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TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES  
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

(2) TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

        Constraints on expansion.    Morgan Stanley informed us in October 2011 that, for the foreseeable future, it does not expect to approve any "significant" acquisition or investment that we may propose. Morgan Stanley's decision is the result of the uncertain regulatory environment relating to Morgan Stanley's status as a financial holding company subject to the Bank Holding Company Act and consolidated supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Morgan Stanley indicated that it has not established a specific definition of what constitutes a "significant" investment and significance may be determined on either a quantitative or qualitative basis, depending on the facts and circumstances and relevant legal and regulatory considerations. Morgan Stanley has informed us that they will review on a case by case basis each proposed transaction to determine its significance; whether it is an acquisition of, or investment in, assets or legal entities and further that an acquisition of, or investment in, a noncontrolling interest or joint venture interest may be "significant" without respect to the size of the transaction. The practical effect of these limitations is to significantly constrain our ability to expand our asset base and operations through acquisitions from third parties. These constraints will reduce the potential for increasing our distributions to unitholders in the future. In addition, these constraints will limit additions to our capital assets primarily to additions and improvements that we construct or add to our existing facilities, although some acquisitions of assets from third parties may be possible to the extent approved by Morgan Stanley. For example, our December 2012 investment in Battleground Oil Specialty Terminal Company LLC ("BOSTCO") was approved by Morgan Stanley based on the specific facts and circumstances of the BOSTCO project and the structure of our investment in BOSTCO, and is not indicative of whether Morgan Stanley will approve any other acquisition or investment that we may propose in the future (see Note 3 of Notes to consolidated financial statements).

        Potential change in control.    On December 20, 2013, Morgan Stanley announced that it is exploring strategic options for its ownership interest in TransMontaigne Inc., which is the indirect parent of TransMontaigne GP, our general partner. While there can be no assurance as to the form of any transaction, it may include a sale or other disposition of either TransMontaigne GP or TransMontaigne Inc., either of which would result in a change in control of Partners. Although a change of control transaction would serve to reduce or eliminate the impacts of the current Morgan Stanley imposed constraints on our expansion, until such a change of control transaction, if any, is completed, we will continue to be subject to these constraints and regulatory uncertainties for so long as Morgan Stanley continues to indirectly control our general partner.

        Omnibus agreement.    We have an omnibus agreement with TransMontaigne Inc. that will continue in effect until the earlier to occur of (i) TransMontaigne Inc. ceasing to control our general partner or (ii) the election of either us or TransMontaigne Inc., following at least 24 months' prior written notice to the other parties.

        Under the omnibus agreement we pay TransMontaigne Inc. an administrative fee for the provision of various general and administrative services for our benefit. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the administrative fee paid to TransMontaigne Inc. was approximately $2.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively. If we acquire or construct additional facilities, TransMontaigne Inc. will propose a revised administrative fee covering the provision of services for such additional facilities. If the conflicts committee of our general partner agrees to the revised administrative fee, TransMontaigne Inc. will provide services for the additional facilities pursuant to the agreement. The administrative fee includes expenses incurred by TransMontaigne Inc. to perform centralized corporate functions, such as legal, accounting, treasury, insurance administration and claims processing, health, safety and environmental, information technology, human resources, credit, payroll, taxes and engineering and other corporate services, to the extent such services are not outsourced by TransMontaigne Inc.

        The omnibus agreement further provides that we pay TransMontaigne Inc. an insurance reimbursement for premiums on insurance policies covering our facilities and operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the insurance reimbursement paid to TransMontaigne Inc. was approximately $0.9 million and $1.0 million, respectively. We also reimburse TransMontaigne Inc. for direct operating costs and expenses that TransMontaigne Inc. incurs on our behalf, such as salaries of operational personnel performing services on-site at our terminals and pipelines and the cost of their employee benefits, including 401(k) and health insurance benefits.

        We also agreed to reimburse TransMontaigne Inc. and its affiliates for a portion of the incentive payment grants to key employees of TransMontaigne Inc. and its affiliates under the TransMontaigne Services Inc. savings and retention plan, provided the compensation committee of our general partner determines that an adequate portion of the incentive payment grants are allocated to an investment fund indexed to the performance of our common units. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we reimbursed TransMontaigne Inc. and its affiliates approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

        The omnibus agreement also provides TransMontaigne Inc. a right of first refusal to purchase our assets, provided that TransMontaigne Inc. agrees to pay no less than 105% of the purchase price offered by the third party bidder. Before we enter into any contract to sell such terminal or pipeline facilities, we must give written notice of all material terms of such proposed sale to TransMontaigne Inc. TransMontaigne Inc. will then have the sole and exclusive option, for a period of 45 days following receipt of the notice, to purchase the subject facilities for no less than 105% of the purchase price on the terms specified in the notice. TransMontaigne Inc. also has a right of first refusal to contract for the use of any petroleum product storage capacity that (i) is put into commercial service after January 1, 2008, or (ii) was subject to a terminaling services agreement that expires or is terminated (excluding a contract renewable solely at the option of our customer), provided that TransMontaigne Inc. agrees to pay no less than 105% of the fees offered by the third party customer. In the event TransMontaigne Inc. or Morgan Stanley elects to terminate any existing terminaling services agreement (or storage capacity therein) or in the event an existing agreement expires and is not renewed, then the rights of first refusal with respect to the applicable storage capacity and associated assets thereunder terminates.

        Environmental indemnification.    In connection with our acquisition of the Florida and Midwest terminals, 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 terminals prior to May 27, 2005. TransMontaigne Inc.'s maximum liability for this indemnification obligation is $15.0 million. TransMontaigne Inc. has no obligation to indemnify us for losses until such aggregate losses exceed $250,000. TransMontaigne Inc. has no indemnification obligations with respect to environmental claims made as a result of additions to or modifications of environmental laws promulgated after May 27, 2005.

        In connection with our acquisition of the Brownsville, Texas and River terminals, TransMontaigne Inc. agreed to indemnify us against 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. TransMontaigne Inc.'s maximum liability for this indemnification obligation is $15.0 million. TransMontaigne Inc. has no obligation to indemnify us for losses until such aggregate losses exceed $250,000. The deductible amount, cap amount and limitation of time for indemnification do not apply to any environmental liabilities known to exist as of December 31, 2006. TransMontaigne Inc. has no indemnification obligations with respect to environmental claims made as a result of additions to or modifications of environmental laws promulgated after December 31, 2006.

        In connection with our acquisition of the Southeast terminals, TransMontaigne Inc. agreed to indemnify us against 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. TransMontaigne Inc.'s maximum liability for this indemnification obligation is $15.0 million. TransMontaigne Inc. has no obligation to indemnify us for losses until such aggregate losses exceed $250,000. The deductible amount, cap amount and limitation of time for indemnification do not apply to any environmental liabilities known to exist as of December 31, 2007. TransMontaigne Inc. has no indemnification obligations with respect to environmental claims made as a result of additions to or modifications of environmental laws promulgated after December 31, 2007.

        In connection with our acquisition of the Pensacola terminal, TransMontaigne Inc. has agreed to indemnify us against potential environmental claims, losses and expenses that are identified on or before March 1, 2016, and that are associated with the ownership or operation of the Pensacola terminal prior to March 1, 2011. Our environmental losses must first exceed $200,000 and TransMontaigne Inc.'s indemnification obligations are capped at $2.5 million. The deductible amount, cap amount and limitation of time for indemnification do not apply to any environmental liabilities known to exist as of March 1, 2011. TransMontaigne Inc. has no indemnification obligations with respect to environmental claims made as a result of additions to or modifications of environmental laws promulgated after March 1, 2011.

        Terminaling services agreement—Florida and Midwest terminals.    We have a terminaling services agreement with Morgan Stanley Capital Group relating to our Florida terminals for light-oil and bunker fuel terminaling capacity. The terminaling services agreement provisions covering the Florida light-oil terminaling capacity will continue in effect unless and until Morgan Stanley Capital Group provides us at least 18 months' prior notice of its intent to terminate the agreement in its entirety or terminate the agreement with respect to one or more Florida terminals. We have the right to terminate the terminaling services agreement effective at any time after July 31, 2023 by providing at least 18 months' prior notice to Morgan Stanley Capital Group. Effective May 31, 2014, the Florida tanks presently dedicated to bunker fuels will no longer be subject to the terminaling services agreement with Morgan Stanley Capital Group. A large portion of this capacity has been re-contracted with Chemoil Corporation effective June 1, 2014.

        Under the Florida and Midwest terminaling services agreement, Morgan Stanley Capital Group had also contracted for our Mount Vernon, Missouri and Rogers, Arkansas terminals and the use of our Razorback Pipeline, which runs from Mount Vernon to Rogers. We refer to these terminals and the related pipeline as the Razorback system. This portion of the Florida and Midwest terminaling services agreement related to the Razorback system was terminated effective February 28, 2014. Effective March 1, 2014, we entered into a ten year capacity lease agreement with Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P., covering 100% of the capacity of our Razorback system.

        Under the Florida and Midwest terminaling services agreement, Morgan Stanley Capital Group has agreed to throughput a volume that will, at the fee and tariff schedule contained in the agreement, result in minimum throughput payments to us of approximately $22.9 million for the year ending December 31, 2014. The minimum annual throughput payment is reduced proportionately for any decrease in storage capacity due to out-of-service tank capacity or for capacity that has been vacated by Morgan Stanley Capital Group.

        If a force majeure event occurs that renders us unable to perform our obligations with respect to an asset, Morgan Stanley Capital Group's obligations would be temporarily suspended with respect to that asset. If a force majeure event continues for 30 consecutive days or more and results in a diminution in the storage capacity we make available to Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Morgan Stanley Capital Group may terminate its obligations with respect to the asset affected by the force majeure event and their minimum revenue commitment would be reduced proportionately for the duration of the agreement.

        Terminaling services agreement—Fisher Island terminal.    We had a terminaling services agreement with TransMontaigne Inc. that expired on December 31, 2013. Under this agreement, TransMontaigne Inc. had agreed to throughput at our Fisher Island terminal in the Gulf Coast region a volume of fuel oils that, at the fee schedule contained in the agreement, resulted in revenue to us of approximately $1.8 million for the contract year ended December 31, 2013. In exchange for its minimum throughput commitment, we had agreed to provide TransMontaigne Inc. with approximately 185,000 barrels of fuel oil capacity.

        Terminaling services agreement—Cushing terminal.    In July 2011, we entered into a terminaling services agreement with Morgan Stanley Capital Group relating to our Cushing, Oklahoma facility that will expire in July 2019, subject to a five-year automatic renewal unless terminated by either party upon 180 days' prior notice. In exchange for its minimum revenue commitment, we agreed to construct storage tanks and associated infrastructure to provide approximately 1.0 million barrels of crude oil capacity. These capital projects were completed and placed into service on August 1, 2012. Under this agreement, Morgan Stanley Capital Group agreed to throughput a volume of crude oil products at our terminal that will, at the fee schedule contained in the agreement, result in minimum throughput payments to us of approximately $4.3 million for each one-year period following the in-service date of August 1, 2012.

        If a force majeure event occurs that renders us unable to perform our obligations with respect to an asset, Morgan Stanley Capital Group's obligations would be temporarily suspended with respect to that asset. If a force majeure event continues for 120 consecutive days or more and results in a diminution in the storage capacity we make available to Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Morgan Stanley Capital Group may terminate its obligations with respect to the asset affected by the force majeure event and their minimum revenue commitment would be reduced proportionately for the duration of the agreement.

        Terminaling services agreement—Southeast terminals.    We have a terminaling services agreement with Morgan Stanley Capital Group relating to our Southeast terminals. The terminaling services agreement will continue in effect unless and until Morgan Stanley Capital Group provides us at least twenty-four months' prior notice of its intent to terminate the agreement. We have the right to terminate the terminaling services agreement effective at any time after July 31, 2023 by providing at least 24 months' prior notice to Morgan Stanley Capital Group.

        Under this agreement, Morgan Stanley Capital Group has agreed to throughput a volume of refined product at our Southeast terminals that will, at the fee schedule contained in the agreement, result in minimum throughput payments to us of approximately $36.8 million for the year ending December 31, 2014; with stipulated annual increases in throughput payments through July 31, 2015, and for each contract year thereafter the throughput payments will adjust based on increases in the United States Consumer Price Index. Morgan Stanley Capital Group's minimum annual throughput payment is reduced proportionately for any decrease in storage capacity due to out-of-service tank capacity. In exchange for its minimum throughput commitment, we agreed to provide Morgan Stanley Capital Group approximately 8.9 million barrels of light oil storage capacity at our Southeast terminals.

        If a force majeure event occurs that renders us unable to perform our obligations with respect to an asset, Morgan Stanley Capital Group's obligations would be temporarily suspended with respect to that asset. If a force majeure event continues for 30 consecutive days or more and results in a diminution in the storage capacity we make available to Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Morgan Stanley Capital Group may terminate its obligations with respect to the asset affected by the force majeure event and their minimum revenue commitment would be reduced proportionately for the duration of the agreement.

        On December 20, 2013, Morgan Stanley Capital Group provided us twenty-four months' prior notice that it will terminate its portion of the Southeast terminaling services agreement with respect to our Collins/Purvis terminal on December 31, 2015. This termination notice does not encompass the Collins/Purvis Additional Light Oil Tankage, which is part of a separate terminaling services agreement. Our firmly committed annual revenues under the Southeast terminaling services agreement with respect to the Collins/Purvis terminal are approximately $9.2 million.

        Terminaling services agreement—Collins/Purvis Additional Light Oil Tankage.    In January 2010, we entered into a terminaling services agreement with Morgan Stanley Capital Group for additional light oil tankage relating to our Collins/Purvis, Mississippi facility that will expire in July 2018, after which the terminaling services agreement will continue in effect unless and until Morgan Stanley Capital Group provides us at least 24 months' prior notice of its intent to terminate the agreement. In exchange for its minimum revenue commitment, we agreed to undertake certain capital projects to provide approximately 700,000 barrels of additional light oil capacity and other improvements at the Collins/Purvis terminal. These capital projects were completed and placed into service in July 2011. Under this agreement, Morgan Stanley Capital Group has agreed to throughput a volume of light oil products at our terminal that will, at the fee schedule contained in the agreement, result in minimum throughput payments to us of approximately $4.1 million for the one-year period following the in-service date of July 2011 for the aforementioned capital projects, and for each contract year thereafter, subject to increases based on increases in the United States Consumer Price Index beginning July 1, 2018.

        If a force majeure event occurs that renders us unable to perform our obligations with respect to an asset, Morgan Stanley Capital Group's obligations would be temporarily suspended with respect to that asset. If a force majeure event continues for 30 consecutive days or more and results in a diminution in the storage capacity we make available to Morgan Stanley Capital Group, Morgan Stanley Capital Group may terminate its obligations with respect to the asset affected by the force majeure event and their minimum revenue commitment would be reduced proportionately for the duration of the agreement.

        Barge dock services agreement—Baton Rouge dock.    Effective May 2013, we entered into a barge dock services agreement with Morgan Stanley Capital Group relating to our Baton Rouge, LA dock facility that will expire in May 2023, subject to a five-year automatic renewal unless terminated by either party upon 180 days' prior notice. Under this agreement, Morgan Stanley Capital Group agreed to throughput a volume of refined product at our Baton Rouge dock facility that will, at the fee schedule contained in the agreement, result in minimum throughput payments to us of approximately $1.2 million for each of the first three years ending May 12, 2016 and approximately $0.9 million for each of the remaining seven years ending May 12, 2023. In exchange for its minimum throughput commitment, we agreed to provide Morgan Stanley Capital Group with exclusive access to our dock facility.

        If a force majeure event occurs that renders us unable to perform our obligations, Morgan Stanley Capital Group's obligations would be temporarily suspended. If a force majeure event continues for 120 consecutive days, Morgan Stanley Capital Group may terminate its obligations under this agreement.

        Operations and reimbursement agreement—Frontera.    Effective as of April 1, 2011, we entered into the Frontera Brownsville LLC joint venture, or "Frontera", in which we have a 50% ownership interest. In conjunction with us entering into the joint venture, we agreed to operate Frontera, in accordance with an operations and reimbursement agreement executed between us and Frontera, for a management fee that is based on our costs incurred. Our agreement with Frontera stipulates that we may resign as the operator at any time with the prior written consent of Frontera, or that we may be removed as the operator for good cause, which includes material noncompliance with laws and material failure to adhere to good industry practice regarding health, safety or environmental matters. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we recognized revenue of approximately $0.8 million and $1.0 million, respectively, related to this operations and reimbursement agreement.