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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-184137

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are not an offer to sell and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 2, 2014

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

To prospectus dated September 27, 2012

 

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.

PAA Finance Corp.

$                     % Senior Notes due 2024

 

 

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and PAA Finance Corp. are offering $         million aggregate principal amount of     % Senior Notes due 2024 (the “Notes”).

We will pay interest on the Notes semi-annually in arrears on                 and                 of each year, beginning on                 , 2015. The Notes will mature on                 , 2024, unless redeemed prior to the maturity date.

We may, at our option, redeem the Notes at any time in whole or from time to time in part, prior to maturity, at the redemption prices as described herein under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.”

The Notes will be the unsecured senior obligations of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and PAA Finance Corp. and will rank equally in right of payment with their other senior indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not currently intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any securities exchange or have the Notes quoted on any automated quotation system.

 

 

Investing in the Notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

Public  Offering Price(1)

Underwriting Discount

Proceeds, Before Expenses, to Us

Per Note

%

%

%

Total

$

$

$

 

(1)	Plus accrued interest, if any, from                 , 2014 if settlement occurs after that date.

 

 

The underwriters expect to deliver the Notes in book-entry form only through facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the account of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, against payment in New York, New York on or about September     , 2014, the     trading day after the date of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

J.P. Morgan		Barclays		BNP PARIBAS		BofA Merrill Lynch

 

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is September     , 2014.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus Supplement

 

Important Notice About Information in This Prospectus Supplement and the Accompanying Base Prospectus			S-ii
Forward-Looking Statements			S-iii
Prospectus Supplement Summary			S-1
Risk Factors			S-5
Use of Proceeds			S-7
Ratio of Earnings To Fixed Charges			S-8
Capitalization			S-9
Description of Notes			S-10
Book Entry, Delivery and Form			S-23
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences			S-26
Underwriting			S-31
Legal Matters			S-35
Experts			S-35
Where You Can Find More Information			S-35

Prospectus

 

About This Prospectus			i
Where You Can Find More Information			ii
Forward-Looking Statements			iv
Who We Are			1
Risk Factors			2
Use Of Proceeds			3
Ratio Of Earnings To Fixed Charges			4
Description of Our Debt Securities			5
Description of Our Common Units			14
Cash Distribution Policy			16
Description of Our Partnership Agreement			20
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences			23
Plan of Distribution			35
Legal Matters			37
Experts			37

 

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IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION IN THIS

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING BASE PROSPECTUS

This document is in two parts. The first part is the prospectus supplement, which describes our business and the specific terms of this offering. The second part, the accompanying base prospectus, gives more general information and includes disclosures regarding the Notes and additional disclosures that would pertain if at some time in the future we were to offer other series of our debt securities or our common units. Accordingly, the accompanying base prospectus may contain information that does not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer only to the “prospectus,” we are referring to both parts combined.

If the description of the offering varies between the prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus or any free writing prospectus relating to this offering of Notes. Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. Neither we nor the underwriters are making an offer of the Notes in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus or any related free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

The information in this prospectus supplement is not complete. You should review carefully all of the detailed information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, any free writing prospectus relating to this offering and the documents we have incorporated by reference before making any investment decision.

We expect delivery of the Notes will be made against payment therefor on or about September    , 2014, which is the      business day following the date of pricing of the Notes (such settlement being referred to as “T+    ”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes on the date of pricing of the Notes or the next     succeeding business days will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially will settle in T+    , to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement and should consult their own advisers.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements incorporating the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend” and “forecast,” as well as similar expressions and statements regarding our business strategy, plans and objectives for future operations. The absence of such words, expressions or statements, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Any such forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, based on what we believe to be reasonable assumptions. Certain factors could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results or outcomes anticipated in the forward-looking statements. The most important of these factors include, but are not limited to:

 

—

failure to implement or capitalize, or delays in implementing or capitalizing, on planned internal growth projects;

 

—

unanticipated changes in crude oil market structure, grade differentials and volatility (or lack thereof);

 

—

environmental liabilities or events that are not covered by an indemnity, insurance or existing reserves;

 

—

declines in the volume of crude oil, refined product and NGL shipped, processed, purchased, stored, fractionated and/or gathered at or through the use of our facilities, whether due to declines in production from existing oil and gas reserves, failure to develop, or slowdown in the development of, additional oil and gas reserves or other factors;

 

—

fluctuations in refinery capacity in areas supplied by our mainlines and other factors affecting demand for various grades of crude oil, refined products and natural gas and resulting changes in pricing conditions or transportation throughput requirements;

 

—

the occurrence of a natural disaster, catastrophe, terrorist attack or other event, including attacks on our electronic and computer systems;

 

—

weather interference with business operations or project construction, including the impact of extreme weather events or conditions;

 

—

tightened capital markets or other factors that increase our cost of capital or limit our access to capital;

 

—

maintenance of our credit rating and ability to receive open credit from our suppliers and trade counterparties;

 

—

continued creditworthiness of, and performance by, our counterparties, including financial institutions and trading companies with which we do business;

 

—

the currency exchange rate of the Canadian dollar;

 

—

the availability of, and our ability to consummate, acquisition or combination opportunities;

 

—

the successful integration and future performance of acquired assets or businesses and the risks associated with operating in lines of business that are distinct and separate from our historical operations;

 

—

shortages or cost increases of supplies, materials or labor;

 

—

the effectiveness of our risk management activities;

 

—

our ability to obtain debt or equity financing on satisfactory terms to fund additional acquisitions, expansion projects, working capital requirements and the repayment or refinancing of indebtedness;

 

—

the impact of current and future laws, rulings, governmental regulations, accounting standards and statements, and related interpretations;

 

—

non-utilization of our assets and facilities;

 

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—

the effects of competition;

 

—

increased costs or lack of availability of insurance;

 

—

fluctuations in the debt and equity markets, including the price of our units at the time of vesting under our long-term incentive plans;

 

—

risks related to the development and operation of our facilities, including our ability to satisfy our contractual obligations to our customers at our facilities;

 

—

factors affecting demand for natural gas and natural gas storage services and rates;

 

—

general economic, market or business conditions and the amplification of other risks caused by volatile financial markets, capital constraints and pervasive liquidity concerns; and

 

—

other factors and uncertainties inherent in the transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of crude oil and refined products, as well as in the storage of natural gas and the processing, transportation, fractionation, storage and marketing of natural gas liquids.

Other factors described or incorporated by reference herein, as well as factors that are unknown or unpredictable, could also have a material adverse effect on future results. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus supplement and in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 (File No. 001-14569), which is incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference, for information regarding risks you should consider before making an investment decision. Except as required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements and information.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Before making an investment in the Notes offered hereby, you should carefully consider the risk factors included below and those included in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013 (File No. 001-14569), which is incorporated by reference herein, together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In such case, the value of the Notes could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.

Risks Related to the Notes

Your right to receive payments on the Notes is unsecured and will be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness and will be structurally subordinated as to any existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of our subsidiaries, other than subsidiaries that may guarantee the Notes in the future.

The Notes are effectively subordinated to claims of our secured creditors and to any existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of our subsidiaries, including trade payables, other than subsidiaries that may guarantee the Notes in the future. As of June 30, 2014, on an as adjusted basis as described under “Capitalization,” the Notes would have been effectively subordinated to $             million of our short-term secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to all of our subsidiaries’ indebtedness, which totaled approximately $             million at that date. In the event of the insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or winding up of the business of a subsidiary, other than a subsidiary that may guarantee the Notes in the future, creditors of that subsidiary would generally have the right to be paid in full before any distribution is made to us or the holders of the Notes.

Our leverage may limit our ability to borrow additional funds, comply with the terms of our indebtedness or capitalize on business opportunities.

Our leverage is significant in relation to our partners’ capital. As of June 30, 2014, on an as adjusted basis as described under “Capitalization,” our total outstanding long-term debt was approximately $             billion, and our total outstanding short-term debt was approximately $             million. Various limitations in our credit facilities and other debt instruments may reduce our ability to incur additional debt, to engage in some transactions and to capitalize on business opportunities. Any subsequent refinancing of our current indebtedness or any new indebtedness could have similar or greater restrictions.

Our leverage could have important consequences to investors in the Notes. We will require substantial cash flow to meet our principal and interest obligations with respect to the Notes and our other consolidated indebtedness. Our ability to make scheduled payments, to refinance our obligations with respect to our indebtedness or our ability to obtain additional financing in the future will depend on our financial and operating performance, which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors. We believe that we will have sufficient cash flow from operations and available borrowings under our bank credit facility to service our indebtedness, although the principal amount of the Notes will likely need to be refinanced at maturity in whole or in part. A significant downturn in the hydrocarbon industry or other development adversely affecting our cash flow could materially impair our ability to service our indebtedness. If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to refinance all or a portion of our debt or sell assets. We can give no assurance that we would be able to refinance our existing indebtedness or sell assets on terms that are commercially reasonable.

Our leverage may adversely affect our ability to fund future working capital, capital expenditures and other general partnership requirements, future acquisition, construction or development activities, or to otherwise

 

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fully realize the value of our assets and opportunities because of the need to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness or to comply with any restrictive terms of our indebtedness. Our leverage may also make our results of operations more susceptible to adverse economic and industry conditions by limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate and may place us at a competitive disadvantage as compared to our competitors that have less debt.

Your ability to transfer the Notes may be limited by the absence of an organized trading market.

The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not currently intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any securities exchange or have the Notes quoted on any automated quotation system. Although certain of the underwriters have informed us that they currently intend to make a market in the Notes, they are not obligated to do so. In addition, the underwriters may discontinue any such market making at any time without notice. The liquidity of any market for the Notes will depend on the number of holders of the Notes, the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the Notes and other factors. Accordingly, we can give no assurance as to the development, continuation or liquidity of any market for the Notes.

We have a holding company structure in which our subsidiaries conduct our operations and own our operating assets.

We are a holding company, and our subsidiaries conduct all of our operations and own all of our operating assets. We have no significant assets other than the ownership interests in our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make required payments on the Notes depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us. The ability of our subsidiaries to make distributions to us may be restricted by, among other things, credit facilities and applicable state partnership laws and other laws and regulations. Pursuant to our credit facilities, we may be required to establish cash reserves for the future payment of principal and interest on the amounts outstanding under our credit facilities. If we are unable to obtain the funds necessary to pay the principal amount at maturity of the Notes, we may be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as a refinancing of the Notes. We cannot assure you that we would be able to refinance the Notes.

We do not have the same flexibility as other types of organizations to accumulate cash, which may limit cash available to service the Notes or to repay them at maturity.

Unlike a corporation, our partnership agreement requires us to distribute, on a quarterly basis, 100% of our available cash to our unitholders of record and our general partner. Available cash is generally all of our cash receipts adjusted for cash distributions and net changes to reserves. Our general partner will determine the amount and timing of such distributions and has broad discretion to establish and make additions to our reserves or the reserves of our operating partnerships in amounts the general partner determines in its reasonable discretion to be necessary or appropriate:

 

•

to provide for the proper conduct of our business and the businesses of our operating partnerships (including reserves for future capital expenditures and for our anticipated future credit needs);

 

•

to provide funds for distributions to our unitholders and the general partner for any one or more of the next four calendar quarters; or

 

•

to comply with applicable law or any of our loan or other agreements.

Although our payment obligations to our unitholders are subordinate to our payment obligations to you, the value of our units will decrease in direct correlation with decreases in the amount we distribute per unit. Accordingly, if we experience a liquidity problem in the future, we may not be able to issue equity to recapitalize.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The net proceeds of this offering will be approximately $             million after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated offering expenses. We expect to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay outstanding borrowings under our commercial paper program and for general partnership purposes. Amounts repaid under our commercial paper program may be reborrowed, as necessary, to fund our ongoing expansion capital program or future acquisitions, or for general partnership purposes.

Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are dealers under our commercial paper program and may hold commercial paper notes thereunder. Accordingly, they may receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering. Please read “Underwriting” in this prospectus supplement for further information.

As of August 29, 2014, we had approximately $1.1 billion of borrowings outstanding under our commercial paper program with a weighted average interest rate of approximately 0.30%. The outstanding borrowings under our commercial paper program have maturity dates of approximately two weeks or less. Our commercial paper program is backstopped by our senior secured hedged inventory facility and our senior unsecured revolving credit facility.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated on a consolidated historical basis. For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations before income from equity investees plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest), distributed income of equity investees and amortization of capitalized interest. “Fixed charges” represent interest incurred (whether expensed or capitalized), amortization of debt expense (including discounts and premiums relating to indebtedness) and the portion of rental expense on leases deemed to be the equivalent of interest.

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2014

Years Ended December 31,

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)

4.35x

4.41x

4.03x

4.13x

2.57x

3.00x

 

(1)	Includes interest costs attributable to borrowings for hedged inventory purchases of $7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and $30 million, $12 million, $20 million, $17 million and $11 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of June 30, 2014:

 

•

on a historical basis; and

 

•

on an as adjusted basis to give effect to the sale of the Notes offered hereby and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.

This table should also be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the notes thereto that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

 

		As of June 30, 2014
		Historical				As adjusted
		(In millions)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		$	27			$
SHORT-TERM DEBT(1)(2)
PAA senior secured hedged inventory facility		$	—			$	—
PAA senior unsecured revolving credit facility			—				—
PAA commercial paper notes			760
Other			3				3
Total short-term debt		$	763			$
LONG-TERM DEBT
Senior notes, net of unamortized discounts		$	7,409			$	7,409
Notes offered hereby, net of unamortized discount			—
Long-term debt under credit facilities and other			5				5
Total long-term debt		$	7,414			$
PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
Common unitholders		$	7,731			$	7,731
General partner			332				332
Total partners’ capital excluding noncontrolling interests			8,053				8,053
Noncontrolling interests			59				59
Total partners’ capital		$	8,112			$	8,112
Total capitalization		$	15,526			$

 

(1)

We classify as short-term certain borrowings under our PAA senior secured hedged inventory facility, our PAA senior unsecured revolving credit facility and our commercial paper program. These borrowings are primarily designated as working capital borrowings, must be repaid within one year and are primarily for hedged NGL and crude oil inventory and NYMEX and ICE margin deposits.

(2)

On a historical and on an as adjusted basis as of June 30, 2014, our Canadian subsidiary, Plains Midstream Canada ULC, was the obligor on approximately $148 million and $             million, respectively, of outstanding commercial paper notes. As of August 29, 2014, we had approximately $1.1 billion of borrowings outstanding under our commercial paper program and no borrowings outstanding under our senior secured hedged inventory facility or our senior unsecured revolving credit facility.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

We will issue the Notes under an indenture (the “Base Indenture”) dated as of September 25, 2002, among us, the subsidiary guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee, and a supplemental indenture thereto with respect to the Notes to be dated as of September     , 2014 (the Base Indenture, as supplemented by such supplemental indenture, the “Indenture”). The Notes will constitute a new series of debt securities under the Indenture, and multiple other series are now outstanding under the Base Indenture, each issued under a separate supplemental indenture.

As used in this description, the terms “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and PAA Finance Corp. as co-issuers of the Notes and not to any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, and references to “Plains All American Pipeline” are to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. Other capitalized terms that are used in this section of the prospectus supplement have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture, and we have included some of those definitions at the end of this section. See “—Definitions.” Also, in this section, the term “holders” means The Depository Trust Company or its nominee and not the persons who own beneficial interests in the Notes through participants in The Depository Trust Company. Please review the special considerations that apply to beneficial owners under “Book Entry, Delivery and Form.”

The terms of the Notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We urge you to read the Indenture because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of Notes. You may request copies of the Base Indenture and the supplemental indenture creating the Notes from us as set forth under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

This description is intended to be an overview of the material provisions of the Notes and is intended to supplement and, to the extent of any inconsistency, replace the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set forth in the accompanying base prospectus, to which we refer you. Since this description is only a summary, you should refer to the Indenture for a complete description of our obligations and your rights.

General Description of the Notes

The Notes will be:

 

•

our senior unsecured indebtedness ranking equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness;

 

•

a new series of debt securities issued under the Indenture;

 

•

non-recourse to our general partner;

 

•

senior in right of payment to any of our future subordinated indebtedness;

 

•

effectively junior to any of our existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the security for that debt; and

 

•

effectively junior to existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of our subsidiaries, including trade payables, other than subsidiaries that may guarantee the Notes in the future.

As of June 30, 2014, on an as adjusted basis as described under “Capitalization,” the Notes would have been effectively subordinated to $             million of short-term secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to all of our subsidiaries’ outstanding indebtedness, which totaled approximately $             million at that date. See “Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Notes—Your right to receive payments on the Notes is unsecured and will be effectively subordinated to our existing and future secured indebtedness and will be structurally subordinated as to any existing and future indebtedness and other obligations of our subsidiaries, other than subsidiaries that may guarantee the Notes in the future.”

 

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The Indenture will not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that may be issued thereunder and provides that debt securities may be issued thereunder from time to time in one or more series. Except to the extent described under “—Covenants,” the Indenture does not limit our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to incur either secured or unsecured additional indebtedness.

Further Issuances

We may, from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the Notes, create and issue additional Notes ranking equally and ratably with the Notes offered hereby in all respects, so that such additional Notes will be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes and will have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise as the Notes (except for the issue date, the initial interest payment date, if applicable, and the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional Notes).

Principal, Maturity and Interest

We will issue the Notes in an initial aggregate principal amount of $             million. The Notes will mature on                 , 2024. The Notes will bear interest at the annual rate of         %. Interest on the Notes will accrue from                 , 2014 and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on             and             of each year, beginning                 , 2015. We will make each interest payment to the holders of record at the close of business on the             and             preceding such interest payment dates. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. We will issue the Notes in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

If any interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date of the Notes is not a business day, then the related payment of interest or principal payable, as applicable, on such date will be paid on the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect as if made on such interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date and no further interest will accrue as a result of such delay.

No Liability of General Partner

Plains All American Pipeline’s general partner and its directors, officers, employees and member (in their capacities as such) will not have any liability for our obligations under the Notes. In addition, the Managing General Partner, and its directors, officers, employees and members, will not have any liability for our obligations under the Notes. By accepting the Notes, each holder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the Notes. This waiver may not be effective, however, to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Possible Future Guarantees

Initially, the Notes will not be guaranteed by any of our Subsidiaries. If at any time after the issuance of the Notes, including following any release of a future subsidiary guarantor from its guarantee under the Indenture, a Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline (including any future Subsidiary) guarantees any of our debt, we will cause such Subsidiary to guarantee the Notes in accordance with the Indenture by simultaneously executing and delivering a supplemental indenture.

Provided that no default shall have occurred and shall be continuing under the Indenture, a future subsidiary guarantor will be unconditionally released and discharged from its guarantee:

 

•

upon any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of that subsidiary guarantor, including by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, to any person that is not our affiliate (provided such sale or other disposition is not prohibited by the Indenture);

 

 

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•

upon any sale or other disposition of all of our direct or indirect equity interests in that subsidiary guarantor to any person that is not our affiliate; or

 

•

following delivery of a written notice of the release from the guarantee by us to the trustee, upon the release of all guarantees by the subsidiary guarantor of any debt of ours (other than debt securities issued under the Indenture).

Optional Redemption

The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option at any time and from time to time prior to maturity. If we redeem the Notes before                 , 2024 (three months prior to their maturity date), the Notes may be redeemed at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, and (b) as determined by the Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed (not including any portion of those payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming 360-day years, each consisting of twelve 30-day months), at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus             basis points, together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.

If we redeem the Notes on or after                 , 2024 (three months prior to their maturity date), the redemption price will equal 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

“Adjusted Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any date of redemption, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the date of redemption.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any date of redemption (a) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for the date of redemption, after excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (b) if the trustee obtains fewer than five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

“Quotation Agent” means a Primary Treasury Dealer (as defined below) appointed by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means J.P. Morgan Securites LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, or their respective successors; provided, however, if any of the foregoing ceases to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in the United States (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we shall substitute another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any date of redemption, the average, as determined by the trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the trustee by that Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding that date of redemption.

Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

 

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On or before a redemption date, we will deposit with a paying agent (or with the trustee) sufficient money to pay the redemption price and accrued interest on the Notes to be redeemed.

If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the trustee will select Notes (or any portion of Notes in integral multiples of $1,000) for redemption as follows:

 

•

if the Notes are listed, in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which such Notes are listed; or

 

•

if the Notes are not so listed or there are no such requirements, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

However, no Note with a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. Notice of any such optional redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to that Note will state the portion of the principal amount of that Note to be redeemed.

Events of Default

Each of the following is an “Event of Default”:

 

•

default in payment when due of the principal of or any premium on any Note at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

 

•

default for 60 days in the payment when due of interest on any Note;

 

•

failure by us or, if and so long as the Notes are guaranteed by a subsidiary guarantor, by such subsidiary guarantor, for 90 days after receipt of notice from the trustee or the holders to comply with any other term, covenant or warranty in the Indenture or the Notes (provided that notice need not be given, and an Event of Default will occur, 90 days after any breach of the covenants described under “—Consolidation, Merger or Sale”);

 

•

default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any debt for money borrowed of us or any of the Subsidiaries of Plains All American Pipeline (or the payment of which is guaranteed by Plains All American Pipeline or any of its Subsidiaries), whether such debt or guarantee now exists or is created after the Issue Date, if (a) that default (x) is caused by a failure to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such debt prior to the expiration of any grace period provided in such debt (a “Payment Default”), or (y) results in the acceleration of the maturity of such debt to a date prior to its originally stated maturity, and, (b) in each case described in clause (x) or (y) above, the principal amount of any such debt, together with the principal amount of any other such debt under which there has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $25 million or more; provided that if any such default is cured or waived or any such acceleration rescinded, or such debt is repaid, within a period of 30 days from the continuation of such default beyond the applicable grace period or the occurrence of such acceleration, as the case may be, such Event of Default and any consequential acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically rescinded, so long as such rescission does not conflict with any judgment or decree;

 

•

specified events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of us or, if and so long as the Notes are guaranteed by a subsidiary guarantor, by such subsidiary guarantor; or

 

•

if and so long as the Notes are guaranteed by a subsidiary guarantor:

 

•

the guarantee by such subsidiary guarantor ceases to be in full force and effect, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture;

 

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the guarantee by such subsidiary guarantor is declared null and void in a judicial proceeding; or

 

•

such subsidiary guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or its guarantee.

An Event of Default regarding the Notes will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture. In the case of an Event of Default arising from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving us, but not any subsidiary guarantor, all outstanding Notes will become due and payable immediately without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Notes, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes may declare all the Notes to be due and payable immediately.

Within five days after any of our officers becomes aware of the occurrence of any Default (meaning an event that is, or after the giving of notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default) or Event of Default, we are required to give an officers’ certificate to the trustee specifying the Default or Event of Default and what action we are taking or propose to take to cure it. In addition, we and the subsidiary guarantors, if any, are required to deliver to the trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an officers’ certificate indicating that we have complied with all covenants contained in the Indenture or whether any Default or Event of Default has occurred during the previous year.

If a Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the trustee, the trustee must mail to each holder of the Notes a notice of the Default within 90 days after the Default occurs. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to the Notes, the trustee may withhold such notice, but only if and so long as a committee of responsible officers of the trustee in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of such holders.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We will not merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into any other Person or sell, convey, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets to any Person, whether in a single transaction or series of related transactions, except in accordance with the provisions of the partnership agreement of Plains All American Pipeline, and unless:

 

•

we are the surviving Person in the case of a merger, or the surviving Person:

 

•

is a partnership, limited liability company or corporation organized under the laws of the United States, a state thereof or the District of Columbia, provided that PAA Finance Corp. may not merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into another Person other than a corporation satisfying such requirement for so long as Plains All American Pipeline is not a corporation; and

 

•

expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all of the Notes, and the due and punctual performance or observance of all the other obligations under the Indenture to be performed or observed by us;

 

•

immediately after giving effect to the transaction or series of transactions, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;

 

•

if we are not the surviving Person, then any subsidiary guarantor, unless such subsidiary guarantor is the Person with which we have consummated a transaction under this provision, shall have confirmed that its guarantee of the Notes shall continue to apply to the obligations under the Notes and the Indenture; and

 

•

we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel, each stating that the merger, amalgamation, consolidation, sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition, and if a supplemental indenture is required, the supplemental indenture, comply with the Indenture and all other conditions precedent to the transaction have been complied with.

 

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Thereafter, the surviving Person will be substituted for us under the Indenture. If we sell or otherwise dispose of (except by lease) all or substantially all of our assets and the above stated requirements are satisfied, we will be released from all our liabilities and obligations under the Indenture. If we lease all or substantially all of our assets, we will not be so released from our obligations under the Indenture.

Modification of the Indenture

Generally, we, any subsidiary guarantors and the trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture, any guarantees and the Notes with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes. However, without the consent of each holder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Notes held by a nonconsenting holder):

 

•

reduce the principal amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

•

reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any Note;

 

•

reduce or waive the premium payable upon redemption or alter or waive the other provisions with respect to the redemption of any Notes;

 

•

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Note;

 

•

waive a Default or an Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on, any Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

•

release any security that may have been granted with respect to the Notes;

 

•

make any note payable in currency other than that stated in the Notes;

 

•

make any change in the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes;

 

•

waive a redemption payment with respect to any Note;

 

•

except as otherwise permitted in the Indenture, release any subsidiary guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee or the Indenture or change any guarantee in any manner that would adversely affect the rights of holders; or

 

•

make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions (except to increase any percentage set forth therein).

Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, without the consent of any holder of Notes, we, any subsidiary guarantors and the trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Notes:

 

•

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

•

to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes;

 

•

to provide for the assumption of our or the confirmation of any subsidiary guarantor’s obligations to holders of Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets;

 

•

to add or release any subsidiary guarantors as permitted pursuant to the terms of the Indenture (see “—Possible Future Guarantees”);

 

•

to make any changes that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of Notes that do not, taken as a whole, adversely affect the rights under the Indenture of any holder of the Notes;

 

•

to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

 

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to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture of a successor trustee;

 

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to add any additional Events of Default;

 

•

to secure the Notes and/or any guarantees; or

 

•

to establish the form or terms of any other series of debt securities under the Base Indenture.

Covenants

Limitations on Liens

We will not, nor will we permit any Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any lien upon any Principal Property or upon any Capital Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned or leased or hereafter acquired, to secure any of our debt or any debt of any other Person (other than debt securities issued under the Indenture), without in any such case making effective provision whereby all of the Notes shall be secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such debt so long as such debt shall be so secured. The following are excluded from this restriction:

 

•

Permitted Liens;

 

•

any lien upon any property or assets created at the time of acquisition of such property or assets by us or any Restricted Subsidiary or within one year after such time to secure all or a portion of the purchase price for such property or assets or debt incurred to finance such purchase price, whether such debt was incurred prior to, at the time of or within one year after the date of such acquisition;

 

•

any lien upon any property or assets to secure all or part of the cost of construction, development, repair or improvements thereon or to secure debt incurred prior to, at the time of, or within one year after completion of such construction, development, repair or improvements or the commencement of full operations thereof (whichever is later), to provide funds for any such purpose;

 

•

any lien upon any property or assets existing thereon at the time of the acquisition thereof by us or any Restricted Subsidiary (whether or not the obligations secured thereby are assumed by us or any Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that such lien only encumbers the property or assets so acquired;

 

•

any lien upon any property or assets of a Person existing thereon at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary by acquisition, merger or otherwise; provided, however, that such lien only encumbers the property or assets of such Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

•

any lien upon any of our property or assets or the property or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary in existence on December 10, 2003 or provided for pursuant to agreements existing on December 10, 2003;

 

•

liens imposed by law or order as a result of any proceeding before any court or regulatory body that is being contested in good faith, and liens which secure a judgment or other court ordered award or settlement as to which we or the applicable Restricted Subsidiary has not exhausted its appellate rights;

 

•

any extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement, or successive extensions, renewals, refinancings, refundings or replacements of liens, in whole or in part, referred to above; provided, however, that any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be limited to the property or assets covered by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and that the obligations secured by any such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement lien shall be in an amount not greater than the amount of the obligations secured by the lien extended, renewed, refinanced, refunded or replaced and any of our expenses and the expenses of the Restricted Subsidiaries (including any premium) incurred in connection with such extension, renewal, refinancing, refunding or replacement; or

 

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•

any lien resulting from the deposit of moneys or evidence of indebtedness in trust for the purpose of defeasing our debt or debt of any Restricted Subsidiary.

Notwithstanding the preceding, we may, and may permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, assume, incur, or suffer to exist any lien upon any Principal Property or Capital Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary to secure our debt or debt of any Person (other than debt securities issued under the Indenture), that is not excepted above without securing the Notes, provided that the aggregate principal amount of all debt then outstanding secured by such lien and all other liens not excepted above, together with all Attributable Indebtedness from Sale-leaseback Transactions, excluding Sale-leaseback Transactions permitted in the first paragraph under “—Limitations on Sale-leasebacks,” does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Limitations on Sale-Leasebacks

We will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, engage in a Sale-leaseback Transaction, unless:

 

•

such Sale-leaseback Transaction occurs within one year from the date of completion of the acquisition of the Principal Property subject thereto or the date of the completion of construction, development or substantial repair or improvement, or commencement of full operations on such Principal Property, whichever is later;

 

•

the Sale-leaseback Transaction involves a lease for a period, including renewals, of not more than three years;

 

•

the Attributable Indebtedness from that Sale-leaseback Transaction is an amount equal to or less than the amount that we or such Subsidiary would be allowed to incur as debt secured by a lien on the Principal Property subject thereto without equally and ratably securing the Notes; or

 

•

we or such Subsidiary, within a one-year period after such Sale-leaseback Transaction, applies or causes to be applied an amount not less than the net sale proceeds from such Sale-leaseback Transaction to (A) the prepayment, repayment, redemption, reduction or retirement of any Pari Passu Debt of us or any Subsidiary, or (B) the expenditure or expenditures for Principal Property used or to be used in the ordinary course of the business of Plains All American Pipeline or that of its Subsidiaries.

Notwithstanding the preceding, we may, and may permit any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline to, effect any Sale-leaseback Transaction that is not excepted above, provided that the Attributable Indebtedness from such Sale-leaseback Transaction, together with the aggregate principal amount of then outstanding debt (other than debt securities issued under the Indenture) secured by liens upon Principal Properties not excepted in the first paragraph under “—Limitations on Liens,” do not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

SEC Reports

Regardless of whether Plains All American Pipeline is required to remain subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, it will electronically file with the SEC, so long as the Notes are outstanding, the annual, quarterly and other periodic reports that it is required to file (or would otherwise be required to file) with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and such documents will be filed with the SEC on or prior to the respective dates (the “Required Filing Dates”) by which it is required to file (or would otherwise be required to file) such documents, unless, in each case, such filings are not then permitted by the SEC.

If such filings are not then permitted by the SEC, or such filings are not generally available on the Internet free of charge, we will provide the trustee with, and the trustee will mail to any holder of Notes requesting in writing to the trustee copies of, such annual, quarterly and other periodic reports specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act within 15 days after its Required Filing Date.

 

 

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Defeasance and Discharge

At any time we may terminate all our obligations under the Indenture (“legal defeasance”), except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and timely payments therefrom and obligations to register the transfer of or exchange the Notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and to maintain a registrar and paying agent for the Notes.

Also, at any time we may terminate our obligations under covenants described in the first paragraph of “—Possible Future Guarantees,” under “—Covenants” and under “—SEC Reports” (“covenant defeasance”), and thereafter our failure to comply with any of such covenants would not constitute an Event of Default.

We may exercise our legal defeasance option notwithstanding our prior exercise of our covenant defeasance option. If we exercise our legal defeasance option, any guarantee obligation with respect to the Notes will be deemed to have been discharged.

In order to exercise either defeasance option, we must irrevocably deposit in trust (the “defeasance trust”) with the trustee money, U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) or a combination thereof for the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the defeased Notes to redemption or stated maturity, as the case may be, and must comply with certain other conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel to the effect that holders of such Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred. In the case of legal defeasance only, such opinion of counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable federal income tax law.

In the event of any legal defeasance, holders of the defeased Notes would be entitled to look only to the trust for payment of principal of and any premium and interest on their Notes until maturity.

Although the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee would be intended to be sufficient to pay amounts due on the defeased Notes at the time of their stated maturity, if we exercise our covenant defeasance option for the Notes and the Notes are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the Notes at the time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. We would remain liable for such payments, however.

In addition, we may satisfy and discharge all our obligations under the Indenture, other than certain obligations to the trustee and our obligation to register the transfer of or exchange the Notes, provided that we either:

 

•

deliver all outstanding Notes to the trustee for cancellation; or

 

•

all Notes not so delivered for cancellation have either become due and payable or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year, and in the case of this bullet point we have irrevocably deposited with the trustee in trust an amount of cash or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness of the Notes, including interest and premium, if any, to the stated maturity or applicable redemption date;

and comply with the other requirements of the Indenture in relation to satisfaction and discharge.

 

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Definitions

“Attributable Indebtedness,” when used with respect to any Sale-leaseback Transaction, means, as at the time of determination, the present value, discounted at the rate set forth or implicit in the terms of the lease included in such transaction, of the total obligations of the lessee for rental payments, other than amounts required to be paid on account of property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance, assessments, utilities, operating and labor costs and other items that do not constitute payments for property rights during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale-leaseback Transaction including any period for which such lease has been extended. In the case of any lease that is terminable by the lessee upon the payment of a penalty or other termination payment, such amount shall be the lesser of the amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be terminated, in which case the amount shall also include the amount of the penalty or termination payment, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated, or the amount determined assuming no such termination.

“Board of Directors” means (a) with respect to Plains All American Pipeline, the board of directors of the Managing General Partner, and (b) with respect to PAA Finance Corp., its board of directors or, in each case, with respect to any determination or resolution permitted to be made under the Indenture, any authorized committee or subcommittee of such board.

“Capital Interests” means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock, including, without limitation, with respect to partnerships, partnership interests (whether general or limited) and any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, such Person.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, at any date of determination, the total amount of assets after deducting therefrom:

(1) all current liabilities excluding:

(a) any current liabilities that by their terms are extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor thereon to a time more than 12 months after the time as of which the amount thereof is being computed; and

(b) current maturities of long-term debt; and

(2) the amount, net of any applicable reserves, of all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents and other like intangible assets,

all as set forth on the consolidated balance sheet of Plains All American Pipeline for its most recently completed fiscal quarter, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Funded Debt” means all debt maturing one year or more from the date of the creation thereof, all debt directly or indirectly renewable or extendible, at the option of the debtor, by its terms or by the terms of any instrument or agreement relating thereto, to a date one year or more from the date of the creation thereof, and all debt under a revolving credit or similar agreement obligating the lender or lenders to extend credit over a period of one year or more.

“Issue Date” means the date on which the Notes are initially issued.

“Managing General Partner” means (i) Plains All American GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (and its successors and permitted assigns), as general partner of Plains AAP, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (and its successors and permitted assigns), as sole member of PAA GP LLC (and its successors and permitted assigns), as general partner of Plains All American Pipeline or (ii) the business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of Plains All American Pipeline.

 

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“Pari Passu Debt” means any of our Funded Debt, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, unless, in the case of any particular Funded Debt, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such Funded Debt shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes.

“Permitted Liens” means:

(1) Liens upon rights-of-way for pipeline purposes;

(2) any statutory or governmental lien or lien arising by operation of law, or any mechanics’, repairmen’s, materialmen’s, suppliers’, carriers’, landlords’, warehousemen’s or similar lien incurred in the ordinary course of business which is not yet due or which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and any undetermined lien which is incidental to construction, development, improvement or repair;

(3) the right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or public authority by the terms of any right, power, franchise, grant, license, permit or by any provision of law, to purchase or recapture or to designate a purchaser of any property;

(4) liens of taxes and assessments which are: (a) for the then current year, (b) not at the time delinquent, or (c) delinquent but the validity of which is being contested at the time by us or any Restricted Subsidiary in good faith;

(5) liens of, or to secure performance of, leases, other than capital leases;

(6) any lien upon, or deposits of, any assets in favor of any surety company or clerk of court for the purpose of obtaining indemnity or stay of judicial proceedings;

(7) any lien upon property or assets acquired or sold by us or any Restricted Subsidiary resulting from the exercise of any rights arising out of defaults on receivables;

(8) any lien incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, temporary disability, social security, retiree health or similar laws or regulations or to secure obligations imposed by statute or governmental regulations;

(9) any lien in favor of us or any Restricted Subsidiary;

(10) any lien in favor of the United States of America or any state thereof, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any state thereof, to secure partial, progress, advance, or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute, or any debt incurred by us or any Restricted Subsidiary for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price of, or the cost of constructing, developing, repairing or improving, the property or assets subject to such lien;

(11) any lien securing industrial development, pollution control or similar revenue bonds;

(12) any lien securing our debt or debt of any Restricted Subsidiary, all or a portion of the net proceeds of which are used, substantially concurrently with the funding thereof (and for purposes of determining such “substantial concurrence,” taking into consideration, among other things, required notices to be given to holders of outstanding debt securities under the Indenture (including the Notes) in connection with such refunding, refinancing or repurchase, and the required corresponding durations thereof), to refinance, refund or repurchase all outstanding debt securities under the Indenture (including the Notes), including the amount of all accrued interest thereon and reasonable fees and expenses and premium, if any, incurred by us or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith;

(13) liens in favor of any Person to secure obligations under the provisions of any letters of credit, bank guarantees, bonds or surety obligations required or requested by any governmental authority in connection with any contract or statute;

(14) any lien upon or deposits of any assets to secure performance of bids, trade contracts, leases or statutory obligations;

 

 

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(15) any lien or privilege vested in any grantor, lessor or licensor or permittor for rent or other charges due or for any other obligations or acts to be performed, the payment of which rent or other charges or performance of which other obligations or acts is required under leases, easements, rights-of-way, licenses, franchises, privileges, grants or permits, so long as payment of such rent or the performance of such other obligations or acts is not delinquent or the requirement for such payment or performance is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(16) easements, exceptions or reservations in any property of Plains All American Pipeline or any property of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries granted or reserved for the purpose of pipelines, roads, the removal of oil, gas, coal or other minerals, and other like purposes for the joint or common use of real property, facilities and equipment, which are incidental to, and do not materially interfere with, the ordinary conduct of its business or the business of Plains All American Pipeline and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

(17) liens arising under operating agreements, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, oil and gas leases, farmout agreements, division orders, contracts for sale, transportation or exchange of oil and natural gas, unitization and pooling declarations and agreements, area of mutual interest agreements and other agreements arising in the ordinary course of Plains All American Pipeline’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s business that are customary in the business of marketing, transportation and terminalling of crude oil and/or marketing of liquefied petroleum gas; or

(18) any obligations or duties to any municipality or public authority with respect to any lease, easement, right-of-way, license, franchise, privilege, permit or grant.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association, joint stock company, trust, other entity, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Principal Property” means, whether owned or leased on the Issue Date or thereafter acquired:

(1) any of the pipeline assets of Plains All American Pipeline or the pipeline assets of any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline, including any related facilities employed in the transportation, distribution, terminalling, gathering, treating, processing, marketing or storage of crude oil or refined petroleum products, natural gas, natural gas liquids, fuel additives or petrochemicals; and

(2) any processing or manufacturing plant or terminal owned or leased by Plains All American Pipeline or any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline; except, in either case above: (a) any such assets consisting of inventories, furniture, office fixtures and equipment, including data processing equipment, vehicles and equipment used on, or useful with, vehicles, and (b) any such assets, plant or terminal which, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, is not material in relation to the activities of Plains All American Pipeline or the activities of Plains All American Pipeline and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline owning or leasing, directly or indirectly through ownership in another Subsidiary, any Principal Property.

“Sale-leaseback Transaction” means the sale or transfer by us or any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline of any Principal Property to a Person (other than us or a Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline) and the taking back by us or any Subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline, as the case may be, of a lease of such Principal Property.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

(1) any other Person of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares or other Capital Interests entitled, without regard to the occurrence of any contingency, to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees (or equivalent persons) thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof; or

 

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(2) in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the partners’ Capital Interests, considering all partners’ Capital Interests as a single class, is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof.

 

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BOOK ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM

We will issue the Notes in the form of one or more fully registered global notes, without coupons, each of which we refer to as a “Global Note.” Each such Global Note will be registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of a depositary and held through one or more international and domestic clearing systems, principally the book-entry systems operated by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, in the United States and by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., or the Euroclear Operator, as an operator of the Euroclear System, or Euroclear, and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, or Clearstream, in Europe. Unless and until definitive notes are issued, all references to actions by holders of Notes issued in global form refer to actions taken by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, upon instructions from their respective participants, and all references to payments and notices to the holders refer to payments and notices to DTC, its nominee, Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, as the registered holder of the Notes. Electronic notes and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links have been established among these systems and others, either directly or indirectly, which enable Global Notes to be issued, held and transferred among these clearing systems through these links.

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the procedures described below in order to facilitate transfers of Global Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the Trustee or any registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Notes will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream or any of their respective direct or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing DTC’s, Euroclear’s or Clearstream’s operations.

The Notes in the form of one or more Global Notes will be registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC. Where appropriate, links will be established among DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream to facilitate the initial issuance of any Notes sold outside the United States and cross-market transfers of the Notes associated with secondary market trading. Although the following information concerning DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, we take no responsibility for the accuracy of that information.

Depository Procedures

DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions in those securities between the Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the Participants thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the NYSE Alternext LLC and the Financial Regulatory Authority, Inc. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants or Indirect Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interest and transfer of ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security held by or on behalf of DTC is recorded on the records of the Participants and the Indirect Participants.

DTC has also advised us that pursuant to procedures established by it, (a) upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of Participants designated by the underwriters with portions of the principal amount

 

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of the Global Notes and (b) ownership of such interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes).

Investors in the Global Notes may hold their interests therein directly through DTC, if they are Participants in such system, or indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) which are Participants in such system. Euroclear and Clearstream will hold any interests in the Global Notes on behalf of their participants through their respective depositories, which in turn will hold such interests on the books of DTC. All interests in a Global Note, including any held through Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and requirements of DTC. Any interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such system.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons may be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of the Participants, which in turn act on behalf of the Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a person having beneficial interests in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests. For certain other restrictions on the transferability of the Notes, see “—Exchange of Book Entry Notes for Certificated Notes.”

Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global Notes will not have Notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of Notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof under the Indenture for any purpose.

Payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC or its nominee in its capacity as the registered holder under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, we and the trustee will treat the persons in whose names the Notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Consequently, neither we nor the underwriters, the trustee nor any of our or their agents has or will have any responsibility or liability for (1) any aspect or accuracy of DTC’s records or any Participant’s or Indirect Participant’s records relating to the beneficial ownership or (2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of the Participants or the Indirect Participants.

DTC has advised us that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the Notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date, in amounts proportionate to their respective interests in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of Notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the trustee or us. Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of the Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the Notes, and we and the trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee as the registered owner of the Global Notes for all purposes.

Except for trades involving only Euroclear and Clearstream participants, secondary market trading activity in interests in the Global Notes will settle in same-day funds, subject in all cases to the rules and procedures of DTC and the Participants. Transfers between accountholders in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.

 

 

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Cross-market transfers between the accountholders in DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Euroclear or Clearstream accountholders, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its depository; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its depository to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear and Clearstream accountholders may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.

Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream accountholder purchasing an interest in a Global Note from an accountholder in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream accountholder to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of Notes only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account with DTC interests in the Global Notes are credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if any of the events described under “—Exchange of Book Entry Notes for Certificated Notes” occurs, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for Notes in certificated form and to distribute such Notes to its Participants.

Neither we, the underwriters, the trustee nor any of our respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants, indirect participants or accountholders of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Exchange of Book Entry Notes for Certificated Notes

A Global Note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered certificated form if (1) DTC (a) notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the Global Note or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and (2) we fail to appoint a successor depository within 90 days. In all cases, certificated notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of DTC (in accordance with its customary procedures).

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes. The discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations issued thereunder, and judicial decisions and administrative interpretations now in effect, all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, or are subject to different interpretations. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) will take a similar view of such consequences, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership or disposition of the Notes. This discussion is limited to initial beneficial owners who purchase the Notes for cash at their issue price (the first price at which a substantial amount of the Notes is sold to investors, not including bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) and who hold the Notes as capital assets (generally property held for investment).

In this discussion, we do not purport to address all tax considerations that may be important to a particular holder in light of the holder’s special circumstances, or to certain categories of holders that may be subject to special rules, such as:

 

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dealers in securities or currencies;

 

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traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings;

 

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banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions;

 

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former U.S. citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

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tax-exempt organizations;

 

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regulated investment companies;

 

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real estate investment trusts;

 

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holders subject to the alternative minimum tax;

 

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persons holding Notes as part of a straddle transaction, hedging transaction, conversion transaction or other synthetic security” or integrated transaction;

 

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U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

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persons deemed to sell the Notes under constructive sale provisions of the Code; and

 

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partnerships and other pass-through entities and holders of interests therein.

In addition, the discussion does not consider the effect of U.S. federal estate tax laws or gift tax laws or of any applicable foreign, state, local or other tax laws or income tax treaties.

If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of Notes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. Partners in partnerships acquiring Notes are encouraged to consult their tax advisors about the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of the Notes.

PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICATION OF THE TAX CONSEQUENCES DISCUSSED BELOW TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS, AS WELL AS THE APPLICATION OF U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAX LAWS OR INCOME TAX TREATIES.

 

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Certain Additional Payments

In certain circumstances (see “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption”), we may pay amounts in excess of the stated interest and principal on the Notes. We intend to take the position that the possibility that such additional amounts will be paid does not cause the Notes to be treated as contingent payment debt instruments. It is possible that the IRS might take a different position, in which case, the timing, character and amount of taxable income in respect of the Notes may be different from that described herein. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the Notes are not contingent payment debt instruments. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the contingent payment debt instrument rules to the Notes.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of U.S. Holders

As used herein, a “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Note that is:

 

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an individual who is a citizen or resident alien of the United States;

 

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a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;

 

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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

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a trust, if (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (ii) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person.

Interest on the Notes

Interest on a Note generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Disposition of Notes

Upon the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of a Note, a U.S. Holder will generally recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between proceeds received on the disposition (excluding any proceeds attributable to accrued but unpaid interest which is taxable as ordinary interest income to the extent not previously included in income) and such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Note. The amount realized by a U.S. Holder will include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any other property received for the Note. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a Note will generally equal the purchase price paid by such holder for the Note.

In general, any gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of a Note by a U.S. Holder will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of disposition, the U.S. Holder has held the Note for more than one year. The long-term capital gains of individuals, estates and trusts currently are subject to a reduced rate of U.S. federal income tax. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information reporting will generally apply to payments of interest on, and the proceeds of the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other disposition of, Notes held by a U.S. Holder, and backup withholding may apply unless the U.S. Holder provides the applicable withholding agent with a taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, as well as certain other information or otherwise establishes an

 

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exemption from backup withholding. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and a refund may be obtained if the amounts withheld exceed the U.S. Holder’s actual U.S. federal income tax liability and the U.S. Holder timely provides the required information or appropriate claim form to the IRS.

Additional Tax on Net Investment Income

An additional 3.8% tax is imposed on the “net investment income” of certain U.S. citizens and resident aliens, and on the undistributed “net investment income” of certain estates and trusts. Among other items, “net investment income” would generally include gross income from interest and net gain from the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of a Note, less certain deductions. Prospective investors should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the imposition of this additional tax.

U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

As used herein, a “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Note that is an individual, corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder.

Interest on the Notes

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and FATCA withholding, below, the payment to a Non-U.S. Holder of interest on a Note generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax and will be exempt from withholding of U.S. federal income tax under the “portfolio interest” exemption provided that interest on the Note is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by the Non-U.S. Holder and the Non-U.S. Holder:

 

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does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of our capital or profits interests;

 

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is not a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is actually or constructively related to us;

 

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is not a bank whose receipt of interest on the Note is in connection with an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business; and

 

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properly certifies as to his foreign status as described below.

The portfolio interest exemption generally applies only if a Non-U.S. Holder appropriately certifies as to its foreign status. A Non-U.S. Holder can generally meet this certification requirement by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form) to the applicable withholding agent.

If a Non-U.S. Holder holds a Note through a financial institution or other agent acting on its behalf, that Non-U.S. Holder may be required to provide appropriate certifications to the agent. That agent will then generally be required to provide appropriate certifications to the applicable withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. Special rules apply to foreign partnerships, estates and trusts, and in certain circumstances certifications as to foreign status of partners, trust owners or beneficiaries may have to be provided to the applicable withholding agent. In addition, special rules apply to qualified intermediaries that enter into withholding agreements with the IRS.

If a Non-U.S. Holder cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of interest made to the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless the Non-U.S. Holder provides the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form) claiming an exemption from or reduction of the rate of withholding under the benefit of an income tax treaty, or that the interest paid on the Note is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business in the United States and the Non-U.S. Holder satisfies the certification requirements described below. See “—Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business.”

 

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Disposition of Notes

Subject to the discussion of backup withholding and FATCA withholding, below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement, redemption or other taxable disposition of a Note unless:

 

•

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States (and if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained in the United States by the Non-U.S. Holder); or

 

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in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder who is a nonresident alien individual, such individual is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other conditions are met.

A Non-U.S. Holder whose gain is described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the manner described below under “—Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business”. A Non-U.S. Holder described in the second bullet point above generally will be subject to a flat 30% rate (or lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty) of U.S. federal income tax on the gain derived from the sale or other disposition, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses.

Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business

If a Non-U.S. Holder of a Note is engaged in a trade or business in the United States and interest on the Note is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, then the income or gain from the Note will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at regular graduated rates in the same manner as if that Non-U.S. Holder were a U.S. Holder, unless the Non-U.S. Holder can claim an exemption under the benefits of an income tax treaty. If a Non-U.S. Holder is eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty between the United States and his country of residence, any “effectively connected” income or gain will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by that Non-U.S. Holder in the United States. In addition, if such Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (unless an applicable income tax treaty provides for a lower rate) of its earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States. A Non-U.S. Holder can generally meet the certification requirements by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E (or applicable successor form) claiming exemption under an applicable income tax treaty) to the applicable withholding agent. For this purpose, interest received on a Note and gain recognized on the disposition of a Note will be included in earnings and profits if the interest or gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a U.S. trade or business.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Payments to a Non-U.S. Holder of interest on a Note, and amounts withheld from such payments, if any, generally will be required to be reported to the IRS and to the Non-U.S. Holder. Copies of these information returns reporting such interest payments and withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement.

Backup withholding generally will not apply to payments of interest and principal on a Note to a Non-U.S. Holder if the certification described in “U.S. Federal Income Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders—Interest on the Notes” is duly provided by the holder or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a United States person.

 

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Payment of the proceeds from a disposition of a Note effected by the U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting requirements and backup withholding unless the Non-U.S. Holder properly certifies under penalties of perjury as to its foreign status and certain other conditions are met or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Information reporting requirements and backup withholding generally will not apply to any payment of the proceeds of the sale of a Note effected outside the United States by a foreign office of a broker. However, unless such a broker has documentary evidence in its records that the holder is a Non-U.S. Holder and certain other conditions are met, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption, information reporting will apply to a payment of the proceeds of the sale of a Note effected outside the United States by such a broker if the broker is:

 

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a United States person;

 

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a foreign person that derives 50% or more of its gross income for certain periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the United States;

 

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a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes; or

 

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a foreign partnership that, at any time during its taxable year, has more than 50% of its income or capital interests owned by United States persons or is engaged in the conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld from payments to a Non-U.S. Holder under the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against such holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, and a refund of any excess may be obtained from the IRS if the required information or appropriate claim form is timely provided to the IRS.

Withholding on Payments to Certain Foreign Entities

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the U.S. Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (pursuant to the provisions of the “Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act” or “FATCA”) impose a 30% withholding tax on any U.S.-source interest paid on debt obligations issued on or after July 1, 2014, such as the Notes, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition of such obligations occurring after December 31, 2016, in each case, if paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code) (including, in some cases, when such foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity is acting as an intermediary), unless: (i) in the case of a foreign financial institution, such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments, and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding U.S. account holders of such institution (which includes certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners); (ii) in the case of a non-financial foreign entity, such entity certifies that it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or provides the withholding agent with a certification identifying its direct and indirect substantial United States owners; or (iii) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States with respect to these rules may be subject to different rules. Under certain circumstances, a beneficial owner of the Notes might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

The rules under FATCA are new and complex. You are encouraged to consult with your own tax advisor regarding the implications of FATCA on your investment in the Notes.

THE PRECEDING DISCUSSION OF MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR IS ENCOURAGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE PARTICULAR U.S. FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING, HOLDING AND DISPOSING OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY PROPOSED CHANGE IN APPLICABLE LAWS.

 

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UNDERWRITING

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement, dated the date of this prospectus supplement, between us and the underwriters named below, we have agreed to sell to each of the underwriters, for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., BNP Paribas Securities Corp. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated are acting as representatives, and the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase the principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite their respective names below:

 

Underwriter		Principal Amount
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC		$
Barclays Capital Inc.
BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith                           Incorporated
Total		$

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several underwriters to purchase the Notes included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. Under the terms of the underwriting agreement, the underwriters are committed to purchase all of the Notes if any are purchased.

Underwriting Discounts

The underwriters propose initially to offer the Notes to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement and may offer the Notes to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the Notes. The underwriters may allow a discount not in excess of     % of the principal amount of the Notes, on sales to certain other brokers and dealers. After this initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may be changed.

The following table summarizes the compensation to be paid by us to the underwriters.

 

		Underwriting Discount
Per Note			%
Total		$

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $            million.

New Issue of Notes

The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not currently intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any securities exchange or have the Notes quoted on any automated quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the Notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to whether or not a trading market for the Notes will develop or as to the liquidity of any trading market for the Notes which may develop.

 

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Stabilization and Short Positions

In connection with the offering of the Notes, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Notes. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering of the Notes, creating a syndicate short position. In addition, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, Notes in the open market to cover syndicate short positions or to stabilize the price of the Notes.

Finally, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed for distributing the Notes in the offering of the Notes, if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed Notes in syndicate covering transactions, stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Notes above independent market levels. The underwriters are not required to engage in any of these activities and may end any of them at any time. Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the Notes. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

Settlement

We expect delivery of the Notes will be made against payment therefor on or about September     , 2014, which is the             business day following the date of pricing of the Notes (such settlement being referred to as “T+         ”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in three business days unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Notes on the date of pricing of the Notes or the next     succeeding business days will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Notes initially will settle in T+         , to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement and should consult their own advisers.

Selling Restrictions

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus have not been approved by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) and are, accordingly, only being distributed in the United Kingdom to, and are only directed at (i) investment professionals falling within the description of persons in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”); or (ii) high net worth companies and other persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order; or (iii) to any other person to whom they may otherwise lawfully be communicated or made in accordance with the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”).

The Notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such notes will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.

An invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any Notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus will only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply to the issuers of the Notes.

 

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Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area that has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a relevant member state) with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that relevant member state (the relevant implementation date), an offer of securities described in this prospectus supplement may not be made to the public in that relevant member state other than:

 

•

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;

 

•

to fewer than 100 or, if the relevant member state has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Dealer or Dealers nominated by the issuers of the Notes for any such offer; or

 

•

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer of securities shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

For purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of securities to the public” in any relevant member state means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the expression may be varied in that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that member state, and the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the relevant member state), and includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant member state. The expression “2010 PD Amending Directive” means Directive 2010/73/EU.

We have not authorized and do not authorize the making of any offer of securities through any financial intermediary on their behalf, other than offers made by the underwriters with a view to the final placement of the securities as contemplated in this prospectus supplement. Accordingly, no purchaser of the securities, other than the underwriters, is authorized to make any further offer of the securities on behalf of us or the underwriters.

Other Relationships

Affiliates of certain of the underwriters are dealers under our commercial paper program and may hold commercial paper notes thereunder. Accordingly, they may receive a portion of the net proceeds from this offering.

Each of the underwriters and their affiliates have performed or may in the future perform investment and commercial banking and advisory services for us and our affiliates or engage in transactions with us and our affiliates, from time to time, in the ordinary course of their business for which they have received or will receive customary payments, fees and expenses.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates has a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the Notes. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the Notes. The underwriters and their affiliates may

 

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also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Indemnification

We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters in connection with the Notes being offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas and for the underwriters by Baker Botts L.L.P., Houston, Texas.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus supplement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, have been incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are “incorporating by reference” into this prospectus supplement information we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). This procedure means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to documents filed with the SEC. The information we incorporate by reference is part of this prospectus supplement and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding any information furnished and not filed pursuant to any Current Report on Form 8-K) until the offering and sale of the Notes contemplated by this prospectus supplement are complete:

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013;

 

•

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014; and

 

•

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 18, 2014 (documentation related to debt offering), April 29, 2014 (documentation related to debt offering) and August 22, 2014 (continuous equity offering program).

You may request a copy of these filings (other than any exhibits unless specifically incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus) at no cost by making written or telephone requests for copies to:

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.

333 Clay Street, Suite 1600

Houston, Texas 77002

Attention: Corporate Secretary

Telephone: (713) 646-4100

Additionally, you may read and copy any materials that we have filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding us. The SEC’s website address is www.sec.gov.

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone else to provide you with any other information. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying base prospectus is accurate as of any date other than its date.

 

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PROSPECTUS

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.

PAA Finance Corp.

Common Units

Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer and sell the common units representing limited partner interests of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., and debt securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more classes or series and in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of our offerings. PAA Finance Corp. may act as co-issuer of the debt securities.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. This prospectus describes the general terms of these common units and debt securities and the general manner in which we will offer the common units and debt securities. The specific terms of any common units and debt securities we offer will be included in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the common units and debt securities.

 

 

Investing in our common units and the debt securities involves risks. Limited partnerships are inherently different from corporations. You should carefully consider the risk factors described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus before you make an investment in our securities.

Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PAA.” We will provide information in the prospectus supplement for the trading market, if any, for any debt securities we may offer.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is September 27, 2012.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

About This Prospectus			i
Where You Can Find More Information			ii
Forward-Looking Statements			iv
Who We Are			1
Risk Factors			2
Use Of Proceeds			3
Ratio Of Earnings To Fixed Charges			4
Description of Our Debt Securities			5
Description of Our Common Units			14
Cash Distribution Policy			16
Description of Our Partnership Agreement			20
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences			23
Plan of Distribution			35
Legal Matters			37
Experts			37

In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of such securities is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus, or that the information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we and PAA Finance Corp. have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, over time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus generally describes Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and the securities. Each time we sell securities with this prospectus, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change information in this prospectus. Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” To the extent information in this prospectus is inconsistent with information contained in a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” and any additional information you may need to make your investment decision.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), that registers the securities offered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits, contains additional relevant information about us. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to omit some information included in the registration statement from this prospectus.

In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-732-0330 for further information on the operation of the SEC’s public reference room. Our SEC filings are available on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. We also make available free of charge on our website, at www.paalp.com, all materials that we file electronically with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Section 16 reports and amendments to these reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. These other documents contain important information about us, our financial condition and results of operations. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made by Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (excluding any information furnished and not filed with the SEC) until all offerings under this shelf registration statement are completed:

 

•

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011;

 

•

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012;

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 8, 2012 (documentation related to equity offering);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 19, 2012 (documentation related to debt offering);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 26, 2012 (documentation related to debt offering);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 5, 2012 (completion of acquisition of BP Canada Energy Company; amendment of Limited Partnership Agreement of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 17, 2012 (announcement to withdraw offer to acquire SemGroup Corporation);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 9, 2012 (documentation related to equity distribution agreement);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 23, 2012 (amendment and restatement of Limited Partnership Agreement of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P.);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on May 29, 2012 (financial statements and unaudited pro forma financial information related to the acquisition of BP Canada Energy Company);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 3, 2012 (amendments to the senior secured hedged inventory facility and senior unsecured revolving credit facility);

 

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•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 13, 2012 (documentation related to equity distribution agreement);

 

•

Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 27, 2012 (unaudited pro forma financial information related to the acquisition of BP Canada Energy Company); and

 

•

the description of our common units contained in our Form 8-A/A dated November 3, 1998 and any subsequent amendment thereto filed for the purpose of updating such description.

You may obtain any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents specifically incorporated by reference in this document), at no cost, by visiting our internet website at www.paalp.com, or by writing or calling us at the following address:

Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. 333 Clay Street, Suite 1600 Houston, Texas 77002 Attention: Corporate Secretary Telephone: (713) 646-4100

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements identified by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend” and “forecast,” as well as similar expressions and statements regarding our business strategy, plans and objectives for future operations. The absence of these words, however, does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, based on what we believe to be reasonable assumptions. Certain factors could cause actual results to differ materially from results anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to:

 

•

the successful integration and future performance of acquired assets or businesses and the risks associated with operating in lines of business that are distinct and separate from our historical operations;

 

•

failure to implement or capitalize, or delays in implementing or capitalizing, on planned internal growth projects;

 

•

unanticipated changes in crude oil market structure, grade differentials and volatility (or lack thereof);

 

•

maintenance of our credit rating and ability to receive open credit from our suppliers and trade counterparties;

 

•

continued creditworthiness of, and performance by, our counterparties, including financial institutions and trading companies with which we do business;

 

•

the effectiveness of our risk management activities;

 

•

environmental liabilities or events that are not covered by an indemnity, insurance or existing reserves;

 

•

abrupt or severe declines or interruptions in outer continental shelf production located offshore California and transported on our pipeline systems;

 

•

shortages or cost increases of supplies, materials or labor;

 

•

the availability of adequate third-party production volumes for transportation and marketing in the areas in which we operate and other factors that could cause declines in volumes shipped on our pipelines by us and third-party shippers, such as declines in production from existing oil and gas reserves or failure to develop additional oil and gas reserves;

 

•

fluctuations in refinery capacity in areas supplied by our mainlines and other factors affecting demand for various grades of crude oil, refined products and natural gas and resulting changes in pricing conditions or transportation throughput requirements;

 

•

the availability of, and our ability to consummate, acquisition or combination opportunities;

 

•

our ability to obtain debt or equity financing on satisfactory terms to fund additional acquisitions, expansion projects, working capital requirements and the repayment or refinancing of indebtedness;

 

•

the impact of current and future laws, rulings, governmental regulations, accounting standards and statements, and related interpretations;

 

•

the effects of competition;

 

•

interruptions in service on third-party pipelines;

 

•

increased costs or lack of availability of insurance;

 

•

fluctuations in the debt and equity markets, including the price of our units at the time of vesting under our long-term incentive plans;

 

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•

the currency exchange rate of the Canadian dollar;

 

•

weather interference with business operations or project construction;

 

•

risks related to the development and operation of natural gas storage facilities;

 

•

factors affecting demand for natural gas and natural gas storage services and rates;

 

•

general economic, market or business conditions and the amplification of other risks caused by volatile financial markets, capital constraints and pervasive liquidity concerns; and

 

•

other factors and uncertainties inherent in the transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of crude oil and refined products, as well as in the storage of natural gas and the processing, transportation, fractionation, storage and marketing of natural gas liquids.

Other factors described herein or incorporated by reference, as well as factors that are unknown or unpredictable, could also have a material adverse effect on future results. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus and in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (File No. 001-14569). Except as required by applicable securities laws, we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements and information.

 

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WHO WE ARE

We are a Delaware limited partnership formed in 1998. Our operations are conducted directly and indirectly through our primary operating subsidiaries. We engage in the transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of crude oil and refined products, as well as in the processing, transportation, fractionation, storage and marketing of natural gas liquids (“NGL”). The term NGL includes ethane and natural gasoline products as well as propane and butane, products which are also commonly referred to as liquefied petroleum gas. Through our general partner interest and majority equity ownership position in PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P., we also own and operate natural gas storage facilities.

PAA Finance Corp. was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 2004, is wholly owned by Plains All American Pipeline, L.P., and has no material assets or any liabilities other than as a co-issuer of debt securities. Its activities are limited to co-issuing debt securities and engaging in other activities incidental thereto.

For purposes of this prospectus, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Partnership” refer to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and its subsidiaries. References to our “general partner,” as the context requires, include any or all of PAA GP LLC, Plains AAP, L.P. and Plains All American GP LLC.

Our executive offices are located at 333 Clay Street, Suite 1600, Houston, Texas 77002 and our telephone number is (713) 646-4100.

For additional information as to our business, properties and financial condition please refer to the documents cited in “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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RISK FACTORS

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risk factors and all of the other information included in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus, including those in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, in evaluating an investment in our securities. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our common units or value of our debt securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment. When we offer and sell any securities pursuant to a prospectus supplement, we may include additional risk factors relevant to such securities in the prospectus supplement.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of securities covered by this prospectus for general partnership purposes, which may include repayment of indebtedness, acquisitions, capital expenditures and additions to working capital.

Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of the offering and will be described in a prospectus supplement.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated on a consolidated historical basis. For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” consist of pre-tax income from continuing operations before income from equity investees plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest), distributed income of equity investees and amortization of capitalized interest. “Fixed charges” represent interest incurred (whether expensed or capitalized), amortization of debt expense (including discounts and premiums relating to indebtedness) and the portion of rental expense on operating leases deemed to be the equivalent of interest.

 

		Six Months Ended June 30,				Year Ended December 31,
		2012				2011				2010				2009				2008				2007
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)			4.47x				4.13x				2.57x				3.00x				2.60x				2.45x

 

(1)	Includes interest costs attributable to borrowings for hedged inventory purchases of $6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2012 and $20 million, $17 million, $11 million, $21 million and $44 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR DEBT SECURITIES

General

The debt securities will be:

 

•

our direct general obligations;

 

•

either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities; and

 

•

issued under separate indentures (which may be existing indentures) among Plains All American Pipeline, PAA Finance and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor Trustee.

Plains All American Pipeline may issue debt securities in one or more series, and PAA Finance may be a co-issuer of one or more series of debt securities. PAA Finance was incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in May 2004, is wholly owned by Plains All American Pipeline, and has no material assets or any liabilities other than as a co-issuer of debt securities. Its activities are limited to co-issuing debt securities and engaging in other activities incidental thereto. When used in this section “Description of the Debt Securities,” the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and “issuers” refer jointly to Plains All American Pipeline and PAA Finance, and the terms “Plains All American Pipeline” and “PAA Finance” refer strictly to Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and PAA Finance Corp., respectively.

If we offer senior debt securities, we will issue them under a senior indenture. If we issue subordinated debt securities, we will issue them under a subordinated indenture. A form of each indenture is filed as an exhibit to the latest registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We have not restated either indenture in its entirety in this description. You should read the relevant indenture because it, and not this description, controls your rights as holders of the debt securities. Capitalized terms used in the summary have the meanings specified in the indentures.

Specific Terms of Each Series of Debt Securities in the Prospectus Supplement

A prospectus supplement and a supplemental indenture or authorizing resolutions relating to any series of debt securities being offered will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

•

whether PAA Finance will be a co-issuer of the debt securities;

 

•

whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated debt securities;

 

•

the title of the debt securities;

 

•

the total principal amount of the debt securities;

 

•

the assets, if any, that are pledged as security for the payment of the debt securities;

 

•

whether we will issue the debt securities in individual certificates to each holder in registered form, or in the form of temporary or permanent global securities held by a depository on behalf of holders;

 

•

the prices at which we will issue the debt securities;

 

•

the portion of the principal amount that will be payable if the maturity of the debt securities is accelerated;

 

•

the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities will be payable, if not U.S. dollars;

 

•

the dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable;

 

•

the interest rate that the debt securities will bear and the interest payment dates for the debt securities;

 

•

any conversion or exchange provisions;

 

•

any optional redemption provisions;

 

 

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•

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;

 

•

any changes to or additional events of default or covenants; and

 

•

any other terms of the debt securities.

We may offer and sell debt securities, including original issue discount debt securities, at a substantial discount below their principal amount. The prospectus supplement will describe special U.S. federal income tax and any other considerations applicable to those securities. In addition, the prospectus supplement may describe certain special U.S. federal income tax or other considerations applicable to any debt securities that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars.

Possible Future Guarantees

We contemplate that none of the subsidiaries of Plains All American Pipeline will guarantee the debt securities of any series. If at any time after the issuance of the debt securities of any series, however, a subsidiary of Plains All American Pipeline guarantees any of our debt, we will cause such subsidiary to guarantee that series in accordance with the applicable indenture by simultaneously executing and delivering a supplemental indenture.

Any guarantors of a series of debt securities would unconditionally guarantee to each holder and the Trustee, on a joint and several basis, the full and prompt payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of that series when and as the same became due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption or repurchase, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise. If a series of debt securities is guaranteed, the related prospectus supplement will identify all of the guarantor subsidiaries. Also, such prospectus supplement will describe any limitation on the maximum amount of any particular guarantee and the conditions under which guarantees may be released.

Any guarantees would be general obligations of the guarantors. Guarantees of subordinated debt securities would be subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of the guarantors on the same basis as the subordinated debt securities are subordinated to the Senior Indebtedness of Plains All American Pipeline.

Consolidation, Merger or Asset Sale

Each indenture will, in general, allow us to consolidate or merge with or into another domestic entity. It will also allow each issuer to sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to another domestic entity. If this happens, the remaining or acquiring entity must assume all of the issuer’s responsibilities and liabilities under the indenture including the payment of all amounts due on the debt securities and performance of the issuer’s covenants in the indenture.

However, each indenture will impose certain requirements with respect to any consolidation or merger with or into an entity, or any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of an issuer’s assets, including:

 

•

the remaining or acquiring entity must be organized under the laws of the United States, any state or the District of Columbia; provided that PAA Finance may not merge, amalgamate or consolidate with or into another entity other than a corporation satisfying such requirement for so long as Plains All American Pipeline is not a corporation;

 

•

the remaining or acquiring entity must assume the issuer’s obligations under the indenture; and

 

•

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default (as defined under “— Events of Default and Remedies” below) may exist.

 

 

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The remaining or acquiring entity will be substituted for the issuer in the indenture with the same effect as if it had been an original party to the indenture, and the issuer will be relieved from any further obligations under the indenture.

No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control

Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that protect the holders of the debt securities in the event of a change of control of us or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, whether or not such transaction results in a change of control of us.

Modification of Indentures

We may supplement or amend an indenture if the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under the indenture affected by the supplement or amendment consent to it. Further, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive past defaults under the indenture and compliance by us with our covenants with respect to the debt securities of that series only. Those holders may not, however, waive any default in any payment on any debt security of that series or compliance with a provision that cannot be supplemented or amended without the consent of each holder affected. Without the consent of each outstanding debt security affected, no modification of the indenture or waiver may:

 

•

reduce the principal amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;

 

•

reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of any debt security;

 

•

reduce or waive the premium payable upon redemption or alter or waive the provisions with respect to the redemption of the debt securities (except as may be permitted in the case of a particular series of debt securities);

 

•

reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any debt security;

 

•

waive a Default or an Event of Default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);

 

•

except as otherwise permitted under the indenture, release any security that may have been granted with respect to the debt securities;

 

•

make any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt securities;

 

•

in the case of any subordinated debt security, make any change in the subordination provisions that adversely affects the rights of any holder under those provisions;

 

•

make any change in the provisions of the indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of holders of debt securities to receive payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities;

 

•

waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security (except as may be permitted in the case of a particular series of debt securities);

 

•

except as otherwise permitted in the indenture, release any guarantor from its obligations under its guarantee or the indenture or change any guarantee in any manner that would adversely affect the rights of holders; or

 

•

make any change in the preceding amendment, supplement and waiver provisions (except to increase any percentage set forth therein).

 

 

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We may supplement or amend an indenture without the consent of any holders of the debt securities in certain circumstances, including:

 

•

to establish the form of terms of any series of debt securities;

 

•

to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;

 

•

to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of certified notes;

 

•

to provide for the assumption of an issuer’s or any guarantor’s obligations to holders of debt securities in the case of a merger or consolidation or disposition of all or substantially all of such issuer’s or guarantor’s assets;

 

•

in the case of any subordinated debt security, to make any change in the subordination provisions that limits or terminates the benefits applicable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness of Plains All American Pipeline;

 

•

to add or release any guarantors pursuant to the terms of the indenture;

 

•

to make any changes that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of debt securities or that do not, taken as a whole, adversely affect the rights under the indenture of any holder of debt securities;

 

•

to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

 

•

to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment under the indenture of a successor Trustee;

 

•

to add any additional Events of Default; or

 

•

to secure the debt securities and/or any guarantees.

Events of Default and Remedies

“Event of Default,” when used in an indenture, will mean any of the following with respect to the debt securities of any series:

 

•

failure to pay when due the principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series;

 

•

failure to pay, within 60 days of the due date, interest on any debt security of that series;

 

•

failure to pay when due any sinking fund payment with respect to any debt securities of that series;

 

•

failure on the part of the issuers to comply with the covenant described under “— Consolidation, Merger or Asset Sale;”

 

•

failure to perform any other covenant in the indenture that continues for 30 days after written notice is given to the issuers;

 

•

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of an issuer; or

 

•

any other Event of Default provided under the terms of the debt securities of that series.

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under an indenture. The Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any default (except in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest) if it considers such withholding of notice to be in the best interests of the holders.

If an Event of Default for any series of debt securities occurs and continues, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series may declare the entire principal of, and accrued interest on, all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. If this happens, subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority in the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series can rescind the declaration.

 

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Other than its duties in case of a default, a Trustee is not obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers under either indenture at the request, order or direction of any holders, unless the holders offer the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity. If they provide this reasonable security or indemnification, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of debt securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding or any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any power conferred upon the Trustee, for that series of debt securities.

No Limit on Amount of Debt Securities

Neither indenture will limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue, unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement. Each indenture will allow us to issue debt securities of any series up to the aggregate principal amount that we authorize.

Registration of Notes

We will issue debt securities of a series only in registered form, without coupons, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement.

Minimum Denominations

Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, the debt securities will be issued only in principal amounts of $1,000 each or integral multiples of $1,000.

No Personal Liability

None of the past, present or future partners, incorporators, managers, members, directors, officers, employees, unitholders or stockholders of either issuer, the general partner of Plains All American Pipeline or any guarantor will have any liability for the obligations of the issuers or any guarantors under either indenture or the debt securities or for any claim based on such obligations or their creation. Each holder of debt securities by accepting a debt security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issuance of the debt securities. The waiver may not be effective under federal securities laws, however, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.

Payment and Transfer

The Trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar under each indenture. The issuers may change the paying agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of debt securities, and the issuers or any of their subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.

If a holder of debt securities has given wire transfer instructions to the issuers, the issuers will make all payments on the debt securities in accordance with those instructions. All other payments on the debt securities will be made at the corporate trust office of the Trustee, unless the issuers elect to make interest payments by check mailed to the holders at their addresses set forth in the debt security register.

The Trustee and any paying agent will repay to us upon request any funds held by them for payments on the debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years after the date upon which that payment has become due. After payment to us, holders entitled to the money must look to us for payment as general creditors.

Exchange, Registration and Transfer

Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, the same total principal amount and the same terms but in different authorized denominations in accordance with the indenture. Holders may present debt securities for exchange or registration of transfer at the office of the registrar. The registrar

 

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will effect the transfer or exchange when it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We will not charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities. We may, however, require the payment of any tax or other governmental charge payable for that registration.

We will not be required to:

 

•

issue, register the transfer of, or exchange debt securities of a series either during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the selection of debt securities of that series for redemption and ending on the close of business on the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or repurchase, or between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date; or

 

•

register the transfer of or exchange any debt security called for redemption or repurchase, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security we are redeeming or repurchasing in part.

Provisions Relating only to the Senior Debt Securities

The senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other senior and unsubordinated debt. The senior debt securities will be effectively subordinated, however, to all of our secured debt to the extent of the value of the collateral for that debt. We will disclose the amount of our secured debt in the prospectus supplement.

Provisions Relating only to the Subordinated Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness

The subordinated debt securities will rank junior in right of payment to all of the Senior Indebtedness of Plains All American Pipeline. “Senior Indebtedness” will be defined in a supplemental indenture or authorizing resolutions respecting any issuance of a series of subordinated debt securities, and the definition will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.

Payment Blockages

The subordinated indenture will provide that no payment of principal, interest and any premium on the subordinated debt securities may be made in the event:

 

•

we or our property is involved in any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy;

 

•

we fail to pay the principal, interest, any premium or any other amounts on any Senior Indebtedness of Plains All American Pipeline within any applicable grace period or the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated following any other default, subject to certain limited exceptions set forth in the subordinated indenture; or

 

•

any other default on any Senior Indebtedness of Plains All American Pipeline occurs that permits immediate acceleration of its maturity, in which case a payment blockage on the subordinated debt securities will be imposed for a maximum of 179 days at any one time.

No Limitation on Amount of Senior Debt

The subordinated indenture will not limit the amount of Senior Indebtedness that Plains All American Pipeline may incur, unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement.

Book Entry, Delivery and Form

The debt securities of a particular series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global certificates that will be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, New York,

 

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New York (“DTC”). This means that we will not issue certificates to each holder. Instead, one or more global debt securities will be issued to DTC, who will keep a computerized record of its participants (for example, your broker) whose clients have purchased the debt securities. The participant will then keep a record of its clients who purchased the debt securities. Unless it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificated debt security, a global debt security may not be transferred, except that DTC, its nominees and their successors may transfer a global debt security as a whole to one another.

Beneficial interests in global debt securities will be shown on, and transfers of global debt securities will be made only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants.

DTC has provided us the following information: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the United States Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its participants (“Direct Participants”) deposit with DTC. DTC also records the settlement among Direct Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through computerized records for Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need to exchange certificates. Direct Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.

DTC’s book-entry system is also used by other organizations such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that work through a Direct Participant. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

We will wire all payments on the global debt securities to DTC’s nominee. We and the Trustee will treat DTC’s nominee as the owner of the global debt securities for all purposes. Accordingly, we, the Trustee and any paying agent will have no direct responsibility or liability to pay amounts due on the global debt securities to owners of beneficial interests in the global debt securities.

It is DTC’s current practice, upon receipt of any payment on the global debt securities, to credit Direct Participants’ accounts on the payment date according to their respective holdings of beneficial interests in the global debt securities as shown on DTC’s records. In addition, it is DTC’s current practice to assign any consenting or voting rights to Direct Participants whose accounts are credited with debt securities on a record date, by using an omnibus proxy. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global debt securities, and voting by participants, will be governed by the customary practices between the participants and owners of beneficial interests, as is the case with debt securities held for the account of customers registered in “street name.” However, payments will be the responsibility of the participants and not of DTC, the Trustee or us.

Debt securities represented by a global debt security will be exchangeable for certificated debt securities with the same terms in authorized denominations only if:

 

•

DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under applicable law and in either event a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; or

 

•

we determine not to require all of the debt securities of a series to be represented by a global debt security.

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance

Each indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding debt securities of any series issued thereunder, when:

 

 

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(a) either:

(1) all outstanding debt securities of that series that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(2) all outstanding debt securities of that series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the giving of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee and in any case we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness of such debt securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of debt securities that have been due and payable) or the stated maturity or redemption date;

(b) we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by us under the indenture; and

(c) we have delivered an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel to the Trustee stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied.

The debt securities of a particular series will be subject to legal or covenant defeasance to the extent, and upon the terms and conditions, set forth in the prospectus supplement.

The Trustee

U.S. Bank National Association is the Trustee under the senior indenture and will be the initial Trustee under the subordinated indenture. We maintain a banking relationship in the ordinary course of business with U.S. Bank National Association and some of its affiliates.

Resignation or Removal of Trustee

If the Trustee has or acquires a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee must either eliminate its conflicting interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and the applicable indenture. Any resignation will require the appointment of a successor trustee under the applicable indenture in accordance with the terms and conditions of such indenture.

The Trustee may resign or be removed by us with respect to one or more series of debt securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to any such series. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to the debt securities of such series.

Limitations on Trustee if it is a Creditor

Each indenture will limit the right of the Trustee thereunder, in the event that it becomes a creditor of an issuer or any guarantor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise.

 

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Certificates and Opinions to be Furnished to Trustee

Each indenture will provide that, in addition to other certificates or opinions that may be specifically required by other provisions of the indenture, every application by us for action by the Trustee must be accompanied by a certificate of certain of our officers and an opinion of counsel (who may be our counsel) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent to such action have been complied with by us.

Governing Law

Each indenture and all of the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON UNITS

Generally, our common units represent limited partner interests that entitle the holders to participate in our cash distributions and to exercise the rights and privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the relative rights and preferences of holders of common units and our general partner in and to cash distributions. See “Cash Distribution Policy.”

Our outstanding common units are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “PAA.” Any additional common units we issue will also be listed on the NYSE.

The transfer agent and registrar for our common units is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

Meetings/Voting

Each holder of common units is entitled to one vote for each common unit on all matters submitted to a vote of the unitholders.

Status as Limited Partner or Assignee

Except as described below under “— Limited Liability,” the common units will be fully paid, and unitholders will not be required to make additional capital contributions to us.

Each purchaser of common units offered by this prospectus must execute a transfer application whereby the purchaser requests admission as a substituted limited partner and makes representations and agrees to provisions stated in the transfer application. If this action is not taken, a purchaser will not be registered as a record holder of common units on the books of our transfer agent or issued a common unit certificate. Purchasers may hold common units in nominee accounts.

An assignee, pending its admission as a substituted limited partner, is entitled to an interest in us equivalent to that of a limited partner with respect to the right to share in allocations and distributions, including liquidating distributions. Our general partner will vote and exercise other powers attributable to common units owned by an assignee who has not become a substituted limited partner at the written direction of the assignee. A nominee or broker who has executed a transfer application with respect to common units held in street name or nominee accounts will receive distributions and reports pertaining to its common units.

Limited Liability

Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (the “Delaware Act”) and that he otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our partnership agreement, his liability under the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to some possible exceptions, generally to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to us in respect of his units plus his share of any undistributed profits and assets.

Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner to the extent that at the time of the distribution, after giving effect to the distribution, all liabilities of the partnership, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the partnership, exceed the fair value of the assets of the limited partnership. For the purposes of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of the property subject to liability of which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act is liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years from the date of the distribution.

 

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Reports and Records

As soon as practicable, but in no event later than 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, our general partner will furnish or make available to each unitholder of record (as of a record date selected by our general partner) an annual report containing our audited financial statements for the past fiscal year. These financial statements will be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, no later than 45 days after the close of each quarter (except the fourth quarter), our general partner will furnish or make available to each unitholder of record (as of a record date selected by our general partner) a report containing our unaudited financial statements and any other information required by law.

Our general partner will use all reasonable efforts to furnish each unitholder of record information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each fiscal year. Our general partner’s ability to furnish this summary tax information will depend on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying information to our general partner. Each unitholder will receive information to assist him in determining his U.S. federal and state and Canadian federal and provincial tax liability and filing his U.S. federal and state and Canadian federal and provincial income tax returns.

A limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to the limited partner’s interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand and at his own expense, have furnished to him:

 

•

a current list of the name and last known address of each partner;

 

•

a copy of our tax returns;

 

•

information as to the amount of cash and a description and statement of the agreed value of any other property or services, contributed or to be contributed by each partner and the date on which each became a partner;

 

•

copies of our partnership agreement, our certificate of limited partnership, amendments to either of them and powers of attorney which have been executed under our partnership agreement;

 

•

information regarding the status of our business and financial condition; and

 

•

any other information regarding our affairs as is just and reasonable.

Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets and other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is not in our best interest or which we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.

 

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CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY

Distributions of Available Cash

General. We will distribute to our unitholders, on a quarterly basis, all of our available cash in the manner described below.

Definition of Available Cash. Available cash generally means, for any quarter ending prior to liquidation, all cash on hand at the end of that quarter less the amount of cash reserves that are necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion of the general partner to:

 

•

provide for the proper conduct of our business;

 

•

comply with applicable law or any partnership debt instrument or other agreement; or

 

•

provide funds for distributions to unitholders and the general partner in respect of any one or more of the next four quarters.

Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus

General. Cash distributions to our unitholders will be characterized as either operating surplus or capital surplus. We distribute available cash from operating surplus differently than available cash from capital surplus. See “— Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash.”

Definition of Operating Surplus. Operating surplus refers generally to:

 

•

our cash balances on the closing date of our initial public offering; plus

 

•

$25 million; plus

 

•

all of our cash receipts from operations, excluding cash that is capital surplus; less

 

•

all of our operating expenses, debt service payments (but not including payments required with the sale of assets or any refinancing with the proceeds of new indebtedness or an equity offering), maintenance capital expenditures and reserves established for future operations.

Definition of Capital Surplus. Capital surplus will generally be generated only by:

 

•

borrowings other than working capital borrowings;

 

•

sales of debt and equity securities; and

 

•

sales or other dispositions of assets for cash, other than inventory, accounts receivable and other assets in the ordinary course of business.

We will treat all available cash distributed as coming from operating surplus until the sum of all available cash distributed since we began equals the operating surplus as of the end of the quarter prior to the distribution. Any available cash in excess of operating surplus, regardless of its source, will be treated as capital surplus.

If we distribute available cash from capital surplus for each common unit in an aggregate amount per common unit equal to the initial public offering price of the common units, there will not be a distinction between operating surplus and capital surplus, and all distributions of available cash will be treated as operating surplus. We do not anticipate that we will make distributions from capital surplus.

Incentive Distribution Rights

The incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from operating surplus after the minimum quarterly distribution and the target

 

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distribution levels have been achieved. The target distribution levels are based on the amounts of available cash from operating surplus distributed above the payments made under the minimum quarterly distribution, if any, and the related 2% distribution to the general partner.

Effect of Issuance of Additional Units

We can issue additional common units or other equity securities for consideration and under terms and conditions approved by our general partner in its sole discretion and without the approval of our unitholders. We may fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities.

Holders of any additional common units that we issue will be entitled to share equally with our then-existing unitholders in distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of additional interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing unitholders. If we issue additional partnership interests, our general partner will be required to make an additional capital contribution to us.

Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash

We will make quarterly distributions to our partners prior to our liquidation in an amount equal to 100% of our available cash for that quarter. We expect to make distributions of all available cash within 45 days after the end of each quarter to holders of record on the applicable record date. The minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels are also subject to certain other adjustments as described below under “— Distributions from Capital Surplus” and “— Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels.”

Distributions From Operating Surplus

We will make distributions of available cash from operating surplus in the following manner:

 

•

First, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general partner, until we distribute for each unit an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution for that quarter; and

 

•

Thereafter, in the manner described in “— Incentive Distribution Rights” below.

Incentive Distribution Rights

For any quarter that we distribute available cash from operating surplus to the common unitholders in an amount equal to the minimum quarterly distribution on all units, then we will distribute any additional available cash from operating surplus in that quarter among the unitholders and the general partner in the following manner:

 

•

First, 85% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to the general partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.495 for that quarter for each outstanding unit (the “first target distribution”);

 

•

Second, 75% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to the general partner, until each unitholder receives a total of $0.675 for that quarter for each outstanding unit (the “second target distribution”); and

 

•

Thereafter, 50% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to the general partner.

Our distributions to the general partner above, other than in its capacity as holders of units, that are in excess of its aggregate 2% general partner interest represent the incentive distribution rights. The right to receive incentive distribution rights is not part of its general partner interest and may be transferred separately from that interest, subject to certain restrictions.

 

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Adjustments to Incentive Distribution Rights

In connection with acquisitions or similar transactions, we have and may in the future modify the incentive distribution rights to, among other reasons, accelerate the accretion or other benefits of the transaction to limited partners.

In connection with our acquisition of BP Canada Energy Company in April 2012 (the “BP NGL Acquisition”), our general partner agreed to reduce the amounts due it as incentive distributions by $3,750,000 per quarter for eight quarters beginning with the first distribution paid after closing, and $2,500,000 per quarter thereafter.

Distributions from Capital Surplus

How Distributions from Capital Surplus Will Be Made. We will make distributions of available cash from capital surplus in the following manner:

 

•

First, 98% to all unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the general partner, until we distribute, for each common unit issued in this offering, available cash from capital surplus in an aggregate amount per common unit equal to the initial public offering price; and

 

•

Thereafter, we will make all distributions of available cash from capital surplus as if they were from operating surplus.

Effect of a Distribution from Capital Surplus. Our partnership agreement treats a distribution of available cash from capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price. To show that repayment, the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced by multiplying each amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the unrecovered capital of the common units immediately after giving effect to that repayment and the denominator of which is the unrecovered capital of the common units immediately prior to that repayment.

When Payback Occurs. When “payback” of the reduced initial unit price has occurred, i.e., when the unrecovered capital of the common units is zero, then

 

•

the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels will be reduced to zero for subsequent quarters;

 

•

all distributions of available cash will be treated as operating surplus; and

 

•

the general partner will be entitled to receive 50% of distributions of available cash in its capacities as general partner and as holder of the incentive distribution rights.

Distributions of available cash from capital surplus will not reduce the minimum quarterly distribution or target distribution levels for the quarter in which they are distributed.

Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

How We Adjust the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels. In addition to adjusting the minimum quarterly distribution and target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units (but not if we issue additional common units for cash or property), we will proportionately adjust:

 

•

the minimum quarterly distribution;

 

•

the target distribution levels;

 

•

the unrecovered capital; and

 

•

other amounts calculated on a per unit basis.

 

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For example, in the event of a two-for-one split of the common units (assuming no prior adjustments), the minimum quarterly distribution, each of the target distribution levels and the unrecovered capital of the common units would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level.

If We Became Subject to Taxation. If legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted by the relevant governmental authority so that we become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, we will adjust the minimum quarterly distribution and each of the target distribution levels, respectively, to equal the product obtained by multiplying the amount thereof by:

 

•

one minus the sum of (x) the maximum effective federal income tax rate to which we as an entity were subject plus (y) any increase in state and local income taxes to which we are subject for the taxable year of the event, after adjusting for any allowable deductions for federal income tax purposes for the payment of state and local income taxes.

For example, assuming we were not previously subject to state and local income tax, if we become taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes and became subject to a maximum marginal federal, and effective state and local, income tax rate of 38%, then the minimum quarterly distribution and the target distribution levels would each be reduced to 62% of the amount immediately prior to that adjustment.

Distribution of Cash Upon Liquidation

General. If we dissolve and liquidate, we will sell our assets or otherwise dispose of our assets and we will adjust the partners’ capital account balances to show any resulting gain or loss. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors in the order of priority provided in our partnership agreement and by law and, thereafter, distribute to the unitholders and the general partner in accordance with their adjusted capital account balances.

Manner of Adjustment. If we liquidate, we would allocate any loss to the general partner and each unitholder as follows:

 

•

First, 98% to the holders of common units who have positive balances in their capital accounts in proportion to those positive balances and 2% to the general partner, until the capital accounts of the common unitholders have been reduced to zero; and

 

•

Thereafter, 100% to the general partner.

Interim Adjustments to Capital Accounts. If we issued additional security interests or made distributions of property, interim adjustments to capital accounts would also be made. These adjustments would be based on the fair market value of the interests or the property distributed and any gain or loss would be allocated to the unitholders and the general partner in the same way that a gain or loss is allocated upon liquidation. If positive interim adjustments are made to the capital accounts, any subsequent negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from our issuance of additional interests, distributions of property, or upon our liquidation, would be allocated in a way that, to the extent possible, in the capital account balances of the general partner equaling the amount which would have been the general partner’s capital account balances if no prior positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF OUR PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. The following provisions of our partnership agreement are summarized elsewhere in this prospectus:

 

•

distributions of our available cash are described under “Cash Distribution Policy;”

 

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allocations of taxable income and other tax matters are described under “Material Income Tax Considerations;” and

 

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rights of holders of common units are described under “Description of Our Common Units.”

Purpose

Our purpose under our partnership agreement is to serve as a partner of our operating partnerships and to engage in any business activities that may be engaged in by our operating partnerships or that are approved by our general partner. The partnership agreements of our operating partnerships provide that they may engage in any activity that was engaged in by our predecessors at the time of our initial public offering or reasonably related thereto and any other activity approved by our general partner.

Power of Attorney

Each limited partner, and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and delivers a transfer application, grants to our general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for our qualification, continuance or dissolution. The power of attorney also grants the authority for the amendment of, and to make consents and waivers under, our partnership agreement.

Reimbursements of Our General Partner

Our general partner does not receive any compensation for its services as our general partner. It is, however, entitled to be reimbursed for all of its costs incurred in managing and operating our business. Our partnership agreement provides that our general partner will determine the expenses that are allocable to us in any reasonable manner determined by our general partner in its sole discretion.

Issuance of Additional Securities

Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner interests and other equity securities that are equal in rank with or junior to our common units on terms and conditions established by our general partner in its sole discretion without the approval of any limited partners.

It is likely that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other equity securities. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our cash distributions. In addition, the issuance of additional partnership interests may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.

In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership interests that, in the sole discretion of our general partner, may have special voting rights to which common units are not entitled.

Our general partner has the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units or other equity securities whenever, and on the same terms that, we issue those securities to persons other than our general partner and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain their percentage interests in us that existed immediately prior to the issuance. The holders of common units will not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership interests in us.

 

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Amendments to Our Partnership Agreement

Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. Any amendment that materially and adversely affects the rights or preferences of any type or class of limited partner interests in relation to other types or classes of limited partner interests or our general partner interest will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of limited partner interests or general partner interests so affected. However, in some circumstances, more particularly described in our partnership agreement, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of our limited partners or assignees.

Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner

Our general partner may withdraw as general partner without obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days’ written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. In addition, our general partner may withdraw without unitholder approval upon 90 days’ notice to our limited partners if at least 50% of our outstanding common units are held or controlled by one person and its affiliates other than our general partner and its affiliates.

Upon the voluntary withdrawal of our general partner, the holders of a majority of our outstanding common units, excluding the common units held by the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, may elect a successor to the withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up and liquidated, unless within 90 days after that withdrawal, the holders of a majority of our outstanding units, excluding the common units held by the withdrawing general partner and its affiliates, agree to continue our business and to appoint a successor general partner.

Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of our outstanding units, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of this kind is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of our outstanding common units, including those held by our general partner and its affiliates.

While our partnership agreement limits the ability of our general partner to withdraw, it allows the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights to be transferred to an affiliate or to a third party in conjunction with a merger or sale of all or substantially all of the assets of our general partner.

In addition, our partnership agreement expressly permits the sale, in whole or in part, of the ownership of our general partner. Our general partner may also transfer, in whole or in part, the common units it owns.

Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds

Upon our dissolution, unless we are reconstituted and continued as a new limited partnership, the person authorized to wind up our affairs (the liquidator) will, acting with all the powers of our general partner that the liquidator deems necessary or desirable in its good faith judgment, liquidate our assets. The proceeds of the liquidation will be applied as follows:

 

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first, towards the payment of all of our creditors and the creation of a reserve for contingent liabilities; and

 

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then, to all partners in accordance with the positive balance in the respective capital accounts.

Under some circumstances and subject to some limitations, the liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets for a reasonable period of time. If the liquidator determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause a loss to our partners, our general partner may distribute assets in kind to our partners.

 

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Change of Management Provisions

Our partnership agreement contains the following specific provisions that are intended to discourage a person or group from attempting to remove our general partner or otherwise change management:

 

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generally, if a person acquires 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding other than from our general partner or its affiliates, the units owned by such person cannot be voted on any matter; and

 

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provisions limiting the ability of unitholders to call meetings or to acquire information about our operations, as well as other provisions limiting the unitholders’ ability to influence the manner or direction of management.

Limited Call Right

If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own 80% or more of the issued and outstanding limited partner interests of any class, our general partner will have the right to purchase all, but not less than all, of the outstanding limited partner interests of that class that are held by non-affiliated persons. The record date for determining ownership of the limited partner interests would be selected by our general partner on at least 10 but not more than 60 days’ notice. The purchase price in the event of a purchase under these provisions would be the greater of (1) the current market price (as defined in our agreement) of the limited partner interests of the class as of the date three days prior to the date that notice is mailed to the limited partners as provided in our partnership agreement and (2) the highest cash price paid by our general partner or any of its affiliates for any limited partner interest of the class purchased within the 90 days preceding the date our general partner mails notice of its election to purchase the units.

Indemnification

Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify our general partner, its affiliates and their officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims or damages any of them may suffer by reason of their status as general partner, officer or director, as long as the person seeking indemnity acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or (in the case of an indemnitee other than the general partner) not opposed to our best interest. Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Our general partner shall not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate any indemnification.

We are authorized to purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.

Registration Rights

Under our partnership agreement, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any common units, or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders and is based upon current provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), existing and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations thereunder (the “Treasury Regulations”), and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Changes in these authorities may cause the federal income tax consequences to a prospective unitholder to vary substantially from those described below. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to “we” or “us” are references to the partnership and its subsidiaries.

Legal conclusions contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. and are based on the accuracy of representations made by us to them for this purpose. However, this section does not address all federal income tax matters that affect us or our unitholders. Furthermore, this section focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States (for federal income tax purposes), who have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency and who hold units as capital assets (generally, property that is held for investment). This section has limited applicability to corporations, partnerships (including entities treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes), estates, trusts, non-resident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions, non-U.S. persons, individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”), employee benefit plans, real estate investment trusts or mutual funds. Accordingly, we encourage each unitholder to consult the unitholder’s own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences particular to that unitholder resulting from ownership or disposition of units.

We are relying on opinions and advice of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. with respect to the matters described herein. An opinion of counsel represents only that counsel’s best legal judgment and does not bind the IRS or a court. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any such contest of the matters described herein may materially and adversely impact the market for our units and the prices at which units trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne indirectly by our unitholders and our general partner because the costs will reduce our cash available for distribution. Furthermore, the tax consequences of an investment in us, may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions, which may be retroactively applied.

For the reasons described below, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following federal income tax issues: (1) the treatment of a unitholder whose units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a short seller to cover a short sale of units) (please read “— Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership — Treatment of Securities Loans”); (2) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read “— Disposition of Units — Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees”); and (3) whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read “— Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election” and “— Uniformity of Units”).

Taxation of the Partnership

Partnership Status

We expect to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, generally will not be liable for such taxes. Instead, as described below, each of our unitholders will take into account its respective share of our items of income, gain, loss and deduction in computing its federal income tax liability as if the unitholder had earned such income directly, even if we make no cash distributions to the unitholder. Distributions we make to a unitholder generally will not give rise to income or gain taxable to such unitholder, unless the amount of cash distributed exceeds the unitholder’s adjusted tax basis in its units.

Section 7704 of the Code generally provides that publicly-traded partnerships will be treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes. However, if 90% or more of a partnership’s gross income for every taxable year

 

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it is publicly-traded consists of “qualifying income,” the partnership may continue to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (the “Qualifying Income Exception”). Qualifying income includes (i) income and gains derived from processing, transportation, storage, terminalling, and marketing of any natural resource, including crude oil, natural gas, and products thereof, (ii) interest (other than from a financial business), (iii) dividends, (iv) gains from the sale of real property and (v) gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of qualifying income. We estimate that less than 5 percent of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time.

Based upon factual representations made by us and our general partner regarding the composition of our income and the other representations set forth below, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that we will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. In rendering its opinion, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied on factual representations made by us and our general partner. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied include, without limitation:

(a) Neither we nor any of our partnership or limited liability company subsidiaries has elected to be treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes;

(b) For each taxable year since and including the year of our initial public offering, more than 90% of our gross income has been and will be income of a character that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined is “qualifying income” within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code; and

(c) Each hedging transaction that we treat as resulting in qualifying income has been and will be appropriately identified as a hedging transaction pursuant to applicable Treasury Regulations, and has been and will be associated with oil, gas, or products thereof that are held or to be held by us in activities that Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has opined or will opine result in qualifying income.

We believe that these representations are true and will be true in the future.

If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as transferring all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in exchange for stock in that corporation and then as distributing that stock to our unitholders in liquidation. This deemed contribution and liquidation should not result in the recognition of taxable income by our unitholders or us so long as our liabilities do not exceed the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

If for any reason we are taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be taken into account by us in determining the amount of our liability for federal income tax, rather than being passed through to our unitholders. Our taxation as a corporation would materially reduce the cash available for distribution to unitholders and thus would likely substantially reduce the value of our units. Any distribution made to a unitholder at a time we are treated as a corporation would be (i) a taxable dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, then (ii) a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the unitholder’s tax basis in its stock that was exchanged for units, and thereafter (iii) taxable capital gain.

The remainder of this discussion is based on Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion that we will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

 

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Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership

Limited Partner Status

Unitholders who are admitted as limited partners of the partnership, as well as unitholders whose units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of units, will be treated as partners of the partnership for federal income tax purposes. Also:

 

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assignees who have executed and delivered transfer applications, and are awaiting admission as limited partners, and

 

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unitholders whose common units are held in street name or by a nominee and who have the right to direct the nominee in the exercise of all substantive rights attendant to the ownership of their common units

will be treated as partners of the partnership for federal income tax purposes. As there is no direct or indirect controlling authority addressing assignees of common units who are entitled to execute and deliver transfer applications and thereby become entitled to direct the exercise of attendant rights, but who fail to execute and deliver transfer applications, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.’s opinion does not extend to these persons. Furthermore, a purchaser or other transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a transfer application may not receive some federal income tax information or reports furnished to record holders of common units unless the common units are held in a nominee or street name account and the nominee or broker has executed and delivered a transfer application for those common units.

For a discussion related to the risks of losing partner status as a result of securities loans, please read “— Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership — Treatment of Securities Loans.” Unitholders who are not treated as partners in us as described above are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences applicable to them under the circumstances.

Flow-Through of Taxable Income

Subject to the discussion below under “— Entity-Level Collections of Unitholder Taxes” with respect to payments we may be required to make on behalf of our unitholders, and aside from any taxes paid by a corporate subsidiary, we will not pay any federal income tax. However, a portion of our operations and subsidiaries may also be subject to state and local taxes. Each unitholder will be required to report on its federal income tax return each year its share of our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year or years ending with or within its taxable year. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if that unitholder has not received a cash distribution.

Basis of Units

A unitholder’s tax basis in its units initially will be the amount paid for those units plus the unitholder’s share of our liabilities. That basis generally will be (i) increased by the unitholder’s share of our income and any increases in such unitholder’s share of our liabilities, and (ii) decreased, but not below zero, by the amount of all distributions, the unitholder’s share of our losses, and any decreases in its share of our liabilities.

Treatment of Distributions

Distributions made by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder, unless such distributions exceed the unitholder’s tax basis in its units, in which case the unitholder generally will recognize gain taxable in the manner described below under “— Disposition of Units.”

Any reduction in a unitholder’s share of our liabilities will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. A decrease in a unitholder’s percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional units may

 

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decrease the unitholder’s share of our liabilities. For purposes of the foregoing, a unitholder’s share of our nonrecourse liabilities (liabilities for which no partner bears the economic risk of loss) generally will be based upon that unitholder’s share of the unrealized appreciation (or depreciation) in our assets, to the extent thereof, with any excess liabilities allocated based on the unitholder’s share of our profits. Please read “Disposition of Units.”

A non-pro rata distribution of money or property (including a deemed distribution as a result of a reallocation of our liabilities described above) may cause a unitholder to recognize ordinary income, if the distribution reduces the unitholder’s share of our “unrealized receivables,” including depreciation and depletion recapture and substantially appreciated “inventory items,” both as defined in Section 751 of the Code (“Section 751 Assets”). To the extent of such reduction, the unitholder would be deemed to receive its proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and exchange such assets with us in return for a portion of the non-pro rata distribution. This deemed exchange generally will result in the unitholder’s recognition of ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the unitholder’s tax basis (generally zero) in the Section 751 Assets deemed to be relinquished in the exchange.

Limitations on Deductibility of Losses

A unitholder may not be entitled to deduct the full amount of loss we allocate to it because its share of our losses will be limited to the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s tax basis in its units, and (ii) in the case of a unitholder that is an individual, estate, trust or certain types of closely-held corporations, the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be “at risk” with respect to our activities. In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of its tax basis in its units, reduced by (1) any portion of that basis attributable to the unitholder’s share of our liabilities, (2) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or similar arrangement and (3) any amount of money the unitholder borrows to acquire or hold its units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to another unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A unitholder subject to the at risk limitation must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions (including distributions deemed to result from a reduction in a unitholder’s share of nonrecourse liabilities) cause the unitholder’s at risk amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable year.

Losses disallowed to a unitholder or recaptured as a result of basis or at risk limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction in a later year to the extent that the unitholder’s tax basis or at risk amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon a taxable disposition of units, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at risk limitation but not losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at risk limitation in excess of that gain can no longer be used.

In addition to the basis and at risk limitations, a passive activity loss limitation generally limits the deductibility of losses incurred by individuals, estates, trusts, some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations from “passive activities” (generally, trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate). The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly-traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will be available to offset only passive income generated by us, and will not be available to offset your income from other passive activities or investments, including your investments in other publicly traded partnerships (including PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.) or your salary, active business or other income. The application of the passive loss limitations to tiered partnerships is uncertain. However, we will take the position that any passive losses we generate that are reasonably allocable to our investment in any publicly-traded partnership (such as PAA Natural Gas Storage, L.P.) in which we own an interest are separate passive activities and will only be available to offset its separate passive income generated in the future, and will not be available to offset our income from any other passive activities. Passive losses that exceed a unitholder’s share of passive income we generate may be deducted in full when the unitholder disposes of all of its units in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive activity loss rules are generally applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at risk and basis limitations.

 

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Limitations on Interest Deductions

The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer’s “investment interest expense” generally is limited to the amount of that taxpayer’s “net investment income.” Investment interest expense includes:

 

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interest on indebtedness allocable to property held for investment;

 

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interest expense allocated against portfolio income; and

 

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the portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a passive activity to the extent allocable against portfolio income.

The computation of a unitholder’s investment interest expense will take into account interest on any margin account borrowing or other loan incurred to purchase or carry a unit. Net investment income includes gross income from property held for investment and amounts treated as portfolio income under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses other than interest directly connected with the production of investment income. Net investment income generally does not include qualified dividend income or gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment. A unitholder’s share of a publicly-traded partnership’s portfolio income and, according to the IRS, net passive income will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest expense limitation.

Entity-Level Collections of Unitholder Taxes

If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax on behalf of any current or former unitholder or our general partner, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution of cash to the relevant unitholder or general partner. Where the tax is payable on behalf of all the unitholders or we cannot determine the specific unitholder on whose behalf the tax is payable, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of a unitholder, in which event the unitholder may be entitled to claim a refund of the overpayment amount. Unitholders are urged to consult their tax advisors to determine the consequences to them of any tax payment we make on their behalf.

Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction

In general, if we have a net profit, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated among our unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. If we have a net loss, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated first among our unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us to the extent of their positive capital accounts and thereafter to our general partner. At any time that distributions are made with respect to common units or that incentive distributions are made to the general partner, gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of such distributions.

Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated under Section 704(c) of the Code to account for any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time such assets are contributed to us and at the time of any subsequent offering of our units (a “Book-Tax Disparity”). In addition, items of recapture income will be specially allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to that recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by other unitholders.

Treatment of Securities Loans

A unitholder whose units are loaned (for example, to a “short seller” to cover a short sale of units) may be treated as having disposed of those units. If so, such unitholder would no longer be treated for tax purposes as a partner with respect to those units during the period of the loan and may recognize gain or loss from the disposition. As a result, during this period (i) any of our income, gain, loss or deduction allocated to those units would not be reportable by the lending unitholder, and (ii) any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units may be treated as ordinary income.

 

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Due to a lack of controlling authority, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder that enters into a securities loan with respect to its units. Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of income recognition from a loan of their units are urged to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and lending their units. The IRS has announced that it is studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please read “— Disposition of Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

Tax Rates

Under current law, the highest marginal federal income tax rates for individuals applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains (generally, gains from the sale or exchange of certain investment assets held for more than one year) are 35% and 15%, respectively. However, absent new legislation extending the current rates, beginning January 1, 2013, the highest marginal federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains of individuals will increase to 39.6% and 20%, respectively. These rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.

A 3.8% Medicare tax on certain investment income earned by individuals, estates, and trusts will apply for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012. For these purposes, investment income generally includes a unitholder’s allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholder’s net investment income from all investments, or (ii) the amount by which the unitholder’s modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if married filing separately) or $200,000 (if the unitholder is unmarried). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income, or (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins.

Section 754 Election

We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code that permits us to adjust the tax bases in our assets as to specific purchasers of our units under Section 743(b) of the Code. The Section 743(b) adjustment separately applies to each purchaser of units based upon the values and bases of our assets at the time of the relevant purchase, and the adjustment will reflect the purchase price paid. The Section 743(b) adjustment does not apply to a person who purchases units directly from us.

The IRS may challenge the positions we adopt with respect to depreciating or amortizing the Section 743(b) adjustment we take to preserve the uniformity of units due to lack of controlling authority. Because a unitholder’s tax basis for its units is reduced by its share of our items of deduction or loss, any position we take that understates deductions will overstate a unitholder’s basis in its units, and may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read “— Disposition of Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.” If a challenge to such treatment were sustained, the gain from the sale of units may be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.

The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will be made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment we allocated to our assets subject to depreciation to goodwill or nondepreciable assets. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally nonamortizable or amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure any unitholder that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS or that the resulting deductions will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different tax basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than it would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.

 

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Tax Treatment of Operations

Accounting Method and Taxable Year

We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in income its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for each taxable year ending within or with its taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of its units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of its taxable year must include its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for its taxable year, with the result that it will be required to include in income for its taxable year its share of more than one year of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read “— Disposition of Units — Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees.”

Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization

The tax basis of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of these assets. The federal income tax burden associated with the difference between the fair market value of our assets and their tax basis immediately prior to an offering generally will be borne by our partners holding interests in us prior to this offering. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership — Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction.”

If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation and depletion deductions previously taken, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of its interest in us. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership — Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction” and “— Disposition of Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss.”

The costs we incur in offering and selling our units (called “syndication expenses”) must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. While there are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us, the underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses.

Valuation and Tax Basis of Our Properties

The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values and the initial tax bases of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of tax basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deduction previously reported by unitholders could change, and unitholders could be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

Disposition of Units

Recognition of Gain or Loss

A unitholder will be required to recognize gain or loss on a sale of units equal to the difference between the unitholder’s amount realized and tax basis in the units sold. A unitholder’s amount realized generally will equal the sum of the cash or the fair market value of other property it receives plus its share of our liabilities with respect to such units. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder’s share of our liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.

 

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Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than one year generally will be taxable as long-term capital gain or loss. However, gain or loss recognized on the disposition of units will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent attributable to Section 751 Assets, such as depreciation or depletion recapture. Ordinary income attributable to Section 751 Assets may exceed net taxable gain realized on the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and capital gain or loss upon a sale of units. Net capital loss may offset capital gains and, in the case of individuals, up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year.

The IRS has ruled that a partner who acquires interests in a partnership in separate transactions must combine those interests and maintain a single adjusted tax basis for all those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an “equitable apportionment” method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner’s tax basis in its entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner’s entire interest in the partnership.

Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed above, a unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, it may designate specific units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of our units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult its tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.

Specific provisions of the Code affect the taxation of some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an “appreciated” financial position, including a partnership interest with respect to which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, in the event the taxpayer or a related person enters into:

 

•

a short sale;

 

•

an offsetting notional principal contract; or

 

•

a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest or substantially identical property.

Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue regulations that treat a taxpayer that enters into transactions or positions that have substantially the same effect as the preceding transactions as having constructively sold the financial position.

Allocations Between Transferors and Transferee

In general, our taxable income or loss will be determined annually, will be prorated on a monthly basis and will be subsequently apportioned among the unitholders in proportion to the number of units owned by each of them as of the opening of the applicable exchange on the first business day of the month (the “Allocation Date”). However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets or, in the discretion of the general partner, any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which such income, gain, loss or deduction is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.

 

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Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Code and most publicly-traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Recently, however, the Department of the Treasury and the IRS issued proposed Treasury Regulations that provide a safe harbor pursuant to which a publicly-traded partnership may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders, although such tax items must be prorated on a daily basis. Nonetheless, the proposed regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted. Accordingly, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferee and transferor unitholders. If this method is not allowed under the final Treasury Regulations, or only applies to transfers of less than all of the unitholder’s interest, our taxable income or losses could be reallocated among our unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferee and transferor unitholders, as well as among unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under future Treasury Regulations.

A unitholder who disposes of units prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to the month of disposition but will not be entitled to receive a cash distribution for that period.

Notification Requirements

A unitholder who sells or purchases any of its units is generally required to notify us in writing of that transaction within 30 days after the transaction (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the transaction). Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a transfer of units may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.

Constructive Termination

We will be considered to have “constructively” terminated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes upon the sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. For such purposes, multiple sales of the same unit are counted only once. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than the calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in such unitholder’s taxable income for the year of termination.

A constructive termination occurring on a date other than December 31 generally would require that we file two tax returns for one fiscal year and the cost of the preparation of these returns will be borne by all unitholders. However, pursuant to an IRS relief procedure the IRS may allow, among other things, a constructively terminated partnership to provide a single Schedule K-1 for the calendar year in which a termination occurs. Following a constructive termination we would be required to make new tax elections, including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, and the termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination may either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination that would not otherwise have been applied to us as a continuing as opposed to a terminating partnership.

Uniformity of Units

Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units and related reasons, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements. Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the units. Please read “— Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election.”

 

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Our partnership agreement permits our general partner to take positions in filing our tax returns that preserve the uniformity of our units. These positions may include reducing the depreciation, amortization or loss deductions to which a unitholder would otherwise be entitled or reporting a slower amortization of Section 743(b) adjustments for some unitholders than that to which they would otherwise be entitled. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine as to validity of such filing positions.

A unitholder’s basis in units is reduced by its share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individual income tax return) so that any position that we take that understates deductions will overstate the unitholder’s basis in its units, and may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read “— Disposition of Units — Recognition of Gain or Loss” above and “— Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership — Section 754 Election” above. The IRS may challenge one or more of any positions we take to preserve the uniformity of units. If such a challenge were sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and, under some circumstances, the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors

Ownership of units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt organizations, non-resident aliens, non-U.S. corporations and other non-U.S. persons raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. Prospective unitholders that are tax-exempt entities or non-U.S. persons should consult their tax advisors before investing in our units. Employee benefit plans and most other tax-exempt organizations, including IRAs and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to a tax-exempt unitholder.

Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates that own units will be considered to be engaged in business in the United States because of their ownership of our units. Consequently, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on their share of our net income or gain. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly-traded partnerships, distributions to non-U.S. unitholders are subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Each non-U.S. unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes.

In addition, because a foreign corporation that owns units will be treated as engaged in a United States trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income and gain, as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation’s “U.S. net equity,” which is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a “qualified resident.” In addition, this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Code.

A non-U.S. unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS, interpreting the scope of “effectively connected income,” part or all of a non-U.S. unitholder’s gain may be treated as effectively connected with that unitholder’s indirect U.S. trade or business constituted by its investment in us. Moreover, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a non-U.S. unitholder generally will be subject to federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a unit if (i) it owned (directly or constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our units at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition and (ii) 50% or more of the fair market value of all of our assets consisted of U.S. real property interests at any time during the shorter of the period during which such unitholder held the units or the 5-year period ending on the date of

 

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disposition. More than 50% of our assets may consist of U.S. real property interests. Therefore, non-U.S. unitholders may be subject to federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of their units.

Administrative Matters

Information Returns and Audit Procedures

We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each taxable year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder’s share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure our unitholders that those positions will yield a result that conforms to all of the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS.

The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Neither we, nor Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully challenge the positions we adopt, and such a challenge could adversely affect the value of the units. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year’s tax liability and may result in an audit of the unitholder’s own return. Any audit of a unitholder’s return could result in adjustments unrelated to our returns.

Publicly traded partnerships generally are treated as entities separate from their owners for purposes of federal income tax audits, judicial review of administrative adjustments by the IRS and tax settlement proceedings. The tax treatment of partnership items of income, gain, loss and deduction are determined in a partnership proceeding rather than in separate proceedings of the partners. The Code requires that one partner be designated as the “Tax Matters Partner” for these purposes, and our partnership agreement designates our general partner.

The Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review may go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate in that action.

A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on its federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.

Nominee Reporting

Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:

(1) the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee;

(2) a statement regarding whether the beneficial owner is:

(a) a non-U.S. person;

(b) a non-U.S. government, an international organization or any wholly owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing; or

 

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(c) a tax-exempt entity;

(3) the amount and description of units held, acquired or transferred for the beneficial owner; and

(4) specific information including the dates of acquisitions and transfers, means of acquisitions and transfers, and acquisition cost for purchases, as well as the amount of net proceeds from sales.

Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A penalty of $100 per failure, up to a maximum of $1.5 million per calendar year, is imposed by the Code for failure to report that information to us. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to us.

Accuracy-Related Penalties

An additional tax equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements, is imposed by the Code. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of an underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for the underpayment of that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding the underpayment of that portion.

State, Local and Other Tax Considerations

In addition to federal income taxes, unitholders may be subject to other taxes, including state and local income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangibles taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or own property now or in the future or in which the unitholder is a resident. We currently conduct business or own property in a number of states in the United States. Most of these states impose a personal income tax and an income tax on corporations and other entities. Moreover, we may also own property or do business in other states in the future that impose income or similar taxes on nonresident individuals. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on its investment in us.

Tax Consequences of Ownership of Debt Securities

A description of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of any series of debt securities will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the offering of such debt securities.

It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent states and localities, of its investment in us. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local, or non-U.S. tax consequences of an investment in us. We strongly recommend that each prospective unitholder consult, and depend on, its own tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. It is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all tax returns that may be required of it.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Under this prospectus, we intend to offer our securities to the public:

 

•

through one or more broker-dealers;

 

•

through underwriters; or

 

•

directly to investors.

We will fix a price or prices of our securities at:

 

•

market prices prevailing at the time of any sale under this registration statement;

 

•

prices related to market prices; or

 

•

negotiated prices.

We may change the price of the securities offered from time to time.

We will pay or allow distributors’ or sellers’ commissions that will not exceed those customary in the types of transactions involved. Broker-dealers may act as agent or may purchase securities as principal and thereafter resell the securities from time to time:

 

•

in or through one or more transactions (which may involve crosses and block transactions) or distributions;

 

•

on the New York Stock Exchange;

 

•

in the over-the-counter market; or

 

•

in private transactions.

Broker-dealers or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agents. If any broker-dealer purchases the securities as principal, it may effect resales of the securities from time to time to or through other broker-dealers, and other broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of concessions or commissions from the purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents.

To the extent required, the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, as well as other important information, will be set forth in prospectus supplements. In that event, the discounts and commissions we will allow or pay to the underwriters, if any, and the discounts and commissions the underwriters may allow or pay to dealers or agents, if any, will be set forth in, or may be calculated from, the prospectus supplements. Any underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents who participate in any sale of the securities may also engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses. We may indemnify underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents against specific liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

We may offer our units into an existing trading market on the terms described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. Underwriters and dealers who may participate in any at-the-market offerings will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

 

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The aggregate maximum compensation the underwriters will receive in connection with the sale of any securities under this prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part will not exceed 8% of the gross proceeds from the sale.

Because FINRA views our common units as interests in a direct participation program, any offering of common units under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part will be made in compliance with Rule 2310 of the FINRA Rules.

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

In connection with offerings under this shelf registration and in compliance with applicable law, underwriters, brokers or dealers may engage in transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers or dealers may over-allot in connection with offerings, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the purpose of covering a syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the securities, the underwriters, brokers or dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other brokers or dealers for distribution the securities in offerings may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston, Texas. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. will also render an opinion on the material federal income tax considerations regarding the securities. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed on by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement related to that offering.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, have been incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

The audited consolidated financial statements of Project Argyle, a business owned by BP p.l.c. and affiliates, as of December 31, 2011 and for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2011, incorporated by reference into this prospectus from our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on May 29, 2012, have been so incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of Ernst & Young, LLP, independent registered public accountants, given upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said report.

 

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$             % Senior Notes due 2024

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

September     , 2014

 

 

Joint Book-Running Managers

J.P. Morgan

Barclays

BNP PARIBAS

BofA Merrill Lynch