Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)

Registration No. 333-155522

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

(To Prospectus dated November 20, 2008)

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P.

4,800,000 LP Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests

 

We are offering 4,800,000 limited partnership units (“LP units”) representing limited partner interests in us.

 

The LP units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BPL.” On April 13, 2011, the last reported sale price of our LP units on the New York Stock Exchange was $61.41 per unit.

 

Investing in our limited partnership units involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement and on page 3 of the accompanying base prospectus.

 

 

We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 720,000 LP units on the same terms and conditions set forth above.

 

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

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the LP units on April 19, 2011.

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

 

 

Co-Managers

 

Prospectus Supplement dated April 14, 2011

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Prospectus Supplement

 

 

Base Prospectus

 

 

 

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes our business and the specific terms of this offering. The second part is the accompanying base prospectus, which gives more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer only to the “prospectus,” we are referring to both parts combined. If information in this prospectus supplement conflicts with information in the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus and in any free writing prospectus prepared by us or on our behalf. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of the LP units in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus or the information we have previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that is incorporated by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than its respective date.

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

	•	Maximize utilization of our assets at the lowest cost per unit;
	•	Maintain stable long-term customer relationships, including by providing superior customer service;
	•	Operate in a safe and environmentally responsible manner;
	•	Optimize, expand and diversify our portfolio of energy assets; and
	•	Maintain a solid, conservative financial position and our investment-grade credit rating.

										Percentage
		LP Units				Class B Units†				Ownership*
Public Unitholders			79,890,323				1,338,531				88.2	%
Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company			1,501,120				—				1.7	%
BGH GP Holdings, LLC**			658,753				—				0.7	%
First Reserve**			2,483,444				4,461,755				7.5	%
Vopak			620,861				1,115,439				1.9	%
Total			85,154,501				6,915,725				100.0	%

*		Ownership percentages are approximate.
**		Based on information contained in filings with the SEC
†		Ownership of Class B units for each of these groups includes Class B units issued in lieu of cash distributions.

 

THE OFFERING

Units offered		4,800,000 LP units (5,520,000 LP units if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional LP units in full).
Units to be outstanding after this offering*		85,154,501 LP units (85,874,501 LP units if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional LP units in full), and 6,915,725 Class B units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership.
Use of proceeds		We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $275.4 million (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses), or approximately $316.7 million if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional LP units is exercised in full. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility. Please read “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.
Cash distributions		Cash distributions are made on our units on a quarterly basis. Cash distributions on our units are generally paid within 60 days after the end of each fiscal quarter. We expect that the first distribution payable to the purchasers of the LP units offered hereby will be paid in May 2011.
Estimated ratio of taxable income to distributions		We estimate that if you purchase LP units in this offering and own them through the record date for the distribution with respect to the fourth calendar quarter of 2013, then you will be allocated, on a cumulative basis, an amount of federal taxable income for that period that will be less than 20% of the amount of cash distributed to you with respect to that period. For the basis of this estimate, please read “Tax Considerations” in this prospectus supplement.
New York Stock Exchange symbol		BPL

*		Excludes 1,500,000 LP units reserved for issuance under our Long-Term Incentive Plan.

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors beginning on page 22 of our amended Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010, as well as the discussion of risk factors relating to our business under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of the accompanying base prospectus, before making an investment decision. These risks are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. You should consider carefully these risk factors together with all of the other information included in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference in this document before investing in our LP units.

 

The market price of our LP units could be adversely affected by sales of substantial amounts of our units in the public or private markets.

 

After this offering, we will have 85,154,501 LP units (85,874,501 LP units if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional LP units in full) and 6,915,725 Class B units outstanding. We have registered for resale the LP units and Class B units issued to each of First Reserve and certain institutional investors, and have agreed to register for resale the LP units and Class B units issued to Vopak Bahamas, B.V., each of which was issued in connection with the BORCO Acquisition. Sales by large holders of a substantial number of our LP units or Class B units in the public or private markets following this offering, or the perception that such sales might occur, could have a material adverse effect on the price of our units or could impair our ability to obtain capital through an offering of equity securities.

 

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $275.4 million (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses), or approximately $316.7 million if the underwriters’ option to purchase additional LP units is exercised in full. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility.

 

As of April 11, 2011, approximately $329.5 million of indebtedness was outstanding under our revolving credit facility. We used these funds for working capital purposes and to finance internal growth activities and acquisitions. Indebtedness under our revolving credit facility bears interest under one of two rate options, selected by us, equal to either (i) the greater of (a) the federal funds rate plus 0.5% and (b) SunTrust Bank’s prime rate plus an applicable margin, or (ii) the London Interbank Offered Rate plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin is determined based on the current utilization level of the credit facility and ratings assigned by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services and Moody’s Investor Service for our senior unsecured non-credit enhanced long-term debt. As of April 11, 2011, the interest rate under our revolving credit facility was a weighted average of 0.631%. Our revolving credit facility has a maturity date of August 24, 2012, which we may extend for up to two additional one-year periods.

 

Affiliates of certain of the underwriters will receive more than 5% of the net offering proceeds through the repayment by us of amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility with the proceeds of this offering. Please read “Underwriting — Relationships/FINRA Rules.”

 

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of December 31, 2010 on:

 

 

 

 

This table should be read in conjunction with our historical consolidated financial statements and the notes to those financial statements that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. This table does not reflect the issuance of up to 720,000 LP units that we may sell to the underwriters upon exercise of their option to purchase additional LP units, the proceeds of which will be used to reduce the indebtedness outstanding under our revolving credit facility.

 

 

 

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the quarterly cash distributions paid per LP unit.

 

 

 

 

The tax consequences to you of an investment in our LP units will depend in part on your own tax circumstances. For a discussion of the principal federal income tax considerations associated with our operations and the purchase, ownership and disposition of LP units, please read “Material Tax Consequences” in the accompanying base prospectus and “Tax Risks to Unitholders” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010. You are urged to consult with your own tax advisor about the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences particular to your circumstances.

 

Partnership Tax Treatment

 

The anticipated after-tax economic benefit of an investment in our LP units depends largely on our being treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. We have not requested, and do not plan to request, a ruling from the IRS with respect to our partnership status. In order to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, at least 90% of our gross income must be from specific qualifying sources, such as the transportation of refined petroleum products or other passive types of income such as dividends. For a more complete description of this qualifying income requirement, please read “Material Tax Consequences — Partnership Status” in the accompanying base prospectus.

 

If we were treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, we would pay federal income tax on our taxable income at the corporate tax rate, which is currently a maximum of 35%, and would likely pay state income tax at varying rates. Distributions to you would generally be taxed again as corporate distributions, and no income, gains, losses or deductions would flow through to you. Because a tax would be imposed upon us as a corporation, our cash available for distribution to you 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 the unitholders, likely causing a substantial reduction in the value of our LP units.

Ratio of Taxable Income to Distributions

 

We estimate that if you purchase LP units in this offering and own them through the record date for the distribution with respect to fourth calendar quarter of 2013, then you will be allocated, on a cumulative basis, an amount of federal taxable income for that period that will be less than 20% of the amount of cash distributed to you with respect to that period. If you continue to own LP units purchased in this offering after that period, the percentage of federal taxable income allocated to you may be higher. Our estimate is based upon many assumptions regarding our business and operations, including assumptions as to tariffs, capital expenditures, cash flows and anticipated cash distributions. Our estimate assumes our available cash will approximate the amount necessary to continue to distribute the current quarterly distribution of $.9875 per unit (based on the last quarterly distribution paid by us) throughout the referenced period. This estimate and the assumptions are subject to, among other things, numerous business, economic, regulatory, competitive and political uncertainties beyond our control. Further, this estimate is based on current tax law and certain tax reporting positions that we have adopted. The Internal Revenue Service could disagree with our tax reporting positions. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that the estimate will be correct. The actual percentage of distributions that will constitute taxable income could be higher or lower, and any differences could be material and could materially affect the value of LP units. For example, the ratio of allocable taxable income to cash distributions to a purchaser of LP units in this offering will be greater, and perhaps substantially greater, than our estimate with respect to the period described above if:

 

 

Please read “Material Tax Consequences” in the accompanying base prospectus and “Tax Risks to Unitholders” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Tax Rates

 

Under current law, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income of individuals is 35% and the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains (generally, capital gains on certain assets held for more than 12 months) of individuals is 15%. However, absent new legislation extending the current rates, beginning January 1, 2013, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains of individuals will increase to 39.6% and 20%, respectively. Moreover, these rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.

 

A new 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income earned by individuals, estates and trusts is scheduled to apply for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. For these purposes, net investment income generally includes a unitholder’s allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of LP units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (1) the unitholder’s net investment income or (2) the amount by which the unitholder’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing separately) or $200,000 (in any other case).

 

Tax-Exempt Organizations & Other Investors

 

Ownership of LP units by tax-exempt entities, including employee benefit plans and individual retirement accounts (known as IRAs), and non-U.S. investors raises issues unique to such persons. Please read “Material Tax Consequences — Tax-Exempt Organizations and Certain Other Investors” in the accompanying base prospectus.

 

Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters and joint book-running managers of this offering. Under the terms of an underwriting agreement, which we will file as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporate by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, each of the underwriters named below has severally agreed to purchase from us the respective number of LP units shown opposite its name below:

 

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the LP units depends on the satisfaction of the conditions contained in the underwriting agreement including:

 

 

Commissions and Expenses

 

The following table summarizes the underwriting discounts and commissions we will pay to the underwriters. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional LP units. The underwriting fee is the difference between the initial price to the public and the amount the underwriters pay to us for the LP units.

 

 

The representatives of the underwriters have advised us that the underwriters propose to offer the LP units directly to the public at the public offering price on the cover of this prospectus supplement and to selected dealers, which may include affiliates of the underwriters, at such offering price less a selling concession not in excess of $1.19 per LP unit. After the offering, the representatives may change the offering price and other selling terms.

 

The expenses of the offering that are payable by us are estimated to be $250,000 (excluding underwriting discounts and commissions).

 

Option to Purchase Additional LP Units

 

We have granted to the underwriters an option exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement to purchase, from time to time, in whole or in part, up to an aggregate of 720,000

additional LP units at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter will be obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase its pro rata portion of these additional LP units based on the underwriter’s percentage underwriting commitment in the offering as indicated in the table at the beginning of this Underwriting Section.

 

Lock-Up Agreements

 

We, our general partner, directors and officers of our general partner and some affiliates of our general partner have agreed that, without the prior written consent of Barclays Capital Inc., we and they will not directly or indirectly (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any LP units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for LP units, other than certain permitted transfers and issuances, (2) sell or grant any options, rights or warrants with respect to any LP units or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for LP units, other than certain permitted grants of options, (3) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of the LP units, (4) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendment thereto, with respect to the registration of any of our equity securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our equity securities with the exceptions of registration statements with respect to (i) the LP units and Class B units issued to Vopak Bahamas, N.V. pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement dated February 15, 2011 and (ii) any Class B units issued to the holders of Class B units as payment-in-kind in lieu of cash distributions, or (5) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case for a period of 60 days after the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

The restrictions described above do not apply to:

 

 

Further, Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company, whose employees provide services to the operating subsidiaries through which we conduct our operations, may sell LP units in connection with (i) the liquidation of employee accounts in the Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company Employee Stock Ownership Plan (or the ESOP) at or about the time an employee ceases to be an employee of Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company, (ii) the exercise by ESOP participants of an option, available to all ESOP participants, to diversify up to 25% their accounts annually, or (iii) the exercise by ESOP participants who are 55 years old or older to diversify a portion of their accounts in accordance with IRS diversification regulations.

 

Barclays Capital, in its discretion, may release the LP units and other securities subject to the lock-up agreements described above in whole or in part at any time with or without notice. When determining whether or not to release the LP units and other securities from lock-up agreements, Barclays Capital will consider, among other factors, the holder’s reasons for requesting the release, the number of LP units or other securities for which the release is being requested and market conditions at the time.

Indemnification

 

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make for these liabilities.

 

Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids

 

The representatives may engage in stabilizing transactions, short sales and purchases to cover positions created by short sales, and penalty bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the LP units, in accordance with Regulation M under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

 

These stabilizing transactions, syndicate covering transactions and penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our LP units or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our LP units. As a result, the price of our LP units may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. These transactions may be effected on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

Neither we nor the underwriter make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our LP units. In addition, neither we nor the underwriter make any representation that the representatives will engage in these stabilizing transactions or that any transaction, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

 

Electronic Distribution

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters and/or selling group members participating in this offering, or by their affiliates. In those cases, prospective investors may view offering terms online and, depending upon the online services, prospective investors may be allowed to place orders online. The

underwriters may agree with us to allocate a specific number of LP units for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations.

 

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

 

New York Stock Exchange

 

Our LP units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BPL.”

 

Relationships/FINRA Rules

 

Certain of the underwriters and their related entities have engaged, and may in the future engage, in commercial and investment banking transactions with us in the ordinary course of their business. They have received, and expect to receive, customary compensation and expense reimbursement for these commercial and investment banking transactions.

 

Affiliates of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. are lenders under our revolving credit facility and will receive more than 5% of the net offering proceeds through the repayment by us of amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility with the proceeds from this offering. Because FINRA views our LP units as interests in a direct participation program, any offering of LP units under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part will be made in compliance with Rule 2310 of the FINRA Rules. Investor suitability with respect to the LP units should be judged similarly to the suitability with respect to other securities that are listed for trading on a national securities exchange.

 

Public Offer Selling Restrictions Under the Prospectus Directive

 

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), other than Germany, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the relevant implementation date), an offer of securities described in this prospectus may not be made to the public in that relevant member state other than:

 

 

provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

 

For purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the securities, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the

extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State. The expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

 

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the securities as contemplated in this prospectus. Accordingly, no purchaser of the securities, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the securities on behalf of us or the underwriters.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

 

Our partnership may constitute a “collective investment scheme” as defined by section 235 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) that is not a “recognized collective investment scheme” for the purposes of FSMA (“CIS”) and that has not been authorized or otherwise approved. As an unregulated scheme, it cannot be marketed in the United Kingdom to the general public, except in accordance with FSMA. This prospectus is only being distributed in the United Kingdom to, and is only directed at:

 

(1) if our partnership is a CIS and is marketed by a person who is an authorized person under FSMA, (a) investment professionals falling within Article 14(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Promotion of Collective Investment Schemes) Order 2001, as amended (the “CIS Promotion Order”) or (b) high net worth companies and other persons falling with Article 22(2)(a) to (d) of the CIS Promotion Order; or

 

(2) otherwise, if marketed by a person who is not an authorized person under FSMA, (a) persons who fall within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”) or (b) Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order; and

 

(3) in both cases (1) and (2) to any other person to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made, (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Our partnership’s limited partnership units are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such limited partnership units will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

 

An invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any limited partnership units which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to our partnership.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Germany

 

This prospectus has not been prepared in accordance with the requirements for a securities or sales prospectus under the German Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz), the German Sales Prospectus Act (Verkaufsprospektgesetz), or the German Investment Act (Investmentgesetz). Neither the German Federal Financial Services Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht — BaFin) nor any other German authority has been notified of the intention to distribute our limited partnership units in Germany. Consequently, our limited partnership units may not be distributed in Germany by way of public offering, public advertisement or in any similar manner and this prospectus and any other document relating to this offering, as well as information or statements contained therein, may not be supplied to the public in Germany or used in connection with any offer for subscription of the limited partnership units to the public in Germany or any other means of public marketing. Our limited partnership units are being offered and sold in Germany only to qualified investors which are referred to in Section 3, paragraph 2 no. 1, in connection with Section 2, no. 6, of the German Securities Prospectus Act, Section 8f paragraph 2 no. 4 of the German Sales Prospectus Act, and in Section 2

paragraph 11 sentence 2 no. 1 of the German Investment Act. This prospectus is strictly for use of the person who has received it. It may not be forwarded to other persons or published in Germany.

 

This offering of our limited partnership units does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation or an offer to sell limited partnership units in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful.

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in the Netherlands

 

Our limited partnership units may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in the Netherlands, other than to qualified investors (gekwalificeerde beleggers) within the meaning of Article 1:1 of the Dutch Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht).

 

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

 

This prospectus is being communicated in Switzerland to a small number of selected investors only. Each copy of this prospectus is addressed to a specifically named recipient and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed or passed on to third parties. Our limited partnership units are not being offered to the public in Switzerland, and neither this prospectus, nor any other offering materials relating to our limited partnership units may be distributed in connection with any such public offering.

 

We have not been registered with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA as a foreign collective investment scheme pursuant to Article 120 of the Collective Investment Schemes Act of June 23, 2006 (“CISA”). Accordingly, our limited partnership units may not be offered to the public in or from Switzerland, and neither this prospectus, nor any other offering materials relating to our limited partnership units may be made available through a public offering in or from Switzerland. Our limited partnership units may only be offered and this prospectus may only be distributed in or from Switzerland by way of private placement exclusively to qualified investors (as this term is defined in the CISA and its implementing ordinance).

 

Certain legal matters are being passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York. Certain legal matters are being passed upon for the underwriters by Andrews Kurth LLP, Houston, Texas.

 

The consolidated financial statements, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 filed on February 28, 2011, as amended by Form 10-K/A filed on April 12, 2011, and the effectiveness of Buckeye Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements of FR Borco Topco, L.P. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2009 and the period from February 7, 2008 through December 31, 2008, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 4, 2011, as well as the consolidated financial statements of FR Borco Topco, L.P. and subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2010, incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference from the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on April 1, 2011, each have been audited by KPMG Accountants N.V., independent auditors, as stated in their reports which are also incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

We file annual, quarterly and other reports with and furnish other information to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with or furnish to the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on their public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You can also obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC (which does not include any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 on any Current Report on Form 8-K) will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, and information previously filed with the SEC. In addition to the documents listed in “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 4 of the accompanying base prospectus, we incorporate by reference the documents listed below:

 

 

If information in incorporated documents conflicts with information in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus you should rely on the most recent information. If information in an incorporated document conflicts with information in another incorporated document, you should rely on the most recent incorporated document.

 

You may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address:

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P.
One Greenway Plaza
Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77046
(832) 615-8600

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Buckeye Partners, L.P.

Limited Partnership Units

Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer limited partnership units and debt securities from time to time. This prospectus describes the general terms of, and the general manner in which we will offer these securities.

 

 

You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein carefully before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

Our limited partnership units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BPL.”

 

 

 

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Limited partnerships are inherently different from corporations. You should carefully consider each of the factors referred to under “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus, contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein before you make an investment in our securities.

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOVEMBER 20, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we have incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as the information we previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that is incorporated by reference herein, is accurate as of any date other than its respective date.

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities with this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. As used in this prospectus, the “Partnership,” “we,” “our,” “us,” or like terms mean Buckeye Partners, L.P. References to “Buckeye GP,” “the general partner,” or “our general partner” refer to Buckeye GP LLC, the general partner of the Partnership. References to our “operating partnerships” includes, collectively, Buckeye Pipe Line Company, L.P., Buckeye Pipe Line Holdings, L.P., Everglades Pipe Line Company, L.P. and Laurel Pipe Line Company, L.P., each a Delaware limited partnership.

 

The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. Therefore, before you invest in our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement relating to the securities offered to you together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

We are a publicly traded master limited partnership organized in 1986 under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal lines of business are the transportation, terminalling and storage of refined petroleum products and natural gas in the United States and the marketing of refined petroleum products in certain of the geographic areas served by our transportation, terminalling and storage operations.

 

Our principal executive offices are located at Five TEK Park, 9999 Hamilton Blvd., Breinigsville, Pennsylvania 18031, and our telephone number is (610) 904-4000. Our website is located at http://www.buckeye.com. We make our periodic reports and other information filed with or furnished to the SEC available, free of charge, through our website, as soon as reasonably practicable. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus unless specifically so designated and filed with the SEC.

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on their public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can also obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, or on our website at http://www.buckeye.com. Information on our website or any other website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus unless specifically so designated and filed with the SEC.

 

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

The documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, (excluding those furnished to the SEC on Form 8-K) are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

 

You may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address:

 

Five TEK Park
Attn: Investor Relations
9999 Hamilton Blvd.
Breinigsville, Pennsylvania 18031
(610) 904-4000

 

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with any information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than its respective date.

 

An investment in our securities involves a significant degree of risk. Before you invest in our securities you should carefully consider those risks discussed in the “Forward-Looking Statements” section of this prospectus, the risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and those risk factors that may be included in any applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference in evaluating an investment in our securities.

 

If any of the risks discussed in the foregoing documents were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flow could be materially adversely affected. In that case, we may be unable to pay distributions to our unitholders, or pay interest on, or the principal of, any debt securities. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

 

Some of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may contain forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology including “anticipate,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “believe,” “will,” or other similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. These statements discuss future expectations and contain projections. Specific factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) price trends and overall demand for petroleum products and natural gas in the United States in general and in our service areas in particular (economic activity, weather, alternative energy sources, conservation and technological advances may affect price trends and demands); (2) competitive pressures from other transportation services or alternative fuel sources; (3) changes, if any, in laws and regulations, including, among others, safety, tax and accounting matters or Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulation of our tariff rates; (4) liabilities for environmental claims; (5) security issues affecting our assets, including, among others, potential damage to our assets caused by vandalism, acts of war or terrorism; (6) construction costs, unanticipated capital expenditures and operating expenses to repair or replace our assets; (7) availability and cost of insurance on our assets and operations; (8) our ability to successfully identify and complete strategic acquisitions and make cost saving changes in operations; (9) expansion in the operations of our competitors; (10) our ability to integrate any acquired operations into our existing operations and to realize anticipated cost savings and other efficiencies; (11) shut-downs or cutbacks at major refineries that use our services; (12) deterioration in our labor relations; (13) changes in real property tax assessments; (14) regional economic conditions; (15) disruptions to the air travel system; (16) interest rate fluctuations and other capital market conditions; (17) market conditions in our industry; (18) credit risks associated with our customers; (19) conflicts of interest between us, our general partner, the owner of our general partner and its affiliates; (20) the treatment of us as a corporation for federal income tax purposes or if we become subject to entity-level taxation for state tax purposes; and (21) the impact of government legislation and regulation on us.

 

These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on future results. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus or, in the case of forward-looking statements contained in any document incorporated by reference, the date of such document and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these statements to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus or, in the case of forward-looking statements contained in any document incorporated by reference, the date of such document and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these statements to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of consolidated earnings to fixed charges for the periods presented:

 

 

For purposes of calculating the ratio of consolidated earnings to fixed charges:

 

 

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities covered by this prospectus for general partnership purposes, including repayment of debt, acquisitions and capital expenditures and additions to working capital.

 

The actual application of proceeds we receive from the sale of any particular offering of securities using this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such offering.

 

General

 

As of November 18, 2008, there were issued and outstanding 48,372,346 limited partnership units representing an approximate 99% limited partnership interest in us and 243,914 GP units. The limited partnership units and the 243,914 GP units generally participate pro rata in our income, gains, losses, deductions, credits and distributions, subject to the general partner interest represented by the Incentive Compensation Agreement described below.

 

We currently have a unit option and distribution equivalent plan which authorizes the granting of options to purchase up to 1,400,000 limited partnership units to selected employees of Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company. As of November 18, 2008, there were 466,000 limited partnership units issuable upon the exercise of options granted under this plan.

 

The rights of the holders of the limited partnership units are governed by the terms of our partnership agreement and the Fifth Amended and Restated Incentive Compensation Agreement, or the Incentive Compensation Agreement, dated August 9, 2006, between us and our general partner.

 

Liquidation

 

In the event of a liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Partnership, the limited partnership units, along with the GP units, will be entitled to receive pro rata, to the extent of positive balances in their respective capital accounts, any assets remaining after satisfaction of our liabilities and establishment of reasonable reserves.

Voting

 

Each holder of limited partnership units is entitled to one vote for each limited partnership unit on all matters submitted to a vote of the unitholders. Certain events, as more fully described in our partnership agreement, require the approval of the limited partners holding in the aggregate at least two-thirds of the outstanding limited partnership units. Other events, as more fully described in our partnership agreement, require the approval of the limited partners holding in the aggregate at least 80% of the outstanding limited partnership units.

 

Incentive Compensation

 

The Incentive Compensation Agreement between us and our general partner provides that if a quarterly cash distribution exceeds a target of $0.325 per limited partnership unit, we will pay our general partner, for each outstanding limited partnership unit (other than the 2,573,146 limited partnership units initially issued to Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company), incentive distributions equal to increasing percentages of such cash distributions as the amount of cash distributions paid by us to our limited partners meet certain target distribution levels. These incentive distributions are described more fully in “How We Make Cash Distributions — Incentive Distribution Rights.”

 

No Preemptive Rights

 

No person is entitled to preemptive rights in respect of issuances of securities by us.

 

Amendments to the Terms of the Registrant’s Limited Partnership Units

 

Without the consent of the limited partners holding in the aggregate at least a majority of the outstanding limited partnership units, our general partner may not amend our partnership agreement unless the amendment, in the good faith opinion of our general partner, does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect.

 

Without the consent of the limited partners holding in the aggregate at least two-thirds of the outstanding limited partnership units, the Partnership may not amend the Incentive Compensation Agreement unless the amendment, in the good faith opinion of our general partner, does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect.

 

General Partner’s Right to Purchase Units

 

If our general partner and its affiliates own more than 90% of the outstanding limited partnership units, our general partner has the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the limited partnership units that remain outstanding and are held by persons other than our general partner and its affiliates.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the limited partnership units is Computershare Trust Company N.A. You may contact them at the following address: 525 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, New Jersey 07310.

 

Set forth below is a summary of the significant provisions of our partnership agreement that relate to cash distributions. We summarize other material provisions of our partnership agreement in “The Partnership Agreement.”

 

General

 

Our partnership agreement does not require distributions to be made quarterly. Under our partnership agreement, our general partner, from time to time and not less than quarterly, is required to review our accounts to determine whether distributions are appropriate. Our general partner is permitted to make such

distributions as it, in its sole discretion, may determine, without being limited to current or accumulated income or gains. Cash distributions may be made from any of our funds, including, without limitation, revenues, capital contributions or borrowed funds. Distributions are made concurrently to all record holders on the record date set for purposes of such distribution.

 

Units Eligible for Distributions

 

We have 48,372,346 limited partnership units outstanding. Each limited partnership unit will be allocated a portion of our income, gain, loss, deduction and credit on a pro rata basis, and each unit will be entitled to receive distributions (including upon liquidation) in the same manner as each other unit.

 

Distributions of Cash upon Liquidation

 

If we dissolve in accordance with our partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called a liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to our unitholders, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.

 

Incentive Distribution Rights

 

The Incentive Compensation Agreement between us and our general partner provides that if a quarterly cash distribution to our limited partnership units exceeds a target of $0.325 per limited partnership unit, we will pay our general partner for each outstanding limited partnership unit (other than the 2,573,146 limited partnership units initially issued to Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company), an incentive distribution equal to:

 

(1) 15% of the amount, if any, by which the quarterly distribution per eligible limited partnership unit exceeds $0.325 but is not more than $0.35, plus

 

(2) 25% of the amount, if any, by which the quarterly distribution per eligible limited partnership unit exceeds $0.35 but is not more than $0.375, plus

 

(3) 30% of the amount, if any, by which the quarterly distribution per eligible limited partnership unit exceeds $0.375 but is not more than $0.40, plus

 

(4) 35% of the amount, if any, by which the quarterly distribution per eligible limited partnership unit exceeds $0.40 but is not more than $0.425, plus

 

(5) 40% of the amount, if any, by which the quarterly distribution per eligible limited partnership unit exceeds $0.425 but is not more than $0.525, plus

 

(6) 45% of the amount, if any, by which the quarterly distribution per eligible limited partnership unit exceeds $0.525.

 

Our general partner is also entitled to incentive compensation for special cash distributions exceeding a target special distribution amount per limited partnership unit. The target special distribution amount generally means the amount which, together with all amounts distributed per limited partnership unit prior to the special distribution compounded quarterly at 13% per annum, would equal $10.00, the initial public offering price of the limited partnership units split two-for-one, compounded quarterly at 13% per annum from the date of the closing of the initial public offering in December 1986. We have never paid special cash distributions.

 

The Partnership Agreement

 

The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. Our partnership agreement is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus

constitutes a part. We will provide prospective investors with a copy of this agreement upon request at no charge.

 

We summarize provisions of our partnership agreement relating to allocations of taxable income and taxable loss in “Material Tax Consequences,” and cash distribution in “How We Make Cash Distributions.”

 

Organization and Duration

 

We were organized on July 11, 1986 and have a term extending until the close of business on December 31, 2086.

 

Purpose

 

Our purpose under our partnership agreement is to engage in any lawful activity for which limited partnerships may be organized under the Delaware Act.

 

Our general partner is authorized in general to perform all acts deemed necessary to carry out our purpose and to conduct our business.

 

Power of Attorney

 

Each limited partner and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and delivers a transfer application grants to our general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for our qualification, continuance or dissolution. The power of attorney also grants our general partner the authority to amend, and to make consents and waivers under, our partnership agreement.

 

Issuance of Additional Securities

 

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partnership interests and other equity securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions established by our general partner in its sole discretion without the approval of any limited partners. Without the prior approval of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding limited partnership units, our general partner is prohibited from causing us to issue any class or series of limited partnership units having preferences or other special or senior rights over the previously outstanding limited partnership units.

 

It is possible that we will fund acquisitions, and other capital requirements, through the issuance of additional limited partnership units or other equity securities. Holders of any additional limited partnership units issued by us will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of limited partnership units, GP units and other securities in our distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of additional partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of limited partnership units in our net assets.

 

In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership interests that, in the sole discretion of our general partner, have special voting rights to which the limited partnership units are not entitled.

 

Upon issuance of additional partnership interests in us, our general partner is required to make additional capital contributions of property with a value equal to 1/99th of the aggregate value of all capital contributions being made in respect of the additional limited partnership interests. In our recent offerings, our general partner has consistently received such an opinion and not made additional contributions. If our general partner obtains an opinion of counsel that the failure to make such capital contribution would not result in us or one of our operating partnerships being treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes then the general partner is not required to make such additional capital contributions. If our general partner does not make such additional capital contributions, its general partnership percentage interest will be reduced to reflect its percentage of the total capital contributed.

Amendment of Our Partnership Agreement

 

General

 

Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. To adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed below, our general partner must seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as described below, an amendment must be approved by the limited partners holding in the aggregate at least a majority of the outstanding limited partnership units, referred to as a “Majority Interest.”

 

Prohibited Amendments

 

Without the consent of the Majority Interest, our general partner may not amend our partnership agreement unless the amendment, in the good faith opinion of our general partner, does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect.

 

Without the consent of the limited partners holding in the aggregate at least two-thirds of the outstanding limited partnership units, we may not amend the Incentive Compensation Agreement unless the amendment, in the good faith opinion of our general partner, does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect.

 

No Unitholder Approval

 

Our general partner may generally make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee to reflect:

 

(1) a change in our name, the location of our principal place of business, our registered agent or its registered office;

 

(2) the admission, substitution, withdrawal or removal of limited partners in accordance with our partnership agreement;

 

(3) a change that our general partner deems appropriate or necessary for us to qualify or to continue our qualification as a limited partnership or a partnership in which the limited partners have limited liability under the laws of any state or to ensure that neither we nor any of our operating partnerships will be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes;

 

(4) an amendment that is necessary, in the opinion of our counsel, to prevent us, any of our operating partnerships, or our general partner and their respective directors and officers from in any manner being subjected to the provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, or “plan asset” regulations adopted under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, whether or not substantially similar to plan asset regulations currently applied or proposed; or

 

(5) any other changes or events similar to any of the matters described in (1) through (4) above.

 

In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee if those amendments, in the discretion of our general partner, reflect:

 

(1) a change that in the good faith opinion of our general partner does not adversely affect the limited partners in any material respect;

 

(2) a change to divide our outstanding units into a greater number of units, to combine the outstanding units into a smaller number of units or to reclassify our units in a manner than in the good faith opinion of our general partner does not adversely affect any class of limited partners in any material respect;

(3) a change that our general partner in its sole discretion deems appropriate or necessary to satisfy any requirements, conditions or guidelines contained in any order, rule or regulation of any federal or state agency or contained in any federal or state statute; or

 

(4) a change that our general partner in its sole discretion deems appropriate or necessary to facilitate the trading of any of our units or comply with any rule, regulation, requirement, condition or guideline of any exchange on which any units are or will be listed or admitted to trading.

 

Opinion of Counsel and Unitholder Approval

 

No amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at least 80% of the limited partnership units unless we obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not result in the loss of limited liability of any of our limited partners or cause us or any operating partnership to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

 

Any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action must be approved by the affirmative vote of our limited partners constituting not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.

 

Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets

 

Our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding limited partnership units and Special Approval (as defined in our partnership agreement), from causing us to, among other things, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. Our general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without that approval. Our general partner may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without that approval. Our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner from causing us to merge or consolidate with another entity without prior Special Approval.

 

Termination and Dissolution

 

We will continue as a limited partnership until the close of business on December 31, 2086 or until earlier terminated under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve upon:

 

(1) the expiration of our term;

 

(2) the withdrawal of our general partner unless a person becomes a successor general partner prior to or on the effective date of such withdrawal;

 

(3) the bankruptcy or dissolution of our general partner, or any other event that results in its ceasing to be our general partner other than by reason of a withdrawal or removal or transfer of general partner interests by our general partner in accordance with our partnership agreement; or

 

(4) the election of our general partner to dissolve us, if approved by the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding limited partnership units.

 

Upon a dissolution under clause (2) or (3), the holders of our limited partnership units representing a Majority Interest may also elect, within specific time limitations, to reconstitute us and continue our business on the same terms and conditions described in our partnership agreement by forming a new partnership on terms identical to those in our partnership agreement and having as general partner a person approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding limited partnership units, subject to our receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect that:

 

(1) the action would not result in the loss of limited liability of any limited partner; and

 

(2) neither we nor the reconstituted partnership would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds

 

Upon our dissolution, unless we are reconstituted and continued as a new partnership, the liquidator authorized to wind up our affairs will, acting with all of the powers of our general partner that the liquidator deems appropriate or necessary in its good faith judgment, liquidate our assets and apply and distribute the proceeds of the liquidation as described above in “How We Make Cash Distributions — Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation.”

 

Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner

 

Except as described below, our general partner has agreed not to withdraw voluntarily as a general partner prior to the later of December 23, 2011 and the date the Employee Stock Ownership Plan loan is paid in full, which is expected to mature on March 28, 2011. On or after the later of such dates, our general partner may withdraw as general partner by giving 90 days’ written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement.

 

Upon the withdrawal of our general partner under any circumstances, other than as a result of a transfer by our general partner of all or a part of its general partner interest in us, the holders of a majority of the outstanding limited partnership units may select a successor to the withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within 180 days after that withdrawal, the holders of a majority of the outstanding limited partnership units agree in writing to continue our business and to appoint a successor general partner. Please read “— Termination and Dissolution” above.

 

Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the outstanding limited partnership units and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of our general partner is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding limited partnership units.

 

If our general partner withdraws or is removed and a successor general partner is approved, the successor general partner is required to buy the GP units for a cash price equal to fair market value.

 

The fair market value of the GP units includes the value of all the rights associated with being our general partner, including, without limitation, our general partner’s pro rata interest in us and the right to receive incentive distributions pursuant to the Incentive Compensation Agreement (which rights will terminate upon removal of our general partner). The fair market value of our general partner’s interest and the right to receive incentive distributions will be determined by agreement between our general partner and the successor general partner. If no agreement is reached, a firm of independent appraisers selected by our general partner and the successor general partner will determine the fair market value. Or, if our general partner and the successor general partner cannot agree upon a firm of independent appraisers, then a firm of independent appraisers chosen by agreement of the firms selected by each of them will determine the fair market value.

 

In addition, we are required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities, including severance liabilities, incurred for the termination of any employees employed by the departing general partner or its affiliates for our benefit.

 

Transfer of Our General Partner Interests and Assignment of Incentive Compensation Agreement

 

Except for transfer by our general partner of all, but not less than all, of its general partner interests in us to another entity, or a transfer to an affiliate of our general partner, in each case where the transferee or transferees assume all of the rights and obligations of the general partner as general partner under our partnership agreement or as part of the merger or consolidation of the general partner with or into another person or the transfer by our general partner of all or substantially all of its assets to another person, our general partner may not transfer all or any part of its general partner interest in us without the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding limited partnership units. As a condition of this transfer, we must receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters.

At any time, the member of our general partner may sell or transfer all or part of its member interests in our general partner without the approval of our unitholders.

 

Our general partner may assign the Incentive Compensation Agreement to an affiliate or a transferee of the general partner interest without the prior approval of our unitholders or the other parties to the Incentive Compensation Agreement, provided that the transferee is admitted as an additional or successor general partner. For so long as the Executive Employment Agreement between us and Buckeye Pipe Line Services Company is in effect, Buckeye GP LLC may not assign the Incentive Compensation Agreement without the prior written consent of the Trustee of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

 

Call Right

 

If our general partner and its affiliates own more than 90% of the outstanding limited partnership units, our general partner has the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the limited partnership units that remain outstanding and are held by persons other than our general partner and its affiliates.

 

Indemnification

 

Our partnership agreement, the agreements of limited partnership of the operating partnerships (the “Operating Partnership Agreements,” and together with our partnership agreement, the “Partnership Agreements”) and the management agreements of the operating partnerships provide that we or the operating partnership, as the case may be, indemnify (to the extent permitted by applicable law) certain persons (each, an “Indemnitee”) against expenses (including legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee in connection with any threatened, pending or completed claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding to which the Indemnitee is or was an actual or threatened party and which relates to the partnership agreements or the property, business, affairs or management of us or any operating partnership. This indemnity is available only if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and the action or omission which is the basis of such claim, demand, action, suit or proceeding does not involve the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee. Indemnitees include the general partner of the relevant operating partnership, any affiliates of such general partner, any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such general partner or any affiliate, or any person who is or was serving at the request of such general partner or any such affiliate as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another person. Expenses subject to indemnity will be paid by the applicable partnership to the Indemnitee in advance, subject to receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay such amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification. We maintain a liability insurance policy on behalf of certain of the Indemnitees.

 

Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act provides that a Delaware limited liability company may indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. Article V of the limited liability company agreement of our general partner provides for the indemnification of members, managers, partners, officers, directors, employees, agents, trustees and affiliates of the general partner and such persons who serve at the request of the general partner as members, managers, partners, officers, directors, employees, agents, trustees and affiliates of any other enterprise against certain liabilities under certain circumstances.

 

The debt securities will be our direct unsecured general obligations and will be issued under an Indenture, dated July 10, 2003, between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee, and a supplemental indenture thereto. This Indenture, as supplemented by any supplemental indentures relating to debt securities to be issued hereunder, is referred to herein as the Indenture, and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee, is referred to herein as the Trustee.

 

The debt securities will be governed by the provisions of the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We and the Trustee have entered into

supplements to the Indenture, and may enter into future supplements to the Indenture from time to time. We have summarized selected provisions of the Indenture below. The Indenture has been incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the Indenture for provisions that may be important to you, because the Indenture, and not this description, governs your rights as a holder of debt securities. In the summary below, we have included references to section numbers of the Indenture so that you can easily locate these provisions. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the Indenture.

 

Specific Terms of Each Series of Debt Securities in the Prospectus Supplement

 

A prospectus supplement and a supplemental indenture relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

 

No Limitation on Amount of Debt Securities

 

The Indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that may be issued. The Indenture allows debt securities to be issued up to any principal amount that may be authorized by us and may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us. (Section 3.01)

 

Registration of Notes

 

Debt securities of a series may be issued in certificated or global form. (Sections 2.01 and 2.02)

 

Denominations

 

The prospectus supplement for each issuance of debt securities will state whether the securities will be issued in amounts other than $1,000 each or multiples thereof. (Section 3.02)

 

No Personal Liability of General Partner

 

Our general partner and its directors, officers, employees and sole member will not have any liability for our obligations under the Indenture or the debt securities. Each holder of debt securities by accepting a debt security waives and releases our general partner and its directors, officers, employees and sole member from all such liability. (Section 1.15) The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

We will only consolidate or merge with or into any other partnership or corporation or sell, lease or transfer all or substantially all of our assets according to the terms and conditions of the Indenture, which includes the following requirements:

 

 

The remaining or acquiring partnership or corporation will be substituted for us in the Indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the Indenture. Thereafter, the successor may exercise our rights and powers under the Indenture, in our name or in its own name. Any act or proceeding required or permitted to be done by our Board of Directors or any of our officers may be done by the board of directors or officers of the successor. If we sell or transfer all or substantially all of our assets, we will be released from all of our liabilities and obligations under the Indenture and under the debt securities. (Sections 8.01 and 8.02)

 

Modification of the Indenture

 

Under the Indenture, generally, our rights and obligations and the rights of the holders of debt securities may be modified with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modification. No modification of the principal or interest payment terms, and no modification reducing the percentage required for modifications, is effective against any holder without its consent. We and the Trustee may amend the Indenture without the consent of any holder of the debt securities to make technical changes, such as:

 

 

Events of Default

 

“Event of Default,” when used in the Indenture, will mean any of the following:

 

 

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the Indenture. The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default (except in the payment of principal or interest) if it considers such withholding of notice to be in the interests of the holders. (Section 6.02)

 

If an Event of Default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities outstanding of that series may declare

the entire principal of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to specific conditions, the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series can void the declaration. (Section 5.02)

 

Other than its duties in case of a default, the Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee. (Section 6.01) If they provide this satisfactory indemnification or security, the holders of a majority in principal amount of any series of debt securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the Trustee, for any series of debt securities unless contrary to law. (Section 5.12)

 

Limitations on Liens

 

The Indenture provides that the Partnership will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary (as defined below) to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any lien upon any Principal Property (as defined below) or upon any shares of capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary (if such Restricted Subsidiary is a corporation) owning or leasing any Principal Property, whether owned or leased on the date of the Indenture or thereafter acquired, to secure any debt of the Partnership or any other person (other than the debt securities issued thereunder), without in any such case making effective provision whereby all of the debt securities outstanding thereunder shall be secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such debt so long as such debt shall be so secured. The following are excluded from this restriction:

 

(1) Permitted Liens (as defined below);

 

(2) any lien upon any property or assets created at the time of acquisition of such property or assets by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary or within one year after such time to secure all or a portion of the purchase price for such property or assets or debt incurred to finance such purchase price, whether such debt was incurred prior to, at the time of or within one year after the date of such acquisition;

 

(3) any lien upon any property or assets to secure all or part of the cost of construction, development, repair or improvements thereon or to secure debt incurred prior to, at the time of, or within one year after completion of such construction, development, repair or improvements or the commencement of full operations thereof (whichever is later), to provide funds for any such purpose;

 

(4) any lien upon any property or assets existing thereon at the time of the acquisition thereof by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether or not the obligations secured thereby are assumed by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary), provided, however, that such lien only encumbers the property or assets so acquired;

 

(5) any lien upon any property or assets of a person existing thereon at the time such person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary by acquisition, merger or otherwise, provided, however, that such lien only encumbers the property or assets of such person at the time such person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(6) any lien upon any property or assets of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary in existence on the Issue Date (as defined below) or provided for pursuant to agreements existing on the Issue Date;

 

(7) liens imposed by law or order as a result of any proceeding before any court or regulatory body that is being contested in good faith, and liens which secure a judgment or other court-ordered award or settlement in an aggregate amount not in excess of $1 million as to which the Partnership or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary has not exhausted its appellate rights;

 

(8) liens arising in connection with Sale-Leaseback Transactions (as defined below) permitted under the Indenture as described below;

(9) any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement, or successive extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings or replacements of liens, in whole or in part, referred to in clauses (1) through (7) above, provided, however, that any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be limited to the property or assets covered by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and that the obligations secured by any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be in an amount not greater than the amount of the obligations secured by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and any expenses of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries (including any premium) incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement; or

 

(10) any lien resulting from the deposit of moneys or evidence of indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing debt of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the Indenture, the Partnership may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist any lien upon any Principal Property to secure debt of the Partnership or any person other than the debt securities, that is not excepted by clauses (1) through (10), inclusive, above without securing the debt securities issued under the Indenture, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all debt then outstanding secured by such lien and all similar liens, together with all net sale proceeds from Sale-Leaseback Transactions, excluding Sale-Leaseback Transactions permitted by clauses (1) through (4), inclusive, of the first paragraph of the restriction on sale-leasebacks covenant described below, does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (as defined below). (Section 10.06)

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, at any date of determination, the total amount of assets after deducting therefrom:

 

(1) all current liabilities excluding:

 

 

and

 

(2) the value, net of any applicable reserves, of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets, all as set forth, on the consolidated balance sheet of the Partnership and its consolidated subsidiaries for the Partnership’s most recently completed fiscal quarter, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

“Issue Date” means with respect to any series of debt securities issued under either Indenture the date on which debt securities of that series are initially issued under that Indenture.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means:

 

(1) an impairment of the operation by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the pipeline systems of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries which materially adversely affects the manner in which such pipeline systems, taken as a whole, have been operated by the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries (whether due to damage to, or a defect in the right, title or interest of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in and to, any of the assets constituting such pipeline system or for any other reason);

 

(2) a material decline in the financial condition or results of operations or business prospects of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or

 

(3) an inability of the Partnership to make timely payments of principal and interest on the Securities, in each case as a result (whether or not simultaneous) of the occurrence of one or more events and/or the materialization or failure to materialize of one or more conditions and/or the taking of or failure to take one or more actions described in this Indenture by reference to a Material Adverse Effect.

“Permitted Liens” means:

 

(1) liens upon rights-of-way for pipeline purposes;

 

(2) any statutory or governmental lien or lien arising by operation of law, or any mechanics’, repairmen’s, materialmen’s, suppliers’, carriers’, landlords’, warehousemen’s or similar lien incurred in the ordinary course of business which is not yet due or which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and any undetermined lien which is incidental to construction, development, improvement or repair;

 

(3) the right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or public authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license, permit or by any provision of law, to purchase or recapture or to designate a purchaser of, any property;

 

(4) liens of taxes and assessments which are:

 

 

(5) liens of, or to secure performance of, leases, other than capital leases;

 

(6) any lien upon, or deposits of, any assets in favor of any surety company or clerk of court for the purpose of obtaining indemnity or stay of judicial proceedings;

 

(7) any lien upon property or assets acquired or sold by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary resulting from the exercise of any rights arising out of defaults on receivables;

 

(8) any lien incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, temporary disability, social security, retiree health or similar laws or regulations or to secure obligations imposed by statute or governmental regulations;

 

(9) any lien in favor of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(10) any lien in favor of the United States of America or any state thereof, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any state thereof, to secure partial, progress, advance, or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute, or any debt incurred by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of, or the cost of constructing, developing, repairing or improving, the property or assets subject to such lien;

 

(11) any lien securing industrial development, pollution control or similar revenue bonds;

 

(12) any lien securing debt of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary, all or a portion of the net proceeds of which are used, substantially concurrent with the funding thereof (and for purposes of determining such “substantial concurrence,” taking into consideration, among other things, required notices to be given to holders of outstanding securities under the Indenture (including the debt securities) in connection with such refunding, refinancing or repurchase, and the required corresponding durations thereof), to refinance, refund or repurchase all outstanding securities under the Indenture (including the debt securities), including the amount of all accrued interest thereon and reasonable fees and expenses and premium, if any, incurred by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith;

 

(13) liens in favor of any Person (as defined below) to secure obligations under the provisions of any letters of credit, bank guarantees, bonds or surety obligations required or requested by any governmental authority in connection with any contract or statute;

 

(14) any lien upon or deposits of any assets to secure performance of bids, trade contracts, leases or statutory obligations;

(15) any lien or privilege vested in any grantor, lessor or licensor or permittor for rent or other charges due or for any other obligations or acts to be performed, the payment of which rent or other charges or performance of which other obligations or acts is required under leases, easements, rights-of-way, leases, licenses, franchises, privileges, grants or permits, so long as payment of such rent or the performance of such other obligations or acts is not delinquent or the requirement for such payment or performance is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

(16) defects and irregularities in the titles to any property which do not have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined above);

 

(17) easements, exceptions or reservations in any property of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted or reserved for the purpose of pipelines, roads, the removal of oil, gas, coal or other minerals, and other like purposes for the joint or common use of real property, facilities and equipment, which do not have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(18) rights reserved to or vested in any grantor, lessor, licensor, municipality or public authority to control or regulate any property of the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or to use any such property, provided that the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary shall not be in default in respect of any material obligation (except that the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary may be contesting any such obligation in good faith) to such grantor, lessor, licensor, municipality or public authority; and provided, further, that such control, regulation or use will not have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(19) any obligations or duties to any municipality or public authority with respect to any lease, easement, right-of-way, license, franchise, privilege, permit or grant; or

 

(20) liens or burdens imposed by any law or governmental regulation, including, without limitation, those imposed by environmental and zoning laws, ordinances, and regulations; provided, in each case, the Partnership or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is not in default in any material obligation (except that the Partnership or such Restricted Subsidiary may be contesting any such obligation in good faith) to such Person in respect of such property; provided, further, that the existence of such liens and burdens do not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint-stock company, trust, other entity, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Principal Property” means, whether owned or leased on the date of the Indenture or thereafter acquired:

 

(1) any pipeline assets of the Partnership or any Subsidiary (as defined below), including any related facilities employed in the transportation, distribution, storage or marketing of refined petroleum products, that are located in the United States of America or any territory or political subdivision thereof; and

 

(2) any processing or manufacturing plant or terminal owned or leased by the Partnership or any Subsidiary that is located in the United States or any territory or political subdivision thereof, except, in the case of either of the foregoing clauses (1) or (2):

 

 

“Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean the subsidiaries of the Partnership identified on Exhibit A of the Indenture as well as any Subsidiary of the Partnership formed after the date of the Indenture that has not been designated by the Board of Directors, at its creation or acquisition, as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as defined below). The Partnership may thereafter redesignate an Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary and it will thereafter be a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such Restricted Subsidiary may not thereafter be

redesignated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, and provided, further, that no Subsidiary may be designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary at any time other than at its creation or acquisition.

 

“Sale-Leaseback Transaction” means the sale or transfer by the Partnership or any Subsidiary of any Principal Property to a Person (other than the Partnership or a Subsidiary) and the taking back by the Partnership or any Subsidiary, as the case may be, of a lease of such Principal Property.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

 

(1) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of equity interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof; or

 

(2) in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ equity interests, considering all partners’ equity interests as a single class is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or combination thereof.

 

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” shall mean the subsidiaries of the Partnership identified on Exhibit A of the Indenture as well as any Subsidiary of the Partnership formed after the date of the Indenture that has been designated by the Board of Directors as an “Unrestricted Subsidiary” at the time of its creation or acquisition, provided that no Debt or other obligation of such Unrestricted Subsidiary may be assumed or guaranteed by the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary, nor may any asset of the Partnership or any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, become encumbered or otherwise subject to the satisfaction thereof.

 

Limitations on Sale-Leasebacks

 

The Indenture provides that the Partnership will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in a Sale-Leaseback Transaction, unless:

 

(1) such Sale-Leaseback Transaction occurs within one year from the date of completion of the acquisition of the Principal Property subject thereto or the date of the completion of construction, development or substantial repair or improvement, or commencement of full operations of such Principal Property, whichever is later;

 

(2) the Sale-Leaseback Transaction involves a lease for a period, including renewals, of not more than three years;

 

(3) the Attributable Indebtedness (as defined below) from that Sale-Leaseback transaction is an amount equal to or less than the amount the Partnership or such Subsidiary would be allowed to incur as debt secured by a lien on the Principal Property subject thereto without equally and ratably securing the debt securities; or

 

(4) the Partnership or such Subsidiary, within a one-year period after such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, applies or causes to be applied an amount not less than the net sale proceeds from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction to (A) the prepayment, repayment, redemption, reduction or retirement of any Pari Passu Debt (as defined below) of the Partnership or any Subsidiary, or (B) the expenditure or expenditures for Principal Property used or to be used in the ordinary course of business of the Partnership or our Subsidiaries.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, under the Indenture the Partnership may, and may permit any Subsidiary to, effect any Sale-Leaseback Transaction that is not excepted by clauses (1) through (4), inclusive, of the above paragraph, provided that the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-Leaseback Transaction, together with the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding debt (other than the debt securities) secured by liens upon Principal Properties not excepted by clauses (1) through (10), inclusive, of the first paragraph of the

limitation on liens covenant described above, do not exceed 10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. (Section 10.07)

 

“Attributable Indebtedness,” when used with respect to any Sale-Leaseback Transaction, means, as at the time of determination, the present value, discounted at the rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in such transaction, of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments, other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items that do not constitute payments for property rights during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale-Leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty or other termination payment, such amount shall be the lesser of the amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated, in which case the amount shall also include the amount of the penalty or termination payment, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated, or the amount determined assuming no such termination.

 

“Funded Debt” means all debt maturing one year or more from the date of the creation thereof, all debt directly or indirectly renewable or extendible, at the option of the debtor, by its terms or by the terms of any instrument or agreement relating thereto, to a date one year or more from the date of the creation thereof, and all debt under a revolving credit or similar agreement obligating the lender or lenders to extend credit over a period of one year or more.

 

“Pari Passu Debt” means any Funded Debt of the Partnership, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, unless, in the case of any particular Funded Debt, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such Funded Debt shall be subordinated in right of payment to the debt securities.

 

Payment and Transfer

 

Principal, interest and any premium on fully registered securities will be paid at designated places. Payment will be made by check mailed to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered on days specified in the Indenture or any prospectus supplement. Other forms of payment relating to the debt securities will be paid at a place designated by us and specified in a prospectus supplement. (Section 3.07)

 

Fully registered securities may be transferred or exchanged at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency maintained by us for such purposes, without the payment of any service charge except for any tax or governmental charge. (Section 3.05)

 

Discharging Our Obligations

 

We may choose to either discharge our obligations on the debt securities of any series in a legal defeasance, or to release ourselves from our covenant restrictions on the debt securities of any series in a covenant defeasance. We may do so at any time after we deposit with the Trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, interest, any premium and any other sums due to the stated maturity date or a redemption date of the debt securities of the series. If we choose the legal defeasance option, the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities, replacement of lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated debt securities, conversion or exchange of debt securities, sinking fund payments and receipt of principal and interest on the original stated due dates or specified redemption dates. (Section 13.02)

 

We may discharge our obligations under the Indenture or release ourselves from covenant restrictions only if, in addition to making the deposit with the Trustee, we meet some specific requirements. Among other things:

 

 

 

Book Entry, Delivery and Form

 

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates that will be deposited with a depositary identified in a prospectus supplement.

 

Unless otherwise stated in any prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or DTC, will act as depositary. Book-entry notes of a series will be issued in the form of a global note that will be deposited with DTC. This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder. One global note will be issued to DTC who will keep a computerized record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the notes. The participant will then keep a record of its clients who purchased the notes. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificate note, a global note may not be transferred; except that DTC, its nominees and their successors may transfer a global note as a whole to one another.

 

Beneficial interests in global notes will be shown on, and transfers of global notes will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.

 

DTC has provided us the following information: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the United States Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also records the settlement among Direct Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for Direct Participant’s accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations.

 

According to DTC, the foregoing information with respect to DTC has been provided to the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.

 

DTC’s book-entry system is also used by other organizations such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that work through a Direct Participant. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

 

DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.

 

We will wire principal and interest payments to DTC’s nominee. We and the Trustee will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of the global notes for all purposes. Accordingly, we, the Trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global notes to owners of beneficial interests in the global notes.

 

It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest, to credit Direct Participants’ accounts on the payment date according to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global notes as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to Direct Participants whose accounts are credited with notes on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global notes, and voting by participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the participants and owners of beneficial

interests, as is the case with notes held for the account of customers registered in “street name.” However, payments will be the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the Trustee or us.

 

Notes represented by a global note will be exchangeable for certificate notes with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

 

 

The Trustee

 

Resignation or Removal of Trustee.  Under the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, governing Trustee conflicts of interest, any uncured conflict of interest with respect to any series of debt securities will force the Trustee to resign as trustee under the Indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor trustee under the Indenture in accordance with its terms and conditions.

 

The Trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series. (Section 6.10)

 

Limitations on Trustee if it is Our Creditor.  The Indenture contains limitations on the right of the Trustee thereunder, in the event that it becomes a creditor of the Partnership, to obtain payment of claims in some cases, or to realize on property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. (Section 6.13)

 

Certificates to Be Furnished to Trustee.  The Indenture provides that, in addition to other certificates that may be specifically required by other provisions of the Indenture, every application by us for action by the Trustee shall be accompanied by an officers’ certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to such action have been complied with. (Section 1.02)

 

This section is a summary of the material tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and, unless otherwise noted in the following discussion, is the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., counsel to our general partner and us, insofar as it relates to matters of United States federal income tax law and legal conclusions with respect to those matters. This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”), existing and proposed Treasury regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code (the “Treasury Regulations”) and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Later changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below.

 

The following discussion does not comment on all federal income tax matters affecting us or the unitholders. Moreover, the discussion focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and has only limited application to corporations, estates, trusts, nonresident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions, foreign persons, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), real estate investment trusts (REITs) or mutual funds. Accordingly, we encourage each prospective unitholder to consult, and depend on, his own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences particular to him of an investment in, or the disposition of, our securities.

All statements as to matters of law and legal conclusions, but not as to factual matters, contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of counsel, and are based on the accuracy of the representations we make.

 

No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding many of the matters affecting us or prospective unitholders. Instead, we will rely on opinions of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or the courts. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any contest of this sort with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the market for the limited partnership units and the prices at which limited partnership units trade. In addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS, principally legal, accounting and related fees, will result in a reduction in cash available for distribution to our unitholders and our general partner and thus will be borne directly or indirectly by the unitholders and our general partner. Furthermore, the tax treatment of us or of an investment in us may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions. Any modifications may or may not be retroactively applied.

 

For the reasons described below, counsel has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following specific federal income tax issues:

 

(a) the treatment of a unitholder whose limited partnership units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of limited partnership units (please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Treatment of Short Sales”);

 

(b) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units — Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees”); and

 

(c) whether our method for depreciating Section 743 adjustments is sustainable (please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election”).

 

Partnership Status

 

A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax liability. Instead, each partner of a partnership is required to take into account his allocable share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions of cash by a partnership to a partner generally are not taxable to the partnership or the partner unless the amount of cash distributed to him is in excess of the partner’s adjusted basis in his partnership interest.

 

Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that publicly traded partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the “Qualifying Income Exception,” exists with respect to publicly traded partnerships of which 90% or more of the gross income for every taxable year consists of “qualifying income.” Qualifying income includes income and gains derived from the transportation, storage and processing of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof. Other types of qualifying income include interest (other than from a financial business), dividends, gains from the sale of real property and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of income that otherwise constitutes qualifying income. We estimate that less than 5% of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time. Based upon and subject to this estimate, the factual representations made by us and our general partner and a review of the applicable legal authorities, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that at least 90% of our current gross income constitutes qualifying income. The portion of our income that is qualifying income may change from time to time.

 

No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS and the IRS has made no determination as to the status of Buckeye Partners, L.P. as a partnership for federal income tax purposes or other matters affecting our prospective unitholders.

Instead, we have relied on the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. on such matters. It is the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. that, based upon the Internal Revenue Code, its regulations, published revenue rulings and court decisions and the representations described below, we have been, are, and will continue to be, classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

In rendering its opinion, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which counsel has relied are:

 

(a) Except for Buckeye Gulf Coast Pipe Lines, L.P., neither we nor our operating entities have elected or will elect to be treated as a corporation;

 

(b) Each hedging transaction that we treat as resulting in qualifying income has been and will be appropriately identified as a hedging transaction pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations, and has been and will be associated with oil, gas, or products thereof that are held or to be held by us in activities that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined or will opine result in qualifying income;

 

(c) Neither we nor our operating entities derive or have derived interest income in connection with a financial business such as the lending of money to unrelated parties nor do we consider ourselves or hold ourselves out as being in the business of lending money; and

 

(d) For each taxable year, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined or will opine is “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as if we had transferred all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation, and then distributed that stock to the unitholders in liquidation of their interests in us. This deemed contribution and liquidation should be tax-free to unitholders and us so long as we, at that time, do not have liabilities in excess of the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

 

If we were treated as an association taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying Income Exception or otherwise, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be reflected only on our separate tax returns rather than being passed through to the unitholders, and our net income would be taxed to us at corporate rates. In addition, any distribution made to a unitholder would be treated as either taxable dividend income, to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, or, in the absence of earnings and profits, a nontaxable return of capital, to the extent of the unitholder’s tax basis in his limited partnership units, or taxable capital gain, after the unitholder’s tax basis in his limited partnership units is reduced to zero. Accordingly, taxation as a corporation would result in a material reduction in a unitholder’s cash flow and after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction of the value of the limited partnership units.

 

The remainder of the discussion below is based on Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion that we will be classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

Limited Partner Status

 

Unitholders who have become limited partners of Buckeye Partners, L.P. will be treated as partners of Buckeye Partners, L.P. for federal income tax purposes. Also:

 

(a) assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting admission as limited partners, and

(b) unitholders whose limited partnership units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their limited partnership units

 

will be treated as partners of Buckeye Partners, L.P. for federal income tax purposes. As there is no direct or indirect controlling authority addressing assignees of limited partnership units who are entitled to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion does not extend to these persons. Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of limited partnership units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of limited partnership units unless the limited partnership units are held in a nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those limited partnership units.

 

A beneficial owner of limited partnership units whose limited partnership units have been transferred to a short seller to complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those units for federal income tax purposes. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Treatment of Short Sales.”

 

Income, gain, deductions or losses would not appear to be reportable by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes would therefore appear to be fully taxable as ordinary income. These holders should consult their own tax advisors with respect to their status as partners in Buckeye Partners, L.P. for federal income tax purposes.

 

Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership

 

Flow-Through of Taxable Income.  We will not pay any federal income tax. Instead, each unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his allocable share of our income, gains, losses and deductions without regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are received by him.

 

Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if he has not received a cash distribution. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year ending with or within his taxable year. Our taxable year ends on December 31.

 

Treatment of Distributions.  Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder for federal income tax purposes, except to the extent the amount of any such cash distribution exceeds his tax basis in his limited partnership units immediately before the distribution. Our cash distributions in excess of a unitholder’s tax basis generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the limited partnership units, taxable in accordance with the rules described under “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units” below. Any reduction in a unitholder’s share of our liabilities for which no partner, including the general partner, bears the economic risk of loss, known as “nonrecourse liabilities,” will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. To the extent our distributions cause a unitholder’s “at-risk” amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years that are equal to the amount of that shortfall. Please read “— Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.”

 

A decrease in a unitholder’s percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional limited partnership units will decrease his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. This deemed distribution may constitute a non-pro rata distribution. A non-pro rata distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his limited partnership units, if that distribution reduces the unitholder’s share of our “unrealized receivables,” including depreciation recapture, and/or substantially appreciated “inventory items,” both as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, and collectively, “Section 751 Assets.” To that extent, he will be treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and then having exchanged those assets with us in return for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This latter deemed

exchange generally will result in the unitholder’s realization of ordinary income. That income will equal the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the unitholder’s tax basis (generally zero) for the share of Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.

 

Basis of Limited Partnership Units.  A unitholder’s initial tax basis for his limited partnership units will be the amount he paid for the limited partnership units plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by distributions from us, by the unitholder’s share of our losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that is recourse to the general partner, but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse liabilities. Please read “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

 

Limitations on Deductibility of Losses.  The deduction by a unitholder of his share of our losses will be limited to the tax basis in his limited partnership units and, in the case of an individual unitholder, estate, trust, or corporate unitholder (if more than 50% of the value of the corporate unitholder’s stock is owned directly or indirectly by or for five or fewer individuals or some tax-exempt organizations), to the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be “at risk” with respect to our activities, if that is less than his tax basis. A unitholder subject to these limitations must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions cause his at-risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year. Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction to the extent that his at-risk amount is subsequently increased, provided such losses do not exceed such limited partnership unitholders’ tax basis in his limited partnership units. Upon the taxable disposition of a limited partnership unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at-risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at-risk limitation in excess of that gain would no longer be utilizable.

 

In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of his limited partnership units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, reduced by (i) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or other similar arrangement and (ii) any amount of money he borrows to acquire or hold his limited partnership units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the limited partnership units for repayment. A unitholder’s at-risk amount will increase or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholder’s limited partnership units increases or decreases, other than tax basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or decreases in his share of our nonrecourse liabilities.

 

In addition to the basis and at-risk limitations on the deductibility of losses, the passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates, trusts and some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations can deduct losses from passive activities, which are generally trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate, only to the extent of the taxpayer’s income from those passive activities. The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly-traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will only be available to offset our passive income generated in the future and will not be available to offset income from other passive activities or investments, including our investments or investments in other publicly-traded partnerships, or salary or active business income. Passive losses that are not deductible because they exceed a unitholder’s share of income we generate may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive activity loss rules are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at-risk rules and the basis limitation.

 

A unitholder’s share of our net income may be offset by any of our suspended passive losses, but it may not be offset by any other current or carryover losses from other passive activities, including those attributable to other publicly-traded partnerships.

Limitations on Interest Deductions.  The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer’s “investment interest expense” is generally limited to the amount of that taxpayer’s “net investment income.” Investment interest expense includes:

 

(a) interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment;

 

(b) our interest expense attributed to portfolio income; and

 

(c) the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a passive activity to the extent attributable to portfolio income.

 

The computation of a unitholder’s investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a limited partnership unit. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than interest, directly connected with the production of investment income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment or qualified dividend income. The IRS has indicated that the net passive income earned by a publicly traded partnership will be treated as investment income to its unitholders. In addition, the unitholder’s share of our portfolio income will be treated as investment income.

 

Entity-Level Collections.  If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or foreign income tax on behalf of any unitholder or the general partner or any former unitholder, we are authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the unitholder on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. We are authorized to amend the partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of limited partnership units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under the partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an individual unitholder in which event the unitholder would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or refund.

 

Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.  In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among the general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that incentive distributions are made to the general partner in connection with the incentive compensation plan, gross income will be allocated to the general partner to the extent of these distributions. If we have a net loss, that loss will be allocated first to the general partner and the unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and, second, to the general partner.

 

For tax purposes, we are required to adjust the “book” basis of all our assets at the time of limited partnership unit offerings, and upon certain other transactions, referred to below as “Contributed Property,” to their fair market values at each such time. We are further required to adjust this book basis for each asset in proportion to tax depreciation or amortization we or our unitholders later claim with respect to the asset. Principles set forth in the Treasury Regulations under Section 704(c) of the Internal Revenue Code require that subsequent allocations of depreciation, gain, loss and similar items with respect to the Contributed Property take into account, among other things, the difference between the “book” basis and tax basis of the Contributed Property, referred to in this discussion as the “Book-Tax Disparity.” In this context, we use the term “book” as that term is used in Treasury Regulations (with reference to fair market values) relating to partnership allocations for tax purposes. The “book” value of our property for this purpose may not be the same as the book value of our property for financial reporting purposes.

 

As a result, specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated to account for any Book-Tax Disparities with respect to the Contributed Property. The effect of these allocations, referred to as Section 704(c) Allocations, to a unitholder purchasing limited partnership units from us in an offering will be essentially the same as if the tax bases of our assets were equal to their fair market value at the time of such offering. In the event we issue additional limited partnership units or engage in certain other transactions in

the future “Reverse Section 704(c) Allocations,” similar to the Section 704(c) Allocations described above, will be made to the general partner and our other unitholders immediately prior to such issuance or other transactions to account for the Book-Tax Disparity of all property held by us at the time of such issuance or other transaction.

 

In addition, items of recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to the treatment of that gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by some unitholders. Finally, although we do not expect that our operations will result in the creation of negative capital accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of our income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.

 

An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by the Internal Revenue Code to eliminate Book-Tax Disparities will generally be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has substantial economic effect. In any other case, a partner’s share of an item will be determined on the basis of his interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including:

 

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in “— Section 754 Election” and “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units — Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees,” allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner’s share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.

 

Treatment of Short Sales.  A unitholder whose limited partnership units are loaned to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of limited partnership units may be considered as having disposed of those limited partnership units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those limited partnership units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period:

 

(a) any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those units would not be reportable by the unitholder;

 

(b) any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units would be fully taxable; and

 

(c) all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income.

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder whose limited partnership units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of limited partnership units; therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a short seller are urged modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and loaning their limited partnership units. The IRS has announced that it is actively studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please also read “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

 

Alternative Minimum Tax.  Each unitholder will be required to take into account his distributive share of any items of our income, gain, loss or deduction for purposes of the alternative minimum tax. The current minimum tax rate for noncorporate taxpayers is 26% on the first $175,000 of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the exemption amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income. Prospective unitholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors as to the impact of an investment in limited partnership units on their liability for the alternative minimum tax.

Tax Rates.  Under current law, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income of individuals is 35% and the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains (generally, capital gains on certain assets held for more than 12 months) of individuals is 15%. However, absent new legislation extending the current rates, beginning January 1, 2011, the highest marginal U.S. federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains of individuals will increase to 39.6% and 20%, respectively. Moreover, these rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.

 

Section 754 Election.  We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The election will generally permit us to adjust a limited partnership unit purchaser’s tax basis in our assets (“inside basis”) under Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does not apply to a person who purchases limited partnership units directly from us. The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not to other partners. For purposes of this discussion, a partner’s inside basis in our assets will be considered to have two components: (1) his share of our tax basis in our assets (“common basis”) and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.

 

Where the remedial allocation method is adopted (which we will generally adopt as to our properties), the Treasury Regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code require a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment that is attributable to recovery property subject to depreciation under Section 168 of the Internal Revenue Code whose book basis is in excess of its tax basis to be depreciated over the remaining cost recovery period for the property’s unamortized Book-Tax Disparity. Under Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code, rather than cost recovery deductions under Section 168, is generally required to be depreciated using either the straight-line method or the 150% declining balance method. If we elect a method other than the remedial method, the depreciation and amortization methods and useful lives associated with the Section 743(b) adjustment, therefore, may differ from the methods and useful lives generally used to depreciate the inside basis in such properties. Under our partnership agreement, our general partner is authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of limited partnership units even if that position is not consistent with these and any other Treasury Regulations. Please read “— Uniformity of Limited Partnership Units.”

 

Although Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine as to the validity of this approach because there is no direct or indirect controlling authority on this issue, we intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the property’s unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, or treat that portion as non-amortizable to the extent attributable to property which is not amortizable. This method is consistent with the methods employed by other publicly traded partnerships but is arguably inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion of our assets. To the extent this Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position cannot reasonably be taken, we may take a depreciation or amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring limited partnership units in the same month would receive depreciation or amortization, whether attributable to common basis or a Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a direct interest in our assets. This kind of aggregate approach may result in lower annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders. Please read “— Uniformity of Limited Partnership Units.” A unitholder’s tax basis for his limited partnership units is reduced by his share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individual’s income tax return) so that any position we take that understates deductions will overstate the limited partnership unitholder’s basis in his limited partnership units, which may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such limited partnership units. Please read “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.” The IRS may challenge our position with respect to depreciating or amortizing the Section 743(b) adjustment we take to preserve the

uniformity of the limited partnership units. If such a challenge were sustained, the gain from the sale of limited partnership units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.

 

A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferee’s tax basis in his limited partnership units is higher than the limited partnership units’ share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. In that case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have, among other items, a greater amount of depreciation deductions and his share of any gain or loss on a sale of our assets would be less. Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the transferee’s tax basis in his limited partnership units is lower than those limited partnership units’ share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair market value of the limited partnership units may be affected either favorably or unfavorably by the election. A basis adjustment is required regardless of whether a Section 754 election is made in the case of a transfer of an interest in us if we have a substantial built — in loss immediately after the transfer, or if we distribute property and have a substantial basis reduction. Generally a built — in loss or a basis reduction is substantial if it exceeds $250,000.

 

The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. For example, the allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment among our assets must be made in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment allocated by us to our tangible assets to goodwill instead. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally nonamortizable or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure you that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of limited partnership units may be allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.

 

Tax Treatment of Operations

 

Accounting Method and Taxable Year.  We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in income his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year ending within or with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of his limited partnership units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must include his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be required to include in income for his taxable year his share of more than twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units — Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.”

 

Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization.  The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis immediately prior to an offering will be borne by the general partner, its affiliates and our other unitholders as of that time. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.”

 

To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation and cost recovery methods that will result in the largest deductions being taken in the early years after assets subject to these allowances are placed in service. We are not entitled to any amortization deductions with respect to any goodwill conveyed to us on formation. Property we subsequently acquire or construct may be depreciated using accelerated methods permitted by the Internal Revenue Code.

 

If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure, or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation previously deducted and the nature of the property, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a

unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in us. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction” and “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

 

The costs incurred by us in selling our limited partnership units (called “syndication expenses”) must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. There are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which we may amortize, and as syndication expenses, which we may not amortize. Any underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses.

 

Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties.  The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of limited partnership units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values, and the initial tax bases, of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously reported by unitholders might change, and unitholders might be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

 

Disposition of Limited Partnership Units

 

Recognition of Gain or Loss.  Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of limited partnership units equal to the difference between the amount realized and the unitholder’s tax basis for the limited partnership units sold. A unitholder’s amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property he receives plus his share of our nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of limited partnership units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.

 

Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable income for a limited partnership unit that decreased a unitholder’s tax basis in that limited partnership unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the limited partnership unit is sold at a price greater than the unitholder’s tax basis in that limited partnership unit, even if the price received is less than his original cost.

 

Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder, other than a “dealer” in limited partnership units, on the sale or exchange of a limited partnership unit held for more than one year will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss. Capital gain recognized by an individual on the sale of limited partnership units held more than 12 months will generally be taxed at the then applicable long term capital gains rates. For a discussion of the applicable rates, please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Tax Rates.” A portion of this gain or loss, which will likely be substantial, however, will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or other “unrealized receivables” or to “inventory items” we own. The term “unrealized receivables” includes potential recapture items, including depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a limited partnership unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of limited partnership units. Net capital loss may offset capital gains and no more than $3,000 of ordinary income, in the case of individuals, and may only be used to offset capital gain in the case of corporations.

 

The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an “equitable apportionment” method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner’s tax basis in his entire interest in the

partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner’s entire interest in the partnership. Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Internal Revenue Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify limited partnership units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the limited partnership units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling, a limited partnership unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis limited partnership units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, he may designate specific limited partnership units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of limited partnership units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of limited partnership units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of limited partnership units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional limited partnership units or a sale of limited partnership units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.

 

Specific provisions of the Internal Revenue Code affect the taxation of some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an “appreciated” partnership interest, one in which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, if the taxpayer or related persons enter(s) into:

 

(a) a short sale;

 

(b) an offsetting notional principal contract; or

 

(c) a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.

 

Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is also authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.

 

Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.  In general, our taxable income and losses will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of limited partnership units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month (the “Allocation Date”). However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring limited partnership units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.

 

Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Internal Revenue Code and most publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Accordingly, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferor and transferee unitholders. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder’s interest, our taxable income or losses might be reallocated among the unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferor and transferee unitholders, as well as unitholders whose interests may vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.

 

A unitholder who owns limited partnership units at any time during a quarter and who disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.

 

Notification Requirements.  A unitholder who sells any of his limited partnership units, other than through a broker, generally is required to notify us in writing of that sale within 30 days after the sale (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the sale). A purchaser of limited partnership units who purchases

limited partnership units from another unitholder is also generally required to notify us in writing of that purchase within 30 days after the purchase. Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a purchase may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale or exchange through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.

 

Constructive Termination.  We will be considered to have been terminated for tax purposes if there are sales or exchanges which, in the aggregate, constitute 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For purposes of measuring whether the 50% threshold is reached, multiple sales of the same interest are counted only once. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in his taxable income for the year of termination. A constructive termination occurring on a date other than December 31 will result in us filing two tax returns (and unitholders receiving two Schedules K-1) for one fiscal year and the cost of the preparation of these returns will be borne by all limited partnership unitholders. We would be required to make new tax elections after a termination, including a new election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code, and a termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination.

 

Uniformity of Limited Partnership Units

 

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of limited partnership units, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the limited partnership units to a purchaser of these limited partnership units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements, both statutory and regulatory. A lack of uniformity can result from a literal application of Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6). Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the limited partnership units. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election.”

 

We intend to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Contributed Property, to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to that property’s unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, or treat that portion as nonamortizable, to the extent attributable to property the common basis of which is not amortizable, consistent with the regulations under Section 743 of the Internal Revenue Code, even though that position may be inconsistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) which is not expected to directly apply to a material portion of our assets. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election.” To the extent that the Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, we will apply the rules described in the Treasury Regulations and legislative history. If we determine that this position cannot reasonably be taken, we may adopt a depreciation and amortization position under which all purchasers acquiring limited partnership units in the same month would receive depreciation and amortization deductions, whether attributable to a common basis or Section 743(b) adjustment, based upon the same applicable methods and lives as if they had purchased a direct interest in our property. If this position is adopted, it may result in lower annual depreciation and amortization deductions than would otherwise be allowable to some unitholders and risk the loss of depreciation and amortization deductions not taken in the year that these deductions are otherwise allowable. This position will not be adopted if we determine that the loss of depreciation and amortization deductions will have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. If we choose not to utilize this aggregate method, we may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization method to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any limited partnership units that would not have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. The IRS may challenge any method of depreciating the Section 743(b) adjustment described in this paragraph. If this

challenge were sustained, the uniformity of limited partnership units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of limited partnership units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions. Please read “— Disposition of Limited Partnership Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

 

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors

 

Ownership of limited partnership units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident aliens, foreign corporations, and other foreign persons raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. If you are a tax-exempt entity or a non-U.S. person, you should consult your tax advisor before investing in our limited partnership units.

 

Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal income tax, including individual retirement accounts and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income allocated to a unitholder which is a tax-exempt organization will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to them.

 

Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own limited partnership units will be considered to be engaged in business in the United States because of the ownership of limited partnership units. As a consequence they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net income or gain. And, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, we will withhold tax, at the highest applicable rate, from cash distributions made quarterly to foreign unitholders. Each foreign unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8 BEN or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes. A change in applicable law may require us to change these procedures.

 

In addition, because a foreign corporation that owns limited partnership units will be treated as engaged in a United States trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the United States branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income and gain, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation’s “U.S. net equity,” which is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a “qualified resident.” In addition, this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

A foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a limited partnership unit will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the foreign unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS, interpreting the scope of “effectively connected income,” a foreign unitholder would be considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. by virtue of the U.S. activities of the partnership, and part or all of that unitholder’s gain would be effectively connected with that unitholder’s indirect U.S. trade or business. Moreover, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a foreign unitholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a limited partnership unit if: (i) he owned (directly or constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our limited partnership units at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition; and (ii) 50% or more of the fair market value of all of our assets consisted of U.S. real property interests at any time during the shorter of the period during which such unitholder held the limited partnership units or the 5-year period ending on the date of disposition. Currently, more than 50% of our assets consist of U.S. real property interests and we do not expect that to change in the foreseeable future. Therefore, foreign unitholders may be subject to federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of their limited partnership units.

 

Administrative Matters

 

Information Returns and Audit Procedures.  We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each calendar year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which

will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder’s share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure you that those positions will yield a result that conforms to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS. Neither we nor Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully contend in court that those positions are impermissible. Any challenge by the IRS could negatively affect the value of the limited partnership units.

 

The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability, and possibly may result in an audit of his own return. Any audit of a unitholder’s return could result in adjustments not related to our returns as well as those related to our returns.

 

Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of federal tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the partners. The Internal Revenue Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for these purposes. The partnership agreement names the general partner as our Tax Matters Partner.

 

The Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. In addition, the Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review will go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.

 

A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on his federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.

 

Nominee Reporting.  Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:

 

(a) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;

 

(b) whether the beneficial owner is

 

(i) a person that is not a United States person,

 

(ii) a foreign government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing, or

 

(iii) a tax-exempt entity;

 

(c) the amount and description of limited partnership units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and

 

(d) specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales.

 

Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are United States persons and specific information on limited partnership units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year, is

imposed by the Internal Revenue Code for failure to report that information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the limited partnership units with the information furnished to us.

 

Accuracy-Related Penalties.  An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding that portion.

 

For individuals, a substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000. The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return:

 

(a) for which there is, or was, “substantial authority;” or

 

(b) as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of that position are disclosed on the return.

 

If any item of income, gain, loss or deduction included in the distributive shares of unitholders might result in that kind of an “understatement” of income for which no “substantial authority” exists, we must disclose the pertinent facts on our return. In addition, we will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information for unitholders to make adequate disclosure on their returns and to take other actions as may be appropriate to permit unitholders to avoid liability for penalties. More stringent rules apply to “tax shelters,” which we do not believe includes us, or any of our investments, plans or arrangements.

 

A substantial valuation misstatement exists if the value of any property, or the adjusted basis of any property, claimed on a tax return is 150% or more of the amount determined to be the correct amount of the valuation or adjusted basis. No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000 for most corporations). If the valuation claimed on a return is 200% or more than the correct valuation, the penalty imposed increases to 40%. We do not anticipate making any valuation misstatements.

 

Reportable Transactions.  If we were to engage in a “reportable transaction,” we (and possibly you and others) would be required to make a detailed disclosure of the transaction to the IRS. A transaction may be a reportable transaction based upon any of several factors, including the fact that it is a type of tax avoidance transaction publicly identified by the IRS as a “listed transaction” or that it produces certain kinds of losses for partnerships, individuals, S corporations, and trusts in excess of $2 million in any single year, or $4 million in any combination of 6 successive tax years. Our participation in a reportable transaction could increase the likelihood that our federal income tax information return (and possibly your tax return) would be audited by the IRS. Please read “— Information Returns and Audit Procedures.”

 

Moreover, if we were to participate in a reportable transaction with a significant purpose to avoid or evade tax, or in any listed transaction, you may be subject to the following provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004:

 

 

We do not expect to engage in any “reportable transactions.”

State, Local and Other Tax Considerations

 

In addition to federal income taxes, you will be subject to other taxes, including state and local income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we do business or own property or in which you are a resident. We currently do business or own property in numerous states, most of which impose income taxes. We may also own property or do business in other states or foreign jurisdictions in the future. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on his investment in us. You may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some states because your income from that state falls below the filing and payment requirement. You will be required, however, to file state income tax returns and to pay state income taxes in many of the states in which we do business or own property, and you may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. In some states, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the year incurred and also may not be available to offset income in subsequent taxable years. Some of the states may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the state. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder’s income tax liability to the state, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return. Amounts withheld may be treated as if distributed to unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed by us. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Limited Partnership Unit Ownership — Entity-Level Collections.” Based on current law and our estimate of our future operations, the general partner anticipates that any amounts required to be withheld will not be material.

 

It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent states and localities, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each prospective unitholder is urged to consult with, and depend upon, his own tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state and local, as well as United States federal tax returns, that may be required of him. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state or local tax consequences of an investment in us.

 

Tax Consequences of Ownership of Debt Securities

 

A description of certain federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of debt securities will be set forth on the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of debt securities.

 

In connection with particular offerings of the securities in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of those securities may be passed upon by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York, as our counsel, and for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The consolidated financial statements, incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from the Buckeye Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the effectiveness of Buckeye Partners, L.P. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

Buckeye Partners, L.P.

4,800,000 Units

Representing Limited Partner Interests

 

 

Prospectus Supplement

April 14, 2011

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

Barclays Capital

Citi

J.P. Morgan

Morgan Stanley

Wells Fargo Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Co-Managers

 

Credit Suisse

Deutsche Bank Securities