On July 20, 2018, we completed the merger of Holdings with a subsidiary of NuStar Energy (the Merger). Pursuant to the Merger agreement and at the effective time of the Merger, NuStar Energy’s partnership agreement was amended and restated to, among other things, (i) cancel the incentive distribution rights held by our general partner, (ii) convert the 2% general partner interest in NuStar Energy held by our general partner into a non-economic management interest and (iii) provide the holders of our common units with voting rights in the election of the members of the board of directors of NuStar GP, LLC, beginning at the annual meeting in 2019.

At the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding Holdings common unit was converted into the right to receive 0.55 of a NuStar Energy common unit and all Holdings common units ceased to be outstanding. As a result of the Merger, we issued

approximately 23.6 million NuStar Energy common units and cancelled the 10.2 million NuStar Energy common units owned by subsidiaries of Holdings, resulting in approximately 13.4 million incremental NuStar Energy common units outstanding after the Merger. In addition, we repaid Holdings’ debt with borrowings under our revolving credit agreement and incurred transaction costs for aggregate cash consideration of approximately $68.0 million.

Also at the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding award of Holdings restricted units was converted, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the awards immediately prior to the Merger, into an award of NuStar Energy restricted units. The number of NuStar Energy restricted units subject to the converted awards was determined pursuant to the 0.55 exchange ratio provided in the Merger Agreement.

Following the completion of the Merger, the NuStar GP, LLC board of directors consists of nine members, currently composed of the six members of the NuStar GP, LLC board of directors prior to the Merger and the three independent directors who served prior to the Merger on Holdings’ board of directors.

We accounted for the Merger as an equity transaction similar to a redemption or induced conversion of preferred stock. The excess of (x) the fair value of the consideration transferred in exchange for the outstanding Holdings units over (y) the carrying value of the general partner interest in the Partnership was subtracted from net income available to common unitholders in the calculation of net loss per common unit attributable to the Merger as follows (in thousands of dollars, except unit and per unit data):


Consideration transferred:
Fair value of incremental NS common units issued	$	335,106
Holdings debt and assumed net current liabilities	52,075
Transaction costs	15,897
Total consideration	403,078

Carrying value of general partner interest	25,999
Loss to common unitholders attributable to the Merger	$	(377,079)

For the year ended December 31, 2018:
Basic weighted-average common units outstanding	99,490,495
Loss per common unit attributable to the Merger	$	(3.79)

GP Services Agreement. Prior to the Merger, we were a party to an Amended and Restated Services Agreement with NuStar GP, LLC, effective March 1, 2016 (the Amended GP Services Agreement), which provided that we furnish administrative services necessary to conduct the business of Holdings, and Holdings compensated us for these services for an annual fee of $1.0 million, subject to adjustment based on the annual merit increase percentage applicable to our employees for the most recently completed fiscal year and for changes in level of service. We terminated the Amended GP Services Agreement in conjunction with the Merger.

Non-Compete Agreement. Prior to the Merger, we were a party to a non-compete agreement with Holdings, Riverwalk Logistics, L.P. and NuStar GP, LLC, effective on December 22, 2006 (the Non-Compete Agreement). Under the Non-Compete Agreement, we had the right of first refusal with respect to the potential acquisition of assets related to the transportation, storage or terminalling of crude oil, feedstocks or refined products (including petrochemicals) in the United States and internationally. Holdings had a right of first refusal with respect to the potential acquisition of general partner and other equity interests in publicly traded partnerships under common ownership with the general partner interest. As a result of the Merger, the Non-Compete Agreement was terminated, effective July 20, 2018.