We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC, which comprise the balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related statements of income, members’ capital, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
The Company’s policy is to recognize potential interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company did not recognize any interest or penalties in the statements of income, nor did the Company have any interest or penalties accrued in the balance sheet at December 31, 2013 or 2012 relating to unrecognized tax benefits.
| Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC Notes to Financial Statements | |
See Note 2 for disclosures regarding concentration of risk, revenues, and accounts receivable accounting policies.
The operations of the transloading facility commenced in November 2009. Under provisions of the Agreement, the profits and losses of the joint venture are split 50/50, pro rata based on the number of member units outstanding. The cash payments from the joint venture are paid pro rata based upon the average number of units owned by each member each calendar day during such calendar quarter. In connection with joint venture transactions during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized related party costs of revenue totaling $700,455 and $490,100, respectively. In connection with joint venture transactions during each of the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized related party general and administrative expenses of $60,000 and $66,600, respectively.
Supplemental Agreement
In September 2010, the members of the Company entered into a Supplemental Agreement to the Agreement. The purpose of the Supplemental Agreement was to obtain access to site improvements and certain additional transloading equipment necessary to fulfill certain transloading contracts. Under the Supplemental Agreement, DPT agreed to provide funds for the site improvements. The total costs incurred for these site improvements were $1,299,201.
As part of the Supplemental Agreement, PTS was required to pay all costs for the acquisition of four new transloaders. The total cost of these transloaders was $658,012, with an estimated residual value of $131,602 at the end of the initial Agreement term.
The Company recognized rental expense of $26,995 per month through May 31, 2012, $5,164 per month from June 1, 2012 through May 31, 2013, and $3,263 per month starting on June 1, 2013 through the end of the term of the amended and restated member control agreement to reflect the economics of the $1,052,820 of costs incurred by its members. Total rent expense related to these costs was $48,666 and $171,126 for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. No cash has been paid related to this rental expense; the rental expense recorded is being treated as a non-cash increase in the members’ investment in the Company.
In order to render fair and equitable the leases for the additional expenditures by the members relating to the site improvements and new equipment, the Supplemental Agreement included a provision that the Company will pay 75% of the cash distributions to DPT until DPT has been reimbursed for these additional expenditures. The additional expenditures by DPT would also incur interest at an interest rate of 7% per annum until paid in full. After DPT was reimbursed, the cash distributions reverted back to the 50/50 split as per the Agreement. Only the cash distributions were changed under the Supplemental Agreement, the profit and loss allocations remained the same as the Agreement. As of December 31, 2013 the Company had reimbursed DPT for the additional expenditures related to the Supplemental Agreement.
In the first quarter of 2013, an outstanding invoice related to the costs incurred as part of the Supplemental Agreement was settled for $21,546 less than the original invoice amount. Based on this the total additional expenditures were $772,791. The $772,791 of additional costs incurred by DPT in excess of amounts paid by PTS will be recognized as rental expense over the remaining term of the joint venture, of which $23,713 and $128,427 was expensed during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company has paid $328,060 and $372,225 in lease payments in excess of the amount reported as expense. The amount is included in other current assets and other assets – long-term on the balance sheet with the amount to be expensed in the next twelve months recorded as a current asset. There are no future lease payments payable related to this agreement as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.
| Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC Notes to Financial Statements | |
The Company had accounts payable to related parties of $35,879 and $81,174 as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
4. Pioneer Project
The Pioneer Rail Terminal (the “Terminal”), a 192 acre site with two 8,300 ft. loop tracks each capable of 120 car unit trains, was commissioned in December 2013. The total cost of the Terminal is estimated to be $50 million and will be funded by both cash on hand and member contributions. As of December 31, 2013, DPT and PTS have each made member contributions of $17.5 million. Also as of December 31, 2013, the Company has paid $40.5 million in invoiced costs, has $6.2 million in outstanding payables, and has placed $39.1 million of assets into service.
5. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
The Company is engaged in proceedings incidental to the normal course of business. Due to their nature, such legal proceedings involve inherent uncertainties, including but not limited to, court rulings, negotiations between affected parties and governmental intervention. Based upon the information available to the Company and discussions with legal counsel, it is the Company’s opinion that the outcome of the various legal actions and claims that are incidental to its business will not have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Such matters, however, are subject to many uncertainties, and the outcome of any matter is not predictable with assurance.
Since October 2012, the Company has been involved in litigation with TJMD, LLP, a North Dakota limited liability partnership (“TJMD”) arising out of the termination of TJMD as operator of the transloading facility, in which the Company leases the facility for the use and benefit of their business. TJMD alleges that a wrongful termination without cause on 90-days written notice occurred in June 2012 under the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and a second wrongful termination occurred in September 2012, when the Company finally terminated the contract before the end of the 90-day period. TJMD is seeking payment for work performed prior to the final, September termination, as well as, monetary damages for future losses, and other relief. Because the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain, we cannot estimate the possible loss or range of loss for this matter. We intend to vigorously defend against this claim. As of December 31, 2013, we have not recorded any accruals associated with this legal claim.
Lac-Mégantic, Quebec
On July 6, 2013, a freight train operated by Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (“MMA”) with 72 tank cars carrying approximately 50,000 barrels of crude oil derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. The derailment resulted in significant loss of life, damage to the environment from spilled crude oil and extensive property damage. An affiliate of the Company subleased the tank cars involved in the incident from PTS, and an affiliate of PTS owned title to the crude oil being carried in the derailed tank cars. A different affiliate of PTS also contracted with Canadian Pacific Railway (“CPR”) for the transportation of the tank cars and the crude oil from New Town, North Dakota to a customer in New Brunswick, Canada. CPR subcontracted a portion of that route to MMA.
| Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC Notes to Financial Statements | |
In July and August 2013, the Company, along with a number of third parties, including MMA and certain of its affiliates, as well as several manufacturers and lessors of tank cars, were named as defendants in twenty complaints filed in Illinois. The complaints generally allege wrongful death and negligence in the failure to provide for the proper and safe transportation of crude oil and seek economic and compensatory damages, as well as costs. In addition, in July and August 2013, the Company, along with a number of other third parties, including CPR, MMA and certain of its affiliates, as well as several manufacturers and lessors of tank cars, were named as defendants in a motion filed in Quebec Superior Court to authorize the bringing of a class-action lawsuit seeking economic, compensatory and punitive damages, as well as costs. The motion generally alleges wrongful death and negligence in the failure to provide for the proper and safe transportation of crude oil. Additional claims, lawsuits, proceedings, investigations and orders may be filed, commenced or issued with respect to the incident, which may involve civil claims for damages or governmental investigative, regulatory or enforcement actions against the Company.
While the Company maintains insurance to mitigate the costs of environmental releases as well as other results of unexpected events, including loss of life, property damage and defense costs, there can be no guarantee that our insurance will be adequate to cover all liabilities that may be incurred as a result of this incident.
Other Receivables
At December 31, 2013, $66,351 of the other receivables balance was attributed to the net asset relating to the amount of cost the Company expects to recover from the third parties responsible for causing the incidents on its property in excess of the estimated amount of cost that it reasonably expects to pay for cleanup measures. At December 31, 2012, the Company estimated the amount of cost that it reasonably expects to pay for cleanup measures exceeded the amount it expected to recover from the responsible third parties and recorded a net liability accordingly.
Other
From time to time, incidents occur on our property that require cleanup measures. The Company expects to recover the amounts in excess of such cleanup costs from the third parties responsible for causing such incidents.
| DPTS Marketing LLC Financial Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 |
The report accompanying these financial statements was issued by BDO USA, LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee. | |
DPTS Marketing LLC
Financial Statements
For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 and 2012
DPTS Marketing LLC
Contents
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| Tel: 713-659-6551 Fax: 713-659-3238 www.bdo.com | 333 Clay St., Suite 4700 Houston, TX 77002 |
Independent Auditor’s Report
Board of Directors
DPTS Marketing, LLC
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of DPTS Marketing, LLC, which comprise the balance sheets as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the related statements of income, members’ capital, and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.
Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor’s Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of DPTS Marketing, LLC as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ BDO USA, LLP
March 14, 2014
BDO USA, LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership, is the U.S. member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms.
BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO Member Firms.
Financial Statements
DPTS Marketing LLC
Balance Sheets
As of December 31, | | 2013 | | | 2012 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | |
Current assets: | | | | | | | | |
Cash | | $ | 18,054,174 | | | $ | 45,522,940 | |
Prepaid fuel and expenses | | | 829,381 | | | | 399,892 | |
Other receivables | | | 4,961,448 | | | | — | |
Due from Trading Member | | | 9,678,172 | | | | 3,476,554 | |
Total current assets | | | 33,523,175 | | | | 49,399,386 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 33,523,175 | | | $ | 49,399,386 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Liabilities | | | | | | | | |
Current liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | $ | 7,259,739 | | | $ | 1,369,704 | |
Accounts payable, related parties | | | 2,841,649 | | | | 2,579,732 | |
Total current liabilities | | | 10,101,388 | | | | 3,949,436 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Non-current liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Preferred return payable to members | | | 504,109 | | | | 1,638,356 | |
Total liabilities | | | 10,605,497 | | | | 5,587,792 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Members’ capital: | | | | | | | | |
DP member capital | | | 11,458,839 | | | | 21,905,797 | |
PTS member capital | | | 11,458,839 | | | | 21,905,797 | |
Total members’ capital | | | 22,917,678 | | | | 43,811,594 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and members’ capital | | $ | 33,523,175 | | | $ | 49,399,386 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DPTS Marketing LLC
Statements of Income
For the years ended December 31, | | 2013 | | | 2012 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Trading commission income | | $ | 55,729,970 | | | $ | 79,008,731 | |
Cost of revenue | | | 47,738,199 | | | | 56,609,756 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | | 7,991,771 | | | | 22,398,975 | |
| | | | | | | | |
General and administrative expenses | | | 2,065,264 | | | | 1,535,299 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Income from operations | | | 5,926,507 | | | | 20,863,676 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Other expense, net | | | 3,163 | | | | 42,484 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 5,923,344 | | | $ | 20,821,192 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Return of members’ preferred contributions | | | (997,260 | ) | | | (1,002,740 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable to members | | $ | 4,926,084 | | | $ | 19,818,452 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DPTS Marketing LLC
Statements of Members’ Capital
| | DP | | | PTS | | | | |
| | Members Capital | | | Members Preferred | | | Total DP Capital | | | Members Capital | | | Members Preferred | | | Total PTS Capital | | | Total Capital | |
Balance, December 31, 2011 | | $ | 1,996,571 | | | $ | 10,000,000 | | | $ | 11,996,571 | | | $ | 1,996,571 | | | $ | 10,000,000 | | | $ | 11,996,571 | | | $ | 23,993,142 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable to members: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | | 10,410,596 | | | | — | | | | 10,410,596 | | | | 10,410,596 | | | | — | | | | 10,410,596 | | | | 20,821,192 | |
Preferred returns | | | (501,370 | ) | | | — | | | | (501,370 | ) | | | (501,370 | ) | | | — | | | | (501,370 | ) | | | (1,002,740 | ) |
Net income attributable to members: | | | 9,909,226 | | | | — | | | | 9,909,226 | | | | 9,909,226 | | | | — | | | | 9,909,226 | | | | 19,818,452 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance, December 31, 2012 | | | 11,905,797 | | | | 10,000,000 | | | | 21,905,797 | | | | 11,905,797 | | | | 10,000,000 | | | | 21,905,797 | | | | 43,811,594 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Distributions | | | (12,910,000 | ) | | | — | | | | (12,910,000 | ) | | | (12,910,000 | ) | | | — | | | | (12,910,000 | ) | | | (25,820,000 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income attributable members: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | �� | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | | 2,961,672 | | | | — | | | | 2,961,672 | | | | 2,961,672 | | | | — | | | | 2,961,672 | | | | 5,923,344 | |
Preferred returns | | | (498,630 | ) | | | — | | | | (498,630 | ) | | | (498,630 | ) | | | — | | | | (498,630 | ) | | | (997,260 | ) |
Net income attributable for members: | | | 2,463,042 | | | | — | | | | 2,463,042 | | | | 2,463,042 | | | | — | | | | 2,463,042 | | | | 4,926,084 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance, December 31, 2013 | | $ | 1,458,839 | | | $ | 10,000,000 | | | $ | 11,458,839 | | | $ | 1,458,839 | | | $ | 10,000,000 | | | $ | 11,458,839 | | | $ | 22,917,678 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DPTS Marketing LLC
Statements of Cash Flows
For the years ended December 31, | | 2013 | | | 2012 | |
| | | | | | |
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | | | | | | |
Net Income | | $ | 5,923,344 | | | $ | 20,821,192 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to | | | | | | | | |
net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | | | |
Changes in assets and liabilities: | | | | | | | | |
Prepaid fuel and expenses | | | (429,489 | ) | | | (399,892 | ) |
Other current assets | | | (4,961,448 | ) | | | — | |
Accounts payable | | | 5,890,035 | | | | (815,145 | ) |
Accounts payable, related parties | | | 261,917 | | | | 2,579,732 | |
Due from trading member | | | (6,201,618 | ) | | | 2,536,745 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | | 482,741 | | | | 24,722,632 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | | | | | | | | |
Preferred member distributions | | | (2,131,507 | ) | | | — | |
Distributions to members | | | (25,820,000 | ) | | | — | |
Net cash used in financing activities | | | (27,951,507 | ) | | | — | |
| | | | | | | | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash | | | (27,468,766 | ) | | | 24,722,632 | |
Cash at beginning of period | | | 45,522,940 | | | | 20,800,308 | |
Cash at end of period | | $ | 18,054,174 | | | $ | 45,522,940 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
DPTS Marketing LLC
Notes to Financial Statements
| 1. | Nature of Business and Joint Venture Agreement |
DPTS Marketing LLC (the “Company”), a Minnesota limited liability company, was organized on April 29, 2011 and is referred to as “we,” “our” and “us.” The Company is an equally owned joint venture between Dakota Plains Marketing, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc. (formerly Dakota Plains, Inc. and Dakota Plains Transport, Inc.), a Minnesota corporation (“DP”) and Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company (“PTS”). Each member made an initial contribution of $100 in exchange for 1,000 membership units, for a total of 2,000 member units issued and outstanding. Each unit entitles the members to one vote on all matters submitted. Under provisions of the DPTS Marketing LLC Member Control Agreement, the profits and losses of the joint venture are split 50/50, pro rata based on the number of member units outstanding. The cash payments from the joint venture are paid pro rata based upon the average number of units owned by each member each calendar day during such calendar quarter.
Each of the members was also required to make an initial member preferred contribution of $10,000,000 in May of 2011 to support the Trading Activities of the Company. Upon written agreement of all the members, the members will make such additional member preferred contributions as are agreed upon. All member preferred contributions received shall entitle the member to receive a cumulative preferred return of 5% per annum, which preferred return will be paid in cash on a quarterly basis subject to there being cash available. The Company made payments of $2,131,507 to the members relating to the preferred return in September 2013. This payment was for the cumulative preferred return from the date of the initial member preferred contribution through June 30, 2013.
The Company was organized to engage in the purchase, sale, storage, transport and marketing of hydrocarbons produced within North Dakota to or from refineries and other end-users or persons and to conduct trading activities. On June 1, 2012, the Company amended and restated its member control agreement. The amended and restated member control agreement, among other things, incorporated all previous amendments and supplements, extended the initial term until December 31, 2021, and provided for the initial term to automatically extend in two-year intervals unless and until terminated. On August 30, 2012, the Company amended the amended and restated member control agreement to permit certain other ventures. On June 17, 2013, the Company subsequently amended the amended and restated member control agreement to extend the initial term through December 31, 2026. On December 31, 2013, the Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated Member Control Agreement (“Revised MCA”) that, among other things, increased the operating and accounting fees paid to the Trading Member and amended the limitations on its Trading Activities.
During the term of the agreement, one of the members (“Trading Member”), which shall initially be PTS, acting itself or through one or more of its affiliates, shall perform and be solely responsible for purchasing, selling, storing, transporting, marketing, and transacting trades in North Dakota crude oil, and entering into related agreements and conducting related activities on behalf of the Company (the “Trading Activities”). All Trading Activities in North Dakota crude oil involving transportation by rail and requiring transloading shall be required to be transloaded at the New Town, North Dakota facility owned by Dakota Plains Transloading, LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Dakota Plains Holdings, Inc.) unless otherwise agreed upon by the members. Trading Activities may, without limitation, consist of physical and/or financial transactions, including hedging or other financial arrangements not involving the actual trading of any physical North Dakota crude oil; provided, however, that such financial transactions must be entered into for risk management purposes and must not involve the assumption of any flat price risk. The Trading Member shall be solely responsible for employing and compensating employees that execute transactions constituting Trading Activities and for providing office space and necessary information technology equipment for such employees to conduct the Trading Activities.
Unless otherwise approved by each member, the Trading Member’s ability to engage in Trading Activities shall be subject to the following limitations until the effective date (December 31, 2013) of the Revised MCA:
(i) each individual transaction shall be subject to a maximum volume of five thousand (5,000) barrels per day and a maximum term of twelve (12) months; provided that such maximum volume may be increased to ten thousand (10,000) barrels per day and such maximum term may be increased to twenty-four (24) months for any individual transaction with the approval of each Member’s Authorized Person;
DPTS Marketing LLC
Notes to Financial Statements
(ii) the aggregate portfolio limit in respect of Trading Activities shall be twenty-five thousand (25,000) barrels per day of purchases and/or sales;
(iii) the maximum outright flat price volume exposure in respect of Trading Activities at any time shall be twenty-five thousand (25,000) barrels, either long or short; and
(iv) all Trading Activities shall be transacted through segregated sub-accounts reviewed by independent auditors on a quarterly basis. The Trading Member also agrees to provide such documents and information as are reasonably requested to allow all members to complete quarterly financial reviews and annual audits of all Trading Activities for their own financial reporting purposes.
Beginning on the effective date (December 31, 2013) of the Revised MCA and unless otherwise approved by each Member, the Trading Member’s ability to engage in Trading Activities shall be subject to the following limitations:
(i) each individual transaction shall be subject to a maximum volume of ten thousand (10,000) barrels per day and a maximum term of twenty-four (24) months; provided that such maximum volume may be increased to twenty thousand (20,000) barrels per day and such maximum term may be increased to forty-eight (48) months for any individual transaction with the approval of each Member’s Authorized Person;
(ii) the aggregate portfolio limit in respect of Trading Activities shall be fifty thousand (50,000) barrels per day of purchases and/or sales;
(iii) the maximum outright flat price volume exposure in respect of Trading Activities at any time shall be fifty thousand (50,000) barrels, either long or short; and
(iv) all Trading Activities shall be transacted through segregated subaccounts reviewed by independent auditors on a quarterly basis. The Trading Member also agrees to provide such documents and information as are reasonably requested to allow all Members to complete quarterly financial reviews and annual audits of all Trading Activities for their own financial reporting purposes.
All Trading Activities are conducted in the name of the Trading Member, therefore, the Trading Activities are recorded in the books and records of the Trading Member. However, the net profit or loss of the Trading Activities, along with any credit losses, will be passed through from the Trading Member to the Company as Trading Commission Income.
In September 2012, the Company entered into a master service agreement with Dakota Plains Service, LLC (“DPS”), who is a service contractor engaged in the business of providing trucking, transportation, logistics, and related services. The initial term of the agreement will last until December 31, 2021, unless earlier terminated.
As part of the master service agreement, the Company agreed to provide DPS with certain minimum monthly volumes, which are based on the Volume Freely Transported (“VFT”) of the Company. VFT is the volume of crude oil transported by road or on behalf of the Company (excluding any volume required to be transported by a third party at the explicit direction of a producer or marketer), calculated by daily volume.
DPTS Marketing LLC
Notes to Financial Statements
The minimum monthly volumes are calculated as follows:
| (i) | when VFT is 17,000 barrels per day or lower, the lesser of 70% of VFT and 8,000 barrels per day; or |
| (ii) | when VFT is greater than 14,000 barrels per day, 70% of VFT. |
| 2. | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies |
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”).
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers highly liquid investments with insignificant interest rate risk and original maturities to the Company of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash positions represent assets held in checking accounts. These assets are generally available to the Company on a daily or weekly basis and are highly liquid in nature. Due to the balances being greater than $250,000, the Company does not have FDIC coverage on the entire amount of bank deposits but believes the risk of loss is minimal.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.
Receivables from Trading Member
The Company has receivables Due from Trading Member representative of transactions conducted by the Trading Member on behalf and for the benefit of DPTS Marketing LLC.
As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company has Due from Trading Member of $9,678,172 and $3,476,554, respectively.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is represented on the financial statements as Trading Commission Income from the Trading Member. This Trading Commission Income is net of costs of the Trading Activities conducted by the Trading Member and is recognized when the product is delivered, the sales price is fixed or determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.
For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized Trading Commission Income of $55,729,970, which represents the net of $946,904,038 of revenue and $891,174,068 of costs of revenue of the Trading Activities performed by the Trading Member on behalf of the Company.
For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company recognized Trading Commission Income of $79,008,731, which represents the net of $793,739,408 of revenue and $714,730,677 of costs of revenue of the Trading Activities performed by the Trading Member on behalf of the Company.
Concentration of Risk
The revenue recorded by the Trading Member relating to Trading Activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 consisted of a total of thirty customers, of which four customers accounted for approximately 86% of the total revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2012, the Company had a total of nineteen customers, of which five customers accounted for approximately 80% of the total revenue.
DPTS Marketing LLC
Notes to Financial Statements
The cost of revenue recorded by the Trading Member relating to Trading Activities for the year ended December 31, 2013 consisted of a total of thirty-five suppliers, of which five suppliers accounted for approximately 75% of the total cost of revenue. The year ended December 31, 2012 consisted of a total of twenty-four suppliers, of which four suppliers accounted for approximately 70% of the total cost of revenue.
A material reduction in revenue to these customers or a material crude disruption from these suppliers may adversely affect the results of the Trading Activities, which are passed through to the Company by the Trading Member.
Income Taxes
The Company intends to continue to operate so as to qualify, for United States federal and state income tax purposes, as a partnership. Therefore, the Company generally is not subject to United States federal income tax at the entity level. Its members will be required to take into account their allocable share of each item of our income, gain, or loss and credits for our taxable year ending within or with their taxable year for federal or state income tax purposes.
The Company has no liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits.
The Company’s policy is to recognize potential interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company did not recognize any interest or penalties in the statements of income, nor did the Company have any interest or penalties accrued in the balance sheet at December 31, 2013 or 2012 relating to unrecognized tax benefits.
Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events through March 14, 2014, which is the date the financial statements were available to be issued.
| 3. | Related Party Transactions |
Commencing with the first calendar month during which the Company takes physical delivery of North Dakota crude oil through the effective date (December 31, 2013) of the Revised MCA, the Company paid to PTS (the “Trading Member”) an amount equal to $0.08 per barrel (the “Charge”) of North Dakota crude oil subject to Trading Activities during such month; provided, that from and after such time the Trading Member shall be entitled to receive a minimum monthly Charge calculated assuming a minimum volume of five thousand (5,000) barrels per day in Trading Activities. In the event the Trading Member does not engage in any Trading Activities for three (3) consecutive months, then such minimum monthly Charge shall be suspended until the month during which Trading Activities resume. Beginning with the effective date (December 31, 2013) and pursuant to Section 3.3(b) of the Revised MCA, the Trading Member shall receive an amount equal to $0.15 per barrel of North Dakota Crude Oil (as defined in the Revised MCA) subject to the Trading Activities during such month, in order to defray expenses related to performing the Trading Activities.
Furthermore, accounting and bookkeeping services for the Company, including the calculation of the amounts of outstanding member preferred contributions, the amounts of preferred returns, if any, the distribution percentage and amounts payable to the members, shall be performed by the Trading Member at a rate equal to $0.0225 per barrel for every barrel of crude oil successfully marketed by the Company through March 31, 2012 and $0.06 per barrel for every barrel of crude oil marketed beginning on April 1, 2012. Per Section 7.6(c) of the Revised MCA, accounting, bookkeeping, tax and treasury services (collectively, the “Financial Services”) for the Company shall be performed by PTS or its Affiliates, and the reasonable market rate of fees for the Financial Services (collectively, the “Financial Services Fee”) shall be paid by the Company as approved by the board of governors on an annual basis. Pursuant to the written action dated December 31, 2013, the board of governors deems $540,000 to be a reasonable market rate of fees for Financial Services for the 2014 fiscal year.
DPTS Marketing LLC
Notes to Financial Statements
In connection with trading and accounting fees, during the periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recorded related party general and administrative expenses of $1,311,084 and $1,011,449, respectively.
Beginning July 2011 and continuing through the term of the agreement, the Company assumed the railcar leasing liability of Dakota Petroleum Transport Solutions, LLC, a related party through ownership. In addition, the Company entered into an agreement to sublease from the Trading Member all railcars necessary to conduct the trading activities on behalf of the Company. In accordance with the sublease agreement, the Company shall assume all the terms and responsibilities of the original lease which includes freight costs, maintenance and storage. For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized rail car costs of $9,631,287 and $7,652,664, respectively, which are included in cost of revenue in the statements of income.
| 4. | Commitments & Contingencies |
Lac-Mégantic, Quebec
On July 6, 2013, a freight train operated by Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (“MMA”) with 72 tank cars carrying approximately 50,000 barrels of crude oil derailed in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. The derailment resulted in significant loss of life, damage to the environment from spilled crude oil and extensive property damage. The Company subleased the tank cars involved in the incident from PTS, and an affiliate of PTS owned title to the crude oil being carried in the derailed tank cars for the economic benefit of the Company. A different affiliate of PTS also contracted with Canadian Pacific Railway (“CPR”) for the transportation of the tank cars and the crude oil from New Town, North Dakota to a customer in New Brunswick, Canada. CPR subcontracted a portion of that route to MMA.
In July and August 2013, the Company, along with a number of third parties, including MMA and certain of its affiliates, as well as several manufacturers and lessors of tank cars, were named as defendants in twenty complaints filed in Illinois. The complaints generally allege wrongful death and negligence in the failure to provide for the proper and safe transportation of crude oil and seek economic and compensatory damages, as well as costs. In addition, in July and August 2013, the Company, along with a number of other third parties, including CPR, MMA and certain of its affiliates, as well as several manufacturers and lessors of tank cars, were named as defendants in a motion filed in Quebec Superior Court to authorize the bringing of a class-action lawsuit seeking economic, compensatory and punitive damages, as well as costs. The motion generally alleges wrongful death and negligence in the failure to provide for the proper and safe transportation of crude oil. Additional claims, lawsuits, proceedings, investigations and orders may be filed, commenced or issued with respect to the incident, which may involve civil claims for damages or governmental investigative, regulatory or enforcement actions against the Company.
While the Company maintains insurance to mitigate the costs of environmental releases as well as other results of unexpected events, including loss of life, property damage and defense costs, there can be no guarantee that our insurance will be adequate to cover all liabilities that may be incurred as a result of this incident.
The Company has incurred costs related to this incident related to the replacement of railcars. As of the December 31, 2013, the Company has included $4,961,448 in other receivables on the balance sheet related to the anticipated insurance reimbursements related to these costs incurred.
DPTS Marketing LLC
Notes to Financial Statements
The Company is separately evaluating potential claims that may be asserted against third parties to recover costs and other liabilities that may be incurred as a result of this incident. The Company can provide no guarantee that any such claims, if brought by the Company, will be successful or, if successful, that the responsible parties will have the financial resources to address any such claims.
The Company is currently unable to determine the probability of loss, or reasonably estimate a range of potential losses related to the above proceedings. Accordingly, the Company has not made any provisions for these potential losses in its financial statements.