UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 16, 2013

 

GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

P.O. Box 9161

800 South Street

Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(781) 894-8800
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

Item 1.01.                            Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

The description of the amendment to the Credit Agreement under Item 2.03 below is incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference.

 

Item 2.03.                            Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

 

On December 16, 2013, Global Partners LP (the “Partnership”), its operating company, its operating subsidiaries and GLP Finance Corp. entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”), which increased the Aggregate Commitments (as defined in the Credit Agreement) available under the Credit Agreement to $1.625.0 billion from $1.615.0 billion under the prior credit agreement.  The Credit Agreement will mature on April 30, 2018.

 

There are two facilities under the Credit Agreement:

 

·                  a working capital revolving credit facility to be used for working capital purposes and letters of credit in the principal amount equal to the lesser of the Partnership’s borrowing base and $1.0 billion; and

 

·                  a $625.0 million revolving credit facility to be used for acquisitions, joint ventures, capital expenditures, letters of credit and general corporate purposes.

 

In addition, the Credit Agreement has an accordion feature whereby the borrowers may request on the same terms and conditions of the then existing credit agreement, provided no Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) then exists, an increase to the working capital revolving credit facility, the revolving credit facility, or both, by up to another $300.0 million, in the aggregate, for a total credit facility of up to $1.925 billion.  Any such request for an increase by the borrowers must be in a minimum amount of $5.0 million.

 

In addition, the Credit Agreement includes a swing line pursuant to which Bank of America, N.A., as the swing line lender, may make swing line loans in U.S. Dollars in an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (a) $50.0 million and (b) the Aggregate WC Commitments (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  Swing line loans will bear interest at the Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  The swing line is a sub-portion of the working capital revolving credit facility and is not an addition to the total available commitments of $1.625 billion.

 

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are available in U.S. Dollars and Canadian Dollars.  The aggregate amount of loans made under the Credit Agreement denominated in Canadian Dollars cannot exceed $200.0 million.

 

Availability under the working capital revolving credit facility is subject to a borrowing base which is redetermined from time to time and based on specific advance rates on eligible current assets.  Under the Credit Agreement, borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility cannot exceed the then current borrowing base.

 

Borrowings under the working capital revolving credit facility bear interest at (1) the Eurocurrency rate plus 2.00% to 2.50%, (2) the cost of funds rate plus 2.00% to 2.50%, or (3) the base rate plus 1.00% to 1.50%, each depending on the Utilization Amount (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

 

Borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at (1) the Eurocurrency rate plus 2.25% to 3.25%, (2) the cost of funds rate plus 2.25% to 3.25%, or (3) the base rate plus 1.25% to 2.25%, each depending on the Combined Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

 

The Credit Agreement provides for a letter of credit fee equal to the then applicable working capital rate or then applicable revolver rate (each such rate as defined in the Credit Agreement) per annum for each letter of credit issued.  In addition, the Partnership incurs a commitment fee on the unused portion of each facility under the Credit Agreement, ranging from 0.375% to 0.50% per annum.

 

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The Credit Agreement is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and the Partnership’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and is guaranteed by the Partnership and its subsidiary, Bursaw Oil LLC.  The Credit Agreement imposes certain requirements on the borrowers including, for example, a prohibition against distributions if any potential default or Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) would occur as a result thereof, and certain limitations on the Partnership’s ability to grant liens, make certain loans or investments, incur additional indebtedness or guarantee other indebtedness, make any material change to the nature of the Partnership’s business or undergo a fundamental change, make any material dispositions, acquire another company, enter into a merger, consolidation, sale leaseback transaction or purchase of assets, or make capital expenditures in excess of specified levels.

 

The Credit Agreement imposes financial covenants that require the borrowers to maintain certain minimum working capital amounts, a minimum combined interest coverage ratio, a maximum senior secured leverage ratio and a maximum total leverage ratio.

 

The Credit Agreement also contains a representation whereby there can be no event or circumstance, either individually or in the aggregate, that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

 

The Credit Agreement limits distributions to unitholders to Available Cash (as defined in the Partnership Agreement of the Partnership).

 

The lending group under the Credit Agreement includes the following institutions:  Bank of America, N.A.; JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; RBS Citizens NA; Standard Chartered Bank; Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.; Societe Generale; BNP Paribas; Cooperative Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., “Rabobank Nederland” New York Branch; BMO Harris Financing, Inc.; The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.; Santander Bank, N.A.; Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank; Natixis, New York Branch; Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, NY Branch; Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch; TD Bank, N.A.; Keybank National Association; Barclays Bank PLC; Regions Bank; Raymond James Bank, N.A.; People’s United Bank; The Huntington National Bank; Webster Bank National Association; First Niagara Bank, N.A.; Cadence Bank, N.A.; RB International Finance (USA) LLC and Blue Hills Bank.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

	GLOBAL PARTNERS LP
	By:	Global GP LLC,
		its general partner
Dated: December 20, 2013	By:	/s/ Edward J. Faneuil
		Executive Vice President,
		General Counsel and Secretary

 

 

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