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SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES  
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)   Nature of business

        TransMontaigne Partners L.P. ("Partners") was formed in February 2005 as a Delaware limited partnership initially to own and operate refined petroleum products terminaling and transportation facilities. We conduct our operations in the United States along the Gulf Coast, in the Midwest, in Houston and Brownsville, Texas, along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and in the Southeast. We provide integrated terminaling, storage, transportation and related services for companies engaged in the trading, distribution and marketing of light refined petroleum products, heavy refined petroleum products, crude oil, chemicals, fertilizers and other liquid products.

        We are controlled by our general partner, TransMontaigne GP L.L.C. ("TransMontaigne GP"), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransMontaigne Inc. Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. ("Morgan Stanley Capital Group"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley, owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of TransMontaigne Inc., and, as a result, Morgan Stanley is the indirect owner of our general partner. Morgan Stanley Capital Group is the principal commodities trading arm of Morgan Stanley. At March 31, 2014, TransMontaigne Inc. and Morgan Stanley have a significant interest in our partnership through their indirect ownership of a 19.3% limited partner interest, a 2% general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights.

(b)   Basis of presentation and use of estimates

        Our accounting and financial reporting policies conform to accounting principles and practices generally accepted in the United States of America. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of TransMontaigne Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and its controlled subsidiaries. Investments where we do not have the ability to exercise control, but do have the ability to exercise significant influence, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring accruals) considered necessary to present fairly our financial position as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 and our cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

        The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. The following estimates, in management's opinion, are subjective in nature, require the exercise of judgment, and involve complex analyses: useful lives of our plant and equipment, accrued environmental obligations and determining the fair value of our reporting units when analyzing goodwill. Changes in these estimates and assumptions will occur as a result of the passage of time and the occurrence of future events. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

        The accompanying consolidated financial statements include allocated general and administrative charges from TransMontaigne Inc. for indirect corporate overhead to cover costs of functions such as legal, accounting, treasury, engineering, environmental safety, information technology, and other corporate services (see Note 2 of Notes to consolidated financial statements). The allocated general and administrative expenses were approximately $2.8 million and $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The accompanying consolidated financial statements also include allocated insurance charges from TransMontaigne Inc. for insurance premiums to cover costs of insuring activities such as property, casualty, pollution, automobile, directors' and officers' liability, and other insurable risks. The allocated insurance charges were approximately $0.9 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The accompanying consolidated financial statements also include reimbursement of bonus awards paid to TransMontaigne Services Inc. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of TransMontaigne Inc.) towards bonus awards granted by TransMontaigne Services Inc. to certain key officers and employees who provide services to Partners that vest over future periods. The reimbursement of bonus awards was approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

(c)   Accounting for terminal and pipeline operations

        In connection with our terminal and pipeline operations, we utilize the accrual method of accounting for revenue and expenses. We generate revenue in our terminal and pipeline operations from terminaling services fees, transportation fees, management fees and cost reimbursements, fees from other ancillary services and gains from the sale of refined products. Terminaling services revenue is recognized ratably over the term of the agreement for storage fees and minimum revenue commitments that are fixed at the inception of the agreement and when product is delivered to the customer for fees based on a rate per barrel throughput; transportation revenue is recognized when the product has been delivered to the customer at the specified delivery location; management fee revenue and cost reimbursements are recognized as the services are performed or as the costs are incurred; ancillary service revenue is recognized as the services are performed; and gains from the sale of refined products are recognized when the title to the product is transferred.

        Pursuant to terminaling services agreements with certain of our throughput customers, we are entitled to the volume of product gained resulting from differences in the measurement of product volumes received and distributed at our terminaling facilities. Consistent with recognized industry practices, measurement differentials occur as the result of the inherent variances in measurement devices and methodology. We recognize as revenue the net proceeds from the sale of the product gained. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we recognized revenue of approximately $3.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively, for net product gained. Within these amounts, approximately $2.5 million and $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, were pursuant to terminaling services agreements with affiliate customers.

(d)   Cash and cash equivalents

        We consider all short-term investments with a remaining maturity of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

(e)   Property, plant and equipment

        Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. Estimated useful lives are 15 to 25 years for terminals and pipelines and 3 to 25 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. All items of property, plant and equipment are carried at cost. Expenditures that increase capacity or extend useful lives are capitalized. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred.

        We evaluate long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset group may not be recoverable based on expected undiscounted future cash flows attributable to that asset group. If an asset group is impaired, the impairment loss to be recognized is the excess of the carrying amount of the asset group over its estimated fair value.

(f)    Investments in unconsolidated affiliates

        We account for our investments in our unconsolidated affiliates, which we do not control but do have the ability to exercise significant influence over, using the equity method of accounting. Under this method, the investment is recorded at acquisition cost, increased by our proportionate share of any earnings and additional capital contributions and decreased by our proportionate share of any losses, distributions received and amortization of any excess investment. Excess investment is the amount by which our total investment exceeds our proportionate share of the book value of the net assets of the investment entity. We evaluate our investments in unconsolidated affiliates for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate there is a loss in value of the investment that is other than temporary. In the event of impairment, we would record a charge to earnings to adjust the carrying amount to fair value.

(g)   Environmental obligations

        We accrue for environmental costs that relate to existing conditions caused by past operations when probable and reasonably estimable (see Note 10 of Notes to consolidated financial statements). Environmental costs include initial site surveys and environmental studies of potentially contaminated sites, costs for remediation and restoration of sites determined to be contaminated and ongoing monitoring costs, as well as fines, damages and other costs, including direct legal costs. Liabilities for environmental costs at a specific site are initially recorded, on an undiscounted basis, when it is probable that we will be liable for such costs, and a reasonable estimate of the associated costs can be made based on available information. Such an estimate includes our share of the liability for each specific site and the sharing of the amounts related to each site that will not be paid by other potentially responsible parties, based on enacted laws and adopted regulations and policies. Adjustments to initial estimates are recorded, from time to time, to reflect changing circumstances and estimates based upon additional information developed in subsequent periods. Estimates of our ultimate liabilities associated with environmental costs are difficult to make with certainty due to the number of variables involved, including the early stage of investigation at certain sites, the lengthy time frames required to complete remediation, technology changes, alternatives available and the evolving nature of environmental laws and regulations. We periodically file claims for insurance recoveries of certain environmental remediation costs with our insurance carriers under our comprehensive liability policies (see Note 5 of Notes to consolidated financial statements). We recognize our insurance recoveries as a credit to income in the period that we assess the likelihood of recovery as being probable (i.e., likely to occur).

        TransMontaigne Inc. agreed to indemnify us against certain potential environmental claims, losses and expenses that were identified on or before May 27, 2010 and that were associated with the ownership or operation of the Florida and Midwest terminal facilities prior to May 27, 2005, up to a maximum liability not to exceed $15.0 million for this indemnification obligation (see Note 2 of Notes to consolidated financial statements). TransMontaigne Inc. agreed to indemnify us against certain potential environmental claims, losses and expenses that were identified on or before December 31, 2011 and that were associated with the ownership or operation of the Brownsville and River facilities prior to December 31, 2006, up to a maximum liability not to exceed $15.0 million for this indemnification obligation (see Note 2 of Notes to consolidated financial statements). TransMontaigne Inc. agreed to indemnify us against certain potential environmental claims, losses and expenses that were identified on or before December 31, 2012 and that were associated with the ownership or operation of the Southeast terminals prior to December 31, 2007, up to a maximum liability not to exceed $15.0 million for this indemnification obligation (see Note 2 of Notes to consolidated financial statements). TransMontaigne Inc. has agreed to indemnify us against certain potential environmental claims, losses and expenses that are identified on or before March 1, 2016 and that were associated with the ownership or operation of the Pensacola terminal prior to March 1, 2011, up to a maximum liability not to exceed $2.5 million for this indemnification obligation (see Note 2 of Notes to consolidated financial statements).

(h)   Asset retirement obligations

        Asset retirement obligations are legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal use of the asset. Generally accepted accounting principles require that the fair value of a liability related to the retirement of long-lived assets be recorded at the time a legal obligation is incurred. Once an asset retirement obligation is identified and a liability is recorded, a corresponding asset is recorded, which is depreciated over the remaining useful life of the asset. After the initial measurement, the liability is adjusted to reflect changes in the asset retirement obligation. If and when it is determined that a legal obligation has been incurred, the fair value of any liability is determined based on estimates and assumptions related to retirement costs, future inflation rates and interest rates. Our long-lived assets consist of above-ground storage facilities and underground pipelines. We are unable to predict if and when these long-lived assets will become completely obsolete and require dismantlement. We have not recorded an asset retirement obligation, or corresponding asset, because the future dismantlement and removal dates of our long-lived assets is indeterminable and the amount of any associated costs are believed to be insignificant. Changes in our assumptions and estimates may occur as a result of the passage of time and the occurrence of future events.

(i)    Equity-based compensation plan

        Generally accepted accounting principles require us to measure the cost of services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award. That cost will be recognized over the period during which a board member or employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. We are required to estimate the number of equity instruments that are expected to vest in measuring the total compensation cost to be recognized over the related service period. Compensation cost is recognized over the service period on a straight-line basis.

(j)    Foreign currency translation and transactions

        The functional currency of Partners and its U.S.-based subsidiaries is the U.S. Dollar. The functional currency of our Mexico operations, which we sold effective August 8, 2013 (see Note 3 of Notes to consolidated financial statements), was the Mexican Peso. The assets and liabilities of our foreign subsidiaries were translated at period-end rates of exchange, and revenue and expenses were translated at average exchange rates prevailing for the period. The resulting translation adjustments, net of related income taxes, were recorded as a component of other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Gains and losses from the re-measurement of foreign currency transactions (transactions denominated in a currency other than the entity's functional currency) were included in other income (expenses) in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

(k)   Income taxes

        No provision for U.S. federal income taxes has been reflected in the accompanying consolidated financial statements because Partners is treated as a partnership for federal income taxes. As a partnership, all income, gains, losses, expenses, deductions and tax credits generated by Partners flow through to the unitholders of the partnership.

        Partners is a taxable entity under certain U.S. state jurisdictions, primarily Texas. Certain of our Mexican subsidiaries were corporations for Mexican tax purposes and, therefore, were subject to Mexican federal and provincial income taxes. Effective August 8, 2013, we sold our Mexico operations, including the Mexican corporations (see Note 3 of Notes to consolidated financial statements).

        Partners accounts for U.S. state income taxes and Mexican federal and provincial income taxes under the asset and liability method pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles. Mexican federal and provincial income taxes and U.S. state income taxes are not material.

(l)    Net earnings per limited partner unit

        Net earnings allocable to the limited partners, for purposes of calculating net earnings per limited partner unit, are net of the earnings allocable to the general partner interest and distributions payable to any phantom units granted under the long-term incentive plan that participate in the partnership's distributions (see Note 16 of Notes to consolidated financial statements). The earnings allocable to the general partner interest include the distributions of available cash (as defined by our partnership agreement) attributable to the period to the general partner interest, net of adjustments for the general partner's share of undistributed earnings, and the incentive distribution rights. Undistributed earnings are the difference between the earnings and the distributions attributable to the period. Undistributed earnings are allocated to the limited partners and general partner interest based on their respective sharing of earnings or losses specified in the partnership agreement, which is based on their ownership percentages of 98% and 2%, respectively. The incentive distribution rights are not allocated a portion of the undistributed earnings given they are not entitled to distributions other than from available cash. Further, the incentive distribution rights do not share in losses under our partnership agreement. Basic net earnings per limited partner unit is computed by dividing net earnings allocable to limited partners by the weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding during the period. Diluted net earnings per limited partner unit is computed by dividing net earnings allocable to the limited partners by the weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding during the period and any potential dilutive securities outstanding during the period.