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Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 20, 2015

Registration No. 333-            


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549



FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933



Global Partners LP
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  74-3140887
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

P.O. Box 9161
800 South St.
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161
(781) 894-8800

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

Edward J. Faneuil
P.O. Box 9161
800 South St.
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161
(781) 894-8800
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)



Copies to:

Brenda Lenahan
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
666 Fifth Avenue, 26th Floor
New York, New York 10103
(212) 237-0000



Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time 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.    o

          If any of the securities registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.    ý

          If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) 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.    o

          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.    o

          If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 426(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    o

          If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.    o

          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer o

  Accelerated filer ý   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

               
 
Title of securities
to be registered

  Amount to be
registered

  Proposed maximum
offering price per
unit

  Proposed maximum
aggregate offering
price(1)

  Amount of
registration fee

 

Common units representing limited partner interests

  5,049,848   (2)   $127,761,155   $12,866

 

(1)
Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee. Such estimate has been computed in accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933 and is based upon the average high and low sales prices of the common units representing limited partner interests of Global Partners LP as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on November 17, 2015, which date is within five (5) business days of filing of this registration statement.

(2)
The proposed maximum offering price per common unit will be determined from time to time in connection with, and at the time of, the sale by the holder of the securities registered hereunder.

          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 this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

   


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale of these securities is not permitted. The selling unitholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 20, 2015

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

5,049,848 Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests

        This prospectus relates to up to 5,049,848 common units ("common units") representing limited partner interests in Global Partners LP. The common units may be offered and sold from time to time by the selling unitholders named in this prospectus or in any supplement to this prospectus or document incorporated by reference herein. The selling unitholders may sell the common units at various times and in various types of transactions, including sales in the open market, sales in negotiated transactions and sales by a combination of these methods. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common units by the selling unitholders.

        You should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest. You should also read the documents we refer to in the "Where You Can Find More Information" section of this prospectus for information on us and our financial statements.

        Our common units are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "GLP."

        Investing in our common units involves risks. Limited partnerships are inherently different from corporations. You should carefully consider each of the factors referred to under "Risk Factors" beginning on page 6 of this prospectus and contained in the applicable prospectus supplement before you make an investment in our common units.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

   

The date of this prospectus is                        , 2015.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

    1  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

    1  

INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    2  

ABOUT GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

    5  

RISK FACTORS

    6  

USE OF PROCEEDS

    7  

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS

    8  

HOW WE MAKE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS

    10  

THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

    16  

MATERIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES

    28  

INVESTMENT IN GLOBAL PARTNERS LP BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

    41  

SELLING UNITHOLDERS

    43  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    47  

LEGAL MATTERS

    50  

EXPERTS

    50  



        You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus, or that the information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security.


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") utilizing a "shelf" registration process or continuous offering process. Under this shelf registration process, the selling unitholders may, from time to time, sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that may be offered by the selling unitholders. We may provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of an offering. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update, or change information in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement.

        The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. Therefore, before you invest in our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement and the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

        References in this prospectus to "Global Partners LP," "we," "our," "us" or like terms refer to Global Partners LP and its subsidiaries.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus information we have filed with the SEC, which means that we disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to another document filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically supersede information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference. Therefore, before you decide to invest in our securities, you should always check for reports we may have filed with the SEC after the date of this prospectus.

        We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents listed below:

        In addition, we incorporate by reference in this prospectus any future filings made by Global Partners LP with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (excluding any information furnished and not filed with the SEC) after the date on which the registration statement that includes this prospectus was initially filed with the SEC (including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) and until all offerings under this shelf registration statement are terminated.

        You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of this material can also be obtained from the SEC's web site on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. Please call the SEC at 1 (800) SEC-0330 for

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further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. Additionally, you can obtain information about us through the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our common units are listed. We also make available free of charge on our website at http://www.globalp.com all materials that we file electronically with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with the SEC. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information contained on our website as part of this prospectus.

        You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any exhibit specifically incorporated by reference in those documents, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following:

Global Partners LP
Investor Relations
P.O. Box 9161
800 South St.
Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161
(781) 894-8800


INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        Some of the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may project, indicate or imply future results, events, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "may," "believe," "should," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "estimate," "continue," "will likely result" or other similar expressions. In addition, any statement made by our management concerning future financial performance (including future revenues, earnings or growth rates), ongoing business strategies or prospects, and possible actions by us are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Although we believe these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, statements made regarding future results are subject to a number of assumptions, uncertainties and risks, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause future results to be materially different from the results stated or implied in this document. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things:

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        When considering forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading "Risk Factors" included elsewhere in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement, in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and, to the extent applicable, in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.

        All forward-looking statements included in this prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference and all subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this prospectus supplement or, in the case of forward-looking statements contained in any document incorporated by reference, the date of such document, and we expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update these statements to reflect any change in our expectations or beliefs or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based.

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ABOUT GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

        We are a midstream logistics and marketing company formed in March 2005 engaged in the purchasing, selling and logistics of transporting petroleum and related products, including domestic and Canadian crude oil, gasoline and gasoline blendstocks (such as ethanol and naphtha), distillates (such as home heating oil, diesel and kerosene), residual oil, renewable fuels, natural gas and propane. We also receive revenue from convenience store sales and gasoline station rental income. We own, control or have access to one of the largest terminal networks of refined petroleum products and renewable fuels in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (collectively, the "Northeast"). We own transload and storage terminals in North Dakota and Oregon that extend our origin-to-destination capabilities from the mid-continent region of the United States and Canada to the East and West Coasts. We are one of the largest distributors of gasoline, distillates, residual oil and renewable fuels to wholesalers, retailers and commercial customers in the New England states and New York. As of September 30, 2015, we had a portfolio of 1,530 owned, leased and/or supplied gasoline stations, including 285 directly operated convenience stores, in the Northeast, Maryland and Virginia.

        We purchase refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil, natural gas and propane primarily from domestic and foreign refiners and ethanol producers, crude oil producers, major and independent oil companies and trading companies. We operate our business under three segments: (i) Wholesale, (ii) Gasoline Distribution and Station Operations and (iii) Commercial.

        Global GP LLC, our general partner, manages our operations and activities and employs our officers and substantially all of our personnel, except for most of our gasoline station and convenience store employees and certain union personnel who are employed by one of two of our wholly owned subsidiaries, Global Montello Group Corp. or Drake Petroleum Company, Inc.

        Our principal executive offices are located at P.O. Box 9161, 800 South Street, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9161, and our telephone number is (781) 894-8800. Our website is located at http://www.globalp.com. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

        For additional information as to our business, properties and financial condition, please refer to the documents cited in "Where You Can Find More Information."

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RISK FACTORS

        An investment in our securities involves a significant degree of risk. Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully consider those risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as supplemented by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, which are incorporated herein by reference, as applicable, and those risk factors that may be included in the applicable prospectus supplement together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference in evaluating an investment in our securities.

        If any of the risks discussed in the foregoing documents were to occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected. In that case, we may be unable to pay distributions to our unitholders. In that event, the trading price of our securities could decline and you could lose all or part of your investment.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        The common units to be offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus will be offered and sold by the selling unitholders. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common units by the selling unitholders.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON UNITS

General

        The common units represent limited partner interests in us. The holders are entitled to participate in partnership distributions and are entitled to exercise the rights or privileges available to limited partners under our partnership agreement. For a description of the relative rights and preferences of holders of common units in and to partnership distributions, please read this section and "How We Make Cash Distributions." For a description of the rights and privileges of limited partners under our partnership agreement, including voting rights, please read "The Partnership Agreement."

Transfer Agent and Registrar

        American Stock Transfer and Trust Company serves as registrar and transfer agent for the common units. We pay all fees charged by the transfer agent for transfers of common units, except the following that must be paid by unitholders:

        There is no charge to unitholders for disbursements of our cash distributions. We will indemnify the transfer agent, its agents and each of their stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence or intentional misconduct of the indemnified person or entity.

        The transfer agent may resign, by notice to us, or be removed by us. The resignation or removal of the transfer agent will become effective upon our appointment of a successor transfer agent and registrar and its acceptance of the appointment. If no successor has been appointed and has accepted the appointment within 30 days after notice of the resignation or removal, our general partner may act as the transfer agent and registrar until a successor is appointed.

Transfer of Common Units

        The transfer of the common units to persons that purchase common units offered by this prospectus will be accomplished through the completion, execution and delivery of a transfer application by the investor. Any later transfers of a common unit will not be recorded by the transfer agent or recognized by us unless the transferee executes and delivers a properly executed transfer application. By executing and delivering a transfer application, the transferee of common units:

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        An assignee will become a substituted limited partner of our partnership for the transferred common units automatically upon the recording of the transfer on our books and records. Our general partner will cause any unrecorded transfers for which a properly completed and duly executed transfer application has been received to be recorded on our books and records no less frequently than quarterly.

        A transferee's broker, agent or nominee may complete, execute and deliver a transfer application. We are entitled to treat the nominee holder of a common unit as the absolute owner. In that case, the beneficial holder's rights are limited solely to those that it has against the nominee holder as a result of any agreement between the beneficial owner and the nominee holder.

        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 our partnership for the transferred common units. A purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a properly completed transfer application obtains only:

        Thus, a purchaser or transferee of common units who does not execute and deliver a properly completed transfer application:

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 and certification as to itself and any beneficial holders.

        The transferor of common units has a duty to provide the transferee with all information that may be necessary to transfer the common units. The transferor does not have a duty to insure the execution of the transfer application by the transferee and has no liability or responsibility if the transferee neglects or chooses not to execute and forward the transfer application to the transfer agent. Please read "The Partnership Agreement—Status as Limited Partner or Assignee."

        Until a common unit has been transferred on our books, we and the transfer agent may treat the record holder of the unit as the absolute owner for all purposes, except as otherwise required by law or stock exchange regulations.

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HOW WE MAKE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS

General

        Our cash distribution policy reflects a basic judgment that our unitholders will be better served by our distributing our available cash rather than retaining it. Because we are not subject to an entity-level federal income tax, we have more cash to distribute to our unitholders than would be the case were we subject to tax.

        Our cash distribution policy is consistent with the terms of our partnership agreement which requires us to distribute available cash to unitholders on a quarterly basis. Our determination of available cash takes into account the need to maintain certain cash reserves to preserve our distribution levels across seasonal and cyclical fluctuations in our business.

        Because we intend to distribute the majority of the cash generated from our business to our unitholders, we will in large part rely upon external financing sources, including commercial borrowings and other debt and equity issuances, to fund our capital expenditures. To the extent we are unable to finance growth externally, our cash distribution policy could significantly impair our ability to grow.

        There is no guarantee that unitholders will receive quarterly distributions from us. Our distribution policy is subject to certain restrictions and may be changed at any time, including:

Distributions of Available Cash

        Within 45 days after the end of each quarter, we distribute all of our available cash to unitholders of record on the applicable record date.

        Available cash generally means, for each fiscal quarter, all cash on hand at the end of the quarter less the amount of cash reserves established by our general partner to:

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        We intend to distribute to the holders of common units on a quarterly basis at least the minimum quarterly distribution of $0.4625 per unit, or $1.85 per year, to the extent we have sufficient cash from our operations after establishment of cash reserves and payment of fees and expenses, including payments to our general partner. However, there is no guarantee that we will pay the minimum quarterly distribution on the units in any quarter. Even if our cash distribution policy is not modified or revoked, the amount of distributions paid under our policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement. We are prohibited from making any distributions to unitholders if it would cause an event of default, or an event of default is existing, under our credit agreement.

        Our general partner is entitled to 0.67% of all quarterly distributions that we make prior to our liquidation. This general partner interest is represented by 230,303 general partner units. Our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its current general partner interest. The general partner's 0.67% interest in these distributions may be reduced if we issue additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 0.67% general partner interest. Our general partner also currently holds incentive distribution rights that entitle it to receive increasing percentages, up to a maximum of 48.67%, of the cash we distribute from distributable cash flow (as defined below) in excess of $0.4625 per unit. The maximum distribution of 48.67% includes distributions paid to our general partner on its 0.67% general partner interest, and assumes that our general partner maintains its general partner interest at 0.67%. The maximum distribution of approximately 48.67% does not include any distributions that our general partner may receive on units that it owns. Please read "—Distributions of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow" for additional information.

Distributable Cash Flow and Capital Surplus

        All cash distributed to unitholders will be characterized as either "distributable cash flow" or "capital surplus." We distribute available cash from distributable cash flow differently than available cash from capital surplus.

        Distributable cash flow, for any period, means, on a cumulative basis since the closing date of our initial public offering and without duplication, the sum of net income plus depreciation and amortization, in each case calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, minus maintenance capital expenditures (as defined below), as adjusted to eliminate items approved by the audit committee of the board of directors of our general partner that are extraordinary or non-recurring in nature and that would otherwise increase distributable cash flow.

        Maintenance capital expenditures represent capital expenditures to replace partially or fully depreciated assets to maintain the operating capacity of or sales and revenues generated by existing assets or to extend the useful lives of such assets. Maintenance capital expenditures include expenditures required to maintain equipment reliability, tankage and pipeline integrity and safety and to address environmental regulations. Repair and maintenance expenses associated with existing assets that are minor in nature and do not extend the useful life of existing assets are charged to operating

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expenses as incurred. The officers and directors of our general partner determine if an expenditure is a maintenance capital expenditure.

        We treat all available cash distributed as coming from distributable cash flow until the sum of all available cash distributed since we began operations equals the distributable cash flow as of the most recent date of determination of available cash. We treat any amount distributed in excess of distributable cash flow, regardless of its source, as capital surplus. We do not anticipate that we will make any distributions from capital surplus.

Distributions of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow

        We will make distributions of available cash from distributable cash flow for any quarter in the following manner:

        The preceding discussion is based on the assumptions that our general partner maintains its 0.67% general partner interest and that we do not issue additional classes of equity securities.

        Incentive distribution rights represent the right to receive an increasing percentage of quarterly distributions of available cash from distributable cash flow after certain target distribution levels have been achieved. The percentages set forth above for our general partner include the incentive distribution rights. Our general partner currently holds the incentive distribution rights, but may transfer these rights separately from its general partner interest, subject to restrictions in our partnership agreement.

Percentage Allocations of Available Cash from Distributable Cash Flow

        The following table illustrates the percentage allocations of the additional available cash from distributable cash flow between the unitholders and our general partner up to the various target distribution levels. The amounts set forth under "Marginal Percentage Interest in Distributions" are the percentage interests of our general partner and the unitholders in any available cash from distributable cash flow we distribute up to and including the corresponding amount in the column "Total Quarterly Distribution," until available cash from distributable cash flow we distribute reaches the next target distribution level, if any. The percentage interests shown for the unitholders and the general partner for the first target distribution are also applicable to quarterly distribution amounts that are less than the first target distribution. The percentage interests set forth below for our general partner include its

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0.67% general partner interest and assume the general partner has not transferred its incentive distribution rights.

 
   
  Marginal Percentage Interest
in Distributions
 
 
  Total Quarterly
Distribution Target
Amount
  Unitholders   General Partner
and IDRs
 

Minimum Quarterly Distribution

  $0.4625     99.33 %   0.67 %

First Target Distribution

  $0.4625     99.33 %   0.67 %

Second Target Distribution

  above $0.4625 up to $0.5375     86.33 %   13.67 %

Third Target Distribution

  above $0.5375 up to $0.6625     76.33 %   23.67 %

Thereafter

  above $0.6625     51.33 %   48.67 %

Distributions from Capital Surplus

        We will make distributions of available cash from capital surplus, if any, in the following manner:

        The partnership agreement treats a distribution of capital surplus as the repayment of the initial unit price from our initial public offering, which is a return of capital. The initial public offering price less any distributions of capital surplus per unit is referred to as the "unrecovered initial unit price." Each time a distribution of capital surplus is made, the target distribution levels will be reduced in the same proportion as the corresponding reduction in the unrecovered initial unit price. Because distributions of capital surplus will reduce the target distributions, after any of these distributions are made, it may be easier for the general partner to receive incentive distributions.

        Once we distribute capital surplus on a unit in an amount equal to the initial unit price, we will reduce the target distribution levels to zero. We will then make all future distributions from distributable cash flow, with 51.33% being paid to the holders of units and 48.67% to the general partner. The percentage interests shown for our general partner include its 0.67% general partner interest and assume the general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

Adjustment to the Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels

        In addition to adjusting the target distribution levels to reflect a distribution of capital surplus, if we combine our units into fewer units or subdivide our units into a greater number of units, we will proportionately adjust:

        For example, if a two-for-one split of the common units should occur, the target distribution levels and the unrecovered initial unit price would each be reduced to 50% of its initial level. We will not make any adjustment by reason of the issuance of additional units for cash or property.

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        In addition, if legislation is enacted or if existing law is modified or interpreted by a governmental taxing authority, so that we become taxable as a corporation or otherwise subject to taxation as an entity for federal, state or local income tax purposes, we will reduce the target distribution levels for each quarter by multiplying each distribution level by a fraction, the numerator of which is available cash for that quarter and the denominator of which is the sum of available cash for that quarter plus the general partner's estimate of our aggregate liability for the quarter for such income taxes payable by reason of such legislation or interpretation. To the extent that the actual tax liability differs from the estimated tax liability for any quarter, the difference will be accounted for in subsequent quarters.

        The amount of distributions paid under our cash distribution policy and the decision to make any distribution is determined by our general partner, taking into consideration the terms of our partnership agreement.

Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation

        If we dissolve in accordance with our partnership agreement, we will sell or otherwise dispose of our assets in a process called liquidation. We will first apply the proceeds of liquidation to the payment of our creditors. We will distribute any remaining proceeds to the unitholders and the general partner, in accordance with their capital account balances, as adjusted to reflect any gain or loss upon the sale or other disposition of our assets in liquidation.

        The allocations of gain and loss upon liquidation are intended, to the extent possible, to entitle the holders of outstanding common units to receive their unrecovered initial unit price. However, there may not be sufficient gain upon our liquidation to enable the holders of common units to fully recover all of these amounts.

        The manner of the adjustment for gain is set forth in our partnership agreement. If liquidation occurs, we will allocate any gain to the partners in the following manner:

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        The percentage interests set forth above for our general partner include its 0.67% general partner interest and assume the general partner has not transferred the incentive distribution rights.

        If liquidation occurs, we will generally allocate any loss to the general partner and the unitholders in the following manner:

        We will make adjustments to capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units. In doing so, we will allocate any unrealized and, for tax purposes, unrecognized gain or loss resulting from the adjustments to the unitholders and the general partner in the same manner as we allocate gain or loss upon liquidation. In the event that we make positive adjustments to the capital accounts upon the issuance of additional units, we will allocate any later negative adjustments to the capital accounts resulting from the issuance of additional units or upon our liquidation in a manner which results, to the extent possible, in the general partner's capital account balances equaling the amount which they would have been if no earlier positive adjustments to the capital accounts had been made.

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THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

        The following is a summary of the material provisions of our partnership agreement. Our partnership agreement is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to this registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part. We will provide prospective investors with a copy of this agreement upon request at no charge.

        We summarize the following provisions of our partnership agreement elsewhere in this prospectus:

Organization and Duration

        We were organized on March 2, 2005 and have a perpetual existence.

Purpose

        Our purpose under our partnership agreement is limited to any business activities that are approved by our general partner and that lawfully may be conducted by a limited partnership organized under Delaware law; provided, that our general partner may not cause us to engage, directly or indirectly, in any business activity that our general partner determines would cause us to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or otherwise taxable as an entity for federal income tax purposes.

        Although our general partner has the ability to cause us, our operating company or its subsidiaries to engage in activities other than the marketing, storage, terminalling, transportation and distribution of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels, crude oil and natural gas, our general partner has no current plans to do so but may elect to do so free of any fiduciary duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. Our general partner is authorized in general to perform all acts it determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out our purposes and to conduct our business.

Power of Attorney

        Each limited partner and each person who acquires a unit from a unitholder and executes and delivers a transfer application and certification, grants to our general partner and, if appointed, a liquidator, a power of attorney to, among other things, execute and file documents required for our qualification, continuance, or dissolution. The power of attorney also grants our general partner the authority to amend, and to make consents and waivers under, our partnership agreement.

Capital Contributions

        Unitholders are not obligated to make additional capital contributions, except as described below under "—Limited Liability."

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Voting Rights

        The following matters require the limited partners vote specified below. Various matters require the approval of a "unit majority," which means the approval of a majority of the common units.

        In voting their common units, our general partner and its affiliates have no duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us and our limited partners.

        The following is a summary of the vote requirements specified for certain matters under our partnership agreement:

Issuance of additional units

  No approval required.

Amendment of our partnership agreement

 

Certain amendments may be made by our general partner without the approval of the limited partners. Other amendments generally require the approval of a unit majority. Please read "—Amendment of Our Partnership Agreement."

Merger of our partnership or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets

 

Unit majority in certain circumstances. Please read "—Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets."

Dissolution of our partnership

 

Unit majority. Please read "—Termination and Dissolution."

Continuation of our partnership upon dissolution

 

Unit majority. Please read "—Termination and Dissolution."

Removal of our general partner

 

Not less than 662/3% of the outstanding units, voting as a single class, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates. Please read "—Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner."

Transfer of our general partner interest

 

Our general partner may transfer all, but not less than all, of its general partner interest in us without a vote of our limited partners to an affiliate or to another person in connection with its merger or consolidation with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, such person. Please read "—Transfer of General Partner Interest."

Transfer of ownership interests in our general Partner

 

No approval required at any time. Please read "—Transfer of Ownership Interests in Our General Partner."

Limited Liability

        Assuming that a limited partner does not participate in the control of our business within the meaning of the Delaware Act and that he otherwise acts in conformity with the provisions of our

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partnership agreement, his liability under the Delaware Act will be limited, subject to possible exceptions, to the amount of capital he is obligated to contribute to us for his common units plus his share of any undistributed profits and assets. If it were determined, however, that the right, or exercise of the right, by the limited partners as a group:

constituted "participation in the control" of our business for the purposes of the Delaware Act, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the laws of Delaware, to the same extent as our general partner. This liability would extend to persons who transact business with us who reasonably believe that the limited partner is a general partner. Neither our partnership agreement nor the Delaware Act specifically provides for legal recourse against our general partner if a limited partner were to lose limited liability through any fault of our general partner. While this does not mean that a limited partner could not seek legal recourse, we know of no precedent for such a claim in Delaware case law.

        Under the Delaware Act, a limited partnership may not make a distribution to a partner if, after the distribution, all liabilities of the limited partnership, other than liabilities to partners on account of their partnership interests and liabilities for which the recourse of creditors is limited to specific property of the partnership, would exceed the fair value of the assets of the limited partnership. For the purpose of determining the fair value of the assets of a limited partnership, the Delaware Act provides that the fair value of property subject to liability for which recourse of creditors is limited shall be included in the assets of the limited partnership only to the extent that the fair value of that property exceeds the nonrecourse liability. The Delaware Act provides that a limited partner who receives a distribution and knew at the time of the distribution that the distribution was in violation of the Delaware Act shall be liable to the limited partnership for the amount of the distribution for three years. Under the Delaware Act, an assignee who becomes a substituted limited partner of a limited partnership is liable for the obligations of his assignor to make contributions to the partnership, except the assignee is not obligated for liabilities unknown to him at the time he became a limited partner and that could not be ascertained from the partnership agreement.

        We conduct business in a number of jurisdictions. Maintenance of our limited liability as a member of our operating company may require compliance with legal requirements in the jurisdictions in which our operating company conducts business, including qualifying our subsidiaries to do business there.

        Limitations on the liability of limited partners for the obligations of a limited partnership have not been clearly established in many jurisdictions. If, by virtue of our membership interest in our operating company or otherwise, it were determined that we were conducting business in any state without compliance with the applicable limited partnership or limited liability company statute, or that the right or exercise of the right by the limited partners as a group to remove or replace our general partner, to approve some amendments to our partnership agreement, or to take other action under our partnership agreement constituted "participation in the control" of our business for purposes of the statutes of any relevant jurisdiction, then the limited partners could be held personally liable for our obligations under the law of that jurisdiction to the same extent as the general partner under the circumstances. We operate in a manner that our general partner considers reasonable and necessary or appropriate to preserve the limited liability of the limited partners.

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Issuance of Additional Securities

        Our partnership agreement authorizes us to issue an unlimited number of additional partnership securities for the consideration and on the terms and conditions determined by our general partner without the approval of the limited partners.

        It is possible that we will fund acquisitions through the issuance of additional common units or other partnership securities. Holders of any additional common units we issue will be entitled to share equally with the then-existing holders of common units in our distributions of available cash. In addition, the issuance of additional common units or other partnership securities may dilute the value of the interests of the then-existing holders of common units in our net assets.

        In accordance with Delaware law and the provisions of our partnership agreement, we may also issue additional partnership securities that, as determined by our general partner, may have special voting rights to which the common units are not entitled. In addition, our partnership agreement does not prohibit the issuance by our subsidiaries of equity securities, which may effectively rank senior to the common units.

        Upon issuance of additional partnership securities, our general partner has the right, but not the obligation, to make additional capital contributions to the extent necessary to maintain its 0.67% general partner interest in us. Our general partner's 0.67% interest in us will be reduced if we issue additional units in the future and our general partner does not contribute a proportionate amount of capital to us to maintain its 0.67% general partner interest. Moreover, our general partner has the right, which it may from time to time assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates, to purchase common units, or other partnership securities whenever, and on the same terms that, we issue those securities to persons other than our general partner and its affiliates, to the extent necessary to maintain its and its affiliates' percentage interest, including such interest represented by common units, that existed immediately prior to each issuance. The holders of common units do not have preemptive rights to acquire additional common units or other partnership securities.

Amendment of Our Partnership Agreement

        Amendments to our partnership agreement may be proposed only by our general partner. However, our general partner has no duty or obligation to propose any amendment and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interests of us or the limited partners. In order to adopt a proposed amendment, other than the amendments discussed below, our general partner must seek written approval of the holders of the number of units required to approve the amendment or call a meeting of the limited partners to consider and vote upon the proposed amendment. Except as described below, an amendment must be approved by a unit majority.

        No amendment may:

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        The provision of our partnership agreement preventing the amendments having the effects described in the bullets above can be amended upon the approval of the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units voting together as a single class (including units owned by our general partner and its affiliates).

        Our general partner may generally make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee to reflect:

        In addition, our general partner may make amendments to our partnership agreement without the approval of any limited partner or assignee if our general partner determines that those amendments:

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        Our general partner is not required to obtain an opinion of counsel that an amendment will not result in a loss of limited liability to the limited partners or result in our being treated as an entity for federal income tax purposes in connection with any of the amendments described under "—No Limited Partner Approval". No other amendments to our partnership agreement will become effective without the approval of holders of at least 90% of the outstanding units voting as a single class unless we first obtain an opinion of counsel to the effect that the amendment will not affect the limited liability under applicable law of any of our limited partners. Finally, our general partner may consummate any merger without the prior approval of our unitholders if we are the surviving entity in the transaction, the transaction would not result in a material amendment to the partnership agreement, each of our units will be an identical unit of our partnership following the transaction, the units to be issued do not exceed 20% of our outstanding units immediately prior to the transaction and our general partner has received an opinion of counsel regarding certain limited liability and tax matters.

        In addition to the above restrictions, any amendment that would have a material adverse effect on the rights or preferences of any type or class of outstanding units in relation to other classes of units will require the approval of at least a majority of the type or class of units so affected. Any amendment that reduces the voting percentage required to take any action must be approved by the affirmative vote of limited partners whose aggregate outstanding units constitute not less than the voting requirement sought to be reduced.

Merger, Sale or Other Disposition of Assets

        A merger or consolidation of us requires the prior consent of our general partner. However, our general partner has no duty or obligation to consent to any merger or consolidation and may decline to do so free of any duty or obligation whatsoever to us or the limited partners, including any duty to act in good faith or in the best interest of us or the limited partners.

        In addition, our partnership agreement generally prohibits our general partner, without the prior approval of the holders of units representing a unit majority, from causing us to, among other things, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, including by way of merger, consolidation, or other combination, or approving on our behalf the sale, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of our subsidiaries. Our general partner may, however, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, or grant a security interest in all or substantially all of our assets without that approval. Our general partner may also sell all or substantially all of our assets under a foreclosure or other realization upon those encumbrances without that approval.

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        If the conditions specified in our partnership agreement are satisfied, our general partner may convert us or any of our subsidiaries into a new limited liability entity or merge us or any of our subsidiaries into, or convey some or all of our assets to, a newly formed entity if the sole purpose of that merger or conveyance is to effect a mere change in our legal form into another limited liability entity. The limited partners are not entitled to dissenters' rights of appraisal under our partnership agreement or applicable Delaware law in the event of a conversion, merger or consolidation, a sale of substantially all of our assets, or any other transaction or event.

Termination and Dissolution

        We will continue as a limited partnership until terminated under our partnership agreement. We will dissolve upon:

        Upon a dissolution under the fourth bullet point above, the holders of a unit majority may also elect, within specific time limitations, to continue our business on the same terms and conditions described in our partnership agreement by appointing as a successor general partner an entity approved by the holders of units representing a unit majority, subject to our receipt of an opinion of counsel to the effect that:

Liquidation and Distribution of Proceeds

        Upon our dissolution, unless we are continued as a new limited partnership, the liquidator authorized to wind up our affairs will, acting with all of the powers of our general partner that are necessary or appropriate, liquidate our assets and apply the proceeds of the liquidation as described in "How We Make Cash Distributions—Distributions of Cash Upon Liquidation". The liquidator may defer liquidation or distribution of our assets for a reasonable period of time or distribute assets to partners in kind if it determines that a sale would be impractical or would cause undue loss to our partners.

Withdrawal or Removal of Our General Partner

        Our general partner may withdraw as general partner without first obtaining approval of any unitholder by giving 90 days' written notice, and that withdrawal will not constitute a violation of our partnership agreement. In addition, our partnership agreement permits our general partner in some instances to sell or otherwise transfer all of its general partner interest in us without the approval of

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the limited partners. Please read "—Transfer of General Partner Interest" and "—Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights."

        Upon withdrawal of our general partner under any circumstances, other than as a result of a transfer by our general partner of all or a part of its general partner interest in us, the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units may select a successor to that withdrawing general partner. If a successor is not elected, or is elected but an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters cannot be obtained, we will be dissolved, wound up, and liquidated, unless within a specified period of time after that withdrawal, the holders of a unit majority agree in writing to continue our business and to appoint a successor general partner. Please read "—Termination and Dissolution."

        Our general partner may not be removed unless that removal is approved by the vote of the holders of not less than 662/3% of the outstanding units, voting together as a single class, including units held by our general partner and its affiliates, and we receive an opinion of counsel regarding limited liability and tax matters. Any removal of our general partner is also subject to the approval of a successor general partner by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding common units. The ownership of more than 331/3% of the outstanding units by our general partner and its affiliates would give them the practical ability to prevent our general partner's removal.

        Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed as our general partner under circumstances where cause does not exist and no units held by our general partner and its affiliates are voted in favor of that removal, our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests based on the fair market value of the interests at the time.

        In the event of removal of our general partner under circumstances where cause exists or withdrawal of our general partner where that withdrawal violates our partnership agreement, a successor general partner will have the option to purchase the general partner interest and incentive distribution rights of the departing general partner for a cash payment equal to the fair market value of those interests. Under all other circumstances where the general partner withdraws or is removed by the limited partners, the departing general partner will have the option to require the successor general partner to purchase the general partner interest of the departing general partner and its incentive distribution rights for their fair market value. In each case, this fair market value will be determined by agreement between the departing general partner and the successor general partner. If no agreement is reached, an independent investment banking firm or other independent expert selected by the departing general partner and the successor general partner will determine the fair market value. Or, if the departing general partner and the successor general partner cannot agree upon an expert, then an expert chosen by agreement of the experts selected by each of them will determine the fair market value.

        If the option described above is not exercised by either the departing general partner or the successor general partner, the departing general partner's general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights will automatically convert into common units with a value equal to the fair market value of those interests as determined by an investment banking firm or other independent expert selected in the manner described in the preceding paragraph.

        In addition, we will be required to reimburse the departing general partner for all amounts due the departing general partner, including, without limitation, all employee-related liabilities, including severance liabilities, incurred for the termination of any employees employed by the departing general partner or its affiliates for our benefit.

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Transfer of General Partner Interest

        Our general partner and its affiliates may at any time transfer units to one or more persons, without limited partner approval.

Transfer of Ownership Interests in Our General Partner

        At any time, the members of our general partner may sell or transfer all or part of their membership interests in our general partner without the approval of our unitholders.

Transfer of Incentive Distribution Rights

        Our general partner or its affiliates or a subsequent holder may transfer its incentive distribution rights to an affiliate of the holder (other than an individual) or another entity as part of the merger or consolidation of such holder with or into another entity, the sale of all of the ownership interest of the holder or the sale of all or substantially all of its assets to, that entity without the prior approval of the unitholders. The incentive distribution rights are freely transferable.

Change of Management Provisions

        Our partnership agreement contains specific provisions that are intended to discourage a person or group from attempting to remove Global GP LLC as our general partner or otherwise change management. If any person or group other than our general partner and its affiliates acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units, that person or group loses voting rights on all of its units. This loss of voting rights does not apply to any person or group that acquires the units from our general partner or its affiliates and any transferees of that person or group approved by our general partner or to any person or group who acquires the units with the prior approval of the board of directors of our general partner.

        Our partnership agreement also provides that if our general partner is removed under circumstances where cause does not exist and no units held by our general partner and its affiliates are voted in favor of that removal, our general partner will have the right to convert its general partner interest and its incentive distribution rights into common units or to receive cash in exchange for those interests.

Limited Call Right

        If at any time our general partner and its affiliates own more than 80% of the then-issued and outstanding partnership securities of any class, our general partner will have the right, which it may assign in whole or in part to any of its affiliates or to us, to acquire all, but not less than all, of the remaining partnership securities of the class held by unaffiliated persons. The purchase price in the event of such an acquisitions is the greater of:

        As a result of our general partner's right to purchase outstanding partnership securities, a holder of partnership securities may have his partnership securities purchased at an undesirable time or price. The tax consequences to a unitholder of the exercise of this call right are the same as a sale by that unitholder of his common units in the market. Please read "Material Tax Consequences—Disposition of Units."

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Meetings; Voting

        Except as described below regarding a person or group owning 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, unitholders or assignees who are record holders of units on the record date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, meetings of our limited partners and to act upon matters for which approvals may be solicited. Common units that are owned by an assignee who is a record holder, but who has not yet been admitted as a limited partner, will be voted by our general partner at the written direction of the record holder. Absent direction of this kind, the common units will not be voted, except that, in the case of common units held by our general partner on behalf of non-citizen assignees, our general partner will distribute the votes on those common units in the same ratios as the votes of limited partners on other units are cast.

        Our general partner does not anticipate that any meeting of unitholders will be called in the foreseeable future. Any action that is required or permitted to be taken by the unitholders may be taken either at a meeting of the unitholders or without a meeting if consents in writing describing the action so taken are signed by holders of the number of units necessary to authorize or take that action at a meeting. Meetings of the unitholders may be called by our general partner or by unitholders owning at least 20% of the outstanding units of the class for which a meeting is proposed. Unitholders may vote either in person or by proxy at meetings. The holders of a majority of the outstanding units of the class or classes for which a meeting has been called, represented in person or by proxy, will constitute a quorum unless any action by the unitholders requires approval by holders of a greater percentage of the units, in which case the quorum will be the greater percentage.

        Each record holder of a unit has a vote according to his percentage interest in us, although additional limited partner interests having special voting rights could be issued. Please read "—Issuance of Additional Securities." However, if at any time any person or group, other than our general partner and its affiliates, or a direct or subsequently approved transferee of our general partner or its affiliates, acquires, in the aggregate, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of any class of units then outstanding, that person or group will lose voting rights on all of its units and the units may not be voted on any matter and will not be considered to be outstanding when sending notices of a meeting of unitholders, calculating required votes, determining the presence of a quorum, or for other similar purposes. Common units held in nominee or street name account will be voted by the broker or other nominee in accordance with the instruction of the beneficial owner unless the arrangement between the beneficial owner and his nominee provides otherwise.

        Any notice, demand, request, report, or proxy material required or permitted to be given or made to record holders of common units under our partnership agreement will be delivered to the record holder by us or by the transfer agent.

Status as Limited Partner or Assignee

        Except as described above under "—Limited Liability," the common units will be fully paid, and unitholders will not be required to make additional contributions.

        An assignee of a common unit, after executing and delivering a transfer application, but pending its admission as a substituted limited partner, is entitled to an interest equivalent to that of a limited partner for the right to share in allocations and distributions from us, including liquidating distributions. Our general partner will vote and exercise other powers attributable to common units owned by an assignee that has not become a substituted limited partner at the written direction of the assignee. Please read "—Meetings; Voting." Transferees who do not execute and deliver a transfer application and certification will not be treated as assignees or as record holders of common units, and will not receive cash distributions, federal income tax allocations, or reports furnished to holders of common units. Please read "Description of the Common Units—Transfer of Common Units."

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Non-Citizen Assignees; Redemption

        If we are or become subject to federal, state, or local laws or regulations that, in the reasonable determination of our general partner, create a substantial risk of cancellation or forfeiture of any property in which we have an interest in because of the nationality, citizenship, or other related status of any limited partner or assignee, we may redeem the units held by the limited partner or assignee at their current market price. In order to avoid any cancellation or forfeiture, our general partner may require each limited partner or assignee to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship, or related status. If a limited partner or assignee fails to furnish information about his nationality, citizenship, or other related status within 30 days after a request for the information or our general partner determines after receipt of the information that the limited partner or assignee is not an eligible citizen, the limited partner or assignee may be treated as a non-citizen assignee. In addition to other limitations on the rights of an assignee that is not a substituted limited partner, a non-citizen assignee does not have the right to direct the voting of his units and may not receive distributions in kind upon our liquidation.

Indemnification

        Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons, in most circumstances, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages, or similar events:

        Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise agrees, our general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. Our partnership agreement permits us to purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.

Reimbursement of Expenses

        Our partnership agreement requires us to reimburse our general partner for all direct and indirect expenses it incurs or payments it makes on our behalf and all other expenses allocable to us or otherwise incurred by our general partner in connection with operating our business. These expenses include salary, bonus, incentive compensation and other amounts paid to persons who perform services for us or on our behalf on-site at our terminals and pipeline, and expenses allocated to our general partner by its affiliates. The general partner is entitled to determine in good faith the expenses that are allocable to us.

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Books and Reports

        Our general partner is required to keep appropriate books of our business at our principal offices. The books are maintained for both tax and financial reporting purposes on an accrual basis. For tax and financial reporting purposes, our fiscal year is the calendar year.

        We furnish or make available 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 on those financial statements by our independent public accountants. Except for our fourth quarter, we also furnish or make available summary financial information within 90 days after the close of each quarter.

        We furnish each record holder of a unit with information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes within 90 days after the close of each calendar year. This information is furnished in summary form so that some complex calculations normally required of partners can be avoided. Our ability to furnish this summary information to unitholders depends on the cooperation of unitholders in supplying us with specific information. Every unitholder receives information to assist him in determining his federal and state tax liability and filing his federal and state income tax returns, regardless of whether he supplies us with information.

Right to Inspect Our Books and Records

        Our partnership agreement provides that a limited partner can, for a purpose reasonably related to his interest as a limited partner, upon reasonable demand stating the purpose of such demand and at his own expense, obtained:

        Our general partner may, and intends to, keep confidential from the limited partners trade secrets or other information the disclosure of which our general partner believes in good faith is not in our best interests, could damage us or our business or that we are required by law or by agreements with third parties to keep confidential.

Registration Rights

        Under our partnership agreement, subject to certain limitations, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws any common units or other partnership securities proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available. These registration rights continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of Global GP LLC as our general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions.

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MATERIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES

        This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to prospective unitholders and is based upon current provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), existing and proposed U.S. Treasury regulations thereunder (the "Treasury Regulations"), and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Changes in these authorities may cause the federal income tax consequences to a prospective unitholder to vary substantially from those described below, possibly on a retroactive basis. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this section to "we" or "us" are references to Global Partners LP and our operating company.

        Legal conclusions contained in this section, unless otherwise noted, are the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. insofar as they related to matters of U.S. federal income tax law and are based on the accuracy of representations made by us to them for this purpose. However, this section does not address all federal income tax matters that affect us or our unitholders and does not describe the application of the alternative minimum tax that may be applicable to certain unitholders. Furthermore, this section focuses on unitholders who are individual citizens or residents of the United States (for federal income tax purposes), who have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency, who use the calendar year as their taxable year, and who hold units as capital assets (generally, property that is held for investment). This section has limited applicability to corporations, partnerships, entities treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes, estates, trusts, non-resident aliens or other unitholders subject to specialized tax treatment, such as tax-exempt institutions, non-U.S. persons, individual retirement accounts ("IRAs"), employee benefit plans, real estate investment trusts or mutual funds. Accordingly, we encourage each unitholder to consult such unitholder's own tax advisor in analyzing the federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences that are particular to that unitholder resulting from ownership or disposition of its units and potential changes in applicable tax laws.

        No ruling has been or will be requested from the IRS regarding any matter affecting us. Instead, we are relying on opinions and advice of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. with respect to the matters described herein. Unlike a ruling, an opinion of counsel represents only that counsel's best legal judgment and does not bind the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") or a court. Accordingly, the opinions and statements made herein may not be sustained by a court if contested by the IRS. Any such contest of the matters described herein may materially and adversely impact the market for our units and the prices at which such units trade. In addition, our costs of any contest with the IRS will be borne indirectly by our unitholders because the costs will reduce our cash available for distribution. Furthermore, the tax consequences of an investment in us may be significantly modified by future legislative or administrative changes or court decisions, which may be retroactively applied.

        For the reasons described below, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion with respect to the following federal income tax issues: (1) the treatment of a unitholder whose units are the subject of a securities loan (e.g., a loan to a short seller to cover a short sale of units) (please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership-Treatment of Securities Loans"); (2) whether our monthly convention for allocating taxable income and losses is permitted by existing Treasury Regulations (please read "—Disposition of Units-Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees"); and (3) whether our method for taking into account Section 743 adjustments is sustainable in certain cases (please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership-Section 754 Election" and "—Uniformity of Units").

Taxation of the Partnership

        We expect to be treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and, therefore, generally will not be liable for entity-level federal income taxes. Instead, as described below, each of our unitholders will take into account its respective share of our items of income, gain, loss and

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deduction in computing its federal income tax liability as if the unitholder had earned such income directly, even if we make no cash distributions to the unitholder.

        Section 7704 of the Code generally provides that publicly traded partnerships will be treated as corporations for federal income tax purposes. However, if 90% or more of a partnership's gross income for every taxable year it is publicly traded consists of "qualifying income," the partnership may continue to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes (the "Qualifying Income Exception"). Qualifying income includes (i) income and gains derived from the refining, transportation, storage, processing and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and products thereof (including NGLs), (ii) interest (other than from a financial business), (iii) dividends, (iv) gains from the sale of real property (v) and gains from the sale or other disposition of capital assets held for the production of qualifying income. We estimate that less than 2% of our current gross income is not qualifying income; however, this estimate could change from time to time.

        Based upon the factual representations made by us and our general partner, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the opinion that we will be treated as a partnership and each of our partnership or limited liability company subsidiaries will be treated as a partnership or will be disregarded as an entity separate from us for federal income tax purposes. The representations made by us and our general partner upon which Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has relied in rendering its opinion include, without limitation:

        We believe that these representations are true and will be true in the future.

        If we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, other than a failure that is determined by the IRS to be inadvertent and that is cured within a reasonable time after discovery (in which case the IRS may also require us to make adjustments with respect to our unitholders or pay other amounts), we will be treated as transferring all of our assets, subject to liabilities, to a newly formed corporation, on the first day of the year in which we fail to meet the Qualifying Income Exception, in return for stock in that corporation and then as distributing that stock to our unitholders in liquidation. This deemed contribution and liquidation should not result in the recognition of taxable income by our unitholders or us so long as our liabilities do not exceed the tax basis of our assets. Thereafter, we would be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

        The present federal income tax treatment of publicly traded partnerships, including us, or an investment in our units may be modified by administrative or legislative action or judicial interpretation at any time. For example, from time to time, members of the U.S. Congress propose and consider substantive changes to the existing federal income tax laws that affect publicly traded partnerships. One such legislative proposal would have eliminated the Qualifying Income Exception upon which we rely for our treatment as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We are unable to predict whether any such changes will ultimately be enacted. However, it is possible that a change in law could affect us and may be applied retroactively. Any such changes could negatively impact the value of an investment in our units.

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        If for any reason we are taxable as a corporation in any taxable year, our items of income, gain, loss and deduction would be taken into account by us in determining the amount of our liability for federal income tax, rather than being passed through to our unitholders. Our taxation as a corporation would materially reduce the cash available for distribution to unitholders and thus would likely substantially reduce the value of our units. Any distribution made to a unitholder at a time we are treated as a corporation would be (i) a taxable dividend to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, then (ii) a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the unitholder's tax basis in its units, and thereafter (iii) taxable capital gain.

        The remainder of this discussion is based on the opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. that we will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes.

Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership

        Unitholders who are admitted as limited partners of the partnership as well as unitholders whose 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 units, will be treated as partners of the partnership for federal income tax purposes. For a discussion related to the risks of losing partner status as a result of securities loans, please read "—Treatment of Securities Loans." Unitholders who are not treated as partners of the partnership as described above are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences applicable to them under their particular circumstances.

        Subject to the discussion below under "—Entity-Level Collections of Unitholder Taxes" with respect to payments we may be required to make on behalf of our unitholders, we will not pay any federal income tax. Rather, each unitholder will be required to report on its federal income tax return each year its share of our income, gains, losses and deductions for our taxable year or years ending with or within its taxable year. Consequently, we may allocate income to a unitholder even if that unitholder has not received a cash distribution.

        A unitholder's tax basis in its units initially will be the amount paid for those units increased by the unitholder's initial allocable share of our liabilities. That basis generally will be (i) increased by the unitholder's share of our income and any increases in such unitholder's share of our liabilities, and (ii) decreased, but not below zero, by the amount of all distributions to the unitholder, the unitholder's share of our losses, and any decreases in its the unitholder's share of our liabilities. 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 for all of those interests.

        Distributions by us to a unitholder generally will not be taxable to the unitholder, unless such distributions exceed the unitholder's tax basis in its units, in which case the unitholder generally will recognize gain taxable in the manner described below under "—Disposition of Units."

        Any reduction in a unitholder's share of our "liabilities" will be treated as a distribution by us of cash to that unitholder. A decrease in a unitholder's percentage interest in us because of our issuance of additional units may decrease the unitholder's share of our liabilities. For purposes of the foregoing, a unitholder's share of our nonrecourse liabilities (liabilities for which no partner bears the economic risk of loss) generally will be based upon that unitholder's share of the unrealized appreciation (or

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depreciation) in our assets, to the extent thereof, with any excess liabilities allocated based on the unitholder's share of our profits. Please read "—Disposition of Units."

        A non-pro rata distribution of money or property (including a deemed distribution as a result of the reallocation of our liabilities described above) may cause a unitholder to recognize ordinary income, if the distribution reduces the unitholder's share of our "unrealized receivables," including depreciation and depletion recapture and substantially appreciated "inventory items," both as defined in Section 751 of the Code ("Section 751 Assets"). To the extent of such reduction, the unitholder would be deemed to receive its proportionate share of the Section 751 Assets and exchange such assets with us in return for a portion of the non-pro rata distribution. This deemed exchange generally will result in the unitholder's recognition of ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of (1) the non-pro rata portion of that distribution over (2) the unitholder's tax basis (generally zero) in the Section 751 Assets deemed to be relinquished in the exchange.

        A unitholder may not be entitled to deduct the full amount of loss we allocate to it because its share of our losses will be limited to the lesser of (i) the unitholder's tax basis in its units, and (ii) in the case of a unitholder that is an individual, estate, trust or certain types of closely-held corporations, the amount for which the unitholder is considered to be "at risk" with respect to our activities. In general, a unitholder will be at risk to the extent of its tax basis in its units, reduced by (1) any portion of that basis attributable to the unitholder's share of our liabilities, (2) any portion of that basis representing amounts otherwise protected against loss because of a guarantee, stop loss agreement or similar arrangement and (3) any amount of money the unitholder borrows to acquire or hold its units, if the lender of those borrowed funds owns an interest in us, is related to another unitholder or can look only to the units for repayment. A unitholder subject to the at risk limitation must recapture losses deducted in previous years to the extent that distributions (including distributions deemed to result from a reduction in a unitholder's share of nonrecourse liabilities) 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 the basis or at risk limitations will carry forward and will be allowable as a deduction in a later year to the extent that the unitholder's tax basis or at risk amount, whichever is the limiting factor, is subsequently increased. Upon a taxable disposition of units, any gain recognized by a unitholder can be offset by losses that were previously suspended by the at risk limitation but not losses suspended by the basis limitation. Any loss previously suspended by the at risk limitation in excess of that gain can no longer be used, and will not be available to offset a unitholder's salary or active business income.

        In addition to the basis and at risk limitations, a passive activity loss limitation generally limits the deductibility of losses incurred by individuals, estates, trusts, some closely-held corporations and personal service corporations from "passive activities" (generally, trade or business activities in which the taxpayer does not materially participate). The passive loss limitations are applied separately with respect to each publicly-traded partnership. Consequently, any passive losses we generate will be available to offset only passive income generated by us. Passive losses that exceed a unitholder's share of passive income we generate may be deducted in full when the unitholder disposes of all of its units in a fully taxable transaction with an unrelated party. The passive loss rules generally are applied after other applicable limitations on deductions, including the at risk and basis limitations.

        The deductibility of a non-corporate taxpayer's "investment interest expense" generally is limited to the amount of that taxpayer's "net investment income." Investment interest expense includes:

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        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 under the passive loss rules, less deductible expenses other than interest directly connected with the production of investment income. Net investment income generally does not include qualified dividend income (if applicable) or gains attributable to the disposition of property held for investment. A unitholder's share of a publicly traded partnership's portfolio income and, according to the IRS, net passive income will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest expense limitation.

        If we are required or elect under applicable law to pay any federal, state, local or non-U.S. tax on behalf of any current or former unitholder, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution of cash to the relevant unitholder. Where the tax is payable on behalf of all unitholders or we cannot determine the specific unitholder on whose behalf the tax is payable, we are authorized to treat the payment as a distribution to all current unitholders. We are authorized to amend our partnership agreement in the manner necessary to maintain uniformity of intrinsic tax characteristics of units and to adjust later distributions, so that after giving effect to these distributions, the priority and characterization of distributions otherwise applicable under our partnership agreement is maintained as nearly as is practicable. Payments by us as described above could give rise to an overpayment of tax on behalf of a unitholder, in which event the unitholder may be entitled to claim a refund of the overpayment amount. Unitholders are urged to consult their tax advisors to determine the consequences to them of any tax payment we make on their behalf.

        Our items of income, gain, loss and deduction generally will be allocated among our unitholders in accordance with their percentage interests in us. At any time that incentive distributions are made to our general partner, gross income will be allocated to the recipients to the extent of these distributions.

        Specified items of our income, gain, loss and deduction will be allocated under Section 704(c) of the Code (or the principles of Section 704(c) of the Code) to account for any difference between the tax basis and fair market value of our assets at the time such assets are contributed to us and at the time of any subsequent offering of our units (a "Book-Tax Disparity"). As a result, the federal income tax burden associated with any Book-Tax Disparity immediately prior to an offering generally will be borne by our partners holding interests in us prior to such offering. In addition, items of recapture income will be specially allocated to the extent possible to the unitholder who was allocated the deduction giving rise to that recapture income in order to minimize the recognition of ordinary income by other unitholders.

        An allocation of items of our income, gain, loss or deduction, other than an allocation required by the Code to eliminate a Book-Tax Disparity, will generally be given effect for federal income tax purposes in determining a partner's 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 share of an item will be determined on the basis of the partner's interest in us, which will be determined by taking into account all the facts and circumstances, including (i) the partner's relative contributions to us, (ii) the interests of all the partners in profits and losses, (iii) the interest of all the partners in cash flow and (iv) the rights of all the partners to distributions of capital upon liquidation. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is of the

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opinion that, with the exception of the issues described in "—Section 754 Election" and "—Disposition of Units-Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees," allocations of income, gain, loss or deduction under our partnership agreement will be given effect for federal income tax purposes.

        A unitholder whose units are the subject of a securities loan (for example, a loan to a "short seller" to cover a short sale of units) may be treated as having disposed of those units. If so, such unitholder would no longer be treated for tax purposes as 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 (i) any of our income, gain, loss or deduction allocated to those units would not be reportable by the lending unitholder and (ii) any cash distributions received by the unitholder as to those units may be treated as ordinary taxable income.

        Due to a lack of controlling authority, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion regarding the tax treatment of a unitholder that enters into a securities loan with respect to its units. Unitholders desiring to assure their status as partners and avoid the risk of income recognition from a loan of their units are urged to modify any applicable brokerage account agreements to prohibit their brokers from borrowing and lending their units. The IRS has announced that it is studying issues relating to the tax treatment of short sales of partnership interests. Please read "—Disposition of Units-Recognition of Gain or Loss."

        Under current law, the highest marginal federal income tax rates for individuals applicable to ordinary income and long-term capital gains (generally, gains from the sale or exchange of certain investment assets held for more than one year) are 39.6% and 20%, respectively. These rates are subject to change by new legislation at any time.

        In addition, a 3.8% net investment income tax ("NIIT") applies to certain net investment income earned by individuals, estates, and trusts. For these purposes, net investment income generally includes a unitholder's allocable share of our income and gain realized by a unitholder from a sale of units. In the case of an individual, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) the unitholder's net investment income from all investments, or (ii) the amount by which the unitholder's modified adjusted gross income exceeds $250,000 (if the unitholder is married and filing jointly or a surviving spouse), $125,000 (if married filing separately) or $200,000 (if the unitholder is unmarried or in any other case). In the case of an estate or trust, the tax will be imposed on the lesser of (i) undistributed net investment income, or (ii) the excess adjusted gross income over the dollar amount at which the highest income tax bracket applicable to an estate or trust begins.

        We have made the election permitted by Section 754 of the Code that permits us to adjust the tax bases in our assets as to specific purchasers of our units under Section 743(b) of the Code. That election is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. The Section 743(b) adjustment separately applies to each purchaser of units based upon the values and bases of our assets at the time of the relevant purchase, and the adjustment will reflect the purchase price paid. The Section 743(b) adjustment does not apply to a person who purchases units directly from us.

        Under our partnership agreement, we are authorized to take a position to preserve the uniformity of units even if that position is not consistent with applicable Treasury Regulations. A literal application of Treasury Regulations governing a Section 743(b) adjustment attributable to properties depreciable under Section 167 of the Code may give rise to differences in the taxation of unitholders purchasing units from us and unitholders purchasing from other unitholders. If we have any such properties, we

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intend to adopt methods employed by other publicly traded partnerships to preserve the uniformity of units, even if inconsistent with existing Treasury Regulations, and Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not opined on the validity of this approach. Please read "—Uniformity of Units."

        The IRS may challenge the positions we adopt with respect to depreciating or amortizing the Section 743(b) adjustment we take to preserve the uniformity of units due to lack of controlling authority. Because a unitholder's tax basis in its units is reduced by its share of our items of deduction or loss, any position we take that understates deductions will overstate a unitholder's basis in its units and may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read "—Disposition of Units-Recognition of Gain or Loss." If a challenge to such treatment were sustained, the gain from the sale of units may be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.

        The calculations involved in the Section 754 election are complex and are made on the basis of assumptions as to the value of our assets and other matters. The IRS could seek to reallocate some or all of any Section 743(b) adjustment we have allocated to our assets subject to depreciation to goodwill or nondepreciable assets. Goodwill, as an intangible asset, is generally amortizable over a longer period of time or under a less accelerated method than our tangible assets. We cannot assure any unitholder that the determinations we make will not be successfully challenged by the IRS or that the resulting deductions will not be reduced or disallowed altogether. Should the IRS require a different tax basis adjustment to be made, and should, in our opinion, the expense of compliance exceed the benefit of the election, we may seek permission from the IRS to revoke our Section 754 election. If permission is granted, a subsequent purchaser of units may be allocated more income than it would have been allocated had the election not been revoked.

Tax Treatment of Operations

        We use the year ending December 31 as our taxable year and the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Each unitholder will be required to include in its tax return its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for each taxable year ending within or with its taxable year. In addition, a unitholder who has a taxable year ending on a date other than December 31 and who disposes of all of its units following the close of our taxable year but before the close of its taxable year must include its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction in income for its taxable year, with the result that it will be required to include in income for its taxable year its share of more than twelve months of our income, gain, loss and deduction. Please read "—Disposition of Units-Allocations Between Transferors and Transferees."

        The tax bases of our assets will be used for purposes of computing depreciation and cost recovery deductions and, ultimately, gain or loss on the disposition of those assets. If we dispose of depreciable property by sale, foreclosure or otherwise, all or a portion of any gain, determined by reference to the amount of depreciation and depletion deductions previously taken, may be subject to the recapture rules and taxed as ordinary income rather than capital gain. Similarly, a unitholder who has taken cost recovery or depreciation deductions with respect to property we own will likely be required to recapture some or all of those deductions as ordinary income upon a sale of its interest in us. Please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership-Allocation of Income, Gain, Loss and Deduction."

        The costs we incur in offering and selling our units (called "syndication expenses") must be capitalized and cannot be deducted currently, ratably or upon our termination. While there are uncertainties regarding the classification of costs as organization expenses, which may be amortized by us, and as syndication expenses, which may not be amortized by us, the underwriting discounts and commissions we incur will be treated as syndication expenses. Please read "Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss."

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        The federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of units will depend in part on our estimates of the relative fair market values and the tax bases of our assets. Although we may from time to time consult with professional appraisers regarding valuation matters, we will make many of the relative fair market value estimates ourselves. These estimates and determinations of tax basis are subject to challenge and will not be binding on the IRS or the courts. If the estimates of fair market value or basis are later found to be incorrect, the character and amount of items of income, gain, loss or deduction previously reported by unitholders could change, and unitholders could be required to adjust their tax liability for prior years and incur interest and penalties with respect to those adjustments.

Disposition of Units

        A unitholder will be required to recognize gain or loss on a sale of units equal to the difference between the unitholder's amount realized and tax basis in the units sold. A unitholder's amount realized generally will equal the sum of the cash and the fair market value of other property it receives plus its share of our liabilities with respect to the units sold. Because the amount realized includes a unitholder's share of our liabilities, the gain recognized on the sale of units could result in a tax liability in excess of any cash received from the sale.

        Except as noted below, gain or loss recognized by a unitholder on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than one year generally will be taxable as long-term capital gain or loss. However, gain or loss recognized on the disposition of units will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Code to the extent attributable to Section 751 Assets, such as depreciation or depletion recapture and our "inventory items," regardless of whether such inventory item is substantially appreciated in value. Ordinary income attributable to Section 751 Assets may exceed net taxable gain realized on the sale of a unit and may be recognized even if there is a net taxable loss realized on the sale of a unit. Thus, a unitholder may recognize both ordinary income and capital gain or loss upon a sale of units. Net capital loss may offset capital gains and, in the case of individuals, up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year.

        For purposes of calculating gain or loss on the sale of units, the unitholder's adjusted tax basis will be adjusted by its allocable share of our income or loss in respect of its units for the year of the sale. Furthermore, as described above, 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 for all of those interests. Upon a sale or other disposition of less than all of those interests, a portion of that tax basis must be allocated to the interests sold using an "equitable apportionment" method, which generally means that the tax basis allocated to the interest sold equals an amount that bears the same relation to the partner's tax basis in its entire interest in the partnership as the value of the interest sold bears to the value of the partner's entire interest in the partnership.

        Treasury Regulations under Section 1223 of the Code allow a selling unitholder who can identify units transferred with an ascertainable holding period to elect to use the actual holding period of the units transferred. Thus, according to the ruling discussed in the paragraph above, a unitholder will be unable to select high or low basis units to sell as would be the case with corporate stock, but, according to the Treasury Regulations, it may designate specific units sold for purposes of determining the holding period of the units transferred. A unitholder electing to use the actual holding period of units transferred must consistently use that identification method for all subsequent sales or exchanges of our units. A unitholder considering the purchase of additional units or a sale of units purchased in separate transactions is urged to consult its tax advisor as to the possible consequences of this ruling and application of the Treasury Regulations.

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        Specific provisions of the Code affect the taxation of some financial products and securities, including partnership interests, by treating a taxpayer as having sold an "appreciated" financial position, including a partnership interest with respect to which gain would be recognized if it were sold, assigned or terminated at its fair market value, in the event the taxpayer or a related person enters into:

        Moreover, if a taxpayer has previously entered into a short sale, an offsetting notional principal contract or a futures or forward contract with respect to the partnership interest, the taxpayer will be treated as having sold that position if the taxpayer or a related person then acquires the partnership interest or substantially identical property. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to issue Treasury 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.

        In general, our taxable income or loss 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 applicable exchange on the first business day of the month (the "Allocation Date"). However, gain or loss realized on a sale or other disposition of our assets or, in the discretion of the general partner, any other extraordinary item of income, gain, loss or deduction will be allocated among the unitholders on the Allocation Date in the month in which such income, gain, loss or deduction is recognized. As a result, a unitholder transferring units may be allocated income, gain, loss and deduction realized after the date of transfer.

        Although simplifying conventions are contemplated by the Code and most publicly traded partnerships use similar simplifying conventions, the use of this method may not be specifically authorized or permitted under existing Treasury Regulations. Recently, however, the Department of the Treasury and the IRS issued final Treasury Regulations pursuant to which a publicly traded partnership may use a similar monthly simplifying convention to allocate tax items among transferor and transferee unitholders. The Partnership is currently evaluating these regulations which will apply beginning with our taxable year that begins on January 1, 2016. Nonetheless, the regulations do not specifically authorize the use of the proration method we have adopted for our 2015 taxable year and may not specifically authorize all aspects of our proration method thereafter. Accordingly, Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine on the validity of this method of allocating income and deductions between transferee and transferor unitholders. If our method is not allowed under the final Treasury Regulations, our taxable income or losses could be reallocated among our unitholders. We are authorized to revise our method of allocation between transferee and transferor unitholders, as well as among unitholders whose interests vary during a taxable year, to conform to a method permitted under the Treasury Regulations.

        A unitholder who disposes of units prior to the record date set for a cash distribution for that quarter will be allocated items of our income, gain, loss and deduction attributable to the month of disposition but will not be entitled to receive a cash distribution for that period.

        A unitholder who sells or purchases any units is generally required to notify us in writing of that transaction within 30 days after the transaction (or, if earlier, January 15 of the year following the transaction in the case of a seller). Upon receiving such notifications, we are required to notify the IRS

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of that transaction and to furnish specified information to the transferor and transferee. Failure to notify us of a transfer of units may, in some cases, lead to the imposition of penalties. However, these reporting requirements do not apply to a sale by an individual who is a citizen of the United States and who effects the sale through a broker who will satisfy such requirements.

        We will be considered to have "constructively" terminated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes upon the sale or exchange of 50% or more of the total interests in our capital and profits within a twelve-month period. Anadarko currently directly or indirectly owns more than 50% of the total interests in our capital and profits. Therefore, a transfer of all or a portion of Anadarko's direct or indirect interests in us, along with transfers by other unitholders, could result in a termination of our partnership for federal income tax purposes. For purposes of measuring whether the 50% threshold is reached, multiple sales of the same unit are counted only once. A constructive termination results in the closing of our taxable year for all unitholders. In the case of a unitholder reporting on a taxable year other than the calendar year, the closing of our taxable year may result in more than twelve months of our taxable income or loss being includable in such unitholder's taxable income for the year of termination.

        A constructive termination occurring on a date other than December 31 generally would require that we file two tax returns for one fiscal year thereby increasing our administration and tax preparation costs. However, pursuant to an IRS relief procedure, the IRS may allow a constructively terminated partnership to provide a single Schedule K-1 for the calendar year in which a termination occurs. Following a constructive termination, we would be required to make new tax elections, including a new election under Section 754 of the Code, and the termination would result in a deferral of our deductions for depreciation. A termination could also result in penalties if we were unable to determine that the termination had occurred. Moreover, a termination may either accelerate the application of, or subject us to, any tax legislation enacted before the termination that would not otherwise have been applied to us as a continuing as opposed to a terminating partnership.

Uniformity of Units

        Because we cannot match transferors and transferees of units and other reasons, we must maintain uniformity of the economic and tax characteristics of the units to a purchaser of these units. In the absence of uniformity, we may be unable to completely comply with a number of federal income tax requirements. Any non-uniformity could have a negative impact on the value of the units. Please read "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election."

        Our partnership agreement permits our general partner to take positions in filing our tax returns that preserve the uniformity of our units. These positions may include reducing the depreciation, amortization or loss deductions to which a unitholder would otherwise be entitled or reporting a slower amortization of Section 743(b) adjustments for some unitholders than that to which they would otherwise be entitled. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. is unable to opine as to the validity of such filing positions.

        A unitholder's basis in units is reduced by its share of our deductions (whether or not such deductions were claimed on an individual income tax return) so that any position that we take that understates deductions will overstate the unitholder's basis in its units, and may cause the unitholder to understate gain or overstate loss on any sale of such units. Please read "—Disposition of Units—Recognition of Gain or Loss" above and "—Tax Consequences of Unit Ownership—Section 754 Election" above. The IRS may challenge one or more of any positions we take to preserve the uniformity of units. If such a challenge were sustained, the uniformity of units might be affected, and,

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under some circumstances, the gain from the sale of units might be increased without the benefit of additional deductions.

Tax-Exempt Organizations and Other Investors

        Ownership of units by employee benefit plans and other tax-exempt organizations as well as by non-resident alien individuals, non-U.S. corporations and other non-U.S. persons (collectively, "Non-U.S. Unitholders") raises issues unique to those investors and, as described below, may have substantially adverse tax consequences to them. Prospective unitholders that are tax-exempt entities or non-U.S. unitholders should consult their tax advisors before investing in our units. Employee benefit plans and most other tax-exempt organizations, including IRAs and other retirement plans, are subject to federal income tax on unrelated business taxable income. Virtually all of our income will be unrelated business taxable income and will be taxable to a tax-exempt unitholder.

        Non-U.S. unitholders are taxed by the United States on income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business ("effectively connected income") and on certain types of U.S.-source non-effectively connected income (such as dividends), and unless exempted or further limited by an income tax treaty, will be considered to be engaged in business in the United States because of their ownership of our units. Furthermore, it is probable that they will be deemed to conduct such activities through permanent establishments in the United States within the meaning of applicable tax treaties. Consequently, they will be required to file federal tax returns to report their share of our income, gain, loss or deduction and pay federal income tax on their share of our net income or gain in a manner similar to a taxable U.S. unitholder. Moreover, under rules applicable to publicly traded partnerships, distributions to non-U.S. unitholders are subject to withholding at the highest applicable effective tax rate. Each non-U.S. unitholder must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the IRS and submit that number to our transfer agent on a Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or applicable substitute form in order to obtain credit for these withholding taxes.

        In addition, because a non-U.S. unitholder classified as a corporation will be treated as engaged in a United States trade or business, that corporation may be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, in addition to regular federal income tax, on its share of our income and gain as adjusted for changes in the foreign corporation's "U.S. net equity" to the extent reflected in the corporation's effectively connected earnings and profits. That tax may be reduced or eliminated by an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the foreign corporate unitholder is a "qualified resident." In addition, this type of unitholder is subject to special information reporting requirements under Section 6038C of the Code.

        A non-U.S. unitholder who sells or otherwise disposes of a unit will be subject to federal income tax on gain realized from the sale or disposition of that unit to the extent the gain is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business of the non-U.S. unitholder. Under a ruling published by the IRS interpreting the scope of "effectively connected income," gain recognized by a non-U.S. person from the sale of its interest in a partnership that is engaged in a trade or business in the United States will be considered to be effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business. Thus, part or all of a non-U.S. unitholder's gain from the sale or other disposition of its units may be treated as effectively connected with a unitholder's indirect U.S. trade or business constituted by its investment in us. Moreover, under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, a non-U.S. unitholder generally will be subject to federal income tax upon the sale or disposition of a unit if (i) it owned (directly or indirectly constructively applying certain attribution rules) more than 5% of our units at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of such disposition and (ii) 50% or more of the fair market value of our worldwide real property interests and our other assets used or held for use in a trade or business consisted of U.S. real property interests (which include U.S. real estate (including land, improvements, and certain associated personal property) and interests in certain entities holding U.S. real estate) at any time during the shorter of the period during which such unitholder held the

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units or the five-year period ending on the date of disposition. Currently, more than 50% of our assets consist of U.S. real property interests and we do not expect that to change in the foreseeable future. Therefore, non-U.S. unitholders may be subject to federal income tax on gain from the sale or disposition of their units.

Administrative Matters

        We intend to furnish to each unitholder, within 90 days after the close of each taxable year, specific tax information, including a Schedule K-1, which describes its share of our income, gain, loss and deduction for our preceding taxable year. In preparing this information, which will not be reviewed by counsel, we will take various accounting and reporting positions, some of which have been mentioned earlier, to determine each unitholder's share of income, gain, loss and deduction. We cannot assure our unitholders that those positions will yield a result that conforms to all of the requirements of the Code, Treasury Regulations or administrative interpretations of the IRS.

        The IRS may audit our federal income tax information returns. Neither we nor Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. can assure prospective unitholders that the IRS will not successfully challenge the positions we adopt, and such a challenge could adversely affect the value of the units. Adjustments resulting from an IRS audit may require each unitholder to adjust a prior year's tax liability and may result in an audit of the unitholder's own return. Any audit of a unitholder's return could result in adjustments unrelated to our returns.

        Publicly traded partnerships generally are treated as entities separate from their owners for purposes of federal income 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 of the partners. The Code requires that one partner be designated as the "Tax Matters Partner" for these purposes, and our partnership agreement designates our general partner.

        The Tax Matters Partner has made and will make some elections on our behalf and on behalf of unitholders. The Tax Matters Partner can extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against unitholders for items in our returns. The Tax Matters Partner may bind a unitholder with less than a 1% profits interest in us to a settlement with the IRS unless that unitholder elects, by filing a statement with the IRS, not to give that authority to the Tax Matters Partner. The Tax Matters Partner may seek judicial review, by which all the unitholders are bound, of a final partnership administrative adjustment and, if the Tax Matters Partner fails to seek judicial review, judicial review may be sought by any unitholder having at least a 1% interest in profits or by any group of unitholders having in the aggregate at least a 5% interest in profits. However, only one action for judicial review may go forward, and each unitholder with an interest in the outcome may participate in that action.

        A unitholder must file a statement with the IRS identifying the treatment of any item on its federal income tax return that is not consistent with the treatment of the item on our return. Intentional or negligent disregard of this consistency requirement may subject a unitholder to substantial penalties.

        Persons who hold an interest in us as a nominee for another person are required to furnish to us:

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        Brokers and financial institutions are required to furnish additional information, including whether they are U.S. persons and specific information on units they acquire, hold or transfer for their own account. With respect to returns required to be filed before January 1, 2016, a penalty of $100 per failure, up to a maximum of $1.5 million per calendar year, is imposed by the Code for failure to report that information to us. Thereafter, these penalties will increase to $250 per failure, up to a maximum of $3 million. The nominee is required to supply the beneficial owner of the units with the information furnished to us.

        Certain penalties may be imposed on taxpayers as a result of an underpayment of tax that is attributable to one or more specified causes, including negligence or disregard of rules or regulations, substantial understatements of income tax and substantial valuation misstatements. No penalty will be imposed, however, for any portion of any such underpayment if it is shown that there was a reasonable cause for the underpayment of that portion and that the taxpayer acted in good faith regarding the underpayment of that portion. Penalties may also be imposed for engaging in transactions without economic substance. We do not anticipate engaging in transactions without economic substance or otherwise participating in transactions that would subject our unitholders to accuracy-related penalties.

State, Local, Non-U.S. and Other Tax Considerations

        In addition to federal income taxes, unitholders may be subject to other taxes, including state and local and non-U.S. income taxes, unincorporated business taxes, and estate, inheritance or intangibles taxes that may be imposed by the various jurisdictions in which we conduct business or own property or in which the unitholder is a resident. Moreover, we may also own property or do business in other states in the future that impose income or similar taxes on nonresident individuals. Although an analysis of those various taxes is not presented here, each prospective unitholder should consider their potential impact on its investment in us.

        Although you may not be required to file a return and pay taxes in some jurisdictions because your income from that jurisdiction falls below the filing and payment requirement, you will be required to file income tax returns and to pay income taxes in many of these jurisdictions in which we do business or own property and may be subject to penalties for failure to comply with those requirements. Some of the jurisdictions may require us, or we may elect, to withhold a percentage of income from amounts to be distributed to a unitholder who is not a resident of the jurisdiction. Withholding, the amount of which may be greater or less than a particular unitholder's income tax liability to the jurisdiction, generally does not relieve a nonresident unitholder from the obligation to file an income tax return.

        It is the responsibility of each unitholder to investigate the legal and tax consequences, under the laws of pertinent jurisdictions, of its investment in us. We strongly recommend that each prospective unitholder consult, and depend on, its own tax counsel or other advisor with regard to those matters. Further, it is the responsibility of each unitholder to file all state, local, and non-U.S., as well as U.S. federal tax returns that may be required of it. Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. has not rendered an opinion on the state, local, alternative minimum tax or non-U.S. tax consequences of an investment in us.

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INVESTMENT IN GLOBAL PARTNERS LP BY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

        An investment in our common units by an employee benefit plan is subject to additional considerations because the investments of these plans are subject to the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, restrictions imposed by Section 4975 of the Code and/or provisions under certain other federal, state, local and non-U.S. laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, "Similar Laws"). For these purposes, the term "employee benefit plan" may include, but is not limited to, qualified pension, profit-sharing, and stock bonus plans, Keogh plans, simplified employee pension plans, and tax-deferred annuities or individual retirement accounts or annuities and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include "plan assets" of such plans, accounts or arrangements. Among other things, consideration should be given to:

        The person with investment discretion with respect to the assets of an employee benefit plan, often called a fiduciary, should determine whether an investment in our common units is authorized by the appropriate governing instruments and is a proper investment for the employee benefit plan.

        Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit employee benefit plans from engaging in specified transactions involving "plan assets" with parties that are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Code with respect to the employee benefit plan. Certain statutory or administrative exemptions from the prohibited transaction rules under ERISA and the Code may be available to an employee benefit plan that is directly or indirectly purchasing our common units.

        In addition to considering whether the purchase of our common units is a prohibited transaction, a fiduciary of an employee benefit plan should consider whether the employee benefit plan will, by investing in our common units, be deemed to own an undivided interest in our assets, with the result that our general partner may also be a fiduciary of the employee benefit plan and our operations may be subject to the regulatory restrictions of ERISA, including its prohibited transaction rules, as well as the prohibited transaction rules of the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.

        The Department of Labor regulations provide guidance with respect to whether the assets of an entity in which employee benefit plans acquire equity interests would be deemed "plan assets" under certain circumstances. Under these regulations, an entity's underlying assets generally would not be considered to be "plan assets" if, among other things:

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The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive, nor should it be construed as legal advice. Employee benefit plan fiduciaries contemplating a purchase of our common units should consult with their own counsel regarding the consequences under ERISA, the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws in light of the serious penalties imposed on persons who engage in prohibited transactions or other violations.

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SELLING UNITHOLDERS

        This prospectus covers the offering for resale from time to time, in one or more offerings, of up to 5,049,848 common units owned by the selling unitholders listed in the table below or selling unitholders named in any supplement to this prospectus or document incorporated by reference therein.

        The common units offered by each of Montello Oil Corporation ("Montello"), Global Petroleum Corp. ("GPC"), Larea Holdings LLC ("Larea"), Larea Holdings II LLC ("Larea II"), Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership ("Chelsea") and Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C. ("Sandwich," together with Montello, GPC, Larea, Larea II and Chelsea, the "Initial Limited Partners") were obtained by the Initial Limited Partners on October 4, 2005, in connection with our initial public offering. In connection with our initial public offering, each of the Initial Limited Partners conveyed their membership interests in Global Companies LLC, Global Montello Group LLC and Chelsea Sandwich LLC (collectively, the "Initial Operating Subsidiaries") to us in exchange for common units and subordinated units representing limited partner interests in us. In exchange for the membership interests in the Initial Operating Subsidiaries conveyed to us in connection with our initial public offering, Montello received 308,553 common units and 2,344,922 subordinated units, GPC received 226,736 common units and 1,723,196 subordinated units, Larea received 74,272 common units and 564,242 subordinated units, Larea II received 37,121 common units and 282,121 subordinated units, Chelsea received 94,659 common units and 719,409 subordinated units and Sandwich received 1,114 common units and 8,464 subordinated units. In addition, in connection with our initial public offering, we used the net proceeds from the underwriters' exercise of their over-allotment option to purchase additional common units to redeem from Montello, GPC, Larea, Larea II, Chelsea and Sandwich 305,446 common units, 224,469 common units, 73,500 common units, 36,750 common units, 93,712 common units and 1,103 common units, respectively. The subordinated units issued to the Initial Limited Partners converted to common units, on a one-to-one basis, on February 16, 2011.

        Under our partnership agreement, as amended and restated, we have agreed to register for resale under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and common units proposed to be sold by our general partner or any of its affiliates, including the selling unitholders, or their assignees if an exemption from the registration requirements is not otherwise available. These registration rights continue for two years following any withdrawal or removal of our general partner. We are obligated to pay all expenses incidental to the registration, excluding underwriting discounts.

        Certain directors and executive officers of our general partner own and control the selling unitholders, as noted in the footnotes to the table below. Prior to his death on March 9, 2014, Alfred A. Slifka was the Chairman of the board of directors of our general partner and an employee of GPC. Richard Slifka is the current Chairman of the board of directors of our general partner and is an employee of GPC. Eric Slifka, son of Alfred A. Slifka, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of our general partner and a member of its board of directors. Andrew Slifka, son of Alfred A. Slifka, is an Executive Vice President of our general partner and a member of its board of directors. Our general partner is controlled directly by the Estate of Alfred A. Slifka and Richard Slifka through their beneficial ownership of entities that own interests in our general partner.

        The selling unitholders, as our affiliates, may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act and, as a result, may be deemed to be offering securities, indirectly, on our behalf.

        The following table and related footnotes set forth information relating to the selling unitholders based on information supplied to us by the selling unitholders at or prior to the time of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We have not sought to verify such information. Information concerning the selling unitholders may change over time, and if necessary, we will supplement this prospectus accordingly. A selling unitholder may hold or acquire at any time common units in addition to those offered by this prospectus and may have acquired additional common units since the date on which the information reflected herein was provided to us. In addition,

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a selling unitholder may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of some or all of its common units since the date on which the information reflected herein was provided to us and may in the future sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of its common units in private placement transactions exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

Selling Unitholder
  Number of Common
Units Beneficially
Owned
  Common Units That
May be Offered
Hereby
 

Montello Oil Corporation(1)

    2,348,078     2,348,078  

Global Petroleum Corp.(2)

    1,725,463     1,725,463  

Larea Holdings LLC(3)

    564,984     564,984  

Larea Holdings II LLC(4)

    282,492     282,492  

Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership(5)

    120,356     120,356  

Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C.(6)

    8,475     8,475  

(1)
Richard Slifka and the Estate of Alfred A. Slifka share voting and investment power with respect to and, therefore, may be deemed to beneficially own, the units owned by Montello Oil Corporation.

(2)
Richard Slifka and the Estate of Alfred A. Slifka share voting and investment power with respect to, and, therefore, may be deemed to beneficially own, the units owned by Global Petroleum Corp.

(3)
Eric Slifka has sole voting and investment power with respect to units owned by Larea Holdings LLC. Eric Slifka may, therefore, be deemed to beneficially own the units held by Larea Holdings LLC.

(4)
Richard Slifka is the trustee of a voting trust with sole voting and investment power with respect to units owned by Larea Holdings II LLC. Richard Slifka may, therefore, be deemed to beneficially own the units held by Larea Holdings II LLC. Andrew Slifka is a one-third owner of Larea Holdings II LLC. Because Andrew Slifka does not share voting and investment power with respect to the units owned by Larea Holdings II LLC, he is not deemed to beneficially own such units.

(5)
Richard Slifka and the Estate of Alfred A. Slifka share voting and investment power with respect to and, therefore, may be deemed to beneficially own, the units owned by Chelsea Terminal Limited Partnership.

(6)
Richard Slifka and the Estate of Alfred A. Slifka are equal owners of Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C. and share voting and investment power with respect to and, therefore, may be deemed to beneficially own, the units owned by Sandwich Terminal, L.L.C.

        Each time the selling unitholders sell common units offered by this prospectus, they are required to provide you with this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement containing specific information about the selling unitholders and the terms of the common units being offered in the manner required by the Securities Act. The prospectus supplement will set forth the following information with respect to the selling unitholders:

        No offer or sale may occur unless the registration statement that includes this prospectus has been declared effective by the SEC and remains effective at the time the selling unitholders offer or sell common units. We are required, under certain circumstances, to update, supplement or amend this prospectus to reflect material developments in our business, financial position and results of operations

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and may do so by an amendment to this prospectus, a prospectus supplement or a future filing with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Relationship with the Selling Unitholders

        We are a party to an omnibus agreement with certain members of the Slifka family and our general partner that addresses the agreement of certain members of the Slifka family not to compete with us and to cause their affiliates not to compete with us under certain circumstances. The omnibus agreement also addressed certain environmental indemnity obligations of GPC and certain of its affiliates, which indemnity obligations have expired. In connection with our acquisition of Alliance Energy LLC, each of Alfred A. Slifka, former Chairman of our general partner, and Richard Slifka, Chairman of our general partner, entered into a business opportunity agreement with our general partner containing noncompetition provisions which are broader than those contained in the omnibus agreement in order to encompass our expanded lines of business since 2005.

        Pursuant to the omnibus agreement and the business opportunity agreement each of Alfred A. Slifka, and Richard Slifka agreed, and pursuant to his employment agreement with our general partner each of Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka agreed, for themselves and their respective affiliates, not to engage in, acquire or invest in any of the following businesses: (1) the wholesale and/or retail marketing, sale, distribution and transportation (other than transportation by truck) of refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, ethanol, propane and/or biofuels; (2) the storage of refined petroleum products, crude oil, natural gas, ethanol, propane, biofuels and/or asphalt or asphalt products in connection with any of the activities described in (1); and (3) such other businesses in which we are engaged or, to their individual knowledge, we have commenced efforts to become engaged. Pursuant to the omnibus agreement, each of Alfred A. Slifka's and Richard Slifka's noncompetition obligations survive for so long as Alfred A. Slifka, Richard Slifka, Eric Slifka and/or any of their respective affiliates, individually or as part of a group, control our general partner. Pursuant to each of Eric Slifka's and Andrew Slifka's employment agreements with our general partner, their noncompetition obligations survive for one year following the termination of each of their employment.

        In addition, Eric Slifka's and Andrew Slifka's employment agreements include, and Eric Slifka and Andrew Slifka both agreed to, a confidentiality provision and a nonsolicitation provision, which generally will continue for two years and for one year, respectively, following Eric Slifka's and Andrew Slifka's termination of employment.

        We are party to a shared services agreement with GPC. We believe the terms of this agreement are at least as favorable as could have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties. Under this agreement, we provide GPC with certain accounting, treasury, legal, information technology, human resources and financial operations support for which GPC pays us an amount based upon the cost associated with the provision of such services. In addition, GPC provides us with certain terminal, environmental and operational support services, for which we pay a fee based on an agreed assessment of the cost associated with provision of such services.

        We paid to GPC a total of $96,000 for each of the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 under the shared services agreement. The agreement with GPC is for an indefinite term, and either party may terminate its receipt of some or all of the services thereunder upon 180 days' notice at any time after January 1, 2009.

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        On January 14, 2015, we acquired the Revere terminal from GPC for a purchase price of approximately $23.7 million, subject to customary closing adjustments. GPC is owned by the Estate of Alfred A. Slifka and Richard Slifka. Pursuant to the purchase agreement entered into by both parties, we assumed all liabilities and obligations of GPC related to the terminal and the underlying real property, except for certain liabilities as set forth in the purchase agreement. We released GPC from and agreed to indemnify GPC from all known and unknown environmental liabilities relating to the terminal and underlying real property, provided that we will be responsible for the first remediation expenses arising from unknown conditions up to $1.5 million, in the aggregate, and then GPC will reimburse us for any remediation expenses in excess of $1.5 million up to $2.3 million, provided further that (i) GPC will have no obligation to reimburse us for expenses in excess of $750,000 in the aggregate, and (ii) GPC's reimbursement obligations will survive for a period of three years following the closing of the acquisition. Any and all remediation expenses in excess of $2.3 million or incurred after the expiration of the three-year survival period will be our responsibility.

        In the event that we sell, within eight years of the closing of the acquisition, all or substantially all of the real property underlying the Revere terminal to a third party not affiliated with GPC or us and such third party does not intend to use the real property for petroleum-related purposes, then we will pay GPC an amount equal to fifty percent of the net proceeds (as defined in the purchase agreement) received by us in connection with such sale.

        GPC continued to provide terminalling services to us, and we continued to pay all amounts owed to GPC pursuant to the terms of the existing terminal storage rental and throughput agreement between GPC and us, until February 1, 2015.

        Some members of our management team are also officers and/or directors of our affiliate, GPC. GPC is wholly owned by ASRS Global General Partnership, an entity that is owned equally by Richard Slifka and by the Estate of Alfred A. Slifka. Mr. Edward J. Faneuil, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of our general partner and Mr. Charles A. Rudinsky, Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of our general partner, spend a portion of their time providing services to GPC under the shared services agreements described above.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been advised by the selling unitholders as to any plan of distribution. The selling unitholders may choose not to sell any of the common units. Distributions of the common units by the selling unitholders, or by their partners, pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, may from time to time be offered for sale either directly by the selling unitholders or other person, or through underwriters, dealers or agents or on any exchange on which the common units may from time to time be traded, in the over-the-counter market, in independently negotiated transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at prices otherwise negotiated. The methods by which the common units may be sold include:

        The selling unitholders may effect such transactions by selling the common units to underwriters or to or through broker-dealers, and such underwriters or broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts or commissions from the selling unitholders and may receive commissions from the purchasers of the common units for whom they may act as agent. The selling unitholders may agree to indemnify any underwriter, broker-dealer or agent that participates in transactions involving sales of the common units against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. We have agreed to register the common units for sale under the Securities Act and to indemnify the selling unitholders and each person who participates as an underwriter in the offering of the common units against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act.

        We will pay the costs and expenses of the registration and offering of the common units offered hereby. We will not pay any underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions allocable to a sale of common units by a selling unitholder, which will be paid by the selling unitholder. Broker-dealers may

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act as agent or may purchase common units as principal and thereafter resell the common units from time to time:

        Broker-dealers or underwriters may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agents. If any broker-dealer purchases the securities as principal, it may effect resales of the securities from time to time to or through other broker-dealers, and other broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of concessions or commissions from the purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents.

        In connection with sales of common units under this prospectus, the selling unitholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, who may in turn engage in short sales of the common units in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling unitholders also may sell common units short and deliver them to close out the short positions or loan or pledge the common units to broker-dealers that in turn may sell them.

        From time to time, the selling unitholders may pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in some or all of the securities owned by it. The pledgees, secured parties or persons to whom the securities have been hypothecated will, upon foreclosure in the event of default, be deemed to be selling unitholders. The number of a selling unitholder's securities offered under this prospectus will decrease as and when it takes such actions. The plan of distribution for that selling unitholder's securities will otherwise remain unchanged. In addition, a selling unitholder may, from time to time, sell the securities short, and, in those instances, this prospectus may be delivered in connection with the short sales and the securities offered under this prospectus may be used to cover short sales.

        The selling unitholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of the common units may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act. To the extent a selling unitholder is a broker-dealer, it is, according to SEC interpretation, an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. Underwriters are subject to the prospectus delivery requirements under the Securities Act. If a selling unitholder is deemed to be an underwriter, the selling unitholder may be subject to certain statutory liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

        To the extent required, the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, as well as other important information, will be set forth in one or more prospectus supplements. In that event, the discounts and commissions the selling unitholders will allow or pay to the underwriters, if any, and the discounts and commissions the underwriters may allow or pay to dealers or agents, if any, will be set forth in, or may be calculated from, the prospectus supplements. Any underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents who participate in any sale of the securities may also engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their businesses. We may indemnify underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents against specific liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

        In addition, the selling unitholders may sell common units in compliance with Rule 144, if available, or pursuant to other available exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, rather than pursuant to this prospectus.

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        The selling unitholders and other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities by the selling unitholder and any other person. The anti-manipulation rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of the selling unitholder and its affiliates. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular securities being distributed for a period of up to five business days before the distribution. These restrictions may affect the marketability of the securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities.

        The aggregate maximum compensation the underwriters will receive in connection with the sale of any securities under this prospectus and the registration statement of which it forms a part will not exceed 10% of the gross proceeds from the sale.

        Because FINRA views our common units as interests in a direct participation program, any offering of common units under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part will be made in compliance with Rule 2310 of the FINRA Rules.

        To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered may be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.

        In connection with offerings under this shelf registration and in compliance with applicable law, underwriters, brokers or dealers may engage in transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers or dealers may overallot in connection with offerings, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the purpose of covering a syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the securities, the underwriters, brokers or dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other brokers or dealers for distribution of the securities in offerings may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases the previously distributed securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

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LEGAL MATTERS

        Certain legal matters in connection with the securities will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., New York, New York. Any underwriter or agent will be advised about other issues relating to any offering by its own legal counsel.

        Members of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. involved in this offering beneficially own approximately 3,000 common units representing limited partner interests in us.


EXPERTS

        The consolidated financial statements of Global Partners LP appearing in Global Partners LP's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2014 (including the schedule appearing therein), and the effectiveness of Global Partners LP's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, which conclude, among other things, that Global Partners LP did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, based on Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (1992 framework), because of the effects of the material weakness described therein, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

        The expenses set forth below relate solely to the preparation and filing of this Registration Statement, and we will incur additional expenses in connection with any offering of the securities registered hereunder (all such expenses will be borne by the Partnership). With the exception of the SEC registration fee, all amounts are shown as estimates:

SEC registration fee

  $ 12,866  

Legal fees and expenses

  $ 20,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

  $ 25,000  

Printing and engraving expenses

  $ 5,000  

Miscellaneous

  $ 5,000  

Total

  $ 67,866  

Item 15.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Global GP LLC

        Section 18-108 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act provides that, subject to such standards and restrictions, if any, as are set forth in its limited liability company agreement, a limited liability company may, and shall have the power to, indemnify and hold harmless any member or manager or other person from and against any and all claims and demands whatsoever. The limited liability company agreement of Global GP LLC, the managing general partner of Global Partners LP (the "Company"), provides that the Company will, to the extent deemed advisable by the Company's board of directors, indemnify any person who is or was an officer or director of the Company, the record holder of the Company's voting shares, and any person who is or was an officer, director or affiliate of the record holder of the Company's voting shares, from liabilities arising by reason of such person's status, provided that the indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner which such indemnitee believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such indemnitee's conduct was unlawful. Such liabilities include any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (joint or several), expenses (including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements and other amounts. Officers and directors of the Company are also indemnified by Global Partners LP, as described below.

Global Partners LP

        Under our partnership agreement, in most circumstances, we will indemnify the following persons, to the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against all losses, claims, damages, or similar events:

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        Any indemnification under these provisions will only be out of our assets. Unless it otherwise agrees, our general partner will not be personally liable for, or have any obligation to contribute or loan funds or assets to us to enable us to effectuate, indemnification. We may purchase insurance against liabilities asserted against and expenses incurred by persons for our activities, regardless of whether we would have the power to indemnify the person against liabilities under our partnership agreement.

        Subject to any terms, conditions or restrictions set forth in the partnership agreement, Section 17-108 of the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act empowers a Delaware limited partnership to indemnify and hold harmless any partner or other person from and against all claims and demands whatsoever.

Item 16.    Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

        (a)   Exhibits.    The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration:

Exhibit
Number
  Description
  1.1 ** Form of Underwriting Agreement
        
  3.1   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Global Partners LP, filed on May 10, 2005)
        
  3.2   Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Global Partners LP's Current Report on Form 8-K (Registration No. 001-32593) filed December 15, 2009)
        
  5.1 * Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered
        
  8.1 * Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to tax matters
        
  23.1 * Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
        
  23.2 * Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1)
        
  24.1 * Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this registration statement)

*
Filed herewith.

**
To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or in a post-effective amendment to this registration statement.

Item 17.    Undertakings

        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an

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employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this 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.

        Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of any registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

        The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Waltham, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on November 20, 2015.

    GLOBAL PARTNERS LP

 

 

By:

 

GLOBAL GP LLC
its General Partner

 

 

By:

 

/s/ EDWARD J. FANEUIL

Edward J. Faneuil
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary

        Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Edward J. Faneuil as his or her lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments or post-effective amendments to this registration statement, or any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with exhibits hereto and other documents in connection therewith or in connection with the registration of the securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 20, 2015.

Signature
 
Title

 

 

 
/s/ ERIC SLIFKA

Eric Slifka
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ DAPHNE H. FOSTER

Daphne H. Foster

 

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ CHARLES A. RUDINSKY

Charles A. Rudinsky

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ RICHARD SLIFKA

Richard Slifka

 

Chairman

/s/ ANDREW SLIFKA

Andrew Slifka

 

Executive Vice President, Director

/s/ DAVID K. MCKOWN

David K. McKown

 

Director

/s/ ROBERT J. MCCOOL

Robert J. McCool

 

Director

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Signature
 
Title

 

 

 
/s/ KENNETH I. WATCHMAKER

Kenneth I. Watchmaker
  Director

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
  Description
  1.1 ** Form of Underwriting Agreement
        
  3.1   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Global Partners LP, filed on May 10, 2005)
        
  3.2   Third Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Global Partners LP (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Global Partners LP's Current Report on Form 8-K (Registration No. 001-32593) filed December 15, 2009)
        
  5.1 * Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered
        
  8.1 * Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. as to tax matters
        
  23.1 * Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
        
  23.2 * Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1)
        
  24.1 * Power of Attorney (included on signature page of this registration statement)

*
Filed herewith.

**
To be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or in a post-effective amendment to this registration statement.

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