e424b2
The
information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not
complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to
sell nor do they seek an offer to buy these securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-162475
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED
NOVEMBER 15, 2010
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated October 14, 2009)
4,000,000 Common
Units
Representing Limited Partner
Interests
We are selling 4,000,000 of our common units in this offering.
Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol PAA. The last reported sale price
of our common units on the New York Stock Exchange on
November 12, 2010 was $63.92 per common unit.
Investing in our common units involves risks. See Risk
Factors on
page S-8
of this prospectus supplement.
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Per Common Unit
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Total
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Public Offering Price
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$
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$
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Underwriting Discount
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$
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$
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Proceeds, before expenses, to Plains All American Pipeline,
L.P.
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$
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$
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Delivery of the common units is expected to be made on or about
November , 2010.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up
to 600,000 additional common units to cover over-allotments.
Joint Book-Running Managers
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Citi |
BofA Merrill Lynch |
Morgan Stanley |
Wells Fargo Securities |
Senior Co-Managers
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Barclays
Capital |
J.P. Morgan |
Raymond James |
UBS Investment Bank |
Co-Managers
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Morgan
Keegan |
RBC Capital Markets |
The date of this prospectus supplement is
November , 2010.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Preliminary
Prospectus Supplement
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S-ii
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S-ii
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S-1
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S-8
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S-9
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S-10
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S-11
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S-12
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S-13
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S-18
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S-18
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S-18
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Prospectus
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1
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3
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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17
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19
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23
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26
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41
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41
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S-i
IMPORTANT
NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS
This document is in two parts. The first part is the
prospectus supplement, which describes our business and the
specific terms of this offering. The second part, the base
prospectus, 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 the description of the offering varies between the
prospectus supplement and the base prospectus, you should rely
on the information in the prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained in or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any free writing
prospectus relating to this offering of common units. Neither we
nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with
different information. We are not making an offer of the common
units in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You
should not assume that the information contained in this
prospectus, any free writing prospectus or in the documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus is accurate as of
any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
The information in this prospectus supplement is not
complete. You should review carefully all of the detailed
information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and the documents we have incorporated
by reference before making any investment decision.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
All statements included or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement, other than statements of historical fact,
are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to
statements identified by the words anticipate,
believe, estimate, expect,
plan, intend and forecast,
as well as similar expressions and statements regarding our
business strategy, plans and objectives of our management for
future operations. The absence of these words, however, does not
mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These
statements reflect our current views with respect to future
events, based on what we believe are reasonable assumptions.
Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially
from results anticipated in the forward-looking statements.
These factors include, but are not limited to:
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failure to implement or capitalize on planned internal growth
projects;
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maintenance of our credit rating and ability to receive open
credit from our suppliers and trade counterparties;
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continued creditworthiness of, and performance by, our
counterparties, including financial institutions and trading
companies with which we do business;
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the effectiveness of our risk management activities;
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environmental liabilities or events that are not covered by an
indemnity, insurance or existing reserves;
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abrupt or severe declines or interruptions in outer continental
shelf production located offshore California and transported on
our pipeline systems;
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shortages or cost increases of power supplies, materials or
labor;
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the availability of adequate third-party production volumes for
transportation and marketing in the areas in which we operate
and other factors that could cause declines in volumes shipped
on our pipelines by us and third-party shippers, such as
declines in production from existing oil and gas reserves or
failure to develop additional oil and gas reserves;
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fluctuations in refinery capacity in areas supplied by our
mainlines and other factors affecting demand for various grades
of crude oil, refined products and natural gas and resulting
changes in pricing conditions or transportation throughput
requirements;
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S-ii
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the availability of, and our ability to consummate, acquisition
or combination opportunities;
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our ability to obtain debt or equity financing on satisfactory
terms to fund additional acquisitions, expansion projects,
working capital requirements and the repayment or refinancing of
indebtedness;
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the successful integration and future performance of acquired
assets or businesses and the risks associated with operating in
lines of business that are distinct and separate from our
historical operations;
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unanticipated changes in crude oil market structure, grade
differentials and volatility (or lack thereof);
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the impact of current and future laws, rulings, governmental
regulations, accounting standards and statements and related
interpretations;
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the effects of competition;
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interruptions in service and fluctuations in tariffs or volumes
on third-party pipelines;
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increased costs or lack of availability of insurance;
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fluctuations in the debt and equity markets, including the price
of our units at the time of vesting under our long-term
incentive plans;
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the currency exchange rate of the Canadian dollar;
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weather interference with business operations or project
construction;
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risks related to the development and operation of natural gas
storage facilities;
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future developments and circumstances at the time distributions
are declared;
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general economic, market or business conditions and the
amplification of other risks caused by volatile financial
markets, capital constraints and pervasive liquidity
concerns; and
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other factors and uncertainties inherent in the transportation,
storage, terminalling and marketing of crude oil, refined
products and liquefied petroleum gas and other natural gas
related petroleum products.
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Other factors described herein or incorporated by reference, or
factors that are unknown or unpredictable, could also have a
material adverse effect on future results. Please read
Risk Factors beginning on
page S-8
of this prospectus supplement and in Item 1A. Risk
Factors in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 (File
No. 001-14569),
which is incorporated in this prospectus supplement by
reference. Except as required by applicable securities laws, we
do not intend to update these forward-looking statements and
information.
S-iii
PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere, or
incorporated by reference, in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. It does not contain all of the
information that you should consider before making an investment
decision. You should read this entire prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by
reference for a more complete understanding of this offering of
common units. Please read Risk Factors beginning on
page S-8
of this prospectus supplement and in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009, which is incorporated
into this prospectus supplement by reference, for information
regarding risks you should consider before investing in our
common units.
Except as the context otherwise indicates, the information in
this prospectus supplement assumes no exercise of the
underwriters option to purchase additional common
units.
For purposes of this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise, we, us, our and
the Partnership refer to Plains All American
Pipeline, L.P. and its subsidiaries. References to our
general partner, as the context requires, include
any or all of PAA GP LLC, Plains AAP, L.P. and Plains All
American GP LLC.
Plains
All American Pipeline, L.P.
We are a Delaware limited partnership formed in September 1998.
Our operations are conducted directly and indirectly through our
primary operating subsidiaries. We are engaged in the
transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of crude
oil, refined products and liquefied petroleum gas and other
natural gas-related petroleum products. We refer to liquefied
petroleum gas and other natural gas-related petroleum products
collectively as LPG. We are also engaged in the
development and operation of natural gas storage facilities
through our direct and indirect ownership of PAA Natural Gas
Storage, L. P. (PNG), which is a fee-based,
growth-oriented Delaware limited partnership engaged in the
ownership, acquisition, development, operation and commercial
management of natural gas storage facilities. We own PNGs
general partner, PNGS GP LLC (PNGS GP), which
holds a 2.0% general partner interest in PNG and all of its
incentive distributions rights. We also own an approximate 74.8%
limited partner interest in PNG.
We are one of the largest midstream crude oil companies in North
America. We have an extensive network of pipeline
transportation, terminalling, storage and gathering assets in
key oil-producing basins and transportation corridors, and at
major market hubs in the United States and Canada. We manage our
operations through three primary operating segments:
(i) transportation, (ii) facilities and
(iii) supply and logistics.
Transportation Segment. Our transportation
segment operations generally consist of fee-based activities
associated with transporting crude oil and refined products on
pipelines, gathering systems, trucks and barges. We generate
revenue through a combination of tariffs, third-party leases of
pipeline capacity and transportation fees. As of
December 31, 2009, we employed a variety of owned or leased
long-term physical assets throughout the United States and
Canada in this segment, including approximately:
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16,000 miles of active crude oil and refined products
pipelines and gathering systems;
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28 million barrels of active, above-ground tank capacity
used primarily to facilitate pipeline throughput;
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84 trucks and 353 trailers; and
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68 transport and storage barges and 39 transport tugs through
our interest in Settoon Towing, LLC (Settoon Towing).
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We also include in this segment our equity earnings from our
investments in Butte Pipe Line Company, Frontier Pipeline
Company, Settoon Towing and White Cliffs Pipeline, L.L.C., in
which we own non-controlling interests.
Facilities Segment. Our facilities segment
operations generally consist of fee-based activities associated
with providing storage, terminalling and throughput services for
crude oil, refined products, LPG and natural
S-1
gas, as well as LPG fractionation and isomerization services. We
generate revenue through a combination of
month-to-month
and multi-year leases and processing arrangements. Revenues
generated in this segment include (i) storage fees that are
generated when we lease storage capacity, (ii) terminalling
fees, or throughput fees, that are generated when we receive
crude oil, refined products, LPG or natural gas from one
connecting pipeline and redeliver the applicable product to
another connecting carrier, (iii) hub service fees for the
movement of natural gas across our header systems and
(iv) fees from LPG fractionation and isomerization
services. As of December 31, 2009, we owned, operated and
employed a variety of long-term physical assets throughout the
United States and Canada in this segment, including:
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approximately 51 million barrels of crude oil and refined
products capacity primarily at our terminalling and storage
locations;
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approximately 6 million barrels of LPG storage capacity;
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approximately 40 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of
natural gas storage capacity;
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approximately 9 Bcf of base gas in storage facilities owned
by us; and
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a fractionation plant in Canada with a processing capacity of
4,400 barrels per day, and a fractionation and
isomerization facility in California with an aggregate
processing capacity of 22,500 barrels per day.
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Our facilities segment includes our investment in PNG. PNG
currently owns and operates natural gas storage capacity at its
Bluewater facility in Michigan and Pine Prairie facility in
South Louisiana. PNGs Bluewater facility is a depleted
reservoir natural gas storage complex located approximately
50 miles from Detroit in St. Clair County, Michigan. As of
September 30, 2010, Bluewater had a total working gas
storage capacity of approximately 26 Bcf in two depleted
reservoirs. PNGs Pine Prairie facility is a recently
constructed, high-deliverability salt cavern natural gas storage
complex located in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana. As of
September 30, 2010, Pine Prairie had a total working gas
storage capacity of approximately 24 Bcf in three caverns.
Supply and Logistics Segment. Our supply and
logistics segment operations generally consist of the following
merchant activities:
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the purchase of U.S. and Canadian crude oil at the wellhead
and the bulk purchase of crude oil at pipeline and terminal
facilities, as well as the purchase of foreign cargoes at their
load port and various other locations in transit;
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the storage of inventory during contango market conditions and
the seasonal storage of LPG;
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the purchase of refined products and LPG from producers,
refiners and other marketers;
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the resale or exchange of crude oil, refined products and LPG at
various points along the distribution chain to refiners or other
resellers to maximize profits; and
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the transportation of crude oil, refined products and LPG on
trucks, barges, railcars, pipelines and ocean-going vessels to
our terminals and third-party terminals.
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We believe that the majority of activities that are carried out
within our supply and logistics segment are counter-cyclically
balanced to produce a stable baseline of results in a variety of
market conditions, while at the same time providing upside
potential associated with opportunities inherent in volatile
market conditions. These activities utilize storage facilities
at major interchange and terminalling locations and various
hedging strategies to provide a counter-cyclical balance. The
tankage that is used to support our arbitrage activities
positions us to capture margins in a contango market (when the
oil prices for future deliveries are higher than the current
prices) or when the market switches from contango to
backwardation (when the oil prices for future deliveries are
lower than the current prices).
Except for pre-defined inventory positions, our policy is
generally (i) to purchase only product for which we have a
market, (ii) to structure our sales contracts so that price
fluctuations do not materially affect the segment profit we
receive and (iii) not to acquire and hold physical
inventory, futures contracts or other derivative products for
the purpose of speculating on outright commodity price changes.
S-2
In addition to substantial working inventories associated with
its merchant activities, as of December 31, 2009, our
supply and logistics segment also owned significant volumes of
crude oil and LPG classified as long-term assets for linefill or
minimum inventory requirements under service arrangements with
transportation carriers and terminalling providers. The supply
and logistics segment also employs a variety of owned or leased
physical assets throughout the United States and Canada,
including approximately:
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10 million barrels of crude oil and LPG linefill in
pipelines owned by us;
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2 million barrels of crude oil and LPG linefill in
pipelines owned by third parties and other long-term inventory;
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522 trucks and 630 trailers; and
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1,473 railcars.
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In connection with its operations, the supply and logistics
segment secures transportation and facilities services from our
other two segments as well as third-party service providers
under
month-to-month
and multi-year arrangements. Intersegment sales are based on
posted tariff rates, rates similar to those charged to third
parties or rates that we believe approximate market rates.
However, certain terminalling and storage rates recognized
within our facilities segment are discounted to our supply and
logistics segment to reflect the fact that these services may be
canceled on short notice to enable the facilities segment to
provide services to third parties.
Certain activities in our supply and logistics segment are
affected by seasonal aspects, primarily with respect to LPG
supply and logistics activities, which generally have higher
activity levels during the first and fourth quarters of each
year.
Business
strategy
Our principal business strategy is to provide competitive and
efficient midstream transportation, terminalling, storage and
supply and logistics services to our producer, refiner and other
customers. Toward this end, we endeavor to address regional
supply and demand imbalances for crude oil, refined products,
LPG and natural gas in the United States and Canada by combining
the strategic location and capabilities of our transportation,
terminalling and storage assets with our extensive supply,
logistics and distribution expertise.
We believe successful execution of this strategy will enable us
to generate sustainable earnings and cash flow. We intend to
grow our business by:
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optimizing our existing assets and realizing cost efficiencies
through operational improvements;
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developing and implementing internal growth projects that
(i) address evolving crude oil, refined products and LPG
needs in the midstream transportation and infrastructure sector
and (ii) are well-positioned to benefit from long-term
industry trends and opportunities;
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utilizing our assets along the Gulf, West and East Coasts, along
with our terminals and leased assets, to optimize our presence
in the waterborne importation of foreign crude oil;
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capitalizing on the anticipated long-term growth in demand for
natural gas storage services in North America by owning and
operating high-quality natural gas storage facilities and
providing our current and future customers reliable, competitive
and flexible natural gas storage and related services;
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selectively pursuing strategic and accretive acquisitions of
crude oil, refined products and LPG transportation,
terminalling, storage and marketing assets and businesses that
complement our existing asset base and distribution
capabilities; and
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using our terminalling and storage assets in conjunction with
our supply and logistic activities to capitalize on inefficient
energy markets and to address physical market imbalances,
mitigate inherent risks and increase margin.
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S-3
We believe PNGs natural gas storage assets are also
well-positioned to benefit from long-term industry trends and
opportunities. PNGs growth strategies are to develop and
implement internal growth projects and to selectively pursue
strategic and accretive natural gas storage projects and
facilities. Through the execution of such growth strategies, we
intend to expand the scale and scope of our natural gas storage
business. We may also prudently and economically leverage our
asset base, knowledge base and skill sets to participate in
other energy-related businesses that have characteristics and
opportunities similar to, or that otherwise complement, our
existing activities.
Ongoing
acquisition activities
Consistent with our business strategy, we are continuously
engaged in discussions with potential sellers regarding the
possible purchase of assets and operations that we believe are
strategic and complementary to our existing operations. Targeted
assets and operations might include crude oil, refined products,
LPG or natural gas storage related assets. Such acquisition
efforts involve our participation in processes that have been
made public, involve a number of potential buyers and are
commonly referred to as auction processes, as well
as situations where we believe we are the only party or one of a
very limited number of potential buyers in negotiations with the
potential seller. These acquisition efforts often involve assets
which, if acquired, would have a material effect on our
financial condition and results of operations. Past experience
has demonstrated that any discussions
and/or
negotiations regarding potential acquisitions could advance or
terminate in a short period of time. Accordingly, we can give no
assurance that our current or future acquisition efforts will be
successful. Although we expect acquisitions we make to be
accretive in the long term, we can provide no assurance that our
expectations will ultimately be realized.
Financial
strategy
Targeted Credit Profile. We believe that a
major factor in our continued success is our ability to maintain
a competitive cost of capital and access to the capital markets.
We intend to maintain a credit profile that we believe is
consistent with an investment grade credit rating. We have
targeted a general credit profile with the following attributes:
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an average long-term
debt-to-total
capitalization ratio of approximately 50%;
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an average long-term
debt-to-adjusted
EBITDA multiple of approximately 3.5x (adjusted EBITDA is
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization,
equity compensation plan charges, gains and losses from
derivative activities and selected items that are generally
unusual or non-recurring);
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an average total
debt-to-total
capitalization ratio of approximately 60%; and
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an average adjusted
EBITDA-to-interest
coverage multiple of approximately 3.3x or better.
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The first two of these four metrics include long-term debt as a
critical measure. In certain market conditions, we also incur
short-term debt in connection with supply and logistics
activities that involve the simultaneous purchase and forward
sale of crude oil, refined products and LPG. The crude oil,
refined products and LPG purchased in these transactions are
hedged. We do not consider the working capital borrowings
associated with this activity to be part of our long-term
capital structure. These borrowings are self-liquidating as they
are repaid with sales proceeds. We also incur short-term debt
for New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and
IntercontinentalExchange (ICE) margin requirements.
In order for us to maintain our targeted credit profile and
achieve growth through internal growth projects and
acquisitions, we intend to fund at least 50% of the capital
requirements associated with these activities with equity and
cash flow in excess of distributions. From time to time, we may
be outside the parameters of our targeted credit profile as, in
certain cases, these capital expenditures and acquisitions may
be financed initially using debt or there may be delays in
realizing anticipated synergies from acquisitions or
contributions from capital expansion projects to adjusted
EBITDA. At September 30, 2010 and for the nine months then
ended, we were in line with our targeted metrics.
S-4
Competitive
strengths
We believe that the following competitive strengths position us
to successfully execute our principal business strategy:
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Many of Our Transportation Segment and Facilities Segment
Assets are Strategically Located and Operationally
Flexible. The majority of our primary
transportation segment assets are in crude oil service, are
located in well-established oil producing regions and
transportation corridors, and are connected, directly or
indirectly, with our facilities segment assets located at major
trading locations and premium markets that serve as gateways to
major North American refinery and distribution markets where we
have strong business relationships.
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We Possess Specialized Crude Oil Market
Knowledge. We believe our business relationships
with participants in various phases of the crude oil
distribution chain, from crude oil producers to refiners, as
well as our own industry expertise, provide us with an extensive
understanding of the North American physical crude oil markets.
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Our Crude Oil Supply and Logistics Activities are
Counter-Cyclically Balanced. We believe the
variety of activities provided by our supply and logistics
segment provides us with a counter-cyclical balance that
generally affords us the flexibility (i) to maintain a base
level of margin irrespective of crude oil market conditions and
(ii) in certain circumstances, to realize incremental
margin during volatile market conditions.
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We have the Evaluation, Integration and Engineering Skill
Sets and the Financial Flexibility to Continue to Pursue
Acquisition and Expansion Opportunities. Over the
past twelve years, we have completed and integrated
approximately 63 acquisitions with an aggregate purchase price
of approximately $6.6 billion. We have also implemented
internal expansion capital projects totaling approximately
$2.4 billion through September 30, 2010. In addition,
we believe we have resources to finance future strategic
expansion and acquisition opportunities. As of
September 30, 2010, we had a working capital surplus of
approximately $204 million and approximately
$1.3 billion available under our committed credit
facilities, subject to continued covenant compliance.
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We have an Experienced Management Team Whose Interests are
Aligned with those of Our Unitholders. Our
executive management team has an average of approximately
25 years industry experience, and an average of
approximately 16 years with us or our predecessors and
affiliates. In addition, through their ownership of common
units, indirect interests in our general partner, grants of
phantom units and the Class B units in Plains AAP, L.P. (a
Delaware limited partnership and the sole member of our general
partner), our management team has a vested interest in our
continued success.
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We believe these competitive strengths will aid our efforts to
expand our presence in the refined products, LPG and natural gas
storage sectors.
Recent
developments
Nexen Acquisition. On November 12, 2010,
we executed a definitive agreement with Nexen Holdings U.S.A.
Inc. to purchase certain entities that hold crude oil gathering
and transportation assets that primarily service Bakken area
producers. Total consideration to be paid at closing is
estimated at $210 million, including $170 million for
the entities to be acquired and an estimated $40 million
for approximately 400,000 barrels of crude oil inventory
and other working capital adjustments. Subject to regulatory
approval, the transaction is scheduled to close by year-end
2010. We believe this acquisition is consistent with our
strategy to expand and strengthen our presence in long-lived,
growing producing regions and is complementary to our existing
Bakken area assets and activities, including our recently
proposed Bakken North Pipeline project.
November Distribution. On November 12,
2010, we paid a cash distribution of $0.9500 per unit ($3.80 per
unit on an annualized basis) to holders of record of such units
at the close of business on November 2, 2010. The
distribution represented an increase of approximately 3.3% over
the quarterly distribution of $0.9200
S-5
per unit we paid in November 2009 and of approximately 0.8% over
the quarterly distribution of $0.9425 per unit we paid in August
2010.
Additional
information
For additional information about us, including our partnership
structure and management, please see our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009 and our Quarterly
Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010
and September 30, 2010. Please refer to the section in this
prospectus supplement entitled Where You Can Find More
Information.
S-6
THE
OFFERING
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Common units we are offering |
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4,000,000 common units; 4,600,000 common units if the
underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional common
units in full. |
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Units outstanding after this offering |
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140,419,175 common units if the underwriters do not exercise
their option to purchase additional common units and 141,019,175
common units if the underwriters exercise their option to
purchase additional common units in full. |
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Use of proceeds |
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We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering of
approximately $ million,
including our general partners proportionate capital
contribution after deducting the underwriters discounts
and commissions and estimated offering expenses, to reduce
outstanding borrowings under our credit facilities and for
general partnership purposes. Amounts repaid under our credit
facilities may be reborrowed to fund our ongoing capital
program, potential future acquisitions, including the pending
Nexen Acquisition, or for general partnership purposes. |
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Cash distributions |
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Under our partnership agreement, we must distribute all of our
cash on hand at the end of each quarter, less reserves
established by our general partner in its discretion. We refer
to this cash as available cash, and we define its
meaning in our partnership agreement. |
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Under the quarterly incentive distribution provisions in our
partnership agreement, generally our general partner is
entitled, following the distribution of our minimum quarterly
distribution of $0.45 per common unit and without duplication,
to 15% of amounts we distribute until each unitholder receives a
total of $0.495 per common unit, 25% of amounts we distribute
until each unitholder receives a total of $0.675 per common unit
and 50% thereafter. For a description of our cash distribution
policy, please read Cash Distribution Policy in the
accompanying prospectus. |
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On November 12, 2010, we paid a cash distribution of
$0.9500 per unit ($3.80 per unit on an annualized basis) to
holders of record of such units at the close of business on
November 2, 2010. The distribution represented an increase
of approximately 3.3% over the quarterly distribution of $0.9200
per unit we paid in November 2009 and approximately 0.8% over
the quarterly distribution of $0.9425 per unit we paid in August
2010. |
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Estimated ratio of taxable income to distributions |
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We estimate that if you own the common units you purchase in
this offering through the record date for the distribution for
the period ending December 31, 2012, you will be allocated,
on a cumulative basis, an amount of federal taxable income for
that period that will be less than 30% of the cash distributed
to you with respect to that period. Please read Material
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences in this
prospectus supplement for the basis of this estimate. |
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Conflicts of Interest |
|
Affiliates of each of the underwriters are lenders under our
credit facilities, and accordingly, will receive a substantial
portion of the proceeds from this offering pursuant to the
repayment of borrowings under such facilities. Please read
Underwriting Conflicts of Interest in
this prospectus supplement for further information. |
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New York Stock Exchange symbol |
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PAA. |
S-7
RISK
FACTORS
Before making an investment in the common units offered
hereby, you should carefully consider the risk factors included
in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report
on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009, which is incorporated
in this prospectus supplement by reference, together with all of
the other information included or incorporated by reference in
this prospectus. If any of these risks were to occur, our
business, financial condition or results of operations could be
materially adversely affected. In such case, the trading price
of our common units could decline, and you could lose all or
part of your investment.
S-8
USE OF
PROCEEDS
The net proceeds of this offering will be approximately
$ million, including our
general partners proportionate capital contribution, after
deducting the underwriters discounts and commissions and
estimated offering expenses. If the underwriters exercise their
option to purchase additional common units in full, the net
proceeds of this offering will be approximately
$ million, including our
general partners proportionate capital contribution.
We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering (as well as
the proceeds from any exercise of the underwriters option
to purchase additional common units) to reduce outstanding
borrowings under our credit facilities and for general
partnership purposes. Amounts repaid under our credit facilities
may be reborrowed to fund our ongoing capital program, potential
future acquisitions, including the pending Nexen Acquisition, or
for general partnership purposes.
Affiliates of each of the underwriters are lenders under our
credit facilities, and accordingly, will receive a substantial
portion of the proceeds from this offering pursuant to the
repayment of borrowings under such facilities. Please read
UnderwritingConflicts of Interest in this
prospectus supplement for further information.
At November 12, 2010 we had approximately $1.4 billion
of debt outstanding under our credit facilities with a weighted
average interest rate of approximately 1.2%. Substantially all
of the borrowings we are repaying were used for working capital
requirements.
S-9
PRICE
RANGE OF COMMON UNITS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
As of November 12, 2010, we had 136,419,175 common units
outstanding, held by approximately 120,000 holders, including
common units held in street name. Our common units are traded on
the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
PAA.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the
high and low sales prices for the common units, as reported on
the New York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions Tape, and
quarterly cash distributions declared per common unit. The last
reported sale price of common units on the New York Stock
Exchange on November 12, 2010 was $63.92 per common unit.
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Common Unit
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Cash
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Price Range
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Distributions
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High
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Low
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per Unit(1)
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2008
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|
|
|
|
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First Quarter
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$
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52.44
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$
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43.93
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$
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0.8650
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Second Quarter
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50.96
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44.54
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|
|
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0.8875
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Third Quarter
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|
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48.36
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|
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35.68
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|
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0.8925
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Fourth Quarter
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42.39
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23.25
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|
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0.8925
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2009
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First Quarter
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$
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40.98
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$
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34.00
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$
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0.9050
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Second Quarter
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45.52
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36.25
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|
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0.9050
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Third Quarter
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50.33
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42.50
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0.9200
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Fourth Quarter
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53.37
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45.45
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0.9275
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2010
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First Quarter
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$
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57.11
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$
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49.82
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$
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0.9350
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Second Quarter
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60.06
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44.12
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0.9425
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Third Quarter
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64.21
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57.33
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0.9500
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Fourth Quarter (through November 12, 2010)
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65.20
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62.16
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(2)
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(1) |
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Represents cash distributions attributable to the quarter and
paid within 45 days after the quarter. |
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(2) |
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Cash distributions in respect of the fourth quarter of 2010 have
not been declared or paid. |
S-10
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of
September 30, 2010 (i) on a historical basis and
(ii) as adjusted to give effect to the sale of the common
units offered hereby and the application of the net proceeds
therefrom as described under Use of Proceeds in this
prospectus supplement and our general partners
proportionate capital contribution, net of offering expenses.
This table should also be read in conjunction with our financial
statements and the notes thereto that are incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement. As of
November 12, 2010, we had approximately $1.4 billion
of debt outstanding under our credit facilities with a weighted
average interest rate of approximately 1.2%. The increase in
debt outstanding under our credit facilities as compared to
September 30, 2010 is related to borrowings for normal
course of business uses, such as ongoing maintenance and
expansion activities, payment of amounts related to the purchase
of crude oil and other products and other expenses, interest
payments on our outstanding debt and distributions to our
unitholders or general partner (related to the timing difference
between the period earnings are generated and the period the
earnings are distributed). See Use of Proceeds.
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As of September 30, 2010
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As Adjusted
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for this
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Historical
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Offering
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(In millions)
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CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
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$
|
13
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$
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13
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SHORT-TERM DEBT
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Hedged inventory facility
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$
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400
|
|
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$
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400
|
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Working capital borrowings(1)
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|
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493
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|
|
|
|
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Other
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|
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2
|
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|
|
2
|
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|
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Total short-term debt
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$
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895
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|
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$
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LONG-TERM DEBT
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Long-term debt under credit facilities and other(2)
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$
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231
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|
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$
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231
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Senior notes, net of amortized net premium and discount
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|
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4,362
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|
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4,362
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|
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Total long-term debt
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$
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4,593
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$
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4,593
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PARTNERS CAPITAL
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Common unitholders
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$
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4,014
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|
|
$
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|
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General partner
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|
|
97
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total partners capital, excluding noncontrolling interests
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|
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4,111
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|
|
|
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Noncontrolling interests
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|
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232
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|
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232
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total partners capital
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$
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4,343
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|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Total capitalization
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|
$
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8,936
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
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(1) |
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We classify as short term our borrowings under our senior
unsecured revolving credit facility. These borrowings are
designated as working capital borrowings, must be repaid within
one year and are primarily for hedged LPG and crude oil
inventory and NYMEX and ICE margin deposits. |
|
(2) |
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In April 2010, our consolidated subsidiary PNG entered into a
three year, $400 million senior unsecured revolving credit
facility that matures in May 2013. This credit facility, which
bears interest based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin (as
defined by the credit agreement), may be expanded to
$600 million, subject to additional lender commitments and
with approval of the administrative agent for the credit
facility. At September 30, 2010, borrowings of
approximately $222 million were outstanding under this
facility. |
S-11
MATERIAL
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The tax consequences to you of an investment in our common units
will depend in part on your own tax circumstances. For a
discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax
consequences associated with our operations and the purchase,
ownership and disposition of our common units, please read
Material Income Tax Considerations in the
accompanying prospectus, as updated and supplemented by the
discussion included herein. You are urged to consult with your
own tax advisor about the federal, state, local and foreign tax
consequences particular to your circumstances.
Tax
Consequences of Unit Ownership
Ratio of Taxable Income to
Distributions. We estimate that a purchaser
of common units in this offering who holds those common units
from the date of closing of this offering through
December 31, 2012 will be allocated an amount of federal
taxable income for that period that will be less than 30% of the
cash distributed with respect to that period. Thereafter, we
anticipate that the ratio of allocable taxable income to cash
distributions to the unitholders will increase. These estimates
are based upon the assumption that gross income from operations
will approximate the amount required to make the current
quarterly distribution on all units and other assumptions with
respect to capital expenditures, cash flow, net working capital
and anticipated cash distributions. These estimates and
assumptions are subject to, among other things, numerous
business, economic, regulatory, legislative, competitive and
political uncertainties beyond our control. Further, the
estimates are based on current tax law and tax reporting
positions that we will adopt and with which the Internal Revenue
Service could disagree. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that
these estimates will prove to be correct. The actual percentage
of distributions that will constitute taxable income could be
higher or lower than expected, and any differences could be
material and could materially affect the value of the common
units. For example, the ratio of allocable taxable income to
cash distributions to a purchaser of common units in this
offering will be greater, and perhaps substantially greater,
than our estimate with respect to the period described above if
our gross income from operations exceeds the amount required to
maintain current distributions on all units, yet we only
distribute the current distributions on all units; or we make a
future offering of common units and use the proceeds of the
offering in a manner that does not produce substantial
additional deductions during the period described above, such as
to repay indebtedness outstanding at the time of this offering
or to acquire property that is not eligible for depreciation or
amortization for federal income tax purposes or that is
depreciable or amortizable at a rate significantly slower than
the rate applicable to our assets at the time of this offering.
New Legislation. The recently enacted
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, is scheduled
to impose a 3.8% Medicare tax on certain investment income
earned by individuals, estates, and trusts for taxable years
beginning after December 31, 2012. For these purposes,
investment income generally includes a unitholders
allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder
from a sale of units. In the case of an individual, the tax will
be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholders net
investment income from all investments, or (ii) the amount
by which the unitholders modified adjusted gross income
exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing
jointly or a surviving spouse) or $200,000 (if the unitholder is
unmarried). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be
imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment
income, or (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the
dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable
to an estate or trust begins.
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other
Investors. Ownership of common units by
tax-exempt entities and
non-U.S. investors
raises issues unique to such persons. Tax-exempt entities and
non-U.S. investors
are encouraged to consult with your own tax advisor about the
federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences particular to
your circumstances before investing. Please read Material
Income Tax Considerations Tax-Exempt Organizations
and Other Investors in the accompanying prospectus.
S-12
UNDERWRITING
Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Wells Fargo Securities,
LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the
underwritten offering and representatives of the underwriters
named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the
underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus
supplement, each underwriter named below has agreed to purchase,
and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the number of
common units set forth opposite the underwriters name.
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Number of
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|
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Underwriter
|
|
Common Units
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
|
|
|
|
|
|
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
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|
|
|
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Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
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|
|
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Barclays Capital Inc.
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|
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J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
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|
|
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Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
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|
|
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|
UBS Securities LLC
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|
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Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
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|
|
|
|
|
RBC Capital Markets LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
4,000,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the
underwriters to purchase the common units included in this
offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and
to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase
all of the common units (other than those covered by the
over-allotment option to purchase additional common units
described below) if they purchase any of the common units.
The underwriters propose to offer some of the common units
directly to the public at the public offering price set forth on
the cover page of this prospectus supplement and some of the
common units to dealers at the public offering price less a
concession not to exceed $ per
common unit. If all of the common units are not sold at the
initial offering price, the underwriters may change the public
offering price and the other selling terms.
Overallotment
Option
We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for
30 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, to
purchase up to 600,000 additional common units at the public
offering price less the underwriting discount. To the extent the
option is exercised, each underwriter must purchase a number of
additional common units approximately proportionate to that
underwriters initial purchase commitment.
Lock-Up
Agreements
We, our general partner, certain officers and directors of our
general partner and certain of their affiliates, and Vulcan
Energy Corporation have agreed that, for a period of
45 days from the date of this prospectus supplement, we and
they will not, without the prior written consent of the
representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or
otherwise dispose of any common units or any securities
convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for or that
represent the right to receive common units or any securities
that are senior to or pari passu with common units, including
the grant of any options or warrants to purchase common units.
Various Kayne Anderson entities, which collectively own
approximately 4.95 million common units and which are
affiliated with Robert V. Sinnott, a director of our general
partner, are not subject to this agreement and may sell some or
all of their common units during the
lock-up
period. This agreement also will not apply to grants under
existing employee benefit plans (including long-term incentive
plans adopted by our general partner, Plains AAP, L.P. or Plains
All American GP LLC), to issuances of common units or any
securities convertible or exchangeable into common units as
payment of any part of the purchase price in connection with
acquisitions by us and our affiliates or any third parties, to
certain sales of common units by the officers or directors of
the company that controls our general partner to pay tax
liabilities associated with the vesting of units or exercise of
options, to issuances or deliveries of common units in
connection with the conversion, vesting or exercise of
securities (including long-term incentive plan awards, options
S-13
and warrants) currently outstanding, or to sales of common units
in connection with the exercise, cancellation or other
disposition of options under the general partners
Performance Option Plan. The representatives, in their sole
discretion, may release any of the common units subject to these
lock-up
agreements at any time without notice.
Listing
Our common units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol PAA.
Commissions
and Expenses
The following table shows the underwriting discounts and
commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection
with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no
exercise and full exercise of the underwriters option to
purchase additional common units.
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|
|
No Exercise
|
|
Full Exercise
|
|
Per Common Unit
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Price
Stabilizations, Short Positions and Penalty Bids
In connection with the offering, the representatives, on behalf
of the underwriters, may purchase and sell common units in the
open market. These transactions may include short sales,
syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions.
Short sales involve syndicate sales of common units in excess of
the number of common units to be purchased by the underwriters
in the offering, which creates a syndicate short position.
Covered short sales are sales of common units made
in an amount up to the number of common units represented by the
underwriters over-allotment option. In determining the
source of common units to close out the covered syndicate short
position, the underwriters will consider, among other things,
the price of common units available for purchase in the open
market as compared to the price at which they may purchase units
through the over-allotment option. Transactions to close out the
covered syndicate short position involve either purchases of the
common units in the open market after the distribution has been
completed or the exercise of the over-allotment option. The
underwriters may also make naked short sales of
common units in excess of the over-allotment option. The
underwriters must close out any naked short position by
purchasing common units in the open market. A naked short
position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are
concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of
the common units in the open market after pricing that could
adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering.
Stabilizing transactions consist of bids for or purchases of
common units in the open market while the offering is in
progress.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids
permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a
syndicate member when the representatives repurchase common
units originally sold by that syndicate member in order to cover
syndicate short positions or make stabilizing purchases.
Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or
retarding a decline in the market price of the common units.
They may also cause the price of the common units to be higher
than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in
the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct
these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or in the
over-the-counter
market, or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these
transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.
Partnership
Expenses
We estimate that our total expenses of this offering, excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately
$330,000.
Conflicts
of Interest
All of the underwriters and their affiliates have performed
investment and commercial banking and advisory services for us
and our affiliates from time to time for which they have
received customary fees and expenses. The underwriters and their
affiliates may, from time to time, engage in transactions with
and
S-14
perform services for us in the ordinary course of their
business. Affiliates of each of the underwriters are lenders
under our credit facilities and accordingly will receive a
substantial portion of the proceeds from this offering pursuant
to the repayment of borrowings under such facilities.
Electronic
Distribution
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in
electronic format may be made available on the websites
maintained by one or more of the underwriters. The underwriters
may agree to allocate a number of common units for sale to their
online brokerage account holders. The common units will be
allocated to underwriters that may make Internet distributions
on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, common
units may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who
resell common units to online brokerage account holders.
Other than this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus in electronic format, information contained in any
website maintained by an underwriter is not part of this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or
registration statement of which the accompanying prospectus
forms a part, has not been endorsed by us and should not be
relied on by investors in deciding whether to purchase common
units. The underwriters are not responsible for information
contained in websites that they do not maintain.
Indemnification
We, together with our subsidiary operating partnerships and
their general partner, our general partner and the entities that
control our general partner, have agreed to indemnify the
underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute
to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of
any of those liabilities.
FINRA
Conduct Rule
Because the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority views our
common units as interests in a direct participation program,
this offering is being made in compliance with Rule 2310 of
the FINRA Rules. Investor suitability with respect to the common
units will be judged similarly to the suitability with respect
to other securities that are listed for trading on a national
securities exchange.
Notice to
Investors
Notice
to Prospective Investors in the EEA
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area
that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant
member state), 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:
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to any legal entity that is authorized or regulated to operate
in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated,
whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;
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to any legal entity that has two or more of (1) an average
of at least 250 employees during the last financial year;
(2) a total balance sheet of more than 43,000,000 and
(3) an annual net turnover of more than 50,000,000,
as shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts;
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to fewer than 100 natural or legal persons (other than qualified
investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to
obtaining the prior consent of the representatives; or
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in any other circumstances that do not require the publication
of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus
Directive,
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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.
S-15
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 for 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 includes any relevant implementing measure in
each relevant member state.
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 are only directed at:
(i) 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
(ii) 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
(iii) in both cases (i) and (ii) to any other
person to whom it may otherwise lawfully be made, (all such
persons together being referred to as relevant
persons). Our partnerships common units are only
available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to
subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such common 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 common 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 common units in Germany. Consequently, our common
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 common units to the public in
Germany or any other means of public marketing. Our common 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
S-16
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 common units does not constitute an offer
to buy or the solicitation or an offer to sell our common units
in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is
unlawful.
Notice
to Prospective Investors in the Netherlands
Our common 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 common units are not being offered to the public in
Switzerland, and neither this prospectus, nor any other offering
materials relating to our common 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 common units may not be offered to the public
in or from Switzerland, and neither this prospectus, nor any
other offering materials relating to our common units may be
made available through a public offering in or from Switzerland.
Our common 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).
S-17
LEGAL
MATTERS
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. will issue opinions about the
validity of the common units offered hereby and various other
legal matters in connection with the offering on our behalf.
Baker Botts L.L.P., the underwriters counsel, will also
issue opinions about various legal matters in connection with
the offering on behalf of the underwriters.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
and managements assessment of the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting (which is included in
Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by
reference to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009, have been
incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on
the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The balance sheet as of December 31, 2009 of PAA GP LLC
incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.s Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed March 12, 2010, has been so incorporated in reliance
on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are incorporating by reference into this
prospectus supplement information we file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, or SEC. This procedure means that we
can disclose important information to you by referring you to
documents filed with the SEC. The information we incorporate by
reference is part of this prospectus supplement and later
information that we file with the SEC will automatically update
and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the
documents listed below and any future filings we make with the
SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished and not filed
pursuant to any Current Report on
Form 8-K)
until the offering and sale of the common units contemplated by
this prospectus supplement are complete:
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2009;
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2010;
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended June 30, 2010;
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended September 30, 2010;
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed (other than Items 7.01 and 9.01, which were
furnished) with the SEC on February 22, 2010 (board of
director changes, compensation arrangements for certain
executive officers);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on March 12, 2010 (audited balance sheet
of PAA GP LLC as of December 31, 2009);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on June 17, 2010 (unaudited balance
sheet of PAA GP LLC as of March 31, 2010);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed (other than Item 9.01, which was furnished) with the
SEC on July 13, 2010 (documentation related to debt
offering);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on August 19, 2010 (departure and
appointment of certain executive officers);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on September 10, 2010 (compensation
arrangements for certain executive officers); and
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on October 28, 2010 (Second Amendment to
Second Restated Credit Agreement).
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S-18
You may request a copy of these filings (other than any exhibits
unless specifically incorporated by reference into this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus) at no
cost by making written or telephone requests for copies to:
Plains All
American Pipeline, L.P.
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Tim Moore
Telephone:
(713) 646-4100
Additionally, you may read and copy any materials that we have
filed with the SEC at the SECs Public Reference Room at
100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330.
The SEC maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy
and information statements, and other information regarding us.
The SECs website address is www.sec.gov.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by
reference or provided in this prospectus supplement. We have
not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone else to
provide you with any information. You should not assume that the
information incorporated by reference or provided in this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is accurate
as of any date other than its date.
S-19
PROSPECTUS
Plains All American Pipeline,
L.P.
PAA Finance Corp.
Common Units
Debt Securities
We may offer and sell the common units, representing limited
partner interests of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., and,
together with PAA Finance Corp., debt securities described in
this prospectus from time to time in one or more classes or
series and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined
by market conditions at the time of our offerings. PAA Finance
Corp. may act as co-issuer of the debt securities, and other
subsidiaries of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. may guarantee
the debt securities.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more
underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on
a continuous or delayed basis. This prospectus describes the
general terms of these common units and debt securities and the
general manner in which we will offer the common units and debt
securities. The specific terms of any common units and debt
securities we offer will be included in a supplement to this
prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also describe the
specific manner in which we will offer the common units and debt
securities.
Investing in our common units
and the debt securities involves risks. Limited partnerships are
inherently different from corporations. You should carefully
consider the risk factors described under Risk
Factors beginning on page 6 of this prospectus before
you make an investment in our securities.
Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol PAA. We will provide information in the
prospectus supplement for the trading market, if any, for any
debt securities we may offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved 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 October 14, 2009.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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1
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3
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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17
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19
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23
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26
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41
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41
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In making your investment decision, you should rely only on
the information contained or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
any other information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
You should not assume that the information contained in this
prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the
front cover of this prospectus. You should not assume that the
information contained in the documents incorporated by reference
in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the
respective dates of those documents. Our business, financial
condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed
since those dates.
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we and
PAA Finance Corp. have filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission using a shelf registration process. Under
this shelf registration process, we may, over time, offer and
sell any combination of the securities described in this
prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus generally
describes Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and the securities.
Each time we sell securities with this prospectus, we will
provide you with 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. Before you invest in our
securities, you should carefully read this prospectus and any
prospectus supplement and the additional information described
under the heading Where You Can Find More
Information. To the extent information in this prospectus
is inconsistent with information contained in a prospectus
supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus
supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any
prospectus supplement, together with additional information
described under the heading Where You Can Find More
Information, and any additional information you may need
to make your investment decision.
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WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, that registers the
securities offered by this prospectus. The registration
statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional
relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the
SEC allow us to omit some information included in the
registration statement from this prospectus.
In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any
document we file at the SECs public reference room at
100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
Please call the SEC at
1-800-732-0330
for further information on the operation of the SECs
public reference room. Our SEC filings are available on the
SECs web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
We also make available free of charge on our website, at
http://www.paalp.com,
all materials that we file electronically with the SEC,
including our annual report on
Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q,
current reports on
Form 8-K,
Section 16 reports and amendments to these reports as soon
as reasonably practicable after such materials are
electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.
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
other documents filed separately with the SEC. These other
documents contain important information about us, our financial
condition and results of operations. The information
incorporated by reference is an important part of this
prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will
automatically update and may replace information in this
prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC. We
incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any
future filings made by Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. with
the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (excluding any information
furnished and not filed with the SEC) until all offerings under
this shelf registration statement are completed or after the
date on which the registration statement that includes this
prospectus was initially filed with the SEC and before the
effectiveness of such registration statement:
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008;
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Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2009 and June 30,
2009;
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on February 25, 2009 (compensation
arrangements for certain of our executive officers);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on March 12, 2009 (audited balance sheet
of PAA GP LLC as of December 31, 2008);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed (other than Item 7.01, which was furnished) with the
SEC on March 18, 2009 (documentation related to equity
offering);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on April 20, 2009 (documentation related
to debt offering);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed (other than Items 7.01 and 9.01, which were
furnished) with the SEC on May 22, 2009 (election of
Christopher M. Temple to the board of directors of Plains All
American GP LLC);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on July 7, 2009 (unaudited balance sheet
of PAA GP LLC as of March 31, 2009);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on July 23, 2009 (documentation related
to debt offering);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed (other than Items 7.01 and 9.01, which were
furnished) with the SEC on August 28, 2009 (unregistered
sale of equity securities);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on September 3, 2009 (amendment of the
Limited Partnership Agreement of Plains All American Pipeline,
L.P.);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on September 4, 2009 (documentation
related to debt offering);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed (other than Item 7.01, which was furnished) with the
SEC on September 11, 2009 (documentation related to equity
offering);
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Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed with the SEC on September 28, 2009 (audited balance
sheet of PAA GP LLC as of June 30, 2009); and
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the description of our common units contained in our
Form 8-A/A
dated November 3, 1998 and any subsequent amendment thereto
filed for the purpose of updating such description.
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You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in
this prospectus from the SEC through the SECs website at
the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any
document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including
exhibits to those documents specifically incorporated by
reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our
internet website at www.paalp.com, or by writing or calling us
at the following address:
Plains All
American Pipeline, L.P.
333 Clay Street, Suite 1600
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Tim Moore
Telephone:
(713) 646-4100
2
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
All statements included or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, other than
statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements,
including but not limited to statements identified by the words
anticipate, believe,
estimate, expect, plan,
intend and forecast, as well as similar
expressions and statements regarding our business strategy,
plans and objectives of our management for future operations.
The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the
statements are not forward-looking. These statements reflect our
current views with respect to future events, based on what we
believe are reasonable assumptions. Certain factors could cause
actual results to differ materially from results anticipated in
the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are
not limited to:
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failure to implement or capitalize on planned internal growth
projects;
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maintenance of our credit rating and ability to receive open
credit from our suppliers and trade counterparties;
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continued creditworthiness of, and performance by, our
counterparties, including financial institutions and trading
companies with which we do business;
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the success of our risk management activities;
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environmental liabilities or events that are not covered by an
indemnity, insurance or existing reserves;
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abrupt or severe declines or interruptions in outer continental
shelf production located offshore California and transported on
our pipeline systems;
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shortages or cost increases of power supplies, materials or
labor;
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the availability of adequate third-party production volumes for
transportation and marketing in the areas in which we operate
and other factors that could cause declines in volumes shipped
on our pipelines by us and third-party shippers, such as
declines in production from existing oil and gas reserves or
failure to develop additional oil and gas reserves;
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fluctuations in refinery capacity in areas supplied by our
mainlines and other factors affecting demand for various grades
of crude oil, refined products and natural gas and resulting
changes in pricing conditions or transportation throughput
requirements;
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the availability of, and our ability to consummate, acquisition
or combination opportunities;
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our ability to obtain debt or equity financing on satisfactory
terms to fund additional acquisitions, expansion projects,
working capital requirements and the repayment or refinancing of
indebtedness;
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the successful integration and future performance of acquired
assets or businesses and the risks associated with operating in
lines of business that are distinct and separate from our
historical operations;
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unanticipated changes in crude oil market structure and
volatility (or lack thereof);
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the impact of current and future laws, rulings, governmental
regulations, accounting standards and statements and related
interpretations;
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the effects of competition;
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interruptions in service and fluctuations in tariffs or volumes
on third-party pipelines;
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increased costs or lack of availability of insurance;
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fluctuations in the debt and equity markets, including the price
of our units at the time of vesting under our long-term
incentive plans;
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the currency exchange rate of the Canadian dollar;
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weather interference with business operations or project
construction;
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risks related to the development and operation of natural gas
storage facilities;
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future developments and circumstances at the time distributions
are declared;
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general economic, market or business conditions and the
amplification of other risks caused by deteriorated financial
markets, capital constraints and pervasive liquidity
concerns; and
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other factors and uncertainties inherent in the transportation,
storage, terminalling and marketing of crude oil, refined
products and liquefied petroleum gas and other natural gas
related petroleum products.
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Other factors described herein or incorporated by reference, or
factors that are unknown or unpredictable, could also have a
material adverse effect on future results. Please read
Risk Factors beginning on page 6 of this
prospectus and in Item 1A. Risk Factors in our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008. Except as required by
applicable securities laws, we do not intend to update these
forward-looking statements and information.
4
WHO WE
ARE
We are a Delaware limited partnership formed in September 1998.
Our operations are conducted directly and indirectly through our
primary operating subsidiaries. We are engaged in the
transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of crude
oil, refined products and liquefied petroleum gas and other
natural gas-related petroleum products. We have an extensive
network of pipeline transportation, terminalling, storage and
gathering assets in key oil-producing basins and transportation
corridors, and at major market hubs in the United States and
Canada. We are also engaged in the development and operation of
natural gas storage facilities.
PAA Finance Corp. was incorporated under the laws of the State
of Delaware in May 2004, is wholly owned by Plains All American
Pipeline, and has no material assets or any liabilities other
than as a co-issuer of debt securities. Its activities are
limited to co-issuing debt securities and engaging in other
activities incidental thereto.
For purposes of this prospectus, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise, we, us,
our and the Partnership refer to Plains
All American Pipeline, L.P. and its subsidiaries. References to
our general partner, as the context requires,
include any or all of PAA GP LLC, Plains AAP, L.P. and Plains
All American GP LLC.
Our executive offices are located at 333 Clay Street,
Suite 1600, Houston, Texas 77002 and our telephone number
is
(713) 646-4100.
For additional information as to our business, properties and
financial condition please refer to the documents cited in
Where You Can Find More Information.
5
RISK
FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk.
You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the
other information included in, or incorporated by reference
into, this prospectus, including those in Item 1A.
Risk Factors in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008, in evaluating an
investment in our securities. If any of these risks were to
occur, our business, financial condition or results of
operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the
trading price of our common units or value of our debt
securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your
investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a
prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors
relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.
6
USE OF
PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary in an accompanying
prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the
sale of securities covered by this prospectus for general
partnership purposes, which may include repayment of
indebtedness, the acquisition of businesses and other capital
expenditures and additions to working capital.
Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of
securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time
of the offering and will be described in a prospectus supplement.
7
RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our historical consolidated ratio
of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. For
purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
earnings consist of pretax income from continuing
operations before income from equity investees plus fixed
charges (excluding capitalized interest), distributed income of
equity investees and amortization of capitalized interest.
Fixed charges represent interest incurred (whether
expensed or capitalized), amortization of debt expense
(including discounts and premiums relating to indebtedness), and
that portion of rental expense on operating leases deemed to be
the equivalent of interest.
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Six Months
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Ended
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June 30,
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Year Ended December 31,
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2009
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2008
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)
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3.55
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x
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2.60
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x
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2.45
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x
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2.83
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x
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3.34
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x
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3.37
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x
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(1) |
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Includes interest costs attributable to borrowings for inventory
stored in a contango market of $5 million,
$21 million, $44 million, $49 million,
$24 million and $2 million for the six months ended
June 30, 2009 and each of the years ended December 31,
2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004, respectively. |
8
DESCRIPTION
OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES
General
The debt securities will be:
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our direct general obligations;
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either senior debt securities or subordinated debt
securities; and
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issued under separate indentures (which may be existing
indentures) among us, the guarantors and U.S. Bank National
Association, as Trustee.
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Plains All American Pipeline may issue debt securities in one or
more series, and PAA Finance may be a co-issuer of one or more
series of debt securities. PAA Finance was incorporated under
the laws of the State of Delaware in May 2004, is wholly-owned
by Plains All American Pipeline, and has no material assets or
any liabilities other than as a co-issuer of debt securities.
Its activities are limited to co-issuing debt securities and
engaging in other activities incidental thereto. When used in
this section Description of the Debt Securities, the
terms we, us, our and
issuers refer jointly to Plains All American
Pipeline and PAA Finance, and the terms Plains All
American Pipeline and PAA Finance refer
strictly to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and PAA Finance
Corp., respectively.
If we offer senior debt securities, we will issue them under a
senior indenture. If we issue subordinated debt securities, we
will issue them under a subordinated indenture. A form of each
indenture is filed as an exhibit to the latest registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part. We have not
restated either indenture in its entirety in this description.
You should read the relevant indenture because it, and not this
description, controls your rights as holders of the debt
securities. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the
meanings specified in the indentures.
Specific
Terms of Each Series of Debt Securities in the Prospectus
Supplement
A prospectus supplement and a supplemental indenture or
authorizing resolutions 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:
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whether PAA Finance will be a co-issuer of the debt securities;
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the guarantors of the debt securities, if any;
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whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated debt
securities;
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the title of the debt securities;
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the total principal amount of the debt securities;
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the assets, if any, that are pledged as security for the payment
of the debt securities;
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whether we will issue the debt securities in individual
certificates to each holder in registered form, or in the form
of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depository
on behalf of holders;
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the prices at which we will issue the debt securities;
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the portion of the principal amount that will be payable if the
maturity of the debt securities is accelerated;
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the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities will
be payable, if not U.S. dollars;
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the dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be
payable;
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the interest rate that the debt securities will bear and the
interest payment dates for the debt securities;
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any conversion or exchange provisions;
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any optional redemption provisions;
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any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to
repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;
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any changes to or additional events of default or
covenants; and
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any other terms of the debt securities.
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We may offer and sell debt securities, including original issue
discount debt securities, at a substantial discount below their
principal amount. The prospectus supplement will describe
special U.S. federal income tax and any other
considerations applicable to those securities. In addition, the
prospectus supplement may describe certain special
U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable
to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency other
than U.S. dollars.
Guarantees
If specified in the prospectus supplement respecting a series of
debt securities, the subsidiaries of Plains All American
Pipeline specified in the prospectus supplement will
unconditionally guarantee to each holder and the Trustee, on a
joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt
securities of that series when and as the same become due and
payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase, by
declaration of acceleration or otherwise. If a series of debt
securities is guaranteed, such series will be guaranteed by all
of the subsidiaries of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. other
than the non-guarantor subsidiaries. The prospectus supplement
will describe any limitation on the maximum amount of any
particular guarantee and the conditions under which guarantees
may be released.
The guarantees will be general obligations of the guarantors.
Guarantees of subordinated debt securities will be subordinated
to the Senior Indebtedness of the guarantors on the same basis
as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to the
Senior Indebtedness of Plains All American Pipeline.
Consolidation,
Merger or Asset Sale
Each indenture will, in general, allow us to consolidate or
merge with or into another domestic entity. It will also allow
each issuer to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all
or substantially all of its assets to another domestic entity.
If this happens, the remaining or acquiring entity must assume
all of the issuers responsibilities and liabilities under
the indenture including the payment of all amounts due on the
debt securities and performance of the issuers covenants
in the indenture.
However, each indenture will impose certain requirements with
respect to any consolidation or merger with or into an entity,
or any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of an issuers assets, including:
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the remaining or acquiring entity must be organized under the
laws of the United States, any state or the District of
Columbia; provided that PAA Finance may not merge, amalgamate or
consolidate with or into another entity other than a corporation
satisfying such requirement for so long as Plains All American
Pipeline is not a corporation;
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the remaining or acquiring entity must assume the issuers
obligations under the indenture; and
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immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default
or Event of Default (as defined under Events
of Default and Remedies below) may exist.
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The remaining or acquiring entity will be substituted for the
issuer in the indenture with the same effect as if it had been
an original party to the indenture, and the issuer will be
relieved from any further obligations under the indenture.
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No
Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the
debt securities will not contain any provisions that protect the
holders of the debt securities in the event of a change of
control of us or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction,
whether or not such transaction results in a change of control
of us.
Modification
of Indentures
We may supplement or amend an indenture if the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of all series issued under the indenture affected by
the supplement or amendment consent to it. Further, the holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
debt securities of any series may waive past defaults under the
indenture and compliance by us with our covenants with respect
to the debt securities of that series only. Those holders may
not, however, waive any default in any payment on any debt
security of that series or compliance with a provision that
cannot be supplemented or amended without the consent of each
holder affected. Without the consent of each outstanding debt
security affected, no modification of the indenture or waiver
may:
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reduce the principal amount of debt securities whose holders
must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
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reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt
security;
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reduce or waive the premium payable upon redemption or alter or
waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of the debt
securities (except as may be permitted in the case of a
particular series of debt securities);
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reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on
any debt security;
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waive a Default or an Event of Default in the payment of
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt
securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt
securities by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the debt securities and a waiver of the
payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
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except as otherwise permitted under the indenture, release any
security that may have been granted with respect to the debt
securities;
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make any debt security payable in currency other than that
stated in the debt securities;
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in the case of any subordinated debt security, make any change
in the subordination provisions that adversely affects the
rights of any holder under those provisions;
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make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to
waivers of past Defaults or the rights of holders of debt
securities to receive payments of principal of or premium, if
any, or interest on the debt securities;
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waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security
(except as may be permitted in the case of a particular series
of debt securities);
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except as otherwise permitted in the indenture, release any
guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee or the
indenture or change any guarantee in any manner that would
adversely affect the rights of holders; or
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make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and
waiver provisions (except to increase any percentage set forth
therein).
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We may supplement or amend an indenture without the consent of
any holders of the debt securities in certain circumstances,
including:
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to establish the form of terms of any series of debt securities;
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to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
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to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place
of certified notes;
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to provide for the assumption of an issuers or
guarantors obligations to holders of debt securities in
the case of a merger or consolidation or disposition of all or
substantially all of such issuers or guarantors
assets;
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in the case of any subordinated debt security, to make any
change in the subordination provisions that limits or terminates
the benefits applicable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness of
Plains All American Pipeline;
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to add or release guarantors pursuant to the terms of the
indenture;
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to make any changes that would provide any additional rights or
benefits to the holders of debt securities or that do not, taken
as a whole, adversely affect the rights under the indenture of
any holder of debt securities;
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to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or
maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act;
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to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under
the indenture of a successor Trustee;
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to add any additional Events of Default; or
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to secure the debt securities
and/or the
guarantees.
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Events of
Default and Remedies
Event of Default, when used in an indenture, will
mean any of the following with respect to the debt securities of
any series:
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failure to pay when due the principal of or any premium on any
debt security of that series;
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failure to pay, within 60 days of the due date, interest on
any debt security of that series;
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failure to pay when due any sinking fund payment with respect to
any debt securities of that series;
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failure on the part of the issuers to comply with the covenant
described under Consolidation, Merger or Asset
Sale;
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failure to perform any other covenant in the indenture that
continues for 30 days after written notice is given to the
issuers;
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of an
issuer; or
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any other Event of Default provided under the terms of the debt
securities of that series.
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An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities
will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any
other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. The
Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of
any default (except in the payment of principal, premium, if
any, or interest) if it considers such withholding of notice to
be in the best interests of the holders.
If an Event of Default for any series of debt securities occurs
and continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series
may declare the entire principal of, and accrued interest on,
all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable
immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the
holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the
debt securities of that series can rescind the declaration.
Other than its duties in case of a default, a Trustee is not
obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under either
indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders,
unless the holders offer the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity. If they provide this reasonable security or
indemnification, the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of any series of debt securities may direct the
time, method and place
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of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the
Trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the Trustee, for
that series of debt securities.
No Limit
on Amount of Debt Securities
Neither indenture will limit the amount of debt securities that
we may issue, unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus
supplement. Each indenture will allow us to issue debt
securities of any series up to the aggregate principal amount
that we authorize.
Registration
of Notes
We will issue debt securities of a series only in registered
form, without coupons, unless otherwise indicated in the
prospectus supplement.
Minimum
Denominations
Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the debt
securities will be issued only in principal amounts of $1,000
each or integral multiples of $1,000.
No
Personal Liability
None of the past, present or future partners, incorporators,
managers, members, directors, officers, employees, unitholders
or stockholders of either issuer, the general partner of Plains
All American Pipeline or any guarantor will have any liability
for the obligations of the issuers or any guarantors under
either indenture or the debt securities or for any claim based
on such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt
securities by accepting a debt security waives and releases all
such liability. The waiver and release are part of the
consideration for the issuance of the debt securities. The
waiver may not be effective under federal securities laws,
however, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is
against public policy.
Payment
and Transfer
The Trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar
under each indenture. The issuers may change the paying agent or
registrar without prior notice to the holders of debt
securities, and the issuers or any of their subsidiaries may act
as paying agent or registrar.
If a holder of debt securities has given wire transfer
instructions to the issuers, the issuers will make all payments
on the debt securities in accordance with those instructions.
All other payments on the debt securities will be made at the
corporate trust office of the Trustee, unless the issuers elect
to make interest payments by check mailed to the holders at
their addresses set forth in the debt security register.
The Trustee and any paying agent will repay to us upon request
any funds held by them for payments on the debt securities that
remain unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that
payment has become due. After payment to us, holders entitled to
the money must look to us for payment as general creditors.
Exchange,
Registration and Transfer
Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other
debt securities of the same series, the same total principal
amount and the same terms but in different authorized
denominations in accordance with the indenture. Holders may
present debt securities for exchange or registration of transfer
at the office of the registrar. The registrar will effect the
transfer or exchange when it is satisfied with the documents of
title and identity of the person making the request. We will not
charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or
exchange of the debt securities. We may, however, require the
payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable for that
registration.
We will not be required to:
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issue, register the transfer of, or exchange debt securities of
a series either during a period beginning 15 business days prior
to the selection of debt securities of that series for
redemption and ending on the
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close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice
of redemption or repurchase, or between a record date and the
next succeeding interest payment date; or
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register the transfer of or exchange any debt security called
for redemption or repurchase, except the unredeemed portion of
any debt security we are redeeming or repurchasing in part.
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Provisions
Relating only to the Senior Debt Securities
The senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment
with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. The senior
debt securities will be effectively subordinated, however, to
all of our secured debt to the extent of the value of the
collateral for that debt. We will disclose the amount of our
secured debt in the prospectus supplement.
Provisions
Relating only to the Subordinated Debt Securities
Subordinated
Debt Securities Subordinated to Senior
Indebtedness
The subordinated debt securities will rank junior in right of
payment to all of the Senior Indebtedness of Plains All American
Pipeline. Senior Indebtedness will be defined in a
supplemental indenture or authorizing resolutions respecting any
issuance of a series of subordinated debt securities, and the
definition will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
Payment
Blockages
The subordinated indenture will provide that no payment of
principal, interest and any premium on the subordinated debt
securities may be made in the event:
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we or our property is involved in any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation or bankruptcy;
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we fail to pay the principal, interest, any premium or any other
amounts on any Senior Indebtedness of Plains All American
Pipeline within any applicable grace period or the maturity of
such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated following any other
default, subject to certain limited exceptions set forth in the
subordinated indenture; or
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any other default on any Senior Indebtedness of Plains All
American Pipeline occurs that permits immediate acceleration of
its maturity, in which case a payment blockage on the
subordinated debt securities will be imposed for a maximum of
179 days at any one time.
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No
Limitation on Amount of Senior Debt
The subordinated indenture will not limit the amount of Senior
Indebtedness that Plains All American Pipeline may incur, unless
otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement.
Book
Entry, Delivery and Form
The debt securities of a particular series may be issued in
whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates
that will be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The
Depository Trust Company, New York, New York
(DTC). This means that we will not issue
certificates to each holder. Instead, one or more global debt
securities will be issued to DTC, who will keep a computerized
record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose
clients have purchased the debt securities. The participant will
then keep a record of its clients who purchased the debt
securities. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a
certificated debt security, a global debt security may not be
transferred, except that DTC, its nominees and their successors
may transfer a global debt security as a whole to one another.
Beneficial interests in global debt securities will be shown on,
and transfers of global debt securities 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
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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
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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
Participants accounts. This eliminates the need to
exchange certificates. Direct Participants include securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations.
DTCs 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 Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
We will wire all payments on the global debt securities to
DTCs nominee. We and the Trustee will treat DTCs
nominee as the owner of the global debt securities 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 debt securities to owners of beneficial interests in
the global debt securities.
It is DTCs current practice, upon receipt of any payment
on the global debt securities, to credit Direct
Participants accounts on the payment date according to
their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global
debt securities as shown on DTCs records. In addition, it
is DTCs current practice to assign any consenting or
voting rights to Direct Participants whose accounts are credited
with debt securities on a record date, by using an omnibus
proxy. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial
interests in the global debt securities, and voting by
participants, will be governed by the customary practices
between the participants and owners of beneficial interests, as
is the case with debt securities 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.
Debt securities represented by a global debt security will be
exchangeable for certificated debt securities with the same
terms in authorized denominations only if:
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DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as
depositary or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered
under applicable law and in either event a successor depositary
is not appointed by us within 90 days; or
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we determine not to require all of the debt securities of a
series to be represented by a global debt security.
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Satisfaction
and Discharge; Defeasance
Each indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of
further effect as to all outstanding debt securities of any
series issued thereunder, when:
(a) either:
(1) all outstanding debt securities of that series that
have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt
securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities
for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust
and thereafter repaid to us) have been delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation; or
(2) all outstanding debt securities of that series that
have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have
become due and payable by reason of the giving of a notice of
redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable at their
stated maturity within one year or are to be called for
redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to
the Trustee and in any case we have irrevocably deposited or
caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust
funds in trust cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable
U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in
such amounts as will be sufficient,
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without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay
and discharge the entire indebtedness of such debt securities
not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal,
premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of such
deposit (in the case of debt securities that have been due and
payable) or the stated maturity or redemption date;
(b) we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums
payable by us under the indenture; and
(c) we have delivered an officers certificate and an
opinion of counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions
precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.
The debt securities of a particular series will be subject to
legal or covenant defeasance to the extent, and upon the terms
and conditions, set forth in the prospectus supplement.
The
Trustee
U.S. Bank National Association is the Trustee under the
senior indenture and will be the initial Trustee under the
subordinated indenture. We maintain a banking relationship in
the ordinary course of business with U.S. Bank National
Association and some of its affiliates.
Resignation
or Removal of Trustee
If the Trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the
meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee must either
eliminate its conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and
in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the
Trust Indenture Act and the applicable indenture. Any
resignation will require the appointment of a successor trustee
under the applicable indenture in accordance with the terms and
conditions of such indenture.
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.
Limitations
on Trustee if it is a Creditor
Each indenture will limit the right of the Trustee thereunder,
in the event that it becomes a creditor of an issuer or
guarantor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to
realize on certain property received in respect of any such
claim as security or otherwise.
Certificates
and Opinions to be Furnished to Trustee
Each indenture will provide that, in addition to other
certificates or opinions that may be specifically required by
other provisions of the indenture, every application by us for
action by the Trustee must be accompanied by a certificate of
certain of our officers and an opinion of counsel (who may be
our counsel) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all
conditions precedent to such action have been complied with by
us.
Governing
Law
Each indenture and all of the debt securities will be governed
by the laws of the State of New York.
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DESCRIPTION
OF OUR COMMON UNITS
Generally, our common units represent limited partner interests
that entitle the holders to participate in our cash
distributions and to exercise the rights and privileges
available to limited partners under our partnership agreement.
For a description of the relative rights and preferences of
holders of common units and our general partner in and to cash
distributions. See Cash Distribution Policy.
Our outstanding common units are listed on the NYSE under the
symbol PAA. Any additional common units we issue
will also be listed on the NYSE.
The transfer agent and registrar for our common units is
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Meetings/Voting
Each holder of common units is entitled to one vote for each
common unit on all matters submitted to a vote of the
unitholders.
Status as
Limited Partner or Assignee
Except as described below under Limited
Liability, the common units will be fully paid, and
unitholders will not be required to make additional capital
contributions to us.
Each purchaser of common units offered by this prospectus must
execute a transfer application whereby the purchaser requests
admission as a substituted limited partner and makes
representations and agrees to provisions stated in the transfer
application. If this action is not taken, a purchaser will not
be registered as a record holder of common units on the books of
our transfer agent or issued a common unit certificate.
Purchasers may hold common units in nominee accounts.
An assignee, pending its admission as a substituted limited
partner, is entitled to an interest in us equivalent to that of
a limited partner with respect to the right to share in
allocations and distributions, including liquidating
distributions. Our general partner will vote and exercise other
powers attributable to common units owned by an assignee who has
not become a substituted limited partner at the written
direction of the assignee. A nominee or broker who has executed
a transfer application with respect to common units held in
street name or nominee accounts will receive distributions and
reports pertaining to its common units.
Limited
Liability
Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the
control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware
Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the Delaware
Act) and that he otherwise acts in conformity with the
provisions of our partnership agreement, his liability under the
Delaware Act will be limited, subject to some possible
exceptions, generally to the amount of capital he is obligated
to contribute to us in respect of his units plus his share of
any undistributed profits and assets.
Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a
distribution to a partner to the extent that at the time of the
distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, all
liabilities of the partnership, other than liabilities to
partners on account of their partnership interests and
liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to
specific property of the partnership, exceed the fair value of
the assets of the limited partnership. For the purposes of
determining the fair value of the assets of a limited
partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of
the property subject to liability of which recourse of creditors
is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited
partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that
property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act
provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and
knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was
in violation of the Delaware Act is liable to the limited
partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years
from the date of the distribution.
Reports
and Records
As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days
after the close of each fiscal year, our general partner will
furnish or make available to each unitholder of record (as of a
record date selected by our general
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partner) an annual report containing our audited financial
statements for the past fiscal year. These financial statements
will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles. In addition, no later than 45 days
after the close of each quarter (except the fourth quarter), our
general partner will furnish or make available to each
unitholder of record (as of a record date selected by our
general partner) a report containing our unaudited financial
statements and any other information required by law.
Our general partner will use all reasonable efforts to furnish
each unitholder of record information reasonably required for
tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of
each fiscal year. Our general partners ability to furnish
this summary tax information will depend on the cooperation of
unitholders in supplying information to our general partner.
Each unitholder will receive information to assist him in
determining his U.S. federal and state and Canadian federal
and provincial tax liability and filing his U.S. federal
and state and Canadian federal and provincial income tax returns.
A limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to the
limited partners interest as a limited partner, upon
reasonable demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:
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a current list of the name and last known address of each
partner;
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a copy of our tax returns;
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information as to the amount of cash and a description and
statement of the agreed value of any other property or services,
contributed or to be contributed by each partner and the date on
which each became a partner;
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copies of our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited
partnership, amendments to either of them and powers of attorney
which have been executed under our partnership agreement;
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information regarding the status of our business and financial
condition; and
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any other information regarding our affairs as is just and
reasonable.
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Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from
the limited partners trade secrets and other information the
disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith
is not in our best interest or which we are required by law or
by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.
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CASH
DISTRIBUTION POLICY
Distributions
of Available Cash
General. We will distribute to our
unitholders, on a quarterly basis, all of our available cash in
the manner described below.
Definition of Available Cash. Available cash
generally means, for any quarter ending prior to liquidation,
all cash on hand at the end of that quarter less the amount of
cash reserves that are necessary or appropriate in the
reasonable discretion of the general partner to:
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provide for the proper conduct of our business;
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comply with applicable law or any partnership debt instrument or
other agreement; or
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provide funds for distributions to unitholders and the general
partner in respect of any one or more of the next four quarters.
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Operating
Surplus and Capital Surplus
General. Cash distributions to our unitholders
will be characterized as either operating surplus or capital
surplus. We distribute available cash from operating surplus
differently than available cash from capital surplus. See
Quarterly Distributions of Available
Cash.
Definition of Operating Surplus. Operating
surplus refers generally to:
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our cash balances on the closing date of our initial public
offering; plus
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$25 million; plus
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all of our cash receipts from operations, excluding cash that is
capital surplus; less
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all of our operating expenses, debt service payments (but not
including payments required with the sale of assets or any
refinancing with the proceeds of new indebtedness or an equity
offering), maintenance capital expenditures and reserves
established for future operations.
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Definition of Capital Surplus. Capital surplus
will generally be generated only by:
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borrowings other than working capital borrowings;
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sales of debt and equity securities; and
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sales or other dispositions of assets for cash, other than
inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary
course of business.
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We will treat all available cash distributed as coming from
operating surplus until the sum of all available cash
distributed since we began equals the operating surplus as of
the end of the quarter prior to the distribution. Any available
cash in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source,
will be treated as capital surplus.
If we distribute available cash from capital surplus for each
common unit in an aggregate amount per common unit equal to the
initial public offering price of the common units, there will
not be a distinction between operating surplus and capital
surplus, and all distributions of available cash will be treated
as operating surplus. We do not anticipate that we will make
distributions from capital surplus.
Incentive
Distribution Rights
The incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive
an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available
cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly
distribution and the target distribution levels have been
achieved. The target distribution levels are based on the
amounts of available cash from operating surplus distributed
above the payments made under the minimum quarterly
distribution, if any, and the related 2% distribution to the
general partner.
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Effect of
Issuance of Additional Units
We can issue additional common units or other equity securities
for consideration and under terms and conditions approved by our
general partner in its sole discretion and without the approval
of our unitholders. We may fund acquisitions through the
issuance of additional common units or other equity securities.
Holders of any additional common units that we issue will be
entitled to share equally with our then-existing unitholders in
distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of
additional interests may dilute the value of the interests of
the then-existing unitholders. If we issue additional
partnership interests, our general partner will be required to
make an additional capital contribution to us.
Quarterly
Distributions of Available Cash
We will make quarterly distributions to our partners prior to
our liquidation in an amount equal to 100% of our available cash
for that quarter. We expect to make distributions of all
available cash within approximately 45 days after the end
of each quarter to holders of record on the applicable record
date. The minimum quarterly distribution and the target
distribution levels are also subject to certain other
adjustments as described below under
Distributions from Capital Surplus and
Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.
Distributions
From Operating Surplus
We will make distributions of available cash from operating
surplus in the following manner:
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First, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general
partner, until we distribute for each unit an amount equal to
the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter; and
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Thereafter, in the manner described in
Incentive Distribution Rights below.
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Incentive
Distribution Rights
For any quarter that we distribute available cash from operating
surplus to the common unitholders in an amount equal to the
minimum quarterly distribution on all units, then we will
distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus
in that quarter among the unitholders and the general partner in
the following manner:
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First, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to the general
partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.495 for
that quarter for each outstanding unit (the first target
distribution);
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Second, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to the general
partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.675 for
that quarter for each outstanding unit (the second target
distribution); and
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Thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to the
general partner.
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Our distributions to the general partner above, other than in
its capacity as holders of units, that are in excess of its
aggregate 2% general partner interest represent the incentive
distribution rights. The right to receive incentive distribution
rights is not part of its general partner interest and may be
transferred separately from that interest, subject to certain
restrictions.
Adjustments
to Incentive Distribution Rights
In connection with acquisitions or similar transactions, we have
and may in the future modify the incentive distribution rights
to, among other reasons, accelerate the accretion or other
benefits of the transaction to limited partners.
Upon closing of the Pacific and Rainbow acquisitions, our
general partner agreed to reduce the amounts due it as incentive
distributions. The total reduction in incentive distributions
related to these acquisitions will be $75 million.
Following our distribution in August 2009, the remaining
incentive distribution reductions related to Pacific and Rainbow
totaled approximately $21.25 million.
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In connection with our acquisition of the remaining 50% indirect
member interest in PAA Natural Gas Storage LLC in September
2009, our general partner agreed to further reduce the amounts
due it as incentive distributions by an aggregate of
$8 million over the next two years. This reduction will be
effective upon our payment of a quarterly distribution of $0.92
per unit.
Distributions
from Capital Surplus
How Distributions from Capital Surplus Will Be
Made. We will make distributions of available
cash from capital surplus in the following manner:
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First, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general
partner, until we distribute, for each common unit issued in
this offering, available cash from capital surplus in an
aggregate amount per common unit equal to the initial public
offering price; and
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Thereafter, we will make all distributions of available cash
from capital surplus as if they were from operating surplus.
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Effect of a Distribution from Capital
Surplus. Our partnership agreement treats a
distribution of available cash from capital surplus as the
repayment of the initial unit price. To show that repayment, the
minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution
levels will be reduced by multiplying each amount by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the unrecovered capital of the common
units immediately after giving effect to that repayment and the
denominator of which is the unrecovered capital of the common
units immediately prior to that repayment.
When Payback Occurs. When payback
of the reduced initial unit price has occurred, i.e., when the
unrecovered capital of the common units is zero, then
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the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution
levels will be reduced to zero for subsequent quarters;
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all distributions of available cash will be treated as operating
surplus; and
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the general partner will be entitled to receive 50% of
distributions of available cash in its capacities as general
partner and as holder of the incentive distribution rights.
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Distributions of available cash from capital surplus will not
reduce the minimum quarterly distribution or target distribution
levels for the quarter in which they are distributed.
Adjustment
to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution
Levels
How We Adjust the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target
Distribution Levels. In addition to adjusting the
minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels to
reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our
units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater
number of units (but not if we issue additional common units for
cash or property), we will proportionately adjust:
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the minimum quarterly distribution;
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the target distribution levels;
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the unrecovered capital; and
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other amounts calculated on a per unit basis.
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For example, in the event of a two-for-one split of the common
units (assuming no prior adjustments), the minimum quarterly
distribution, each of the target distribution levels and the
unrecovered capital of the common units would each be reduced to
50% of its initial level.
If We Became Subject to Taxation. If
legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or
interpreted by the relevant governmental authority so that we
become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation
as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, we
will adjust the minimum quarterly
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distribution and each of the target distribution levels,
respectively, to equal the product obtained by multiplying the
amount thereof by:
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one minus the sum of (x) the maximum effective federal
income tax rate to which we as an entity were subject plus
(y) any increase in state and local income taxes to which
we are subject for the taxable year of the event, after
adjusting for any allowable deductions for federal income tax
purposes for the payment of state and local income taxes.
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For example, assuming we were not previously subject to state
and local income tax, if we become taxable as an entity for
federal income tax purposes and became subject to a maximum
marginal federal, and effective state and local, income tax rate
of 38%, then the minimum quarterly distribution and the target
distribution levels would each be reduced to 62% of the amount
immediately prior to that adjustment.
Distribution
of Cash Upon Liquidation
General. If we dissolve and liquidate, we will
sell our assets or otherwise dispose of our assets and we will
adjust the partners capital account balances to show any
resulting gain or loss. We will first apply the proceeds of
liquidation to the payment of our creditors in the order of
priority provided in our partnership agreement and by law and,
thereafter, distribute to the unitholders and the general
partner in accordance with their adjusted capital account
balances.
Manner of Adjustment. If we liquidate, we
would allocate any loss to the general partner and each
unitholder as follows:
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First, 98% to the holders of common units who have positive
balances in their capital accounts in proportion to those
positive balances and 2% to the general partner, until the
capital accounts of the common unitholders have been reduced to
zero; and
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Thereafter, 100% to the general partner.
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Interim Adjustments to Capital Accounts. If we
issued additional security interests or made distributions of
property, interim adjustments to capital accounts would also be
made. These adjustments would be based on the fair market value
of the interests or the property distributed and any gain or
loss would be allocated to the unitholders and the general
partner in the same way that a gain or loss is allocated upon
liquidation. If positive interim adjustments are made to the
capital accounts, any subsequent negative adjustments to the
capital accounts resulting from our issuance of additional
interests, distributions of property, or upon our liquidation,
would be allocated in a way that, to the extent possible, in the
capital account balances of the general partner equaling the
amount which would have been the general partners capital
account balances if no prior positive adjustments to the capital
accounts had been made.
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DESCRIPTION
OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material provisions of our
partnership agreement. The following provisions of our
partnership agreement are summarized elsewhere in this
prospectus:
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distributions of our available cash are described under
Cash Distribution Policy;
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allocations of taxable income and other tax matters are
described under Material Income Tax
Considerations; and
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rights of holders of common units are described under
Description of Our Common Units.
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Purpose
Our purpose under our partnership agreement is to serve as a
partner of our operating partnerships and to engage in any
business activities that may be engaged in by our operating
partnerships or that are approved by our general partner. The
partnership agreements of our operating partnerships provide
that they may engage in any activity that was engaged in by our
predecessors at the time of our initial public offering or
reasonably related thereto and any other activity approved by
our general partner.
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 the authority for
the amendment of, and to make consents and waivers under, our
partnership agreement.
Reimbursements
of Our General Partner
Our general partner does not receive any compensation for its
services as our general partner. It is, however, entitled to be
reimbursed for all of its costs incurred in managing and
operating our business. Our partnership agreement provides that
our general partner will determine the expenses that are
allocable to us in any reasonable manner determined by our
general partner in its sole discretion.
Issuance
of Additional Securities
Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited
number of additional limited partner interests and other equity
securities that are equal in rank with or junior to our common
units on terms and conditions established by our general partner
in its sole discretion without the approval of any limited
partners.
It is likely that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance
of additional common units or other equity securities. Holders
of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to
share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in
our cash distributions. In addition, the issuance of additional
partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of
the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.
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,
may have special voting rights to which common units are not
entitled.
Our general partner has the right, which it may from time to
time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to
purchase common units or other equity securities whenever, and
on the same terms that, we issue those securities to persons
other than our general partner and its affiliates, to the extent
necessary to maintain their percentage interests in us that
existed immediately prior to the issuance. The holders of common
units will not have preemptive rights to acquire additional
common units or other partnership interests in us.
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Amendments
to Our Partnership Agreement
Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by
our general partner. Any amendment that materially and adversely
affects the rights or preferences of any type or class of
limited partner interests in relation to other types or classes
of limited partner interests or our general partner interest
will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or
class of limited partner interests or general partner interests
so affected. However, in some circumstances, more particularly
described in our partnership agreement, our general partner may
make amendments to our partnership agreement without the
approval of our limited partners or assignees.
Withdrawal
or Removal of Our General Partner
Our general partner has agreed not to withdraw voluntarily as
our general partner prior to December 31, 2008 without
obtaining the approval of the holders of a majority of our
outstanding common units, excluding those held by our general
partner and its affiliates, and furnishing an opinion of counsel
regarding limited liability and tax matters. On or after
December 31, 2008, our general partner may withdraw as
general partner without first obtaining approval of any
unitholder by giving 90 days written notice, and that
withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership
agreement. In addition, our general partner may withdraw without
unitholder approval upon 90 days notice to our
limited partners if at least 50% of our outstanding common units
are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates other
than our general partner and its affiliates.
Upon the voluntary withdrawal of our general partner, the
holders of a majority of our outstanding common units, excluding
the common units held by the withdrawing general partner and its
affiliates, may elect 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 90 days after that withdrawal,
the holders of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding
the common units held by the withdrawing general partner and its
affiliates, agree to continue our business and to appoint a
successor general partner.
Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is
approved by the vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds
of our outstanding units, including units held by our general
partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel
regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of this
kind is also subject to the approval of a successor general
partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of our
outstanding common units, including those held by our general
partner and its affiliates.
While our partnership agreement limits the ability of our
general partner to withdraw, it allows the general partner
interest and incentive distribution rights to be transferred to
an affiliate or to a third party in conjunction with a merger or
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of our general
partner.
In addition, our partnership agreement expressly permits the
sale, in whole or in part, of the ownership of our general
partner. Our general partner may also transfer, in whole or in
part, the common units it owns.
Liquidation
and Distribution of Proceeds
Upon our dissolution, unless we are reconstituted and continued
as a new limited partnership, the person authorized to wind up
our affairs (the liquidator) will, acting with all the powers of
our general partner that the liquidator deems necessary or
desirable in its good faith judgment, liquidate our assets. The
proceeds of the liquidation will be applied as follows:
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first, towards the payment of all of our creditors and the
creation of a reserve for contingent liabilities; and
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then, to all partners in accordance with the positive balance in
the respective capital accounts.
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Under some circumstances and subject to some limitations, the
liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets
for a reasonable period of time. If the liquidator determines
that a sale would be impractical or would cause a loss to our
partners, our general partner may distribute assets in kind to
our partners.
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Change of
Management Provisions
Our partnership agreement contains the following specific
provisions that are intended to discourage a person or group
from attempting to remove our general partner or otherwise
change management:
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generally, if a person acquires 20% or more of any class of
units then outstanding other than from our general partner or
its affiliates, the units owned by such person cannot be voted
on any matter; and
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provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings
or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other
provisions limiting the unitholders ability to influence
the manner or direction of management.
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Limited
Call Right
If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own 80% or
more of the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of
any class, our general partner will have the right to purchase
all, but not less than all, of the outstanding limited partner
interests of that class that are held by non-affiliated persons.
The record date for determining ownership of the limited partner
interests would be selected by our general partner on at least
10 but not more than 60 days notice. The purchase
price in the event of a purchase under these provisions would be
the greater of (1) the current market price (as defined in
our agreement) of the limited partner interests of the class as
of the date three days prior to the date that notice is mailed
to the limited partners as provided in our partnership agreement
and (2) the highest cash price paid by our general partner
or any of its affiliates for any limited partner interest of the
class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date our
general partner mails notice of its election to purchase the
units.
Indemnification
Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will
indemnify our general partner, its affiliates and their officers
and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and
against all losses, claims or damages any of them may suffer by
reason of their status as general partner, officer or director,
as long as the person seeking indemnity acted in good faith and
in a manner reasonably believed to be in or (in the case of an
indemnitee other than the general partner) not opposed to our
best interest. Any indemnification under these provisions will
only be out of our assets. Our general partner shall not be
personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or
loan funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate any
indemnification.
We are authorized to purchase insurance against liabilities
asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our
activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to
indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership
agreement.
Registration
Rights
Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for
resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities
laws any common units, or other partnership securities proposed
to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or
their assignees if an exemption from the registration
requirements is not otherwise available. We are obligated to pay
all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions.
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MATERIAL
INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section is a discussion of the material tax considerations
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 legal
conclusions with respect to matters of United States federal
income tax law. This section is based upon current provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Internal Revenue Code), existing and proposed
regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code (the
Treasury Regulations), 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. Unless the context otherwise requires,
references in this section to us or we
are references to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
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 urge each prospective unitholder to
consult, and depend on, his own tax advisor in analyzing the
federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences particular to
him of the ownership or disposition of common units.
All statements 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 Vinson & Elkins
L.L.P. and are based on the accuracy of the representations made
by us.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding
any matter 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
counsels 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 our common units and the prices at which
common 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
indirectly by our 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, Vinson & Elkins
L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following
specific federal income tax issues: (1) the treatment of a
unitholder whose common units are loaned to a short seller to
cover a short sale of common units (please see
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Treatment of Short Sales); (2) whether our monthly
convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted
by existing Treasury Regulations (please see
Disposition of Common Units
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees); and
(3) whether our method for depreciating Section 743
adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please see
Tax Consequences of 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 share of items of income,
gain, loss and deduction of the partnership in computing his
federal income tax liability, regardless of whether cash
distributions are made to him by the partnership. Distributions
by a partnership to a partner are generally not taxable to the
partnership or to the partner unless the amount of cash
distributed is in excess of the partners adjusted basis in
his partnership interest.
Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that
publicly traded partnerships will, as a general rule, be taxed
as corporations. However, an exception, referred to as the
Qualifying Income Exception, exists
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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, terminalling
and marketing 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. Moreover, recently enacted
legislation has modified Section 7704(d)(1)(E) of the
Internal Revenue Code to expand the definition of qualifying
income to include income from the storage and transportation of
certain alternative fuels and, among other things, the
transportation and marketing of industrial source carbon
dioxide. 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 the 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 our status or the status of the
operating partnerships for federal income tax purposes or
whether our operations generate qualifying income
under Section 7704 of the Internal Revenue Code. Instead,
we will rely on the opinion of 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 will be classified as a
partnership and the operating partnerships will be treated as
partnerships or disregarded as entities separate from us 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 Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied are:
(a) Neither we nor the operating partnerships have elected
or will elect to be treated as a corporation;
(b) 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; and
(c) 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.
We believe that these representations have been true in the past
and expect that these representations will be true in the future.
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 tax
return 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 unitholders tax basis
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in his common units, or taxable capital gain, after the
unitholders tax basis in his common units is reduced to
zero. Accordingly, taxation as a corporation would result in a
material reduction in a unitholders cash flow and
after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial
reduction of the value of the units.
The 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 Plains All
American Pipeline, L.P. will be treated as partners of Plains
All American Pipeline, L.P. for federal income tax purposes.
Also:
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assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications,
and are awaiting admission as limited partners and
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unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a
nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the
exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of
their common units
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will be treated as partners of Plains All American Pipeline,
L.P. for federal income tax purposes. As there is no direct or
indirect controlling authority addressing assignees of common
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 common units who does not
execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some
federal income tax information or reports furnished to record
holders of common units unless the common units are held in a
nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has
executed and delivered a transfer application for those common
units.
A beneficial owner of common units whose units have been
transferred to a short seller to complete a short sale would
appear to lose his status as a partner with respect to those
units for federal income tax purposes. Please see
Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership
Treatment of Short Sales.
Income, gain, deductions or losses would not appear to be
reportable by a unitholder who is not a partner for federal
income tax purposes, and any cash distributions received by a
unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax purposes
would therefore appear to be fully taxable as ordinary income.
These holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with
respect to their tax consequences of holding common units in
Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
The references to unitholders in the discussion that
follows are to persons who are treated as partners in Plains All
American Pipeline, L.P. for federal income tax purposes.
Tax
Consequences of Unit Ownership
Flow-Through of Taxable Income. We will not
pay any federal income tax. Instead, each unitholder will be
required to report on his income tax return his share of our
income, gains, losses and deductions without regard to whether
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 common units immediately before the distribution. Our
cash distributions in excess of a unitholders tax basis
generally will be considered to be gain from the sale or
exchange of our common units, taxable in accordance with the
rules described under Disposition of Common
Units. Any reduction in a unitholders 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 of cash to
that unitholder. To the extent our distributions cause a
unitholders at risk amount to be less than
zero at the end of any taxable
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year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years.
Please see Limitations on Deductibility of
Losses.
A decrease in a unitholders percentage interest in us
because of our issuance of additional common units will decrease
his share of our nonrecourse liabilities, and thus will result
in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. 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 common units, if the distribution reduces the
unitholders 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
will generally result in the unitholders realization of
ordinary income, which will equal the excess of (1) the
non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the
unitholders tax basis (generally zero) for the share of
Section 751 Assets deemed relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Common Units. A unitholders
initial tax basis for his common units will be the amount he
paid for our common units plus his share of our nonrecourse
liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of our
income and by any increases in his share of our nonrecourse
liabilities. That basis will be decreased, but not below zero,
by distributions from us, by the unitholders share of our
losses, by any decreases in his share of our nonrecourse
liabilities and by his share of our expenditures that are not
deductible in computing taxable income and are not required to
be capitalized. A unitholder will have no share of our debt that
is recourse to our general partner, but will have a share,
generally based on his share of profits, of our nonrecourse
liabilities. Please see Disposition of Common
Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Limitations on Deductibility of Losses. The
deduction by a unitholder of his share of our losses will be
limited to the tax basis in his units and, in the case of an
individual unitholder, estate, trust, or corporate unitholder
(if more than 50% of the value of the corporate
unitholders 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 common 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 common unitholders
tax basis in his common units. Upon the taxable disposition of a
unit, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by
losses that were previously suspended by the at-risk limitation
but may not be offset by losses suspended by the basis
limitation. Any 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 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
units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in
us, is related to the unitholder or can look only to the units
for repayment. A unitholders at-risk amount will increase
or decrease as the tax basis of the unitholders 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 taxpayers 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
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investments or investments in other publicly traded
partnerships, or salary or active business income. Passive
losses that are not deductible because they exceed a
unitholders share of income we generate may be deducted in
full when he disposes of his entire investment in us in a fully
taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive loss
limitations are applied after other applicable limitations on
deductions, including the at-risk rules and the basis limitation.
A unitholders 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 taxpayers
investment interest expense is generally limited to
the amount of that taxpayers net investment
income. Investment interest expense includes:
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interest on indebtedness properly allocable to property held for
investment;
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our interest expense attributed to portfolio income; and
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the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an
interest in a passive activity to the extent attributable to
portfolio income.
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The computation of a unitholders investment interest
expense will take into account interest on any margin account
borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit.
Net investment income includes gross income from property held
for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the
passive loss rules, less deductible expenses, other than
interest, directly connected with the production of investment
income, but generally does not include gains attributable to the
disposition of property held for investment 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
unitholders share of our portfolio income will be treated
as investment income.
Entity-Level Collections. If we are
required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal,
state, local or foreign income tax on behalf of any unitholder
or our general partner or any former unitholder, we are
authorized to pay those taxes from our funds. That payment, if
made, will be treated as a distribution of cash to the partner
on whose behalf the payment was made. If the payment is made on
behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined, we are
authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current
unitholders. We are authorized to amend our partnership
agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of
intrinsic tax characteristics of units and to adjust later
distributions, so that after giving effect to these
distributions, the priority and characterization of
distributions otherwise applicable under our partnership
agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by
us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax
on behalf of an individual partner in which event the partner
would be required to file a claim in order to obtain a credit or
refund.
Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and
Deduction. In general, if we have a net profit,
our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated
among our general partner and the unitholders in accordance with
their percentage interests in us. At any time that distributions
are made to our common units in excess of distributions to the
subordinated units, or incentive distributions are made to our
general partner, gross income will be allocated to the
recipients to the extent of these distributions. If we have a
net loss, 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.
Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be
allocated to account for (i) any difference between the tax
basis and fair market value of our assets at the time of an
offering and (ii) any difference between the tax basis and
fair market value of any property contributed to us by the
general partner and its affiliates that exists at the time of
such contribution, together, referred to in this discussion as
Contributed Property. The effect of these
allocations, referred to as Section 704(c) Allocations, to
a unitholder purchasing common units from us in an offering will
be essentially the same as if the tax basis of our assets were
equal to their fair market value at the time of such offering.
In the event we issue additional common units or
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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
all holders of partnership interests immediately prior to such
other transactions to account for the difference between the
book basis for purposes of maintaining capital
accounts and the fair market value of all property held by us at
the time of the future transaction. In addition, items of
recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the
partner 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 as is needed 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 the difference between a partners
book capital account, credited with the fair market
value of Contributed Property, and tax capital
account, credited with the tax basis of Contributed Property,
referred to in this discussion as the Book-Tax
Disparity, will generally be given effect for federal
income tax purposes in determining a partners share of an
item of income, gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation
has substantial economic effect. In any other case, a
partners 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:
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his relative contributions to us;
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the interests of all the partners in profits and losses;
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the interest of all the partners in cash flow; and
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the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon
liquidation.
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Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that, with
the exception of the issues described in
Section 754 Election and
Disposition of Common Units
Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees,
allocations under our partnership agreement will be given effect
for federal income tax purposes in determining a partners
share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.
Treatment of Short Sales. A unitholder whose
units are loaned to a short seller to cover a short
sale of units may be considered as having disposed of those
units. If so, he would no longer be treated for tax purposes as
a partner with respect to those units during the period of the
loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a
result, during this period:
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any of our income, gain, loss or deduction with respect to those
units would not be reportable by the unitholder;
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any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those
units would be fully taxable; and
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all of these distributions would appear to be ordinary income.
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Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion
regarding the treatment of a unitholder where common units are
loaned to a short seller to cover a short sale of common units;
therefore, unitholders desiring to assure their status as
partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition from a loan to a
short seller are urged to modify any applicable brokerage
account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing
their 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 Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Alternative Minimum Tax. Each unitholder will
be required to take into account his distributive share of any
items of our income, gain, loss or deduction for purposes of the
alternative minimum tax. The current minimum tax 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 units on their
liability for the alternative minimum tax.
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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 common
unit purchasers tax basis in our assets (inside
basis) under Section 743(b) of the Internal Revenue
Code to reflect his purchase price. This election does not apply
to a person who purchases common units directly from us. The
Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the purchaser and not
to other unitholders. For purposes of this discussion, a
unitholders 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 have
generally adopted as to all of 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 propertys
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, the general partner is authorized to take
a position to preserve the uniformity of units even if that
position is not consistent with these and any other Treasury
Regulations. If we elect a method other than the remedial method
with respect to a goodwill property, the common basis of such
property is not amortizable. Please see
Uniformity of 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 propertys 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 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 see
Uniformity of Units. A unitholders
tax basis for his common units is reduced by his share of our
deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an
individuals income tax return) so that any position we
take that understates deductions will overstate the common
unitholders basis in his common units, which may cause the
unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of
such units. Please see Disposition of Common
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
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uniformity of the units. If such a challenge were sustained, the
gain from the sale of units might be increased without the
benefit of additional deductions.
A Section 754 election is advantageous if the
transferees tax basis in his units is higher than the
units share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets
immediately prior to the transfer. In that case, as a result of
the election, the transferee would have, 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
transferees tax basis in his units is lower than those
units share of the aggregate tax basis of our assets
immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair market value
of the units may be affected either favorably or unfavorably by
the election. 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 units may be
allocated more income than he would have been allocated had the
election not been revoked.
Tax
Treatment of Operations
Accounting Method and Taxable Year. We use the
year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual
method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each
unitholder will be required to include in income his share of
our income, gain, loss and deduction for our taxable year ending
within or with his taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who
has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and
who disposes of all of his units following the close of our
taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must
include his share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in
income for his taxable year, with the result that he will be
required to include in income for his taxable year his share of
more than one year of our income, gain, loss and deduction.
Please see Disposition of Common
Units Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees.
Initial 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 our
unitholders holding interests in us prior to any such offering.
Please see Tax Consequences of Unit
Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and
Deduction.
To the extent allowable, we may elect to use the depreciation
and cost recovery methods that will result in the largest
deductions being taken in the early years after assets subject
to these allowances are placed in service. Because our general
partner may determine not to adopt the remedial method of
allocation with respect to any difference between the tax basis
and the fair market value of goodwill immediately prior to any
future offering, we may not be entitled to any amortization
deductions with respect to any goodwill conveyed to us on
formation or held by us at the time of any future offering.
Please see Uniformity of Units. 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,
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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 see Tax Consequences of
Unit Ownership Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and
Deduction and Disposition of Common
Units Recognition of Gain or Loss.
The costs we incur in selling our units (called
syndication expenses) must be capitalized and cannot
be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. There
are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as
organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as
syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us. The
underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated
as syndication expenses.
Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties. The
federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition
of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative
fair market values, and the initial tax bases, of our assets.
Although we may from time to time consult with professional
appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the
relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates
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 Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss. Gain or loss will
be recognized on a sale of units equal to the difference between
the amount realized and the unitholders tax basis for the
units sold. A unitholders amount realized will be measured
by the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other
property received by him plus his share of our nonrecourse
liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a
unitholders share of our nonrecourse liabilities, the gain
recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability
in excess of any cash received from the sale.
Prior distributions from us in excess of cumulative net taxable
income for a common unit that decreased a unitholders tax
basis in that common unit will, in effect, become taxable income
if the common unit is sold at a price greater than the
unitholders tax basis in that common unit, even if the
price received is less than his original cost.
Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder,
other than a dealer in units, on the sale or
exchange of a unit held for more than one year will generally be
taxable as long term capital gain or loss. Capital gain
recognized by an individual on the sale of units held more than
twelve months will generally be taxed at a maximum rate of 15%
through December 31, 2010 and 20% thereafter (absent new
legislation extending or adjusting the current rate). However, a
portion of this gain or loss, which will likely be substantial,
will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss
under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the
extent attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation
recapture or other unrealized receivables or to
inventory items we own. The term unrealized
receivables includes potential recapture items, including
depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to
unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation
recapture may exceed net taxable gain realized upon the sale of
a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss
realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize
both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a sale of units.
Net capital losses may offset capital gains and no more than
$3,000 of ordinary income, in the case of individuals, and may
only be used to offset capital gains in the case of corporations.
The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a
partnership in separate transactions must combine those
interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those
interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of
those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated
to the interests sold using an equitable
apportionment method, which generally means that the tax
basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears
the same relation to the partners tax basis in his entire
interest in the
34
partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value
of the partners entire interest in the partnership.
Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Internal
Revenue Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify common
units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect
to use the actual holding period of the common units
transferred. Thus, according to the ruling, a common unitholder
will be unable to select high or low basis common units to sell
as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the
Treasury Regulations, may designate specific common units sold
for purposes of determining the holding period of units
transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding
period of common units transferred must consistently use that
identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of
common units. A unitholder considering the purchase of
additional units or a sale of common units purchased in separate
transactions is urged to consult his tax advisor as to the
possible consequences of this ruling and application of the
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:
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a short sale;
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an offsetting notional principal contract; or
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a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership
interest or substantially identical property.
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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 units owned by each
of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the
first business day of the month, which we refer to in this
prospectus as the Allocation Date. However, gain or
loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets other
than in the ordinary course of business will be allocated among
the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which
that gain or loss is recognized. As a result, a unitholder
transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and
deduction realized after the date of transfer.
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. Recently,
however, the Department of the Treasury and the IRS issued
proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor
pursuant to which a publicly traded partnership may use a
similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items
among transferor and transferee unitholders, although such tax
items must be prorated on a daily basis. Existing publicly
traded partnerships are entitled to rely on these proposed
Treasury Regulations; however, they are not binding on the IRS
and are subject to change until final Treasury Regulations are
issued. 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
unitholders 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
vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted
under future Treasury Regulations.
A unitholder who owns units at any time during a quarter and who
disposes of them prior to the record date set for a cash
distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our
income, gain, loss and deductions attributable to that quarter
but will not be entitled to receive that cash distribution.
35
Notification Requirements. A unitholder who
sells any of his units is generally 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 units who purchases 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 common unitholders receiving two Schedules K-1) for one
fiscal year and the cost of the preparation of these returns
will be borne by all common 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. The IRS has recently announced that it
plans to issue guidance regarding the treatment of constructive
terminations of publicly traded partnerships such as us. Any
such guidance may change the application of the rules discussed
above and may affect the tax treatment of a unitholder.
Uniformity
of Units
Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units, we
must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics
of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of
uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number
of federal income tax requirements, both statutory and
regulatory. A lack of uniformity can result from a literal
application of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6).
Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of
the units. Please see Tax Consequences of 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 the propertys 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, and Treasury
Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3).
Please see Tax Consequences of 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
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
36
adverse effect on the unitholders. If we choose not to utilize
this aggregate method, we may use any other reasonable
depreciation and amortization method to preserve the uniformity
of the intrinsic tax characteristics of any units that would not
have a material adverse effect on the unitholders. The IRS may
challenge any method of depreciating the Section 743(b)
adjustment described in this paragraph. If this challenge were
sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and the
gain from the sale of units might be increased without the
benefit of additional deductions. Please see
Disposition of Common Units
Recognition of Gain or Loss.
Tax-Exempt
Organizations and Other Investors
Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt
organizations, non-resident aliens, foreign corporations and
other
non-U.S. 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
common 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 that is a tax-exempt organization will
be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable
to it.
Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates
that own units will be considered to be engaged in business in
the United States because of the ownership of units. As a
consequence, they will be required to file federal tax returns
to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and
pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our
net income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly
traded partnerships, we will withhold at the highest applicable
effective tax rate from cash distributions made quarterly to
non-U.S. unitholders.
Each
non-U.S. unitholder
must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and
submit that number to our transfer agent on a
Form W-8BEN
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 units will
be treated as engaged in a United States trade or business, that
corporation may be subject to the United States branch profits
tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax,
on its share of our income and gain, as adjusted for changes in
the foreign corporations U.S. net equity,
which are effectively connected with the conduct of a United
States trade or business. That tax may be reduced or eliminated
by an income tax treaty between the United States and the
country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a
qualified resident. In addition, this type of
unitholder is subject to special information reporting
requirements under Section 6038C of the Internal Revenue
Code.
A foreign unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a 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
unitholders gain would be effectively connected with that
unitholders 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
unit if (i) he owned (directly or constructively applying
certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our common 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 common 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 units.
37
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 unitholders
share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure you
that those positions will in all cases 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
units.
The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns.
Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each
unitholder to adjust a prior years tax liability, and
possibly may result in an audit of his return. Any audit of a
unitholders return could result in adjustments not related
to our returns as well as those related to our returns.
Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for
purposes of federal tax audits, judicial review of
administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement
proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income,
gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership
proceeding rather than in separate proceedings with the
partners. The Internal Revenue Code requires that one partner be
designated as the Tax Matters Partner for these
purposes. Our partnership agreement names our 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:
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the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the
beneficial owner and the nominee;
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whether the beneficial owner is:
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a person that is not a United States person;
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a foreign government, an international organization or any
wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the
foregoing; or
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a tax-exempt entity;
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the amount and description of units held, acquired or
transferred for the beneficial owner; and
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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.
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Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish
additional information, including whether they are United States
persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or
transfer for their own account. A penalty of $50 per failure, up
to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year, is imposed by the
38
Internal Revenue Code for failure to report that information to
us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of
the units with the information furnished to us.
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 ($10,000 for most
corporations). The amount of any understatement subject to
penalty generally is reduced if any portion is attributable to a
position adopted on the return:
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for which there is, or was, substantial
authority; or
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as to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts
of that position are disclosed on the return.
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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 this penalty. 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 (i) the
value of any property, or the tax 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 tax basis, (ii) the
price for any property or services (or for the use of property)
claimed on any such return with respect to any transaction
between persons described in Internal Revenue Code
Section 482 is 200% or more (or 50% or less) of the amount
determined under Internal Revenue Code Section 482 to be
the correct amount of such price or (iii) the
net Internal Revenue Code Section 482 transfer price
adjustment for the taxable year exceeds the lesser of
$5 million or 10% of the taxpayers gross receipts. No
penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment
attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds
$5,000 ($10,000 for a corporation other than an
S Corporation or a personal holding company). The penalty
is increased to 40% in the event of a gross valuation
misstatement.
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 see
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:
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accuracy-related penalties with a broader scope, significantly
narrower exceptions, and potentially greater amounts than
described above at Accuracy-Related
Penalties;
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for those persons otherwise entitled to deduct interest on
federal tax deficiencies, nondeductibility of interest on any
resulting tax liability; and
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in the case of a listed transaction, an extended statute of
limitations.
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We do not expect to engage in any reportable
transactions.
State,
Local, Foreign and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to federal income taxes, you may be subject to other
taxes, such as state, local and foreign 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. Although an analysis of those various
taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should
consider their potential impact on his investment in us. We
currently own property and do business in Canada and most states
of the United States. A unitholder may be required to file
Canadian federal income tax returns and pay Canadian federal and
provincial income taxes and to file state income tax returns and
to pay taxes in various states and may be subject to penalties
for failure to comply with those requirements. In some
jurisdictions, tax losses may not produce a tax benefit in the
year incurred and may not be available to offset income in
subsequent taxable years. Some jurisdictions may require us, or
we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to
be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the
jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or
less than a particular unitholders income tax liability to
the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident
unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return.
Amounts withheld will be treated as if distributed to
unitholders for purposes of determining the amounts distributed
by us. Please see Tax Consequences of 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.
Tax
Consequences of Ownership of Debt Securities
A description of the material federal income tax consequences of
the acquisition, ownership and disposition of debt securities
will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the
offering of debt securities.
It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate
the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent
jurisdictions, of his investment in us. Accordingly, each
prospective unitholder is urged to consult, and depend upon, his
tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters.
Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all
state, local and foreign, as well as United States federal tax
returns, that may be required of him. Vinson & Elkins
L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local or
foreign tax consequences of an investment in us.
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LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will
be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.,
Houston, Texas. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. will also
render an opinion on the material federal income tax
considerations regarding the securities. If certain legal
matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by
this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed
on by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, that
counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement
related to that offering.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.
and managements assessment of the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting (which is included in
Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. for the year ended
December 31, 2008, have been so incorporated in reliance on
the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
The balance sheet as of December 31, 2008 of PAA GP LLC
incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Current
Report on
Form 8-K
of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. filed March 12, 2009
has been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting.
41
4,000,000 Common
Units
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
November , 2010
Citi
BofA Merrill Lynch
Morgan Stanley
Wells Fargo
Securities
Barclays Capital
J.P. Morgan
Raymond James
UBS Investment Bank
Morgan Keegan
RBC Capital Markets