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DEBT
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
DEBT [Abstract]  
DEBT
14. DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
Maturity
 
2013
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of Dollars)
$1.5 billion revolving credit agreement
 
2017
 
 
$
503,036

 
$
440,330

4.75% senior notes
 
2022
 
 
250,000

 
250,000

6.75% senior notes
 
2021
 
 
300,000

 

4.80% senior notes
 
2020
 
 
450,000

 
450,000

7.65% senior notes
 
2018
 
 
350,000

 
350,000

6.05% senior notes
 
2013
 
 

 
229,932

5.875% senior notes
 
2013
 
 

 
250,000

7.625% subordinated notes
 
2043
 
 
402,500

 

Gulf Opportunity Zone revenue bonds
2038
thru
2041
 
365,440

 
365,440

UK term loan
 
2013
 
 

 
34,142

Port Authority of Corpus Christi note payable
 
2015
 
 

 
577

Net fair value adjustments and unamortized discounts
 
N/A
 
 
34,577

 
40,583

Total debt
 
 
 
 
2,655,553

 
2,411,004

Less current portion
 
 
 
 

 
286,422

Long-term debt, less current portion
 
 
 
 
$
2,655,553

 
$
2,124,582


The long-term debt repayments are due as follows (in thousands):
2014
$

2015

2016

2017
503,036

2018
350,000

Thereafter
1,767,940

Total repayments
2,620,976

Net fair value adjustments and unamortized discounts
34,577

Total debt
$
2,655,553


Interest payments totaled $118.3 million, $118.4 million and $115.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Revolving Credit Agreements
NuStar Logistics is a party to a $1.5 billion five-year revolving credit agreement, as amended (the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement), which includes the ability to borrow up to the equivalent of $250.0 million in Euros. On December 4, 2013, we amended the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement to add the ability to borrow up to the equivalent of $250.0 million in British Pounds Sterling. The 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement matures on May 2, 2017. Obligations under the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement are guaranteed by NuStar Energy and NuPOP. NuPOP will be released from its guarantee of the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement when it no longer guarantees NuStar Logistics public debt instruments.
The 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement bears interest, at our option, based on either an alternative base rate or a LIBOR-based rate. The interest rate on the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement is subject to adjustment if our debt rating is downgraded (or subsequently upgraded) by certain credit rating agencies. In July 2012, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (S&P) lowered our credit rating to BB+ from BBB-, and in January 2013, Moody’s Investor Service Inc. (Moody’s) lowered our credit rating to Ba1 from Baa3. The interest rates applicable to the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement do not adjust unless both S&P and Moody’s change their ratings; therefore, the interest rate on the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement increased by 0.375% effective January 2013. As of December 31, 2013, our weighted-average interest rate was 2.2%. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the weighted-average interest rate related to borrowings under the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement was 2.2%.
The 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive covenants, including requiring us to maintain, as of the end of each rolling period, which consists of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, a consolidated debt coverage ratio (consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement) not to exceed 5.00-to-1.00. If we consummate an acquisition for an aggregate net consideration of at least $50.0 million, the maximum consolidated debt coverage ratio will increase to 5.50-to-1.00 for two rolling periods. The 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement permits unlimited investments in joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries, provided that no default exists, but limits the amount of cash distributions for such joint ventures and unconsolidated subsidiaries included in the calculation of the consolidated debt coverage ratio to 20% of consolidated EBITDA. The requirement not to exceed a maximum consolidated debt coverage ratio may limit the amount we can borrow under the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement to an amount less than the total amount available for borrowing. As of December 31, 2013, our consolidated debt coverage ratio was 4.4x, and we had $829.3 million available for borrowing.
Letters of credit issued under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement totaled $167.6 million as of December 31, 2013. Letters of credit are limited to $750.0 million and also may restrict the amount we can borrow under the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement.
Notes
NuStar Logistics’ Senior Notes. On August 19, 2013, NuStar Logistics issued $300.0 million of 6.75% senior notes due February 1, 2021 (the 6.75% Senior Notes). We received proceeds of approximately $296.0 million, net of the underwriters’ discount and deferred issuance costs of $4.0 million, which we used for general partnership purposes, including repayment of outstanding borrowings under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement. The interest on the 6.75% Senior Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August 1 of each year beginning on February 1, 2014.

In March 2013, we repaid NuStar Logistics’ $229.9 million of 6.05% senior notes due March 15, 2013 with borrowings under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement.
Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears for the $250.0 million of 4.75% senior notes, $300.0 million of 6.75% senior notes, $450.0 million of 4.80% senior notes and $350.0 million of 7.65% senior notes (collectively, the NuStar Logistics Senior Notes). The interest rate payable on the 7.65% senior notes is subject to adjustment if our debt rating is downgraded (or subsequently upgraded) by certain credit rating agencies. The interest rate on NuStar Logistics’ $350.0 million of 7.65% senior notes increased by another 0.25% in January 2013 as a result of the Moody’s downgrade. The NuStar Logistics Senior Notes do not have sinking fund requirements. These notes rank equally with existing senior unsecured indebtedness of NuStar Logistics and contain restrictions on NuStar Logistics’ ability to incur secured indebtedness unless the same security is also provided for the benefit of holders of the NuStar Logistics Senior Notes. In addition, the NuStar Logistics Senior Notes limit NuStar Logistics’ ability to incur indebtedness secured by certain liens and to engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions. At the option of NuStar Logistics, the NuStar Logistics Senior Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time at a redemption price, which includes a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
The NuStar Logistics Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by NuStar Energy and NuPOP. NuPOP will be released from its guarantee of senior notes issued by NuStar Logistics when it no longer guarantees any obligations of NuStar Energy, or any of its subsidiaries, including NuStar Logistics, under any bank facility or public debt instrument.

NuStar Logistics’ 7.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes. On January 22, 2013, NuStar Logistics issued $402.5 million of 7.625% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due January 15, 2043 (the Subordinated Notes), including the underwriters’ option to purchase up to an additional $52.5 million principal amount of the notes, which was exercised in full. We received proceeds of approximately $390.9 million, net of $11.6 million of deferred issuance costs, which we used for general partnership purposes, including repayment of outstanding borrowings under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement. The Subordinated Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured and subordinated basis by NuStar Energy and NuPOP.
The Subordinated Notes bear interest at a fixed annual rate of 7.625%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year beginning on April 15, 2013 and ending on January 15, 2018. Thereafter, the Subordinated Notes will bear interest at an annual rate equal to the sum of the three-month LIBOR rate for the related quarterly interest period, plus 6.734% payable quarterly on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing April 15, 2018, unless payment is deferred in accordance with the terms of the notes. NuStar Logistics may elect to defer interest payments on the Subordinated Notes on one or more occasions for up to five consecutive years. Deferred interest will accumulate additional interest at a rate equal to the interest rate then applicable to the Subordinated Notes until paid. If NuStar Logistics elects to defer interest payments, NuStar Energy cannot declare or make cash distributions to its unitholders during the period interest is deferred.
The Subordinated Notes do not have sinking fund requirements and are subordinated to existing senior unsecured indebtedness of NuStar Logistics and NuPOP. The Subordinated Notes do not contain restrictions on NuStar Logistics’ ability to incur additional indebtedness, including debt that ranks senior in priority of payment to the notes. In addition, the Subordinated Notes do not limit NuStar Logistics’ ability to incur indebtedness secured by certain liens or to engage in certain sale-leaseback transactions. At the option of NuStar Logistics, the Subordinated Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time at a redemption price, which may include a make-whole premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.
NuPOP’s Senior Notes. As a result of the Kaneb Acquisition, we assumed the outstanding senior notes issued by NuPOP, having an aggregate face value of $500.0 million, and an aggregate fair value of $555.0 million at the acquisition date (the NuPOP Senior Notes). We used the effective interest method to amortize the difference between the fair value and the face value of the senior notes as a reduction of interest expense over the lives of the senior notes. The senior notes were issued in two series, the first of which bore interest at 7.75% annually and matured in 2012, and the second series which bore interest 5.875% annually and matured in 2013. We repaid NuPOP’s $250.0 million of 5.875% senior notes due June 1, 2013 with borrowings under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement.
Gulf Opportunity Zone Revenue Bonds
In 2008, 2010 and 2011, the Parish of St. James, where our St. James, Louisiana, terminal is located, issued Revenue Bonds (NuStar Logistics, L.P. Project) Series 2008, Series 2010, Series 2010A, Series 2010B and Series 2011 associated with our St. James terminal expansion pursuant to the Gulf Opportunity Zone Act of 2005 (collectively, the Gulf Opportunity Zone Revenue Bonds). The interest rates on these bonds are based on a weekly tax-exempt bond market interest rate, and interest is paid monthly. Following the issuance, the proceeds were deposited with a trustee and are disbursed to us upon our request for reimbursement of expenditures related to our St. James terminal expansion. We include the amount remaining in trust in “Other long-term assets, net,” and we include the amount of bonds issued in “Long-term debt, less current portion” in our consolidated balance sheets. For the year ended December 31, 2013, we received $43.1 million from the trustee.
NuStar Logistics is solely obligated to service the principal and interest payments associated with the Gulf Opportunity Zone Revenue Bonds. Letters of credit were issued on our behalf to guarantee the payment of interest and principal on the bonds. All letters of credit rank equally with existing senior unsecured indebtedness of NuStar Logistics. The letters of credit issued by individual banks do not restrict the amount we can borrow under the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement.
The following table summarizes the Gulf Opportunity Zone Revenue Bonds outstanding as of December 31, 2013:
Date Issued
 
Maturity Date
 
Amount
Outstanding
 
Amount of
Letter of
Credit
 
Amount Received from
Trustee
 
Amount Remaining in
Trust
 
Average Annual
Interest Rate
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of Dollars)
 
 
June 26, 2008
 
June 1, 2038
 
$
55,440

 
$
56,169

 
$
55,440

 
$

 
0.10
%
July 15, 2010
 
July 1, 2040
 
100,000

 
101,315

 
100,000

 

 
0.10
%
October 7, 2010
 
October 1, 2040
 
50,000

 
50,658

(a)
24,580

 
25,420

 
0.11
%
December 29, 2010
 
December 1, 2040
 
85,000

 
86,118

(a)
26,924

 
58,076

 
0.11
%
August 29, 2011
 
August 1, 2041
 
75,000

 
75,986

 
75,000

 

 
0.10
%
 
 
Total
 
$
365,440

 
$
370,246

 
$
281,944

 
$
83,496

 
 

(a)
Letters of credit issued under the 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement.
UK Term Loan
In December 2013, we repaid our UK subsidiary, NuStar Terminals Limited’s, £21 million amended and restated term loan, which matured on December 10, 2013, with borrowings under our 2012 Revolving Credit Agreement.
Our other long-term debt obligations do not contain any financial covenants. However, a default under any of our debt instruments would be considered an event of default under all of our debt instruments.
Port Authority of Corpus Christi Note Payable
The proceeds from the original $12.0 million note payable due to the Port of Corpus Christi Authority of Nueces County, Texas (Port Authority of Corpus Christi) were used for the construction of a crude oil storage facility in Corpus Christi, Texas. The note payable was due in annual installments of $1.2 million through December 31, 2015 and was collateralized by the crude oil storage facility. The wharfage and dockage fees paid to the Port Authority of Corpus Christi in connection with the use of the crude oil storage facility exceeded certain limits per the terms of the note, which have accelerated the repayment of the unpaid principal balance. On February 6, 2013, we repaid the remaining principle balance of $0.6 million.