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Related Party Transactions
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions

4. Related Party Transactions

Related party transactions include transactions with SPLC and Shell, including those entities in which Shell has an ownership interest but does not have control.

Commercial Agreements

Omnibus Agreement

On November 3, 2014, in connection with the IPO and the acquisition of Zydeco, we entered into an Omnibus Agreement with SPLC and our general partner concerning our payment of an annual general and administrative services fee to SPLC as well as our reimbursement of certain costs incurred by SPLC on our behalf. This agreement addresses the following matters:

 

·

our payment of an annual general and administrative fee, initially $8.5 million, for the provision of certain services by SPLC;

 

·

our obligation to reimburse SPLC for certain direct or allocated costs and expenses incurred by SPLC on our behalf;

 

·

our obligation to reimburse SPLC for all expenses incurred by SPLC as a result of us becoming and continuing as a publicly traded entity; we will reimburse our general partner for these expenses to the extent the fees relating to such services are not included in the general and administrative fee;

 

·

the granting of a license from Shell to us with respect to use certain Shell trademarks and trade names; and

Under the Omnibus Agreement, certain costs are indemnified by SPLC. Both, the legal and environmental indemnifications are subject to individual $0.5 million deductibles, while we have an aggregate limit of $15.0 million. As of December 31, 2015 we have filed two claims for indemnification.

Indemnification for any unknown environmental liabilities is limited to liabilities due to occurrences prior to the closing of the IPO and that are identified before the third anniversary of the closing of the IPO.  Indemnification for losses related to right-of-way and permits, retained assets or litigation matters (other than currently pending legal actions) are limited to events reported within one year of the date of the IPO.  SPLC will also indemnify us for tax liabilities which are identified prior to the date that is 60 days after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to such liabilities.  We have agreed to indemnify SPLC for events and conditions associated with the ownership or operation of our assets (other than any environmental liabilities for which SPLC is specifically required to indemnify us as described above). There is no limit on the amount for which we will indemnify SPLC under the Omnibus Agreement.

Mars has incurred maintenance expense for an underground cavern integrity project including inspections, plug and abandonment, installations and integrity tests to return the Mars Cavern 4 to service. During 2015, we received reimbursements from SPLC related to the indemnification for the Partnership’s share of these expenses which are included in other contributions from Parent.

Zydeco has incurred general and administrative expenses including expert fees related to a legal matter regarding FERC tariff rates and has also recognized an estimated settlement provision. Refer to Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies – Legal Proceedings for additional information. During 2015, we received reimbursements from SPLC related to the indemnification for the Partnership’s share of these expenses which are included in other contributions from Parent.

Acquisition Agreements

See the description of the Purchase and Sale Agreement relating to the May 2015 Acquisition, the Poseidon Contribution Agreement relating to the July 2015 Acquisition and the Pecten Contribution Agreement relating to the November 2015 Acquisition as further described in Note 3 – Acquisitions.  

Formation of Zydeco

In connection with the IPO and the formation of Zydeco, the Partnership has entered into various agreements with SPLC and Shell.

On July 1, 2014, in conjunction with its formation, Zydeco entered into a contribution agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) and the Management Agreement with SPLC. Pursuant to the Contribution Agreement, Zydeco reimburses SPLC for capital expenditures incurred by SPLC on behalf of Zydeco subsequent to November 3, 2014. The Management Agreement requires Zydeco to pay SPLC an annual management fee for general and administrative services.

Tax Sharing Agreement

Zydeco has entered into a tax sharing agreement with an affiliate of Shell pursuant to which Zydeco has agreed to reimburse Shell for state and local franchise taxes attributable to Zydeco’s activity that is reported on Shell’s state or local income or franchise tax returns filed on a combined or unitary basis. Reimbursements under the agreement equal the amount of tax Zydeco would be required to pay if it were to file a consolidated, combined or unitary tax return separate from Shell. Shell will compute and invoice Zydeco for the reimbursement amount within 90 days of Shell filing the combined or unitary tax return on which Zydeco’s activity is included. Zydeco may be required to make prepayments toward the reimbursement amount to the extent that Shell is required to make estimated tax payments.

Transfer of the Shell Auger and Lockport Operations from the Parent to the Partnership

During 2015, we recognized a $290.0 million capital distribution to our general partner for consideration paid to acquire the Shell Auger and Lockport Operations under common control. For additional information regarding this transaction, see Note 3 – Acquisitions.

Maintenance expense and capital expenditures for certain projects associated with the Lockport Terminal have been incurred. These projects improve the existing drainage system to eliminate the crossing of storm water between the Lockport Terminal and adjacent properties. In addition, these projects include inspections and tank repairs of a storage tank.

Under the Pecten Contribution Agreement, SPLC has agreed to reimburse us for the maintenance expense and capital expenditures related to these projects. During 2015, we recognized these reimbursements as other contributions from Parent.

In connection with the formation of Pecten on October 1, 2015, Pecten entered into an Operating and Administrative Management Agreement with SPLC. Pursuant to this agreement, SPLC performs physical operations and maintenance services for Lockport and Auger and provides general and administrative services for Pecten. Pecten is required to reimburse SPLC for costs and expenses incurred in connection with such services. Also pursuant to the agreement, SPLC and Pecten agree to standard indemnifications as operator and asset owner, respectively.

Other Related Party Balances

Other related party balances consist of the following as of the dates indicated:

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

Accounts receivable

 

$

9.8

 

 

$

16.1

 

Prepaid expenses

 

 

2.8

 

 

 

2.5

 

Other assets

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

0.5

 

Total assets

 

$

13.2

 

 

$

19.1

 

Accounts payable (1)

 

$

9.3

 

 

$

11.0

 

Distribution payable to SPLC

 

 

 

 

 

11.9

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

4.7

 

Accrued liabilities (2)

 

 

3.6

 

 

 

1.4

 

Debt payable

 

 

458.2

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

$

474.7

 

 

$

29.0

 

 

(1)  Accounts payable – related parties reflects amounts owed to SPLC for reimbursement of third-party expenses incurred by SPLC for our benefit.

(2)  Accrued liabilities -- related parties reflects $1.3 million accrued interest, $1.2 million fuel accrual, $0.6 FERC accrual and $0.5 million other  accrued liabilities.

Related Party Revolving Credit Facilities

We have entered into two revolving credit facilities with Shell Treasury Centre (West) Inc. (“STCW”), an affiliate of Shell, the Five-Year Revolver and the 364-Day Revolver. Zydeco has also entered into the Zydeco Revolver with STCW. For additional information regarding these credit facilities, see Note 9 – Related Party Debt.

Related Party Revenues and Expenses

We provide crude oil transportation and storage services to related parties under long-term contracts. We entered into these contracts in the normal course of our business and the services are based on the same terms as those provided to third parties. Our transportation revenue and storage services revenue from related parties for 2015, 2014 and 2013 is disclosed in Note 2- Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Revenue Recognition.

In 2015, we recorded a $0.1 million gain in operations and maintenance from converting excess allowance oil to cash by selling to multiple customers, including Shell affiliates. In November 2014, we recorded a $0.4 million loss in operations and maintenance – related parties from converting excess allowance oil to cash by selling the allowance oil to an affiliate of Shell.

As of December 31, 2014 the amount of the Distribution payable to SPLC was $11.9 million, of which $6.8 million relates to Zydeco. Such amounts were paid to SPLC during 2015.

For a discussion of services performed by SPLC and Shell on our behalf, see Note 1 – Description of the Business and Basis of Presentation – Basis of Presentation. During 2015, 2014 and 2013, we were allocated $5.8 million, $9.9 million and $13.8 million, respectively, of indirect general corporate expenses incurred by SPLC and Shell which are included within general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income.

Beginning July 1, 2014, Zydeco entered into the Management Agreement with SPLC under which SPLC provides general management and administrative services to us. We no longer receive allocated corporate expenses from SPLC or Shell. We will continue to receive direct and allocated field and regional expenses, including payroll expenses not covered under the Management Agreement. In addition, beginning October 1, 2015, Pecten entered into an operating and management agreement under which we receive direct and allocated field and regional expenses from SPLC. These expenses are primarily allocated to us on the basis of headcount, labor or other measure. These expense allocations have been determined on a basis that both SPLC and we consider to be a reasonable reflection of the utilization of services provided or the benefit received by us during the periods presented. For 2015 and the six months ended December 31, 2014, the management fee charged by SPLC under the Management Agreement was $7.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively.

Prior to the IPO, we were covered by the insurance policies of SPLC. Subsequent to the IPO, the majority of our coverage is provided by Shell with the remaining coverage by third-party insurers. The related party portion of insurance expense in 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $3.6 million, $5.2 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

The following table shows related party expenses, including personnel costs described above, incurred by Shell and SPLC on our behalf that are reflected in the accompanying consolidated statements of income for the indicated periods:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

 

2014

 

 

2013

 

Operations and maintenance - related parties

 

$

18.5

 

 

$

21.7

 

 

$

18.7

 

General and administrative - related parties (1)

 

 

24.6

 

 

 

17.0

 

 

 

13.9

 

 

(1) For 2015 and 2014, we incurred $7.4 million and $3.5 million, respectively, under the Management Agreement and $8.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively, under the Omnibus Agreement for general and administrative services.

Pension and retirement savings plans

Employees who directly or indirectly support our operations participate in the pension, postretirement health and life insurance, and defined contribution benefit plans sponsored by Shell, which include other Shell subsidiaries. Our share of pension and postretirement health and life insurance costs for 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $3.0 million, $3.2 million and $4.0 million, respectively. Our share of defined contribution benefit plan costs for 2015, 2014 and 2013 was $1.3 million, $1.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively. Pension and defined contribution benefit plan expenses are included in either general and administrative expenses or operations and maintenance expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income, depending on the nature of the employee’s role in our operations.

Share-based compensation

Shell’s incentive compensation programs primarily consist of share awards, restricted share awards or cash awards (any of which may be a performance award). The Performance Share Plan (“PSP”) was introduced in 2005 by Shell. Conditional awards of RDS shares are made under the terms of the PSP on a selective basis to senior personnel each year. The extent to which the awards vest is determined over a three-year performance period. Half of the award is linked to the key performance indicators, averaged over the period. For the PSP awards made prior to 2010, the other half of the award was linked to the relative total shareholder return over the period compared with four main competitors of RDS. For awards made in 2010 and onwards, the other half of the award is linked to a comparison with four main competitors of RDS over the period on the basis of four relative performance measures. All shares that vest are increased by an amount equal to the notional dividends accrued on those shares during the period from the award date to the vesting date. None of the awards result in beneficial ownership until the shares are delivered. Shares are awarded subject to a three-year vesting period.

Certain SPLC and Shell employees supporting our operations as well as other Shell operations were historically granted these types of awards. These share-based compensation costs have been allocated to us as part of the cost allocations from Shell related to Ho-Ho (for the periods prior to June 30, 2014) and related to Pecten (for the periods prior to October 1, 2015). Beginning July 1, 2014, we did not receive any allocated share-based compensation for Ho-Ho, and beginning October 1, 2015, we did not receive any allocated share –based compensation for Pecten. Share-based compensation expense is included in general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. These costs totaled less than $0.1 million, approximately $0.2 million and $0.3 million for 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Equity and Cost Method Investments

We have equity and cost method investments in entities that own certain of our assets, including Mars, Bengal, Poseidon and Colonial. SPLC also owns interests in some of these entities. In some cases we may be required to make capital contributions or other payments to these entities.  See Note 6 – Equity Method Investments for additional details.

Reimbursements from Our General Partner

The following table reflects other contributions from our Parent in 2015:

 

Contribution of JV Partner payment (1)

 

$

4.5

 

Reimbursement of Zydeco directional drill (2)

 

 

2.3

 

Mars cavern integrity project indemnification (3)

 

 

2.9

 

Reimbursement for Zydeco FERC rate case (4)

 

 

1.4

 

Reimbursement by SPLC (5)

 

 

1.8

 

Total contributions(6)

 

$

12.9

 

 

(1) The JV partner agreed to pay us $4.5 million in order to secure a waiver of rights of refusal from SOPUS and us permitting the JV partner to acquire another owner’s interest in Poseidon.

(2) Contractual reimbursement by SPLC pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement for our proportionate share of costs and expenses incurred by Zydeco after April 1, 2015 regarding a directional drilling project.  

(3) Environmental indemnification by SPLC under the Omnibus Agreement regarding maintenance expense for Mars underground cavern integrity project including inspections, plug and abandonment, installations and integrity tests to return the Mars Cavern 4 to service.

(4) Legal indemnification by SPLC under the Omnibus Agreement for expenses and settlement payments relating to the Zydeco FERC rate case.

(5) Contractual reimbursement by SPLC pursuant to the Pecten Contribution Agreement regarding costs and expenses for maintenance projects     at Lockport.

(6) Total contributions include $11.1 million of cash received and $1.8 million contribution receivable from our Parent.