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DEBT
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]  
DEBT
DEBT
Long-term debt consisted of the following:
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
 
Maturity
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of Dollars)
$1.5 billion revolving credit agreement
 
2019
 
 
$
882,664

 
$
601,496

4.75% senior notes
 
2022
 
 
250,000

 
250,000

6.75% senior notes
 
2021
 
 
300,000

 
300,000

4.80% senior notes
 
2020
 
 
450,000

 
450,000

7.65% senior notes
 
2018
 
 
350,000

 
350,000

7.625% subordinated notes
 
2043
 
 
402,500

 
402,500

Gulf Opportunity Zone revenue bonds
2038
thru
2041
 
365,440

 
365,440

Receivables Financing Agreement
 
2018
 
 
53,500

 

Net fair value adjustments and unamortized discounts
 
N/A
 
 
25,245

 
30,016

Total long-term debt
 
 
 
 
$
3,079,349

 
$
2,749,452


The long-term debt repayments are due as follows (in thousands):
2016 - 2017
$

2018
403,500

2019
882,664

2020
450,000

Thereafter
1,317,940

Total repayments
3,054,104

Net fair value adjustments and unamortized discounts
25,245

Total long-term debt
$
3,079,349


Interest payments totaled $138.9 million, $135.0 million and $118.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
Revolving Credit Agreement
NuStar Logistics is party to a $1.5 billion five-year revolving credit agreement (the Revolving Credit Agreement), which matures on October 29, 2019. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes an option allowing NuStar Logistics to request an aggregate increase in the commitments from the lenders of up to $250.0 million (after which increase the aggregate commitment from all lenders shall not exceed $1.75 billion). The Revolving Credit Agreement also includes the ability to borrow up to the equivalent of $250.0 million in Euros and up to the equivalent of $250.0 million in British Pounds Sterling. Obligations under the Revolving Credit Agreement are guaranteed by NuStar Energy and NuPOP.
The Revolving Credit Agreement bears interest, at our option, based on an alternative base rate, a LIBOR-based rate or a EURIBOR-based rate. The interest rate on the Revolving Credit Agreement is subject to adjustment if our debt rating is downgraded (or upgraded) by certain credit rating agencies. As of December 31, 2015, our weighted-average interest rate was 2.1%. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the weighted-average interest rate related to borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement was 2.0%.
The Revolving Credit Agreement contains customary restrictive covenants, such as limitations on indebtedness, liens, mergers, asset transfers and certain investing activities. In addition, the Revolving Credit Agreement requires us to maintain, as of the end of each rolling period of four consecutive fiscal quarters, a consolidated debt coverage ratio (consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA, each as defined in the 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 requirement not to exceed a maximum consolidated debt coverage ratio may limit the amount we can borrow under the Revolving Credit Agreement to an amount less than the total amount available for borrowing. As of December 31, 2015, our consolidated debt coverage ratio was 4.5x, and we had $587.3 million available for borrowing.
Letters of credit issued under our Revolving Credit Agreement totaled $30.1 million as of December 31, 2015. Letters of credit are limited to $750.0 million (including up to the equivalent of $25.0 million in Euros and up to the equivalent of $25.0 million in British Pounds Sterling) and also may restrict the amount we can borrow under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
Notes
NuStar Logistics Senior Notes. 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 upgraded) by certain credit rating agencies and is at 8.2% as of December 31, 2015. 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 additional 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.
NuStar Logistics 7.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes. NuStar Logistics’ $402.5 million of 7.625% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes are due January 15, 2043 (the Subordinated Notes). 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 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, 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 that interest payments are 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 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.
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 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” in our consolidated balance sheets. For the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, the amount received from the trustee totaled $17.5 million and $11.9 million, respectively.
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 by various individual banks 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. Obligations under the letters of credit issued are guaranteed by NuStar Energy and NuPOP. The letters of credit issued by individual banks do not restrict the amount we can borrow under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
The following table summarizes the Gulf Opportunity Zone Revenue Bonds outstanding as of December 31, 2015:
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

 
$

 
0.1
%
July 15, 2010
 
July 1, 2040
 
100,000

 
101,315

 
100,000

 

 
0.1
%
October 7, 2010
 
October 1, 2040
 
50,000

 
50,658

 
43,441

 
6,806

 
0.1
%
December 29, 2010
 
December 1, 2040
 
85,000

 
86,118

 
37,528

 
48,016

 
0.1
%
August 29, 2011
 
August 1, 2041
 
75,000

 
75,986

 
75,000

 

 
0.1
%
 
 
Total
 
$
365,440

 
$
370,246

 
$
311,409

 
$
54,822

 
 


Receivables Financing Agreement
NuStar Energy and NuStar Finance LLC (NuStar Finance), a special purpose entity and wholly owned subsidiary of NuStar Logistics, are parties to a $125.0 million receivables financing agreement with third-party lenders (the Receivables Financing Agreement) and agreements with certain of NuStar Energy’s wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively with the Receivables Financing Agreement, the Securitization Program). Under the Securitization Program, certain of NuStar Energy’s wholly owned subsidiaries, NuStar Logistics, NuPOP, NuStar Energy Services, Inc. and NuStar Supply & Trading LLC (collectively, the Originators), sell their accounts receivable to NuStar Finance on an ongoing basis, and NuStar Finance provides the newly acquired accounts receivable as collateral for its revolving borrowings under the Receivables Financing Agreement. NuStar Energy provides a performance guarantee in connection with the Securitization Program. The maximum amount available for borrowing by NuStar Finance under the Receivables Financing Agreement is $125.0 million, with an option for NuStar Finance to request an increase of up to $75.0 million from the lenders (for aggregate total borrowings not to exceed $200.0 million). The amount available for borrowing is based on the availability of eligible receivables and other customary factors and conditions. The Securitization Program contains various customary affirmative and negative covenants and default, indemnification and termination provisions, and the Receivables Financing Agreement provides for acceleration of amounts owed upon the occurrence of certain specified events.

Borrowings by NuStar Finance under the Receivables Financing Agreement bear interest at either the applicable commercial paper rate or the applicable bank rate, each as defined under the Receivables Financing Agreement. The Securitization Program has an initial termination date of June 15, 2018, with the option to renew for additional 364-day periods thereafter. As of December 31, 2015, $97.9 million of our accounts receivable are included in the Securitization Program. The weighted average interest rate related to outstanding borrowings under the Securitization Program during the year ended December 31, 2015 was 1.1%.

NuStar Finance’s sole business consists of purchasing such receivables and providing them as collateral under the Securitization Program. NuStar Finance is a separate legal entity and the assets of NuStar Finance, including these accounts receivable, are not available to satisfy the claims of creditors of NuStar Energy, the Originators or their affiliates.

Short-Term Lines of Credit
NuStar Logistics is party to two short-term line of credit agreements with an aggregate uncommitted borrowing capacity of up to $105.0 million, which allow us to better manage fluctuations in our daily cash requirements and minimize our excess cash balances. The interest rate and maturity vary and are determined at the time of borrowing. We had $84.0 million outstanding under these lines of credit as of December 31, 2015. Obligations under these short-term line of credit agreements are guaranteed by NuStar Energy. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, the weighted-average interest rates related to outstanding borrowings under our short-term lines of credit were 1.9% and 1.8%, respectively.