EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

Unit-based compensation expense related to the Partnership and stock-based compensation expense allocated to our Predecessor that was included in our condensed statements of consolidated operations was as follows (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
			Predecessor				Predecessor
Service phantom units	$	53	$	—	$	93	$	—
Performance phantom units	125		—		208		—
Predecessor allocated expense	—		139		693		205
Total Equity-Based Compensation Expense	$	178	$	139	$	994	$	205

Service Phantom Unit Awards. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, our general partner issued service phantom unit awards with tandem distribution equivalent rights to certain directors and employees under the 2011 TLLP Long-Term Incentive Plan in connection with the closing of the Offering. The fair value of each phantom unit on the grant date is equal to the market price of our common unit on that date. The estimated fair value of our phantom units is amortized over the vesting period using the straight-line method. Non-employee director awards vest at the end of a one-year period and employee awards vest ratably over a three-year service period. Total unrecognized compensation cost related to our nonvested service phantom units totaled $0.2 million as of September 30, 2011, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.8 years. The fair value of nonvested service phantom units outstanding as of September 30, 2011, totaled $0.3 million.

A summary of our service phantom unit award activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, is set forth below:



	Number of Service Phantom Units	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2011	—	$	—
Granted	14,073	23.24
Nonvested at September 30, 2011	14,073	$	23.24

Performance Phantom Unit Awards. Our general partner granted performance phantom unit awards to certain officers in May 2011. These performance phantom unit awards represent the right to receive a TLLP common unit at the end of the performance period depending on the Partnership's achievement of pre-established performance measures. The value of the award ultimately paid will be based on our relative total unitholder return against the performance peer group over the performance period. The performance phantom unit awards can range from 0% to 200% of the targeted award value. The fair value of each performance phantom unit award is estimated at the grant date using a Monte Carlo simulation model. The estimated fair value is amortized over the vesting period. Total unrecognized compensation cost related to our nonvested performance phantom units totaled $1.0 million as of September 30, 2011, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.

A summary of our performance phantom unit award activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, is set forth below:



	Number of Performance Phantom Units	Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2011	—	$	—
Granted	36,800	32.99
Nonvested at September 30, 2011	36,800	$	32.99

Expected volatilities are based on the historical volatility of peer companies over approximately the last three years, which is indicative of the performance period for the awards. Expected dividend yield assumes dividends or distributions are incorporated into the unit price movements of the peer group. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve for the performance period in effect at the time of grant. A summary of weighted average assumptions as of the grant date is presented below:



Expected volatility	41		%
Expected dividend yield	—		%
Expected forfeiture rate	—		%
Risk-free interest rate	0.79		%
Unit price on date of grant	$	23.11

Sponsor's Stock-based Compensation. Employees supporting the Predecessor's and the Partnership's operations receive long-term incentive compensation that is part of Tesoro's stock-based compensation programs, which primarily consist of stock options, restricted common stock and stock appreciation rights issued to certain officers and other key employees. The fair value of each stock option issued is estimated on the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is amortized over the vesting period using the straight-line method. These awards generally will become exercisable after one year in 33% annual increments and expire ten years from the date of grant. The fair value of restricted common stock on the grant date is equal to the market value of a share of Tesoro stock on that date. These awards generally vest in annual increments ratably over three years. The fair value of a stock appreciation right is estimated at the end of each reporting period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. These awards generally vest ratably over three years following the date of grant and expire seven years from the grant date.

Certain Tesoro employees supporting the Predecessor's operations were historically granted these types of awards. The Predecessor was allocated expenses for stock-based compensation costs. These costs are included in the Predecessor's general and administrative expenses. However, the Partnership will not be allocated these stock-based compensation costs as they are included with the services provided under the omnibus agreement.