SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) June 28, 2019
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MPLX LP
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Delaware | 001-35714 | 27-0005456 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
200 E. Hardin Street Findlay, Ohio | 45840 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(419) 421-2414
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| þ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||
| Title of each class | Trading symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
| Common Units Representing Limited Partnership Interests | MPLX | New York Stock Exchange |
| Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). |
Emerging growth company ¨ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨ |
| Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
Closing Date Announcement
As previously disclosed, on May 7, 2019, Andeavor Logistics LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“ANDX”), Tesoro Logistics GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ANDX GP”), MPLX LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“MPLX”), MPLX GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MPLX GP”), and MPLX MAX LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of MPLX (“Merger Sub”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) that provides for, among other things, the merger of Merger Sub with and into ANDX (the “Merger”), with ANDX surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of MPLX. Both ANDX GP and MPLX GP are indirectly owned by Marathon Petroleum Corporation (“MPC”), and as a result, MPC controls both ANDX and MPLX.
On June 28, 2019, MPLX and ANDX issued a press release announcing, among other things, that the Merger is expected to close on or about July 30, 2019. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Dismissal of Litigation Related to the Merger
As previously disclosed, on June 19, 2019, a purported ANDX unitholder (the “Plaintiff”) filed a complaint in the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York, captioned Max Pyziur v. Andeavor Logistics LP et al., Case No. 1:19-CV-05714, alleging, among other things, an omission of material information in the registration statement filed by MPLX, including a consent statement/prospectus, in connection with the Merger (the “Registration Statement”), and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). On June 24, 2019, the Plaintiff filed a notice of dismissal with the court, voluntarily dismissing the complaint.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
The SEC has declared effective the Registration Statement. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE CONSENT STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS THAT IS PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The final consent statement/prospectus was first mailed to unitholders of ANDX on or about June 28, 2019. Investors and security holders are able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, from ANDX at its website, http://ir.andeavorlogistics.com, or by contacting ANDX’s Investor Relations at (419) 421-2414, or from MPLX at its website, http://ir.mplx.com, or by contacting MPLX’s Investor Relations at (419) 421-2414.
Participants in Solicitation
MPLX, ANDX, MPC and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of consents in respect of the proposed transaction. Information concerning MPLX’s directors and executive officers is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed February 28, 2019. Information concerning ANDX’s directors and executive officers is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed February 28, 2019. Information concerning MPC’s executive officers is set forth in MPC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed February 28, 2019. Information about MPC’s directors is set forth in MPC’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for its 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 14, 2019. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of charge from the sources indicated above, and with respect to MPC, from its website, https://www.marathonpetroleum.com/Investors, or by contacting MPC’s Investor Relations at (419) 421-2414. Additional information regarding the interests of such participants in the solicitation of consents in respect of the proposed transaction is included in the registration statement and consent statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This filing contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws regarding MPLX and ANDX. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the proposed acquisition of ANDX by MPLX and include expectations, estimates and projections concerning the business and operations, financial priorities and strategic plans of the combined entity. These statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors, that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “goal,” “guidance,” “imply,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “plan,” “position,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “prospective,” “pursue,” “seek,” “should,” “strategy,” “target,” “would,” “will” or other similar expressions that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond the companies’ control and are difficult to predict. Factors that could cause MPLX’s or ANDX’s actual results to differ materially from those implied in the forward-looking statements include: the ability to complete the proposed transaction between MPLX and ANDX on the proposed terms and timetable; the ability to satisfy various conditions to the closing of the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement; the ability to obtain regulatory approvals for the proposed transaction on the proposed terms and schedule, and any conditions imposed on the combined entity in connection with the consummation of the proposed transaction; the risk that anticipated opportunities and any other synergies from or anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected including whether the proposed transaction will be accretive within the expected time frame or at all; disruption from the proposed transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of ANDX or MPLX; the amount and timing of future distributions; negative capital market conditions, including an increase of the current yield on common units; the ability to achieve strategic and financial objectives, including with respect to distribution coverage, future distribution levels, proposed projects and completed transactions; adverse changes in laws including with respect to tax and regulatory matters; the adequacy of capital resources and liquidity, including, but not limited to, availability of sufficient cash flow to pay distributions and access to debt on commercially reasonable terms, and the ability to successfully execute business plans, growth strategies and self-funding models; the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices and demand for crude oil, refined products, feedstocks or other hydrocarbon-based products; continued/further volatility in and/or degradation of market and industry conditions; changes to the expected construction costs and timing of projects and planned investments, and the ability to obtain regulatory and other approvals with respect thereto; completion of midstream infrastructure by competitors; disruptions due to equipment interruption or failure, including electrical shortages and power grid failures; the suspension, reduction or termination of MPC’s obligations under MPLX’s and ANDX’s commercial agreements; modifications to financial policies, capital budgets, and earnings and distributions; the ability to manage disruptions in credit markets or changes to credit ratings; compliance with federal and state environmental, economic, health and safety, energy and other policies and regulations and/or enforcement actions initiated thereunder; adverse results in litigation; other risk factors inherent to MPLX’s and ANDX’s industry; risks related to MPC; and the factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in MPLX’s and ANDX’s respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC.
Factors that could cause MPC’s actual results to differ materially from those implied in the forward-looking statements include: the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the Andeavor transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; disruption from the Andeavor transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; risks relating to any unforeseen liabilities of Andeavor; risks as set forth above related to the acquisition of ANDX by MPLX; future levels of revenues, refining and marketing margins, operating costs, retail gasoline and distillate margins, merchandise margins, income from operations, net income or earnings per share; the regional, national and worldwide availability and pricing of refined products, crude oil, natural gas, NGLs and other feedstocks; consumer demand for refined products; the ability to manage disruptions in credit markets or changes to credit ratings; future levels of capital, environmental or maintenance expenditures, general and administrative and other expenses; the success or timing of completion of ongoing or anticipated capital or maintenance projects; the reliability of processing units and other equipment; business strategies, growth opportunities and expected investment; share repurchase authorizations, including the timing and amounts of any common stock repurchases; the adequacy of capital resources and liquidity, including but not limited to, availability of sufficient cash flow to execute business plans and to effect any share repurchases or dividend increases, including within the expected timeframe; the effect of restructuring or reorganization of business components; the potential effects of judicial or other proceedings on the business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows; continued or further volatility in and/or degradation of general economic, market, industry or business conditions; compliance with federal and state environmental, economic, health and safety, energy and other policies and regulations, including the cost of compliance with the Renewable Fuel Standard, and/or enforcement actions initiated thereunder; the anticipated effects of actions of third parties such as competitors, activist investors or federal, foreign, state or local regulatory authorities or plaintiffs in litigation; the impact of adverse market conditions or other similar risks to those identified herein affecting MPLX
or ANDX; and the factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” in MPC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC.
We have based our forward-looking statements on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and you should not rely unduly on them, as they involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that we cannot predict. In addition, we have based many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future events that may prove to be inaccurate. While our respective management considers these assumptions to be reasonable, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, regulatory and other risks, contingencies and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the future performance that we have expressed or forecast in our forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by applicable law.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit Number | Description | |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| MPLX LP | |||
| By: | MPLX GP LLC, its General Partner | ||
| Date: June 28, 2019 | By: | /s/ Molly R. Benson | |
| Name: Molly R. Benson | |||
| Title: Vice President, Chief Securities, Governance & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary | |||