferred units, $26.6 million in net borrowings from our revolving credit facility and $24.0 million in borrowings from our working capital revolving credit facility, offset by $66.0 million in cash distributions to our limited partners (preferred and common unitholders) and our general partner and $0.8 million in LTIP units withheld for tax obligations related to awards that vested in 2018.
See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statement for supplemental cash flow information related to our working capital revolving credit facility and revolving credit facility for 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Credit Agreement
Certain subsidiaries of ours, as borrowers, and we and certain of our subsidiaries, as guarantors, have a $1.17 billion senior secured credit facility. We repay amounts outstanding and reborrow funds based on our working capital requirements and, therefore, classify as a current liability the portion of the working capital revolving credit facility we expect to pay down during the course of the year. The long-term portion of the working capital revolving credit facility is the amount we expect to be outstanding during the entire year. The credit agreement matures on April 29, 2022.
There are two facilities under the credit agreement:
● a working capital revolving credit facility to be used for working capital purposes and letters of credit in the principal amount equal to the lesser of our borrowing base and $770.0 million; and
● a $400.0 million revolving credit facility to be used for general corporate purposes.
In addition, the credit agreement has an accordion feature whereby we may request on the same terms and
conditions then applicable to the credit agreement, provided no Event of Default (as defined in the credit agreement) then exists, an increase to the working capital revolving credit facility, the revolving credit facility, or both, by up to another $300.0 million, in the aggregate, for a total credit facility of up to $1.47 billion. Any such request for an increase must be in a minimum amount of $25.0 million. We cannot provide assurance, however, that our lending group will agree to fund any request by us for additional amounts in excess of the total available commitments of $1.17 billion.
In addition, the credit agreement includes a swing line pursuant to which Bank of America, N.A., as the swing line lender, may make swing line loans in U.S. dollars in an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (a) $75.0 million and (b) the Aggregate WC Commitments (as defined in the credit agreement). Swing line loans will bear interest at the Base Rate (as defined in the credit agreement). The swing line is a sub-portion of the working capital revolving credit facility and is not an addition to the total available commitments of $1.17 billion.
Availability under the working capital revolving credit facility is subject to a borrowing base which is redetermined from time to time and based on specific advance rates on eligible current assets. Under the credit agreement, borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility cannot exceed the then current borrowing base. Availability under the borrowing base may be affected by events beyond our control, such as changes in petroleum product prices, collection cycles, counterparty performance, advance rates and limits and general economic conditions. These and other events could require us to seek waivers or amendments of covenants or alternative sources of financing or to reduce expenditures. We can provide no assurance that such waivers, amendments or alternative financing could be obtained or, if obtained, would be on terms acceptable to us.
Borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility bear interest at (1) the Eurocurrency rate subject to a floor of 0.75% plus 2.125% to 2.625%, (2) the cost of funds rate subject to a floor of 0.50% plus 2.125% to 2.625%, or (3) the base rate plus 1.125% to 1.625%, each depending on the Utilization Amount (as defined in the credit agreement). Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at (1) the Eurocurrency rate subject to a floor of 0.75% plus 1.75% to 3.25%, (2) the cost of funds rate subject to a floor of 0.50% plus 1.75% to 3.25%, or (3) the base rate plus 0.75% to 2.25%, each depending on the Combined Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement).
The average interest rates for the credit agreement were 2.9%, 4.3% and 4.0% for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. Under our credit agreement, if a comparable or successor rate to LIBOR is approved by Bank of America, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent under our credit agreement, the approved rate will be applied in a manner consistent with market practice. To the extent market practice is not administratively feasible for the administrative agent, the approved rate will be applied in a manner otherwise reasonably determined by the administrative agent. We currently do not expect the transition from LIBOR to have a material impact on us. However, if clear market standards and replacement methodologies have not developed as of the time LIBOR becomes unavailable, we may have difficulty reaching agreement on acceptable replacement rates under our credit agreement. In the event that we do not reach agreement on an acceptable replacement rate for LIBOR, outstanding borrowings under the credit agreement denominated in U.S. dollars would revert to a floating rate equal to the base rate (which is equal to the greatest of the administrative agent’s prime rate, the Federal Funds effective rate plus 0.50%, or 1-month LIBOR plus 1.00%) plus the applicable margin applicable to the alternative base rate which is currently equal to between 0.75% and 1.75%. If we are unable to negotiate replacement rates on favorable terms, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash distributions to unitholders.
The credit agreement provides for a letter of credit fee equal to the then applicable working capital rate or then applicable revolver rate (each such rate as defined in the credit agreement) per annum for each letter of credit issued. In addition, we incur a commitment fee on the unused portion of each facility under the credit agreement, ranging from 0.35% to 0.50% per annum.
As of December 31, 2020, we had total borrowings outstanding under the credit agreement of $306.4 million, including $122.0 million outstanding on the revolving credit facility. In addition, we had outstanding letters of credit of
$85.1 million. Subject to borrowing base limitations, the total remaining availability for borrowings and letters of credit was $778.5 million and $660.2 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The credit agreement is secured by substantially all of our assets and the assets of our wholly owned subsidiaries and is guaranteed by us and our subsidiaries, Bursaw Oil LLC, Global Partners Energy Canada ULC, Warex Terminals Corporation, Drake Petroleum Company, Inc., Puritan Oil Company, Inc., Maryland Oil Company, Inc. and Basin Transload, LLC.
The credit agreement also includes certain baskets, including (i) a $25.0 million general secured indebtedness basket, (ii) a $25.0 million general investment basket, (iii) a $75.0 million secured indebtedness basket to permit the borrowers to enter into a Contango Facility (as defined in the credit agreement), (iv) a Sale/Leaseback Transaction (as defined in the credit agreement) basket of $100.0 million, and (v) a basket of $50.0 million in an aggregate amount for the purchase of our common units, provided that no Event of Default exists or would occur immediately following such purchase(s).
In addition, the credit agreement provides the ability for the borrowers to repay certain junior indebtedness, subject to a $100.0 million cap, so long as no Event of Default has occurred or will exist immediately after making such repayment.
The credit agreement imposes financial covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum working capital amounts, a minimum combined interest coverage ratio, a maximum senior secured leverage ratio and a maximum total leverage ratio. We were in compliance with the foregoing covenants at December 31, 2020. The credit agreement also contains a representation whereby there can be no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the credit agreement). In addition, the credit agreement limits distributions by us to our unitholders to the amount of Available Cash (as defined in the partnership agreement).
Senior Notes
6.875% Senior Notes Due 2029
On October 7, 2020, the Issuers issued $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% senior notes due 2029 to the 2029 Notes Initial Purchasers in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. We used the net proceeds from the offering to fund the redemption of the 2023 Notes and to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement. The redemption of the 2023 Notes occurred on October 23, 2020.
As a result of the redemption of the 2023 Notes, we recorded a $7.2 million loss from the early extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2020, consisting of a $5.3 million cash call premium and a $1.9 million non-cash write-off of remaining unamortized deferred financing fees.
2029 Notes Indenture
In connection with the private placement of the 2029 Notes on October 7, 2020, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors and Regions Bank, as trustee, entered into an indenture as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated October 28, 2020 (the “2029 Notes Indenture”).
The 2029 Notes mature on January 15, 2029 with interest accruing at a rate of 6.875% per annum. Interest is payable beginning July 15, 2021 and thereafter semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. The 2029 Notes are guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors to the extent set forth in the 2029 Notes Indenture. Upon a continuing event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the 2029 Notes may declare the 2029 Notes immediately due and payable, except that an event of default resulting from entry into a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the
Issuers, any restricted subsidiary of ours that is a significant subsidiary or any group of our restricted subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary of ours, will automatically cause the 2029 Notes to become due and payable.
The Issuers have the option to redeem up to 35% of the 2029 Notes prior to October 15, 2023 at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 106.875% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The Issuers have the option to redeem the 2029 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after January 15, 2024, at the redemption prices of 103.438% for the twelve-month period beginning on January 15, 2024, 102.292% for the twelve-month period beginning January 15, 2025, 101.146% for the twelve-month period beginning January 15, 2026, and 100% beginning on January 15, 2027 and at any time thereafter, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, prior to January 15, 2024, the Issuers may redeem all or any part of the 2029 Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of the principal amount thereof, plus a make whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. The holders of the 2029 Notes may require the Issuers to repurchase the 2029 Notes following certain asset sales or a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the 2029 Notes Indenture) at the prices and on the terms specified in the 2029 Notes Indenture.
The 2029 Notes Indenture contains covenants that limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred securities, make certain dividends and distributions, make certain investments and other restricted payments, restrict distributions by its subsidiaries, create liens, sell assets or merge with other entities. Events of default under the 2029 Notes Indenture include (i) a default in payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the 2029 Notes, (ii) breach of our covenants under the 2029 Notes Indenture, (iii) certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, (iv) any payment default or acceleration of indebtedness of ours or certain subsidiaries if the total amount of such indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $50.0 million and (v) failure to pay within 60 days uninsured final judgments exceeding $50.0 million.
2029 Notes Registration Rights Agreement
On October 7, 2020, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement (the “2029 Notes Registration Rights Agreement”) with the 2029 Notes Initial Purchasers in connection with the Issuers’ private placement of the 2029 Notes. Pursuant to the 2029 Notes Registration Rights Agreement, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors completed an exchange of the 2029 Notes for an issue of notes with terms identical to the 2029 Notes (except that the exchange notes will not be subject to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate for failure to comply with the 2029 Notes Registration Rights Agreement) that are registered under the Securities Act on February 1, 2021. All of the 2029 Notes were exchanged for SEC-registered notes.
7.00% Senior Notes Due 2027
On July 31, 2019, the Issuers issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.00% senior notes due 2027 to the 2027 Notes Initial Purchasers in a private placement exempt from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. We used the net proceeds from the offering to fund the repurchase of the 2022 Notes in a tender offer and to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement. The redemption of the 2022 Notes occurred on August 30, 2019.
As a result of the repurchase of the 2022 Notes, we recorded a $13.1 million loss from early extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2019, consisting of a $6.9 million cash call premium and a $6.2 million non-cash write-off of remaining unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing fees.
2027 Notes Indenture
In connection with the private placement of the 2027 Notes on July 31, 2019, the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors and Regions Bank (as successor trustee to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas), as trustee, entered into
an indenture as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated October 28, 2020 (the “2027 Notes Indenture”).
The 2027 Notes will mature on August 1, 2027 with interest accruing at a rate of 7.00% per annum and payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year, commencing February 1, 2020. The 2027 Notes are guaranteed on a joint and several senior unsecured basis by each of the Issuers and the subsidiary guarantors to the extent set forth in the 2027 Notes Indenture. Upon a continuing event of default, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the 2027 Notes may declare the 2027 Notes immediately due and payable, except that an event of default resulting from entry into a bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Issuers, any restricted subsidiary of ours that is a significant subsidiary or any group of our restricted subsidiaries that, taken together, would constitute a significant subsidiary of ours, will automatically cause the 2027 Notes to become due and payable.
Prior to August 1, 2022, the Issuers have the option to redeem up to 35% of the 2027 Notes in an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 107% plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The Issuers have the option to redeem the 2027 Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after August 1, 2022, at the redemption prices of 103.500% for the twelve-month period beginning on August 1, 2022, 102.333% for the twelve-month period beginning August 1, 2023, 101.167% for the twelve-month period beginning August 1, 2024, and 100% beginning on August 1, 2025 and at any time thereafter, together with any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, prior to August 1, 2022, the Issuers may redeem all or any part of the 2027 Notes at a redemption price equal to the sum of the principal amount thereof, plus a make whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. The holders of the 2027 Notes may require the Issuers to repurchase the 2027 Notes following certain asset sales or a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined in the 2027 Notes Indenture) at the prices and on the terms specified in the 2027 Notes Indenture.
The 2027 Notes Indenture contains covenants that will limit our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness and issue preferred securities, make certain dividends and distributions, make certain investments and other restricted payments, restrict distributions by our subsidiaries, create liens, sell assets or merge with other entities. Events of default under the 2027 Notes Indenture include (i) a default in payment of principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, the 2027 Notes, (ii) breach of our covenants under the 2027 Notes Indenture, (iii) certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, (iv) any payment default or acceleration of indebtedness of ours or certain subsidiaries if the total amount of such indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $50.0 million and (v) failure to pay within 60 days uninsured final judgments exceeding $50.0 million.
Financing Obligations
Capitol Acquisition
On June 1, 2015, we acquired retail gasoline stations and dealer supply contracts from Capitol Petroleum Group (“Capitol”). In connection with the acquisition, we assumed a financing obligation of $89.6 million associated with two sale-leaseback transactions by Capitol for 53 leased sites that did not meet the criteria for sale accounting. During the terms of these leases, which expire in May 2028 and September 2029, in lieu of recognizing lease expense for the lease rental payments, we incur interest expense associated with the financing obligation. Interest expense of approximately $9.3 million, $9.3 million and $9.4 million was recorded for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and is included in interest expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The financing obligation will amortize through expiration of the leases based upon the lease rental payments which were $10.1 million, $9.9 million and $9.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The financing obligation balance outstanding at December 31, 2020 was $86.1 million associated with the Capitol acquisition.
Sale-Leaseback Transaction
On June 29, 2016, we sold to a premier institutional real estate investor (the “Buyer”) real property assets, including the buildings, improvements and appurtenances thereto, at 30 gasoline stations and convenience stores located
in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island (the “Sale-Leaseback Sites”) for a purchase price of approximately $63.5 million. In connection with the sale, we entered into a Master Unitary Lease Agreement with the Buyer to lease back the real property assets sold with respect to the Sale-Leaseback Sites (such Master Lease Agreement, together with the Sale-Leaseback Sites, the “Sale-Leaseback Transaction”). The Master Unitary Lease Agreement provides for an initial term of fifteen years that expires in 2031. We have one successive option to renew the lease for a ten-year period followed by two successive options to renew the lease for five-year periods on the same terms, covenants, conditions and rental as the primary non-revocable lease term. We do not have any residual interest nor the option to repurchase any of the sites at the end of the lease term. The proceeds from the Sale-Leaseback Transaction were used to reduce indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility.
The sale did not meet the criteria for sale accounting as of December 31, 2020 due to prohibited continuing involvement. Specifically, the sale is considered a partial-sale transaction, which is a form of continuing involvement as we did not transfer to the Buyer the storage tank systems which are considered integral equipment of the Sale-Leaseback Sites. Additionally, a portion of the sold sites have material sub-lease arrangements, which is also a form of continuing involvement. As the sale of the Sale-Leaseback Sites did not meet the criteria for sale accounting, we did not recognize a gain or loss on the sale of the Sale-Leaseback Sites for the year ended December 31, 2020.
As a result of not meeting the criteria for sale accounting for these sites, the Sale-Leaseback Transaction is accounted for as a financing arrangement. As such, the property and equipment sold and leased back by us has not been derecognized and continues to be depreciated. We recognized a corresponding financing obligation of $62.5 million equal to the $63.5 million cash proceeds received for the sale of these sites, net of $1.0 million financing fees. During the term of the lease, which expires in June 2031, in lieu of recognizing lease expense for the lease rental payments, we incur interest expense associated with the financing obligation. Lease rental payments are recognized as both interest expense and a reduction of the principal balance associated with the financing obligation. Interest expense was $4.3 million, $4.4 million and $4.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and lease rental payments were $4.7 million, $4.6 million and $4.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The financing obligation balance outstanding at December 31, 2020 was $62.0 million associated with the Sale-Leaseback Transaction.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have no off-balance sheet arrangements.
Impact of Inflation
Inflation has been relatively low in recent years and did not have a material impact on our results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
Environmental Matters
Our businesses of purchasing, storing, supplying and distributing refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels, crude oil and propane and other business activities, involves a number of activities that are subject to extensive and stringent environmental laws. For a complete discussion of the environmental laws and regulations affecting our businesses, please read Items 1 and 2, “Business and Properties-Environmental.” For additional information regarding our environmental liabilities, see Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
A summary of the significant accounting policies that we have adopted and followed in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements is detailed in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain of these accounting policies require the use of estimates. These estimates are based on our knowledge and understanding of current conditions and actions that we may take in the future. Changes in these estimates will occur as a result of the passage of time and the occurrence of future events. Subsequent changes in these estimates may have a significant
impact on our financial condition and results of operations and are recorded in the period in which they become known. The COVID-19 pandemic across the United States and the responses of governmental bodies (federal, state and municipal), companies and individuals, including mandated and/or voluntary restrictions to mitigate the spread of the virus, have caused a significant economic downturn. The uncertainty surrounding the short and long-term impact of COVID-19, including the inability to project the timing of an economic recovery, may have an impact on our use of estimates. We have identified the following estimates that, in our opinion, are subjective in nature, require the exercise of judgment and involve complex analysis:
Inventory
We hedge substantially all of our petroleum and ethanol inventory using a variety of instruments, primarily exchange-traded futures contracts. These futures contracts are entered into when inventory is purchased and are either designated as fair value hedges against the inventory on a specific barrel basis for inventories qualifying for fair value hedge accounting or not designated and maintained as economic hedges against certain inventory of ours on a specific barrel basis. Changes in fair value of these futures contracts, as well as the offsetting change in fair value on the hedged inventory, are recognized in earnings as an increase or decrease in cost of sales. All hedged inventory designated in a fair value hedge relationship is valued using the lower of cost, as determined by specific identification, or net realizable value, as determined at the product level. All petroleum and ethanol inventory not designated in a fair value hedging relationship is carried at the lower of historical cost, on a first-in, first-out basis, or net realizable value. RIN inventory is carried at the lower of historical cost, on a first-in, first-out basis, or net realizable value. Convenience store inventory is carried at the lower of historical cost, based on a weighted average cost method, or net realizable value.
In addition to our own inventory, we have exchange agreements for petroleum products and ethanol with unrelated third-party suppliers, whereby we may draw inventory from these other suppliers and suppliers may draw inventory from us. Positive exchange balances are accounted for as accounts receivable. Negative exchange balances are accounted for as accounts payable. Exchange transactions are valued using current carrying costs.
Leases
We have gasoline station and convenience store leases, primarily of land and buildings. We have terminal and dedicated storage facility lease arrangements with various petroleum terminals and third parties, of which certain arrangements have minimum usage requirements. We lease barges through various time charter lease arrangements and railcars through various lease arrangements. We also have leases for office space, computer and convenience store equipment and automobiles. Our lease arrangements have various expiration dates with options to extend.
We are also the lessor party to various lease arrangements with various expiration dates, including the leasing of gasoline stations and certain equipment to third-party station operators and cobranding lease agreements for certain space within our gasoline stations and convenience stores.
In addition, we are party to three master unitary lease agreements in connection with (i) the June 2015 acquisition of retail gasoline stations from Capitol related to properties previously sold by Capitol within two sale-leaseback transactions; and (ii) the June 2016 sale of real property assets at 30 gasoline stations and convenience stores that did not meet the criteria for sale accounting. These transactions continue to be accounted for as financing obligations upon transition to ASC 842, “Leases,” which we adopted on January 1, 2019.
Accounting and reporting guidance for leases requires that leases be evaluated and classified as either operating or finance leases by the lessee and as either operating, sales-type or direct financing leases by the lessor. Our operating leases are included in right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, lease liability-current portion and long-term lease liability-less current portion in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities represent the obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Our variable lease payments
consist of payments that depend on an index or rate (such as the Consumer Price Index) as well as those payments that depend on our performance or use of the underlying asset related to the lease. Variable lease payments are excluded from the ROU assets and lease liabilities and are recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate in determining the net present value of lease payments, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. ROU assets also include any lease payments made and exclude lease incentives. Many of our lessee agreements include options to extend the lease, which are not included in the minimum lease terms unless they are reasonably certain to be exercised. Rental expense for lease payments related to operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Rental income for lease payments received related to operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
We have elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance within the new standard which, among other things, allows us to carry forward the historical accounting relating to lease identification and classification for existing leases upon adoption. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet as we recognize lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Our leases have contracted terms as follows:
Gasoline station and convenience store leases
1-20
years
Terminal lease arrangements
1-5
years
Dedicated storage facility leases
1-5
years
Barge and railcar equipment leases
1-10
years
Office space leases
1-12
years
Computer equipment, convenience store equipment and automobile leases
1-5
years
The above table excludes our West Coast facility land lease arrangement which contract term is subject to expiration through July 2066. Some of the above leases include options to extend the leases for up to an additional 30 years. We do not include renewal options in our lease terms for calculating the lease liability unless we are reasonably certain the renewal options are to be exercised. The depreciable life of assets and leasehold improvements are limited by the expected lease term, unless there is a transfer of title or purchase option reasonably certain of exercise.
Revenue Recognition
Our sales relate primarily to the sale of refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil are recognized along with the related receivable upon delivery, net of applicable provisions for discounts and allowances. We may also provide for shipping costs at the time of sale, which are included in cost of sales.
Contracts with customers typically contain pricing provisions that are tied to a market index, with certain adjustments based on quality and freight due to location differences and prevailing supply and demand conditions, as well as other factors. As a result, the price of the products fluctuates to remain competitive with other available product supplies. The revenue associated with such arrangements is recognized upon delivery.
In addition, we generate revenue from our logistics activities when we store, transload and ship products owned by others. Revenue from logistics services is recognized as services are provided.
Logistics agreements may require counterparties to throughput a minimum volume over an agreed-upon period and may include make-up rights if the minimum volume is not met. We recognize revenue associated with make-up rights at the earlier of when the make-up volume is shipped, the make-up right expires or when it is determined that the likelihood that the shipper will utilize the make-up right is remote.
We also recognize convenience store sales of gasoline, grocery and other merchandise and sundries at the time of the sale to the customer. Gasoline station rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
Product revenue is not recognized on exchange agreements, which are entered into primarily to acquire various refined petroleum products, gasoline blendstocks, renewable fuels and crude oil of a desired quality or to reduce transportation costs by taking delivery of products closer to our end markets. We recognize net exchange differentials due from exchange partners in sales upon delivery of product to an exchange partner. We recognize net exchange differentials due to exchange partners in cost of sales upon receipt of product from an exchange partner.
The amounts recorded for bad debts are generally based upon a specific analysis of aged accounts while also factoring in any new business conditions that might impact the historical analysis, such as market conditions and bankruptcies of particular customers. Bad debt provisions are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.
Trustee Taxes
We collect trustee taxes, which consist of various pass through taxes collected on behalf of taxing authorities, and remit such taxes directly to those taxing authorities. Examples of trustee taxes include, among other things, motor fuel excise tax and sales and use tax. As such, it is our policy to exclude trustee taxes from revenues and cost of sales and account for them as current liabilities. We may be subject to audits of our state and federal tax returns prepared for trustee taxes.
Derivative Financial Instruments
We principally use derivative instruments, which include regulated exchange-traded futures and options contracts (collectively, “exchange-traded derivatives”) and physical and financial forwards and over-the counter (“OTC”) swaps (collectively, “OTC derivatives”), to reduce our exposure to unfavorable changes in commodity market prices. We use these exchange-traded and OTC derivatives to hedge commodity price risk associated with our inventory, fuel purchases and undelivered forward commodity purchases and sales (“physical forward contracts”). We account for derivative transactions in accordance with ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging,” and recognize derivatives instruments as either assets or liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet and measure those instruments at fair value. The changes in fair value of the derivative transactions are presented currently in earnings, unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met.
The fair value of exchange-traded derivative transactions reflects amounts that would be received from or paid to our brokers upon liquidation of these contracts. The fair value of these exchange-traded derivative transactions is presented on a net basis, offset by the cash balances on deposit with our brokers, presented as brokerage margin deposits in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of OTC derivative transactions reflects amounts that would be received from or paid to a third party upon liquidation of these contracts under current market conditions. The fair value of these OTC derivative transactions is presented on a gross basis as derivative assets or derivative liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets, unless a legal right of offset exists. The presentation of the change in fair value of our exchange-traded derivatives and OTC derivative transactions depends on the intended use of the derivative and the resulting designation.
Derivatives Accounted for as Hedges-We utilize fair value hedges and cash flow hedges to hedge commodity price risk.
Fair Value Hedges
Derivatives designated as fair value hedges are used to hedge price risk in commodity inventories and principally include exchange-traded futures contracts that are entered into in the ordinary course of business. For a derivative instrument designated as a fair value hedge, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change together with the offsetting change in fair value on the hedged item of the risk being hedged. Gains and losses related to
fair value hedges are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations through cost of sales. These futures contracts are settled on a daily basis by us through brokerage margin accounts.
Our fair value hedges include exchange-traded futures contracts and OTC derivative contracts that are hedges against inventory with specific futures contracts matched to specific barrels. The change in fair value of these futures contracts and the change in fair value of the underlying inventory generally provide an offset to each other in the consolidated statement of operations.
Cash Flow Hedges
Our sales and cost of sales fluctuate with changes in commodity prices. In addition to our commodity price risk associated with our inventory and undelivered forward commodity purchases and sales, our gross profit may fluctuate in periods where commodity prices are rising or declining depending on the magnitude and duration of the commodity price change. In our GDSO segment, we have observed trends where margins may improve in periods where wholesale gasoline prices are declining and margins may compress during periods where wholesale gasoline prices are rising. Additionally, we have certain operating costs that are indirectly impacted by fluctuations in commodity prices such that our operating costs may increase during periods where margins compress and, conversely, operating costs may decrease during periods where margins improve. To hedge our cash flow risk as a result of this observed trend in the GDSO segment, we entered into exchange-traded commodity swap contracts and designated them as a cash flow hedge of our fuel purchases designed to reduce our cost of fuel if market prices rise through 2021 or increase our cost of fuel if market prices decrease through 2021. For a derivative instrument being designated as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the derivative gain or loss is initially reported as a component of other comprehensive income (loss) and subsequently reclassified into the consolidated statement of income through cost of goods sold in the same period that the hedged exposure affects earnings.
Derivatives Not Accounted for as Hedges-We utilize petroleum and ethanol commodity contracts to hedge price and currency risk in certain commodity inventories and physical forward contracts.
Petroleum and Ethanol Commodity Contracts
We use exchange-traded derivative contracts to hedge price risk in certain commodity inventories which do not qualify for fair value hedge accounting or are not designated by us as fair value hedges. Additionally, we use exchange-traded derivative contracts, and occasionally financial forward and OTC swap agreements, to hedge commodity price exposure associated with our physical forward contracts which are not designated by us as cash flow hedges. These physical forward contracts, to the extent they meet the definition of a derivative, are considered OTC physical forwards and are reflected as derivative assets or derivative liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet. The related exchange-traded derivative contracts (and financial forward and OTC swaps, if applicable) are also reflected as brokerage margin deposits (and derivative assets or derivative liabilities, if applicable) in the consolidated balance sheet, thereby creating an economic hedge. Changes in fair value of these derivative instruments are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations through cost of sales. These exchange traded derivatives are settled on a daily basis by us through brokerage margin accounts.
While we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within our commodity product purchase and sale activities, we may experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time as a result of variances in daily purchases and sales and transportation and delivery schedules as well as other logistical issues inherent in our businesses, such as weather conditions. In connection with managing these positions, we are aided by maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace. We also engage in a controlled trading program for up to an aggregate of 250,000 barrels of commodity products at any one point in time. Changes in fair value of these derivative instruments are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations through cost of sales.
Margin Deposits
All of our exchange-traded derivative contracts (designated and not designated) are transacted through clearing brokers. We deposit initial margin with the clearing brokers, along with variation margin, which is paid or received on a
daily basis, based upon the changes in fair value of open futures contracts and settlement of closed futures contracts. Cash balances on deposit with clearing brokers and open equity are presented on a net basis within brokerage margin deposits in the consolidated balance sheets.
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized. We have concluded that our operating segments are also our reporting units. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually as of October 1 or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of goodwill may not be recoverable. Derecognized goodwill associated with our disposition activities of GDSO sites is included in the carrying value of assets sold in determining the gain or loss on disposal, to the extent the disposition of assets qualifies as a disposition of a business under ASC 805. The GDSO reporting unit’s goodwill that was derecognized related to the disposition of sites that met the definition of a business was $0.9 million, $2.9 million and $3.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively (see Note 7 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements).
All of our goodwill is allocated to the GDSO segment. During 2020, 2019 and 2018, we completed a quantitative assessment for the GDSO reporting unit. Factors included in the assessment included both macro-economic conditions and industry specific conditions, and the fair value of the GDSO reporting unit was estimated using a weighted average of a discounted cash flow approach and a market comparables approach. Based on our assessment, no impairment was identified.
Evaluation of Long-Lived Asset Impairment
Accounting and reporting guidance for long-lived assets requires that a long-lived asset (group) be reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount might not be recoverable. Accordingly, we evaluate long-lived assets for impairment whenever indicators of impairment are identified. If indicators of impairment are present, we assess impairment by comparing the undiscounted projected future cash flows from the long-lived assets to their carrying value. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value, the long-lived assets will be reduced to their fair value.
Environmental and Other Liabilities
We record accrued liabilities for all direct costs associated with the estimated resolution of contingencies at the earliest date at which it is deemed probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of such liability can be reasonably estimated. Costs accrued are estimated based upon an analysis of potential results, assuming a combination of litigation and settlement strategies and outcomes.
Estimated losses from environmental remediation obligations generally are recognized no later than completion of the remedial feasibility study. Loss accruals are adjusted as further information becomes available or circumstances change. Costs of future expenditures for environmental remediation obligations are not discounted to their present value. Recoveries of environmental remediation costs from other parties are recognized when related contingencies are resolved, generally upon cash receipt.
We are subject to other contingencies, including legal proceedings and claims arising out of our businesses that cover a wide range of matters, including, environmental matters and contract and employment claims. Environmental and other legal proceedings may also include matters with respect to businesses previously owned. Further, due to the lack of adequate information and the potential impact of present regulations and any future regulations, there are certain circumstances in which no range of potential exposure may be reasonably estimated.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
A description and related impact expected from the adoption of certain new accounting pronouncements is provided in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. The principal market risks to which we are exposed are interest rate risk and commodity risk. We currently utilize various derivative instruments to manage exposure to commodity risk.
Interest Rate Risk
We utilize variable rate debt and are exposed to market risk due to the floating interest rates on our credit agreement. Therefore, from time to time, we utilize interest rate collars, swaps and caps to hedge interest obligations on specific and anticipated debt issuances.
As of December 31, 2020, we had total borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement of $306.4 million. Please read Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Credit Agreement,” for information on interest rates related to our borrowings. The impact of a 1% increase in the interest rate on this amount of debt would have resulted in an increase in interest expense, and a corresponding decrease in our results of operations, of approximately $3.1 million annually, assuming, however, that our indebtedness remained constant throughout the year.
Commodity Risk
We hedge our exposure to price fluctuations with respect to refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil and gasoline blendstocks in storage and expected purchases and sales of these commodities. The derivative instruments utilized consist primarily of exchange-traded futures contracts traded on the NYMEX, CME and ICE and over-the-counter transactions, including swap agreements entered into with established financial institutions and other credit-approved energy companies. Our policy is generally to purchase only products for which we have a market and to structure our sales contracts so that price fluctuations do not materially affect our profit. While our policies are designed to minimize market risk, as well as inherent basis risk, exposure to fluctuations in market conditions remains. Except for the controlled trading program discussed below, we do not acquire and hold futures contracts or other derivative products for the purpose of speculating on price changes that might expose us to indeterminable losses.
While we seek to maintain a position that is substantially balanced within our commodity product purchase and sales activities, we may experience net unbalanced positions for short periods of time as a result of variances in daily purchases and sales and transportation and delivery schedules as well as other logistical issues inherent in our businesses, such as weather conditions. In connection with managing these positions, we are aided by maintaining a constant presence in the marketplace. We also engage in a controlled trading program for up to an aggregate of 250,000 barrels of commodity products at any one point in time. Changes in the fair value of these derivative instruments are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations through cost of sales. In addition, because a portion of our crude oil business may be conducted in Canadian dollars, we may use foreign currency derivatives to minimize the risks of unfavorable exchange rates. These instruments may include foreign currency exchange contracts and forwards. In conjunction with entering into the commodity derivative, we may enter into a foreign currency derivative to hedge the resulting foreign currency risk. These foreign currency derivatives are generally short-term in nature and not designated for hedge accounting.
We utilize exchange-traded futures contracts and other derivative instruments to minimize or hedge the impact of commodity price changes on our inventories, fuel purchases and forward fixed price commitments. Any hedge ineffectiveness is reflected in our results of operations. We utilize regulated exchanges, including the NYMEX, CME and ICE, which are exchanges for the respective commodities that each trades, thereby reducing potential delivery and supply risks. Generally, our practice is to close all exchange positions rather than to make or receive physical deliveries.
At December 31, 2020, the fair value of all of our commodity risk derivative instruments and the change in fair value that would be expected from a 10% price increase or decrease are shown in the table below (in thousands):
Fair Value at
Gain (Loss)
December 31,
Effect of 10%
Effect of 10%
Price Increase
Price Decrease
Exchange traded derivative contracts
$
(21,005)
$
(21,481)
$
21,481
Forward derivative contracts
4,501
(2,883)
2,883
Total
$
(16,504)
$
(24,364)
$
24,364
The fair values of the futures contracts are based on quoted market prices obtained from the NYMEX, CME and ICE. The fair value of the swaps and option contracts are estimated based on quoted prices from various sources such as independent reporting services, industry publications and brokers. These quotes are compared to the contract price of the swap, which approximates the gain or loss that would have been realized if the contracts had been closed out at December 31, 2020. For positions where independent quotations are not available, an estimate is provided, or the prevailing market price at which the positions could be liquidated is used. All hedge positions offset physical exposures to the physical market; none of these offsetting physical exposures are included in the above table. Price-risk sensitivities were calculated by assuming an across-the-board 10% increase or decrease in price regardless of term or historical relationships between the contractual price of the instruments and the underlying commodity price. In the event of an actual 10% change in prompt month prices, the fair value of our derivative portfolio would typically change less than that shown in the table due to lower volatility in out-month prices. We have a daily margin requirement to maintain a cash deposit with our brokers based on the prior day’s market results on open futures contracts. The balance of this deposit will fluctuate based on our open market positions and the commodity exchange’s requirements. The brokerage margin balance was $21.7 million at December 31, 2020.
We are exposed to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to our exchange-traded derivative contracts, physical forward contracts and swap agreements. We anticipate some nonperformance by some of these counterparties which, in the aggregate, we do not believe at this time will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash available for distribution to our unitholders. Exchange-traded derivative contracts, the primary derivative instrument utilized by us, are traded on regulated exchanges, greatly reducing potential credit risks. We utilize major financial institutions as our clearing brokers for all NYMEX, CME and ICE derivative transactions and the right of offset exists with these financial institutions. Accordingly, the fair value of our exchange-traded derivative instruments is presented on a net basis in the consolidated balance sheet. Exposure on physical forward contracts and swap agreements is limited to the amount of the recorded fair value as of the balance sheet dates.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
The information required here is included in the report as set forth in the “Index to Financial Statements” on page.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Under the supervision
and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, management evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were operating and effective as of December 31, 2020.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management’s Annual Report
We are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). Our internal control over financial reporting is the process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP. There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility that misstatements may not be prevented or detected. Accordingly, even effective internal controls over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework). Based on that evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2020.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, our independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. See “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” on page of our consolidated financial statements.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.
Global GP LLC, our general partner, manages our operations and activities on our behalf. Our general partner is not elected by our unitholders. Unitholders are not entitled to elect the directors of our general partner or directly or indirectly participate in our management or operation. Affiliates of the Slifka family own 100% of the ownership interests in our general partner. Our general partner is controlled by Richard Slifka and the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A (the “AS Article II-A Trust”) directly and through their beneficial ownership of entities that own ownership interests in our general partner. Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka beneficially own interests in our general partner. Our general partner is liable, as general partner, for all of our debts (to the extent not paid from our assets), except for indebtedness or other obligations that are made specifically nonrecourse to it. Whenever possible, our general partner intends to incur indebtedness or other obligations that are nonrecourse.
Alfred A. Slifka, former chairman of the board of our general partner, passed away on March 9, 2014. Mr. Slifka’s estate closed effective February 28, 2017 and his interest in our general partner and his beneficially owned interests in Global Partners LP and its affiliates were transferred to the AS Article II-A Trust on that date. Eric Slifka, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and his two siblings are the trustees of the AS Article II-A Trust.
Four members of the board of directors of our general partner serve on a conflicts committee to review specific matters that the board believes may involve conflicts of interest. The conflicts committee determines if the resolution of the conflict of interest is fair and reasonable to us. Members of the conflicts committee may not be officers or employees of our general partner or directors, officers or employees of its affiliates and must meet the independence and experience standards established by the NYSE and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any matters approved by the conflicts committee will be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to us, approved by all of our partners and not a breach by our general partner of any duties it may owe us or our unitholders. In addition, we have a separately-designated standing audit committee established in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and a compensation committee. The four independent members of the board of directors of our general partner, Messrs. McCool, Watchmaker, Hailer and Owens, serve as the sole members of the conflicts, audit and compensation committees.
Even though most companies listed on the NYSE are required to have a majority of independent directors serving on the board of directors of the listed company and establish and maintain an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating/corporate governance committee, each consisting solely of independent directors, the NYSE does not require a listed limited partnership like us to have a majority of independent directors on the board of directors of our general partner or to establish a compensation committee or a nominating/corporate governance committee.
No member of the audit committee is an officer or employee of our general partner or director, officer or employee of any affiliate of our general partner. Furthermore, each member of the audit committee is independent as defined in the listing standards of the NYSE. The board of directors of our general partner has determined that a member of the audit committee, namely Kenneth Watchmaker, is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the SEC.
Among other things, the audit committee is responsible for reviewing our external financial reporting, including reports filed with the SEC, engaging and reviewing our independent auditors and reviewing procedures for internal auditing and the adequacy of our internal accounting controls.
We are managed and operated by the directors and executive officers of our general partner. Our operating personnel are employees of our general partner or certain of our operating subsidiaries.
All of our executive officers devote substantially all of their time to managing our businesses and affairs, but from time to time certain executive officers perform or have performed services for our affiliate, Global Petroleum Corp. or other entities controlled by the Slifka family. Please read Part III, Item 13, “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence-Relationship of Management with Global Petroleum Corp.” Our
non-management directors devote as much time as is necessary to prepare for and attend board of directors and committee meetings.
Set forth below are the names, ages (as of March 3, 2021) and titles of persons currently serving as directors and executive officers of our general partner:
Name
Age
Position with Global GP LLC
Richard Slifka
Chairman
Eric Slifka
President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman
Andrew Slifka
Executive Vice President and Director
Mark A. Romaine
Chief Operating Officer
Daphne H. Foster
Chief Financial Officer and Director
Edward J. Faneuil
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Matthew Spencer
Chief Accounting Officer
Robert J. McCool
Director
Kenneth I. Watchmaker
Director
John T. Hailer
Director
Robert W. Owens
Director
Richard Slifka was elected Vice Chairman of the Board of our general partner in March 2005 and became Chairman in March 2014. He had been employed with Global Companies LLC or its predecessors since 1963. Mr. Slifka served as Treasurer and a director of Global Companies LLC since its formation in December 1998. Mr. Slifka also was a shareholder, a director and the President of Global Petroleum Corp., a privately held affiliated company that had owned, operated and leased to us our petroleum products storage terminal located in Revere, Massachusetts until we acquired the terminal in January 2015. Mr. Slifka is a past director of the New England Fuel Institute and currently serves as president of the Independent Fuel Terminal Operators Association. He also currently serves on the board of directors of St. Francis House and the board of trustees of Boston Medical Center. Mr. Slifka served as a director of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from 1988 through December 31, 2019. Mr. Slifka’s extensive knowledge of the oil industry in general and of our history, customers and suppliers make him uniquely qualified to serve as our Chairman of the Board. Richard Slifka is the brother of the late Alfred A. Slifka.
Eric Slifka was elected President, Chief Executive Officer and director of Global GP LLC, the general partner of Global Partners LP, in March 2005 and became Vice Chairman in March 2014. He has been employed with Global Companies LLC or its predecessors since 1987. Mr. Slifka served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of Global Companies LLC since July 2004 and as Chief Operating Officer and a director of Global Companies LLC from its formation in December 1998 to July 2004. Prior to 1998, Mr. Slifka held various senior positions in the accounting, supply, distribution and marketing departments of the predecessors to Global Companies LLC. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council and serves on the board of directors of the Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. and Massachusetts General Hospital President’s Council. Mr. Slifka is the son of the late Alfred A. Slifka and the nephew of Richard Slifka.
Andrew Slifka was elected to serve as a director of our general partner in April 2012 and has been serving as Executive Vice President of Global Partners LP since March 2012 and President of Alliance Energy LLC and its predecessor, Alliance Energy Corp. since November 2007. He has been employed with Alliance since 1999. Mr. Slifka served as Vice President and General Manager for the Northeast region (RI, MA, NH, and ME) of Alliance Energy Corp. from 1999 to 2003 and as Executive Vice President from 2003 to November 2007. From 1991 to 1999 Mr. Slifka held various positions in the supply, distribution, and marketing departments with the predecessor of Global Companies LLC, Global Petroleum Corp. He serves as president of the board of directors of NECSEMA (New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association), is a board member of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Central New England chapter), and chairman of the board of directors of the CF & MS Fund Foundation Inc. Mr. Slifka is the son of Richard Slifka and the nephew of the late Alfred A. Slifka.
Mark A. Romaine has been Chief Operating Officer of Global Partners LP since July 2013. Mr. Romaine served as the Senior Vice President of Light Oil Supply and Distribution for Global Partners LP from 2006 until June
2013. He joined a predecessor company to Global Companies LLC in 1998 as Premium Fuels Marketing Manager. His experience in the petroleum products industry includes operations and marketing positions with Plymouth, MA-based Volta Oil. Mr. Romaine received a bachelor’s degree from Providence College and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts.
Daphne H. Foster was elected to serve as a director of our general partner in May 2016 and has been Chief Financial Officer of Global Partners LP since July 2013. Ms. Foster served as Treasurer of Global Partners LP from 2010 until June 2013. She joined the Partnership in 2007. Her experience in the petroleum products industry includes several years as a Vice President in the Energy and Utilities Division of Bank of Boston. She started her banking career in 1982 at Bank of Boston and later joined Citizens Financial Group, where she oversaw the Loan Officer Development Program. Ms. Foster received a bachelor's degree and an MBA from Boston University.
Edward J. Faneuil was elected Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of our general partner in March 2005. He has been employed with Global Companies LLC or its predecessors since 1991. Mr. Faneuil served as General Counsel and Secretary of Global Companies LLC since its formation in December 1998. He previously served as Executive Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel of Alliance Energy LLC (now a wholly owned subsidiary of Global Partners LP). He currently serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Global Petroleum Corp. and Montello Oil Corporation. Mr. Faneuil received a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College and a J.D. from Suffolk University Law School.
Matthew Spencer was appointed by the Board of Directors of the general partner to serve as the Chief Accounting Officer of Global Partners LP commencing January 1, 2018. Mr. Spencer served as Controller of the general partner from September 2012 through December 2017. Mr. Spencer joined the Partnership from SharkNinja Operating LLC (formerly Euro-Pro Operating LLC), where he served as Assistant Controller. Prior to that, he was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young.
Robert J. McCool was elected to serve as a director of our general partner, the chair of the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner, and a member of the compensation and audit committees of the board of directors of our general partner in October 2005. In September 2020, he was designated co-chair of the conflicts committee. He served as an Advisor to Tetco Inc., a privately held company in the energy industry, for 15 years and has been in the refined petroleum industry for over 40 years. He worked for Mobil Oil for 33 years in various positions including manager, planning and financial analysis, controller, manager U.S. lubricants operations and manager, budget and controls for U.S. acquisitions. Mr. McCool retired in 1998 having served as Executive Vice President responsible for Mobil Oil’s North and South America marketing and refining business. Mr. McCool’s extensive experience with the financial, accounting and managerial aspects of the refined petroleum products industry make him well qualified to serve as a director of our general partner.
Kenneth I. Watchmaker was elected to serve as a director of our general partner, a member of the conflicts and compensation committees of the board of directors of our general partner, and chair of the audit committee of the board of directors of our general partner in October 2005. He subsequently became chair of our general partner's compensation committee as well. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Reebok International Ltd. from 1995 until March 2006. Mr. Watchmaker joined Reebok International Ltd. in July 1992 as Executive Vice President, Operations and Finance, of the Reebok Brand. Prior to joining Reebok International Ltd., he was an audit partner at Ernst & Young LLP, where he had various responsibilities including regional partner in charge of merger and acquisition services, regional partner in charge of bankruptcy and insolvency services, regional partner in charge of audit services and regional partner in charge of retail industry services. Mr. Watchmaker also serves as a director and the chair of the audit committee of American Biltrite Inc. Mr. Watchmaker’s broad audit and accounting experience, as well as his significant corporate and financial experience, make him a valuable member of our board of directors.
John T. Hailer was elected to serve as a director of our general partner and as a member of the conflicts, compensation and audit committees of the board of directors of our general partner in July 2018. In September 2020, he was designated co-chair of the conflicts committee. He is President of the 1251 Asset Management division of 1251 Capital Group, a Boston-based financial services company that owns a concentrated group of companies in the asset management and insurance sectors. Prior to joining 1251 Capital Group, he spent more than 18 years at Natixis
Investment Managers (formerly Natixis Global Asset Management; “Natixis”) and joined that firm in 1999. Mr. Hailer formerly served as Natixis’ President and Chief Executive Officer for the Americas and Asia, where he helped that company strategically reposition as a global solutions provider and grow to become one of the world’s largest asset managers. Before joining Natixis Investment Managers, Mr. Hailer was responsible for new business development in North and Latin America at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services Company and was director of retail business development for Putnam Investments. He serves as a trustee on several other boards including Boston Medical Center and the Boston Public Library. Mr. Hailer also serves as the Chairman of the Board for each of the New England Council and the Back Bay Association. Mr. Hailer previously served as a member of Beloit College’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Hailer’s broad experience in the financial services industry, as well as his significant capital markets and financial experience, make him a valuable member of our board of directors.
Robert W. Owens was elected to serve as a director of our general partner and as a member of the conflicts, compensation and audit committees of the board of directors of our general partner in October 2020. He has more than 40 years of experience in the energy industry. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sunoco LP (“Sunoco”) from 2012 until his retirement in 2017, and as a member of the board of directors of Sunoco from 2014 through 2018. Mr. Owens helped successfully grow Sunoco through a series of strategic transactions, including the acquisition of Susser Holdings Corporation. Prior to joining Sunoco in 1997, he served in executive roles for Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation, Amerada Hess Corporation and Mobil Oil Corporation. Mr. Owens served as a member of the board of directors of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, Inc. (“PES”) from 2012 through the sales of the PES refinery to Hilco Redevelopment Partners in June 2020. Mr. Owens’ executive leadership experience and governance expertise, built over more than four decades in diverse aspects of the energy industry, make him well qualified to serve as a director of our general partner.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires directors and executive officers of our general partner and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a class of our equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Reporting Persons”) to file certain reports with the SEC and the NYSE concerning their beneficial ownership of such securities. Based solely upon a review of the copies of reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 and amendments thereto furnished to us, or written representations that no reports on Form 5 were required, we believe that all Reporting Persons complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements in the year ended December 31, 2020, with the exception of two Form 4s filed on behalf of (i) Mr. Richard Slifka and (ii) the Article II-A Trust in connection with the plans of liquidation and dissolution of certain Slifka-owned entities (Global Petroleum Corp. and Montello Oil Corporation), pursuant to which common units previously held by these entities were transferred to their shareholders.
Executive Sessions
The board of directors of our general partner holds executive sessions for the non-management directors on a regular basis without management present. Since the non-management directors include directors who are not independent directors, the independent directors also meet in separate executive sessions without the other directors or management at least once each year to discuss such matters as the independent directors consider appropriate. In addition, any director may call for an executive session of non-management or independent directors at any board meeting. A majority of the independent directors selects a presiding director for any such executive session.
Communications with Unitholders, Employees and Others
Unitholders, employees and other interested persons who wish to communicate with the board of directors of our general partner, non-management or independent directors as a group, a committee of the board or a specific director may do so by transmitting correspondence addressed to the Board of Directors, Name of Director, Group or Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, Global Partners LP, P.O. Box 9161, 800 South Street, Suite 500, Waltham, MA 02454-9161, Fax: 781-398-9211.
Letters addressed to the board of directors of our general partner in general will be reviewed by the corporate secretary and relayed to the chairman of the board or the chair of the appropriate committee. Letters addressed to the non-management or independent directors in general will be relayed unopened to the chair of the audit committee. Letters addressed to a committee of the board of directors or a specific director will be relayed unopened to the chair of the committee or the specific director to whom they are addressed. All letters regarding accounting, accounting policies, internal accounting controls and procedures, auditing matters, financial reporting processes or disclosure controls and procedures are to be forwarded by the recipient director to the chair of the audit committee.
Code of Ethics
Our general partner has adopted a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all officers, directors and employees of our general partner, including the principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer, and to our subsidiaries and their officers, directors and employees.
A copy of the code of business conduct and ethics is available on our website at www.globalp.com or may be obtained without charge upon written request to the General Counsel at: Global Partners LP, P.O. Box 9161, 800 South Street, Suite 500, Waltham, MA 02454-9161.
Corporate Governance Matters
The NYSE requires the Chief Executive Officer of each listed company to certify annually that he is not aware of any violation by the company of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards as of the date of the certification, qualifying the certification to the extent necessary. The Chief Executive Officer of our general partner provided such certification to the NYSE in 2020.
The certifications of our general partner’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are included as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
All of our executive officers and substantially all of our employees are employed by our general partner, except for our gasoline station and convenience store employees who are employed by Global Montello Group Corp. (“GMG”), and certain union personnel. Our general partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation for its management of Global Partners LP. Our general partner and its affiliates are reimbursed for expenses incurred on our behalf. These expenses include the costs of employee, executive officer and director compensation and benefits properly allocable to Global Partners LP. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner will determine the expenses that are allocable to Global Partners LP.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
We are managed and operated by the executive officers of our general partner. Executive officers of our general partner receive compensation in the form of base salaries, short-term incentive awards (contractual and/or discretionary) and long-term incentive awards. They also are eligible to participate in employee benefit plans and arrangements sponsored by our general partner or its affiliates, including plans that may be established by our general partner or its affiliates in the future. Our named executive officers (defined below) serve as executive officers of our general partner and each of our wholly-owned subsidiaries. The compensation described herein reflects their total compensation for services to us, our general partner and our subsidiaries.
Our “named executive officers” include Mr. Eric Slifka, our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), Ms. Daphne H. Foster, our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), Mr. Mark A. Romaine, our Chief Operating Officer (“COO”), and the three most highly compensated executive officers of our general partner other than our CEO, CFO and COO during 2020, who were Mr. Andrew Slifka, our Executive Vice President and President of our Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations Division (“GDSO”), Mr. Edward J. Faneuil, our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and Mr. Matthew Spencer, our Chief Accounting Officer. Each of our named executive officers had an employment
agreement with our general partner during 2020.
The compensation committee of the board of directors of our general partner (the “Compensation Committee”) has direct responsibility for the compensation of our CEO based upon (i) contractual obligations pursuant to any employment agreement or arrangement between our CEO and our general partner, and (ii) compensation parameters established by the Compensation Committee with respect to salary adjustments, incentive plans and discretionary bonuses, if any. The Compensation Committee also has oversight and approval authority for the compensation of our named executive officers other than our CEO based upon our CEO's recommendations, including awards under any incentive plans in which the named executive officers participate, and our general partner's contractual obligations pursuant to any employment agreements or arrangements with our named executive officers.
Compensation Objectives
The objectives of our compensation program with respect to our named executive officers are to attract, engage and retain individuals with the requisite knowledge, experience and skill sets required for our future success. Our compensation program is intended to motivate and inspire employee behavior that fosters high performance, and to support our overall business objectives. To achieve these objectives, we aim to provide each named executive officer with a competitive total compensation program. We currently utilize the following compensation components:
● Base salaries and benefits designed to attract and retain high caliber employees;
● Short-term, performance-based incentives and discretionary bonus awards designed to focus employees on key business objectives for a particular year; and
● Long-term, equity-based and/or cash incentive awards designed to support the achievement of our long-term business objectives and the retention of key personnel.
Compensation Methodology
Our general partner uses a third-party compensation consultant to study and supply market compensation data and to assist our management and the Compensation Committee in formulating competitive compensation plans and arrangements. The Compensation Committee retained BDO USA, LLP (“BDO”) as its outside compensation consultant during 2020.
Under our executive compensation structure, our goal is for our named executive officers’ total compensation to fall between the median (50th percentile) and 75th percentile of competitive total compensation levels, as identified by BDO's benchmarking results, following any adjustments made to marketplace pay levels in order to account for significant responsibilities that are assigned to our named executive officers and that exceed the scope of responsibilities generally associated with the external benchmark positions to which they are compared, specifically:
● Our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary plays a critical role in our major transactions and strategic business initiatives, serves as a trusted business advisor to our executive officers, and is responsible for all of our environmental compliance functions, as well as serving as our top legal executive; and
● Our Executive Vice President who also serves as President of our GDSO Division has executive responsibilities as well as primary oversight of our gasoline and convenience store business.
Overall Partnership performance and individual performance may cause the targeted compensation levels to be adjusted up or down accordingly.
BDO worked with the Compensation Committee in 2020 to (i) review and update our reference group of peer companies for performance assessment purposes; (ii) help determine compensation ranges and award opportunities for each of our named executive officer positions; (iii) review and consider the design of, create the payment grid for, and update performance targets and related award levels for our named executive officers under, our general partner’s short-term incentive plan (the “STIP) for 2020; (iv) update levels of compensation for our independent board members based
on peer group review; (v) assist with compensation information related to the 2020 Form 10-K and support discussions between the Compensation Committee and our CEO; and (iv) brief new Compensation Committee members with respect to the details, philosophy and methodology of our compensation program. The plan design of our 2021 STIP, which is comprised of a 50% performance-based component and a 50% discretionary component, is the same as that of our 2020 STIP, except for adjustments to the individual performance target levels thereunder.
During 2019, BDO worked with the Compensation Committee to (i) review and update our reference group of peer companies for analysis of metrics used in the assessment of our performance; (ii) help determine the award opportunities provided to our named executive officers; (iii) assist with compensation information related to the 2019 Form 10-K; (iv) update information on methods and levels of compensation for our independent board members; (v) assist with updated information for a new three-year employment agreement for our CEO; (vi) measure our performance and that of our CEO in order to determine what our CEO earned under the long-term performance-based cash incentive plan under his 2018 employment agreement; and (vii) provide updated performance targets and related award levels for our named executive officers under our 2019 STIP.
During 2018, BDO worked with the Compensation Committee to (i) review and update our reference group of peer companies for performance assessment purposes; (ii) establish competitive compensation plans for our named executive officers; (iii) identify appropriate terms of a new three-year employment agreement for our CEO and for each of our other named executive officers; (iv) develop a new long-term incentive plan, including performance metrics, and the determination of awards opportunities for our named executive officers and plan administration procedures; and (v) prepare the performance targets and associated levels of payouts contained in our STIP for 2018.
Highlights of Compensation Program Policies for Named Executive Officers
● A significant portion of total direct compensation for our named executive officers is variable, dependent upon the Partnership’s actual performance (e.g., short-term, performance-based incentives and long-term, cash-based or equity-based incentives);
● Repricing of options and unit appreciation rights is prohibited unless approved by unitholders; and
● The Compensation Committee engages the assistance of an independent compensation consultant.
Elements of Compensation
Our executive compensation structure utilizes complementary components to align our compensation with the needs of our business and to provide for desired levels of pay that competitively compensate our executive management personnel. We administer the program on the basis of total compensation. As described above, our goal is to target total compensation levels (i.e., base salary plus short- and long-term incentives) for our named executive officers to fall between the median (50th percentile) and 75th percentile compensation levels in our competitive marketplace. When we perform above or below our performance goals, we expect that result will be reflected in our compensation levels.
The elements of the 2020 executive officer compensation of our general partner were base salaries, discretionary bonuses, short-term incentive awards, long-term cash incentive awards, retirement, deferred compensation and health benefits, and perquisites consistent with those provided to executive officers generally and as may be approved by the Compensation Committee from time to time.
A description of the components of the compensation program and principles used to guide their administration appears below:
Base Salaries
Each named executive officer’s base salary is a fixed component of compensation for each year. Base salary is designed to compensate executives for the responsibility of the level of the position they hold and sustained individual performance (including experience, scope of responsibility, results achieved and future potential). Historically, the base salaries for our named executive officers with employment agreements have been set by the terms of their respective
employment agreements in effect from time to time while the base salary for the named executive officer without an employment agreement has been set in accordance with our CEO’s recommendation, using salary range information from BDO, and as approved by the Compensation Committee. The annualized base salaries in effect as of the end of 2020 for our named executive officers were as follows: $1,000,000 for Mr. Eric Slifka, $575,000 for Mr. Romaine; $500,000 for Mr. Faneuil; $500,000 for Ms. Foster; $475,000 for Mr. Andrew Slifka; and $275,000 for Mr. Spencer. The Compensation Committee has approved an annual base salary of $300,000 for Mr. Spencer effective January 1, 2021.
Short-Term Incentive Plans
Our general partner established a cash bonus pool for 2020 to fund short-term incentive awards for each of our named executive officers. Target awards under our general partner’s 2020 STIP included a performance-based component, for which 50% of the cash bonus pool was available (the “STIP Performance Component”), and a discretionary component, for which the other 50% of the cash bonus pool was available (the “STIP Discretionary Component”). Incentive awards earned under the 2020 STIP were based on the Partnership’s actual performance in relation to a specified objective for distributable cash flow established by the Compensation Committee in March 2020 (the “DCF objective”). Under the 2020 STIP, for purposes of determining whether a specified target was achieved, “distributable cash flow” (a non-GAAP financial measure used by management) means our net income plus depreciation and amortization, less our maintenance capital expenditures (“DCF”), as adjusted by the Compensation Committee in its discretion to account for unusual, one-time factors that occurred during the year and could have increased or decreased DCF. DCF is discussed under “Results of Operations-Evaluating Our Results of Operations” and reconciled to its most directly comparable GAAP financial measures under “Results of Operations-Key Performance Indicators” in Part II, Item 7, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations.”
Under the 2020 STIP, each of our named executive officers was assigned an incentive target value expressed as a percentage of his or her base salary. The 2020 incentive target values were: 100% (or $1,000,000) for Mr. Eric Slifka; 100% (or $575,000) for Mr. Romaine; 100% (or $500,000) for Mr. Faneuil; 100% (or $500,000) for Ms. Foster; 70.5% (or $335,000) for Mr. Andrew Slifka; and 72.7% (or $200,000) for Mr. Spencer. 50% of the incentive target value for each named executive officer was allocated to his or her STIP Performance Component and 50% was allocated to his or her STIP Discretionary Component.
STIP Performance Component (50% of the incentive target value).-Under the terms of the 2020 STIP, 100% of the STIP Performance Component is earned when the DCF objective is achieved. However, the 2020 STIP also provides for an increased payout under the STIP Performance Component when the DCF objective is exceeded, a reduced payout under the STIP Performance Component when the DCF objective is not achieved but exceeds a certain DCF minimum threshold, and no payout if the STIP Performance Component minimum threshold is not achieved. Such increases and reductions in payouts are determined in accordance with an award payout grid adopted by the Compensation Committee at the time that the 2020 STIP was established. In general, a minimum of 81% of the DCF objective must have been achieved before participants earn any portion of the STIP Performance Component. Under the 2020 STIP, a participant’s incentive opportunity increases to a maximum of 200% of the STIP Performance Component at 120% of the DCF objective and is determined on a quantitative basis solely based on the Partnership’s actual DCF for 2020. In 2020, the Partnership achieved DCF of $156.39 million, or 150% of the DCF objective set by the Compensation Committee for 2020. Accordingly, our named executive officers were entitled to receive 200% of their respective STIP Performance Components, specifically as follows: $1,000,000 for Mr. Eric Slifka; $575,000 for Mr. Romaine; $500,000 for Mr. Faneuil; $500,000 for Ms. Foster; $335,000 for Mr. Andrew Slifka; and $200,000 for Mr. Spencer.
STIP Discretionary Component (50% of the incentive target value).-The STIP Discretionary Component is intended to be used as a discretionary award, allowing the Compensation Committee to analyze other factors that it may elect to use for determining the STIP Discretionary Component. Such factors may include, without limitation, market factors and significant acquisitions, developments and ventures accomplished by us, management of our business in the face of adverse market conditions and, as may be applicable, the contributions of any or all of the named executive officers. Mr. Eric Slifka’s evaluation of our named executive officers’ performance in 2020 included the recognition that their individual and collective performances were excellent, especially in light of the day to day operational and procedural changes that were required in response to the COVID-19 pandemic including, without limitation, emphasizing teamwork across departments and enhancing communications to facilitate working remotely. Mr. Slifka
also applauded our named executive officers’ continuing efforts to position us to realize the benefits of a downstream integrated model, working together to expand the use of our terminals and logistics capabilities, take advantage of market opportunities, and tighten operations while reducing leverage, continuing to ensure ample liquidity, generating sufficient cash flow to cover our distributions, and maintaining flexibility to invest in assets fundamental to our growth objectives.
In considering whether, and in what amount(s), to grant any or all of our named executive officers 2020 STIP Discretionary Component awards, the Compensation Committee recognized that our business performance in 2020 was exceptional, resulting in one of the strongest years in our history. The Compensation Committee noted that our named executive officers individually and collectively have continued to effectively oversee development of activities and staffing consistent with our strategies and growth objectives, and that they encourage the identification of and response to new opportunities as they arise. The following initiatives were undertaken by us under the leadership of Mr. Eric Slifka and executed by our named executive officers to strategically continue to strengthen our balance sheet and enhance our liquidity in light of the uncertainties surrounding the scope and duration of COVID-19 and in order to be in a position to invest in opportunities fundamental to our growth strategy. Our 2020 initiatives included:
● We developed and implemented COVID-19 protocols which enabled us to keep our gasoline stations, convenience stores and terminals open without significant interruption, successfully transition our office workforce to working remotely, and create new cross-functional communication channels that allowed us to exploit interdepartmental synergies.
● In late March 2020, we borrowed $50.0 million under our revolving credit facility (which we subsequently repaid), temporarily increasing the cash on our balance sheet to allow for flexibility in responding to market uncertainties.
● On May 7, 2020, we amended our credit agreement to, among other things, (i) temporarily make adjustments to certain covenants for the four quarters commencing with the quarter ending June 30, 2020, and (ii) reduce the total aggregate commitment by $130.0 million.
● On October 7, 2020, we completed the private placement of $350.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.875% senior notes due 2029, the proceeds of which were used to (i) fund the redemption of our 7.00% senior notes due 2023, and (ii) to repay a portion of the borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement.
● We secured a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to upgrade and expand our liquid energy terminals in the Northeast to handle larger volumes of biofuel.
● We began work on new initiatives to advocate for renewable liquid heating fuels.
● Continuing commitment to invest in our infrastructure.
● Ongoing divestiture of non-strategic assets.
Taking into account Mr. Slifka’s assessment, the Partnership’s results of operations for 2020, as well as the Compensation Committee’s review of the individual performance of each of our named executive officers in 2020, the Compensation Committee awarded our named executive officers 200% of their respective STIP Discretionary Components for 2020, specifically as follows: specifically as follows: $1,000,000 for Mr. Eric Slifka; $575,000 for Mr. Romaine; $500,000 for Mr. Faneuil; $500,000 for Ms. Foster; $335,000 for Mr. Andrew Slifka; and $200,000 for Mr. Spencer.
2021 Short-Term Incentive Plan.-In 2021, the Compensation Committee, with the assistance of BDO, used our 2021 business plan as a basis for creating the 2021 Short-Term Incentive Plan. The 2021 STIP establishes a target incentive percentage for each of our named executive officers ranging from 71% to 100% of base salary, which are the same target percentages used during 2020 for each of the 2020 STIP participants other than Mr. Matthew Spencer, whose 2021 STIP target was increased to 100% of his 2021 base salary. Awards under the 2021 STIP may range from 0% to 200% of each participant’s target incentive percentage. The weighting of the STIP Performance Component and STIP Discretionary Component in the 2021 STIP remain 50% and 50%, respectively, the same as in the 2020 STIP.
● The 2021 Performance Component (50% of the incentive target value)-The Compensation Committee decreased the DCF objective for 2021, subject to adjustment by the Compensation Committee for certain acquisitions and events during 2021 that the Compensation Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine to have caused unusual, one-time increases or decreases in DCF. Awards granted by the Compensation Committee may range from 0% to 200% of a plan participant’s 2021 STIP Performance Component. A minimum of 80% of the 2021 DCF objective must be achieved before participants would earn any portion of the 2021 STIP Performance Component. Under the 2021 STIP, a participant’s incentive opportunity increases to a maximum of 200% of the 2021 STIP Performance Component at 120% of the 2021 DCF objective, and is determined on a quantitative basis solely based on our actual DCF for 2021.
● The 2021 Discretionary Component (50% of the incentive target value)-The Compensation Committee has discretion in determining the 2021 STIP Discretionary Component for any participant under the 2021 STIP, within a range of 0% to 200% of the 2021 STIP Discretionary Component, and based upon (i) the Compensation Committee’s consideration of management's performance over the course of the 2021 plan year; (ii) the CEO’s assessment of the other named executive officers; (iii) our overall financial results for the year in relation to our business plan; and (iv) any significant mitigating factor(s) that may have influenced a plan participant’s performance, positively or negatively. The objective of considering these factors is to arrive at a decision that best reflects the Compensation Committee’s overall assessment of management's performance on an individual basis. The Compensation Committee believes that when combined with the STIP Performance Component, the results will more accurately reflect a plan participant's performance in light of the relevant factors.
Annual Bonuses-Discretionary
Our compensation program for named executive officers contains a provision for the Compensation Committee to award a discretionary bonus to recognize significant contributions made by an executive in the course of the year. These are one-time awards and not associated with any of our incentive plans. The Compensation Committee may make discretionary bonus awards to our CEO. Our CEO may also recommend discretionary bonus awards for any or all other named executive officers for consideration and approval by the Compensation Committee for similar purposes.
The Compensation Committee awarded Messrs. Eric Slifka, Romaine and Faneuil, Ms. Foster, and Messrs. Andrew Slifka and Spencer discretionary bonuses in the amounts of $986,000, $569,000, $495,000, $495,000, $335,000 and $200,000, respectively, in respect of their service during 2020. The Compensation Committee did not award any discretionary bonus payments under this program in respect of our named executive officers’ service during 2019 or 2018.
Long-Term Cash Incentive Awards
Long-Term Cash Incentive Plans-The Global Partners LP 2018 Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “LTCIP”) allows the board of directors of our general partner or the Compensation Committee to grant cash incentive awards (collectively, the “LTCIP Awards”) to independent directors of our general partner or employees (including our named executive officers) who provide services to the Partnership or its affiliates in recognition of their respective contributions to our financial results.
Once a portion of an LTCIP Award vests, it is paid to the recipient as soon as practicable thereafter. If a named executive officer’s employment with our general partner is terminated for any reason, the Compensation Committee will generally have sole discretion to determine whether any or all of the unvested portion of such named executive officer’s LTCIP Award(s) shall become vested, forfeited, or shall continue to vest pursuant to its terms as if the named executive officer’s service had continued through the last applicable vesting date. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in the LTCIP), the unvested portion of such named executive officer’s LTCIP Award(s) shall immediately become fully vested.
On August 25, 2020, the board of directors of our general partner granted awards under the LTCIP to our named executive officers (each, a “2020 LTCIP Award”) in the following amounts: $3,300,000 for Mr. Eric Slifka; $1,200,000 for Mr. Romaine; $1,050,000 for Mr. Faneuil; $1,050,000 for Ms. Foster; $860,000 for Mr. Andrew Slifka;
and $400,000 for Mr. Spencer. Each 2020 LTCIP Award is subject to the following vesting schedule: 33.4% of the award vests on September 25, 2022, 33.3% of the award vests on September 25, 2023 and 33.3% of the award vests on September 25, 2024, subject to each named executive officer’s continued employment through such vesting dates.
On August 7, 2019, the board of directors of our general partner granted awards under the LTCIP to our named executive officers (each, a “2019 LTCIP Award”) in the following amounts: $1,200,000 for Mr. Eric Slifka; $1,000,000 for Mr. Romaine; $850,000 for Mr. Faneuil; $850,000 for Ms. Foster; $500,000 for Mr. Andrew Slifka; and $275,000 for Mr. Spencer. Each 2019 LTCIP Award is subject to the following vesting schedule: 33.4% of the award vests on August 10, 2021, 33.3% of the award vests on August 10, 2022 and 33.3% of the award vests on August 10, 2023, subject to each named executive officer’s continued employment through such vesting dates.
On October 8, 2018, the board of directors of our general partner granted awards under the LTCIP to our named executive officers (each, a “2018 LTCIP Award”) in the following amounts: $2,700,000 for Mr. Eric Slifka; $900,000 for Mr. Romaine; $750,000 for Mr. Faneuil; $750,000 for Ms. Foster; $400,000 for Mr. Andrew Slifka; and $275,000 for Mr. Spencer. Each 2018 LTCIP Award is subject to the following vesting schedule: 20% of the award vests on October 1, 2021, 30% of the award vests on October 1, 2022 and 50% of the award vests on October 1, 2023, subject to each named executive officer’s continued employment through such vesting dates.
Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan Awards for Mr. Eric Slifka-Mr. Eric Slifka’s prior employment agreement with our general partner that was in effect during 2018 and January 2019 included a provision for a long-term performance-based cash incentive plan covering the period from March 29, 2018 through March 29, 2019 (the “2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan”). The 2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan was designed with two separate components: 50% of the award is based upon the Partnership’s total unitholder (or shareholder) return (“TSR”), as compared against the TSRs of the individual entities comprising two groups of constituent companies (the “Constituent Companies”), for a defined twelve month period of time, and 50% of the award is discretionary, as determined by the Compensation Committee based upon its evaluation of the Mr. Eric Slifka’s performance and such external factors as the Compensation Committee deems appropriate. On April 12, 2019, the Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Eric Slifka earned $2,025,000 under the performance component and $675,000 under the discretionary component, for a total award of $2,700,000. The first of two equal installments of amounts earned pursuant to the 2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan was paid in January 2020; the second such installment was paid in February, 2021.
Long-Term Equity Incentive Awards
2017 Phantom Unit Awards.-On August 16, 2017, the Compensation Committee approved the grant of phantom unit awards (collectively, the “2017 Phantom Unit Awards”) pursuant to phantom unit award agreements (each, a “Phantom Unit Agreement”) under the Global Partners LP Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “LTIP”) to each of our named executive officers who had an employment agreement with us during 2017. Each 2017 Phantom Unit Award is subject to the following vesting schedule: 25% of the phantom units subject to such award vested on August 1, 2020, 35% of the phantom units subject to such award will vest on August 1, 2021 and 40% of the phantom units subject to such award will vest on August 1, 2022.
If a named executive officer’s employment with our general partner is terminated (a) by our general partner for Cause (as defined in such named executive officer’s employment agreement), or (b) by the named executive officer voluntarily (other than due to retirement), all unvested phantom units subject to such named executive officer’s 2017 Phantom Unit Award will immediately be forfeited without payment. If a named executive officer’s employment with our general partner is terminated for any other reason, the Compensation Committee will generally have sole discretion to determine whether any or all of the unvested phantom units subject to such named executive officer’s 2017 Phantom Unit Award will become vested or forfeited. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in a named executive officer’s employment agreement), all unvested phantom units subject to such named executive officer’s 2017 Phantom Unit Award will immediately become vested.
Upon vesting of the 2017 Phantom Unit Awards, phantom units will be settled in our common units unless the Compensation Committee decides, in its sole discretion, to settle such phantom units in cash or a combination of
common units and cash.
Retirement and Health Benefits; Perquisites
Global Partners 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan
The Global Partners LP 401(k) Savings and Profit Sharing Plan (the “Global 401(k) Plan”) permits all eligible employees to make voluntary pre-tax contributions to the plan, subject to applicable tax limitations. The Global 401(k) Plan provides for employer matching contributions equal to 100% of elective deferrals up to the first 3% of eligible compensation plus 50% of elective deferrals up to the next 2% of eligible compensation. In 2020, all employees were eligible to participate in the Global 401(k) Plan other than employees who were (1) not yet 21 years of age, (2) covered by a collective bargaining agreement that does not provide for employees to be covered by the Global 401(k) Plan or (3) nonresident aliens. New employees may begin to contribute to the Global 401(k) Plan on the first day of the month following their respective dates of hire, although they are not eligible to receive matching payments under the Global 401(k) Plan until they have been employed by our general partner or one of our operating subsidiaries for six months. Eligible employees may elect to contribute up to 100% of their compensation to the plan for each plan year. Employee contributions are subject to annual dollar limitations, which are adjusted periodically for changes in the cost of living. Participants in the plan are always fully vested in any matching contributions under the plan; however, discretionary profit sharing contributions are subject to a six-year vesting schedule. The plan is intended to be tax-qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code so that contributions to the plan, and income earned on plan contributions, are not taxable to employees until withdrawn from the plan, and so that our general partner's contributions, if any, will be deductible when made.
Pension Benefits
Each of our named executive officers, other than Mr. Spencer, is eligible to participate in our general partner's pension plan in accordance with our general partner’s policies and on the same general basis as other employees of our general partner. Under our general partner’s pension plan, an employee becomes fully vested in his or her pension benefits after completing five years of service or, if earlier, upon termination due to death or disability. Please read “Other Benefits-Pension Benefits” for information with respect to eligibility standards and calculations of estimated annual pension benefits payable upon retirement under the pension plan. Our general partner’s pension plan was frozen on December 31, 2009.
Prior to March 1, 2012, Mr. Andrew Slifka was employed by Alliance Energy LLC (“Alliance”) and participated in the Alliance Energy LLC Pension Plan in accordance with Alliance’s policies and on the same general basis as other employees of Alliance not excluded by the terms of the plan. On March 1, 2012, sponsorship of the Alliance Energy LLC Pension Plan was transferred to GMG and the plan was renamed as the GMG Pension Plan (as defined and described below under “Other Benefits-Pension Benefits”). An employee is fully vested in benefits under the GMG Pension Plan after completing five years of service or, if earlier, upon termination due to death or disability. Please read “Other Benefits-Pension Benefits” for information with respect to eligibility standards and calculations of estimated annual pension benefits payable upon retirement under the GMG Pension Plan. The GMG Pension Plan was frozen on May 15, 2012.
Other Benefits
Each of our named executive officers is eligible to participate in our general partner's health insurance plans and other employee benefit plans in accordance with our general partner’s policies and on the same general basis as other employees of our general partner.
Additional perquisites for our named executive officers may include payment of premiums for long-term disability insurance, automobile fringe benefits, club membership dues and payment of fees for professional financial planning, tax and/or legal advice.
Employment Agreements
Our CEO, Mr. Eric Slifka, entered into a new two-year, eleven-month employment agreement with our general partner effective as of February 1, 2019. Each of our named executive officers other than our CEO entered into a new three-year employment agreement with our general partner effective as of January 1, 2019. We believe that the post-termination and change in control payments in the employment agreements allowed our named executive officers to focus on making business decisions that maximized our interests and the interests of our unitholders without allowing personal considerations to influence the decision-making process. Please read “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” for a discussion of the provisions in each employment agreement relating to termination, change in control and related payment obligations.
Relationship of Compensation Elements to Compensation Objectives
We use base salaries to provide financial stability and to compensate our executive officers for fulfillment of their respective job duties.
We use a short-term incentive plan with performance-based and discretionary components to align a significant portion of our executive officers’ compensation with annual business performance and success, and to provide rewards and recognition for key business outcomes such as achieving increased quarterly distributions in line with our financial results, expanding our distribution, marketing and sales of petroleum products, expanding our gasoline station and convenience store assets and the geographic markets that we serve, and diversifying our product mix to enhance profitability and effectively managing our business. Short-term performance-based incentives also allow flexibility to reward performance and individual success consistent with such criteria as may be established from time to time by our CEO and the Compensation Committee.
Our long-term incentive plans (the LTIP, the LTCIP and, solely with respect to Mr. Eric Slifka, the 2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan) provide incentives and reward eligible participants for the achievement of long-term objectives, facilitate the retention of key employees by aligning their incentives with our long-term performance, continue to make our compensation mix more competitive, and align the interests of management with those of our unitholders.
We offer a mix of traditional perquisites such as automobile fringe benefits and country/golf club memberships, and additional benefits, such as payment of professional financial planning and tax advice fees, that are tailored to address our executive officers’ individual needs, to facilitate the performance of their job duties and to be competitive with the total compensation packages available to executive officers generally.
Tax Deductibility of Compensation
With respect to the deduction limitations imposed under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), we are a limited partnership and do not meet the definition of a “corporation” under Section 162(m). Accordingly, such limitations do not apply to compensation paid to our named executive officers.
Compensation Committee Report
The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management. Based upon such review, the related discussions and such other matters deemed relevant and appropriate by the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee has recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Form 10-K.
Kenneth I. Watchmaker (Chairman)
Robert J. McCool
John T. Hailer
Robert W. Owens
March 3, 2021
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
From the formation of Global GP LLC through July 1, 2018, when Mr. John T. Hailer was appointed a new member of the board of directors of our general partner and a member of the Compensation Committee, the Compensation Committee has been comprised of Robert J. McCool, David K. McKown and Kenneth I. Watchmaker. Effective July 20, 2020, David McKown retired from the board of directors and all committees of our general partner. Effective October 1, 2020, Robert W. Owens was appointed as a new member of the board of directors of our general partner and the fourth member of the Compensation Committee. None of the members of the Compensation Committee are officers or employees of our general partner or any of its affiliates. Mr. Richard Slifka has served as Chairman of our general partner’s board of directors since March 12, 2014 and previously served as Vice-Chairman of our general partner’s board of directors since its inception. Mr. Eric Slifka has served as Vice-Chairman of our general partner’s board of directors since March 12, 2014.
Compensation of Named Executive Officers
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to compensation during 2020, 2019 and 2018 of our named executive officers.
Change in
Pension Value
and Deferred
Non-Equity
Nonqualified
Incentive Plan
Compensation
All Other
Name and Principal
Salary
Bonus
Compensation
Earnings
Compensation
Total
Position
Year
($) (1)
($) (2)
($) (3)
($) (4)
($) (5)
($)
Eric Slifka
1,000,000
986,000
3,350,000
123,562
109,241
5,568,803
President and CEO
1,000,000
-
599,150
164,449
100,008
1,863,607
800,000
-
1,600,000
-
90,920
2,490,920
Mark A. Romaine
575,000
569,000
1,150,000
52,463
40,951
2,387,414
Chief Operating Officer
575,000
-
344,511
68,892
39,409
1,027,812
500,000
-
1,000,000
-
42,513
1,542,513
Edward J. Faneuil
500,000
495,000
1,000,000
61,410
53,468
2,109,878
EVP, General Counsel
500,000
-
299,575
80,950
48,208
928,733
and Secretary
450,000
-
900,000
-
44,338
1,394,338
Daphne H. Foster
500,000
495,000
1,000,000
5,713
25,305
2,026,018
Chief Financial Officer
500,000
-
299,575
8,065
25,105
832,745
450,000
-
900,000
-
24,905
1,374,905
Andrew Slifka
475,000
335,000
670,000
62,300
67,582
1,609,882
EVP and President of
475,000
-
200,715
84,100
62,522
822,337
GDSO Division
425,000
-
600,000
-
55,910
1,080,910
Matthew Spencer
275,000
200,000
400,000
-
48,573
923,573
Chief Accounting Officer
275,000
-
119,830
-
50,321
445,151
265,000
-
400,000
-
47,550
712,550
(1) Amounts reported in this column reflect the base salary earned by our named executive officers for services performed during the applicable fiscal year.
(2) In 2021, Messrs. Eric Slifka, Romaine and Faneuil, Ms. Foster, and Messrs. Andrew Slifka and Spencer were paid discretionary bonuses of $986,000, $569,000, $495,000, $495,000, $335,000 and $200,000, respectively, for services performed during 2020, which discretionary bonuses were in addition to payments they received in 2021 for services performed during 2020 under the 2020 STIP. No discretionary bonuses were paid to our named executive officers for services performed during 2019 or 2018.
(3) Amounts reported in this column reflect the bonuses paid to each of the named executive officers for services performed during 2020, 2019 and 2018, which were determined in accordance with our general partner’s Short-Term Incentive Plans described above under “Elements of Compensation-Short-Term Incentive Plans.” In addition, for Mr. Eric Slifka, the amount shown includes $1,350,000 that was paid in February 2020 following the satisfaction of the vesting condition applicable to his award granted under the 2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan. For more information, see “Elements of Compensation-Long-Term Cash Incentive Awards-Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan Awards for Mr. Eric Slifka.” For the avoidance of doubt, note that the amounts reported in this column do not reflect the grant date fair value of bonuses or non-equity incentive plan compensation granted to the named executive officers in respect of service during 2020,
2019 or 2018. The grant date fair values of bonuses and non-equity incentive plan compensation granted to the named executive officers in respect of service during 2020, 2019 and 2018 are described below under “Pro-Forma Disclosure Table.”
(4) Mr. Spencer is not eligible to participate in our general partner’s pension plan because it was frozen prior to his commencement of employment with us.
(5) With respect to Mr. Eric Slifka, “All Other Compensation” for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 includes, among other things, (a) club membership dues, and (b) professional financial planning and tax advice fees, paid by us in the amounts of $20,814 and $33,550, respectively, for 2020; $31,200 and $25,427, respectively, for 2019; and $16,978 and $34,550, respectively, for 2018. The amounts in this column for 2020 are described further in the All Other Compensation table below.
Pro-Forma Disclosure Table
The Pro-Forma Disclosure Table below reflects the value of compensation granted to each of our named executive officers in respect of service during 2020, 2019 and 2018. While not required by the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules, we believe this optional disclosure is relevant and helpful for unitholders to understand our executive compensation structure in more detail.
Change in
Pension Value
and Deferred
Short-Term
Long-Term
Nonqualified
Incentive
Incentive
Compensation
All Other
Salary
Bonus
Cash Awards
Cash Awards
Earnings
Compensation
Total
Name
Year
($)
($) (1)
($) (2)
($) (3)
($)
($)
($)(4)
Eric Slifka
1,000,000
986,000
2,000,000
-
123,562
109,241
4,218,803
1,000,000
-
599,150
3,300,000
164,449
100,008
5,163,607
800,000
-
1,600,000
3,900,000
-
90,920
6,390,920
Mark A. Romaine
575,000
569,000
1,150,000
-
52,463
40,951
2,387,414
575,000
-
344,511
1,200,000
68,892
39,409
2,227,812
500,000
-
1,000,000
1,000,000
-
42,513
2,542,513
Edward J. Faneuil
500,000
495,000
1,000,000
-
61,410
53,468
2,109,878
500,000
-
299,575
1,050,000
80,950
48,208
1,978,733
450,000
-
900,000
850,000
-
44,338
2,244,338
Daphne H. Foster
500,000
495,000
1,000,000
-
5,713
25,305
2,026,018
500,000
-
299,575
1,050,000
8,065
25,105
1,882,745
450,000
-
900,000
850,000
-
24,905
2,224,905
Andrew Slifka
475,000
335,000
670,000
-
62,300
67,582
1,609,882
475,000
-
200,715
860,000
84,100
62,522
1,682,337
425,000
-
600,000
500,000
-
55,910
1,580,910
Matthew Spencer
275,000
200,000
400,000
-
-
48,573
923,573
275,000
-
119,830
400,000
-
50,321
845,151
265,000
-
400,000
275,000
-
47,550
987,550
(1) In 2021, Messrs. Eric Slifka, Romaine and Faneuil, Ms. Foster, and Messrs. Andrew Slifka and Spencer were paid discretionary bonuses of $986,000, $569,000, $495,000, $495,000, $335,000 and $200,000, respectively, for services performed during 2020, which discretionary bonuses were in addition to payments they received in 2021 for services performed during 2020 under the 2020 STIP. No discretionary bonuses were paid to our named executive officers for services performed during 2019 or 2018.
(2) Amounts reported in this column reflect the grant date fair value of the short-term cash incentive awards granted during the applicable year for service during the applicable year under our general partner’s Short-Term Incentive Plans, which are described above under “Elements of Compensation-Short-Term Incentive Plans.”
(3) Amounts reported in this column reflect the grant date fair value of the long-term cash incentive awards granted in respect of service during the applicable year under the LTCIP and, with respect to Mr. Eric Slifka, the 2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan contained in Mr. Eric Slifka’s prior employment agreement with our general partner that was in effect during 2018 and January 2019. See the section above titled “Elements of Compensation-Long-Term Cash Incentive Awards” for more information.
(4) Amounts reported in this table do not include the value of any unit awards or long-term incentive cash awards granted in respect of service during 2020 as long-term incentive awards are not expected to be granted, if applicable, until after this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 is filed. The value of such compensation will be disclosed in a Pro-Forma Disclosure Table contained in a future Annual Report on Form 10-K.
All Other Compensation Table
The following table describes each component of the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020:
Club Membership Dues,
Employer
Legal Fees and
Contributions to
Professional
Personal
Global 401(k)
Financial Planning and
Benefits
Total All Other
Name
Plan ($)
Tax Advice Fees ($)
($) (1)
Compensation ($)
Eric Slifka
19,933
54,364
34,944
109,241
Mark A. Romaine
11,400
-
29,551
40,951
Edward J. Faneuil
11,400
21,958
20,110
53,468
Daphne H. Foster
11,400
-
13,905
25,305
Andrew Slifka
11,400
25,775
30,407
67,582
Matthew Spencer
8,460
-
40,113
48,573
(1) The amounts in this column include the estimated incremental cost of an automobile provided by us for the named executive officer’s use; medical and dental premiums (or opt-out payments for declining coverage under our group healthcare policies) paid by us; and life insurance and long-term disability premiums paid by us.
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth the minimum threshold, target and maximum possible payout amounts, depending upon our financial performance in 2020, with respect to the short-term cash incentive awards granted during 2020 to our named executive officers under the STIP. With respect to the long-term cash incentive awards granted during 2020 to our named executive officers under the LTCIP, we use competitive benchmark information developed by BDO and take into account our performance, the applicable named executive officer’s performance and other compensation earned by such named executive officer in 2020 to determine an award amount that may be earned by each named executive officer without reference to “threshold”, “target” or “maximum” amounts.
Estimated Possible Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)(2)
Minimum
Name
Award Type
Threshold ($)
Target ($)
Maximum ($)
Eric Slifka
STIP
120,000
1,000,000
2,000,000
LTCIP
-
-
-
Mark A. Romaine
STIP
69,000
575,000
1,150,000
LTCIP
-
-
-
Edward J. Faneuil
STIP
60,000
500,000
1,000,000
LTCIP
-
-
-
Daphne H. Foster
STIP
60,000
500,000
1,000,000
LTCIP
-
-
-
Andrew Slifka
STIP
40,200
335,000
670,000
LTCIP
-
-
-
Matthew Spencer
STIP
24,000
200,000
400,000
LTCIP
-
-
-
(1) For calendar year 2020, each named executive officer’s 2020 STIP award consisted of the STIP Performance Component (weighted 50%) and the STIP Discretionary Component (weighted 50%). Amounts shown represent the “threshold,” “target” and “maximum” amounts payable under the STIP awards. During 2021, the Compensation Committee determined that two hundred percent (200%) of the STIP Performance Component and two hundred percent (200%) of the STIP Discretionary Component were earned by the named executive officers for calendar year 2020. Actual payout of the STIP awards (the Performance Component and the Discretionary Component) for calendar year 2020 is shown in the “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table above.
(2) For each named executive officer who was granted a 2020 LTCIP Award, 33.4% of such award vests on September 25, 2022, another 33.3% of such award vests on September 25, 2023 and the final 33.3% of such award vests on September 25, 2024.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
The following table presents the full amount of the equity awards held by our named executive officers as of December 31, 2020, which consist solely of phantom units granted under the LTIP. The awards shown on the table below were the only equity awards held by the named executive officers at the end of the last fiscal year:
Unit Awards
Number of
Market Value of
Units That Have
Units That Have
Name
Grant Date
Not Vested (#)
Not Vested ($) (2)
Eric Slifka
August 16, 2017 (1)
122,835
2,075,912
Mark A. Romaine
August 16, 2017 (1)
47,561
803,781
Edward J. Faneuil
August 16, 2017 (1)
38,060
643,214
Daphne H. Foster
August 16, 2017 (1)
40,391
682,608
Andrew Slifka
August 16, 2017 (1)
25,746
435,107
Matthew Spencer
August 16, 2017 (1)
8,955
151,340
(1) The phantom units granted on August 16, 2017 vest over a five-year period, with 25% of the award having vested on August 1, 2020, another 35% of the award scheduled to vest on August 1, 2021 and the final 40% of the award scheduled to vest on August 1, 2022.
(2) The market values of the phantom unit awards shown in the table above were calculated based on the closing price of $16.90 per common unit on December 30, 2020, which was the last day on which the market was open immediately prior to December 31, 2020.
Units Vested in the 2020 Fiscal Year
The following table presents phantom units awarded to the named executive officers that vested during the year ended December 31, 2020:
Unit Awards
Number of
Market Value of
Vested
Vested
Name
Phantom Units (#)
Phantom Units ($)
Eric Slifka (1)
40,945
438,112
Mark A. Romaine (1)
15,854
169,638
Edward J. Faneuil (1)
12,687
135,751
Daphne H. Foster (1)
13,464
144,065
Andrew Slifka (1)
8,583
91,838
Matthew Spencer (1)
4,737
31,950
(1) The market values of these phantom units shown in the table above were calculated based on the closing price of $10.70 per common unit on July 31, 2020, which was the last day on which the market was open immediately prior to the vesting date of such phantom units.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation
On December 31, 2008, our general partner and Edward J. Faneuil entered into a deferred compensation agreement pursuant to which Mr. Faneuil will be subject to terms and conditions relating to confidential information, non-solicitation and non-competition, as provided therein (the “Global Deferred Compensation Agreement”). Please read “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” for a discussion of the provisions in Mr. Faneuil's deferred compensation agreement relating to termination, change of control and related payment obligations.
On September 23, 2009, Alliance and Mr. Faneuil entered into a deferred compensation agreement pursuant to
which Mr. Faneuil will be subject to terms and conditions relating to confidential information, non-solicitation and non-competition, as provided therein (the “Alliance Deferred Compensation Agreement”). Please read “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control” for a discussion of the provisions in Mr. Faneuil’s deferred compensation agreement relating to termination, change of control and related payment obligations.
Potential Payments upon a Change of Control or Termination
The following tables show potential payments to each of our named executive officers under contracts, agreements, plans or arrangements, whether written or unwritten (including the employment agreements with each of our named executive officers that were in effect as of December 31, 2020), for various scenarios involving a change of control or termination of employment of each such named executive officer assuming a December 31, 2020 termination date. In addition, amounts reflected in the tables below with respect to LTIP awards were calculated based on the closing price of our common units of $16.90 per unit as of December 31, 2020.
LTIP Awards. Each of our named executive officers holds outstanding unvested phantom units that were granted under the LTIP. Upon a change of control event, all outstanding phantom units held by our named executive officers that have not otherwise vested automatically will become fully vested, which is reflected appropriately in the tables below.
LTCIP Awards. Each of our named executive officers was granted a 2020 LTCIP Award, a 2019 LTCIP Award and a 2018 LTCIP Award under the LTCIP. Upon a change of control event, the unvested portion of each of the LTCIP Awards held by our named executive officers will become fully vested, which is reflected in the tables below.
Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan Awards for Mr. Eric Slifka. Mr. Eric Slifka’s prior employment agreement with our general partner included a provision for the 2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan covering the period from March 29, 2018 through March 29. 2019. Upon Mr. Eric Slifka’s termination of employment due to death, Disability, by our general partner without Cause or by Mr. Eric Slifka for reasons constituting Constructive Termination, Mr. Eric Slifka is entitled to receive the pro-rated cash incentive amount, if any, earned under the 2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan, as determined by the Compensation Committee.
Eric Slifka
If Mr. Slifka’s employment is terminated for any reason, he shall be paid (i) all amounts of his base salary due and owing up through the date of termination, (ii) any earned but unpaid bonus, (iii) all reimbursements of expenses appropriately and timely submitted, and (iv) any and all other amounts, including vacation pay, that may be due to him as of the date of termination (the “Eric Slifka Accrued Obligations”).
If Mr. Slifka’s employment is terminated by death or “Disability” (as defined in the employment agreement), he (or his estate) will be paid (i) the Eric Slifka Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to his then base salary multiplied by 200%, plus (iii) an amount equal to the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan multiplied by 200%, plus (iv) his interests in the long-term incentive plans, including (a) the pro-rated cash incentive amount, if any, earned under his Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan awards and (b) the amounts of cash and/or securities due as a result of the automatic vesting of Mr. Slifka’s interests in certain long-term incentive plans, plus (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of his spouse and dependents, if any, for 24 months following the date of termination.
If Mr. Slifka’s employment is terminated by our general partner without “Cause” or by Mr. Slifka for reasons constituting “Constructive Termination,” each as defined in the employment agreement, he shall be paid (i) the Eric Slifka Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to his then base salary multiplied by 200% (provided, however, that this multiplier shall be 300% if Mr. Slifka terminates his employment for reasons constituting Constructive Termination and such termination occurs within 12 months following a “Change in Control” (as defined in the employment agreement)), plus (iii) an amount equal to the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan multiplied by 200% (provided, however, that this multiplier shall be 300% if Mr. Slifka terminates his employment for reasons constituting Constructive Termination and such termination occurs within 12 months following
a Change in Control), plus (iv) his interests in the long-term incentive plans, including (a) the pro-rated cash incentive amount, if any, earned under his Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan awards and (b) the amounts of cash and/or securities due as a result of the automatic vesting of Mr. Slifka’s interests in certain long-term incentive plans, plus (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of his spouse and dependents, if any, for 24 months following the date of termination. If Mr. Slifka terminates his employment for reasons of Constructive Termination but such termination does not occur within 12 months following a Change in Control and Mr. Slifka secures employment within 12 months of the date of termination, he shall repay to our general partner one-half of the cash received from our general partner pursuant to (ii) and (iii) above.
If Mr. Slifka’s employment is terminated by our general partner for Cause, Mr. Slifka will be paid the Eric Slifka Accrued Obligations. If Mr. Slifka’s employment agreement is not renewed by our general partner and he does not continue to serve as our general partner’s President and Chief Executive Officer following the expiration of his employment agreement (a “Non-Renewal”), he shall be paid (i) the Eric Slifka Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, plus the performance-based and discretionary components, if any, of his STIP award for such year.
Upon a Change of Control, the unvested portions of any outstanding LTCIP Awards and outstanding phantom units held by Mr. Slifka automatically shall become fully vested.
Termination by general
partner without Cause /
Constructive Termination /
Breach by general partner
Change in
No Change
With a Change
Control
Death
Disability
in Control
in Control
Nonrenewal
Name
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)(1)
Eric Slifka
Severance Amount
-
4,000,000
4,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
2,500,000
2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Plan Award (2)
-
1,350,000
1,350,000
1,350,000
1,350,000
-
LTIP awards
2,075,912
2,075,912
2,075,912
2,075,912
2,075,912
-
LTCIP award
7,200,000
7,200,000
7,200,000
7,200,000
7,200,000
-
Fringe benefits
-
55,923
55,923
55,923
55,923
-
Life insurance benefits
-
500,000
-
-
-
-
Total
9,275,912
15,181,835
14,681,835
14,681,835
16,681,835
2,500,000
(1)
In the event of non-renewal, for purposes of this calculation, we have assumed that Mr. Slifka would receive payment of (a) 100% of the performance-based component ($500,000), and (b) 0% of the discretionary component associated with his 2020 STIP target amount.
(2)
In April 2019, the Compensation Committee determined that Mr. Eric Slifka earned $2,700,000 under his 2018 Long-Term Performance-Based Cash Incentive Award, the first equal installment of which amount was paid in January 2020. The second equal installment of which amount was paid in February, 2021, subject to his continued employment on such dates; provided that, such amount is also payable upon certain terminations of employment as described above.
Mark A. Romaine
If Mr. Romaine’s employment is terminated for any reason, Mr. Romaine shall be paid (i) all amounts of his base salary due and owing up through the date of termination, (ii) all earned, but unpaid, bonuses, (iii) all reimbursements of expenses appropriately and timely submitted, and (iv) any and all other amounts, including vacation pay, that may be due to him as of the date of termination (the “Romaine Accrued Obligations”).
If Mr. Romaine’s employment is terminated by death or “Disability” (as defined in the employment agreement), he (or his estate) will be paid (i) the Romaine Accrued Obligations, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, (iii) an amount equal to 200% of the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, (iv) acceleration of vesting of his cash or equity interests in certain long-term incentive plans, and (v) group health
and similar insurance premiums on behalf of him and his spouse and dependents, if any, for 18 months following the date of termination.
If Mr. Romaine’s employment is terminated by our general partner without “Cause” or by Mr. Romaine for reasons constituting “Constructive Termination” (each quoted term as defined in the employment agreement), Mr. Romaine shall be paid (i) the Romaine Accrued Obligations, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, (iii) an amount equal to 200% of target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, (iv) acceleration of vesting of his cash and equity interests in long-term incentive plans, (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of his spouse and dependents, if any, for 18 months following the date of termination, and (vi) a potential gross-up payment in the event that any of the payments described above result in taxes being imposed on Mr. Romaine pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.
Further, if Mr. Romaine’s employment is terminated by our general partner without Cause or Mr. Romaine terminates his employment for Constructive Termination, at any time within three (3) months before a Change in Control and twelve (12) months following a Change of Control (as defined in the employment agreement), then, in addition to the foregoing severance compensation and benefits, Mr. Romaine shall receive 100% accelerated vesting on any and all outstanding Partnership options, restricted units, phantom units, unit appreciation rights and other similar rights (under the LTIP or otherwise) held by Mr. Romaine as in effect on the date of termination, such accelerated vesting to occur on the later of (i) the date of termination, or (ii) the date of the Change of Control.
If Mr. Romaine’s employment agreement is not renewed by our general partner and he does not continue to serve as our general partner’s Chief Operating Officer following the expiration of his employment agreement pursuant to a different employment agreement with our general partner, he shall be paid (i) the Romaine Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, plus (iii) the performance-based and discretionary components, if any, of his STIP award for such year.
Upon a Change of Control, the unvested portions of any outstanding LTCIP Awards and outstanding phantom units held by Mr. Romaine automatically shall become fully vested.
Termination by general
partner without Cause /
Constructive Termination /
Breach by general partner
Change in
No Change
With a Change
Control
Death
Disability
in Control
in Control
Nonrenewal
Name
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)(1)
Mark A. Romaine
Severance Amount
-
2,300,000
2,300,000
2,300,000
2,300,000
1,437,500
LTIP awards
803,781
803,781
803,781
803,781
803,781
-
LTCIP award
3,100,000
3,100,000
3,100,000
3,100,000
3,100,000
-
Fringe benefits
-
40,727
40,727
40,727
40,727
-
Life insurance benefits
-
500,000
-
-
-
-
Total
3,903,781
6,744,508
6,244,508
6,244,508
6,244,508
1,437,500
(1)
In the event of non-renewal, for purposes of this calculation, we have assumed that Mr. Romaine would receive payment of (a) 100% of the performance-based component ($287,500), and (b) 0% of the discretionary component associated with his 2020 STIP target amount.
Edward J. Faneuil
If Mr. Faneuil’s employment is terminated for any reason, Mr. Faneuil shall be paid (i) all amounts of his base salary due and owing up through the date of termination, plus (ii) all earned, but unpaid, bonuses, plus (iii) all reimbursements of expenses appropriately and timely submitted, plus (iv) any and all other amounts, including vacation pay, that may be due to him as of the date of termination (the “Faneuil Accrued Obligations”).
If Mr. Faneuil’s employment is terminated by death or “Disability” (as defined in the employment agreement), he (or his estate) will be paid or receive (i) the Faneuil Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, plus (iii) an amount equal to 200% of the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, plus (iv) acceleration of vesting of his cash or equity interests in certain long-term incentive plans, plus (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of him and his spouse and dependents for 18 months following the date of termination.
If Mr. Faneuil’s employment is terminated by our general partner without “Cause” or by Mr. Faneuil for reasons constituting “Constructive Termination,” each as defined in the employment agreement, he shall be paid (i) the Faneuil Accrued Obligations, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, (iii) an amount equal to 200% of the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, (iv) acceleration of vesting of his cash and equity interests in long-term incentive plans, (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of his spouse and dependents, if any, for 18 months following the date of termination, and (vi) a potential gross-up payment in the event that any of the payments described above result in taxes being imposed on Mr. Faneuil pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.
If Mr. Faneuil’s employment is terminated by our general partner without Cause or Mr. Faneuil terminates his employment for Constructive Termination, at any time within three (3) months before a Change in Control and twelve (12) months following a Change of Control, then, in addition to the foregoing severance compensation and benefits, Mr. Faneuil shall receive 100% accelerated vesting on any and all outstanding Partnership options, restricted units, phantom units, unit appreciation rights and other similar rights (under the LTIP or otherwise) held by Mr. Faneuil as in effect on the date of termination, such accelerated vesting to occur on the later of (i) the date of termination, or (ii) the date of the Change of Control.
If Mr. Faneuil’s employment agreement is not renewed by our general partner and he does not continue to serve as our general partner’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel following the expiration of his employment agreement pursuant to a different employment agreement with our general partner, he shall be paid (i) the Faneuil Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, plus (iii) the performance-based and discretionary components, if any, of his STIP award for such year.
Upon a Change of Control, the unvested portions of any outstanding LTCIP Awards and outstanding phantom units held by Mr. Faneuil automatically shall become fully vested.
Our general partner and Mr. Faneuil also entered into the Global Deferred Compensation Plan, pursuant to which Mr. Faneuil is currently being paid the sum of $70,000 per year (the “Global Deferred Compensation”) in equal monthly installments of $5,833.33 on the first business day of each month for 15 years (180 months). In the event of an unforeseeable emergency as referenced in the deferred compensation agreement, our general partner will pay Mr. Faneuil within 15 days of the occurrence of the unforeseeable emergency the maximum amount allowable in a lump sum promptly following the occurrence of such unforeseeable emergency. The Global Deferred Compensation will be forfeited in its entirety in the event that Mr. Faneuil terminates his employment for any reason other than death, disability or a Change in Control (as defined below). On and after the date on which Global Deferred Compensation payments commence, our general partner may terminate its obligations under the deferred compensation agreement for Cause or if our general partner subsequently determines within 18 months of Mr. Faneuil’s termination that circumstances which would give rise to a for Cause termination of Mr. Faneuil otherwise existed at the time of his earlier termination. In the event of Mr. Faneuil’s death prior to his receiving any or all of the aggregate amount of the Global Deferred Compensation, our general partner will pay Mr. Faneuil’s beneficiary within 60 days of the date of his death a single lump sum payment in an amount equal to the present value of the remaining payments that would have been paid to
Mr. Faneuil. If there is a Change in Control or Mr. Faneuil is determined to have become disabled prior to his receiving any or all of the aggregate amount of the Global Deferred Compensation, our general partner will pay to Mr. Faneuil within 60 days of the effective date of the Change in Control or the determination that Mr. Faneuil became disabled a single lump sum payment in an amount equal to the present value of the remaining payments that would have been paid to him had the Change in Control not occurred or had Mr. Faneuil not become disabled. For purposes of the Global Deferred Compensation Agreement, “Cause”, as defined in the deferred compensation agreement, means (a) any uncured material breach by Mr. Faneuil of his obligations under the Global Deferred Compensation Agreement, (b) any breach by Mr. Faneuil of his confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation obligations set forth on Exhibit “A” to the Global Deferred Compensation Agreement or included in his employment agreement with our general partner, (c) engagement in gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of his duties, (d) a conviction or plea of no contest to a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude or any felony, or (e) the commission of an act of embezzlement or willful breach of a fiduciary duty to our general partner, the Partnership or any of its Affiliates.
Alliance and Mr. Faneuil also entered into the Alliance Deferred Compensation Agreement, the terms of which, including, without limitation, the payment terms thereunder, are on the same terms as those of the Global Deferred Compensation Agreement. Accordingly, the various scenarios involving a change of control or termination of employment under the Alliance Deferred Compensation Agreement are identical to those described above with respect to the Global Deferred Compensation Agreement.
Our general partner is obligated to reimburse Mr. Faneuil for any and all federal excise taxes and penalties (other than penalties imposed as a result of Mr. Faneuil’s actions), and any taxes imposed upon such reimbursement amounts, including, but not limited to, any federal, state and local income taxes, employment taxes, and other taxes, if any, which may become due pursuant to the application of Sections 4999 and/or 409A of the Code on any payments to Mr. Faneuil in connection the employment agreement. Mr. Faneuil and our general partner have agreed to reform any provision of the deferred compensation agreement, as amended, between them in a manner mutually agreeable to avoid imposition of any additional tax under the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and related regulations and Treasury pronouncements.
Termination by general
partner without Cause /
Constructive Termination /
Breach by general partner
Change in
No Change
With a Change
Control
Death
Disability
in Control
in Control
Nonrenewal
Name
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)(1)
Edward J. Faneuil
Severance Amount
-
2,000,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
1,250,000
Deferred Compensation
1,155,029
1,155,029
1,155,029
1,155,029
1,155,029
-
LTIP awards
643,214
643,214
643,214
643,214
643,214
-
LTCIP award
2,650,000
2,650,000
2,650,000
2,650,000
2,650,000
-
Fringe benefits
-
26,196
26,196
26,196
26,196
-
Life insurance benefits
-
335,000
-
-
-
-
Total
4,448,243
6,809,439
6,474,439
6,474,439
6,474,439
1,250,000
(1)
In the event of non-renewal, for purposes of this calculation, we have assumed that Mr. Faneuil would receive payment of (a) 100% of the performance-based component ($250,000), and (b) 0% of the discretionary component, associated with his 2020 STIP target amount.
Daphne H. Foster
If Ms. Foster’s employment is terminated for any reason, Ms. Foster shall be paid (i) all amounts of her base salary due and owing up through the date of termination, (ii) all earned, but unpaid, bonuses, (iii) all reimbursements of expenses appropriately and timely submitted, and (iv) any and all other amounts, including vacation pay, that may be due to her as of the date of termination (the “Foster Accrued Obligations”).
If Ms. Foster’s employment is terminated by death or “Disability” (as defined in the employment agreement),
she (or her estate) will be paid or receive (i) the Foster Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of her then base salary, plus (iii) an amount equal to 200% of the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, plus (iv) acceleration of vesting of her cash or equity interests in long-term incentive plans, plus (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of her and her spouse and dependents, if any, for 18 months following the date of termination.
If Ms. Foster’s employment is terminated by our general partner without “Cause” or by Ms. Foster for reasons constituting “Constructive Termination” (each quoted term as defined in the employment agreement), Ms. Foster shall be paid (i) the Foster Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of her then base salary, plus (iii) an amount equal to 200% of target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, plus (iv) acceleration of vesting of her cash and equity interests in long-term incentive plans, (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of her spouse and dependents, if any, for 18 months following the date of termination, plus (vi) a potential gross-up payment in the event that any of the payments described above result in taxes being imposed on Ms. Foster pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.
Further, if Ms. Foster’s employment is terminated by our general partner without Cause or Ms. Foster terminates her employment for Constructive Termination, at any time within three (3) months before a Change in Control and twelve (12) months following a Change of Control, then, in addition to the foregoing severance compensation and benefits, Ms. Foster shall receive 100% accelerated vesting on any and all outstanding Partnership options, restricted units, phantom units, unit appreciation rights and other similar rights (under the LTIP or otherwise) held by Ms. Foster as in effect on the date of termination, such accelerated vesting to occur on the later of (i) the date of termination, or (ii) the date of the Change of Control.
If Ms. Foster’s employment agreement is not renewed by our general partner and she does not continue to serve as our general partner’s Chief Financial Officer following the expiration of her employment agreement pursuant to a different employment agreement with our general partner, she shall be paid (i) the Foster Accrued Obligations, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of her then base salary, and (iii) the performance-based and discretionary components, if any, of her STIP award for such year.
Upon a Change of Control, the unvested portions of any outstanding LTCIP Awards and outstanding phantom units held by Ms. Foster automatically shall become fully vested.
Termination by general
partner without Cause /
Constructive Termination /
Breach by general partner
Change in
No Change
With a Change
Control
Death
Disability
in Control
in Control
Nonrenewal
Name
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)(1)
Daphne H. Foster
Severance Amount
-
2,000,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
1,200,000
LTIP awards
682,608
682,608
682,608
682,608
682,608
-
LTCIP award
2,650,000
2,650,000
2,650,000
2,650,000
2,650,000
-
Fringe benefits
-
2,296
2,296
2,296
2,296
-
Life insurance benefits
-
500,000
-
-
-
-
Total
3,332,608
5,834,904
5,334,904
5,334,904
5,334,904
1,200,000
(1)
In the event of non-renewal, for purposes of this calculation, we have assumed that Ms. Foster would receive payment of (a) 100% of the performance-based component ($250,000), and (b) 0% of the discretionary component associated with her 2020 STIP target amount.
Andrew Slifka
If Mr. Slifka’s employment is terminated for any reason, he shall be paid (i) all amounts of his base salary due and owing up through the date of termination, (ii) any earned but unpaid bonus, (iii) all reimbursements of expenses appropriately and timely submitted and (iv) any and all other amounts, including vacation pay, that may be due to him as of the date of termination (the “Andrew Slifka Accrued Obligations”).
If Mr. Slifka’s employment is terminated due to death or “Disability” (as defined in the employment agreement), he (or his estate) shall be paid (i) the Andrew Slifka Accrued Obligations, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, plus (iii) an amount equal to 200% of the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, plus (iv) acceleration of vesting of his cash or equity interests in long-term incentive plans, plus (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of him and his spouse and dependents, if any, for 24 months following the date of termination.
If Mr. Slifka’s employment is terminated by our general partner without “Cause” or by Mr. Slifka for reasons constituting “Constructive Termination,” each as defined in the employment agreement, he shall be paid (i) the Andrew Slifka Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, plus (iii) an amount equal to 200% of target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, plus (iv) acceleration of vesting of his cash and equity interests in long-term incentive plans, plus (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of his spouse and dependents, if any, for 24 months following the date of termination, plus (vi) a potential gross-up payment in the event that any of the payments described above result in taxes being imposed on Mr. Slifka pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.
If Mr. Slifka’s employment is terminated by our general partner for Cause, he shall be paid the Andrew Slifka Accrued Obligations.
If Mr. Slifka’s employment agreement is not renewed by our general partner and he does not continue to serve as our general partner’s Executive Vice President or President of the GDSO Division of the Partnership following the expiration of his employment agreement pursuant to a different employment agreement with our general partner, he shall be paid (i) the Andrew Slifka Accrued Obligations, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, and (iii) the performance-based and discretionary components, if any, of his STIP award for such year.
Upon a Change of Control, the unvested portions of any outstanding LTCIP Awards and outstanding phantom units held by Mr. Slifka automatically shall become fully vested.
Termination by general
partner without Cause /
Constructive Termination /
Breach by general partner
Change in
No Change
With a Change
Control
Death
Disability
in Control
in Control
Nonrenewal
Name
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)(1)
Andrew Slifka
Severance Amount
-
1,620,000
1,620,000
1,620,000
1,620,000
1,117,500
LTIP awards
435,107
435,107
435,107
435,107
435,107
-
LTCIP award
1,760,000
1,760,000
1,760,000
1,760,000
1,760,000
-
Fringe benefits
-
54,302
54,302
54,302
54,302
-
Life insurance benefits
-
500,000
-
-
-
-
Total
2,195,107
4,369,409
3,869,409
3,869,409
3,869,409
1,117,500
(1)
In the event of non-renewal, for purposes of this calculation, we have assumed that Mr. Slifka would receive payment of (a) 100% of the performance-based component ($167,500), and (b) 0% of the discretionary component associated with his 2020 STIP target amount.
Matthew Spencer
If Mr. Spencer’s employment is terminated for any reason, he (or his estate, as applicable) shall be paid (i) all amounts of base salary due and owing up through the date of termination, (ii) any earned but unpaid bonus, (iii) all reimbursements of eligible business expenses, and (iv) any and all other amounts, including vacation pay, that may be due to him as of the date of termination (collectively, the “Spencer Accrued Obligations”).
If Mr. Spencer’s employment is terminated due to his death or disability, he (or his estate, as applicable) will be paid (i) the Spencer Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his base salary, plus (iii) an amount equal to 200% of the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, plus (iv) acceleration of vesting of his cash and equity interests in certain long-term incentive plans, plus (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of him and his spouse and dependents, if any, for 18 months following the date of termination.
If Mr. Spencer’s employment is terminated by our general partner without “Cause” or by Mr. Spencer for reasons constituting “Constructive Termination” (each as defined in the employment agreement), he shall be paid (i) the Spencer Accrued Obligations, plus (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his base salary, plus (iii) an amount equal to 200% of the target incentive amount under the then applicable short-term incentive plan, plus (iv) acceleration of vesting of his cash and equity interests in certain long-term incentive plans, plus (v) group health and similar insurance premiums on behalf of him and his spouse and dependents, if any, for 18 months following the date of termination, plus (vi) a potential gross-up payment in the event that any of the payments described above result in taxes being imposed on Mr. Spencer pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.
If Mr. Spencer’s employment agreement is not renewed by our general partner and he does not continue to serve as our general partner’s Chief Accounting Officer following the expiration of his employment agreement pursuant to a different employment agreement with our general partner, the employment agreement provides that he shall be paid (i) the Spencer Accrued Obligations, (ii) a lump sum payment equal to 200% of his then base salary, and (iii) the performance-based and discretionary components, if any, of his STIP award for such year.
Upon a Change of Control, the unvested portions of any outstanding LTCIP Awards and outstanding phantom units held by Mr. Spencer automatically shall become fully vested.
Termination by general
partner without Cause /
Constructive Termination /
Breach by general partner
Change in
No Change
With a Change
Control
Death
Disability
in Control
in Control
Nonrenewal
Name
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)(1)
Matthew Spencer
Severance Amount
-
950,000
950,000
950,000
950,000
650,000
LTIP awards
151,340
151,340
151,340
151,340
151,340
-
LTCIP award
950,000
950,000
950,000
950,000
950,000
-
Fringe benefits
-
40,727
40,727
40,727
40,727
-
Life insurance benefits
-
500,000
-
-
-
-
Total
1,101,340
2,592,067
2,092,067
2,092,067
2,092,067
650,000
(1)
In the event of non-renewal, for purposes of this calculation, we have assumed that Mr. Spencer would receive payment of (a) 100% of the performance-based component ($100,000), and (b) 0% of the discretionary component associated with his 2020 STIP target amount.
Other Benefits
Pension Benefits
The table below sets forth information regarding the present value as of December 31, 2020 of the accumulated benefits of our named executive officers under the Global Partners LP Pension Plan, and, with respect to Mr. Faneuil, the Global and Alliance Deferred Compensation Agreements. Amounts with respect to the Global and Alliance Deferred Compensation Agreements are reflected in the table below because they represent a fixed entitlement.
Pension Benefits at December 31, 2020
Number of Years
Present Value of
Payments During
Name
Plan Name
Credited Service (#)
Accumulated Benefit ($)
Last Fiscal Year ($)
Eric Slifka
(1)
832,401
-
Mark A. Romaine
(1)
312,855
-
Edward J. Faneuil
(1)
1,019,037
-
Edward J. Faneuil
(2)
n/a
577,515
70,000
Edward J. Faneuil
(3)
n/a
577,515
70,000
Daphne H. Foster
(1)
51,926
-
Andrew P. Slifka
(1)
41,413
-
Andrew P. Slifka
(4)
349,250
-
Matthew Spencer
-
-
-
-
(1) Global Partners LP Pension Plan
(2) Global Deferred Compensation Agreement
(3) Alliance Deferred Compensation Agreement
(4) Global Montello Group Corp. Pension Plan
Global Partners LP Pension Plan
Effective December 31, 2009, the Global Partners LP Pension Plan (the “Global Pension Plan”) was amended to freeze participation in and benefit accruals under the Global Pension Plan. Prior to the freeze, all employees who (1) were 21 years of age or older, (2) were not covered by a collective bargaining agreement providing for union pension benefits, and (3) had been employed by our predecessor, our general partner or one of our operating subsidiaries for one year prior to enrollment in the Global Pension Plan were eligible to participate in the Global Pension Plan. An employee is fully vested in benefits under the Global Pension Plan after completing five years of service or upon termination due to death or disability. Certain employees are entitled to a supplemental benefit that vested over five years with 20% vesting on each December 31 beginning in 2010 and lasting through 2014. When an employee retires at age 65 or, if later, upon reaching five years' service, the employee can elect to receive a monthly annuity or an equivalent lump sum payment. An employee's benefit payable at retirement is equal to (1) 23% of the employee's average monthly compensation for the five consecutive calendar years during which the employee received the highest amount of pay (“Average Compensation”) plus (2) 19.5% of the employee’s Average Compensation in excess of his monthly “covered compensation” for Social Security purposes, as provided in the Global Pension Plan. However, if an employee has completed less than 30 years of service on his termination at or after reaching age 65, the monthly benefit will be reduced by 1/30th for each year less than 30 years completed by the employee. When an employee retires at an age other than 65, the employee retirement benefit will be the actuarial equivalent of the benefit he or she would have received if he or she had retired at age 65. An employee who terminates employment after completing at least five years of service will be eligible for an early retirement benefit determined as described in the preceding sentence at any time after attaining age 60.
Benefits under the formula are based upon the employee’s highest consecutive five-year average compensation and are not subject to offset for social security benefits. Compensation for such purposes means compensation including overtime, but excluding bonuses, 50% of commissions, taxable fringe benefits, relocation allowances, transportation allowances, housing allowances, cash and DERs pursuant to any long-term incentive plan and any cash payable in lieu of
group healthcare coverage.
GMG Pension Plan
As a result of the Alliance Acquisition, effective as of March 1, 2012, sponsorship of Alliance Energy LLC Pension Plan was transferred to GMG, which is a part of our controlled group, and the name of the plan was changed to the Global Montello Group Corp. Pension Plan (the “GMG Pension Plan”). Effective May 15, 2012, the GMG Pension Plan was amended to freeze participation in and benefit accruals. Prior to the freeze, all employees who (1) were 21 years of age or older, (2) were not covered by a collective bargaining agreement providing for union pension benefits, (3) had been employed by GMG or a predecessor employer for one year prior to enrollment in the Pension Plan, (4) were not nonresident aliens, (5) had not become employees as a result of Code Section 410(b)(6)(C) transaction during the current or next preceding year and (6) were not non-exempt gas station/c-store employees hired on or after January 1, 2007 or employees hired after September 30, 2009 were eligible to participate in the GMG Pension Plan. An employee is fully vested in benefits under the GMG Pension Plan after completing five years of service or, if earlier, upon termination due to death or disability. When an employee retires at age 65 with 5 years of service, the employee can elect to receive a monthly annuity or an equivalent lump sum payment. The employee's benefit payable at retirement is equal to (1) 23% of the employee’s average monthly compensation for the five consecutive calendar years during which the employee received the highest amount of pay (“Average Compensation”) plus (2) 19.5% of the employee's Average Compensation in excess of his monthly “covered compensation” for Social Security purposes, as provided in the GMG Pension Plan. When an employee retires at an age other than 65, the employee retirement benefit will be the actuarial equivalent of the benefit he or she would have received if he or she had retired at age 65. An employee who terminates employment after completing at least five years of service will be eligible for an early retirement benefit determined as described in the preceding sentence at any time after attaining age 60.
Benefits under the GMG Pension Plan formula are based upon the employee’s highest consecutive five-year average compensation and are not subject to offset for social security benefits. Compensation for such purposes means compensation including overtime, but excluding bonuses, 50% of commissions, deferred compensation, employee benefits, moving expenses, transportation allowance, salary continuation and non-cash remuneration.
Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreement
On December 31, 2009, our general partner entered into a SERP agreement with Edward J. Faneuil. Mr. Faneuil's SERP benefit became fully vested on December 31, 2014. The value of the SERP benefit to be provided under the agreement, expressed as a single lump sum payment, is $159,355 for Mr. Faneuil.
Global and Alliance Deferred Compensation Agreements
For a description of the deferred compensation arrangements provided to Mr. Faneuil pursuant to the Global Deferred Compensation Plan and the Alliance Deferred Compensation Plan, please read “Employment and Related Agreements-Deferred Compensation Agreements” and “Potential Payments upon a Change of Control or Termination.”
Compensation of Directors
The following table sets forth (i) certain information concerning the compensation earned by our directors in 2020, and (ii) the aggregate amounts of stock awards and option awards, if any, held by each director at the end of the last fiscal year:
Fees Earned
or Paid in
Name
Cash ($)
Total ($)
Richard Slifka (1)
81,500
81,500
Eric Slifka (2)
-
-
Andrew Slifka (2)
-
-
Kenneth I. Watchmaker (1)
120,500
120,500
Robert J. McCool (1)
101,500
101,500
David McKown (1)(3)
743,500
743,500
John T. Hailer (1)
103,500
103,500
Robert W. Owens (1)
6,000
6,000
Daphne H. Foster (2)
-
-
(1) As of December 31, 2020, none of our non-employee directors held any unvested phantom units.
(2) Messrs. Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka and Ms. Foster, as executive officers of our general partner, are otherwise compensated for their services and therefore receive no separate compensation for their service as directors.
(3) Mr. David McKown’s compensation included a lump-sum payment of $650,000 in recognition of his years of service to our general partner.
Employees of our general partner who also serve as directors do not receive additional compensation. In 2020, directors who are not employees of our general partner (1) received: (a) a $67,500 annual cash retainer; (b) $1,000 for each meeting of the board of directors attended; (c) $2,000 for each audit committee meeting attended (limited to payment for one committee meeting per day); and (d) $1,000 for each committee meeting other than the audit committee meeting attended (limited to payment for one committee meeting per day), and (2) are eligible to participate in the LTIP and the LTCIP. In addition, the chair of the audit committee receives an additional $15,000 per year.
Each director also is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with attending meetings of the board of directors or committees.
On October 5, 2020, Mr. Watchmaker, Mr. McCool and Mr. Hailer, respectively, were awarded LTCIP grants in the amounts of $173,000, $128,000 and $128,000 in respect of services rendered in 2019. Each such LTCIP award will fully vest as of September 25, 2023, subject to continued service as a director through such date.
On August 7, 2019, Mr. Watchmaker, Mr. McCool, Mr. McKown and Mr. Hailer, respectively, were awarded LTCIP grants in the amounts of $230,000, $160,000, $125,000 and $80,000 in respect of services rendered in 2018. Each such LTCIP award will fully vest as of August 10, 2022, subject to continued service as a director through such date.
On March 6, 2019, Mr. Watchmaker, Mr. McCool and Mr. McKown, respectively, were awarded LTCIP grants in the amounts of $140,000, $125,000, and $115,000 in respect of services rendered in 2017. Each such LTCIP award will fully vest as of March 1, 2022, subject to continued service as a director through such date. Upon his retirement on July 20, 2020, and in accordance with the determination of the Compensation Committee, Mr. McKown forfeited his August 27, 2017 LTIP award and each of his March 6, 2019 and August 7, 2019 LTCIP awards.
Each director will be fully indemnified by us for actions associated with being a director to the extent permitted under Delaware law.
Pay Ratio Disclosure
As required by Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K, we are providing the following information about the relationship of the annual total compensation of our employees and the annual total compensation of Mr. Eric Slifka, our CEO.
For 2020, our last completed fiscal year:
● The median of the annual total compensation of our employees (other than the CEO) was $28,269; and
● The annual total compensation of our CEO, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table above, was $5,568,803.
● Based on this information, for 2020, the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to the median of the annual total compensation of all employees was reasonably estimated to be 197 to 1.
To put this into context, approximately 74% of our employee population consists of convenience store employees, approximately 44% of whom are employed on a part-time basis. Our part-time employees who work less than thirty hours per week receive (i) wages, and (ii) if eligible, sick time and/or 401(k) benefits, but are not eligible for vacation or other fringe benefits. In comparison, if we were to only look at our non-convenience store employee population, the median employee would be employed on a full-time basis, with a total annual compensation of $76,290 in 2020. The ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to this median employee was reasonably estimated to be 73 to 1.
To identity the median of the annual total compensation of all of our employees, as well as to determine the annual total compensation of our median employee and our CEO, we took the following steps:
● We determined that, as of December 31, 2020, our employee population consisted of approximately 3,553 individuals with all of these individuals located in the United States. This population consisted of our full-time, part-time, and temporary (including seasonal) employees. We selected December 31, 2020 as identification date for determining our median employee because it enabled us to make such identification in a reasonably efficient and economic manner.
● We used a consistently applied compensation measure to identify our median employee by comparing the amount of salary or wages, bonuses and equity awards, if any, reflected in our payroll records as reported to the Internal Revenue Service on Form W-2 for 2020.
● We identified our median employee by consistently applying this compensation measure to all of our employees included in our analysis. Since all of our employees, including our CEO, are located in the United States, we did not make any cost of living adjustments in identifying the median employee.
● After we identified our median employee, we combined all of the elements of such employee’s compensation for the 2020 year in accordance with the requirements of Item 402(c)(2)(x) of Regulation S-K, resulting in annual total compensation of $28,269.
● With respect to the annual total compensation of our CEO, we used the amount reported in the “Total” column of the Summary Compensation Table above.

---

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.
The following table sets forth as of March 3, 2021 the beneficial ownership of common units representing limited partner interests in Global Partners LP (“Units”) held by certain beneficial owners of more than five percent (5%) of the Units, by each director and named executive officer of Global GP LLC, the general partner of Global Partners LP (“General Partner”) and by all directors and executive officers of our General Partner as a group:
Percentage
Common
of Common
Units
Units
Beneficially
Beneficially
Name of Beneficial Owner (1)
Owned
Owned
Invesco Ltd. (2)
5,995,765
17.6
%
Richard Slifka (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)
2,705,988
8.0
%
Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A (3)(4)(6)
1,860,499
5.5
%
Eric Slifka (6)(8)(9)
1,435,077
4.2
%
Andrew Slifka
522,400
1.5
%
Edward J. Faneuil (10)
425,007
1.3
%
Global GP LLC (6)
28,542
*
Mark Romaine
64,305
*
Daphne H. Foster
26,929
*
Matthew Spencer
8,184
*
Kenneth I. Watchmaker
38,856
*
Robert J. McCool
39,609
*
John T. Hailer
-
*
Robert W. Owens
-
*
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)
5,237,813
15.4
%
* Less than 1%
(1) The address for each person or entity listed other than Invesco Ltd. is P.O. Box 9161, 800 South Street, Suite 500, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161.
(2) According to a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 9, 2021, Invesco Ltd., in its capacity as a parent holding company to its investment advisers, has sole voting and dispositive power over 5,995,765 common units that it may be deemed to beneficially own and which are held of record by clients of Invesco Ltd. Invesco Advisers, Inc. is a subsidiary of Invesco Ltd. and it advises (i) the Invesco Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Select 40 Fund, which owns7.90% of the common units outstanding, and (ii) the Invesco Oppenheimer SteelPath MLP Income Fund, which owns 9.73% of the common units outstanding. However, no one individual has greater than 5% economic ownership. The shareholders of the Fund have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends and proceeds from the sale of such securities. The address for Invesco Ltd. is 1555 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1800, Atlanta, GA 30309.
(3) Prior to June 30, 2020, Richard Slifka and the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A shared voting and investment power with respect to the common units owned by Montello Oil Corporation (“MOC”) and, therefore, were deemed to beneficially own the common units held by MOC. On June 30, 2020, all common units owned by MOC were distributed to its stockholders as part of a plan of liquidation and dissolution (the “Plan”). According to the Plan, each of Richard Slifka and the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A received 854,701 common units as a stockholder of MOC and ceased to share voting and investment power over the other common units distributed pursuant to the Plan.
(4) Prior to July 20, 2020, Richard Slifka and the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A shared voting and investment power with respect to the common units owned by Global Petroleum Corp. (“GPC”) and, therefore, were deemed to beneficially own the common units held by GPC. On July 20, 2020, all common units owned by GPC were distributed to its stockholders as part of a plan of liquidation and dissolution (the “Plan”). According to the Plan, Richard Slifka received 862,732 common units and the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A received 862,731 common units.
(5) Richard Slifka has sole voting and investment power with respect to and, therefore, may be deemed to beneficially own, the common units owned by Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership.
(6) Purchased by our general partner for the purpose of assisting us in meeting our anticipated obligations to deliver common units under our Long-Term Incentive Plan to officers, directors and employees. Richard Slifka and the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A control Global GP LLC, and thus may be deemed to beneficially own the common units owned by Global GP LLC. The co-trustees of the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A have delegated the voting rights in Global GP LLC of the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A to Eric Slifka, and thus Eric Slifka may be deemed to beneficially own the common units owned by Global GP LLC.
(7) Richard Slifka is the trustee of a voting trust with sole voting and investment power with respect to the common units owned by Larea Holdings II LLC. Richard Slifka may, therefore, be deemed to beneficially own the common units held by Larea Holdings II LLC.
(8) Eric Slifka has sole voting and investment power with respect to the common units owned by Larea Holdings LLC. Eric Slifka may, therefore, be deemed to beneficially own the common units held by Larea Holdings LLC.
(9) Beneficially owned common unit amounts for Eric Slifka include the common units held in certain family trusts for the benefit of Eric Slifka’s children, for which Eric Slifka is the sole trustee.
(10) Edward J. Faneuil is the trustee of the RS Montello Irrevocable Trust and, as such, has sole voting and investment control over (but no pecuniary interest in) the 319,338 common units held by the RS Montello Irrevocable Trust.
Equity Compensation Plan Table
The following table summarizes information about our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2020:
Number of securities
Number of Securities
remaining available for
to be issued
Weighted average
future issuance under
upon exercise of
exercise price of
equity compensation plans
outstanding options,
outstanding options,
(excluding securities
Plan Category
warrants and rights
warrants and rights
reflected in column (a))
(a)
(b)
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
402,570
-
3,047,783
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
-
-
-
Total
402,570
-
3,047,783

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.
As of March 3, 2021, affiliates of our general partner, including current directors and executive officers of our general partner, owned 5,237,813 common units representing 15.4% of the common units. In addition, our general partner owns a 0.67% general partner interest in us.
Alfred A. Slifka, former Chairman of the board of our general partner, passed away on March 9, 2014. Mr. Slifka’s estate closed effective February 28, 2017 and his interests in our general partner and his beneficially owned interests in Global Partners LP and its affiliates were transferred to the Alfred A. Slifka 1990 Trust Under Article II-A on that date.
Steven McCool, the son of Robert J. McCool, one of our independent directors, is an employee of Global GP LLC. During our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, his total compensation earned was approximately $173,000.
Maxwell Foster, the son of Daphne H. Foster, our Chief Financial Officer, is an employee of Global GP LLC. During our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, his total compensation earned was approximately $575,000.
James Cook, the son-in-law of Richard Slifka, our Chairman, and the brother-in-law of Andrew Slifka, our Executive Vice President and director, is an employee of Global GP LLC. During our fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, his total compensation earned was approximately $213,000.
Each of Eric Slifka (our President, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman) and Andrew Slifka (our Executive Vice President, President of Alliance Energy LLC and a director) owns a 20% interest in an entity which leases real property located in Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts to our subsidiary, Drake Petroleum Company, Inc., for the operation of a gasoline station and convenience store.
Operational Stage
Distributions of available cash to our general partner and its affiliates
We will generally make cash distributions of 99.33% to the common unitholders, including affiliates of our general partner (including directors and executive officers of our general partner), as the holders of an aggregate of 5,237,813 common units and 0.67% to our general partner. In addition, if distributions exceed the minimum quarterly distribution and other higher target levels, our general partner will be entitled to increasing percentages of the distributions, up to 48.67% of the distributions above the highest target level.
Assuming we have sufficient available cash to pay the full minimum quarterly distribution on all of our outstanding common units for four quarters, our general partner and its affiliates, including directors and executive officers of our general partner, would receive an annual distribution of approximately $9.7 million on their common units and $0.4 million on the 0.67% general partner interest.
Payments to our general partner and its affiliates
Our general partner does not receive a management fee or other compensation for its management of Global Partners LP. Our general partner and its affiliates are reimbursed for expenses incurred on our behalf. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner determines the amount of these expenses.
Withdrawal or removal of our general partner
If our general partner withdraws or is removed, its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights will either be sold to the new general partner for cash or converted into common units, in each case for an amount equal to the fair market value of those interests.
Liquidation Stage
Liquidation
Upon our liquidation, the partners, including our general partner, will be entitled to receive liquidating distributions according to their particular capital account balances.
Noncompetition
We are a party to an omnibus agreement with Mr. Richard Slifka and our general partner that addresses the agreement of Mr. Richard Slifka not to compete with us and to cause his affiliates not to compete with us under certain circumstances. The omnibus agreement also addressed certain environmental indemnity obligations of Global Petroleum Corp. and certain of its affiliates, which indemnity obligations have expired. In connection with our acquisition of Alliance, Richard Slifka, Chairman of our general partner, entered into a business opportunity agreement with our general partner containing noncompetition provisions which are broader than those contained in the omnibus agreement in order to encompass our expanded lines of business since 2005.
Pursuant to the omnibus agreement and the business opportunity agreement, Richard Slifka agreed, for himself and his respective affiliates, not to engage in, acquire or invest in any of the following businesses: (1) the wholesale and/or retail marketing, sale, distribution and transportation (other than transportation by truck) of refined petroleum products, crude oil, ethanol, propane and biofuels; (2) the storage of refined petroleum products and/or any of the other products identified in (1) or asphalt in connection with any of the activities described in (1); (3) bunkering; and (4) such other activities in which the Partnership, and its direct or indirect subsidiaries, or any of their businesses are engaged or, to the knowledge of Richard Slifka, are planning to become engaged. These noncompetition obligations survive under the omnibus agreement for so long as Richard Slifka, Eric Slifka and/or any of their respective affiliates, individually or as part of a group, control our general partner, and under the business opportunity agreement indefinitely.
Pursuant to Eric Slifka’s and Andrew Slifka’s respective employment agreements with our general partner, each of Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka agreed, for themselves and their respective affiliates, to not work (as an employee, consultant, advisor, director or otherwise), engage in, acquire or invest in any of the following businesses: (1) the wholesale or retail marketing, sale, distribution and transportation of refined petroleum products, crude oil, renewable fuels (including ethanol and biofuels), and natural gas liquids (including ethane, butane, propane and condensates); (2) the storage of refined petroleum products and/or any of the other products identified in clause (1) above in connection with any of the activities described in said clause (1); (3) the retail sale of convenience store items and sundries and related food service, whether or not related to the retail sale of refined petroleum products including, without limitation, gasoline; (4) bunkering; and (5) any other business in which the general partner or its affiliates (a) becomes engaged during the period that they are employed by the general partner or any of its affiliates, or (b) is preparing to become engaged as of the time that their employment with the general partner or any of its affiliates ends and, with respect to parts (a) and (b) of this clause (5), they have participated in or obtained Confidential Information about such business or anticipated business. Each of Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka further agreed to not directly or indirectly solicit any employees, contractors, vendors, suppliers or customers of the general partner or any of its affiliates to cease to be employed by or otherwise do business with the general partner or any of its affiliates, or to reduce the same. The foregoing noncompetition and nonsolicitation restrictions may be waived only by the conflicts committee of the general partner’s board of directors. Eric Slifka’s and Andrew Slifka’s noncompetition and non-solicitation obligations survive for one year following the termination of their respective employment for any reason other than death or the termination of their employment by the general partner without Cause (as defined in their respective employment agreements). In consideration for their respective noncompetition obligations, the general partner shall pay to each of Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka a total payment equal to fifty percent (50%) of their highest annualized Base Salary (as defined in their respective employment agreements) within the two years preceding termination; provided, that the general partner shall have no obligation to make such payments in the event that Eric Slifka or Andrew Slifka breaches any of the terms of their noncompetition obligations.
In addition, Eric Slifka’s and Andrew Slifka’s employment agreements include, and Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka both agreed to, a confidentiality provision, which generally will continue for two years following Eric Slifka’s and Andrew Slifka’s termination of employment.
Shared Services Agreement
We are party to a new services agreement effective as of January 1, 2021 with certain Slifka-owned entities and their shareholders and/or members (the “Services Recipients”). We believe the terms of this agreement are at least as favorable as could have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties. Under this agreement, we provide the Services
Recipients with certain accounting, treasury, legal, information technology, human resources and financial operations support for which the Service Recipients pay or paid us an amount based upon the cost associated with the provision of such services. We will continue to provide the Service Recipients with such services for an indefinite term, and the Service Recipients may terminate their receipt of some or all of the services thereunder upon 90 days’ prior written notice.
We had been party to a shared services agreement with Global Petroleum Corp. As of December 31, 2020, that agreement has been terminated.
Revere Terminal Acquisition from Global Petroleum Corp.
On January 14, 2015, we acquired the Revere terminal from Global Petroleum Corp. for a purchase price of approximately $23.7 million. Pursuant to the purchase agreement entered into by both parties, we assumed all liabilities and obligations of Global Petroleum Corp. related to the terminal and the underlying real property, except for certain liabilities as set forth in the purchase agreement. We have released Global Petroleum Corp. from and agreed to indemnify Global Petroleum Corp. from all known and unknown environmental liabilities relating to the terminal and underlying real property.
In the event that we sell, within eight years of the closing of the acquisition, all or substantially all of the real property underlying the Revere terminal to a third party not affiliated with Global Petroleum Corp. or us and such third party does not intend to use the real property for petroleum-related purposes, then we will pay Global Petroleum Corp. an amount equal to fifty percent of the net proceeds (as defined in the purchase agreement) received by us in connection with such sale.
Relationship of Management with Global Petroleum Corp.
Some members of our management team have been officers and/or directors of our affiliate, Global Petroleum Corp. Messrs. Faneuil and Spencer have spent a portion of their time providing services to Global Petroleum Corp. under a shared services agreement. That shared services agreement has been superseded by a new services agreement. Please read “-Shared Services Agreement.”
Policies Relating to Conflicts of Interest
Conflicts of interest exist and may arise in the future as a result of the relationships between our general partner and its affiliates, on the one hand, and us and our unaffiliated limited partners, on the other hand. The directors and officers of our general partner have fiduciary duties to manage our general partner in a manner beneficial to its owners. At the same time, our general partner has a fiduciary duty to manage us in a manner beneficial to our unitholders and us. Our partnership agreement modifies and limits our general partner’s fiduciary duties to unitholders. Our partnership agreement also restricts the remedies available to unitholders for actions taken by our general partner that might otherwise constitute breaches of fiduciary duty under applicable Delaware law. The Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act provides that Delaware limited partnerships may, in their partnership agreements, expand, restrict or eliminate the fiduciary duties otherwise owed by a general partner to limited partners and the partnership.
Under our partnership agreement, whenever a conflict arises between our general partner or its affiliates, on the one hand, and us or any other partner, on the other, our general partner will resolve that conflict. Our general partner will not be in breach of its obligations under our partnership agreement or its duties to us or our unitholders if the resolution of the conflict is:
● approved by the conflicts committee of our general partner, although our general partner is not obligated to seek such approval;
● approved by the vote of a majority of the outstanding common units, excluding any common units owned by our general partner or any of its affiliates;
● on terms no less favorable to us than those generally being provided to or available from unaffiliated third parties; or
● fair and reasonable to us, taking into account the totality of the relationships between the parties involved, including other transactions that may be particularly favorable or advantageous to us.
Our general partner may, but is not required to, seek the approval of such resolution from the conflicts committee of the board of directors of our general partner. If our general partner does not seek approval from the conflicts committee and its board of directors determines that the resolution or course of action taken with respect to the conflict of interest satisfies either of the standards set forth in the third and fourth bullet points above, then it will be presumed that, in making its decision, the board acted in good faith, and in any proceeding brought by or on behalf of us or any limited partner of ours, the person bringing or prosecuting such proceeding will have the burden of overcoming such presumption. Unless the resolution of a conflict is specifically provided for in our partnership agreement, our general partner or the conflicts committee may consider any factors it determines in good faith to consider when resolving a conflict. When our partnership agreement requires someone to act in good faith, it requires that person to reasonably believe that he is acting in the best interests of the partnership, unless the context otherwise requires.
Director Independence
Please read Part III, Item 10, “Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance” for information regarding director independence.

---

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services.
The audit committee of the board of directors of Global GP LLC selected Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, to audit the books, records and accounts of Global Partners LP for the 2020 and 2019 calendar years. The audit committee’s charter, which is available on our website at www.globalp.com, requires the audit committee to approve in advance all audit and non-audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. All services reported in the audit, audit-related, tax and all other fees categories below were approved by the audit committee.
Pre-approved fees to Ernst & Young LLP for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were as follows (in thousands):
Audit Fees (1)
$
3,710
$
4,060
Audit-Related Fees
Tax Fees (2)
1,309
1,529
Total
$
5,137
$
5,706
(1) Represents fees for professional services provided primarily in connection with the audits of our annual financial statements and reviews of our quarterly financial statements. Audit fees also included Ernst & Young’s audits of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting at December 31, 2020 and 2019.
(2) Tax fees included tax planning and tax return preparation.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
(a) The following documents are included with the filing of this Annual Report:
1. Financial statements-See “Index to Financial Statements” on page.
2. Financial statement schedules-Financial statement schedules have been omitted as they are not required, not applicable or otherwise included in the consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.
3. Exhibits-The following is a list of exhibits required by Item 601 of Registration S-K to be filed as part of this Annual Report.
Exhibit
Number
Description
2.1**
-
Agreement of Purchase and Sale dated as of January 14, 2015 between Global Revco Dock, L.L.C, Global Revco Terminal, L.L.C., Global South Terminal, L.L.C., Global Petroleum Corp. and Global Companies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2015 (File No. 001-32593)).
3.1
-
Certificate of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed on May 10, 2005).
3.2
-
Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP dated as of August 7, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 7, 2018).
4.1
-
Registration Rights Agreement, dated March 1, 2012, by and among Global Partners LP and AE Holdings Corp. (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2012).
4.2*
-
Description of Common Units registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
4.3*
-
Description of 9.75% Series A Fixed-to-Floating Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
4.4
-
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 28, 2020, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and Regions Bank, as successor to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on December 16, 2020).
4.5
-
Indenture, dated October 7, 2020, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and Regions Bank, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 8, 2020).
4.6
-
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 28, 2020, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and Regions Bank, as trustee (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on December 16, 2020).
4.7
-
Registration Rights Agreement, dated October 7, 2020, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 8, 2020).
10.1
-
Omnibus Agreement, dated October 4, 2005, by and among Global Petroleum Corp., Montello Oil Corporation, Global Revco Dock, L.L.C., Global Revco Terminal, L.L.C., Global South Terminal, L.L.C., Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C., Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership, Global GP LLC, Global Partners LP, Global Operating LLC, Alfred A. Slifka, Richard Slifka and Eric Slifka (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 11, 2005).
10.2
-
Terminals Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated March 16, 2007 by and between Global Partners LP and ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 9, 2007).
10.3
-
Terminals Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated July 9, 2007 by and between Global Partners LP and ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 14, 2008).
10.4˄
-
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated December 31, 2009, between Global GP LLC and Edward J. Faneuil (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 7, 2010).
10.5
-
Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated May 24, 2010 among ExxonMobil Oil Corporation and Exxon Mobil Corporation, as sellers, and Global Companies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 6, 2010).
10.6
-
First Amendment to Sale and Purchase Agreement, effective August 12, 2010 among ExxonMobil Oil Corporation and Exxon Mobil Corporation, as sellers, and Global Companies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 31, 2010).
10.7
-
Second Amendment to Sale and Purchase Agreement, dated September 7, 2010, among ExxonMobil Oil Corporation and Exxon Mobil Corporation, as sellers, and Global Companies LLC, as buyer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 9, 2010).
10.8††
-
Brand Fee Agreement, dated September 3, 2010, between ExxonMobil Oil Corporation and Global Companies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2020).
10.9
-
Assignment of Branded Wholesaler PMPA Franchise Agreements, effective March 1, 2011 between Global Companies LLC, Alliance Energy LLC and ExxonMobil Oil Corporation (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 11, 2011).
10.10
-
Business Opportunity Agreement dated March 1, 2012, by and among Alfred A. Slifka, Richard Slifka and Global Partners LP (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 7, 2012).
10.11˄
-
Deferred Compensation Agreement dated September 23, 2009, by and between Alliance Energy LLC and Edward J. Faneuil (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.53 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 12, 2012).
10.12˄
-
Global Partners LP Long-Term Incentive Plan (as Amended and Restated Effective June 22, 2012) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 25, 2012).
10.13˄
-
Form of Phantom Unit Award Agreement for Directors under Global Partners LP Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 3, 2013).
10.14˄
-
Form of Confidentiality, Non-Solicitation, and Non-Competition Agreement for Phantom Unit Award Recipients (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 3, 2013).
10.15˄
-
Form of Director Unit Award Letter (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2015).
10.16
-
Second Amended and Restated Services Agreement, dated as of March 11, 2015, by and among Global Petroleum Corp. and Global Companies LLC (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.49 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2015).
10.17˄
-
Form of Restricted Unit Award Grant Letter (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2015).
10.18˄
-
Form of Cash Award Grant Letter (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2015).
10.19˄
-
Form of Phantom Unit Agreement (Cash Settlement) (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 6, 2015).
10.20†††
-
Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of April 25, 2017, among Global Operating LLC, Global Companies LLC, Global Montello Group Corp., Glen Hes Corp., Chelsea Sandwich LLC, GLP Finance Corp., Global Energy Marketing LLC, Global CNG LLC, Alliance Energy LLC, Cascade Kelly Holdings LLC and Warren Equities, Inc. as borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Swing Line Lender, Alternative Currency Fronting Lender and L/C Issuer, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as an L/C Issuer, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. as Co-Syndication Agents, Citizens Bank, N.A., Societe Generale, BNP Paribas and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. NY Branch as Co-Documentation Agents, and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Citizens Bank N.A., Societe Generale, BNP Paribas, and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. NY Branch as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q-Q filed on May 9, 2017).
10.21˄
-
Form of Phantom Unit Award Agreement for Executive Officers under Global Partners LP Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 22, 2017).
10.22˄
-
Global Partners LP 2018 Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 12, 2018).
10.23
-
First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated September 10, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2018).
10.24
-
Second Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated September 10, 2018 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 8, 2018).
10.25˄
-
Employment Agreement effective as of February 1, 2019, by and between Global GP LLC and Eric S. Slifka (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2019).
10.26˄
-
Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2019, by and between Global GP LLC and Mark Romaine (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2019).
10.27˄
-
Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2019, by and between Global GP LLC and Daphne H. Foster (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2019).
10.28˄
-
Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2019, by and between Global GP LLC and Edward J. Faneuil (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2019).
10.29˄
-
Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2019, by and between Global GP LLC and Andrew P. Slifka (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2019).
10.30˄
-
Employment Agreement effective as of January 1, 2019, by and between Global GP LLC and Matthew Spencer (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 5, 2019).
10.31˄
-
Global Partners LP 2018 Long-Term Cash Incentive Plan Award Agreement (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-K filed on November 7, 2019).
10.32
-
Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and First Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of April 19, 2019 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2019).
10.33
-
Fourth Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 7, 2020 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2020).
10.34
-
Purchase Agreement, dated September 23, 2020, among the Issuers, the Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 24, 2020).
21.1*
-
List of Subsidiaries of Global Partners LP.
23.1*
-
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
31.1*
-
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Global GP LLC, general partner of Global Partners LP.
31.2*
-
Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Global GP LLC, general partner of Global Partners LP.
32.1†
-
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Global GP LLC, general partner of Global Partners LP.
32.2†
-
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Global GP LLC, general partner of Global Partners LP.
101.INS*
-
Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
101.SCH*
-
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
101.CAL*
-
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.
101.DEF*
-
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.
101.LAB*
-
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document.
101.PRE*
-
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document.
104*
-
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
* Filed herewith.
˄ Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
** Schedules and similar attachments have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Partnership undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted schedules and exhibits upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
† Not deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liability of that section.
†† Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(10)(iv) of Regulation S-K.
††† Portions of this exhibit have been omitted pursuant to an order granting confidential treatment, dated April 12, 2020 (SEC File No. 001-32593).