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DISPOSITIONS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
DISPOSITIONS [Abstract]  
DISPOSITIONS
DISPOSITIONS

Asphalt Operations
On September 28, 2012, we sold a 50% voting interest (the Asphalt Sale) in NuStar Asphalt LLC (Asphalt JV), previously a wholly owned subsidiary, to an affiliate of Lindsay Goldberg LLC (Lindsay Goldberg), a private investment firm. Asphalt JV owns and operates asphalt refining assets that were previously wholly owned by NuStar Energy, including the asphalt refineries located in Paulsboro, New Jersey and Savannah, Georgia (collectively, the Asphalt Operations). Lindsay Goldberg paid $175.0 million for the Class A equity interests (Class A Interests) of Asphalt JV, while we retained the Class B equity interests with a fair value of $52.0 million (Class B Interests). The Class A Interests have a distribution preference over the Class B Interests, as well as a liquidation preference.

NuStar Asphalt Refining, LLC and NuStar Marketing LLC are wholly owned subsidiaries of NuStar Asphalt LLC. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Asphalt JV” is used in this report to refer to Asphalt JV, to one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries or to all of them taken as a whole.

At closing, we received $261.3 million from Asphalt JV for inventory related to the Asphalt Operations, pending a final inventory valuation. Asphalt JV funded the purchase of those inventories with proceeds from borrowings under a third-party asset-based revolving credit facility (the Third-Party Financing) and a $250.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility provided by NuStar Energy (the NuStar JV Facility). In addition to the NuStar JV Facility, we entered into various other agreements with Asphalt JV. See Note 9. Related Party Transactions for additional discussion of our agreements with Asphalt JV.

Deconsolidation. We determined the equity of Asphalt JV is not sufficient to finance its activities without additional subordinated support, including support provided by us as described in Note 9. Related Party Transactions. Therefore, we determined the Asphalt JV is a variable interest entity (VIE). An entity is required to consolidate a VIE if the entity is considered the primary beneficiary of the VIE. We analyzed our relationship with Asphalt JV, including our representation on the board of members, our equity interests and our rights under the various agreements with Asphalt JV and determined that NuStar Energy does not have the power to direct the activities most significant to the economic performance of Asphalt JV. As a result, NuStar Energy is not the primary beneficiary of Asphalt JV. Upon closing, we deconsolidated Asphalt JV and started reporting our remaining investment in Asphalt JV using the equity method of accounting. Since the fair value of the consideration we received was less than the carrying amount of the assets of the Asphalt Operations, we recognized a loss of $21.6 million in “Other (expense) income, net” in the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012.

As of September 30, 2012, we included our 50% interest in Asphalt JV within “Investment in joint ventures” on the consolidated balance sheet. The condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income include the results of operations for Asphalt JV in “Equity in earnings of joint ventures” commencing on September 28, 2012. Because of our continued involvement with Asphalt JV, we have not presented the results of operations for the Asphalt Operations prior to closing as discontinued operations. Beginning on September 28, 2012, we have presented transactions between us and the Asphalt JV as related party transactions in the consolidated financial statements.

Our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with Asphalt JV is approximately $448.7 million, which consists of (i) our investment in Asphalt JV of $48.7 million as of September 30, 2012, (ii) up to $250.0 million under the NuStar JV Facility and (iii) up to $150.0 million for credit support, including guarantees.

Other
On April 16, 2012, we sold five terminals in Georgia and Alabama with an aggregate storage capacity of 1.8 million barrels for total proceeds of $30.8 million.