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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
Related Party Transactions
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The following table summarizes information pertaining to related party transactions:
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
2012
 
2011
 
2012
 
2011
 
(Thousands of Dollars)
Revenues
$
713

 
$
286

 
$
2,198

 
$
823

Operating expenses
$
39,032

 
$
37,151

 
$
115,065

 
$
109,061

General and administrative expenses
$
16,181

 
$
8,985

 
$
48,710

 
$
41,968



NuStar GP, LLC
Our operations are managed by NuStar GP, LLC, the general partner of our general partner. Under a services agreement between NuStar Energy and NuStar GP, LLC, employees of NuStar GP, LLC perform services for our United States operations. Certain of our wholly owned subsidiaries employ persons who perform services for our international operations. Employees of NuStar GP, LLC provide services to both NuStar Energy and NuStar GP Holdings; therefore, we reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for all costs related to its employees, other than costs associated with NuStar GP Holdings.

We had a payable to NuStar GP, LLC of $13.7 million and $6.7 million as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, with both amounts representing payroll, employee benefit plan expenses and unit-based compensation. We also had a long-term payable to NuStar GP, LLC as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 of $16.0 million and $14.5 million, respectively, related to amounts payable for retiree medical benefits and other post-employment benefits.

Asphalt JV
As of September 30, 2012, we had a receivable from Asphalt JV of $2.1 million associated with the Asphalt Sale.

Financing Agreements and Credit Support. The NuStar JV Facility is an unsecured revolving credit facility provided by NuStar Energy that will be available to fund working capital needs and for general purposes of Asphalt JV in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250.0 million for a term of seven years. The NuStar JV Facility matures on September 28, 2019 and bears interest based on either an alternative base rate or a LIBOR-based rate. We recognize interest income over the term of the facility in “Interest expense, net” on the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. As of September 30, 2012, the interest rate was 4.875%. In the event NuStar Energy no longer owns an equity interest in Asphalt JV, the interest rate increases and the availability under the NuStar JV Facility is reduced to a maximum of $167.0 million after two years and $83.0 million after three years. On September 28, 2012, Asphalt JV borrowed $170.7 million from us under the NuStar JV Facility.

In addition, during the term of the NuStar JV Facility, NuStar Energy will provide credit support, such as guarantees, letters of credit and cash collateral, as applicable, of up to $150.0 million. As of September 30, 2012, NuStar Energy has provided guarantees for commodity purchases, lease obligations and certain utilities for Asphalt JV with a maximum potential exposure of $141.8 million. In addition, NuStar has provided three guarantees to suppliers that do not specify a maximum amount. All guarantees were in existence prior to the Asphalt Sale, and the majority of these guarantees have no expiration date. In the event NuStar Energy must fund its obligation under these guarantees, that amount will be added to borrowings under the NuStar JV Facility.

Terminal Service Agreements. Simultaneously with the Asphalt Sale, we entered into four terminal service agreements with Asphalt JV for our terminals in Wilmington, NC, Rosario, NM, Catoosa, OK and Houston, TX. Pursuant to the terms of the agreements, we will provide aggregate storage capacity of 0.8 million barrels and blending services to Asphalt JV for a service charge of $1.5 million per year. The storage charge will be adjusted annually based on the percentage increase in the consumer price index. The terminal service agreements each have a term of ten years, with Asphalt JV's option to extend for an additional five years. Asphalt JV also has the option to terminate any terminal service agreement with 90 days written notice. If any of the terminal service agreements are extended, the storage charge will be based on the then-current fair market storage rates for comparable storage services charged by us to third parties.

Crude Oil Supply Agreements. In connection with the Asphalt Sale, NuStar Marketing LLC assigned the crude oil supply agreement (the PDVSA Crude Oil Supply Agreement) with an affiliate of Petróleos de Venezuela S. A. (PDVSA) to NuStar Logistics.

Simultaneously with the Asphalt Sale, we entered into a crude oil supply agreement with Asphalt JV (the Asphalt JV Crude Oil Supply Agreement) that commits Asphalt JV to purchase from us in a given year the lesser of (i) the number of barrels of crude oil required to be purchased by us from PDVSA under the PDVSA Crude Oil Supply Agreement for such year or (ii) 35,000 barrels per day of crude oil multiplied by the number of days in such year. The price for the crude oil under this agreement will be the actual price paid by us to PDVSA under the PDVSA Crude Oil Supply Agreement and will include any credits received or adjustments made. The Asphalt JV Crude Oil Supply Agreement is effective for the term of the PDVSA Crude Oil Supply Agreement.

Services Agreements Between Asphalt JV and NuStar GP,LLC. In conjunction with the Asphalt Sale, NuStar GP, LLC entered into a services agreement with Asphalt JV, effective September 28, 2012 (the Asphalt JV Services Agreement). The Asphalt JV Services Agreement provides that NuStar GP, LLC will furnish certain administrative and other operating services necessary to conduct the business of Asphalt JV. Asphalt JV will compensate NuStar GP, LLC for these services through an annual fee totaling $10.0 million, subject to adjustment based on the annual merit increase percentage applicable to NuStar GP, LLC employees for the most recently completed contract year. The Asphalt JV Services Agreement will terminate on December 31, 2017 and will automatically renew for successive two-year terms. Asphalt JV may terminate the Asphalt JV Services Agreement at any time, with 180 days prior written notice or reduce the level of service with 45 days prior written notice.

In addition, NuStar GP, LLC entered into an employee services agreement with Asphalt JV, effective September 28, 2012 (the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement). The Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement provides that certain of NuStar GP, LLC employees will provide employee-services to Asphalt JV. In exchange, Asphalt JV will reimburse NuStar GP, LLC for the compensation expense of those employees at the same rates that were in effect at the effective date of the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement, including an annual bonus amount that does not exceed NuStar GP, LLC’s target bonus plan. The employees covered under the Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement will not be entitled to any new unit-based compensation grants from NuStar GP, LLC, and Asphalt JV will not be responsible for unit-based compensation costs prior to the effective date. The Asphalt JV Employee Services Agreement will terminate on December 31, 2012.

Other
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012, the majority of related party revenues resulted from storage agreements between our Turkey subsidiary and the noncontrolling shareholder. We had a receivable of $0.3 million as of September 30, 2012 related to these revenues.