
2.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation

Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Partnership as well as our Predecessor. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates. On an ongoing basis, we review our estimates based on currently available information. Changes in facts and circumstances may result in revised estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Our cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that have a maturity of three months or less when acquired.

Receivables from Related Party

All of our receivables from related party are due from Valero and include trade receivables and nontrade receivables, net of payables to Valero for services under various agreements as more fully described in Note 4. Under these various agreements with Valero, we have the right to offset payables due to Valero against receivables from Valero.

Property and Equipment

The cost of property and equipment purchased or constructed, including betterments of property assets, is capitalized. However, the cost of repairs and normal maintenance of property and equipment is expensed when incurred. Betterments of property and equipment are those that extend the useful lives of the property and equipment or improve the safety of our operations. The cost of property and equipment constructed includes interest and certain overhead costs allocable to the construction activities. Property and equipment also includes our 33⅓ percent undivided interest in certain assets.

When property and equipment are retired or replaced, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are eliminated, with any gain or loss reflected in depreciation expense, unless such amounts are reported separately due to materiality.

Depreciation of property and equipment is recorded on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the related asset. Assets acquired under capital lease agreements are amortized on a straight-line basis over (i) the lease term if transfer of ownership does not occur at the end of the lease term or (ii) the estimated useful life of the asset if transfer of ownership occurs at the end of the lease term.

Impairment of Assets

Long-lived assets are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. A long-lived asset is not recoverable if its carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If a long-lived asset is not recoverable, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value, with fair value determined based on discounted estimated net cash flows or other appropriate methods.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We record a liability, which is referred to as an asset retirement obligation, at fair value for the estimated cost to retire a tangible long-lived asset at the time we incur that liability, which is generally when the asset is purchased, constructed, or leased. We record the liability when we have a legal obligation to incur costs to retire the asset and when a reasonable estimate of the fair value of the liability can be made. If a reasonable estimate cannot be made at the time the liability is incurred, we record the liability when sufficient information is available to estimate the liability’s fair value.

Environmental Matters

Liabilities for future remediation costs are recorded when environmental assessments and/or remedial efforts are probable and the costs can be reasonably estimated. Other than for assessments, the timing and magnitude of these accruals generally are based on the completion of investigations or other studies or a commitment to a formal plan of action. Amounts recorded for environmental liabilities have not been reduced by possible recoveries from third parties and have not been measured on a discounted basis.

Net Investment

Net investment represents Valero’s historical investment in our Predecessor, its accumulated net earnings after taxes, and the net effect of transactions and allocations between our Predecessor and Valero. There were no terms of settlement or interest charges associated with the net investment balance.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are recognized for the transportation of crude oil and refined petroleum products upon delivery of actual volumes transported at contractual tariff rates. Revenues are recognized for terminaling crude oil and refined petroleum products as terminaling services are performed based on contractual rates.

As further described in Note 4, our commercial agreements (defined in Note 4) with Valero contain minimum volume commitment requirements. Under these agreements, if Valero fails to transport its minimum throughput volumes during any quarter, then Valero will pay us a deficiency payment equal to the volume of the deficiency multiplied by the tariff rate then in effect. Valero may apply the amount of any such deficiency payments as a credit for volumes transported on the applicable pipeline and terminal systems in excess of its minimum volume commitment during the following four quarters under the terms of the applicable commercial agreement. The deficiency payments are initially recorded as deferred revenue from related party. We recognize revenues for the deficiency payments at the earlier of when credits are used for volumes transported in excess of minimum volume commitments or upon the expiration of the applicable four-quarter period. The use or expiration of the credits is a reduction to deferred revenue from related party.

Certain of our commercial agreements with Valero are considered operating leases under U.S. GAAP. Lease revenue is recognized over the lease term and contingent lease revenue is recognized after minimum monthly volume commitment requirements on these leases have been met.

Prior to the IPO, our Predecessor recognized revenues under various operating leases with Valero for crude oil and refined petroleum products storage capacity.

Income Taxes

Our operations are treated as a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes, with each partner being separately taxed on its share of taxable income. Therefore, we have excluded income taxes from these financial statements, except for state taxes that apply to partnerships, specifically the margin tax in Texas. Our Predecessor’s taxable income was included in the consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns of Valero and in certain consolidated state income tax returns.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, as if we were a separate taxpayer rather than a member of Valero’s consolidated tax return. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred amounts are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the year those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

We classify any interest expense and penalties related to the underpayment of income taxes in income tax expense.

Net Income per Limited Partner Unit

Basic and diluted net income per limited partner unit is determined pursuant to the two-class method for master limited partnerships as further described in Note 10.

Comprehensive Income

We have not reported comprehensive income due to the absence of items of other comprehensive income in the years presented.

Segment Reporting

Our operations consist of one reportable segment and all of our operations are conducted, and all of our assets are located, in the U.S.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) was amended and a new accounting standard, ASC Topic 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” was issued to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue. The core principle of the new standard is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The standard also requires improved interim and annual disclosures that enable the users of financial statements to better understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenues and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In July 2015, the effective date of the new standard was deferred by one year. As a result, the standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within those reporting periods, and can be adopted either retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented using a practical expedient, as allowed by the new standard, or retrospectively with a cumulative-effect adjustment to partners’ capital as of the date of initial application. Early adoption is permitted, but not before the original effective date, which was for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within those reporting periods. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this new standard will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2015, the provisions of ASC Topic 810, “Consolidation,” were amended to improve consolidation guidance for certain types of legal entities. The guidance modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities, eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships, and provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for certain money market funds. These provisions are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. These provisions may also be adopted retrospectively in previously issued financial statements for one or more years with a cumulative-effect adjustment to partners’ capital as of the beginning of the first year restated. The adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2016 will not affect our financial position or results of operations.

In April 2015, the provisions of ASC Subtopic 835-30, “Interest–Imputation of Interest,” were amended to simplify the presentation of debt issuance costs. The guidance requires that debt issuance costs related to a note be reported in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the face amount of that note, consistent with debt discounts, and that amortization of debt issuance costs be reported as interest expense. In August 2015, these provisions were further amended with guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission staff that they would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. These provisions are to be applied retrospectively and are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2016 will not affect our financial position or results of operations as our debt issuance costs are associated with our revolving credit facility as further discussed in Note 7.

Also in April 2015, the provisions of ASC Topic 260, “Earnings Per Share,” were amended to provide guidance on how master limited partnerships apply the two-class method of calculating earnings per unit for historical periods when they receive net assets in a dropdown transaction that is accounted for as a transaction between entities under common control as required under Subtopic 805-50, “Business Combinations–Related Issues.” The amendments specify that for purposes of calculating earnings per unit under the two-class method for periods before the date of a dropdown transaction, earnings or losses of a transferred business should be allocated entirely to the general partner. Qualitative disclosures are also required to describe how the rights to earnings or losses differ before and after the dropdown transaction for purposes of computing earnings per unit under the two-class method. These provisions are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted, and should be applied retrospectively for all financial statements presented. We have historically calculated our net income per unit after a dropdown transaction as prescribed by these provisions; therefore, the adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2016 will not affect our net income per unit for periods prior to January 1, 2016, but will result in additional disclosures.

In September 2015, the provisions of ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations,” were amended to simplify the accounting and reporting of adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination. The amendment requires that an acquirer (i) record, in the same period’s financial statements, the effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date and (ii) present separately on the statement of income or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. These provisions are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those annual periods, and should be applied prospectively to adjustments made to provisional amounts that occur after the effective date. Earlier application is permitted for financial statements that have not yet been issued. The adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2016 will not affect our financial position or results of operations; however, it may result in changes to the manner in which adjustments to provisional amounts recognized in a future business combination, if any, are presented in our financial statements.

In November 2015, the provisions of ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes,” were amended to simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes. The amendments require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified balance sheet. The amendments are effective for financial statements for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted as of the beginning of any interim or annual period. The amendments may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. Entities applying the guidance retrospectively shall disclose in the first interim and first annual period of adoption the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle and quantitative information about the effects of the accounting change on prior periods. We have elected to adopt this guidance effective January 1, 2016 on a retrospective basis, and such adoption will not affect our financial position as our deferred income tax assets and liabilities are already classified as noncurrent in our balance sheets.

In January 2016, the provisions of ASC Subtopic 825-10, “Financial Instruments–Overall,” were amended to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments regarding certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure. The amendment (i) requires equity investments (except those accounted for under the equity method or that are consolidated) to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; (ii) simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; (iii) eliminates the requirement for an entity to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost; (iv) requires an entity to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; and (v) requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or in the accompanying notes to the financial statements. These provisions are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The standard is to be applied using a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this standard will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.

In February 2016, the ASC was amended and a new accounting standard, ASC Topic 842, “Leases,” was issued to increase the transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. In order to meet that objective, the new standard requires recognition of the assets and liabilities that arise from leases. Accordingly, a lessee will recognize a right-of-use (ROU) asset for its right to use the underlying asset and a lease liability for the corresponding lease obligation. Both the ROU asset and lease liability will initially be measured at the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term. Subsequent measurement, including the presentation of expenses and cash flows, will depend on the classification of the lease as either a finance or an operating lease. Initial costs directly attributable to negotiating and arranging the lease will be included in the ROU asset. Lessees can make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize a ROU asset and corresponding lease liability for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Accounting by lessors will remain largely unchanged from current U.S. GAAP. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach includes a number of optional practical expedients that companies may elect to apply. These practical expedients relate to the identification and classification of leases that commenced before the effective date, initial direct costs for leases that commenced before the effective date, and the ability to use hindsight in evaluating lessee options to extend or terminate a lease or to purchase the underlying asset. The transition guidance also provides specific guidance for sale and leaseback transactions, build-to-suit leases, leveraged leases, and amounts previously recognized in accordance with the business combinations guidance for leases. The new standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those years, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the effect that adopting this standard will have on our financial statements and related disclosures.