<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 11, 1998
REGISTRATION NO. 333-47295
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
---------------
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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STAR GAS PARTNERS, L.P.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
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DELAWARE 5984 06-1437793
(STATE OR OTHER (PRIMARY STANDARD (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
JURISDICTION OF INDUSTRIAL IDENTIFICATION NO.)
INCORPORATION OR CLASSIFICATION CODE
ORGANIZATION) NUMBER)
2187 ATLANTIC STREET
P.O. BOX 120011
STAMFORD, CT 06912-0011
(203) 328-7300
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
---------------
JOSEPH P. CAVANAUGH
PRESIDENT
2187 ATLANTIC STREET
P.O. BOX 120011
STAMFORD, CT 06912-0011
(203) 328-7300
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
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PHILLIPS NIZER BENJAMIN KRIM & BALLON LLP
666 FIFTH AVENUE
28TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10103-0084
(212) 977-9700
ATTN: ALAN SHAPIRO
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), please check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]
---------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE
ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY
DETERMINE.
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<PAGE>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF +
+ANY SUCH STATE. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION--DATED MARCH 11, 1998
PROSPECTUS
1,000,000 COMMON UNITS
STAR GAS PARTNERS, L.P.
LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
The common units ("Common Units") offered hereby represent limited partner
interests in Star Gas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Partnership"). The Partnership may offer up to 1,000,000 Common Units from
time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of
market conditions at the time of sale and set forth in a Prospectus Supplement.
The Partnership was formed in 1995 to acquire and operate the propane business
and assets of Star Gas Corporation ("Star Gas" or the "General Partner") and
Petroleum Heat and Power Co., Inc. ("Petro"). Star Gas, the general partner of
the Partnership, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petro.
The Partnership distributes to its partners, on a quarterly basis, all of its
Available Cash, which is generally all of the cash receipts of the Partnership
less all cash disbursements, as adjusted for reserves. The General Partner has
broad discretion in making cash disbursements and establishing reserves. It is
the intent of the Partnership, to the extent there is sufficient Available
Cash, to distribute to each holder of Common Units at least $0.55 per Common
Unit per quarter (the "Minimum Quarterly Distribution") or $2.20 per Common
Unit on an annualized basis. During the Subordination Period, which generally
will not end prior to January 1, 2001, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution will
be made to the holders of Common Units before any distributions will be made on
the Subordinated Units of the Partnership.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 13 OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR A DISCUSSION
OF THE MATERIAL RISKS RELATING TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON UNITS. THESE
RISKS INCLUDE:
. CASH DISTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT GUARANTEED, WILL DEPEND ON THE FUTURE OPERATING
PERFORMANCE OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE FUNDING OF
RESERVES, EXPENDITURES AND OTHER MATTERS WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE
GENERAL PARTNER. AS A RESULT, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE
PARTNERSHIP WILL BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THE MINIMUM QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION
OR ANY OTHER PARTICULAR LEVEL OF CASH DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS.
. FUTURE PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE WILL DEPEND UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE
PARTNERSHIP IN MAXIMIZING PROFITS FROM RETAIL PROPANE SALES. PROPANE SALES
ARE AFFECTED BY WEATHER PATTERNS, PRODUCT PRICES AND COMPETITION,
INCLUDING COMPETITION FROM OTHER ENERGY SOURCES.
. BECAUSE THE RETAIL PROPANE INDUSTRY IS MATURE AND OVERALL DEMAND FOR
PROPANE IS EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE LIMITED GROWTH IN THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE, THE PARTNERSHIP WILL DEPEND ON ACQUISITIONS AS THE PRINCIPAL MEANS
OF GROWTH. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP WILL BE ABLE TO
COMPLETE FUTURE ACQUISITIONS.
. THE PARTNERSHIP IS SIGNIFICANTLY LEVERAGED AND HAS INDEBTEDNESS THAT IS
SUBSTANTIAL IN RELATION TO ITS PARTNERS' EQUITY.
. HOLDERS OF COMMON UNITS HAVE LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS, AND THE GENERAL
PARTNER MANAGES AND OPERATES THE PARTNERSHIP.
. THE AVAILABILITY TO A UNITHOLDER OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX BENEFITS OF AN
INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP LARGELY DEPENDS ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE
PARTNERSHIP AS A PARTNERSHIP FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE PARTNERSHIP WILL RELY
ON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, AND NOT A RULING FROM THE INTERNAL REVENUE
SERVICE, ON THAT ISSUE AND OTHERS RELEVANT TO A UNITHOLDER.
. THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP ARE COMPLEX.
(continued on following page)
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION
PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
-----------
The Common Units may be sold directly by the Partnership to investors,
through agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or
dealers. See "Plan of Distribution." If any agents of the Partnership or any
underwriters are involved in the sale of any Common Units in respect of which
this Prospectus is being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters
and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a Prospectus
Supplement. The net proceeds to the Partnership from such sale also will be set
forth in a Prospectus Supplement.
The Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, also covers
the offering by Star Gas, as selling unitholder (the "Selling Unitholder") of
60,727 Common Units, which may be sold from time to time pursuant to
arrangements made by the Selling Unitholder. The Partnership will not receive
any of the proceeds from the sale of Common Units by the Selling Unitholder.
The Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of the Common Units unless
accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
The date of this Prospectus is , 1998
<PAGE>
(continued from page 1)
The Common Units offered hereby represent an aggregate 13.6% limited partner
interest in the Partnership. Following the completion of this Offering
(assuming that all of the Common Units offered hereby are sold), there will be
an aggregate of 4,831,727 Common Units and 2,396,078 subordinated limited
partner interests (the "Subordinated Units") outstanding, representing a 65.5%
and a 32.5% limited partner interest in the Partnership, respectively. The
General Partner will own an aggregate 2% general partner interest in the
Partnership and the Operating Partnership as well as 2,396,078 Subordinated
Units and 60,727 Common Units. The Common Units and the Subordinated Units are
collectively referred to herein as the "Units." Holders of the Common Units
and the Subordinated Units are collectively referred to herein as
"Unitholders."
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON UNITS.
SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY INCLUDE STABILIZING, THE PURCHASE OF COMMON UNITS TO
COVER SYNDICATE SHORT POSITIONS AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS. FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION."
2
<PAGE>
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLOSURE
This Prospectus includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), which represent the Partnership's expectations or beliefs
concerning future events that involve risks and uncertainties, including those
associated with the effect of national and regional economic conditions, the
effect of weather conditions on the Partnership's financial performance, the
price and supply of propane and the ability of the Partnership to obtain new
accounts and retain existing accounts. All statements other than statements of
historical facts included in this Prospectus, including, without limitation,
statements regarding the Partnership's business strategy, plans and objectives
of the Partnership for future operations and statements under "Cash
Distribution Policy" are forward-looking statements. Although the Partnership
believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements
are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to
have been correct. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the Partnership's expectations ("Cautionary Statements") are
disclosed in this Prospectus, including, without limitation, in conjunction
with the forward-looking statements included in this Prospectus and under
"Risk Factors." All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
attributable to the Partnership or persons acting on its behalf are expressly
qualified in their entirety by the Cautionary Statements.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Partnership has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in Washington, D.C., a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act, with respect to the
securities offered by this Prospectus. Certain of the information contained in
the Registration Statement is omitted from this Prospectus, and reference is
hereby made to the Registration Statement and exhibits and schedules relating
thereto for further information with respect to the Partnership and the
securities offered by this Prospectus. The Partnership is subject to the
informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith,
files reports and other information with the Commission. Such reports and
other information are available for inspection at, and copies of such
materials may be obtained upon payment of the fees prescribed therefor by the
rules and regulations of the Commission from, the Commission at its principal
offices located at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024,
Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Regional Offices of the Commission located
at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois
60661-2511, and at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 or may be
obtained on the Internet at http:www.sec.gov. In addition, the Common Units
of the Partnership are listed on the Nasdaq National Market, and such reports
and other information may be inspected and copied at the offices of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20006.
The Partnership will furnish to record holders of Common Units within 120
days after the close of each fiscal year an annual report containing audited
financial statements and a report thereon by its independent public
accountants. The Partnership will also furnish each unitholder with tax
information within 90 days after the close of each taxable year of the
Partnership.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Partnership's (1) Annual Report on Form 10-K (including, without
limitation, information regarding Executive Compensation and Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations) for
the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997 ("1997 Annual Report"); (2) Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1997; and (3)
Periodic Reports on Form 8-K filed on October 22, 1997, as amended on October
30, 1998 and November 24, 1998 are incorporated in this Prospectus by
reference. All documents filed by the Partnership pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the Offering shall be deemed
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document, all or a portion
of which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein,
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently
filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein modifies or superseded such statement. Any such statement so modified
or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Partnership will provide without
charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus
is delivered, upon the request of such person, a copy of the foregoing
documents incorporated herein by reference, other than exhibits to such
documents (unless such exhibits are incorporated by reference in such
document). Requests shall be directed to the attention of Richard F. Ambury,
Vice President, Finance, Star Gas Corporation, 2187 Atlantic Street, Stamford,
CT 06902 (telephone (203) 328-7300).
3
<PAGE>
THE PARTNERSHIP
GENERAL
The Partnership is a Delaware limited partnership formed in 1995 to acquire
and operate the propane business of Star Gas and its parent corporation, Petro.
The Partnerships activities are conducted through its subsidiary, Star Gas
Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited Partnership (the "Operating Partnership").
Except as the context otherwise requires, references to or descriptions of
operations of the Partnership include the operations of the Operating
Partnership and any other subsidiary operating partnership or corporation, the
Partnership's predecessor, Star Gas, and the propane operations of Petro. All
such operations are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "Star Gas
Group."
The Partnership is primarily engaged in the retail distribution of propane
and related supplies and equipment to residential, commercial, industrial,
agricultural and motor fuel customers. On October 22, 1997, the Partnership
completed the acquisition of Pearl Gas Co. ("Pearl Gas"), a retail propane
distributor headquartered in Bowling Green, Ohio, which sells over 14 million
gallons of retail propane annually to over 12,000 customers. After giving
effect to such acquisition, the Partnership believes that it is the eighth
largest retail propane distributor in the United States, serving approximately
162,000 customers from 72 branch locations in the Midwest and Northeast. In
addition to its retail business, the Partnership also serves approximately 60
wholesale customers from its wholesale operation in southern Indiana.
Propane is used primarily for space heating, water heating and cooking by the
Partnership's residential and commercial customers, which constitute the
largest portion of its customer base. The Partnership believes its business is
relatively stable due to the following characteristics: (i) the demand for
propane has been relatively unaffected by general economic conditions due to
the largely non-discretionary nature of most propane purchases; (ii) the loss
of customers to other competing energy sources has been low; and (iii) customer
retention has been high due to an automatic delivery system, which eliminates
affirmative purchase decisions, and to the Partnership's ownership of over 95%
of the tanks utilized by its customers.
The Partnership sells propane primarily to four specific retail markets:
residential, industrial/commercial, agricultural and other (principally to
other propane retailers and as a motor fuel). In the Midwest, the Partnership
services customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. In
the Northeast, the Partnership services customers in Connecticut, Maine,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode
Island. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, approximately 71% of
the Partnership's sales (by volume of gallons sold) were to retail customers
(of which approximately 52%, 21%, 18% and 9% were sales to residential
customers, industrial/commercial customers, agricultural customers and motor
fuel customers, respectively) and approximately 29% were to wholesale
customers. Residential sales have a greater profit margin and a more stable
customer base and tend to be less sensitive to price changes than the other
markets served by the Partnership. Sales to residential customers in fiscal
1997 accounted for 62% of the Partnership's gross profit on propane sales,
reflecting the higher-margin nature of this segment of the retail market.
For ease of reference, a glossary (the "Glossary") of certain terms used in
this Prospectus is included as Appendix B to this Prospectus. Capitalized terms
not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given in the Glossary.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Partnership's business strategy is to maximize its cash flow and
profitability, primarily through (i) internal growth, (ii) controlling
operating costs and (iii) acquisitions which have the potential for generating
attractive returns on investment. The retail propane industry is mature and
experiences only limited growth in
4
<PAGE>
total demand for the product. The propane industry is also large and highly
fragmented, with approximately 6,000 independently owned and operated
distributors. Given these characteristics, the Partnership's acquisition
strategy is focused on acquiring smaller to medium-sized local and regional
independent propane distributors, particularly those with a relatively large
percentage of residential customers, which generate higher margins than other
types of customers, and those located in the Midwest and Northeast, where the
Partnership believes it can attain higher margins than in other areas of the
United States.
Although there are no formal arrangements between Petro and the Partnership,
the Partnership has had, and anticipates that it will continue to have, access
to Petro's management expertise. In particular, the Partnership believes that
the extensive experience of Petro's management team in making acquisitions in
the home heating oil industry, which has many similar characteristics to the
propane industry, provides the Partnership with a competitive advantage.
Additionally, the field of potential acquisition candidates for the Partnership
is broadened because of the ability to acquire companies with both home heating
oil and propane operations, with the Partnership either retaining the propane
operations and Petro retaining the home heating oil operations or the
Partnership retaining both the propane and the home heating oil operations. In
this regard, although the Partnership does not presently have any home heating
oil operations, it may consider acquiring or retaining such operations in the
future to the extent that the Partnership is able to identify attractive
acquisition candidates in the home heating oil industry.
In order to facilitate the Partnership's acquisition strategy, the Operating
Partnership has entered into bank credit facilities (the "Bank Credit
Facilities"), which consist of a $25.0 million acquisition facility (the
"Acquisition Facility") (none of which was outstanding as of February 28, 1998)
and a $12.0 million working capital facility (the "Working Capital Facility")
(none of which was outstanding as of February 28, 1998). In addition to
borrowings under the Bank Credit Facilities, the Partnership may fund future
acquisitions from internal cash flow or from the issuance of additional
Partnership interests or debt securities.
While the Partnership regularly considers and evaluates acquisitions as part
of its ongoing acquisition program, the Partnership does not have any present
agreements or commitments with respect to any acquisition. There can be no
assurance that the Partnership will identify attractive acquisition candidates
in the future or that it will be able to acquire such candidates or obtain
financing for such acquisitions on acceptable terms. In addition, there can be
no assurance that any such acquisition will not dilute earnings and
distributions or that any additional debt incurred to finance acquisitions will
not affect the ability of the Partnership to make distributions to Unitholders.
The General Partner has broad discretion in making acquisitions and it is
expected that the General Partner will not generally seek Unitholder approval
of acquisitions.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
December 1997 Offering of Common Units
On December 16, 1997, the Partnership completed a public offering of 809,000
Common Units at $21.25 per Common Unit (the "December 1997 Offering"). The net
proceeds of $15.7 million were used to repay $10.0 million borrowed under the
Acquisition Facility and $5.7 million borrowed under the Working Capital
Facility. In connection with the December 1997 Offering, the General Partner
sold 87,000 Common Units. The Partnership did not receive any proceeds from the
sale of such Units by the General Partner.
Issuance of First Mortgage Notes
In January 1998, the Operating Partnership issued $11.0 million of First
Mortgage Notes with an annual interest rate of 7.17%. The First Mortgage Notes
mature on September 15, 2010 and require a prepayment of $5.5 million on March
15, 2010. Interest is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15. The
proceeds from the First Mortgage Notes were used to repay $11.0 million
borrowed under the Acquisition Facility.
5
<PAGE>
Pearl Gas Acquisition
On October 22, 1997, the Operating Partnership completed the acquisition of
Pearl Gas (the "Pearl Gas Acquisition") which is based in Bowling Green, Ohio.
Pearl Gas, which has been in business for more than 70 years, sells over 14
million gallons of retail propane annually to over 12,000 customers. Pearl Gas
operates primarily in northwest Ohio, southern Michigan and northeast Indiana.
Over 80% of Pearl Gas' volume is sold to residential customers.
The purchase price for Pearl Gas was $23.0 million in cash (including working
capital of $1.9 million, and transaction expenses of $0.4 million) plus the
issuance of limited and general partner interests in the Partnership, including
147,727 Common Units to the General Partner (valued in total as of the
acquisition date at $3.5 million).
The following chart sets forth for the periods indicated Pearl Gas' EBITDA,
net income and volume of retail propane gallons sold:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TWELVE MONTHS
YEAR ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 31 SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
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1995 1996 ACTUAL ADJUSTED(b)
------ ------ ------ -----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
EBITDA(a)................................ $2,629 $3,162 $3,012 $3,285
Net income............................... $2,302 $2,924 $2,667 $2,940
Retail propane gallons sold.............. 14,372 15,288 14,303 14,303
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) EBITDA is defined as operating income plus depreciation and amortization,
less net gain (loss) on sale of businesses and equipment and other non-cash
charges (including impairment of long-lived assets). EBITDA should not be
considered as an alternative to net income (as an indicator of operating
performance) or as an alternative to cash flow (as a measure of liquidity
or ability to service debt obligations), but provides additional
information for evaluating the Partnership's ability to make the Minimum
Quarterly Distributions.
(b) Adjusted to include $0.3 million in estimated cost savings which Management
anticipates will be realized as a result of the Pearl Gas Acquisition.
On a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the Pearl Gas Acquisition and
the completion of the December 1997 Offering, for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1997, the Partnership's volume of retail propane gallons sold,
EBITDA and net income would have been 109.2 million gallons, $23.0 million and
$3.4 million, respectively, as compared to the Partnership's historical results
of 94.9 million gallons, $19.7 million and $2.0 million, respectively.
Operating Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 1997
For the three months ended December 31, 1997, net income was $3.7 million, or
$0.66 per Unit, as compared to net income of $5.9 million, or $1.10 per Unit
for the three months ended December 31, 1996. Results for the 1998 and 1997
fiscal first quarter periods are based on a weighted average of 5,474,000 and
5,271,000 Units outstanding, respectively. The increase is due to the Units
that were issued in connection with the December 1997 Offering.
EBITDA declined to $8.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 1997,
as compared to $10.4 million in the prior year's period. The decrease in EBITDA
was primarily due to lower wholesale volumes and lower wholesale and retail per
gallon margins. As expected, per gallon margins were lower compared to the
year-earlier period, when operating results had benefitted from unusual supply
and wholesale propane market conditions. Retail volume increased 12% over the
prior year due to the Pearl Gas Acquisition.
6
<PAGE>
The Partnership's operating expenses remained unchanged as compared to the
fiscal 1997 first quarter despite 12% higher retail volume, as the increased
costs associated with the Pearl Gas operations were offset by the Partnership's
successful efforts to lower operating expenses. On a retail per gallon basis,
operating expenses actually declined 10% as a result of lower insurance and
vehicle operating costs.
Temperatures for the month of January 1998 were approximately 26.2% warmer
than normal (measured on a degree-day basis) which is expected to have an
adverse impact on second quarter results.
THE OFFERING
Securities Offered by the
Partnership........................... 1,000,000 Common Units.
Units to be Outstanding After This
Offering.............................. 4,831,727 Common Units and
2,396,078 Subordinated Units,
representing a 65.5% and a 32.5%
limited partner interest in the
Partnership, respectively.
Distributions of Available Cash....... The Partnership distributes all of
its Available Cash approximately 45
days after each March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31, to
Unitholders of record on the
applicable record date and to the
General Partner. "Available Cash"
for any quarter will consist
generally of all cash on hand at
the end of such quarter, as
adjusted for reserves. The complete
definition of Available Cash is set
forth in the Glossary. The General
Partner has broad discretion in
making cash disbursements and
establishing reserves, thereby
affecting the amount of Available
Cash. Available Cash will generally
be distributed 98% to the
Unitholders and 2% to the General
Partner, except that if
distributions of Available Cash
exceed Target Distribution Levels
above the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution, the General Partner
will receive a percentage of such
excess distributions that will
increase to up to 50% of
distributions in excess of the
highest Target Distribution Level.
See "Cash Distribution Policy--
Incentive Distributions."
Distributions to Unitholders.......... The Partnership intends, to the
extent there is sufficient
Available Cash from Operating
Surplus, to distribute to each
holder of Common Units at least the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution of
$0.55 per Common Unit per quarter.
With respect to each quarter during
the Subordination Period, which
will generally not end earlier than
January 1, 2001, the Common
Unitholders will generally have the
right to receive the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution, plus any
arrearages thereon, before any
distribution of Available Cash from
Operating Surplus is made to the
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<PAGE>
Subordinated Unitholders. In
addition, the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution and the Target
Distribution Levels are subject to
adjustments in certain other
circumstances. See "Cash
Distribution Policy--Adjustment of
Minimum Quarterly Distribution and
Target Distribution Levels."
Subordinated Units will not accrue
distribution arrearages. Upon the
expiration of the Subordination
Period, Common Units will no longer
accrue distribution arrearages. See
"Cash Distribution Policy."
Subordination Period.................. The Subordination Period will
generally extend until the first
day of any quarter beginning on or
after January 1, 2001 in respect of
which (i) distributions of
Available Cash from Operating
Surplus on the Common Units and the
Subordinated Units equaled or
exceeded the sum of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on all of
the outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units with respect to
each of the three non-overlapping
four-quarter periods immediately
preceding such date, (ii) the
Adjusted Operating Surplus
generated during each of the three
immediately preceding non-
overlapping four-quarter periods
equaled or exceeded the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on
all of the outstanding Common Units
and Subordinated Units during such
periods and (iii) there are no
arrearages in payment of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on
the Common Units. Upon expiration
of the Subordination Period, all
remaining Subordinated Units will
convert into Common Units and will
thereafter participate pro rata
with the other Common Units in
distributions of Available Cash. In
addition, if the General Partner is
removed as the general partner of
the Partnership other than for
Cause, the Subordination Period
will end.
Early Conversion of Subordinated
Units................................. A portion of the Subordinated Units
will convert into Common Units on
the first day after the record date
established for any quarter ending
on or after March 31, 1999 (with
respect to 599,020 of the
Subordinated Units) and March 31,
2000 (with respect to an additional
599,020 of the Subordinated Units),
on a cumulative basis, in respect
of which (i) distributions of
Available Cash from Operating
Surplus on the Common Units and the
Subordinated Units equaled or
exceeded the sum of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on all of
the outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units with respect to
each of the three non-overlapping
four-quarter periods
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<PAGE>
immediately preceding such date,
(ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus
generated during each of the three
immediately preceding non-
overlapping four-quarter periods
equaled or exceeded the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on
all of the outstanding Common Units
and Subordinated Units during such
periods and (iii) there are no
arrearages in payment of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on
the Common Units. See "Cash
Distribution Policy--Quarterly
Distributions of Available Cash."
Incentive Distributions............... As an incentive, if quarterly
distributions of Available Cash
exceed the Target Distribution
Levels, the General Partner will
receive up to 50% of distributions
of Available Cash in excess of such
Target Distribution Levels as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARGINAL PERCENTAGE
INTEREST IN
TOTAL DISTRIBUTIONS
QUARTERLY -------------------
DISTRIBUTION GENERAL
AMOUNT UNITHOLDERS PARTNER
------------ ----------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Minimum
Quarterly
Distribution... $0.550 98% 2%
First Target
Distribution... $0.604 98% 2%
Second Target
Distribution... $0.711 85% 15%
Third Target
Distribution... $0.926 75% 25%
Thereafter...... -- 50% 50%
</TABLE>
See "Cash Distribution Policy--
Incentive Distributions."
Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly
Distribution and Target Distribution
Levels............................... The Minimum Quarterly Distribution
and the Target Distribution Levels
are subject to downward adjustments
in the event that Unitholders
receive distributions of Available
Cash from Capital Surplus (which
generally includes cash from
transactions such as borrowings
(other than working capital
borrowings), refinancings, sales of
securities or sales or other
dispositions of assets constituting
a return of capital under the
Partnership Agreement, as
distinguished from cash from
Partnership operations), or in the
event legislation is enacted or
existing law is modified or
interpreted in a manner that causes
the Partnership to be treated as an
association taxable as a
corporation or otherwise taxable as
an entity for federal, state or
local income tax purposes. If the
Unitholders receive a full return
of capital as a result of
distributions of Available Cash
from Capital Surplus, the
distributions payable to the
General Partner will increase to
50% of all amounts
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distributed thereafter. See "Cash
Distribution Policy--Distributions
from Capital Surplus" and "--
Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly
Distribution and Target
Distribution Levels."
Partnership's Ability to Issue
Additional Units...................... The Partnership Agreement
authorizes the General Partner to
cause the Partnership to issue an
unlimited number of additional
limited partner interests of the
Partnership for such consideration
and on such terms as shall be
established by the General Partner
in its sole discretion without the
approval of the Unitholders. Prior
to the end of the Subordination
Period, however, the Partnership
may not issue equity securities
ranking senior to the Common Units
or more than 1,300,000 additional
Common Units or an equivalent
number of securities ranking on a
parity with the Common Units
(excluding Common Units or parity
Units issued upon conversion of
Subordinated Units, in connection
with certain acquisitions or to
repay certain indebtedness) without
the approval of a Unit Majority.
The Common Units offered in the
December 1997 Offering (to the
extent that the proceeds thereof
were used to refinance acquisition
debt) and the Common Units issued
to Star Gas in connection with the
Pearl Gas Acquisition will be
excluded from such 1,300,000 Common
Units. See "Risk Factors--Risks
Inherent in an Investment in the
Partnership--The Partnership May
Issue Additional Units, Diluting
Existing Unitholders' Interests."
Limited Call Right.................... If at any time not more than 20% of
the outstanding limited partner
interests of any class are held by
persons other than the General
Partner and its Affiliates, the
General Partner may purchase all of
the remaining limited partner
interests of such class at
specified market prices.
Limited Voting Rights................. Unitholders have only limited
voting rights on matters affecting
the Partnership's business. The
approval of at least a majority of
the outstanding Units is required
in such instances.
Removal and Withdrawal of the General
Partner............................... Subject to certain conditions, the
General Partner may be removed upon
the approval of the holders of at
least 66 2/3% of the outstanding
Units, excluding those Units held
by the General Partner and its
Affiliates. A meeting of the
holders of the Common Units may be
called only by the General Partner
or by the holders of 20% or more of
the outstanding Common Units.
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<PAGE>
The General Partner has agreed not
to voluntarily withdraw as general
partner of the Partnership and the
Operating Partnership prior to
December 31, 2005, subject to
limited exceptions, without
obtaining the approval of at least
a Unit Majority and furnishing an
Opinion of Counsel.
Transfer Restrictions................. All purchasers of Common Units in
this Offering and purchasers of
Common Units in the open market who
wish to become Common Unitholders
of record must deliver an executed
transfer application (the "Transfer
Application," the form of which is
included in this Prospectus as
Appendix A) before the transfer of
such Common Units will be
registered and before cash
distributions and federal income
tax allocations will be made to the
transferee. See "Description of the
Common Units--Transfer of Units."
Liquidation Preference................ In the event of any liquidation of
the Partnership during the
Subordination Period, the
outstanding Common Units will be
entitled to receive a distribution
out of the net assets of the
Partnership, generally in
preference to liquidating
distributions on the Subordinated
Units. Following conversion of the
Subordinated Units into Common
Units, all Units will be treated
the same upon liquidation of the
Partnership. See "Cash Distribution
Policy--Distributions of Cash Upon
Liquidation."
Use of Proceeds....................... Except as may otherwise be
described in a Prospectus
Supplement relating to an offering
of Common Units, the net proceeds
from the sale of the Common Units
will be used for general
partnership purposes. Any
allocation of the net proceeds of
an offering of Common Units to a
specific purpose will be determined
at the time of such offering and
will be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement. See "Use of
Proceeds."
Nasdaq Trading Symbol................. "SGASZ"
11
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS ARE INHERENTLY DIFFERENT FROM CAPITAL STOCK OF A
CORPORATION, ALTHOUGH MANY OF THE BUSINESS RISKS TO WHICH THE PARTNERSHIP IS
SUBJECT ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE THAT WOULD BE FACED BY A CORPORATION ENGAGED IN A
SIMILAR BUSINESS. PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE COMMON UNITS SHOULD CONSIDER
THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS IN EVALUATING AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON UNITS.
ALL STATEMENTS OTHER THAN STATEMENTS OF HISTORICAL FACTS INCLUDED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, STATEMENTS REGARDING THE
PARTNERSHIP'S BUSINESS STRATEGY, PLANS AND OBJECTIVES OF MANAGEMENT OF THE
PARTNERSHIP FOR FUTURE OPERATIONS AND STATEMENTS UNDER "CASH DISTRIBUTION
POLICY," ARE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. ALTHOUGH THE PARTNERSHIP BELIEVES
THAT THE EXPECTATIONS REFLECTED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE
REASONABLE, IT CAN GIVE NO ASSURANCE THAT SUCH EXPECTATIONS WILL PROVE TO BE
CORRECT. IMPORTANT FACTS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY
FROM THE PARTNERSHIP'S EXPECTATIONS ARE DISCLOSED BELOW AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS.
RISKS INHERENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP'S BUSINESS
Weather Conditions Affect the Demand for Propane
Weather conditions have a significant impact on the demand for propane for
both heating and agricultural purposes. Many customers of the Partnership rely
heavily on propane as a heating fuel. Accordingly, the volume of propane sold
is at its highest during the six-month peak heating season of October through
March and is directly affected by the severity of the winter weather. Actual
weather conditions can vary substantially from year to year, significantly
affecting the Partnership's financial performance. Approximately 70% to 75% of
the Partnership's retail propane volume is sold during the peak heating season
from October through March. Furthermore, variations in weather in one or more
regions in which the Partnership operates can significantly affect the total
volume of propane sold by the Partnership and the margins realized on such
sales and, consequently, the Partnership's results of operations. Agricultural
demand is also affected by weather, as dry weather during the harvest season
reduces demand for propane used in crop drying.
The Partnership Is Subject to Pricing and Inventory Risk
The retail propane business is a "margin-based" business in which gross
profits depend on the excess of selling prices over the propane supply costs.
Propane is a commodity and, as such, its unit price is subject to volatile
changes in response to changes in supply or other market conditions. The
Partnership has no control over these market conditions. Consequently, the
unit price of propane purchased by the Partnership, as well as other
marketers, can change rapidly over a short period of time. In general, product
supply contracts permit suppliers to charge posted prices at the time of
delivery or the current prices established at major storage points such as
Mont Belvieu, Texas or Conway, Kansas. As rapid increases in the wholesale
cost of propane may not be immediately passed on to customers, such increases
could reduce margins. Consequently, the Partnership's profitability is
sensitive to changes in wholesale propane prices. See "--The Retail Propane
Business Is Highly Competitive."
Propane is available from numerous sources, including integrated
international oil companies, independent refiners and independent wholesalers.
The Partnership purchases propane from a variety of suppliers pursuant to
supply contracts and on the spot market. The major portion of propane
purchased by the Partnership (approximately 79% in fiscal 1997) is produced
domestically. To the extent that the Partnership purchases propane from
Canadian sources (approximately 21% in fiscal 1997), its propane business will
be subject to risks of disruption in foreign supply. The Partnership attempts
to minimize inventory risk by purchasing propane on a
12
<PAGE>
short-term basis. During periods of low demand for propane, which generally
occur during the summer months, the Partnership has on occasion purchased
large volumes of propane at lower-than-market costs for storage in the
Partnership's 21 million gallon underground storage facility in Seymour,
Indiana for future resale. Because of the potential volatility of propane
prices, the market price for propane could fall below the price at which the
Partnership purchased propane held in inventory, thereby adversely affecting
gross margin or sales or rendering sales from such inventory unprofitable. The
Partnership may from time to time engage in transactions (such as options or
fixed price contracts to purchase propane) to hedge product costs in an
attempt to reduce cost volatility. To date, the level of such activities has
not been significant and the Partnership is not currently engaged in any such
transactions.
Inflation increases the Partnership's operating and administrative costs.
The Partnership will attempt to limit the effects of inflation on its results
of operations through cost control efforts, productivity improvements and
increases in gross profit margins, but it may not be successful.
The Retail Propane Business Is Highly Competitive
The Partnership's business is highly competitive. Competition within the
propane distribution industry stems from primarily three types of
participants: larger, multistate marketers; smaller, local independent
marketers; and farm cooperatives. Some of the Partnership's competitors have
substantially greater financial and operating resources than the Partnership.
Generally, competition in the past few years has intensified, partly as a
result of warmer-than-normal weather and general economic conditions. The
Partnership's ability to compete effectively depends on the reliability of its
service, its responsiveness to customers and its ability to maintain
competitive retail prices.
Most of the Partnership's retail branch locations compete with five or more
marketers or distributors. The principal factors influencing competition with
other retail marketers are price, reliability and quality of service,
responsiveness to customer needs and safety concerns. Each branch location
operates in its own competitive environment, as retail marketers are typically
located in close proximity to customers to lower the cost of providing
service. The Partnership's branch locations have an average effective
marketing radius of 35 miles.
As a result of long-standing customer relationships that are typical in the
retail home propane industry, the inconvenience of switching tanks and
suppliers and the lack of growth in the industry, the Partnership's propane
business may experience difficulty in acquiring new retail customers (other
than through acquisitions).
The Partnership's Ability To Grow Depends Upon Acquisitions
The retail propane industry is mature with only limited growth in total
demand for propane. The Partnership believes the overall demand for propane
has remained relatively constant, with year-to-year industry volumes being
affected primarily by weather patterns. Therefore, the ability of the
Partnership's propane business to grow depends heavily on its ability to
acquire other distributors. In making acquisitions, the Partnership competes
with other larger, well-financed companies.
There can be no assurance that the Partnership will identify attractive
acquisition candidates in the future or that it will be able to acquire such
candidates or obtain financing for such acquisitions on acceptable terms. If
the Partnership is able to make acquisitions, there can be no assurance that
such acquisitions will not dilute earnings and distributions, or that any
additional debt incurred to finance acquisitions will not affect the ability
of the Partnership to make distributions. The Partnership is subject to
certain debt incurrence covenants in certain agreements governing its
indebtedness that might restrict the Partnership's ability to incur
indebtedness to finance acquisitions. In addition, to the extent that warm
winter weather adversely affects the Partnership's operating and financial
results, the Partnership's access to capital and its acquisition activities
may be limited.
Dependence on Principal Suppliers
During fiscal year 1997, 43% of the Partnership's volume of propane
purchases in the Midwest was purchased on the spot market from various Mont
Belvieu sources and 21% was purchased from three refineries
13
<PAGE>
in Illinois and Indiana owned by Amoco Canada Marketing Group. Approximately
47% of purchases from Amoco Canada Marketing Group were made under long-term
market-based supply contracts and the balance was made under short-term supply
contracts. Although the Partnership believes that alternative sources of
propane are readily available, in the event that the Partnership is unable to
purchase propane from either of these sources, the failure to obtain alternate
sources of supply at competitive prices and on a timely basis could have a
material adverse effect on the Partnership. Substantially all of the
Partnership's propane supply for its Northeast retail operations is purchased
under annual or longer term supply contracts. Historically, a substantial
portion of the propane purchased by the Partnership has originated at the Mont
Belvieu, Texas storage facilities and has been shipped to the Partnership
through a major common carrier pipeline. Any significant interruption in the
service at Mont Belvieu or on the common carrier pipeline could have a
material adverse effect on the business of the Partnership.
Energy Efficiency and Technology Trends May Affect Demand
The national trend toward increased conservation and technological advances,
including installation of improved insulation and the development of more
efficient furnaces and other heating devices, has slowed the growth of demand
for propane by retail customers. The Partnership cannot predict the effect of
future conservation measures or the effect that any technological advances in
heating, conservation, energy generation or other devices might have on its
operations.
The Partnership Is Subject to Operating and Litigation Risks Which May Not Be
Covered by Insurance
The Partnership's operations are subject to all operating hazards and risks
normally incidental to handling, storing and transporting and otherwise
providing for use by consumers of combustible liquids such as propane. As a
result, the Partnership may be a defendant in various legal proceedings and
litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. The Partnership
maintains insurance policies with insurers in such amounts and with such
coverages and deductibles as the General Partner believes are reasonable and
prudent. However, there can be no assurance that such insurance will be
adequate to protect the Partnership from all material expenses related to
potential future claims for personal and property damage or that such levels
of insurance will be available in the future at economical prices. In
addition, the occurrence of an explosion may have an adverse effect on the
public's desire to use propane.
The Retail Propane Business Faces Competition from Alternative Energy Sources
Propane is sold in competition with other sources of energy, some of which
are less costly for equivalent energy value. The Partnership competes for
customers against suppliers of natural gas. Because of the significant cost
advantage of natural gas over propane, propane is generally not competitive
with natural gas in those areas where natural gas is readily available. The
expansion of the nation's natural gas distribution systems has resulted in the
availability of natural gas in areas that previously depended upon propane. To
a lesser extent, the Partnership also competes for customers against suppliers
of electricity and fuel oil. The General Partner cannot predict the effect
that the development of alternative energy sources might have on the
operations of the Partnership.
RISKS INHERENT IN AN INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP
Cash Distributions Are Not Guaranteed and May Fluctuate with Partnership
Performance
Although the Partnership distributes all of its Available Cash, there can be
no assurance regarding the amounts of Available Cash that the Partnership will
generate. The actual amounts of Available Cash will depend upon numerous
factors, including profitability of operations, required principal and
interest payments on the Partnership's debt, the cost of acquisitions
(including related debt service payments), the issuance of debt and equity
securities by the Partnership, fluctuations in working capital, capital
expenditures, adjustments in reserves,
14
<PAGE>
prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, some
of which may be beyond the control of the General Partner. Cash distributions
are dependent primarily on cash flow, including from reserves, and not on
profitability, which is affected by non-cash items. Therefore, cash
distributions may be made during periods when the Partnership records losses
and may not be made during periods when the Partnership records profits.
The Partnership Agreement gives the General Partner discretion in
establishing reserves for the proper conduct of the Partnership's business
that will affect the amount of Available Cash. Because the business of the
Partnership is seasonal, the General Partner expects that it will make
additions to reserves during certain of the Partnership's fiscal quarters in
order to fund operating expenses and distributions to partners with respect to
other fiscal quarters. In addition, the Partnership is required to make
reserves for the future payment of principal and interest on the First
Mortgage Notes and in certain instances for the future payment of principal
and interest under the Bank Credit Facilities and other indebtedness of the
Partnership. The Partnership anticipates that reserves for interest on the
First Mortgage Notes will be established at approximately $1.8 million at each
December 31 and June 30, and the reserves will be eliminated when interest
payments are made on the First Mortgage Notes in March and September. Reserves
for repayment of principal on the First Mortgage Notes are not required until
December 31, 2000 and then will equal 50% of the next installment at each
December 31 and June 30 and the reserves will be eliminated when principal
payments are made on the First Mortgage Notes in March and September. In
addition, the First Mortgage Notes and the Bank Credit Facilities limit the
Operating Partnership's ability to distribute cash to the Partnership.
Distributions from the Operating Partnership will be the Partnership's primary
source of Available Cash. As a result of these and other factors, there can be
no assurance regarding the actual levels of cash distributions by the
Partnership, and the Partnership's ability to distribute cash may be limited
during the existence of any events of default under any of the Partnership's
debt instruments.
The Partnership's Indebtedness May Limit the Partnership's Ability to Make
Distributions and May Affect its Operations
At December 31, 1997 the Partnership's total indebtedness as a percentage of
total capitalization was approximately 57.2%. As a result, the Partnership is
significantly leveraged and has indebtedness that is substantial in relation
to its partners' equity. The ability of the Partnership to make principal and
interest payments will depend on future performance which is subject to many
factors, some of which will be outside the Partnership's control. Certain of
the Partnership's indebtedness contain provisions relating to change of
control. In particular, the First Mortgage Notes and the Bank Credit
Facilities require the General Partner to serve as general partner of the
Partnership and to maintain with its Affiliates ownership of a minimum number
of Units. If such change of control provisions are triggered, (i) under the
Bank Credit Facilities, all outstanding indebtedness may become due and (ii)
under the First Mortgage Notes, the indebtedness will be re-rated by a rating
agency. In such event, there is no assurance that the Partnership will be able
to pay the indebtedness, in which case the lenders would have the right to
foreclose on the Partnership's assets, which would have a material adverse
effect on the Partnership. There is no restriction on the ability of the
General Partner to enter into a transaction which would trigger such change of
control provisions. In addition, all of the Partnership's indebtedness is
secured by substantially all of the assets of the Partnership and will contain
covenants that limit the ability of the Operating Partnership to distribute
cash and to incur additional indebtedness. In the case of a continuing default
by the Partnership under such indebtedness, the lenders would have the right
to foreclose on the Partnership's assets, which would have a material adverse
effect on the Partnership. Payment of principal and interest on such
indebtedness, as well as compliance with the requirements and covenants of
such indebtedness, may limit the Partnership's ability to make distributions
to Unitholders. The Partnership's leverage may also adversely affect the
ability of the Partnership to finance its future operations and capital needs,
may limit its ability to pursue other business opportunities and may make its
results of operations more susceptible to adverse economic conditions.
15
<PAGE>
Holders of Common Units Have Limited Voting Rights; The General Partner
Manages and Operates the Partnership
The General Partner manages and operates the Partnership. Unlike the holders
of common stock in a corporation, holders of outstanding Common Units have
only limited voting rights on matters affecting the Partnership's business.
Holders of Common Units have no right to elect the General Partner on an
annual or other continuing basis, and the General Partner generally may not be
removed except pursuant to the vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of
the outstanding Units, excluding those held by the General Partner and its
Affiliates. As a result, holders of Common Units have limited influence on
matters affecting the operation of the Partnership and third parties may find
it difficult to attempt to gain control or influence the activities of the
Partnership.
The Partnership May Issue Additional Units, Diluting Existing Unitholders'
Interests
The Partnership may issue an unlimited number of additional limited partner
interests of the Partnership for such consideration and on such terms as shall
be established by the General Partner in its sole discretion without the
approval of the Unitholders. Prior to the end of the Subordination Period,
however, the Partnership may not issue equity securities ranking senior to the
Common Units or more than 1,300,000 additional Common Units or an equivalent
number of securities ranking on a parity with the Common Units (excluding
Common Units or parity Units issued upon conversion of Subordinated Units, in
connection with certain acquisitions or to repay certain indebtedness),
without the approval of a Unit Majority. The Common Units offered in the
December 1997 Offering (to the extent that the proceeds therefrom were used to
refinance acquisition debt) and the Common Units issued to Star Gas in
connection with the Pearl Gas Acquisition will be excluded from such 1,300,000
Common Units. The effect of any such issuance may be to dilute the interests
of holders of Units in distributions by the Partnership and to make it more
difficult for a person or group to remove the General Partner as a general
partner or otherwise change management of the Partnership.
The General Partner Will Have a Limited Call Right with Respect to the Common
Units
If, at any time, not more than 20% of the issued and outstanding Common
Units are held by persons other than the General Partner and its Affiliates,
the General Partner will have the right, which it may assign to any of its
Affiliates or the Partnership, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the
remaining Common Units held by such unaffiliated persons at specified prices.
As a consequence of the General Partner's right to purchase outstanding Common
Units, a Unitholder may have his Common Units purchased from him even though
he may not desire to sell them, and the price paid may be less than the amount
the Unitholder would desire to receive upon the sale of his Common Units.
Change of Management Provisions
The Partnership Agreement contains certain provisions that may discourage a
person or group from attempting to remove the General Partner as general
partner. The Partnership Agreement provides that if the General Partner is
removed other than for Cause, the Subordination Period will end, all
arrearages on the Common Units will terminate and all outstanding Subordinated
Units will convert into Common Units. The effect of these provisions may be to
diminish the price at which the Common Units will trade under certain
circumstances.
Unitholders May Not Have Limited Liability in Certain Circumstances
The limitations on the liability of holders of Common Units for the
obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in some
states. If it were determined that the Partnership had been conducting
business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited
partnership statute, or that the right or the exercise of the right by the
holders of Common Units as a group to remove or replace the General Partner,
to make certain amendments to the Partnership Agreement or to take other
action pursuant to the Partnership
16
<PAGE>
Agreement constituted participation in the "control" of the Partnership's
business, then a holder of Common Units could be held liable under certain
circumstances for the Partnership's obligations to the same extent as the
General Partner.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY
Conflicts of interest have arisen and could arise in the future as a result
of the relationships between the General Partner and its Affiliates, on the
one hand, and the Partnership or any partner thereof, on the other. The
directors and officers of the General Partner have fiduciary duties to manage
the General Partner in a manner beneficial to the shareholder of the General
Partner. At the same time, the General Partner, as general partner, has
fiduciary duties to manage the Partnership in a manner beneficial to the
Partnership and the Unitholders. The duties of the General Partner, as general
partner, to the Partnership and the Unitholders, therefore, may come into
conflict with the duties of the directors and officers of the General Partner
to its sole shareholder, Petro.
Such conflicts of interest might arise in the following situations, among
others:
(i) Decisions of the General Partner with respect to the amount and
timing of cash expenditures, borrowings, issuances of additional Units and
reserves in any quarter will affect whether or the extent to which there is
sufficient Available Cash from Operating Surplus to meet the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels on all Units in a
given quarter. In addition, actions by the General Partner may have the
effect of enabling the General Partner to receive incentive distributions
or accelerating the expiration of the Subordination Period or the
conversion of Subordinated Units into Common Units.
(ii) The Partnership does not have any employees and relies solely on
employees of the General Partner and its Affiliates.
(iii) Under the terms of the Partnership Agreement, the Partnership will
reimburse the General Partner and its Affiliates for costs incurred in
managing and operating the Partnership, including costs incurred in
rendering corporate staff and support services to the Partnership.
(iv) Whenever possible, the General Partner intends to limit the
Partnership's liability under contractual arrangements to all or particular
assets of the Partnership, with the other party thereto to have no recourse
against the General Partner or its assets.
(v) Any agreements between the Partnership and the General Partner and
its Affiliates will not grant to the holders of Common Units, separate and
apart from the Partnership, the right to enforce the obligations of the
General Partner and such Affiliates in favor of the Partnership. Therefore,
the General Partner, in its capacity as the general partner of the
Partnership, will be primarily responsible for enforcing such obligations.
(vi) Under the terms of the Partnership Agreement, the General Partner is
not restricted from causing the Partnership to pay the General Partner or
its Affiliates for any services rendered on terms that are fair and
reasonable to the Partnership or entering into additional contractual
arrangements with any of such entities on behalf of the Partnership.
Neither the Partnership Agreement nor any of the other agreements,
contracts and arrangements between the Partnership, on the one hand, and
the General Partner and its Affiliates, on the other, are or will be the
result of arm's-length negotiations.
(vii) The General Partner may exercise its right to call for and purchase
Units as provided in the Partnership Agreement or assign such right to one
of its Affiliates or to the Partnership.
(viii) The Partnership Agreement provides that, subject to certain
restrictions, it will not constitute a breach of the General Partner's
fiduciary duties to the Partnership or the Unitholders for the General
Partner's Affiliates, including Petro, to engage in activities of the type
conducted by the Partnership, even if in direct competition with the
Partnership. The General Partner and its Affiliates have no obligation to
present business opportunities to the Partnership.
Petro has agreed with the Partnership that neither Petro nor any of its
Affiliates will acquire a business which derives any revenues from the sale of
propane, if, after giving effect to such acquisition, Petro's Pro Forma
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<PAGE>
Propane Volumes would equal or exceed the lesser of (i) 15% of the
Partnership's reported propane volume sold for the most recently completed
four fiscal quarters which ended at least 90 days prior to the date of such
acquisition or (ii) 15 million gallons of propane. Petro's "Pro Forma Propane
Volumes" means that actual propane volumes sold by Petro and any of its
Affiliates (other than the Partnership) for the most recently completed four
fiscal quarters which ended at least 90 days prior to the date of
determination plus the propane volumes sold by the propane business to be
acquired for the most recently completed four fiscal quarters which ended at
least 90 days prior to the date of determination. In addition, in the event
Petro or an Affiliate owns a propane business, Petro or such Affiliate may not
accept as a customer any person who is a customer of the Partnership.
Notwithstanding the above, there are no restrictions on the ability of Petro
or other Affiliates of the General Partner to engage in the sale of propane
outside the continental United States or to trade or store propane. Petro has
advised the Partnership that it currently has no plans to acquire any propane
business, engage in the sale of propane outside the continental United States
or to trade or store propane.
Unless provided for otherwise in the partnership agreement, Delaware law
generally requires a general partner of the Delaware limited partnership to
adhere to fiduciary duty standards under which it owes its limited partners
the highest duties of good faith, fairness and loyalty and which generally
prohibit such general partner from taking any action or engaging in any
transaction as to which it has a conflict of interest. The Partnership
Agreement expressly permits the General Partner to resolve conflicts of
interest between itself or its Affiliates on the one hand, and the Partnership
or the Unitholders, on the other, and to consider, in resolving such conflicts
of interest and actions of the General Partner and its Affiliates that might
otherwise be prohibited, including those described in paragraphs (i)-(viii)
above, and provides that such conflicts of interest and actions do not
constitute a breach by the General Partner of any duty stated or implied by
law or equity. The General Partner will not be in breach of its obligations
under the Partnership Agreement or its duties to the Partnership or the
Unitholders if the resolution of such conflict is fair and reasonable to the
Partnership. The latitude given in the Partnership Agreement to the General
Partner in resolving conflicts of interest may significantly limit the ability
of a Unitholder to challenge what might otherwise be a breach of fiduciary
duty. The General Partner believes, however, that such latitude is necessary
and appropriate to enable it to serve as the general partner of the
Partnership without undue risk of liability.
The Partnership Agreement expressly limits the liability of the General
Partner by providing that the General Partner, its Affiliates and its officers
and directors will not be liable for monetary damages to the Partnership, the
limited partners or assignees for errors of judgment or for any actual
omissions if the General Partner and other persons acted in good faith. In
addition, the Partnership is required to indemnify the General Partner, its
Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents to
the fullest extent permitted by law, against liabilities, costs and expenses
incurred by the General Partner or such other persons, if the General Partner
or such persons acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed
to be in, or not opposed to, the best interest of the Partnership and, with
respect to any criminal proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe the
conduct was unlawful.
The provisions of Delaware law that allow the common law fiduciary duties of
a general partner to be modified by a partnership agreement have not been
resolved in a court of law, and the General Partner has not obtained an
opinion of counsel covering the provisions set forth in the Partnership
Agreement that purport to waive or restrict the fiduciary duties of the
General Partner that would be in effect under common law were it not for the
Partnership Agreement.
TAX RISKS
For a general discussion of the expected federal income tax consequences of
owning and disposing of Units, see "Tax Considerations."
18
<PAGE>
Tax Treatment Is Dependent on Partnership Status
The availability to a Unitholder of the federal income tax benefits of an
investment in the Partnership depends, in large part, on the classification of
the Partnership (unless the context requires otherwise, references in this
subdivision to the Partnership are references to both the Partnership and the
Operating Partnership) as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Based
on certain representations by the General Partner, counsel is of the opinion
that, under current law, the Partnership has been and will continue to be
classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. However, no
ruling from the IRS as to such status has been or will be requested, and the
opinion of counsel is not binding on the IRS. One of the representations of
the General Partner on which the opinion of counsel is based is that at least
90% of the Partnership's gross income for each taxable year has been and will
be "qualifying income." Whether the Partnership will continue to be classified
as a partnership in part depends, therefore, on the Partnership's ability to
meet this qualifying income test in the future. See "Tax Considerations--
Partnership Status."
If the Partnership were classified as a corporation for federal income tax
purposes, the Partnership would pay tax on its income at corporate rates,
distributions would generally be taxed to the Unitholders as corporate
distributions, and no income, gain, losses or deductions would flow through to
the Unitholders. Because a tax would be imposed upon the Partnership as an
entity, the cash available for distribution to the Unitholders would be
substantially reduced. Treatment of the Partnership as an association taxable
as a corporation or otherwise as a taxable entity would result in a material
reduction in the anticipated cash flow and after-tax return to the Unitholders
and this would likely result in a substantial reduction in the value of the
Units. See "Tax Considerations--Partnership Status."
There can be no assurance that the law will not be changed so as to cause
the Partnership to be treated as an entity taxable as a corporation for
federal income tax purposes or otherwise to be subject to entity-level
taxation. The Partnership Agreement provides that, if a law is enacted or
existing law is modified or interpreted in a manner that subjects the
Partnership to taxation as a corporation or otherwise subjects the Partnership
to entity-level taxation for federal, state or local income tax purposes,
certain provisions of the Partnership Agreement relating to the subordination
of distributions on Subordinated Units will be subject to change, including a
decrease in the amount of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution (and Target
Distribution Levels) to reflect the impact of such law on the Partnership. See
"Cash Distribution Policy--Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and
Target Distribution Levels."
No IRS Ruling with Respect to Tax Consequences
No ruling has been requested from the IRS with respect to classification of
the Partnership as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, whether the
Partnership's propane operations generate "qualifying income", or any other
matter affecting the Partnership. Accordingly, the IRS may adopt positions
that differ from counsel's conclusions expressed herein. It may be necessary
to resort to administrative or court proceedings in an effort to sustain some
or all of counsel's conclusions, and some or all of such conclusions
ultimately may not be sustained. The costs of any contest with the IRS will be
borne directly or indirectly by some or all of the Unitholders and the General
Partner.
Deductibility of Losses
In the case of taxpayers subject to the passive loss rules, losses generated
by the Partnership, if any, will only be available to offset future income
generated by the Partnership and cannot be used to offset income from other
activities, including passive activities or investments. Unused losses may be
deducted when the Unitholder disposes of all of his Units in a fully taxable
transaction with an unrelated party. Net passive income from the Partnership
may be offset by a Unitholder's unused Partnership losses carried over from
prior years, but not by losses from other passive activities, including losses
from other publicly traded partnerships. See "Tax Considerations--Tax
Consequences of Unit Ownership--Limitations on Deductibility of Partnership
Losses."
19
<PAGE>
Tax Liability Exceeding Cash Distribution
A Unitholder will be required to pay federal income tax and, in certain
cases, state and local income taxes on his allocable share of the
Partnership's income, even if he receives no cash distributions from the
Partnership. No assurance can be given that a Unitholder will receive cash
distributions equal to his allocable share of taxable income from the
Partnership or even the tax liability to him resulting from that income.
Further, a holder of Units may incur a tax liability, in excess of the amount
of cash received, upon the sale of his Units. See "Tax Considerations--Tax
Consequences of Unit Ownership" and "--Disposition of Units."
Bunching of Income
Each Unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable share of
Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction for the fiscal year of the
Partnership ending within or with the taxable year of the Unitholder. In
addition, a Unitholder who has a taxable year ending on other than December 31
and who disposes of Units following the close of the Partnership's taxable
year but before the close of the Unitholder's taxable year must include his
allocable share of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction in income for
the Unitholder's taxable year with the result that the Unitholder will be
required to report in income for his taxable year his distributive share of
more than one year of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction. See "Tax
Considerations--Disposition of Common Units--Allocations Between Transferors
and Transferees."
Ownership of Units by Tax-Exempt Organizations and Certain Other Investors
Investment in Units by certain tax-exempt entities, regulated investment
companies and foreign persons raises issues unique to such persons. For
example, much of the taxable income derived by most organizations exempt from
federal income tax (including IRAs and other retirement plans) from the
ownership of a Unit will be unrelated business taxable income and thus will be
taxable to such a Unitholder. See "Tax Considerations--Uniformity of Units--
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Certain Other Investors."
Tax Shelter Registration; Potential IRS Audit
The Partnership is registered with the IRS as a "tax shelter." No assurance
can be given that the Partnership will not be audited by the IRS or that tax
adjustments will not be made. The rights of a Unitholder owning less than a 1%
profit interest in the Partnership to participate in the income tax audit
process are very limited. Further, any adjustments in the Partnership's
returns will lead to adjustments in the Unitholders' returns and may lead to
audits of Unitholders' returns and adjustments of items unrelated to the
Partnership. Each Unitholder would bear the cost of any expenses incurred in
connection with an examination of such Unitholder's personal tax return.
Possible Loss of Tax Benefits Relating to Non-uniformity of Units and
Nonconforming Depreciation Conventions
Because the Partnership cannot match transferors and transferees of Units,
uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the Units to a purchaser
of Units must be maintained. To maintain uniformity and for other reasons, the
Partnership has adopted certain depreciation and amortization conventions that
do not conform with all aspects of certain proposed and final Treasury
Regulations. A successful challenge to those conventions by the IRS could
adversely affect the amount of tax benefits available to a purchaser of Units
and could have a negative impact on the value of the Units. See "Tax
Considerations--Uniformity of Units."
State, Local and Other Tax Considerations
In addition to federal income taxes, Unitholders will likely be subject to
other taxes, such as state and local taxes, unincorporated business taxes and
estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that are imposed by the various
jurisdictions in which the Partnership does business or owns property. A
Unitholder will likely be required to file state and local income tax returns
and pay state and local income taxes in some or all of the various
20
<PAGE>
jurisdictions in which the Partnership does business or owns property and may
be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. The
General Partner anticipates that substantially all of the Partnership's income
will be generated in the following states: Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky,
Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and
Rhode Island, each of which currently imposes a personal income tax. It is the
responsibility of each Unitholder to file all United States federal, state and
local tax returns that may be required of such Unitholder. Counsel has not
rendered an opinion on the state or local tax consequences of an investment in
the Partnership. See "Tax Considerations--State, Local and Other Tax
Considerations."
Tax Gain or Loss on Disposition of Units
A Unitholder who sells Units will recognize gain or loss equal to the
difference between the amount realized (including his share of Partnership
nonrecourse liabilities) and his adjusted tax basis in such Units. Thus, prior
Partnership distributions in excess of cumulative net taxable income in
respect of a Unit which decreased a Unitholder's tax basis in such Unit will,
in effect, become taxable income if the Unit is sold at a price greater than
the Unitholder's tax basis in such Units, even if the price is less than his
original cost. A portion of the amount realized (whether or not representing
gain) may be ordinary income. Furthermore, should the IRS successfully contest
certain conventions to be used by the Partnership, a Unitholder could realize
more gain on the sale of Units than would be the case under such conventions
without the benefit of decreased income in prior years.
Reporting of Partnership Tax Information and Audits
The Partnership will furnish each holder of Units with a Schedule K-1 that
sets forth his allocable share of income, gains, losses and deductions. In
preparing these schedules, the Partnership will use the various accounting and
reporting conventions and adopt various depreciation and amortization methods.
There is no assurance that these schedules will yield a result that conforms
to statutory or regulatory requirements or to administrative pronouncements of
the IRS. Further, the Partnership's tax return may be audited, and any such
audit could result in an audit of a partner's individual tax return as well as
increased liabilities for taxes because of adjustments resulting from the
audit.
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON UNITS AND DISTRIBUTION
The Common Units, representing common limited partner interests in the
Partnership, are listed and traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol SGASZ. The Common Units began trading on December 20, 1995, at an
initial public offering price of $22.00 per Common Unit. The following table
sets forth the closing high and low sales prices for the Common Units on the
Nasdaq National Market and the cash distribution declared per Common Unit for
the periods indicated.
COMMON UNIT CLOSING SALES PRICE RANGE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CASH
DISTRIBUTIONS
HIGH LOW DECLARED PER UNIT
----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------
1998 1997 1996 1998 1997 1996 1998 1997 1996
FISCAL QUARTER ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
First Quarter........... $23.38 $23.88 $22.50 $20.88 $21.75 $22.00 $0.55 $0.55 --
Second Quarter.......... $24.00(a) $24.63 $22.50 $21.38(a) $20.75 $21.13 -- $0.55 --
Third Quarter........... -- $21.88 $22.00 -- $19.00 $19.75 -- $0.55 $0.62(b)
Fourth Quarter.......... -- $23.50 $24.75 -- $21.00 $20.50 -- $0.55 $0.55
</TABLE>
- --------
(a) Through February 27, 1998.
(b) This distribution amounted to $0.6225 per unit and represented a pro rata
distribution of $0.0725 per unit for the period December 20, 1995 to
December 31, 1995 and a quarterly distribution of $0.55 per unit for the
three months ended March 31, 1996.
21
<PAGE>
As of March 3, 1998, there were approximately 136 holders of record of the
Partnership's Common Units. There is no established public trading market for
the Partnership's 2,396,078 Subordinated Units which are all held by the
General Partner. The Partnership makes quarterly distributions to its Partners
in an aggregate amount equal to its Available Cash for such quarter. See "Cash
Distribution Policy."
CASH DISTRIBUTION POLICY
The Partnership distributes to its partners, on a quarterly basis, all its
Available Cash in the manner described herein. "Available Cash" is defined in
the Glossary and generally means, with respect to any fiscal quarter of the
Partnership, all cash on hand at the end of such quarter less the amount of
cash reserves that are necessary or appropriate in the reasonable discretion
of the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper conduct of the
Partnership's business, (ii) comply with applicable law or any Partnership
debt instrument or other agreement or (iii) provide funds for distributions to
the Unitholders and the General Partner during the next four quarters.
Cash distributions will be characterized as distributions from either
Operating Surplus or Capital Surplus. This distinction affects the amounts
distributed to Unitholders in relation to the General Partner, and under
certain circumstances it determines whether holders of Subordinated Units
receive any distributions. See "--Quarterly Distributions of Available Cash."
Operating Surplus generally refers to (i) the cash balance of the
Partnership on the date the Partnership commenced operations, plus $6.0
million, plus all cash receipts of the Partnership, less (ii) all Partnership
operating expenses (including expenses of the General Partner incurred on
behalf of the Partnership), debt service payments, maintenance capital
expenditures and reserves established for future Partnership operations.
Capital Surplus will generally be generated only by borrowings (other than
for working capital purposes), sales of debt and equity securities and sales
or other dispositions of assets for cash (other than inventory, accounts
receivable and other assets, all as disposed of in the ordinary course of
business).
To avoid the difficulty of trying to determine whether Available Cash
distributed by the Partnership is from Operating Surplus or Capital Surplus,
all Available Cash distributed by the Partnership from any source will be
treated as distributed from Operating Surplus until the sum of all Available
Cash distributed since the commencement of the Partnership equals the
Operating Surplus as of the end of the quarter prior to such distribution. Any
excess Available Cash (irrespective of its source) will be deemed to be
Capital Surplus and distributed accordingly.
If Capital Surplus is distributed in respect of each Common Unit in an
aggregate amount per Unit equal to $22.00 per Common Unit (the "Initial Unit
Price"), the distinction between Operating Surplus and Capital Surplus will
cease, and all distributions will be treated as from Operating Surplus. The
General Partner does not expect that there will be significant distributions
from Capital Surplus.
The Subordinated Units are a separate class of interests in the Partnership,
and the rights of holders of such interests to participate in distributions
differ from the rights of the holders of Common Units. For any given quarter,
Available Cash will be distributed to the General Partner and to the holders
of Common Units, and it may also be distributed to the holders of Subordinated
Units, depending upon the amount of Available Cash for the quarter, amounts
distributed in prior quarters, whether the Subordination Period has ended and
other factors discussed below.
The discussion below indicates the percentages of cash distributions
required to be made to the General Partner and the Common Unitholders and the
circumstances under which holders of Subordinated Units are
22
<PAGE>
entitled to cash distributions and the amounts thereof. For a discussion of
Available Cash from Operating Surplus available for distributions with respect
to the Units on a pro forma basis, see "--Cash Available for Distribution."
QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTIONS OF AVAILABLE CASH
The Partnership will make distributions to its partners with respect to each
fiscal quarter of the Partnership prior to liquidation in an amount equal to
all of its Available Cash for such quarter. Distributions will be made
approximately 45 days after each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December
31, to holders of record on the applicable record date.
With respect to each quarter during the Subordination Period, to the extent
there is sufficient Available Cash, the holders of Common Units will have the
right to receive the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, plus any Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearages, prior to any distribution of Available Cash to the
holders of Subordinated Units. Upon expiration of the Subordination Period,
all Subordinated Units will be converted (on a one-for-one basis) into Common
Units and will participate pro rata with all other holders of Common Units in
future distributions of Available Cash. Under certain circumstances, up to
1,198,040 Subordinated Units may convert into Common Units prior to the
expiration of the Subordination Period. Common Units will not accrue
arrearages for any quarter after the Subordination Period, and Subordinated
Units will not accrue any arrearages with respect to distributions for any
quarter.
The Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distribution Levels are
subject to adjustment as described below under "--Distributions from Capital
Surplus" and "--Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target
Distribution Levels."
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM OPERATING SURPLUS DURING SUBORDINATION PERIOD
The Subordination Period will generally extend until the first day of any
quarter beginning on or after January 1, 2001 in respect of which (i)
distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on the Common Units and
the Subordinated Units equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units
with respect to each of the three non-overlapping four-quarter periods
immediately preceding such date, (ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated
during each of the three immediately preceding non-overlapping four-quarter
periods equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on
all of the outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units during such periods
and (iii) there are no arrearages in payment of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on the Common Units.
Prior to the end of the Subordination Period, a portion of the Subordinated
Units will convert into Common Units on the first day after the record date
established for any quarter ending on or after March 31, 1999 (with respect to
599,020 of the Subordinated Units) and March 31, 2000 (with respect to an
additional 599,020 of the Subordinated Units), on a cumulative basis, in
respect of which (i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on
the Common Units and the Subordinated Units equaled or exceeded the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units with respect to each of the three non-overlapping four-
quarter periods immediately preceding such date, (ii) the Adjusted Operating
Surplus generated during each of the three immediately preceding non-
overlapping four-quarter periods equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on all of the outstanding Common Units and Subordinated
Units during such periods and (iii) there are no arrearages in payment of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on the Common Units.
Upon expiration of the Subordination Period, all remaining Subordinated
Units will convert into Common Units and will thereafter participate pro rata
with the other Common Units in distributions of Available Cash. In addition,
if the General Partner is removed other than for Cause, the Subordination
Period will end, the existing arrearages on the Common Units will terminate
and the Subordinated Units will immediately convert into Common Units.
23
<PAGE>
"Adjusted Operating Surplus" for any period generally means Operating
Surplus generated during such period, but excluding (i) any net increase in
working capital borrowings during such period and (ii) any net reduction in
cash reserves for Operating Expenditures during such period, but including (x)
any net decrease in working capital borrowings during such period and (y) any
net increase in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures during such period
required by any debt instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or
premium.
Distributions by the Partnership of Available Cash from Operating Surplus
with respect to any quarter during the Subordination Period will be made in
the following manner:
first, 98% to the Common Unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the General
Partner, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit an
amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such quarter;
second, 98% to the Common Unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the General
Partner, until there has been distributed in respect of each Common Unit an
amount equal to any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages on each Common Unit with
respect to any prior quarter;
third, 98% to the Subordinated Unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the General
Partner, until there has been distributed in respect of each Subordinated Unit
an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such quarter; and
thereafter, in the manner described in "--Incentive Distributions" below.
The above references to the 2% of Available Cash constituting Operating
Surplus distributed to the General Partner are references to the amount of the
General Partner's percentage interest in distributions from the Partnership
and the Operating Partnership on a combined basis. The General Partner owns a
1% general partner interest in the Partnership and a 1.0101% general partner
interest in the Operating Partnership. Other references in this Prospectus to
the General Partner's 2% interest or to distributions of 2% of Available Cash
are also references to the amount of the General Partner's combined percentage
interest in the Partnership and the Operating Partnership.
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM OPERATING SURPLUS AFTER SUBORDINATION PERIOD
Distributions by the Partnership of Available Cash constituting Operating
Surplus with respect to any quarter after the Subordination Period will be
made in the following manner:
first, 98% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the General Partner,
until there has been distributed in respect of each Unit an amount equal to
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for such quarter; and
thereafter, in the manner described in "--Incentive Distributions" below.
INCENTIVE DISTRIBUTIONS
For any quarter for which Available Cash from Operating Surplus is
distributed in respect of both the Common Units and the Subordinated Units in
an amount equal to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Available Cash has
been distributed on outstanding Common Units in such amount as may be
necessary to eliminate any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages, then any
additional Available Cash from Operating Surplus in respect of such quarter
will be distributed among the Unitholders and the General Partner in the
following manner:
first, 98% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the General Partner,
until the Unitholders have received (in addition to any distributions to
Common Unitholders to eliminate any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages) a total
of $0.604 for such quarter in respect of each Unit (the "First Target
Distribution");
24
<PAGE>
second, 85% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to the General Partner,
until the Unitholders have received (in addition to any distributions to
Common Unitholders to eliminate any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages) a total
of $0.711 for such quarter in respect of each Unit (the "Second Target
Distribution");
third, 75% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to the General Partner,
until the Unitholders have received (in addition to any distributions to
Common Unitholders to eliminate any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages) a total
of $0.926 for such quarter in respect of each Unit (the "Third Target
Distribution"); and
thereafter, 50% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to the General
Partner.
The following table illustrates the percentage allocation of any such
additional Available Cash among the Unitholders and the General Partner up to
the various Target Distribution Levels at each different level of allocation
between the Unitholders and the General Partner. The amounts set forth under
"Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions" are the percentage interests
of the Unitholders and the General Partner in any Available Cash from
Operating Surplus distributed up to and including the quarterly distribution
amount shown, until Available Cash reaches the next Target Distribution Level,
if any. The calculations are based on the assumption that the quarterly
distribution amounts shown do not include any Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearages. The percentage interests shown for the Unitholders and the General
Partner for the Minimum Quarterly Distribution are also applicable to
quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARGINAL PERCENTAGE
TOTAL INTEREST IN DISTRIBUTIONS
QUARTERLY ------------------------------
DISTRIBUTION GENERAL
AMOUNT UNITHOLDERS PARTNER
------------ -------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Minimum Quarterly
Distribution........... $0.550 98% 2%
First Target
Distribution........... $0.604 98% 2%
Second Target
Distribution........... $0.711 85% 15%
Third Target
Distribution........... $0.926 75% 25%
Thereafter.............. -- 50% 50%
</TABLE>
DISTRIBUTIONS FROM CAPITAL SURPLUS
Distributions by the Partnership of Available Cash from Capital Surplus will
be made 98% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the General Partner, until
the Partnership shall have distributed, in respect of each Unit, Available
Cash from Capital Surplus in an aggregate amount per Unit equal to the Initial
Unit Price. Thereafter, all distributions from Capital Surplus will be
distributed as if they were from Operating Surplus.
As a distribution is made from Capital Surplus, it is treated as if it were
a repayment of the Initial Unit Price. To reflect such repayment, the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distribution Levels will be adjusted
downward by multiplying each such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price immediately after giving effect to such
repayment and the denominator of which is the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price
immediately prior to such repayment. For example, based on the Unrecovered
Initial Unit Price of $22.00 per Unit and assuming Available Cash from Capital
Surplus of $11.00 per Unit is distributed to Unitholders (assuming no prior
adjustments), then the amount of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and the
Target Distribution Levels would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level.
When "payback" of the Initial Unit Price has occurred, i.e., when the
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price is zero, then in effect the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution and the Target Distribution Levels each will have been reduced to
zero. Thereafter, all distributions of Available Cash from all sources will be
treated as if they were from Operating Surplus and, because the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution and the Target Distribution Levels will have been
reduced to zero, the General Partner will be entitled to receive 50% of all
distributions of Available Cash after distributions in respect of Cumulative
Common Unit Arrearages.
Distributions from Capital Surplus will not reduce the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution or any of the Target Distribution Levels for the quarter with
respect to which they are distributed.
25
<PAGE>
ADJUSTMENT OF MINIMUM QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION AND TARGET DISTRIBUTION LEVELS
In addition to adjustments made upon a distribution of Available Cash from
Capital Surplus, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution, the Target Distribution
Levels, the Unrecovered Initial Unit Price, the number of additional Common
Units issuable during the Subordination Period without a Unitholder vote, the
number of Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Subordinated Units and
other amounts calculated on a per Unit basis will be proportionately adjusted
upward or downward, as appropriate, in the event of any combination or
subdivision of Common Units (whether effected by a distribution payable in
Common Units or otherwise), but not by reason of the issuance of additional
Common Units for cash or property. For example, in the event of a two-for-one
split of the Common Units (assuming no prior adjustments), the Minimum
Quarterly Distribution, the Target Distribution Levels and the Unrecovered
Initial Unit Price would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level.
The Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels may also
be adjusted if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or
interpreted by the relevant governmental authority in a manner that causes the
Partnership to become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subjects the
Partnership to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax
purposes. In such event, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target
Distribution Levels for each quarter thereafter would be reduced to amounts
equal to the product of (i) the respective Minimum Quarterly Distribution or
Target Distribution Level multiplied by (ii) one minus the sum of (x) the
maximum marginal federal income tax rate to which the Partnership is then
subject as an entity plus (y) any increase in the effective overall state and
local income tax rate to which the Partnership is subject as a result of the
new imposition of the entity level tax (after taking into account the benefit
of any deduction allowable for federal income tax purposes with respect to the
payment of state and local income taxes). For example, assuming the
Partnership was not previously subject to state and local income tax, if the
Partnership were to become taxable as an entity for federal income tax
purposes and the Partnership 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 thereof immediately prior to such adjustment.
DISTRIBUTIONS OF CASH UPON LIQUIDATION
Following the commencement of the dissolution and liquidation of the
Partnership, assets will be sold or otherwise disposed of and the partners'
capital account balances will be adjusted to reflect any resulting gain or
loss. The proceeds of such liquidation will, first, be applied to the payment
of creditors of the Partnership in the order of priority provided in the
Partnership Agreement and by law and, thereafter, be distributed to the
Unitholders and the General Partner in accordance with their respective
capital account balances, as so adjusted.
Partners are entitled to liquidation distributions in accordance with
capital account balances. Although operating losses are allocated to all
Unitholders pro rata, the allocations of gains and losses attributable to
liquidation are intended to entitle the holders of outstanding Common Units to
a preference over the holders of outstanding Subordinated Units upon the
liquidation of the Partnership, to the extent of the Unrecovered Initial Unit
Price plus any Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages. However, no assurance can be
given that there will be sufficient gain upon liquidation of the Partnership
to enable the holders of Common Units to fully recover all of such amounts,
even though there may be cash available for distribution to the holders of
Subordinated Units. The manner of such adjustment is provided in the
Partnership Agreement. Any gain (or unrealized gain attributable to assets
distributed in kind) will be allocated to the partners as follows:
first, to the General Partner and the holders of Units that have negative
balances in their capital accounts to the extent of and in proportion to such
negative balance;
second, 98% to the holders of Common Units, pro rata, and 2% to the General
Partner, until the capital account for each Common Unit is equal to the
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price in respect of such Common Unit
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(including the amount of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the fiscal
quarter during which the dissolution occurs) plus any Cumulative Common Unit
Arrearages in respect of such Common Units;
third, 98% to the holders of Subordinated Units, pro rata, and 2% to the
General Partner, until the capital account for each Subordinated Unit is equal
to the Unrecovered Subordinated Unit Capital (including the amount of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution for the fiscal quarter during which the
dissolution occurs) in respect of a Subordinated Unit;
fourth, 98% to all Unitholders, pro rata and 2% to the General Partner,
until there has been allocated under this clause fourth an amount per Unit
equal to (a) the excess of the First Target Distribution per Unit over the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution per Unit for each quarter of the Partnership's
existence, less (b) the amount per Unit of any distributions of Available Cash
from Operating Surplus in excess of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution per
Unit that was distributed 98% to the Unitholders, pro rata, and 2% to the
General Partner, for each quarter of the Partnership's existence;
fifth, 85% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to the General Partner
until there has been allocated under this clause fifth an amount per Unit
equal to (a) the excess of the Second Target Distribution per Unit over the
First Target Distribution per Unit for each quarter of the Partnership's
existence, less (b) the amount per Unit of any distributions of Available Cash
from Operating Surplus in excess of the First Target Distribution per Unit
that was distributed 85% to the Unitholders, pro rata, and 15% to the General
Partner, for each quarter of the Partnership's existence;
sixth, 75% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to the General Partner,
until there has been allocated under this clause sixth an amount per Unit
equal to (a) the excess of the Third Target Distribution per Unit over the
Second Target Distribution per Unit for each quarter of the Partnership's
existence, less (b) the amount per Unit of any distributions of Available Cash
from Operating Surplus in excess of the Second Target Distribution per Unit
that was distributed 75% to the Unitholders, pro rata, and 25% to the General
Partner, for each quarter of the Partnership's existence; and
thereafter, 50% to all Unitholders, pro rata, and 50% to the General
Partner.
Any loss or unrealized loss will be allocated to the General Partner and the
Unitholders as follows: first, 98% to the Subordinated Unitholders in
proportion to the positive balances in their respective capital accounts, and
2% to the General Partner, until the positive balances in such Subordinated
Unitholders' respective capital accounts have been reduced to zero; second,
98% to the Common Unitholders in proportion to the positive balances in their
respective capital accounts, and 2% to the General Partner, until the positive
balances in such Common Unitholders' respective capital accounts have been
reduced to zero; and thereafter, to the General Partner.
Interim adjustments to Capital Accounts will be made at the time the
Partnership issues additional interests in the Partnership or makes
distributions of property. Such adjustments will be based on the fair market
value of the interests issued or the property distributed and any gain or loss
resulting therefrom will be allocated to the Unitholders in the same manner as
gain or loss is allocated upon liquidation.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as may otherwise be described in a Prospectus Supplement relating to
an offering of Common Units, the net proceeds from the sale of the Common
Units will be used for general partnership purposes. Any allocation of the net
proceeds of an offering of Common Units to a specific purpose will be
determined at the time of such offering and will be described in the related
Prospectus Supplement.
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MANAGEMENT--DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER
PARTNERSHIP MANAGEMENT
The General Partner manages and operates the activities of the Partnership.
Unitholders do not directly or indirectly participate in the management or
operation of the Partnership. The General Partner owes a fiduciary duty to the
Unitholders. Notwithstanding any limitation on obligations or duties, the
General Partner is liable, as the general partner of the Partnership, for all
debts of the Partnership (to the extent not paid by the Partnership), except
to the extent that indebtedness or other obligations incurred by the
Partnership are made specifically non-recourse to the General Partner. In
addition, if the Operating Partnership defaults under the First Mortgage Notes
or the Bank Credit Facilities, the General Partner will be liable for any
deficiency remaining after foreclosure on the Operating Partnership's assets.
William P. Nicoletti and Elizabeth K. Lanier, who are neither officers or
employees of the General Partner nor directors, officers or employees of any
Affiliate of the General Partner, have been appointed to serve on the Audit
Committee of the General Partner's Board of Directors with the authority to
review, at the request of the General Partner, specific matters as to which
the General Partner believes there may be a conflict of interest in order to
determine if the resolution of such conflict proposed by the General Partner
is fair and reasonable to the Partnership. Any matters approved by the Audit
Committee will be conclusively deemed to be fair and reasonable to the
Partnership, approved by all partners of the Partnership and not a breach by
the General Partner of any duties it may owe the Partnership or the
Unitholders. In addition, the Audit Committee reviews external financial
reporting of the Partnership, recommends engagement of the Partnership's
independent accountants and reviews the Partnership's procedures for internal
auditing and the adequacy of the Partnership's internal accounting controls.
With respect to such additional matters, the Audit Committee may act on its
own initiative to question the General Partner and, absent the delegation of
specific authority by the entire Board of Directors, its recommendations with
regard thereto will be advisory.
As is commonly the case with publicly traded limited partnerships, the
Partnership does not directly employ any of the persons responsible for
managing or operating the Partnership. The management and employees of the
Star Gas Group who managed and operated the propane business and assets prior
to the IPO that are now owned by the Partnership continue to manage and
operate the Partnership's business as officers and employees of the General
Partner and its Affiliates.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE GENERAL PARTNER
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
directors and executive officers of the General Partner. Executive officers
and directors are elected for one-year terms.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION WITH THE GENERAL PARTNER
---- --- -------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Irik P. Sevin(a)(b)............. 50 Chairman of the Board of Directors
Joseph P. Cavanaugh............. 60 President and Chief Executive Officer
David R. Eastin................. 39 Vice President--Operations
Norman L. Bushey................ 68 Vice President--Safety/Compliance
Richard F. Ambury............... 41 Vice President--Finance
Audrey L. Sevin................. 71 Director and Secretary
William G. Powers, Jr.(b)....... 44 Director
Thomas J. Edelman............... 46 Director
Paul Biddelman.................. 51 Director
Wolfgang Traber(a).............. 53 Director
William P. Nicoletti(c)......... 52 Director
Elizabeth K. Lanier(c).......... 46 Director
</TABLE>
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- --------
(a) Member of the Compensation Committee
(b) Member of the Management Committee
(c) Member of the Audit Committee
IRIK P. SEVIN has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Star Gas
since December 1993. Mr Sevin has been a director of Petro since its
organization in October 1983 and Chairman of the Board of Petro since January
1993. Mr. Sevin has been President of Petro, Inc. (a predecessor of Petro)
since November 1979 and was President of Petro from 1983 through January 1997.
Mr. Sevin was an associate in the investment banking division of Kuhn Loeb &
Co. and then Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb Incorporated from February 1975 to
December 1978. Mr. Sevin is a graduate of the Cornell University School of
Industrial and Labor Relations (B.S.), New York University School of Law
(J.D.) and the Columbia University School of Business Administration (M.B.A.).
JOSEPH P. CAVANAUGH has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Star
Gas since December 1997. Mr. Cavanaugh was Senior Vice President--Safety and
Compliance of Petro from January 1993 through November 1997. From October 1985
to January 1993, Mr. Cavanaugh was Vice President of Petro. Mr. Cavanaugh was
Controller of Petro, Inc. from 1973 to 1985 and of Petro from its organization
in 1983 until 1994. Mr. Cavanaugh has also taken an active role in assisting
the Partnership's management with the development of safety/compliance
programs, assisting with acquisitions and their subsequent integration into
the Partnership and with the Partnership's risk management efforts, since
Petro's initial involvement with the Star Gas Group in 1993. Mr. Cavanaugh is
a graduate of Iona College (B.B.A.) and Pace University (M.S. in Taxation).
DAVID R. EASTIN has served as Vice President of Operations of Star Gas since
September 1995. He joined Star Gas in 1992, and served as a Regional Manager
and as Director of Operations--Eastern Area. Prior to joining Star Gas, he was
employed by Ferrellgas, Inc. (1987 through 1992) and a predecessor company,
Buckeye Gas Products (1980 through 1987), in a variety of operational
capacities. Mr. Eastin is a graduate of the University of Tulsa (B.S. 1980)
and Duquesne University (M.B.A. 1985).
NORMAN L. BUSHEY has served as Vice President of Safety/Compliance of the
General Partner since September 1995. Prior thereto he served as the Northeast
Area Safety Manager for Star Gas following Star Gas' acquisition of Maingas,
Inc. in 1988. From 1974 through 1988, Mr. Bushey served as Vice President and
General Manager of Maingas, Inc. From 1953 through 1974, Mr. Bushey was
employed by Suburban Propane.
RICHARD F. AMBURY has been Vice President of Finance of Star Gas since
February 1996. Prior to joining Star Gas, he was employed by Petro from 1983
through 1996 where he served in various accounting/finance capacities. Prior
to joining Petro, Mr. Ambury was employed by a predecessor firm of KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP. Mr. Ambury is a graduate of Marist College (B.S. 1979) and has
been a certified public accountant since 1981.
AUDREY L. SEVIN has been a director of Star Gas since December 1993 and the
Secretary of Star Gas since June 1994. Mrs. Sevin has been a director and
Secretary of Petro since its organization in October 1983. Mrs. Sevin was a
director, executive officer and principal shareholder of A. W. Fuel Co., Inc.
from 1952 until its purchase by Petro Inc. in May 1981. Mrs. Sevin is a
graduate of New York University (B.S.).
WILLIAM G. POWERS, JR. has been a Director of Star Gas since December 1997.
Mr. Powers has been President of Petro since December 1997. Mr. Powers was
President of Star Gas from December 1993 through November 1997. Prior to
joining Star Gas, he was employed by Petro from 1984 to 1993 where he served
in various capacities, including Regional Operations Manager and Vice
President of Acquisitions. He has participated in over 90 acquisitions for
Petro. From 1977 to 1983, he was employed by The Augsbury Corporation, a
company engaged in the wholesale and retail distribution of fuel oil and
gasoline throughout New York and New England and served as Vice President of
Marketing and Operations. Mr. Powers is a graduate of
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the University of Notre Dame (B.A. 1975) and the University of Vermont
Graduate School of Business (M.B.A. 1984).
THOMAS J. EDELMAN has been a Director of Star Gas from December 1993 through
June 1995 and since October 1995. Mr. Edelman has been a Director of Petro
since its organization in October 1983. Mr. Edelman has been the Chairman of
the Board, President and Chief Executive Office of Patina Oil & Gas
Corporation since its formation in May 1996. Mr. Edelman also serves as
Chairman of Lomak Petroleum, Inc. He co-founded Snyder Oil Corporation and was
its President and a Director from 1981 through February 1997. Prior to 1981,
he was a Vice President of The First Boston Corporation. From 1975 through
1980, Mr. Edelman was with Lehman Brothers Kuhn Loeb Incorporated. Mr. Edelman
received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Princeton University and his Masters
Degree in Finance from Harvard University's Graduate School of Business
Administration. Mr. Edelman serves as a Director of Paradise Music &
Entertainment, Inc., Weatherford Enterra, Inc., and serves as a Trustee of The
Hotchkiss School.
PAUL BIDDELMAN has been a director of Star Gas from December 1993 through
June 1995 and since October 1995. Mr. Biddelman has been a director of Petro
since October 1994. Mr. Biddelman has been Treasurer of Hanseatic Corporation
since April 1992. Mr. Biddelman joined Hanseatic from Clements Taee Biddelman
Incorporated, a merchant banking firm which he co-founded in 1991. From 1982
through 1990, he was a Managing Director in Corporate Finance at Drexel
Burnham Lambert Incorporated. Mr. Biddelman also worked in corporate finance
at Kuhn, Loeb & Co. from 1975 to 1979, and at Oppenheimer & Co. from 1979 to
1982. Mr. Biddelman is a director of Celadon Group, Inc., Electronic Retailing
Systems International, Inc., Institution Technologies, Inc. and Premier Parks,
Inc.
WOLFGANG TRABER has been a director of Star Gas from December 1993 through
June 1995 and since October 1995. Mr. Traber has been a director of Petro
since its organization in October 1983. Mr. Traber is Chairman of the Board of
Hanseatic Corporation, a private investment corporation in New York, New York.
Mr. Traber is a director of Deltec Asset Management Corporation, Blue Ridge
Real Estate Company, Hellespont Tankers Ltd. and M.M. Warburg & Co.
WILLIAM P. NICOLETTI has been a director of Star Gas since November 1995.
Since 1991, Mr. Nicoletti has been Managing Director of Nicoletti & Company
Inc., a private investment bank servicing clients in energy related
industries. From 1988 through 1990, he was a Managing Director and head of the
Energy and Natural Resources Group of PaineWebber Incorporated. From 1969
through 1987 he was with E.F. Hutton & Company Inc., where from 1980 through
1987 he was a Senior Vice President and head of the Energy and Natural
Resources Group. He is Chairman of the Board of Amerac Energy Corporation and
a director of Domain Energy Corporation and StatesRail, Inc.
ELIZABETH K. LANIER has been a director of Star Gas since November 1995.
Since June 1996 Ms. Lanier has been Vice President and Chief of Staff of
Cinergy Corp., a public utility. From 1984 through 1996, Ms. Lanier was a
partner in the law firm of Frost & Jacobs, in Cincinnati, Ohio. From 1976
through 1982, she was associated with Davis, Polk & Wardwell, in New York, New
York. Ms. Lanier specializes in corporate and litigation matters. Ms. Lanier
is General Counsel to the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority. Ms.
Lanier is a graduate of Smith College (B.A.) and the Columbia University
School of Law (J.D.).
AUDREY SEVIN is the mother of Irik P. Sevin. There are no other familial
relationships between any of the directors and executive officers.
KEY EMPLOYEES
The following senior management personnel, although not executive officers
of the Company, make significant business contributions to the Company.
RICHARD BARKER has been President of Silgas, the Partnership's wholesale and
supply distribution center for the Midwest, since July 1990. Previously, Mr.
Barker was part-owner and operator of Silgas. Mr. Barker
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<PAGE>
managed and supervised the construction of the Partnership's underground
storage facility in Seymour, Indiana. Mr. Barker has over forty-four years in
the propane gas industry.
BRYAN N. BRADSHAW has been Regional Manager of the Midwest--Western Region
since May 1991. Prior to joining the Partnership, Mr. Bradshaw was employed by
Suburban Propane and Petrolane Gas Service. Mr. Bradshaw has over eleven years
in the propane gas industry.
THOMAS E. CHRISTERSON joined Star Gas as Regional Manager of the Midwest--
Southern Region in August 1993. Prior to joining Star Gas, Mr. Christerson was
associated with Suburban Propane, Petrolane Gas Service and Pyrofax Gas
Corporation. Mr. Christerson has over thirty-seven years in the propane gas
industry.
RICHARD NODES has been Regional Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Region since
October 1994. From August 1991 through October 1994, Mr. Nodes was Branch
Manager of the Poughkeepsie and Maple Shade branches. Mr. Nodes has over
thirteen years in the propane gas industry.
MARTY M. PANNING has been Regional Manager of the Midwest--Northern Region
since March 1994. From April 1990 through March 1994, Mr. Panning was Branch
Manager at the Waterloo and Deshler branches. Mr. Panning has over fourteen
years in the propane gas industry.
CRAIG C. PREMO has been Regional Manager of the Pearl Region since October
22, 1997, when the Partnership acquired Pearl Gas. Mr. Premo has over thirty-
one years in the propane gas industry, all with Pearl Gas, and served as its
President from January 1996 through October 1997.
PAUL WELDON has been Regional Manager of the New England Region since
November 1989. Prior to joining Star Gas, Mr. Weldon worked at Pyrofax Gas
Corporation, Penn Fuel Gas Inc. and Finger Lakes Gas Equipment. He has over
twenty-five years in the propane gas industry.
THOMAS E. WRIGHT has been Regional Manager of the Midwest--Eastern Region
since January 1986. From March 1979 through December 1985, Mr. Wright was
Branch Manager of the Deshler branch. Mr. Wright has over twenty-four years in
the propane gas industry.
TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section is a summary of material tax considerations that may be
relevant to prospective Unitholders and, to the extent set forth below under
"--Legal Opinions and Advice" expresses the opinion of Phillips Nizer Benjamin
Krim & Ballon LLP, special counsel to the General Partner and the Partnership
("Counsel"), insofar as it relates to matters of law and legal conclusions.
This section is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), existing and proposed regulations thereunder
and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are
subject to change. Subsequent changes in such authorities may cause the tax
consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to the
Partnership are references to both the Partnership and the Operating
Partnership.
No attempt has been made in the following discussion to comment on all
federal income tax matters affecting the Partnership or the Unitholders.
Moreover, the discussion focuses on Unitholders who are individual citizens or
residents of the United States and has only limited application to
corporations, estates, trusts, non-resident aliens or other Unitholders
subject to specialized tax treatment (such as tax-exempt institutions, foreign
persons, individual retirement accounts, REITs or mutual funds). Accordingly,
each prospective Unitholder should consult, and should depend on, his own tax
advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and foreign tax consequences
peculiar to him of the ownership or disposition of Common Units.
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<PAGE>
LEGAL OPINIONS AND ADVICE
Counsel is of the opinion that, based on the accuracy of the representations
and subject to the qualifications set forth in the detailed discussion that
follows, for federal income tax purposes (i) the Partnership and the Operating
Partnership will each be treated as a partnership and (ii) owners of Common
Units (with certain exceptions, as described in "Limited Partner Status"
below) will be treated as partners of the Partnership (but not the Operating
Partnership). In addition, all statements as to matters of law and legal
conclusions contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, reflect the
opinion of Counsel.
Although no attempt has been made in the following discussion to comment on
all federal income tax matters affecting the Partnership or prospective
Unitholders, Counsel has advised the Partnership that, based on current law,
the following is a general description of the principal federal income tax
consequences that should arise from the ownership and disposition of Common
Units and, insofar as it relates to matters of law and legal conclusions,
addresses the material tax consequences to Unitholders who are individual
citizens or residents of the United States.
No ruling has been or will be requested from the Internal Revenue Service
(the "IRS") with respect to classification of the Partnership as a partnership
for federal income tax purposes, whether the Partnership's propane operations
generate "qualifying income" under Section 7704 of the Code or any other
matter affecting the Partnership or prospective Unitholders. An opinion of
counsel represents only that counsel's best legal judgment and does not bind
the IRS or the courts. Thus, no assurance can be provided that the opinions
and statements set forth herein would be sustained by a court if contested by
the IRS. Any such contest with the IRS may materially and adversely impact the
market for the Common Units and the price at which Common Units trade. In
addition, the costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne directly or
indirectly by the Unitholders and the General Partner. Furthermore, no
assurance can be given that the treatment of the Partnership or an investment
therein will not be significantly modified by future legislative or
administrative changes or court decisions. Any such modification may or may
not be retroactively applied.
For the reasons hereinafter described, Counsel has not rendered an opinion
with respect to the following specific federal income tax issues: (i) the
treatment of a Unitholder whose Common Units are loaned to a short seller to
cover a short sale of Common Units (see "--Tax Treatment of Operations--
Treatment of Short Sales"), (ii) whether a Unitholder acquiring Common Units
in separate transactions must maintain a single aggregate adjusted tax basis
in his Common Units (see "--Disposition of Common Units--Recognition of Gain
or Loss"), (iii) whether the Partnership's monthly convention for allocating
taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (see
"--Disposition of Common Units--Allocations Between Transferors and
Transferees"), (iv) whether the Partnership's method for depreciating Section
743 adjustments is sustainable (see "--Tax Treatment of Operations--Section
754 Election") and (v) whether the allocations of recapture income contained
in the Partnership Agreement will be respected for federal income tax purposes
(see "--Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership--Allocation of Partnership Income,
Gain, Loss and Deduction").
TAX RATES
The top marginal income tax rate for individuals for 1998 is 39.6%. Pursuant
to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (the "TRA of 1997") in general, net capital
gains of an individual are subject to a maximum 28% tax rate, if the asset was
held for at least one year and a 20% tax rate if the asset was held for at
least 18 months.
PARTNERSHIP STATUS
A partnership is not a taxable entity and incurs no federal income tax
liability. Instead, each partner is required to take into account his
allocable share of items of income, gain, loss and deduction of the
partnership in computing his federal income tax liability, regardless of
whether cash distributions are made. Distributions by a partnership to a
partner are generally not taxable unless the amount of any cash distributed is
in excess of the partner's adjusted basis in his partnership interest.
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No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS as to the status of the
Partnership or the Operating Partnership as a partnership for federal income
tax purposes. Instead the Partnership has relied on the opinion of Counsel
that, based upon the Code, the regulations thereunder, published revenue
rulings and court decisions, the Partnership and the Operating Partnership
have been and will each continue to be classified as a partnership for federal
income tax purposes.
In rendering its opinion Counsel has relied on the following factual
representations made by the Partnership and the General Partner:
Neither the Partnership nor the Operating Partnership has nor will elect to
be treated as an association or corporation;
The Partnership and the Operating Partnership have been and will continue to
be operated in accordance with (i) all applicable partnership statutes, (ii)
the applicable Partnership Agreement and (iii) the description thereof in this
Prospectus;
For each taxable year, more than 90% of the gross income of the Partnership
will be (i) derived from the exploration, development, production, processing,
refining, transportation or marketing of any mineral or natural resource,
including oil, gas or products thereof or (ii) other items of "qualifying
income" within the meaning of Section 7704(d) of the Code; and
The General Partner has and will at all times act independently of the
limited partners.
Section 7704 of the Code provides that publicly-traded partnerships, as a
general rule, will be taxed as corporations. However, an exception (the
"Qualifying Income Exception") exists with respect to publicly-traded
partnerships if 90% or more of its gross income for every taxable year
consists of "qualifying income." Qualifying income includes interest (from
other than a financial business), dividends and income and gains from the
processing, transportation and marketing of crude oil, natural gas, and
products thereof, including the retail and wholesale marketing of propane and
the transportation of propane and natural gas liquids. Based upon the
representations of the Partnership and the General Partner and a review of the
applicable legal authorities, Counsel is of the opinion that at least 90% of
the Partnership's gross income will constitute qualifying income.
If the Partnership fails to meet the Qualifying Income Exception (other than
a failure which is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and which is cured
within a reasonable time after discovery), the Partnership will be treated as
if it had transferred all of its assets (subject to liabilities) to a newly
formed corporation (on the first day of the year in which it fails to meet the
Qualifying Income Exception) in return for stock in such corporation, and then
distributed such stock to the partners in liquidation of their interests in
the Partnership. This contribution and liquidation should be tax-free to
Unitholders and the Partnership, so long as the Partnership, at that time,
does not have liabilities in excess of the tax basis of its assets.
Thereafter, the Partnership would be treated as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes.
If the Partnership or the Operating Partnership were taxed as a corporation
in any taxable year, either as a result of a failure to meet the Qualifying
Income Exception or otherwise, its items of income, gain, loss and deduction
would be reflected only on its tax return rather than being passed through to
the Unitholders, and its net income would be taxed to the Partnership or the
Operating Partnership, as the case may be, at corporate rates. In addition,
any distribution made to a Unitholder would be treated as either taxable
dividend income (to the extent of the Partnership's current or accumulated
earnings and profits) or (in the absence of earnings and profits) a nontaxable
return of capital (to the extent of the Unitholder's tax basis in his Common
Units) or taxable capital gain (after the Unitholder's tax basis in the Common
Units has been reduced to zero). Accordingly, treatment of either the
Partnership or the Operating Partnership as an association taxable as a
corporation would result in a material reduction in a Unitholder's cash flow
and after-tax return and thus would likely result in a substantial reduction
of the value of the Units.
The discussion below is based on the assumption that the Partnership will be
classified as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.
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LIMITED PARTNER STATUS
Unitholders who have become limited partners of the Partnership will be
treated as partners of the Partnership for federal income tax purposes.
Counsel is also of the opinion that (a) assignees who have executed and
delivered Transfer Applications, and are awaiting admission as limited
partners and (b) 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 authority dealing with the issue of 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, Counsel's opinion does not
extend to those persons. Income, gain, deductions or losses would not appear
to be reportable by a Unitholder who is not a partner for federal income tax
purposes, and any cash distributions received by such a Unitholder would
therefore be fully taxable as ordinary income. These holders should consult
their own tax advisors with respect to their status as partners in the
Partnership for federal income tax purposes. Furthermore, a purchaser or other
transferee of Common Units who does not execute and deliver a Transfer
Application may not receive certain 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 with respect to such Common Units.
A beneficial owner of Common Units whose Common Units have been transferred
to a short seller to complete a short sale would appear to lose his status as
a partner with respect to such Common Units for federal income tax purposes.
See "--Treatment of Operations--Treatment of Short Sales."
TAX CONSEQUENCES OF UNIT OWNERSHIP
Flow-through of Taxable Income
No federal income tax will be paid by the Partnership. Instead, each
Unitholder will be required to report on his income tax return his allocable
share of the income, gains, losses and deductions of the Partnership without
regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are received by such
Unitholder. Consequently, a Unitholder may be allocated income from the
Partnership even if he has not received a cash distribution. Each Unitholder
will be required to include in income his allocable share of Partnership
income, gain, loss and deduction for the taxable year of the Partnership
ending with or within the taxable year of the Unitholder.
Treatment of Partnership Distributions
Distributions by the Partnership to a Unitholder generally will not be
taxable to the Unitholder for federal income tax purposes to the extent of his
tax basis in his Common Units immediately before the distribution. Cash
distributions in excess of a Unitholder's tax basis generally will be
considered to be gain from the sale or exchange of the Common Units, taxable
in accordance with the rules described under "--Disposition of Common Units"
below. Any reduction in a Unitholder's share of the Partnership's liabilities
for which no partner, including the General Partner, bears the economic risk
of loss ("nonrecourse liabilities") will be treated as a distribution of cash
to that Unitholder. To the extent that Partnership distributions cause a
Unitholder's "at risk" amount to be less than zero at the end of any taxable
year, he must recapture any losses deducted in previous years. See "--
Limitations on Deductibility of Partnership Losses."
A decrease in a Unitholder's percentage interest in the Partnership because
of the issuance by the Partnership of additional Units will decrease such
Unitholder's share of nonrecourse liabilities of the Partnership, and thus
will result in a corresponding deemed distribution of cash. A non-pro rata
distribution of money or property may result in ordinary income to a
Unitholder, regardless of his tax basis in his Common Units, if such
distribution reduces the Unitholder's share of the Partnership's "unrealized
receivables" (including depreciation recapture) and/or substantially
appreciated "inventory items" (both as defined in Section 751 of the Code)
(collectively, "Section 751 Assets"). To that extent, the Unitholder will be
treated as having been distributed his proportionate share of the Section 751
Assets and having exchanged such assets with the Partnership in return
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for the non-pro rata portion of the actual distribution made to him. This
latter deemed exchange will generally result in the Unitholder's realization
of ordinary income under Section 751(b) of the Code. Such income will equal
the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of such distribution over (2) the
Unitholder's tax basis for the share of such Section 751 Assets deemed
relinquished in the exchange.
Basis of Common Units
A Unitholder's initial tax basis for his Common Units will be the amount he
paid for the Common Units plus his share of the Partnership's nonrecourse
liabilities. That basis will be increased by his share of Partnership income
and by any increases in his share of Partnership nonrecourse liabilities. That
basis will be decreased (but not below zero) by distributions from the
Partnership, by the Unitholder's share of Partnership losses, by any decrease
in his share of Partnership nonrecourse liabilities and by his share of
expenditures of the Partnership that are not deductible in computing its
taxable income and are not required to be capitalized. A limited partner will
have no share of Partnership debt which is recourse to the General Partner,
but will have a share, generally based on his share of profits, of Partnership
debt which is not recourse to any partner. See "--Disposition of Common
Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss."
Limitations on Deductibility of Partnership Losses
The deduction by a Unitholder of his share of Partnership losses will be
limited to the tax basis in his Units and, in the case of an individual
Unitholder or a corporate Unitholder (if more than 50% of the value of its
stock is owned directly or indirectly by five or fewer individuals or certain
tax-exempt organizations), to the amount for which the Unitholder is
considered to be "at risk" with respect to the Partnership's activities, if
that is less than the Unitholder's tax basis. A Unitholder must recapture
losses deducted in previous years to the extent that Partnership distributions
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
these limitations will carry forward and will be allowable to the extent that
the Unitholder's tax basis or at risk amount (whichever is the limiting
factor) is subsequently increased. Upon the taxable disposition of a Unit, any
gain recognized by a Unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously
suspended by the at risk limitation but may not be offset by losses suspended
by the basis limitation. Any excess loss (above such gain) previously
suspended by the at risk or basis limitations is no longer utilizable.
In general, a Unitholder will be at risk to the extent of the tax basis of
his Units, excluding any portion of that basis attributable to his share of
Partnership nonrecourse liabilities, reduced by any amount of money the
Unitholder borrows to acquire or hold his Units if the lender of such borrowed
funds owns an interest in the Partnership, is related to such a person or can
look only to Units for repayment. A Unitholder's at risk amount will increase
or decrease as the tax basis of the Unitholder's Units increases or decreases
(other than tax basis increases or decreases attributable to increases or
decreases in his share of Partnership nonrecourse liabilities).
The passive loss limitations generally provide that individuals, estates,
trusts and certain closely-held corporations and personal service corporations
can deduct losses from passive activities (generally, activities in which the
taxpayer does not materially participate) only to the extent of the taxpayer's
income from those passive activities. The passive loss limitations are applied
separately with respect to each publicly-traded partnership. Consequently, any
passive losses generated by the Partnership will only be available to offset
future income generated by the Partnership and will not be available to offset
income from other passive activities or investments (including other publicly-
traded partnerships) or salary or active business income. Passive losses which
are not deductible because they exceed a Unitholder's income generated by the
Partnership may be deducted in full when he disposes of his entire investment
in the Partnership in a fully taxable transaction to an unrelated party. The
passive activity loss rules are applied after other applicable limitations on
deductions such as the at risk rules and the basis limitation.
A Unitholder's share of net income from the Partnership may be offset by any
suspended passive losses from the Partnership, but it may not be offset by any
other current or carryover losses from other passive
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activities, including those attributable to other publicly-traded
partnerships. The IRS has announced that Treasury Regulations will be issued
which characterize net passive income from a publicly-traded partnership as
investment income for purposes of the limitations on the deductibility of
investment interest.
Limitations on Interest Deductions
The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer's "investment interest
expense" is generally limited to the amount of such taxpayer's "net investment
income." As noted, a Unitholder's net passive income from the Partnership will
be treated as investment income for this purpose. In addition, the
Unitholder's share of the Partnership's portfolio income will be treated as
investment income. Investment interest expense includes (i) interest on
indebtedness properly allocable to property held for investment, (ii) the
Partnership's interest expense attributed to portfolio income and (iii) the
portion of interest expense incurred to purchase or carry an interest in a
passive activity to the extent attributable to 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 pursuant
to the passive loss rules less deductible expenses (other than interest)
directly connected with the production of investment income, but generally
does not include gains attributable to the disposition of property held for
investment.
Allocation of Partnership Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction
In general, if the Partnership has a net profit, items of income, gain, loss
and deduction will be allocated among the General Partner and the Unitholders
in accordance with their respective percentage interests in the Partnership.
At any time that distributions are made to a Limited Partner in excess of the
distribution to another Limited Partner (determined on a per Unit basis), or
that Incentive Distributions are made to the General Partner, gross income
will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of such distribution. If the
Partnership has a net loss, items of income, gain, loss and deduction
generally will be allocated first, to the General Partner and the Unitholders
in accordance with their respective Percentage Interests to the extent of
their positive capital accounts (as maintained under the Partnership
Agreement) and, thereafter, to the General Partner.
As required by Section 704(c) of the Code and as permitted by Regulations
thereunder, certain items of Partnership income, deduction, gain and loss will
be allocated to account for the difference between the tax basis and fair
market value of property owned by the Partnership. This allocation will have
the effect of giving a purchaser in the Offering a basis in Partnership assets
equal to the fair market value of those assets. In addition, certain items of
recapture income will be allocated to the extent possible to the partner
allocated the deduction or curative allocation giving rise to the treatment of
such gain as recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary
income to the other Unitholders. Finally, although the Partnership does not
expect that its operations will result in the creation of negative capital
accounts, if negative capital accounts nevertheless result, items of
Partnership income and gain will be allocated in an amount and manner
sufficient to eliminate the negative balance as quickly as possible.
Regulations provide that an allocation of items of partnership income, gain,
loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by Section 704(c) of the
Code to eliminate the difference between a partner's "book" capital account
(credited with the fair market value of Contributed Property) and "tax"
capital account (credited with the tax basis of Contributed Property) (the
"Book-Tax Disparity"), will generally be given effect for federal income tax
purposes in determining a partner's distributive share of an item of income,
gain, loss or deduction only if the allocation has substantial economic
effect. In any other case, a partner's distributive share of an item will be
determined on the basis of the partner's interest in the partnership, which
will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances,
including the partner's relative contributions to the partnership, the
interests of the partners in economic profits and losses, the interest of the
partners in cash flow and other nonliquidating distributions and rights of the
partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation.
Counsel is of the opinion that, with the exception of the allocation of
recapture income discussed above, allocations under the Partnership Agreement
will be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a
partner's distributive share of an item of income, gain, loss or deduction.
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TAX TREATMENT OF OPERATIONS
Accounting Method and Taxable Year
The Partnership uses the fiscal year ending December 31 as its taxable year
and has adopted the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax
purposes. Each Unitholder will be required to include in income his allocable
share of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction for the fiscal year of
the Partnership ending within or with the taxable year of the Unitholder. In
addition, a Unitholder who disposes of Units following the close of the
Partnership's taxable year but before the close of his taxable year must
include his allocable share of Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction in
income for his taxable year with the result that he will be required to report
in income for his taxable year his distributive share of more than one year of
Partnership income, gain, loss and deduction. See "--Disposition of Common
Units--Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees."
Tax Basis, Depreciation and Amortization
The tax basis of the various assets of the Partnership will be used for
purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and,
ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of such assets. The Partnership
assets initially had an aggregate tax basis equal to the tax basis of the
assets in the possession of the General Partner immediately prior to the
formation of the Partnership. The federal income tax burden associated with
the difference between the fair market value of property held by the
Partnership and its tax basis immediately prior to this Offering will be borne
by partners holding interests in the Partnership prior to this offering. See
"--Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership--Allocation of Partnership Income, Gain,
Loss and Deduction."
If the Partnership disposes of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure, or
otherwise, all or a portion of any gain (determined by reference to the amount
of depreciation previously deducted and the nature of the property) may be
subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than
capital gain. Similarly, a partner who has taken cost recovery or depreciation
deductions with respect to property owned by the Partnership may be required
to recapture such deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of his interest in
the Partnership. See "--Consequences of Unit Ownership--Allocation of
Partnership Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction" and "--Disposition of Common
Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss."
Costs incurred in organizing the Partnership are being amortized over a
period of 60 months. The costs incurred in promoting the issuance of Units,
including the issuance of Units in this Offering (such as syndication
expenses) must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or
upon termination of the Partnership. There are uncertainties regarding the
classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized, and
as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized. Under recently adopted
regulations, the underwriting discounts and commissions would be treated as a
syndication cost.
Section 754 Election
The Partnership has made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code.
That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The election
generally permits the Partnership to adjust a Common Unit purchaser's (other
than a Common Unit purchased from the Partnership) tax basis in the
Partnership's assets ("inside basis") pursuant to Section 743(b) of the Code
to reflect his purchase price. The Section 743(b) adjustment belongs to the
purchaser and not to other partners. (For purposes of this discussion, a
partner's inside basis in the Partnership's assets will be considered to have
two components: (1) his share of the Partnership's tax basis in such assets
("common basis") and (2) his Section 743(b) adjustment to that basis.)
Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.168-2(n) generally requires the
Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to recovery property to be depreciated
as if the total amount of such adjustment were attributable to newly-acquired
recovery property placed in service when the purchaser acquires the Unit.
Similarly, the proposed regulations under Section 197 indicate that the
Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to an amortizable Section 197
intangible should be treated as a newly-acquired asset placed in service in
the month when the purchaser acquires the Unit. Under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6), a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable
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to property subject to depreciation under Section 167 of the Code rather than
cost recovery deductions under Section 168 is generally required to be
depreciated using either the straight-line method or the 150% declining
balance method. The depreciation and amortization methods and useful lives
associated with the Section 743(b) adjustment, therefore, may differ from the
methods and useful lives generally used to depreciate the common basis in such
properties. Pursuant to the Partnership Agreement, the Partnership is
authorized to adopt a convention to preserve the uniformity of Units even if
such convention is not consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-
1(a)(6), Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.168-2(n) or Proposed Treasury
Regulation Section 1.197-2(g)(3). See "--Uniformity of Units."
Although Counsel is unable to opine as to the validity of such an approach,
the Partnership intends to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b)
adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of Partnership
property (to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax Disparity) using a rate of
depreciation or amortization derived from the depreciation or amortization
method and useful life applied to the common basis of such property, or treat
that portion as non-amortizable to the extent attributable to property the
common basis of which is not amortizable, despite its inconsistency with
Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.168-2(n), Treasury Regulation Section
1.167(c)-1(a)(6) (neither of which is expected to directly apply to a material
portion of the Partnership's assets) or Proposed Treasury Regulation 1.197-
2(g)(3). To the extent such Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to
appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, the
Partnership will apply the rules described in the Regulations. If the
Partnership determines that such position cannot reasonably be taken, the
Partnership may adopt a depreciation or amortization convention under which
all purchasers acquiring Units in the same month would receive depreciation or
amortization, whether attributable to common basis or Section 743(b)
adjustment, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a
direct interest in the Partnership's assets. Such an aggregate approach may
result in lower annual depreciation or amortization deductions than would
otherwise be allowable to certain Unitholders. See "--Uniformity of Units."
The allocation of the Section 743(b) adjustment must be made in accordance
with the Code. The IRS may seek to reallocate some or all of any Section
743(b) adjustment not so allocated by the Partnership to goodwill which, as an
intangible asset, would be amortizable over a longer period of time than the
Partnership's tangible assets.
A Section 754 election is advantageous if the transferee's tax basis in his
Units is higher than such Units' share of the aggregate tax basis to the
Partnership of the Partnership's assets immediately prior to the transfer. In
such a case, as a result of the election, the transferee would have a higher
tax basis in his share of the Partnership's assets for purposes of
calculating, among other items, his depreciation and depletion deductions and
his share of any gain or loss on a sale of the Partnership's assets.
Conversely, a Section 754 election is disadvantageous if the transferee's tax
basis in such Units is lower than such Unit's share of the aggregate tax basis
of the Partnership's assets immediately prior to the transfer. Thus, the fair
market value of the Units may be affected either favorably or adversely by the
election.
The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and will
be made by the Partnership on the basis of certain assumptions as to the value
of Partnership assets and other matters. There is no assurance that the
determinations made by the Partnership will not be successfully challenged by
the IRS and that the deductions resulting from them will not be reduced or
disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different basis adjustment to
be made, and should, in the Partnership's opinion, the expense of compliance
exceed the benefit of the election, the Partnership may seek permission from
the IRS to revoke the Section 754 election for the Partnership. If such
permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of Units may be allocated more
income than he would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.
Alternative Minimum Tax
Although it is not expected that the Partnership will generate significant
tax preference items or adjustments, each Unitholder will be required to take
into account his distributive share of any items of Partnership income, gain,
deduction or loss for purposes of the alternative minimum tax.
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The alternative minimum tax rate for noncorporate taxpayers is 26% on the
first $175,000 of alternative minimum taxable income in excess of the
exemption amount and 28% on any additional alternative minimum taxable income.
Prospective Unitholders should consult with their tax advisors as to the
impact of an investment in Units on their liability for the alternative
minimum tax.
Valuation of Partnership Property and Basis of Properties
The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of
Units will depend in part on estimates by the Partnership of the relative fair
market values and determinations of the initial tax bases of the assets of the
Partnership. Although the Partnership may from time to time consult with
professional appraisers with respect to valuation matters, many of the
relative fair market value estimates will be made by the Partnership. These
estimates and determinations of basis are subject to challenge and will not be
binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or
determinations of basis are subsequently found to be incorrect, the character
and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deductions previously reported by
Unitholders might change, and Unitholders might be required to adjust their
tax liability for prior years.
Treatment of Short Sales
A Unitholder whose Units are loaned to a "short seller" to cover a short
sale of Units may be considered as having disposed of ownership of those
Units. If so, he would no longer be 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, any Partnership income, gain,
deduction or loss with respect to those Units would not be reportable by the
Unitholder, any cash distributions received by the Unitholder with respect to
those Units would be fully taxable and all of such distributions would appear
to be treated as ordinary income. Unitholders desiring to assure their status
as partners and avoid the risk of gain recognition should modify any
applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from
borrowing their Units. The IRS has announced that it is actively studying
issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of Partnership interests.
See also "--Disposition of Common Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss."
DISPOSITION OF COMMON UNITS
Recognition of Gain or Loss
Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of Units equal to the difference
between the amount realized and the Unitholder's tax basis for the Units sold.
A Unitholder's amount realized will be measured by the sum of the cash or the
fair market value of other property received plus his share of Partnership
nonrecourse liabilities. Because the amount realized includes a Unitholder's
share of Partnership nonrecourse liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale
of Units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from
such sale.
Partnership distributions in excess of cumulative net taxable income in
respect of a Common Unit which decrease a Unitholder's tax basis in such
Common Unit will, in effect, become taxable income if the Common Unit is sold
at a price greater than the Unitholder's tax basis in such Common Unit, even
if the price is less than his original cost.
Should the IRS successfully contest the convention used by the Partnership
to amortize only a portion of the Section 743(b) adjustment (described under
"--Tax Treatment of Operations--Section 754 Election") attributable to an
amortizable Section 197 intangible after a sale by the General Partner of
Units, a Unitholder could realize additional gain from the sale of Units than
had such convention been respected. In that case, the Unitholder may have been
entitled to additional deductions against income in prior years but may be
unable to claim them, with the result to him of greater overall taxable income
than appropriate. Counsel is unable to opine as to the validity of the
convention but believes such a contest by the IRS to be unlikely because a
successful contest could result in substantial additional deductions to other
Unitholders.
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Gain or loss recognized by a Unitholder (other than a "dealer" in Units) on
the sale or exchange of a Unit will generally be taxable as capital gain or
loss. Capital gain recognized on the sale of Units held for more than 18
months will generally be taxed at a maximum rate of 20%. A portion of this
gain or loss (which could be substantial), however, will be separately
computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to
the extent attributable to assets giving rise to depreciation recapture or
other "unrealized receivables" or to "inventory items" owned by the
Partnership. The term "unrealized receivables" includes potential recapture
items, including depreciation recapture. Ordinary income attributable to
unrealized receivables, inventory items and depreciation recapture may exceed
net taxable gain realized upon the sale of the Unit and may be recognized even
if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of the Unit. Thus, a
Unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and a capital loss upon a
disposition of Units. Net capital loss may offset no more than $3,000 of
ordinary income each year in the case of individuals and may only be used to
offset capital gain in the case of corporations.
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. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of such
interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold
using an "equitable apportionment" method. The ruling is unclear as to how the
holding period of these interests is determined once they are combined. If
this ruling is applicable to the holders of Common Units, a Common Unitholder
will be unable to select high or low basis Common Units to sell as would be
the case with corporate stock. It is not clear whether the ruling applies to
the Partnership because, similar to corporate stock, interests in the
Partnership are evidenced by separate certificates. Accordingly, Counsel is
unable to opine as to the effect such ruling will have on the Unitholders. A
Unitholder considering the purchase of additional Common Units or a sale of
Common Units purchased in separate transactions should consult his tax advisor
as to the possible consequences of such ruling.
The TRA of 1997 affects the taxation of certain financial products and
securities, including partnership interests by treating a taxpayer as having
sold an "appreciated" partnership interest (one in which gain would be
recognized if it were sold, assigned or otherwise terminated at its fair
market value) if the taxpayer or related persons enters into (i) a short sale
of, (ii) an offsetting notional principal contract with respect to, or (iii) a
futures or forward contract to deliver, (or, in the case of an appreciated
financial position that is a short sale or offsetting notional principal or
futures or forward contract, acquire) the same or substantially identical
property. The Secretary of Treasury is also 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 Transferees
In general, the Partnership's taxable income and losses 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 principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Units are then traded on the first business day
of the month (the "Allocation Date"). However, gain or loss realized on a sale
or other disposition of Partnership assets other than in the ordinary course
of business will be allocated among the Unitholders on the Allocation Date in
the month in which that gain or loss is recognized. As a result, a Unitholder
transferring Common Units in the open market may be allocated income, gain,
loss and deduction accrued after the date of transfer.
The use of this method may not be permitted under existing Treasury
Regulations. Accordingly, Counsel is unable to opine on the validity of this
method of allocating income and deductions between the transferors and the
transferees of Units. If this method is not allowed under the Treasury
Regulations (or only applies to transfers of less than all of the Unitholder's
interest), taxable income or losses of the Partnership might be reallocated
among the Unitholders. The Partnership is authorized to revise its method of
allocation between transferors and transferees (as well as among partners
whose interests otherwise vary during a taxable period) to conform to a method
permitted under future Treasury Regulations.
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A Unitholder who owns Units at any time during a quarter and who disposes of
such Units prior to the record date set for a cash distribution with respect
to such quarter will be allocated items of Partnership income, gain, loss and
deductions attributable to such quarter but will not be entitled to receive
that cash distribution.
Notification Requirements
A Unitholder who sells or exchanges Units is required to notify the
Partnership in writing of that sale or exchange within 30 days after the sale
or exchange and in any event by no later than January 15 of the year following
the calendar year in which the sale or exchange occurred. The Partnership is
required to notify the IRS of that transaction and to furnish certain
information to the transferor and transferee. However, these reporting
requirements do not apply with respect to a sale by an individual who is a
citizen of the United States and who effects the sale or exchange through a
broker. Additionally, a transferee of a Unit will be required to furnish a
statement to the IRS, filed with its income tax return for the taxable year in
which the sale or exchange occurred, that sets forth the amount of the
consideration paid for the Unit. Failure to satisfy these reporting
obligations may lead to the imposition of substantial penalties.
Constructive Termination
The Partnership and the Operating Partnership will be considered to have
been terminated if there is a sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total
interests in Partnership capital and profits within a 12-month period. Under
Treasury Regulations, a termination of the Partnership will result in a deemed
transfer by the Partnership of its assets to a new partnership in exchange for
an interest in the new partnership followed by a deemed distribution of
interests in the new partnership to the Unitholders in liquidation of the
Partnership. Under TRA of 1997, if the Partnership elects to be treated as a
large partnership it will not terminate by reason of the sale or exchange of
interests in the Partnership. A termination of the Partnership will cause a
termination of the Operating Partnership. A termination of the Partnership
will result in the closing of the Partnership's taxable year for all
Unitholders. In the case of a Unitholder reporting on a taxable year other
than a fiscal year ending December 31, the closing of the Partnership's
taxable year may result in more than 12 months' taxable income or loss of the
Partnership being includable in his taxable income for the year of
termination. New tax elections required to be made by the Partnership,
including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, must be made
subsequent to a termination, and a termination could result in a deferral of
Partnership deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in
penalties if the Partnership were unable to determine that the termination had
occurred. Moreover, a termination might either accelerate the application of,
or subject the Partnership to, any tax legislation enacted prior to the
termination.
Entity-Level Collections
If the Partnership is required or elects under applicable law to pay any
federal, state or local income tax on behalf of any Unitholder or any General
Partner or any former Unitholder, the Partnership is authorized to pay those
taxes from Partnership funds. Such payment, if made, will be treated as a
distribution of cash to the partner on whose behalf the payment was made. If
the payment is made on behalf of a person whose identity cannot be determined,
the Partnership is authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to
current Unitholders. The Partnership is authorized to amend the Partnership
Agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax
characteristics of Units and to adjust subsequent distributions, so that after
giving effect to such distributions, the priority and characterization of
distributions otherwise applicable under the Partnership Agreement is
maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by the Partnership as
described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of an
individual partner in which event the partner could file a claim for credit or
refund.
UNIFORMITY OF UNITS
Because the Partnership cannot match transferors and transferees of Units,
uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the Units to a purchaser
of such Units must be maintained. In the absence of uniformity,
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compliance with a number of federal income tax requirements, both statutory
and regulatory, could be substantially diminished. A lack of uniformity can
result from a literal application of Proposed Treasury Regulation Section
1.168-2(n). Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) and Proposed Treasury
Regulation 1.197-2(g)(3). Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on
the value of the Units. See "--Treatment of Operations--Section 754 Election."
The Partnership intends to depreciate the portion of a Section 743(b)
adjustment attributable to unrealized appreciation in the value of contributed
property or adjusted property (to the extent of any unamortized Book-Tax
Disparity) using a rate of depreciation or amortization derived from the
depreciation or amortization method and useful life applied to the common
basis of such property, or treat that portion as nonamortizable, to the extent
attributable to property the common basis of which is not amortizable, despite
its inconsistency with Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.168-2(n) and
Treasury Regulation Section 1.167(c)-1(a)(6) (neither of which is expected to
directly apply to a material portion of the Partnership's assets) and Proposed
Treasury Regulation 1.197-1(a)(3). See "--Tax Treatment of Operations--Section
754 Election." To the extent such Section 743(b) adjustment is attributable to
appreciation in value in excess of the unamortized Book-Tax Disparity, the
Partnership will apply the rules described in the Regulations. If the
Partnership determines that such a position cannot reasonably be taken, the
Partnership may adopt a depreciation and amortization convention under which
all purchasers acquiring Units in the same month would receive depreciation
and amortization deductions, whether attributable to common basis or Section
743(b) basis, based upon the same applicable rate as if they had purchased a
direct interest in the Partnership's property. If such an aggregate approach
is adopted, it may result in lower annual depreciation and amortization
deductions than would otherwise be allowable to certain Unitholders and risk
the loss of depreciation and amortization deductions not taken in the year
that such deductions are otherwise allowable. This convention will not be
adopted if the Partnership determines that the loss of depreciation and
amortization deductions will have a material adverse effect on the
Unitholders. If the Partnership chooses not to utilize this aggregate method,
the Partnership may use any other reasonable depreciation and amortization
convention to preserve the uniformity of the intrinsic tax characteristics of
any Units that would not have a material adverse effect on the Unitholders.
The IRS may challenge any method of depreciating the Section 743(b) adjustment
described in this paragraph. If such a challenge were sustained, the
uniformity of Units might be affected, and the gain from the sale of Units
might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions. See "--
Disposition of Common Units--Recognition of Gain or Loss."
Tax-Exempt Organizations and Certain Other Investors
Ownership of Units by employee benefit plans, other tax-exempt
organizations, nonresident aliens, foreign corporations, other foreign persons
and regulated investment companies raises issues unique to such persons and,
as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences.
Employee benefit plans and most other organizations exempt from federal
income tax (including IRAs) and other retirement plans) are subject to federal
income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Much of the taxable income
derived by such an organization from the ownership of a Unit will be unrelated
business taxable income and thus will be taxable to such a Unitholder.
A regulated investment Partnership or "mutual fund" is required to derive
90% or more of its gross income from interest, dividends, gains from the sale
of stocks or securities or foreign currency or certain related sources. It is
not anticipated that any significant amount of the Partnership's gross income
will include that type of income.
Non-resident aliens and foreign corporations, trusts or estates which hold
Units will be considered to be engaged in business in the United States on
account of ownership of Units. As a consequence, they will be required to file
federal tax returns in respect of their share of Partnership income, gain,
loss or deduction and pay federal income tax at regular rates on any net
income or gain. Generally, a partnership is required to pay a withholding tax
on the portion of the partnership's income which is effectively connected with
the conduct of a United States trade or business and which is allocable to the
foreign partners, regardless of whether any actual
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distributions have been made to such partners. However, under rules applicable
to publicly-traded partnerships, the Partnership will withhold (currently at
the rate of 39.6%) on actual cash distributions made quarterly to foreign
Unitholders. Each foreign Unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification
number from the IRS and submit that number to the Transfer Agent of the
Partnership in order to obtain credit for the taxes withheld. A change in
applicable law may require the Partnership to change these procedures.
Because a foreign corporation which owns Units will be treated as engaged in
a United States trade or business, such a corporation may be subject to United
States branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal
income tax, on its allocable share of the Partnership's income and gain (as
adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation's "United States net equity")
which are 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 with respect to which the foreign
corporate Unitholder is a qualified resident. In addition, such a Unitholder
is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C
of the Code.
Under a ruling of the IRS, a foreign Unitholder who sells or otherwise
disposes of a Unit will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized on
the disposition of such Unit to the extent that such gain is effectively
connected with a United States trade or business of the foreign Unitholder.
Apart from the ruling, a foreign Unitholder will not be taxed upon the
disposition of a Unit if that foreign Unitholder has held less than 5% in
value of the Units during the five-year period ending on the date of the
disposition and if the Units are regularly traded on an established securities
market at the time of the disposition.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Partnership Information Returns and Audit Procedures
The Partnership intends to furnish to each Unitholder, within 90 days after
the close of each calendar year, certain tax information, including a Schedule
K-1, which sets forth each Unitholder's share of the Partnership's income,
gain, loss and deduction for the preceding Partnership taxable year. In
preparing this information, which will generally not be reviewed by counsel,
the Partnership will use various accounting and reporting conventions, some of
which have been mentioned in the previous discussion, to determine the
Unitholder's share of income, gain, loss and deduction. There is no assurance
that any of those conventions will yield a result which conforms to the
requirements of the Code, regulations or administrative interpretations of the
IRS. The Partnership cannot assure prospective Unitholders that the IRS will
not successfully contend in court that such accounting and reporting
conventions are impermissible. Any such challenge by the IRS could negatively
affect the value of the Units.
The federal income tax information returns filed by the Partnership may be
audited by the IRS. Adjustments resulting from any such audit may require each
Unitholder to adjust a prior year's tax liability, and possibly may result in
an audit of the Unitholder's own return. Any audit of a Unitholder's return
could result in adjustments of non-Partnership as well as Partnership items.
Partnerships generally are treated as separate entities for purposes of
federal 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 with the partners. The Code provides for
one partner to be designated as the "Tax Matters Partner" for these purposes.
The Partnership Agreement appoints the General Partner as the Tax Matters
Partner of the Partnership.
The Tax Matters Partner will make certain elections on behalf of the
Partnership and Unitholders and can extend the statute of limitations for
assessment of tax deficiencies against Unitholders with respect to Partnership
items. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a Unitholder with less than a 1%
profits interest in the Partnership to a settlement with the IRS unless that
Unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give such
authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek
judicial review (by which all the
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Unitholders are bound) of a final partnership administrative adjustment and,
if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, such review may be
sought by any Unitholder having at least a 1% interest in the profits of the
Partnership and by the Unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5%
profits interest. However, only one action for judicial review will go
forward, and each Unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate.
However, under TRA of 1997, if the Partnership elects to be treated as a large
partnership, a partner will not have the right to participate in settlement
conferences with the IRS or to seek a refund.
A Unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of
any item on his federal income tax return that is not consistent with the
treatment of the item on the Partnership's return. Intentional or negligent
disregard of the consistency requirement may subject a Unitholder to
substantial penalties. However, if the Partnership elects to be treated as a
large partnership, its partners would be required to treat all Partnership
items in a manner consistent with the Partnership return.
Under the provisions of the TRA of 1997, if the Partnership elects to be
treated as a large partnership, each partner would take into account
separately his share of the following items, determined at the partnership
level: (1) taxable income or loss from passive loss limitation activities; (2)
taxable income or loss from other activities (such as portfolio income or
loss); (3) net capital gains to the extent allocable to passive loss
limitation activities and other activities; (4) tax exempt interest; (5) a net
alternative minimum tax adjustment separately computed for passive loss
limitation activities and other activities; (6) general credits; (7) low-
income housing credit; (8) rehabilitation credit; (9) foreign income taxes;
(10) credit for producing fuel from a nonconventional source; and (11) any
other items the Secretary of Treasury deems appropriate. Moreover,
miscellaneous itemized deductions would not be passed through to its partners
and 30% of such deductions would be used at the partnership level.
The TRA of 1997 also made a number of changes to the tax compliance and
administrative rules relating to electing large partnerships. One provision
would require that each partner in an electing large partnership, such as the
Partnership, take into account his share of any adjustments to partnership
items in the year such adjustments are made. Under prior law, adjustments
relating to partnership items for a previous taxable year are taken into
account by those persons who were partners in the previous taxable year.
Alternatively, under the TRA of 1997, a partnership could elect to or, in some
circumstances, could be required to directly pay the tax resulting from any
such adjustments. In either case, therefore, Unitholders could bear
significant economic burdens associated with tax adjustments relating to
periods predating their acquisition of Units.
Nominee Reporting
Persons who hold an interest in the Partnership as a nominee for another
person are required to furnish to the Partnership (a) the name, address and
taxpayer identification number of the beneficial owner and the nominee; (b)
whether the beneficial owner is (i) a person that is not a United States
person, (ii) a foreign government, an international organization or any
wholly-owned agency or instrumentality of either of the foregoing or (iii) a
tax-exempt entity; (c) the amount and description of Units held, acquired or
transferred for the beneficial owner; and (d) certain 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 United States persons and certain
information on Units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. A
penalty of $50 per failure (up to a maximum of $100,000 per calendar year) is
imposed by the Code for failure to report such information to the Partnership.
The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the Units with the
information furnished to the Partnership.
Registration as a Tax Shelter
The Code requires that "tax shelters" be registered with the Secretary of
the Treasury. The temporary Treasury Regulations interpreting the tax shelter
registration provisions of the Code are extremely broad. It is arguable that
the Partnership is not subject to the registration requirement on the basis
that it will not constitute a tax shelter. However, the General Partner, as a
principal organizer of the Partnership, has registered the
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Partnership as a tax shelter with the Secretary of the Treasury in the absence
of assurance that the Partnership will not be subject to tax shelter
registration and in light of the substantial penalties which might be imposed
if registration is required and not undertaken. The IRS has issued the
following tax shelter registration number to the Partnership: 96026000016.
ISSUANCE OF THE REGISTRATION NUMBER DOES NOT INDICATE THAT AN INVESTMENT IN
THE PARTNERSHIP OR THE CLAIMED TAX BENEFITS HAVE BEEN REVIEWED, EXAMINED OR
APPROVED BY THE IRS. The Partnership must furnish the registration number to
the Unitholders, and a Unitholder who sells or otherwise transfers a Unit in a
subsequent transaction must furnish the registration number to the transferee.
The penalty for failure of the transferor of a Unit to furnish the
registration number to the transferee is $100 for each such failure. The
Unitholders must disclose the tax shelter registration number of the
Partnership on Form 8271 to be attached to the tax return on which any
deduction, loss or other benefit generated by the Partnership is claimed or
income of the Partnership is included. A Unitholder who fails to disclose the
tax shelter registration number on his return, without reasonable cause for
that failure, will be subject to a $250 penalty for each failure. Any
penalties discussed herein are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Registration as a tax shelter may increase the risk of an audit.
Accuracy-Related Penalties
A penalty equal to 20% of the amount of any portion of an underpayment of
tax which is attributable to one or more of certain listed 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, with respect to any portion of an
underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for that portion
and that the taxpayer acted in good faith with respect to that portion.
A substantial understatement of income tax in any taxable year exists if the
amount of the understatement exceeds the greater of 10% of the tax required to
be shown on the return for the taxable year or $5,000 ($10,000 for most
corporations). The amount of any understatement subject to penalty generally
is reduced if any portion is attributable to a position adopted on the return
(i) with respect to which there is, or was, "substantial authority" or (ii) as
to which there is a reasonable basis and the pertinent facts of such position
are disclosed on the return. Certain more stringent rules apply to "tax
shelters," a term that in this context does not appear to include the
Partnership. If any Partnership item of income, gain, loss or deduction
included in the distributive shares of Unitholders might result in such an
understatement of income for which no "substantial authority" exists, the
Partnership must disclose the pertinent facts on its return. In addition, the
Partnership will make a reasonable effort to furnish sufficient information
for Unitholders to make adequate disclosure on their returns to avoid
liability for this penalty.
A substantial valuation misstatement exists if the value of any property (or
the adjusted basis of any property) claimed on a tax return is 200% or more of
the amount determined to be the correct amount of such valuation or adjusted
basis. No penalty is imposed unless the portion of the underpayment
attributable to a substantial valuation misstatement exceeds $5,000 ($10,000
for most corporations). If the valuation claimed on a return is 400% or more
than the correct valuation, the penalty imposed increases to 40%.
STATE, LOCAL AND OTHER TAX CONSIDERATIONS
In addition to federal income taxes, Unitholders will likely be subject to
other taxes, such as state and local income taxes, unincorporated business
taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangible taxes that may be imposed by the
various jurisdictions in which a Unitholder resides or in which the
Partnership does business or owns property. A Unitholder will likely be
required to file state income tax returns and to pay taxes in various states
and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with such requirements.
The General Partner anticipates that substantially all of the Partnership's
income will be generated in the following states: Connecticut, Indiana,
Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Each of the states in which the General Partner
anticipates that a substantial portion of the Partnership's income will be
generated currently imposes a personal income tax. Some of these states may
require the Partnership to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be
distributed to a Unitholder who is not a resident of such
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state. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a
particular income tax liability to the state, generally does not relieve the
non-resident Unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return.
Amounts withheld may be treated as if distributed to Unitholders for purposes
of determining the amounts distributed by the Partnership. See "--Disposition
of Common Units--Entity-Level Collections." Based on current law and its
estimate of future Partnership operations, the General Partner anticipates
that any amounts required to be withheld will not be material.
It is the responsibility of each Unitholder to investigate the legal and tax
consequences, under the laws of pertinent states and localities, of his
investment in the Partnership. Accordingly, each prospective Unitholder should
consult, and must depend upon, his own tax counsel or other advisor with
regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each Unitholder
to file all state and local, as well as U.S. federal, tax returns that may be
required of such Unitholder. Counsel has not rendered an opinion on the state
or local tax consequences of an investment in the Partnership.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS
The Common Units have been registered under the Exchange Act, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the Partnership is subject to the
reporting and certain other requirements of the Exchange Act. The Partnership
is required to file periodic reports containing financial and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").
Purchasers of Common Units in this Offering and subsequent transferees of
Common Units (or their brokers, agents or nominees on their behalf) will be
required to execute Transfer Applications, the form of which is included as
Appendix A to this Prospectus and which is also set forth on the reverse side
of the certificate representing Common Units. Purchasers may hold Common Units
in nominee accounts, provided that the broker (or other nominee) executes and
delivers a Transfer Application and becomes a limited partner. The Partnership
will be entitled to treat the nominee holder of a Common Unit as the absolute
owner thereof, and the beneficial owner's rights will be limited solely to
those that it has against the nominee holder as a result of or by reason of
any understanding or agreement between such beneficial owner and nominee
holder.
THE UNITS
Generally, the Common Units and the Subordinated Units represent limited
partner interests in the Partnership, which entitle the holders thereof to
participate in Partnership distributions and exercise the rights or privileges
available to limited partners under the Partnership Agreement. For a
description of the relative rights and preferences of holders of Common Units
and holders of Subordinated Units in and to Partnership distributions,
together with a description of the circumstances under which Subordinated
Units may convert into Common Units, see "Cash Distribution Policy."
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The Partnership has retained BankBoston N.A. as registrar and transfer agent
(the "Transfer Agent") for the Common Units. The Transfer Agent receives a fee
from the Partnership for serving in such capacities. All fees charged by the
Transfer Agent for transfers of Common Units will be borne by the Partnership
and not by the holders of Common Units, except that fees similar to those
customarily paid by stockholders for surety bond premiums to replace lost or
stolen certificates, taxes and other governmental charges, special charges for
services requested by a holder of a Common Unit and other similar fees or
charges will be borne by the affected holder. There will be no charge to
holders for disbursements of the Partnership's cash distributions. The
Partnership will indemnify the Transfer Agent, its agents and each of their
respective shareholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims
and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted in respect of its
activities as such, except for any liability due to any negligence, gross
negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or
entity.
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The Transfer Agent may at any time resign, by notice to the Partnership, or
be removed by the Partnership, such resignation or removal to become effective
upon the appointment by the General Partner of a successor transfer agent and
registrar and its acceptance of such appointment. If no successor has been
appointed and accepted such appointment within 30 days after notice of such
resignation or removal, the General Partner is authorized to act as the
transfer agent and registrar until a successor is appointed.
TRANSFER OF UNITS
Until a Common Unit has been transferred on the books of the Partnership,
the Partnership and the Transfer Agent, notwithstanding any notice to the
contrary, may treat the record holder thereof as the absolute owner for all
purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.
The transfer of the Common Units to persons that purchase directly from a
underwriter will be accomplished through the completion, execution and
delivery of a Transfer Application by such purchaser in connection with such
purchase. Any subsequent transfers of a Common Unit will not be recorded by
the Transfer Agent or recognized by the Partnership unless the transferee
executes and delivers a Transfer Application. By executing and delivering a
Transfer Application, the transferee of Common Units (i) becomes the record
holder of such Units and shall constitute an assignee until admitted into the
Partnership as a substituted limited partner, (ii) automatically requests
admission as a substituted limited partner in the Partnership, (iii) agrees to
be bound by the terms and conditions of, and executes, the Partnership
Agreement, (iv) represents that such transferee has the capacity, power and
authority to enter into the Partnership Agreement, (v) grants powers of
attorney to the General Partner and any liquidator of the Partnership as
specified in the Partnership Agreement and (vi) makes the consents and waivers
contained in the Partnership Agreement. An assignee will become a substituted
limited partner of the Partnership in respect of the transferred Common Units
upon the consent of the General Partner, which may be withheld for any reason
in its sole discretion, and the recordation of the name of the assignee on the
books and records of the Partnership.
Common Units are securities and are transferable according to the laws
governing transfer of securities. In addition to other rights acquired upon
transfer, the transferor gives the transferee the right to request admission
as a substituted limited partner in the Partnership in respect of the
transferred Common Units. A purchaser or transferee of Common Units who does
not execute and deliver a Transfer Application obtains only (a) the right to
assign the Common Units to a purchaser or other transferee and (b) the right
to transfer the right to seek admission as a substituted limited partner in
the Partnership with respect to the transferred Common Units. Thus, a
purchaser or transferee of Common Units who does not execute and deliver a
Transfer Application will not receive cash distributions 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 with respect to such Common
Units, and may not receive certain federal income tax information or reports
furnished to record holders of Common Units. The transferor of Common Units
will have a duty to provide such transferee with all information that may be
necessary to obtain registration of the transfer of the Common Units, but a
transferee agrees, by acceptance of the certificate representing Common Units,
that the transferor will not have a duty to insure the execution of the
Transfer Application by the transferee and will have no liability or
responsibility if such transferee neglects or chooses not to execute and
forward the Transfer Application to the Transfer Agent.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Partnership may sell Common Units to or through underwriters or dealers,
and also may sell Common Units directly to other purchasers or through agents.
The Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Common Units offered thereby
will set forth the terms of the offering of such Common Units, including the
name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of
such Common Units and the proceeds to the Partnership from such sale, any
underwriting discounts and other items constituting compensation to
underwriters, dealers or agents, any initial public offering price, any
discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or
dealers to other dealers.
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If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the Common Units will be
acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account and may be
resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated
transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined
at the time of sale. The Common Units may be offered to the public either
through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing
underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to
purchase such Common Units will be subject to certain conditions precedent,
and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Common Units
offered by the Prospectus Supplement if any are purchased. Any initial public
offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid
to dealers may be changed from time to time.
The Common Units may be sold directly by the Partnership or through agents
designated by the Partnership from time to time. Any agent involved in the
offering and sale of the Common Units in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the Partnership to
such agent (or the method by which such commissions can be determined) will be
set forth, in the Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the
Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis
for the period of its appointment.
Under agreements which may be entered into by the Partnership, underwriters,
dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of Common Units may be
entitled to indemnification by the Partnership against or contribution toward
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions
with, or perform services for the Partnership or its Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business.
VALIDITY OF COMMON UNITS
The validity of the Common Units will be passed upon the Partnership by
Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP, New York, New York and will be
passed upon for any agents, dealers or underwriters by counsel named in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Star Gas Partners,
L.P. and subsidiary and the Star Gas Group (Predecessor) as of September 30,
1996 and 1997 and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1995, 1996 and
1997, have been incorporated by reference herein and elsewhere in the
registration statement, in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein,
and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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APPENDIX A
No transfer of the Common Units evidenced hereby will be registered on the
books of the Partnership unless the Certificate evidencing the Common Units to
be transferred is surrendered for registration or transfer and an Application
for Transfer of Common Units has been executed by a transferee either (a) on
the form set forth below or (b) on a separate application that the Partnership
will furnish on request without charge. A transferor of the Common Units shall
have no duty to the transferee with respect to execution of the transfer
application in order for such transferee to obtain registration of the
transfer of the Common Units.
APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER OF COMMON UNITS
The undersigned ("Assignee") hereby applies for transfer to the name of the
Assignee of the Common Units evidenced hereby.
The Assignee (a) requests admission as a Substituted Limited Partner
(evidenced by a credit to the account of the undersigned at The Depository
Trust Company in the name of its nominee, Cede & Co.) and agrees to comply
with and be bound by, and hereby executes, the Agreement of Limited
Partnership of Star Gas Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership"), as amended,
supplemented or restated to the date hereof (the "Partnership Agreement") (b)
represents and warrants that the Assignee has all right, power and authority
and, if an individual, the capacity necessary to enter into the Partnership
Agreement, (c) appoints the General Partner and, if a Liquidator shall be
appointed, the Liquidator of the Partnership as the Assignee's attorney-in
fact to execute, swear to, acknowledge and file any document, including,
without limitation, the Partnership Agreement and any amendment thereto and
the Certificate of Limited Partnership of the Partnership and any amendment
thereto, necessary or appropriate for the Assignee's admission as a
Substituted Limited Partner and as a party to the Partnership Agreement, (d)
gives the powers of attorney provided for in the Partnership Agreement and (e)
makes the waivers and gives the consents and approvals contained in the
Partnership Agreement. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings
assigned to such terms in the Partnership Agreement.
Date: ____________________________________
Signature of Assignee ____________________
- ------------------------------------------
Social Security or other identifying
number of Assignee
- ------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------
Name and Address of Assignee
- ------------------------------------------
Purchase Price including commissions, if
any
Type of Entity (check one):
[_]Individual [_]Partnership[_]Corporation
[_]Trust [_]Other [_]_______
(specify)
Nationality (check one):
[_]U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity
[_]Foreign Corporation
A-1
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If the U.S. Citizen, Resident or Domestic Entity box is checked, the
following certification must be completed.
Under Section 1445(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), the Partnership must withhold tax with respect to certain transfers
of property if a holder of an interest in the Partnership is a foreign person.
To inform the Partnership that no withholding is required with respect to the
undersigned interestholder's interest in it, the undersigned hereby certifies
the following (or, if applicable, certifies the following on behalf of the
interestholder).
Complete Either A or B:
A. Individual Interestholder
1. I am not a non-resident alien for purposes of U.S. income taxation.
2. My U.S. taxpayer identification number (Social Security Number) is _________
3. My home address is _________________________________________________________
B. Partnership, Corporation or Other Interestholder
1. ________________________ is not a foreign corporation, foreign partnership,
(Name of Interestholder)
foreign trust or foreign estate (as those terms are defined in the Code and
Treasury Regulations).
2. The interestholder's U.S. employer identification number is ________________
3. The interestholder's office address and place of incorporation (if
applicable) is _____________________________________________________________
The interestholder agrees to notify the Partnership within sixty (60) days
of the date the interestholder becomes a foreign person.
The interestholder understands that this certificate may be disclosed to the
Internal Revenue Service by the Partnership and that any false statement
contained herein could be punishable by fine, imprisonment or both.
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this
certification and to the best of my knowledge and belief it is true, correct
and complete and, if applicable, I further declare that I have authority to
sign this document on behalf of
(Name of Interestholder) ______________________________
Signature and Date ______________________________
Title (if applicable) ______________________________
Note: If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing
corporation, other nominee holder or an agent of any of the foregoing, and is
holding for the account of any other person, this application should be
completed by an officer thereof or, in the case of a broker or dealer, by a
registered representative who is a member of a registered national securities
exchange or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
or, in the case of any other nominee holder, a person performing a similar
function. If the Assignee is a broker, dealer, bank, trust company, clearing
corporation, other nominee owner or an agent of any of the foregoing, the
above certification as to any person for whom the Assignee will hold the
Common Units shall be made to the best of the Assignee's knowledge.
A-2
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APPENDIX B
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Acquisition: Any transaction in which any member of the Partnership Group
acquires (through an asset acquisition, merger, stock acquisition or other
form of investment) control over all or a portion of the assets, properties or
business of another person for the purpose of increasing the operating
capacity of the Partnership Group over the operating capacity of the
Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such transaction.
Adjusted Operating Surplus: With respect to any period, Operating Surplus
generated during such period as adjusted to (a) decrease Operating Surplus by
(i) any net increase in working capital borrowings during such period and (ii)
any net reduction in cash reserves for Operating Expenditures during such
period, and (b) increase Operating Surplus by (i) any net decrease in working
capital borrowings during such period and (ii) any net increase in cash
reserves for Operating Expenditures during such period required by any debt
instrument for the repayment of principal, interest or premium.
Affiliate: With respect to any person, any other person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is
under common control with, the person in question. As used herein, the term
"control" means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether
through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Audit Committee: A committee of the board of directors of the General
Partner composed entirely of two or more directors who are neither officers
nor employees of the General Partner nor officers, directors or employees of
any Affiliate of the General Partner.
Available Cash: With respect to any quarter prior to liquidation:
(a) the sum of (i) all cash and cash equivalents of the Partnership Group
on hand at the end of such quarter and (ii) all additional cash and cash
equivalents of the Partnership Group on hand on the date of determination
of Available Cash with respect to such quarter resulting from borrowings
subsequent to the end of such quarter, less
(b) the amount of cash reserves that is necessary or appropriate in the
reasonable discretion of the General Partner to (i) provide for the proper
conduct of the business of the Partnership Group (including reserves for
future capital expenditures) subsequent to such quarter, (ii) provide funds
for Minimum Quarterly Distributions and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages
in respect of any one or more of the next four quarters, or (iii) comply
with applicable law or any debt instrument or other agreement or obligation
to which any member of the Partnership Group is a party or its assets are
subject.
Capital Account: The capital account maintained for a Partner pursuant to
the Partnership Agreement. The Capital Account in respect of a Common Unit, a
Subordinated Unit or any other specified interest in the Partnership shall be
the amount which such Capital Account would be if such Common Unit,
Subordinated Unit or other interest in the Partnership were the only interest
in the Partnership held by a Limited Partner.
Capital Improvements: Additions or improvements to the capital assets owned
by any member of the Partnership Group or the acquisition of existing or the
construction of new capital assets (including retail distribution outlets,
propane tanks, pipeline systems, storage facilities and related assets), made
to increase the operating capacity of the Partnership Group from the operating
capacity of the Partnership Group existing immediately prior to such addition,
improvement, acquisition or construction.
Capital Surplus: All Available Cash distributed by the Partnership from any
source will be treated as distributed from Operating Surplus until the sum of
all Available Cash distributed since the commencement of the Partnership
equals the Operating Surplus as of the end of the quarter prior to such
distribution. Any excess Available Cash will be deemed to be Capital Surplus.
B-1
<PAGE>
Cause: Means a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a final, non-
appealable judgment finding the General Partner liable for actual fraud, gross
negligence or willful or wanton misconduct in its capacity as a general
partner of the Partnership.
Common Unit Arrearage: With respect to any Common Unit, whenever issued, and
as to any quarter within the Subordination Period, the excess, if any, of (a)
the Minimum Quarterly Distribution with respect to such Common Unit over (b)
the sum of all Available Cash distributed with respect to such Common Unit in
respect of such quarter.
Common Units: A Unit representing a fractional part of the partnership
interests of all limited partners and assignees and having the rights and
obligations specified with respect to Common Units in the Partnership
Agreement.
Cumulative Common Unit Arrearage: With respect to any Common Unit, whenever
issued, and as of the end of any quarter, the excess, if any, of (a) the sum
resulting from adding together the Common Unit Arrearage as to a Common Unit
issued in the IPO for each of the quarters within the Subordination Period
ending on or before the last day of such quarter over (b) the sum of any
distributions of Operating Surplus theretofore made with respect to such
Common Unit (including any distributions to be made in respect of the last of
such quarters).
Current Market Price: With respect to any class of Units listed or admitted
to trading on any national securities exchange as of any date, the average of
the daily Closing Prices (as hereinafter defined) for the 20 consecutive
Trading Days (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date. "Closing
Price" for any day means the last sale price on such day, regular way, or in
case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and
asked prices on such day, regular way, in either case as reported in the
principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities
listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on
which the Units of such class are listed or admitted to trading or, if the
Units of such class are not listed or admitted to trading on any national
securities exchange, the last quoted price on such day, or, if not so quoted,
the average of the high bid and low asked prices on such day in the over-the-
counter market, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or such other system
then in use, or if on any such day the Units of such class are not quoted by
any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such
day as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Units
of such class selected by the Board of Directors of the General Partner, or if
on any such day no market maker is making a market in the Units of such class,
the fair value of such Units on such day as determined reasonably and in good
faith by the Board of Directors of the General Partner. "Trading Day" means a
day on which the principal national securities exchange on which Units of any
class are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of
business or, if the Units of a class are not listed or admitted to trading on
any national securities exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New
York City generally are open.
Degree Day: Degree days measure the amount by which the average of the high
and low temperature on a given day is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit. For
example, if the high temperature is 60 degrees and the low temperature is 40
degrees for a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measurement
location, the average temperature is 50 degrees and the number of degree days
for that day is 15.
EBITDA: Operating income plus depreciation and amortization, less net gain
(loss) on sale of businesses and equipment and other noncash charges
(including the impairment of long-lived assets). As used in this Prospectus,
EBITDA is not intended to be construed as an alternative to net income as an
indicator of operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flow as a
measure of liquidity or ability to service debt obligations.
General Partner: Star Gas Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Petroleum Heat and Power Co., Inc., and its successors, as general partner of
the Partnership.
Initial Common Units: The Common Units sold in the IPO.
Initial Unit Price: $22.00 per Common Unit, the amount per Unit equal to the
initial public offering price of the Common Units in the IPO.
B-2
<PAGE>
Interim Capital Transactions: (a) borrowings, refinancings or refundings of
indebtedness and sales of debt securities (other than for working capital
purposes and other than for items purchased on open account in the ordinary
course of business) by any member of the Partnership Group, (b) sales of
equity interests (including the Common Units sold to the Underwriters pursuant
to the exercise of their over-allotment option) by any member of the
Partnership Group and (c) sales or other voluntary or involuntary dispositions
of any assets of any member of the Partnership Group (other than (i) sales or
other dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (ii) sales
or other dispositions of other current assets, including, without limitation,
receivables and accounts, in the ordinary course of business and (iii) sales
or other dispositions of assets as a part of normal retirements or
replacements), in each case prior to the commencement of the dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership.
IPO Closing Date: December 20, 1995, the first date on which Common Units
were sold by the Partnership in connection with the IPO.
Minimum Quarterly Distribution: $0.55 per Unit with respect to each quarter,
subject to adjustment as described in "Cash Distribution Policy--Distributions
from Capital Surplus" and "Cash Distribution Policy--Adjustment of Minimum
Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels."
Operating Expenditures: All Partnership Group expenditures, including taxes,
reimbursements of the General Partner, debt service payments, and capital
expenditures, subject to the following:
(a) Payments (including prepayments) of principal and premium on a debt
shall not be an Operating Expenditure if the payment is (i) required in
connection with the sale or other disposition of assets or (ii) made in
connection with the refinancing or refunding of indebtedness with the
proceeds from new indebtedness or from the sale of equity interests. For
purposes of the foregoing, at the election and in the reasonable discretion
of the General Partner, any payment of principal or premium shall be deemed
to be refunded or refinanced by any indebtedness incurred or to be incurred
by the Partnership Group within 180 days before or after such payment to
the extent of the principal amount of such indebtedness.
(b) Operating Expenditures shall not include (i) capital expenditures
made for Acquisitions or for Capital Improvements (as opposed to capital
expenditures made to maintain assets), (ii) payment of transaction expenses
relating to Interim Capital Transactions or (iii) distributions to
partners. Where capital expenditures are made in part for Acquisitions or
Capital Improvements and in part for other purposes, the General Partner's
good faith allocation between the amounts paid for each shall be
conclusive.
Operating Partnership: Star Gas Propane, L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, and any successors thereto.
Operating Partnership Agreement: The partnership agreement for the Operating
Partnership (the form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part).
Operating Surplus: As to any period prior to liquidation:
(a) the sum of (i) $6.0 million plus all cash of the Partnership Group on
hand as of the close of business on the Closing Date and (ii) all the cash
receipts of the Partnership Group for the period beginning on the Closing
Date and ending with the last day of such period, other than cash receipts
from Interim Capital Transactions, less
(b) the sum of (i) Operating Expenditures for the period beginning on the
Closing Date and ending with the last day of such period and (ii) the
amount of cash reserves that is necessary or advisable in the reasonable
discretion of the General Partner to provide funds for future Operating
Expenditures.
Opinion of Counsel: An opinion of counsel to the effect that the taking of a
particular action will not result in the loss of the limited liability of the
limited partners of the Partnership or cause the Partnership to be treated as
an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxed as an entity for
federal income tax purposes.
B-3
<PAGE>
Partnership: Star Gas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, and
any successors thereto.
Partnership Agreement: The partnership agreement for the Partnership (the
form of which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part), and unless the context requires otherwise,
references to the Partnership Agreement constitute references to the
Partnership Agreements of the Partnership and of the Operating Partnership,
collectively.
Partnership Group: The Partnership, the Operating Partnership and any
partnership Subsidiary of either such entity, treated as a single consolidated
entity.
Permitted Investments: Securities with a maturity of one year or less that
are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of
which its full faith and credit is pledged, (y) obligations of a person
controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the
United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as
a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in
either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer
thereof or (z) securities of mutual or similar funds which invest exclusively
in securities of the type permitted under clauses (x) and (y) above, in each
case having assets in excess of $100 million.
Subordinated Unit: A Unit representing a fractional part of the limited
partner partnership interests of all limited partners of the Partnership and
assignees of any such limited partner interest and having the rights and
obligations specified with respect to Subordinated Units in the Partnership
Agreement.
Subordination Period: The Subordination Period will generally extend until
the first day of any quarter beginning on or after January 1, 2001 in respect
of which (i) distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on the
Common Units and the Subordinated Units equaled or exceeded the sum of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on all of the outstanding Common Units and
Subordinated Units with respect to each of the three non-overlapping four-
quarter periods immediately preceding such date, (ii) the Adjusted Operating
Surplus, generated during each of the three immediately preceding, non-
overlapping four quarter periods equaled or exceeded the sum of Minimum
Quarterly Distribution on all of the outstanding Common Units and Subordinated
Units during such periods and (iii) there are no arrearages in payment of the
Minimum Quarterly Distribution on the Common Units. Prior to the end of the
Subordination Period, a portion of the Subordinated Units will convert into
Common Units on the first day after the record date established for any
quarter ending on or after March 31, 1999 (with respect to 599,020 of the
Subordinated Units) and March 31, 2000 (with respect to an additional 599,020
of the Subordinated Units), on a cumulative basis, in respect of which (i)
distributions of Available Cash from Operating Surplus on the Common Units and
the Subordinated Units equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on all of the outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units
with respect to each of the three non-overlapping four-quarter periods
immediately preceding such date, (ii) the Adjusted Operating Surplus generated
during each of the three immediately preceding, non-overlapping four-quarter
periods equaled or exceeded the sum of the Minimum Quarterly Distribution on
all of the outstanding Common Units and Subordinated Units during such
periods, and (iii) there are no arrearages in payment of the Minimum Quarterly
Distribution on the Common Units. In addition, if the General Partner is
removed other than for Cause, the Subordination Period will end, any then-
existing arrearages on the Common Units will terminate and the Subordinated
Units will immediately convert into Common Units.
Target Distribution Levels: See "Cash Distribution Policy--Incentive
Distributions."
Transfer Application: An application for transfer of Units in the form set
forth on the back of a certificate, substantially in the form included in this
Prospectus as Appendix A, or in a form substantially to the same effect in a
separate instrument.
Unitholders: Holders of the Common Units and the Subordinated Units.
B-4
<PAGE>
Unit Majority: At least a majority of the Common Units (excluding Common
Units held by the General Partner and its Affiliates) during the Subordination
Period and at least a majority of the Outstanding Units (as defined in the
Partnership Agreement) thereafter.
Units: The Common Units and the Subordinated Units, collectively.
Unrecovered Initial Unit Price: At any time, with respect to a class or
series of Units (other than Subordinated Units), the price per Unit at which
such class or series of Units was initially offered to the public for sale by
the Underwriters in respect of such offering, as determined by the General
Partner, less the sum of all distributions theretofore made in respect of a
Unit of such class or series that was sold in the initial offering of Units of
said class or series constituting Capital Surplus and any distributions of
cash (or the net agreed value of any distributions in kind) in connection with
the dissolution and liquidation of the Partnership theretofore made in respect
of a Unit of such class or series that was sold in the initial offering of
Units of such class or series, adjusted as the General Partner determines to
be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination
of Units.
Unrecovered Subordinated Unit Capital: At any time, with respect to a
Subordinated Unit, prior to its conversion into a Common Unit, the excess, if
any, of (a) the net agreed value (at the time of conveyance) of the undivided
interest in any property conveyed to the Partnership in exchange for such
Subordinated Unit, over (b) any distributions of cash (or the net agreed value
of any distributions in kind) in connection with the dissolution and
liquidation of the Partnership, adjusted as the General Partner determines to
be appropriate to give effect to any distribution, subdivision or combination
of Subordinated Units.
B-5
<PAGE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRE-
SENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION AND REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE PARTNERSHIP OR THE UNDER-
WRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITA-
TION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES TO WHICH IT
RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURI-
TIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAW-
FUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO
CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE PARTNERSHIP SINCE THE DATE HEREOF, OR THAT INFOR-
MATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT, AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE
HEREOF.
----------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosure............................. 3
Available Information...................................................... 3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................ 3
The Partnership--General................................................... 4
The Partnership--Business Strategy......................................... 4
The Partnership--Recent Developments....................................... 5
The Partnership--The Offering.............................................. 7
Risk Factors............................................................... 12
Price Range of Common Units and Distribution............................... 21
Cash Distribution Policy................................................... 22
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 27
Management--Directors and Executive Officers of the General Partner........ 28
Tax Considerations......................................................... 31
Description of Common Units................................................ 46
Plan of Distribution....................................................... 47
Validity of Common Units................................................... 48
Experts.................................................................... 48
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,000,000 COMMON UNITS
REPRESENTING
LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
STAR GAS
PARTNERS, L.P.
----------------
P R O S P E C T U S
----------------
, 1998
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF +
+ANY SUCH STATE. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION--DATED MARCH 11, 1998
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED , 1998)
60,727 COMMON UNITS
STAR GAS PARTNERS, L.P.
LIMITED PARTNER INTERESTS
The common units ("Common Units") offered hereby represent limited partner
interests in Star Gas Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
"Partnership") and are being offered by Star Gas Corporation ("Star Gas"), the
selling unitholder (the "Selling Unitholder"). The Partnership will not receive
any of the proceeds from the sale of Common Units by the Selling Unitholder.
See "The Selling Unitholder." The Partnership was formed in 1995 to acquire and
operate the propane business and assets of Star Gas and Petroleum Heat and
Power Co., Inc. ("Petro"). Star Gas, the general partner (the "General
Partner") of the Partnership, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Petro.
The Partnership distributes to its partners, on a quarterly basis, all of its
Available Cash, which is generally all of the cash receipts of the Partnership
less all cash disbursements, as adjusted for reserves. The General Partner has
broad discretion in making cash disbursements and establishing reserves. It is
the intent of the Partnership, to the extent there is sufficient Available
Cash, to distribute to each holder of Common Units at least $0.55 per Common
Unit per quarter (the "Minimum Quarterly Distribution") or $2.20 per Common
Unit on an annualized basis. During the Subordination Period, which generally
will not end prior to January 1, 2001, the Minimum Quarterly Distribution will
be made to the holders of Common Units before any distributions will be made on
the Subordinated Units of the Partnership.
The Common Units are listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"SGASZ." The last reported sale price of Common Units on the Nasdaq National
Market on , 1998 was $ per Common Unit.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR A DISCUSSION OF
THE MATERIAL RISKS RELATING TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON UNITS. THESE RISKS
INCLUDE:
. CASH DISTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT GUARANTEED, WILL DEPEND ON THE FUTURE OPERATING
PERFORMANCE OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE FUNDING OF
RESERVES, EXPENDITURES AND OTHER MATTERS WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE
GENERAL PARTNER. AS A RESULT, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE
PARTNERSHIP WILL BE ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE THE MINIMUM QUARTERLY DISTRIBUTION
OR ANY OTHER PARTICULAR LEVEL OF CASH DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS.
(continued on following page)
-----------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURI-
TIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
-----------
The Common Units may be offered by the Selling Unitholder in transactions in
which it and any broker-dealer through whom such Common Units are sold may be
deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), as more fully described herein. The Selling
Unitholder may sell the Common Units offered hereby from time to time or at one
time in transactions on the Nasdaq National Market, in negotiated transactions
or through a combination of such methods of sale, at fixed prices, which may be
changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to
such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any commissions paid or
concessions allowed to any broker-dealer, and, if any broker-dealer purchases
such Common Units as principal, any profits received from the resale of such
Common Units, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under
the Securities Act. Printing, certain legal, accounting, filing and other
similar expenses of the Offering will be paid by the Partnership. The Selling
Unitholder will generally bear all other expenses of this Offering, including
brokerage fees and any underwriting discounts or commissions.
The date of this Prospectus is , 1998.
<PAGE>
(continued from previous page)
. FUTURE PARTNERSHIP PERFORMANCE WILL DEPEND UPON THE SUCCESS OF THE
PARTNERSHIP IN MAXIMIZING PROFITS FROM RETAIL PROPANE SALES. PROPANE
SALES ARE AFFECTED BY WEATHER PATTERNS, PRODUCT PRICES AND COMPETITION,
INCLUDING COMPETITION FROM OTHER ENERGY SOURCES. (ADDITIONAL RISK
FACTORS ARE SUMMARIZED ON PAGE 2.)
. BECAUSE THE RETAIL PROPANE INDUSTRY IS MATURE AND OVERALL DEMAND FOR
PROPANE IS EXPECTED TO EXPERIENCE LIMITED GROWTH IN THE FORESEEABLE
FUTURE, THE PARTNERSHIP WILL DEPEND ON ACQUISITIONS AS THE PRINCIPAL
MEANS OF GROWTH. THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP WILL BE
ABLE TO COMPLETE FUTURE ACQUISITIONS.
. THE PARTNERSHIP IS SIGNIFICANTLY LEVERAGED AND HAS INDEBTEDNESS THAT IS
SUBSTANTIAL IN RELATION TO ITS PARTNERS' EQUITY.
. HOLDERS OF COMMON UNITS HAVE LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS, AND THE GENERAL
PARTNER MANAGES AND OPERATES THE PARTNERSHIP.
. THE AVAILABILITY TO A UNITHOLDER OF THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX BENEFITS OF
AN INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP LARGELY DEPENDS ON THE CLASSIFICATION
OF THE PARTNERSHIP AS A PARTNERSHIP FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE PARTNERSHIP
WILL RELY ON AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, AND NOT A RULING FROM THE INTERNAL
REVENUE SERVICE, ON THAT ISSUE AND OTHERS RELEVANT TO A UNITHOLDER.
. THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE PARTNERSHIP ARE COMPLEX.
The Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, also
covers the offering by the Partnership of up to 1,000,000 Common Units.
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THE OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON UNITS.
SPECIFICALLY, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING,
MAY BID FOR, AND PURCHASE COMMON UNITS IN THE OPEN MARKET AND MAY IMPOSE PEN-
ALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION."
S-2
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Partnership will not receive any of the proceeds from sales of Common
Units by the Selling Unitholder.
THE SELLING UNITHOLDER
As of the date of this Prospectus Supplement, Star Gas, the Selling
Unitholder, held 60,727 Common Units, all of which are being offered pursuant
to this Prospectus Supplement. In addition, Star Gas held 2,396,078
Subordinated Units as of such date. The Common Units were issued to Star Gas
in connection with the Pearl Gas Acquisition.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
This Prospectus Supplement, as appropriately amended or supplemented, may be
used by the Selling Unitholder in connection with the offering of up to 60,727
Common Units in transactions in which it and any broker-dealer through whom
such Common Units are sold may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning
of the Securities Act. The Partnership will receive none of the proceeds from
any such sales. There presently are no arrangements or understandings, formal
or informal, pertaining to the distribution of the Common Units described
herein. Upon the Partnership being notified by the Selling Unitholder that any
material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale
of common Units bought through a block trade, special offering, exchange
distribution or secondary distribution, a Prospectus Supplement will be filed,
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, setting forth (i) the name
of the person offering such Common Units and the participating broker-
dealer(s), (ii) the number of Common Units involved, (iii) the price at which
the Common Units were sold, (iv) the commission paid or the discount allowed
to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did
not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out in this
Prospectus Supplement and (vi) other facts material to the transaction.
The Selling Unitholder may sell the Common Units being offered hereby from
time to time in transactions (which may involve crosses and block
transactions) on the Nasdaq National Market, in the over-the-counter market,
in negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the
time of the sale or at negotiated prices. The Selling Unitholder may sell some
or all of the Common Units in transactions involving broker-dealers, who may
act solely as agent and/or may acquire Common Units as principal. Broker-
dealers participating in such transactions as agent may receive commissions
from the Selling Unitholder (and, purchaser), such commissions may be at
negotiated rates where permissible. Participating broker-dealers may agree
with the Selling Unitholder to sell a specified number of Common Units at a
stipulated price per Common Unit and, to the extent such broker-dealer is
unable to do so acting as an agent for the Selling Unitholder, to purchase as
principal any unsold Common Units at the price required to fulfill the broker-
dealer's commitment to the Selling Unitholder. In addition or alternatively,
Common Units may be sold by the Selling Unitholder, and/or by or through other
broker-dealers in special offerings, exchange distributions or secondary
distributions pursuant to and in compliance with the governing rules of the
Nasdaq National Market, and in connection therewith commissions in excess of
the customary commission prescribed by such governing rules may be paid to
participating broker-dealers, or, in the case of certain secondary
distributions, a discount or concession from the offering price may be allowed
to participating broker-dealers in excess of the customary commission. Broker-
dealers who acquire Common Units as principal may thereafter resell such
Common Units from time to time in transactions (which may involve crosses and
block transactions and which may involve sales to or through other broker-
dealer, including transactions of the nature described in the preceding two
sentences) on the Nasdaq National Market, in the over-the-counter market, in
negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time
of sale or at negotiated prices, and in connection with such resales may pay
to or receive commissions from the purchaser of such Common Units.
VALIDITY OF COMMON UNITS
The validity of the Common Units will be passed upon for the Partnership by
Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP, New York, New York.
S-3
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
Set forth below are the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and
commissions) expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance and
distribution of the securities registered hereby. With the exception of the
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee and the Nasdaq National
Market listing fee, the amounts set forth below are estimates.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.............. $ 6,923
Nasdaq National Market listing fee............................... 17,500
Printing and engraving expenses.................................. 25,000
Legal fees and expenses.......................................... 20,000
Accounting fees and expenses..................................... 10,000
Blue Sky fees and expenses....................................... 2,500
Transfer agent fees and expenses................................. 2,500
Miscellaneous Expenses........................................... 3,077
-------
Total........................................................ $87,500
=======
</TABLE>
- --------
* To be furnished by amendment.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Section of the Registrant's Prospectus dated December 16, 1997, which is
part of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 File No. 333-
40855, entitled "The Partnership Agreement--Indemnification" is incorporated
herein by this reference. Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set
forth in the Partnership Agreements, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised
Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify
and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against any and all
claims and demands whatsoever.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
3.1 --Form of Agreement of Limited Partnership of Star Gas Partners, L.P.(2)
3.2 --Form of Agreement of Limited Partnership of Star Gas Propane, L.P.(2)
5.1 --Opinion of Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP as to the legality of
the securities being registered(6)
8.1 --Opinion of Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP relating to tax
matters(6)
10.1 --Form of Credit Agreement among Star Gas Propane, L.P. and certain banks(3)
10.2 --Form of Conveyance and Contribution Agreement among Star Gas Corporation,
the Partnership and the Operating Partnership.(3)
10.3 --Form of First Mortgage Note Agreement among certain insurance companies,
Star Gas Corporation and Star Gas Propane L.P.(3)
10.4 --Intercompany Debt(3)
10.5 --Form of Non-competition Agreement between Petro and the Partnership(3)
10.6 --Form of Star Gas Corporation 1995 Unit Option Plan(3)
10.7 --Amoco Supply Contract(3)
10.8 --Stock Purchase Agreement dated October 20, 1997 with respect to the Pearl
Gas Acquisition(4)
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
10.9 --Conveyance and Contribution Agreement with respect to the Pearl Gas
Acquisition(4)
10.10 --Second Amendment dated as of October 21, 1997 to the Credit Agreement
dated as of December 13, 1995 among the Operating Partnership, Bank Boston,
N.A. and NationsBank, N.A.(4)
10.11 --Note Agreement, dated as of January 22, 1998, by and between Star Gas and
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company(6)
21 --Subsidiaries of the Registrant(5)
23.1 --Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP(6)
23.2 --Consent of Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon LLP (included in Exhibit
5.1)(6)
24.1 --Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)(6)
</TABLE>
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(1) Filed herewith.
(2) Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Prospectus filed as part of
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 File No. 33-90496.
(3) Incorporated by reference to the same Exhibit to Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-98496, filed with the Commission on
December 13, 1995.
(4) Incorporated by reference to the same Exhibit to Registrant's Periodic
Report on Form 8-K, as amended, as filed with the Commission on October 23
and 29, 1997.
(5) Incorporated by reference to the same Exhibit to Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-1, File No. 333-40855.
(6) Previously filed.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(1) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(2) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
(a) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act,
the information omitted from the form of Prospectus filed as part of this
Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form
of Prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or
497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be a part of this
Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(b) For the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of Prospectus shall
be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act;
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<PAGE>
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
in this Registration Statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or
any material change to such information in the Registration Statement.
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof;
(c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(4) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
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<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, THE REGISTRANT HAS DULY
CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE
UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ON MARCH 10,
1998.
Star Gas Partners, L.P.
By: STAR GAS CORPORATION,
as General Partner
/s/ Joseph P. Cavanaugh
By: _________________________________
Joseph P. Cavanaugh, President
POWER OF ATTORNEY
EACH PERSON WHOSE SIGNATURE APPEARS BELOW APPOINTS IRIK SEVIN, RICHARD F.
AMBURY AND JOSEPH P. CAVANAUGH AND EACH OF THEM, ANY OF WHOM MAY ACT WITHOUT
THE JOINDER OF THE OTHER, AS HIS TRUE AND LAWFUL ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT AND AGENTS,
WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND RESUBSTITUTION, FOR HIM AND IN HIS NAME,
PLACE AND STEAD, IN ANY AND ALL CAPACITIES, TO SIGN ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS
(INCLUDING POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS) TO THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY
REGISTRATION STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENT THERETO) FOR THIS OFFERING
THAT IS TO BE EFFECTIVE UPON FILING PURSUANT TO RULE 462(b) UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, AND TO FILE THE SAME, WITH ALL EXHIBITS THERETO, AND ALL OTHER
DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, GRANTED UNTO SAID ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT AND AGENTS FULL POWER AND
AUTHORITY TO DO AND PERFORM EACH AND EVERY ACT AND THING REQUISITE AND
NECESSARY TO BE DONE, AS FULLY TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES AS HE MIGHT OR
WOULD DO IN PERSON, HEREBY RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING ALL THAT SAID ATTORNEY-IN-
FACT AND AGENTS OR ANY OF THEM OR THEIR OR HIS SUBSTITUTE AND SUBSTITUTES, MAY
LAWFULLY DO OR CAUSE TO BE DONE BY VIRTUE HEREOF.
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<PAGE>
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON
THE DATES INDICATED.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Joseph P. Cavanaugh President March 10, 1998
____________________________________ (Principal Executive
Joseph P. Cavanaugh Officer)
/s/ Richard F. Ambury Vice President--Finance March 10, 1998
____________________________________ (Principal Financial and
Richard F. Ambury Accounting Officer)
/s/ Irik P. Sevin * Director March 10, 1998
____________________________________
Irik P. Sevin
/s/ Audrey L. Sevin * Director March 10, 1998
____________________________________
Audrey L. Sevin
Director March , 1998
____________________________________
William P. Nicoletti
/s/ Elizabeth K. Lanier * Director March 10, 1998
____________________________________
Elizabeth K. Lanier
/s/ Paul Biddelman * Director March 10, 1998
____________________________________
Paul Biddelman
/s/ Thomas J. Edelman * Director March 10, 1998
____________________________________
Thomas J. Edelman
/s/ Wolfgang Traber * Director March 10, 1998
____________________________________
Wolfgang Traber
/s/ William G. Powers, Jr.* Director March 10, 1998
____________________________________
William G. Powers, Jr.
*/s/ Joseph P. Cavanaugh March 10, 1998
____________________________________
Joseph P. Cavanaugh,
as Attorney-in-fact
Pursuant to Power of
Attorney contained in the
Registration Statement
</TABLE>
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