corresp
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Chrysler Center |
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666 Third Avenue |
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New York, NY 10017 |
Todd
E. Mason | 212 692 6731 | tmason@mintz.com
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212-935-3000 |
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212-983-3115 fax |
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www.mintz.com |
July 21, 2010
Via EDGAR and FedEx
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, NE
Mail Stop 3561
Washington, DC 20549
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Re: |
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Navios Maritime Partners L.P.
Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2009
Filed February 23, 2010
File No. 001-33811
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Dear Ms. Cvrkel:
On behalf of Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (the Company), we respond as follows to the
Staffs legal comments dated July 12, 2010 relating to the above-captioned Form 20-F. Please note
that for the Staffs convenience, we have recited the Staffs comment and provided our response to
such comment immediately thereafter.
Financial Statements, page F-1
Consolidated Statements of Income, page F-4
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, page F-7
Note 19 Cash Distributions and Earnings per Unit, page F-29
1. We note the companys calculations of earnings per unit for each of the common units,
general partner units, and the subordinated units. As the computations are based on net
income per the consolidated statements of income, we are unclear as to how the provisions
of ASC 260-10-55-107 have been implemented. This guidance requires that net earnings be
reduced by the amount of available cash to be distributed to each of the unit holders in
arriving at earnings per unit so that the company presents EPU for distributed earnings and
undistributed earnings. Please revise future filings to include such disclosures and
provide us with the relevant disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2009. Your
response should clearly explain how the amounts of cash to be distributed to each class of
unit holders was
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 2
determined as well as providing supporting calculations for each EPU presented. We may
have further comment upon receipt of your response.
Response: The partnership agreement for the Company requires that all available cash (as
defined in the partnership agreement) is distributed quarterly, after deducting expenses,
including estimated maintenance and replacement capital expenditures and reserves.
Quarterly distributions are made as follows:
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First, 98% to the holders of common units and 2% to the General Partner until each
common unit has received a minimum quarterly distribution of $0.35 plus any arrearages
from previous quarters; |
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Second, 98% to the holders of subordinated units and 2% to the General Partner
until each subordinated unit has received a minimum quarterly distribution of
$0.35; and |
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Third, 98% to all unitholders (common and subordinated), pro rata, and 2% to
General Partner, until each unit has received an aggregate amount of $0.4025 |
Thereafter, there are incentive distribution rights held by the General Partner, which
provide for the General Partner to receive an increasingly greater percentage (ranging from
15% to 50%) of incremental distributions above certain pre-established thresholds, which
are $0.4025/unit, $.4375/unit and $.5250/unit.
The Company calculates earnings per unit by allocating reported net income for each period
to each class of units based on the distribution waterfall for available cash specified in
the Companys partnership agreement. Supporting calculations for each EPU calculation
presented are included as Appendix A, including indicative examples of more detailed
calculations for certain periods included as Appendix B.
We will revise future filings to separately disclose EPU for distributed and undistributed
earnings. Relevant disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2009 will be presented in
future filings as follows (see Note 19 to the Companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the
year ended December 31, 2009):
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 3
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Year Ended |
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December |
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31, 2009 |
Net income |
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34,322 |
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Earnings attributable to: |
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Common unit holders |
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25,277 |
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Subordinated unit holders |
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8,321 |
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General partner unit holders |
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724 |
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Subordinated Series A unit holders |
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Weighted average units outstanding (basic and diluted): |
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Common unit holders |
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17,174,185 |
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Subordinated unit holders |
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7,621,143 |
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General partner unit holders |
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516,441 |
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Subordinated Series A unit holders |
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1,000,000 |
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Earnings per unit overall (basic and diluted): |
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Common unit holders |
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$ |
1.47 |
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Subordinated unit holders |
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$ |
1.09 |
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General partner unit holders |
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$ |
1.40 |
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Subordinated Series A unit holders |
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Earnings per unit distributed (basic and diluted): |
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Common unit holders |
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$ |
1.87 |
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Subordinated unit holders |
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$ |
1.61 |
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General partner unit holders |
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$ |
1.91 |
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Subordinated Series A unit holders |
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Earnings (loss) per unit undistributed (basic and diluted): |
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Common unit holders |
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$ |
(0.40 |
) |
Subordinated unit holders |
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$ |
(0.52 |
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General partner unit holders |
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$ |
(0.51 |
) |
Subordinated Series A unit holders |
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Note 1 Description of the Business, page F-7
2. We note the issuance of 1,000,000 subordinated Series A units to Navios Holdings during
2009 as consideration for the cancellation of the purchase option on the Navios Bonavis.
We further note from page F-6 that such units were valued at approximately $6 per unit.
Please tell us, and revise future filings to disclose, how the fair value of the
subordinated Series
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 4
A units were determined at the issuance date given that the unit price of the companys
outstanding common units were $10.09 on June 9, 2009. If the subordinated Series A units
were valued lower than the common units because of their inability to receive distributions
for the first three years following their issuance, please explain in further detail how
this factor was considered in determining the value of the subordinated units. We may have
further comment upon receipt of your response.
Response: The Company calculated the fair value of the 1,000,000 subordinated Series A
units issued in exchange for the cancellation of its obligation to purchase the Navios
Bonavis (as well as the receipt of a 12-month option to purchase the vessel for $125,000)
by adjusting the publicly-quoted price for the Companys common units on the transaction
date to reflect the differences between the common and subordinated Series A units of the
Company. Principal among these differences is the fact that the subordinated Series A units
are not entitled to dividends prior to their automatic conversion to common units on the
third anniversary of their issuance. Accordingly, the present value of the expected
dividends during that three-year period (discounted at a rate that reflects the Companys
weighted average cost of capital) was deducted from the publicly-quoted price for the
Companys common units in arriving at the estimated fair value of the subordinated Series A
units of $6.08/unit or $6,082 for the 1,000,000 units issued.
In future filings, the Company will revise the notes to its consolidated financial
statements to explain how the Company determined the fair value of the subordinated Series
A units issued in the transaction.
Note 6 Vessels and Other Assets, page F-20
3. We note from the disclosures included in Note 6, that Navios Partners purchased a number
of vessels from Navios Holdings and its subsidiaries during 2008 and 2009. Please tell us
and explain in the notes to the companys financial statements how the purchase prices for
the vessels acquired in each of these transactions was determined and indicate whether the
price paid was equal to fair value of the vessels acquired at the dates of the
transactions. If not, please explain how Navios Partners accounted for any difference
between the fair value and the purchase price for the vessels in its financial statements.
Response: For each of the vessel purchases by and between the Company and Navios Maritime
Holdings (or its subsidiaries) disclosed in Note 6, the vessel
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 5
acquisition was effected through the acquisition of all of the capital stock of the
ship-owning companies, which held the ownership and other contractual rights and
obligations related to each of the acquired vessels, including (as applicable) the vessel,
a charter-out contract (i.e. the Company as lessor), a charter-in contract (i.e. the
Company as lessee) and a purchase option.
At each transaction date, the purchase price approximated the fair value of the assets
acquired, which was determined based on a combination of discounted cash flow analyses (of
individual assets and for the vessel-owning subsidiary as a whole, discounted using a weighted-average cost of capital),
independent valuation analyses and an adjusted net book value analysis, where the present
value of the favorable cash flow implied by the charter rate differential over the
locked-in period is added to the current charter-free value of each Vessel (excluding the
exercise price of the purchase option, where applicable). In each case, the transaction was
subject to the approval of the boards of directors of Navios Maritime Holdings and the
Company prior to consummation.
Based on these methodologies, the consideration paid was allocated between the intangible
assets (favorable contract and purchase option) and the vessel value. No difference between
the consideration paid and the fair market value of the asset acquired arose, since all
transactions were contemplated at approximately fair value at the date of each individual
transaction.
4. Also, we note that in connection with the acquisition of the vessel Fantastiks during
2008, the company transferred the remaining carrying amounts of the favorable lease and
favorable purchase option amounting to $53,022 to vessel cost which will be depreciated
over the remaining useful life of the vessel. While we understand why the favorable
purchase option would be reflected as part of the vessel cost, we are unclear as to why the
favorable lease has been accounted for as part of the cost of the vessel. Please tell us
and explain in the notes to the companys financial statements in future filings the basis
or rationale for reflecting the favorable lease as part of the vessels cost. Also, if the
company continues to have a favorable lease following the vessel acquisition, please
explain why the company believes it is appropriate to extend the amortization period for
the favorable lease by reclassifying the favorable lease asset to vessel cost. Your
response should clearly explain the relevant technical accounting literature that supports
the treatment used. We may have further comment upon receipt of your response.
Response: For the Staffs information, Navios Maritime Holdings responded to a similar
comment in its letter to the Staff dated June 6, 2006 (Comment #6) in
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 6
connection with Amendment No. 4 to its Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No.
333-129382). Accordingly, an excerpt from that letter has been included as Appendix C to
this letter in response to the current comment. Navios Maritime Holdings also responded to
a similar comment in its letter to the Staff dated August 22, 2008 (Comment #6, which also
references Comments #2 and #4 of that same letter) in connection with the Staffs review of
its Form 20-F for year ended December 31, 2007. An excerpt of that letter is not included
herein.
Finally, following the vessel acquisition, the Company no longer has a favorable lease.
Because the favorable lease related to a charter-in contract (i.e. the Company was the
lessee in relation to the Navios Fantastiks prior to exercise of its purchase option), the
lease was nullified upon exercise of the purchase option.
In future filings, the Company will revise the notes to its consolidated financial
statements to (i) clarify that amounts capitalized to vessel cost include both the
intangibles related to purchase options as well as the unamortized portion of favorable
leases and (ii) explain the rationale for reflecting the favorable lease as part of the
vessels cost.
Note 7 Intangible Assets Other than Goodwill, page F-21
5. We note the disclosure in Note 7 indicating that Navios partners purchased the rights to
the Navios Sagittarius from Navios Holdings on June 10, 2009 for $34,600. We also note
that in connection with this transaction, Navios Partners recognized intangible assets
consisting of a favorable purchase option, favorable lease terms, and a backlog asset.
Please explain how the purchase price paid for these intangible assets was determined and
explain how it compared to the fair values of the rights acquired. We may have further
comment upon receipt of your response.
Response: On June 9, 2009, the Company acquired all of the capital stock of Sagittarius
Shipping Corporation (SSC) for aggregate cash consideration of $34.6 million. Prior to
June 9, 2009, SSC was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navios Maritime Holdings and owned all
rights related to the Navios Sagittarius, which included the following:
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A charter-in contract (i.e. the Company as lessee), which resulted in the
recognition of a favorable lease; |
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A charter-out contract (i.e. the Company as lessor), which resulted in the
recognition of a backlog asset; and |
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An option to purchase the Sagittarius for $25.0 million, which resulted in the
recognition of a favorable purchase option. |
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 7
The purchase price of $34.6 million represents the fair value of SSC and approximated the
fair value of the assets acquired. The fair value of SSC was determined based on a
combination of discounted cash flow analyses (of individual assets and SSC as a whole,
using a weighted-average cost of capital), independent valuation analyses and an adjusted
net book value analysis, where the present value of the favorable cash flow implied by the
charter rate differential over the locked-in period is added to the current charter-free
value of the Vessel (excluding the exercise price of the purchase option).
The transaction was subject to approval of the boards of directors of Navios Maritime
Holdings and the Company prior to consummation.
Requested Statement
At the request of the Staff, the Company acknowledges that: (i) the Company is responsible
for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; (ii) Staff comments or
changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from
taking any action with respect to the filing; and (iii) the Company may not assert Staff
comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the
federal securities laws of the United States.
Please call the undersigned at (212) 692-6731 with any comments or questions regarding the
Registration Statement and please send a copy of any written comments to the following
parties:
Todd E. Mason, Esq.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris,
Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
666 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 935-3000
Fax: (212) 983-3115
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Very truly yours, |
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/s/ Todd E. Mason |
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Todd E. Mason
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cc: |
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Securities and Exchange Commission (Linda Cvrkel, Office of Corporation Finance)
Navios Maritime Partners L.P. (Ms. Angeliki Frangou) |
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 8
APPENDIX A
Calculation of Earnings per Unit by Class of Units (Year Ended December 31, 2009)
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Year Ended |
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March |
|
June 30, |
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September |
|
December |
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December |
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31, 2009 |
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2009 |
|
30, 2009 |
|
31, 2009 |
|
31, 2009 |
Net income, as reported ($000) |
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8,959 |
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3,592 |
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10,789 |
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10,982 |
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34,322 |
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Allocation of net income ($000) 1: |
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General partner, including IDRs |
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|
209 |
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72 |
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223 |
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|
|
220 |
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|
|
724 |
|
Common units |
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5,612 |
|
|
|
3,520 |
|
|
|
7,643 |
|
|
|
8,502 |
|
|
|
25,277 |
|
Subordinated units |
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3,138 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,923 |
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|
|
2,260 |
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|
|
8,321 |
|
Subordinated Series A units |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
8,959 |
|
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|
3,592 |
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|
10,789 |
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|
10,982 |
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|
34,322 |
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|
|
|
|
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Weighted average units outstanding: |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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General partner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
516,441 |
|
Common units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,174,185 |
|
Subordinated units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
7,621,143 |
|
Subordinated Series A units |
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|
|
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1,000,000 |
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Earnings per unit: |
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General partner |
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|
|
|
|
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|
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$ |
1.40 |
|
Common units |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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$ |
1.47 |
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Subordinated units |
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$ |
1.09 |
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Subordinated Series A units |
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1 |
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Based on the distribution waterfall for
available cash specified in the Companys partnership agreement. See detailed
example included for the three months ended March 31, 2009 as Appendix B. |
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 9
APPENDIX B
Sample Calculation of Income Allocation to Classes of Units (Three Months Ended March 31, 2009)
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General |
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Partner, |
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including |
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Common |
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Subordinated |
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Subordinated |
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IDRs |
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Units |
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Units |
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Series A Units |
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Total |
Units |
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433,740 |
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13,631,415 |
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7,621,843 |
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|
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21,686,998 |
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Units, as a % of
total units |
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2.00 |
% |
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|
62.85 |
% |
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|
35.15 |
% |
|
|
0.00 |
% |
|
|
100.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Up to $0.35/common unit |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of net income |
|
$ |
97 |
|
|
$ |
4,771 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4,868 |
|
Percentage of distribution |
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|
2.00 |
% |
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|
98.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Up to $0.35/subordinated unit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of net income |
|
$ |
54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,668 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
2,722 |
|
Percentage of distribution |
|
|
2.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
98.00 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Up to $.4025/unit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of net income |
|
$ |
23 |
|
|
$ |
716 |
|
|
$ |
400 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,139 |
|
Percentage of distribution |
|
|
2.00 |
% |
|
|
62.85 |
% |
|
|
35.15 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Up to $.4375/unit |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allocation of net income |
|
$ |
35 |
|
|
$ |
125 |
|
|
$ |
70 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
230 |
|
Percentage of distribution |
|
|
15.00 |
% |
|
|
54.51 |
% |
|
|
30.49 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total allocated net income,
based on distribution
waterfall for
available cash |
|
$ |
209 |
|
|
$ |
5,612 |
|
|
$ |
3,138 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
8,959 |
|
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 10
APPENDIX C
Excerpt from letter to the Staff dated June 6, 2006 (Comment #6) in connection with Amendment
No. 4 to its Registration Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 333-129382).
Comment
We have reviewed your response to our prior comment number 19 in which you provided us with a
summary of the cash and non-cash components of the purchase price for your vessel acquisitions.
Please tell us in further detail the specific nature of the non-cash components of the purchase
price for the vessels the Meridian and Mercator which totaled $6.8 million and $6.6 million
respectively. In this regard, we are unclear as to why favorable lease terms would represent part
of the acquisition costs of the vessels. Please advise or revise as appropriate. We may have
further comment upon receipt of your response.
Company Response
As part of the business combination, we acquired intangible assets related to operating leases of
vessels. Many of these leases contain purchase options which are exercisable before the end of the
lease term. The Company accounts for the intangible asset associated with a favorable operating
lease containing an in-the-money purchase option as one intangible asset; a portion of which is
amortized and a portion of which is not amortized. The amortizable portion relates to the
favorable portion of the operating lease and the non-amortizable portion relates to the purchase
option that in-the-money at the date of the business combination. These amounts are disclosed on
page F-23. The amortizable portion is amortized over the original lease term consistent with
paragraph 12 of FIN 21, Accounting for Leases in a Business Combination, an Interpretation of FASB
Statement No. 13, which states that the classification of a lease in accordance with FASB
Statement No. 13 shall not be changed as a result of a business combination. If the purchase
option is exercised early, the favorable lease intangible asset will not be fully amortized as of
the date the option is exercised. This unamortized amount is included as an adjustment to the
carrying value of the vessel along with the carrying value of the option and the option exercise
price. This accounting is similar to the accounting set forth in FIN 26, Accounting for the
Purchase of a Leased Asset by Lessee During the Term of the Lease, which specifies that in a
purchase of an asset under capital lease, any difference between the purchase price and the lease
obligation shall be recorded as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset. By way of
analogy, the amounts related to the leased property recorded on the balance sheet at the time of
purchase of the property under an operating lease would result in an adjustment to the carrying
amount of the asset. The resultant carrying amount of the asset would be subject to normal
impairment testing under the asset held and used model unless the asset was considered held for
sale. Thus, the non-cash adjustment to the carrying amount of the Meridian
Heather Clark, Assistant Director
Securities and Exchange Commission
July 21, 2010
Page 11
and Mercator of $6.8 million and $6.6 million, respectively, represent the unamortized portion of
the intangible asset resulting from the exercise of the purchase option prior to the end of the
lease term.