def14a
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant þ
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
o Preliminary Proxy Statement
o Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
þ Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12
VALERO L.P.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
þ No fee required.
o Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
o Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
o Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its
filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
NOTICE OF CONSENT SOLICITATION
To our Unitholders:
We are soliciting your consent to amend certain provisions of
the Amended and Restated 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan, amended
and restated as of January 26, 2006 (the Plan),
of Valero GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, which
is intended to promote the interests of Valero L.P., a Delaware
limited partnership (we, us, or the
Partnership), by providing to employees and
directors of Valero GP, LLC and its affiliates who perform
services for the Partnership and its subsidiaries incentive
awards.
We are proposing certain amendments (the Proposed
Amendments) that require the approval of the limited
partners of the Partnership (Unitholders). The
Proposed Amendments would, among other things, increase the
number of Units authorized for issuance under the Plan from the
current 250,000 Units (of which 221,556 have been granted to
date) to 1,500,000 Units. The Proposed Amendments are described
in more detail in the accompanying Consent Solicitation
Statement.
Unitholders of record at the close of business on
August 15, 2006 are entitled to receive notice of and to
vote in the Consent Solicitation. We are asking the Unitholders
to consider and vote on the Proposed Amendments as a single
proposal that will require the approval of Unitholders holding a
majority of our common units representing limited partner
interests (Units) outstanding as of the close of
business on the record date. The Board of Directors of Valero
GP, LLC, the general partner of the general partner of Valero
L.P., has voted unanimously to recommend that the Unitholders
vote FOR the Proposed Amendments.
The Proposed Amendments can only be adopted following the
required approval of the Unitholders. Your vote is
important. Failure to return the enclosed Consent form will
have the same effect as a vote against the Proposed Amendments.
We encourage you, therefore, to review the enclosed Consent
Solicitation Statement and to complete, date, sign and mail your
Consent in the enclosed postage-paid envelope, or forward the
enclosed letter of instruction to your broker or nominee, as
soon as possible.
The Consent Solicitation will expire at, and your Consent must
be received by, 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on
September 18, 2006 (the Expiration Date). The
Consent Solicitation may be extended by Valero GP, LLC for a
specified period of time or on a daily basis until the consents
necessary to adopt the Proposed Amendments have been received.
You may revoke your Consent at any time up to 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on the Expiration Date.
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Curtis V. Anastasio |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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Valero GP, LLC |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
One Valero Way
San Antonio, Texas 78249
CONSENT SOLICITATION STATEMENT
This Consent Solicitation Statement is being furnished to the
holders of common units representing limited partner interests
(Units) of Valero L.P. (the Partnership)
as of the close of business on August 15, 2006 (the
Record Date) in connection with the solicitation
(the Solicitation) of consents of the holders of
Units (Unitholders) to approve Proposed Amendments
(as defined below under The Plan and Proposed
Amendments) to the Valero GP, LLC Amended and Restated
2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan). This
Consent Solicitation Statement and the enclosed form of Consent
are being mailed to Unitholders on or about August 18, 2006.
The enclosed consent is being solicited by and on behalf of the
Board of Directors of Valero GP, LLC, the general partner of
Riverwalk Logistics, L.P., the general partner of the
Partnership. The Proposed Amendments will be considered and
voted on by Unitholders as a single proposal. A copy of the Plan
containing the Proposed Amendments is attached to this Consent
Solicitation Statement as Appendix A.
Only Unitholders of record at the close of business on the
Record Date are entitled to vote on the Proposed Amendments.
Adoption of the Proposed Amendments requires the receipt of
affirmative consents of Unitholders holding a majority of the
Units outstanding.
The Proposed Amendments have been approved unanimously by the
Board of Directors of Valero GP, LLC as being in the best
interests of the Partnership and the Unitholders. The Board
of Directors of Valero GP, LLC unanimously recommends that you
vote FOR the Proposed Amendments.
This Solicitation will expire at, and your consent must be
received by, 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on September 18,
2006 (the Expiration Date). Valero GP, LLC may
extend this Solicitation for a specified period of time or on a
daily basis until the consents necessary to adopt the Proposed
Amendments have been received. You may revoke your consent at
any time before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Expiration
Date.
If you have any questions about this Consent Solicitation
Statement, please call Bradley C. Barron, Valero GP, LLCs
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at
(210) 345-2000.
This Consent Solicitation Statement is dated August 18,
2006.
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this document
and may not contain all of the information that is important to
you. To understand the Proposed Amendments fully and for a more
detailed description of the specific steps involved, you should
read this entire document carefully (including its appendices).
The Partnership
Valero L.P. is a publicly traded limited partnership formed in
1999 under the laws of the State of Delaware and is based in
San Antonio, Texas. It is engaged in the crude oil and
refined product transportation, terminalling and storage
business. The Partnership operates independent terminals and
petroleum liquids pipeline systems in the United States and also
operates terminals in the Netherlands Antilles, Canada, Mexico,
the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The Partnerships operations are managed by Valero GP, LLC.
Valero GP, LLC is the general partner of Riverwalk Logistics,
L.P., the Partnerships general partner. Valero GP, LLC is
a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero GP Holdings, LLC
(Valero GP Holdings), a publicly traded Delaware
limited liability company. Valero GP Holdings indirectly owns
the 2% general partner interest in the Partnership, 100% of the
incentive distribution rights, and a 21.4% limited partner
interest in the Partnership represented by 10,221,291 Units. On
July 19, 2006, in an underwritten public offering,
affiliates of Valero Energy Corporation sold
17,250,000 units representing limited partner interests in
Valero GP Holdings to the public. As a result, Valero Energy
Corporation now owns 59.4% of the membership interests in Valero
GP Holdings and the public owns 40.6%.
The Partnership conducts its operations through its wholly owned
subsidiaries, primarily, Valero Logistics Operations, L.P. and
Kaneb Pipe Line Operating Partnership, L.P. The Partnership has
four business segments: refined product terminals, refined
product terminals, crude oil pipelines and crude oil storage
tanks.
The Plan
The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Partnership
by providing employees and directors of Valero GP, LLC and its
affiliates who perform services for the Partnership and its
subsidiaries incentive awards for superior performance that are
based on Units. The Plan is also intended to enhance Valero GP,
LLCs and its affiliates ability to attract and
retain employees whose services are key to the growth and
profitability of the Partnership, and to encourage them to
devote their best efforts to the business of the Partnership,
thereby advancing the Partnerships interests. The Plan
provides for the grant of options to acquire Units, the grant of
restricted Units, distribution equivalent rights and cash awards.
The Proposed Amendments
The Proposed Amendments would amend the Plan to:
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increase the number of Units authorized for issuance under the
Plan from 250,000 Units (of which 221,556 have been granted
to date) to 1,500,000 Units; |
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permit the cashless-broker exercise of options; |
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provide that if an award under the Plan expires, is cancelled,
exercised, paid or otherwise terminates without the delivery of
Units then the Units covered by such award, to the extent of
such expiration, cancellation, exercise, payment or termination,
shall again be Units with respect to which awards under the Plan
may be granted; |
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amend the Plan to meet the requirements of, and facilitate
compliance with, Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code
(the Code); and |
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amend the definition of Change of Control to reflect
that as a result its recently completed initial public offering,
Valero GP Holdings is now the 100% owner of the general partner
of the Partnership. |
Required Vote
The Proposed Amendments will be considered and voted on by
Unitholders as a single proposal. Adoption of the Proposed
Amendments requires the receipt of affirmative consents of
Unitholders holding a majority of the Units outstanding.
Interest of Directors and Executive Officers
Members of the Board of Directors and executive officers of
Valero GP, LLC and its affiliates are eligible to receive grants
of Unit options, restricted Units and other awards under the
Plan. The Proposed Amendments do not change these eligibility
requirements. Accordingly, the members of the Board of Directors
and the executive officers of the Valero GP, LLC do have a
substantial interest in the passage of the Proposed Amendments.
THE PLAN AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
Approval of the Valero GP, LLC Amended and Restated 2000
Long-Term Incentive Plan
Valero GP, LLC maintains the Valero GP, LLC Amended and Restated
2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The Board of Directors (the
Board) of Valero GP, LLC, the general partner of
Riverwalk Logistics, L.P., the Partnerships general
partner, approved an amendment and restatement of the Plan that,
assuming it is approved by the Unitholders as a result of this
Solicitation, will be effective as of October 1, 2006. The
amendments contained in the amended and restated Plan are
referred to in this document as the Proposed
Amendments. The essential features of the Plan, as amended
by the Proposed Amendments, are summarized below.
Proposed Amendments
The Proposed Amendments would amend the Plan to:
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increase the number of Units authorized for issuance under the
Plan from 250,000 Units (of which 221,556 have been granted
to date) to 1,500,000 Units; |
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permit the cashless-broker exercise of options; |
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provide that if an award under the Plan expires, is cancelled,
exercised, paid or otherwise terminates without the delivery of
Units then the Units covered by such award, to the extent of
such expiration, cancellation, exercise, payment or termination,
shall again be Units with respect to which awards under the Plan
may be granted; |
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amend the Plan to meet the requirements of, and facilitate
compliance with, Section 409A of the Code; and |
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amend the definition of Change of Control to reflect
that as a result its recently completed initial public offering,
Valero GP Holdings is now the 100% owner of the general partner
of the Partnership. |
Purpose
The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Partnership
by providing to employees and directors of Valero GP, LLC and
its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership and its
subsidiaries incentive awards for superior performance that are
based on Units. The Plan is also intended to enhance Valero GP,
LLCs and its affiliates ability to attract and
retain employees whose services are key to the
3
growth and profitability of the Partnership, and to encourage
them to devote their best efforts to the business of the
Partnership, thereby advancing the Partnerships interests.
The Partnership is seeking Unitholder approval of the Proposed
Amendments in order to comply with New York Stock Exchange
requirements.
Plan Provisions
The Plan provides for the grant of options to acquire Units and
restricted Units. The Plan also provides for Performance Awards
in the form of cash or units. In certain cases restricted Units
may be granted in tandem with a distribution equivalent right,
or DER, which is a contingent right to receive an amount in cash
equal to the cash distributions made by the Partnership with
respect to a Unit during the period such restricted Unit is
outstanding.
Administration. The Plan is administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee of
the Board appointed to administer the Plan (the
Committee). Annual grant levels for participants in
the Plan are recommended by the Chief Executive Officer of
Valero GP, LLC, subject to the review and approval of the
Committee.
Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee is
authorized to (i) designate participants in the Plan;
(ii) determine the type or types of awards to be granted to
a participant; (iii) determine the number of Units to be
covered by an award; (iv) determine the terms and
conditions of any award; (v) determine whether, to what
extent, and under what circumstances awards may be settled,
exercised, canceled or forfeited; (vi) interpret and
administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to
an award made under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend,
suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such
agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper
administration of the Plan; and (viii) make any other
determination and take any other action that the Committee deems
necessary for the administration of the Plan.
Units Available for Awards. The common units of the
Partnership subject to awards under the Plan are Units. The
number of Units issuable under the Plan will be 1,500,000,
(pending receipt of affirmative consent of Unitholders holding a
majority of the Units outstanding) subject to certain
adjustments, as provided below. If an award is forfeited or
otherwise expires without the delivery of Units to the
participant, the Units subject to the forfeiture, termination,
or cancellation will again be available for subsequent grant
under the Plan. If the Committee determines that any
distribution, recapitalization, split, reverse split,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off,
combination, repurchase or exchange of Units or other securities
of the Partnership, issuance of warrants or other rights to
purchase Units or other securities of the Partnership, or other
similar transaction or event affects the Units such that an
adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in
order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan,
then the Committee may adjust (1) the number and type of
Units with respect to which awards may be granted; (2) the
number and type of Units subject to outstanding awards; and
(3) if deemed appropriate, make a provision for a cash
payment to the holder of an outstanding award. The number of
Units subject to an award is required to be a whole number.
Eligibility. As determined by the Committee, any employee
or director of Valero GP, LLC or an Affiliate is eligible to
receive awards under the Plan. An Affiliate
generally means an entity controlled by or under common control
with Valero GP, LLC. The terms and conditions of awards need not
be the same with respect to each participant. The grant of an
award does not give a participant the right to be retained in
the employ of Valero GP, LLC or any of its Affiliates or to
remain on the Board.
Awards. Awards under the Plan may, in the discretion of
the Committee, be granted alone or in addition to, or in tandem
with, any other award granted under the Plan. In addition to
Performance Cash,
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which is a cash award conditioned upon the attainment of one or
more performance goals, the Plan provides that the following
awards may be granted:
Options. The Committee has the authority to determine the
employees and directors to whom options shall be granted, the
number of Units to be covered by each option, the purchase price
for each option and the conditions and limitations applicable to
the exercise of the option.
Each option granted under the Plan will be evidenced by a grant
agreement in such form as the Committee prescribes, which sets
forth the terms of the option and the rights and obligations of
the Partnership and the participant.
In general, the Plan provides that the option price per Unit may
not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a Unit on the
date of the option grant.
The Committee also determines the restricted period (the time or
times at which an option may be exercised in whole or in part)
and the method or methods by which a participant may pay the
exercise price.
Once an option (or any portion) becomes vested in accordance
with the foregoing schedule, the option (or such portion)
remains exercisable for a period of ten years from the date of
vesting, or for a shorter period specified by the Committee or
the grant agreement.
An option is not assignable or transferable by the participant
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
During the lifetime of the participant, an option is exercisable
only by the participant. The Plan provides that options may be
exercised in certain circumstances following a
participants termination of employment, including
termination as a result of the participants death,
disability or retirement.
No participant will have any rights of a Unitholder with respect
to any Units covered by an option until the participant has
exercised the option, paid the option purchase price and has
been issued such Units.
Restricted Units. The Committee has the authority to
determine the employees and directors to whom restricted Units
shall be granted, the number of restricted Units to be granted
to each such participant, the duration of the restricted period
(if any) and the conditions under which the restricted Units may
vest (which may be immediate upon the grant of the restricted
Unit, or may be Performance Units, which is a Unit conditioned
upon the attainment of one or more performance goals). The
Committee may also include a tandem grant of a DER that entitles
the participant to receive cash equal to any cash distributions
made on Units prior to the vesting of the restricted Units,
which may be paid directly to the participant, be credited to a
bookkeeping account or be subject to additional restrictions
determined by the Committee.
Each restricted Unit granted under the Plan will be evidenced by
a grant agreement in such form as the Committee prescribes,
which sets forth the terms of the option and the rights and
obligations of the Partnership and the participant.
A restricted Unit is not assignable or transferable by the
participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. During the lifetime of the participant, a
restricted Unit is exercisable only by the participant. The Plan
provides that restricted Units may vest in certain circumstances
following a participants termination of employment,
including termination as a result of the participants
death, disability or retirement.
Change or Control or Sale of Significant Assets. Upon a
change of control of Valero GP Holdings or Valero GP, LLC, all
awards granted under the Plan automatically vest and become
payable or exercisable, as the case may be, in full.
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A change of control occurs upon one or more of the
following events:
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(1) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one
transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or
substantially all of the assets of Valero GP, LLC or the
Partnership to any person or its affiliates, unless immediately
following such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer such
assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by Valero GP Holdings
and its affiliates or by Valero GP, LLC; |
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(2) the consolidation or merger of the Partnership or
Valero GP, LLC with or into another entity pursuant to a
transaction in which the outstanding voting interests of Valero
GP, LLC is changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or
other property, other than any such transaction where: |
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(a) all outstanding voting interests of Valero GP, LLC are
changed into or exchanged for voting stock or interests of the
surviving corporation or entity or its parent and |
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(b) the holders of the voting interests of Valero GP, LLC
immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or
indirectly, not less than a majority of the voting stock or
interests of the surviving corporation or entity or its parent
immediately after such transaction and, in the case of the
Partnership, Valero GP Holdings retains operational control,
whether by way of holding a general partner interest, managing
member interest or a majority of the outstanding voting
interests of the surviving corporation or entity or its parent; |
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(3) a person or group becomes a beneficial owner of more
than 50% of all voting interests of Valero GP, LLC or
Valero GP Holdings then outstanding; or |
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(4) in the case of Valero GP Holdings, the consummation of
a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other form of
business transaction or series of business transactions, in each
case, with respect to which more than 50% of the voting power of
the outstanding equity interests in Valero GP Holdings cease to
be owned by the persons who owned such interests immediately
prior to such reorganization, merger or other form of business
transaction or series of business transactions. |
In the event Valero GP, LLC or the Partnership sells or
otherwise disposes of a significant portion of the assets under
its control, and as a consequence of the disposition (1) a
participants employment is terminated by the Partnership,
Valero GP, LLC or their Affiliates without cause or by the
participant for good reason or (2) as a result of such sale
or disposition, the participants employer shall no longer
be the Partnership, Valero GP, LLC or one of their Affiliates,
then all of such participants awards under the Plan shall
automatically vest and become payable or exercisable, as the
case may be, in full.
Amendment and Termination. The Committee has authority to
amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan except
to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the rules of the
New York Stock Exchange, the principal securities exchange on
which the Units are traded. The Committee may waive any
conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any
award granted.
Federal Tax Consequences
The following is a general description of the federal income tax
consequences of options and the restricted Units granted under
the Plan. It is a general summary only. In particular, this
general description does not discuss the applicability of the
income tax laws of any state or foreign country.
Options granted under the Plan are non-statutory options under
the Code. There are no federal income tax consequences to
participants, the Partnership or Valero GP, LLC upon the grant
of an option under the Plan. Generally, upon the exercise of
options, participants will recognize ordinary compensation
income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value
of the Units at the time of exercise over the purchase price of
the option. The participant will recognize ordinary compensation
income when distribution equivalents are paid to the
participant. The Partnership generally will be entitled to a
corresponding federal income tax deduction.
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Upon the sale of Units acquired by exercise of an option, a
participant generally will have gain or loss (which may consist
of both ordinary and capital gain and loss elements depending
upon the Partnerships taxable income and loss during the
period in which the Units were held). The participants
adjusted tax basis in the Units will be the purchase price plus
the amount of ordinary income recognized by the participant at
the time of exercise of the option, adjusted for intervening
Partnership gains or losses and distributions.
New Plan Benefits
Because the Plan is discretionary, benefits or amounts to be
received by individual grantees in the future are not
determinable. The following table sets forth information
concerning the option and restricted unit awards made during
2005 pursuant to the Valero GP, LLC Amended and Restated 2000
Long-Term Incentive Plan to (a) the chief executive officer
and the four most highly compensated officers as of the end of
the last fiscal year, (b) all current executive officers as
a group, (c) all current directors who are not executive
officers as a group, and (d) all employees, including all
current officers and directors who are not executive officers,
as a group.
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Units | |
Name and Position |
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Restricted Units | |
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Underlying Options | |
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Curtis V. Anastasio
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4,500 |
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13,450 |
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Steven A. Blank
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2,420 |
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7,225 |
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James R. Bluntzer
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1,810 |
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0 |
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Brad R. Ramsey
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1,890 |
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0 |
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Rodney L. Reese
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0 |
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0 |
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Executive Group(1)
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13,030 |
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25,075 |
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Non-Executive Director Group
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1,008 |
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0 |
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Non-Executive Officer Employee Group
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2,222 |
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0 |
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(1) |
The current executive officers are: Curtis V. Anastasio, Steven
A. Blank, James R. Bluntzer, Mary F. Morgan, Thomas R. Shoaf,
and Bradley C. Barron. |
Options Granted Under the Plan
As of August 15, 2006, out of the 250,000 Units
authorized for grant under the Plan, an aggregate of
220,890 Units (net of cancellations) subject to options had
been awarded, and 29,110 Units remained available for
grant. If the Proposed Amendments to the Plan are approved, the
total number of Units that may be issued will be
1,500,000 Units, meaning that 1,529,110 Units will be
available for grant under the Plan, as amended by the Proposed
Amendments.
No grants have been made that are subject to Unitholder approval
of the Proposed Amendments to the Plan. Because grants under the
Plan are discretionary, it is not possible at present to predict
the number of grants or the persons to whom grants will be made
in the future under the Plan.
The last sales price of the Partnerships Units on
August 17, 2006 was $49.97 per Unit.
Text of the Plan
The full text of the Plan, marked to show the Proposed
Amendments, is attached as Appendix A to this Consent
Solicitation Statement. The statements made in this Consent
Solicitation Statement with respect to the Proposed Amendments
should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their
entirety by reference to, the full text of the Plan attached as
Appendix A to this Consent Solicitation Statement.
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THE CONSENT SOLICITATION
Voting Securities, Record Date and Outstanding Units
This Solicitation is being made pursuant to the provisions of
Section 16.10 of the Third Amended and Restated Agreement
of Limited Partnership of Valero L.P., as amended (the
Partnership Agreement) and is subject to the
conditions in this Consent Solicitation Statement and the
accompanying form of Consent. No meeting of the Unitholders is
contemplated to be held for the purpose of considering the
Proposed Amendments. Only record holders of Units at the close
of business on August 15, 2006 will be taken into account
for the purpose of determining whether the requisite approval of
the Proposed Amendments has been obtained. Each Unitholder
entitled to vote shall have one vote for each Unit outstanding
in such Unitholders name.
On the Record Date, there were a total of 46,809,749 Units
outstanding, which were held by approximately
745 Unitholders of record.
Consent and Revocation of Consent
The Partnership will accept forms of Consent at any time before
5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the Expiration Date, which is
September 18, 2006. The enclosed form of Consent, when
properly completed and returned, will constitute a
Unitholders consent, or the withholding of consent, to the
approval of the Proposed Amendments in accordance with the
instructions contained therein. If a Unitholder executes and
returns a form of Consent and does not specify otherwise, the
Units represented by such form of Consent will be voted
for approval of the Proposed Amendments in
accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Directors of
Valero GP, LLC.
A Unitholder who has executed and returned a form of Consent may
revoke it at any time before 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on
the Expiration Date by (i) executing and returning a form
of Consent bearing a later date, or (ii) filing written
notice of such revocation with the Secretary of Valero GP, LLC
stating that the form of Consent is revoked. Any such written
notice or later dated form of Consent should be sent to the
principal executive offices of the Partnership at
One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249, Attention:
Bradley C. Barron, Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary of Valero GP, LLC.
Required Vote
The Proposed Amendments require the approval of holders of a
majority of the outstanding Units as of the close of business on
the Record Date.
Because the approval of holders of a majority of the outstanding
Units is required to approve the Proposed Amendments, not
returning the form of consent will have the same effect as a
vote against the Proposed Amendments.
Valero GP Holdings, the owner of Valero GP, LLC, beneficially
owned 10,221,291 Units as of the Record Date (approximately
21.8 percent of the Units outstanding). Valero GP Holdings
and each executive officer and director of Valero GP, LLC who
holds Units has advised the Board that it intends to consent, as
to the Units it owns, to the Proposed Amendments. Therefore, in
addition to the Units held by Valero GP Holdings and the
executive officers and directors of Valero GP, LLC, the consent
of holders of an additional 13,183,584 Units (representing
28.2% of the Units outstanding) is required to approve the
Proposed Amendments. For further information concerning the
ownership of Units by Valero GP Holdings and Valero GP,
LLCs executive officers and directors, see Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management on
page 10.
Solicitation of Consents
The cost of soliciting consents will be borne by the
Partnership. To assist in the solicitation of consents, the
Partnership has engaged Georgeson Inc. for a fee of
approximately $8,500, plus reasonable
8
out-of-pocket expenses.
In addition, the Partnership will reimburse brokers, banks and
other persons holding Units in their names, or in the names of
nominees, for their expenses in sending these Solicitation
materials to beneficial owners.
Other than as discussed above, the Partnership has made no
arrangements and has no understanding with any independent
dealer, salesman or other person regarding the solicitation of
consents hereunder, and no person has been authorized by the
Partnership to give any information or to make any
representation in connection with the solicitation of consents
to the Proposed Amendments, other than those contained herein
and, if given or made, such other information or representations
must not be relied upon as having been authorized. In addition
to solicitations by mail, consents may be solicited by
directors, officers and other employees of Valero GP, LLC and
the Partnership, who will receive no additional compensation
therefor, and by representatives of Georgeson Inc.
No Appraisal Rights
Unitholders who object to the Proposed Amendments and the
resulting changes to the Plan will have no appraisal,
dissenters or similar rights (i.e., the right to seek a
judicial determination of the fair value of their
Units and to compel the purchase of their Units for cash in that
amount) under Delaware law or the Partnership Agreement, nor
will such rights be voluntarily accorded to holders of Units by
the Partnership. Thus, approval of the Proposed Amendments by
holders of a majority of the outstanding Units will be binding
on all holders of Units, and objecting holders of Units will
have no alternative other than selling their Units prior to the
effective date of the Proposed Amendments.
Notice to Unitholders
The Partnership will notify Unitholders of the results of this
Solicitation promptly after the Expiration Date.
INTEREST OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS
Members of the Board of Directors and executive officers of
Valero GP, LLC and its Affiliates are eligible to receive grants
of Unit options and restricted Units under the Plan. The
Proposed Amendments do not change these eligibility
requirements. Accordingly, the members of the Board of Directors
and the executive officers of Valero GP, LLC do have a
substantial interest in the passage of the Proposed Amendments.
9
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The following table sets forth ownership of Valero L.P. common
units and Valero GP Holdings units by directors and executive
officers of Valero GP, LLC as of July 20, 2006. Unless
otherwise indicated in the notes to the table, each of the named
persons and members of the group has sole voting and investment
power with respect to the common units and units shown:
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|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Valero | |
|
Valero | |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GP Holdings | |
|
GP Holdings | |
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Units | |
|
Units Under | |
|
Percentage of | |
|
Units | |
|
Units under | |
|
Percentage of | |
|
|
Beneficially | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Outstanding | |
|
Beneficially | |
|
Exercisable | |
|
Outstanding | |
Name of Beneficial Owner(a) |
|
Owned(b)(c) | |
|
Options(d) | |
|
Units(b) | |
|
Owned(e) | |
|
Options(f) | |
|
Units | |
|
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| |
|
| |
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| |
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| |
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| |
|
| |
William E. Greehey
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97,009 |
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* |
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|
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455,000 |
|
|
|
|
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|
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1.07 |
% |
Curtis V. Anastasio
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28,706 |
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30,645 |
|
|
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* |
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17,400 |
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* |
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J. Dan Bates
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532 |
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* |
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1,000 |
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* |
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Dan J. Hill
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2,329 |
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* |
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5,000 |
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* |
|
Gregory C. King
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10,215 |
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* |
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5,000 |
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* |
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William R. Klesse
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27,132 |
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* |
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0 |
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* |
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Stan McLelland
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741 |
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* |
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10,000 |
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* |
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Rodman D. Patton
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9,479 |
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* |
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10,000 |
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* |
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Steven A. Blank
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18,638 |
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11,521 |
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* |
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15,000 |
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* |
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James R. Bluntzer
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3,885 |
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6,065 |
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* |
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6,000 |
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* |
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Brad R. Ramsey
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2,697 |
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240 |
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* |
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0 |
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* |
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Rodney L. Reese
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7,937 |
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3,143 |
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* |
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4,000 |
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* |
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All directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)
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207,312 |
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51,614 |
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0.55 |
% |
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528,400 |
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1.24 |
% |
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* |
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Indicates that the percentage of beneficial ownership does not
exceed 1% of the class. |
|
(a) |
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The business address for all beneficial owners listed above is
One Valero Way, San Antonio, Texas 78249. |
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(b) |
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As of July 20, 2006, 46,809,749 common units were issued
and outstanding. No executive officer or director owns any class
of equity securities of Valero L.P. other than common units. The
calculation for Percentage of Outstanding common units includes
common units listed under the captions Units Beneficially
Owned and Units under Exercisable Options. |
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(c) |
|
Includes restricted common units issued under Valero L.P.s
long-term incentive plans. Restricted common units granted under
Valero GP, LLCs long-term incentive plans may not be
disposed of until vested. Does not include common units that
could be acquired under options, which information is set forth
in the next column. |
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(d) |
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Consisting of common units that may be acquired within
60 days of July 20, 2006 through the exercise of
common unit options. |
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(e) |
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As of July 20, 2006, 42,500,000 units of Valero GP
Holdings were issued and outstanding. No executive officer or
director owns any class of equity securities of Valero GP
Holdings other than units. The calculation for Percentage of
Outstanding Units includes units listed under the captions
Valero GP Holdings Units Beneficially Owned and
Valero GP Holdings Units under Exercisable Options. |
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(f) |
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Consisting of units that may be acquired within 60 days of
July 20, 2006 through the exercise of stock options. Such
units may not be voted unless the options are exercised. Options
that may become exercisable within such
60-day period only in
the event of a change of control of Valero GP Holdings are
excluded. Except as set forth herein, none of the current
executive officers or directors of Valero GP, LLC hold any
rights to acquire Valero GP Holdings units, except through
exercise of stock options. |
10
Except as otherwise indicated, the following table sets forth
certain information as of July 20, 2006 with respect to
each entity known to Valero L.P. to be the beneficial owner of
more than 5% of its outstanding common units.
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Percentage of | |
Name and Address of Beneficial Owners |
|
Common Units | |
|
Common Units(b) | |
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| |
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| |
Valero GP Holdings, LLC(a)
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10,221,291 |
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21.8% |
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One Valero Way
San Antonio, Texas 78249 |
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(a) |
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Valero GP Holdings, through its wholly owned subsidiaries,
Valero GP, LLC and Riverwalk Holdings, LLC, owns the common
units. Valero GP Holdings shares voting and investment power
with its wholly owned subsidiaries with respect to the common
units. Valero GP Holdings is owned 59.4% by subsidiaries of
Valero Energy Corporation and 40.6% by the public. |
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(b) |
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Assumes 46,809,749 common units outstanding. |
PLEASE NOTE:
Attached as Appendix A is a copy of the Plan, marked to
show the Proposed Amendments. The redlining shows text proposed
to be deleted with a line through it and text proposed to be
added as bolded.
Your Consent is important, regardless of the number of Units
you own.
Accordingly, please complete, sign and return your Consent
promptly.
11
Appendix A
VALERO GP, LLC
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Amended and Restated
as of January
26,[October 1],
2006
Section 1. Purpose
of the Plan
The Valero GP, LLC 2000 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
Plan) is intended to promote the interests of
Valero L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the
Partnership), by providing to employees and
directors of Valero GP, LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company (the Company), and its Affiliates who
perform services for the Partnership and its subsidiaries
Unit-based incentive awards for superior performance. The Plan
is also intended to enhance the Companys and its
Affiliates ability to attract and retain employees whose
services are key to the growth and profitability of the
Partnership, and to encourage them to devote their best efforts
to the business of the Partnership, thereby advancing the
Partnerships interests.
Section 2. Definitions
As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
set forth below:
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2.1 Affiliate
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries,
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the
Person in question. As used herein, the term control
means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of a
Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by
contract or otherwise.
Notwithstanding
the immediately preceding two sentences, to the extent that
Section 409A of the Code applies to Options or other
equity-based Awards granted under the Plan, the term
Affiliate means all persons with whom the Company
could be considered a single employer under Section 414(b)
or Section (c) of the Code, substituting (for the
purpose of determining whether Options or other equity-based
Awards that may be subject to Section 409A of the Code are
derived in respect of Units of the service recipient in order to
comply with any applicable requirements of
Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(iii) of the proposed regulations
issued under Section 409A of the Code or any successor
regulation or other regulatory guidance relating thereto)
20 percent in place of
80 percent in determining a controlled group
under Section 414(b) of the Code and in determining trades
or businesses that are under common control for purposes of
Section 414(c) of the Code.
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2.2 Award means
a grant of one or more Options, Performance Units, Performance
Cash or Restricted Units pursuant to the Plan, and any tandem
DERs granted with respect to such Award. |
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2.3 Board means
the Board of Directors of the Company. |
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2.4 Cause shall
mean the (i) conviction of the Participant by a state or
federal court of a felony involving moral turpitude,
(ii) conviction of the Participant by a state or federal
court of embezzlement or misappropriation of funds of the
Company, (iii) the Companys (or applicable
Affiliates) reasonable determination that the Participant
has committed an act of fraud, embezzlement, theft, or
misappropriation of funds in connection with such
Participants duties in the course of his or her employment
with the Company (or applicable Affiliate), (iv) the
Companys (or its applicable Affiliates) reasonable
determination that the Participant has engaged in gross
mismanagement, negligence or misconduct which causes or could
potentially cause material loss, damage or injury to the
Company, any of its Affiliates or their respective employees, or
(v) the Companys (or applicable Affiliates)
reasonable determination that (a) the Participant has
violated any policy of the Company (or applicable Affiliate),
including but not limited to, policies regarding sexual
harassment, insider trading, confidentiality, substance abuse
and/or conflicts of interest, which violation could result in
the termination of the Participants employment or service
as a non-employee Director of the |
A-1
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Company (or applicable Affiliate), or (b) the Participant has
failed to satisfactorily perform the material duties of
Participants position with the Company or any of its
Affiliates. |
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2.5 Change of
Control means, and shall be deemed to have occurred
upon the occurrence of one or more of the following events:
(i) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one
transaction or a series of related transactions) of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company or the
Partnership to any Person or its Affiliates, unless immediately
following such sale, lease, exchange or other transfer such
assets are owned, directly or indirectly, by Valero
Energy
CorporationGP
Holdings, LLC and its Affiliates or the Company;
(ii) the consolidation or merger of the Partnership or the
Company with or into another Person pursuant to a transaction in
which the outstanding voting interests of the Company are
changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or other
property, other than any such transaction where, in the case of
the Company, (a) all outstanding voting interests of the
Company are changed into or exchanged for voting stock or
interests of the surviving corporation or entity or its parent
and (b) the holders of the voting interests of the Company
immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or
indirectly, not less than a majority of the voting stock or
interests of the surviving corporation or entity or its parent
immediately after such transaction and, in the case of the
Partnership, Valero Energy
CorporationGP
Holdings, LLC retains operational control, whether by
way of holding a general partner interest, managing member
interest or a majority of the outstanding voting interests of
the surviving corporation or entity or its parent;
Valero GP
Holdings, LLC or (iii) a person or
group (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) or
14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) being or becoming the
beneficial owner (as defined in
Rules 13d-3 and
13d-5 under the
Exchange Act) of more than 50% of all voting interests of
Valero GP
Holdings, LLC or the Company then outstanding, other
than, in the
case of the Company, (a) in a merger or
consolidation which would not constitute a Change of Control
under clause (ii) above and (b) Valero Energy
Corporation and its
Affiliates;
or (iv) in the case of Valero GP Holdings, LLC, the
consummation of a reorganization, merger, consolidation or other
form of business transaction or series of business transactions,
in each case, with respect to which more than 50% of the voting
power of the outstanding equity interests in Valero GP Holdings,
LLC cease to be owned by the persons who owned such interests
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, consolidation
or other form of business transaction or series of business
transactions. |
Solely with
respect to any Award that is subject to Section 409A of the
Code and to the extent that the definition of change of control
under Section 409A applies to limited liability companies,
this definition is intended to comply with the definition of
change of control under Section 409A of the Code and, to
the extent that the above definition does not so comply, such
definition shall be void and of no effect and, to the extent
required to ensure that this definition complies with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the definition of
such term set forth in regulations or other regulatory guidance
issued under Section 409A of the Code by the appropriate
governmental authority is hereby incorporated by reference into
and shall form part of this Plan as fully as if set forth herein
verbatim and the Plan shall be operated in accordance with the
above definition of Change of Control as modified to the extent
necessary to ensure that the above definition complies with the
definition prescribed in such regulations or other regulatory
guidance insofar as the definition relates to any Award that is
subject to Section 409A of the Code.
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2.6 Code
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
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2.7 2.6Committee
means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other
committee of the Board appointed to administer the Plan. |
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2.8 2.7Covered
Participants means a Participant who is a
covered employee as defined in
Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, and the regulations
promulgated thereunder, and any individual the Committee
determines should be treated like such a covered employee. |
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2.9 2.8Date
of Grant means the effective date on which an Award is
made to a Participant as set forth in the applicable Award
Agreement. |
A-2
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2.102.9 DER
means a contingent right, granted in tandem with a specific
Award, to receive an amount in cash equal to the cash
distributions made by the Partnership with respect to a Unit
during the period such Award is outstanding. |
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2.112.10 Director
means a non-employee director of the Company, as
defined in
Rule 16b-3. |
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2.122.11 Employee
means any employee of the Company or an Affiliate, as determined
by the Committee. |
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2.132.12 Exchange
Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. |
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2.142.13 Fair
Market Value means the closing sales price of a Unit
on the New York Stock Exchange on the applicable date (or if
there is no trading in the Units on such date, on the next
preceding date on which there was trading). If Units are not
publicly traded at the time a determination of fair market value
is required to be made hereunder, the determination of fair
market value shall be made in good faith by the Committee. |
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2.152.14 Good
Reason means: |
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(i) a reduction in the Participants annual base
salary; |
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(ii) failure to pay the Participant any compensation due
under an employment agreement, if any; |
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(iii) failure to continue to provide benefits substantially
similar to those then enjoyed by the Participant unless the
Partnership, the Company or their Affiliates provide aggregate
benefits equivalent to those then in effect; or |
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(iv) failure to continue a compensation plan or to continue
the Participants participation in a plan on a basis not
materially less favorable to the Participant, subject to the
power of the Partnership, the Company or their Affiliates to
amend such plans in their reasonable discretion; or |
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(v) the Partnership, the Company or their Affiliates
purported termination of the Participants employment for
Cause or disability not pursuant to a procedure indicating the
specific provision of the definition of Cause contained in this
Plan as the basis for such termination of employment; |
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The Participant may not terminate for Good Reason unless he has
given written notice delivered to the Partnership, the Company
or their Affiliates, as appropriate, of the action or inaction
giving rise to Good Reason, and if such action or inaction is
not corrected within thirty (30) days thereafter, such
notice to state with specificity the nature of the breach,
failure or refusal. |
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2.162.15 Option
means an option to purchase Units as described in
Section 6.1. |
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2.172.16 Participant
means any Employee or Director granted an Award under the Plan. |
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2.182.17 Performance
Award means an Award made pursuant to this Plan to a
Participant which Award is subject to the attainment of one or
more Performance Goals. Performance Awards may be in the form of
either Performance Units, Performance Cash or DERs. |
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2.192.18 Performance
Cash means an Award, designated as Performance Cash
and denominated in cash, granted to a Participant pursuant to
Section 6.4 hereof, the value of which is conditioned, in
whole or in part, by the attainment of Performance Goals in a
manner deemed appropriate by the Committee and described in the
Award agreement. |
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2.202.19 Performance
Criteria or Performance Goals or
Performance Measures mean the objectives established
by the Committee for a Performance Period, for the purpose of
determining when an Award subject to such objectives is earned. |
A-3
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2.212.20 Performance
Period means the time period designated by the Committee
during which performance goals must be met.
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2.222.21 Performance
Unit means an Award, designated as a Performance Unit in
the form of Units or other securities of the Company, granted to
a Participant pursuant to Section 6.4 hereof, the value of
which is determined, in whole or in part, by the value of Units
and/or conditioned on the attainment of Performance Goals in a
manner deemed appropriate by the Committee and described in the
Award agreement. |
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2.232.22 Person
means an individual or a corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization,
association, government agency or political subdivision thereof
or other entity. |
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2.242.23 Restricted
Period means the period established by the Committee with
respect to the vesting of an Award during which the Award either
remains subject to forfeiture or is not exercisable by the
Participant. |
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2.252.24 Restricted
Unit means a phantom unit granted under the Plan which is
equivalent in value and in divided and interest rights to a
Unit, and which upon or following vesting entitles the
Participant to receive a Unit. |
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2.262.25 Rule 16b-3
means Rule 16b-3
promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor
rule or regulation thereof as in effect from time to time.
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2.272.26 SEC
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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2.282.27 Unit
means a common unit of the Partnership.
|
Section 3. Administration.
Annual grant levels for Participants will be recommended by the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, subject to the review
and approval of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by
the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a
quorum, and the acts of the members of the Committee who are
present at any meeting thereof at which a quorum is present, or
acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in
writing, shall be the acts of the Committee. Subject to the
terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other
express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by
the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to:
(i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or
types of Awards to be granted to a Participant;
(iii) determine the number of Units to be covered by
Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any
Award (including but not limited to performance requirements for
such Award); (v) determine whether, to what extent, and
under what circumstances Awards may be settled, exercised,
canceled, or forfeited; (vi) interpret and administer the
Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made
under the Plan; (vii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive
such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall
deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and
(viii) make any other determination and take any other
action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the
administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided
in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations,
and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any
Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may
be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding
upon all Persons, including the Company, the Partnership, any
Affiliate, any Participant, and any beneficiary of any Award.
Section 4. Units
Available for Awards.
4.1 Units Available. Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the number of
Units with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan
is
250,0001,500,000.
If any Award is
forfeitedexpires,
is canceled, exercised, paid or otherwise terminates
or is canceledwithout the delivery of
Units, then the Units covered by such Award, to the extent of
such forfeiture, termination,
orexpiration,
cancellation,
exercise,
payment or termination, shall again be Units with
respect to which Awards may be
granted. In
the event that Units issued under the Plan are reacquired by the
Partnership or the Company
A-4
pursuant to any forfeiture provision, such Units shall again
be available for the purposes of the Plan. In the event a
Participant pays for any Award through the delivery of
previously acquired Units, the number of Units available shall
be increased by the number of Units delivered by the
Participant.
4.2 Sources of Units Deliverable
Under Awards. Any Units delivered pursuant to an Award shall
consist, in whole or in part, of Units acquired in the open
market, from any Affiliate, the Partnership or any other Person,
or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the
Committee in its discretion.
4.3 Adjustments. If the
Committee determines that any distribution (whether in the form
of cash, Units, other securities, or other property),
recapitalization, split, reverse split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or
exchange of Units or other securities of the Partnership,
issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Units or other
securities of the Partnership, or other similar transaction or
event affects the Units such that an adjustment is determined by
the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or
enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be
made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such
manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of
(i) the number and type of Units (or other securities or
property) with respect to which Awards may be granted,
(ii) the number and type of Units (or other securities or
property) subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) if
deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the
holder of an outstanding Award; provided, that the number of
Units subject to any Award shall always be a whole number.
Section 5. Eligibility.
Any Employee or Director shall be eligible to be designated a
Participant.
Section 6. Awards.
6.1 Options. The
Committee shall have the authority to determine the Employees
and Directors to whom Options shall be granted, the number of
Units to be covered by each Option, the purchase price therefor
and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of
the Option, including the following terms and conditions and
such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall
determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the
Plan.
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(i) Exercise Price. The purchase price per
Unit purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the
Committee at the time the Option is granted but shall not be
less than its Fair Market Value as of the date of grant. |
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(ii) Time and Method of Exercise. The
Committee shall determine the Restricted Period (i.e., the time
or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in
part) and the method or methods by which payment of the exercise
price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been
made which may include, without limitation, cash, check
acceptable to the Company, a
cashcashless-broker
exercise (through procedures approved by the Company), other
securities or other property, a note from the Participant (in a
form acceptable to the Company), or any combination thereof,
having a value on the exercise date equal to the relevant
exercise price. |
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(iii) Term. Subject to earlier termination as
provided in the grant agreement or the Plan, each Option shall
expire on the 10th anniversary of its date of grant. |
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(iv) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise provided
in this Plan, in the terms of an Award agreement, or in a
written employment agreement (if any) between the Participant
and the Company or one of its Affiliates, upon termination of a
Participants employment with the Company or its Affiliates
or membership on the Board of the Company or its Affiliates,
whichever is applicable, involuntarily for Cause or on a
voluntary basis (other than for retirement, death or disability
of the Participant (see Section 6.3(ix) below)) during the
applicable Restricted Period, (i) that portion of any
Option that has not vested on or prior to such date of
termination shall automatically lapse and be forfeited by the
Participant at the close of business on the date of the
Participants termination and (ii) all vested but
unexercised Options previously granted shall automatically lapse
and be forfeited by the Participant at the close of business on
the 30th day following the date of such Participants
termination, unless an |
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Option expires earlier according to its original terms. If a
Participants employment or service as a Director is
involuntarily terminated by the Company other than for Cause:
(i) that portion of any Option that has not vested on or
prior to such date of termination shall automatically lapse and
be forfeited by the Participant at the close of business on the
date of the Participants termination and (ii) all
vested but unexercised Options previously granted shall
automatically lapse and be forfeited by the Participant at the
close of business on last day of the twelfth month following the
date of such Participants termination, unless an Option
expires earlier according to its original terms. The Committee
or the Chief Executive Officer may waive in whole or in part
such forfeiture with respect to a Participants Options. |
6.2 Restricted Units.
The Committee shall have the authority to determine the
Employees and Directors to whom Restricted Units shall be
granted, the number of Restricted Units to be granted to each
such Participant, the duration of the Restrict Period (if any),
the conditions under which the Restricted Units may become
vested (which may be immediate upon grant) or forfeited, and
such other terms and conditions as the Committee may establish
respecting such Awards, including whether DERs are granted with
respect to such Restricted Units.
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(i) DERs. To the extent provided by the
Committee, in its discretion, a grant of Restricted Units may
include a tandem DER grant, which may provide that such DERs
shall be paid directly to the Participant, be credited to a
bookkeeping account (with or without interest in the discretion
of the Committee) subject to the same restrictions as the tandem
Award, or be subject to such other provisions or restrictions as
determined by the Committee in its discretion. |
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(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise provided
in this Plan, in the terms of an Award agreement, or in a
written employment agreement (if any) between the Participant
and the Company or one of its Affiliates, upon termination of a
Participants employment with the Company or its Affiliates
for any reason (other than for retirement, death or disability
of the Participant (see Section 6.3(ix) below)) during the
applicable Restricted Period, all Restricted Units shall be
forfeited by the Participant at the close of business on the
date of the Participants termination of employment. The
Committee or the Chief Executive Officer may waive in whole or
in part such forfeiture with respect to a Participants
Restricted Units. |
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(iii) Lapse of Restrictions. Upon the vesting
of each Restricted Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to
receive from the Company one Unit subject to the provisions of
Section 8.2. |
6.3 General.
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(i) Awards May be Granted Separately or
Together. Awards may, in the discretion of the
Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem
with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the
Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or
any Affiliate, including the Annual Incentive Plan or the
Intermediate Incentive Compensation Plan. Awards granted in
addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted
under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be
granted either at the same time as or at a different time from
the grant of such other Awards or awards. |
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(ii) Limits on Transfer of Awards. No Award
and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated,
pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered
by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution and any such purported assignment,
alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance
shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any
Affiliate. |
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(iii) Terms of Awards. The term of each Award
shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee. |
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(iv) Unit Certificates. All certificates for
Units or other securities of the Partnership delivered under the
Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be
subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as
the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, |
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regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock
exchange upon which such Units or other securities are then
listed, and any applicable federal or state laws, and the
Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such
certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. |
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(v) Consideration for Grants. Awards may be
granted for no cash consideration or for such consideration as
the Committee determines including, without limitation, such
minimal cash consideration as may be required by applicable law. |
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(vi) Delivery of Units or other Securities and
Payment by Participant of Consideration. Notwithstanding
anything in the Plan or any grant agreement to the contrary,
delivery of Units pursuant to the exercise or vesting of an
Award may be deferred for any period during which, in the good
faith determination of the Committee, the Company is not
reasonably able to obtain Units to deliver pursuant to such
Award without violating the rules or regulations of any
applicable law or securities exchange. No Units or other
securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until
payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to
the Plan or the applicable Award agreement (including, without
limitation, any exercise price or any tax withholding) is
receivable by the Company. Such payment may be made by such
method or methods and in such form or forms as the Committee
shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, other
Awards, withholding of Units, or any combination thereof;
provided that the combined value, as determined by the
Committee, of all cash and cash equivalent and the value of any
such Units or other property so tendered to the Company, as of
the date of such tender, is at least equal to the full amount
required to be paid to the Company pursuant to the Plan or the
applicable Award agreement. |
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(vii) Change of Control. Upon a Change of
Control, all Awards shall automatically vest and become payable
or exercisable, as the case may be, in full. In this regard, all
Restricted Periods shall terminate and all performance criteria,
if any, shall be deemed to have been achieved at the maximum
level. |
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(viii) Sale of Significant Assets. In the
event the Company or the Partnership sells or otherwise disposes
of a significant portion of the assets under its control, (such
significance to be determined by action of the Board of the
Company in its sole discretion) and as a consequence of such
disposition (a) a Participants employment is
terminated by the Partnership, the Company or their affiliates
without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason or
(b) as a result of such sale or disposition, the
Participants employer shall no longer be the Partnership,
the Company or one of their Affiliates, then all of such
Participants Awards shall automatically vest and become
payable or exercisable, as the case may be, in full. In this
regard, all Restricted Periods shall terminate and all
performance criteria, if any, shall be deemed to have been
achieved at the maximum level. |
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(ix) Retirement, Death, Disability. Except as
otherwise determined by the Committee and included in the
Participants Award agreement, if a Participants
employment is terminated because of retirement, death or
disability (with the determination of disability to be made
within the sole discretion of the Committee), any Award held by
the Participant shall remain outstanding and vest or become
exercisable according to the Awards original terms,
provided, however, that any Restricted Units held by such
Participant which remain unvested as of the date of retirement,
death or disability shall immediately vest and become
non-forfeitable as of such date. |
6.4 Performance Based
Awards.
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(i) Grant of Performance Awards. The
Committee may issue Performance Awards in the form of
Performance Units, Performance Cash, or DERs to Participants
subject to the Performance Goals and Performance Period as it
shall determine. The terms and conditions of each Performance
Award will be set forth in the related Award agreement. The
Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the
number and/or value of Performance Awards granted to each
Participant. Any Performance Units granted under the Plan shall
have a minimum Restricted Period of one year from the Date of
Grant, provided that the Committee may provide for earlier
vesting following a Change in Control or upon an Employees
termination of employment by reason of death, disability or |
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retirement. Participants receiving Performance Awards are not
required to pay the Company therefor (except for applicable tax
withholding) other than the rendering of services. |
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(ii) Value of Performance Awards. The
Committee shall set Performance Goals in its discretion for each
Participant who is granted a Performance Award. Such Performance
Goals may be particular to a Participant, may relate to the
performance of the Affiliate which employs him or her, may be
based on the division which employs him or her, may be based on
the performance of the Partnership generally, or a combination
of the foregoing. The Performance Goals may be based on
achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives, or
any other objectives established by the Committee. The
Performance Goals may be absolute in their terms or measured
against or in relationship to other companies comparably,
similarly or otherwise situated. The extent to which such
Performance Goals are met will determine the number and/or value
of the Performance Award to the Participant. |
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(iii) Form of Payment. Payment of the amount
to which a Participant shall be entitled upon the settlement of
a Performance Award shall be made in a lump sum or installments
in cash, Units, or a combination thereof as determined by the
Committee. |
Section 7. Amendment
and Termination.
Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law and unless
otherwise expressly provided in an Award agreement or in the
Plan.
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7.1 Amendments to the
Plan. Except as required by applicable law or the rules
of the principal securities exchange on which the Units are
traded and subject to Section 7(ii) below, the Board or the
Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate
the Plan in any manner, including increasing the number of Units
available for Awards under the Plan, without the consent of any
partner, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award,
or other Person. |
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7.2 Amendments to
Awards. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights
under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award therefore granted,
provided no change, other than pursuant to Section 7(iii),
in any Award shall materially reduce the benefit to Participant
without the consent of such Participant. |
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7.3 Adjustment of Awards Upon
the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring
Events. The Committee is hereby authorized to make
adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria
included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring
events (including, without limitation, the events described in
Section 4.3 of the Plan) affecting the Partnership or the
financial statements of the Partnership, or of changes in
applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever
the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate
in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. |
Section 8. General
Provisions.
8.1 No Rights to
Awards. No Person shall have any claim to be granted any
Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of
Participants. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the
same with respect to each Participant.
8.2 Withholding. The
Company or any Affiliate is authorized to withhold from any
Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or
from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the
amount (in cash, Units, other securities, Units that would
otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award or other property) of
any applicable taxes payable in respect of the grant of an
Award, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment or
transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other
action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to
satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.
A-8
8.3 No Right to
Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed
as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ
of the Company or any Affiliate or to remain on the Board, as
applicable. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time
dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability
or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided
in the Plan or in any Award agreement.
8.4 Governing Law.
The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules
and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable
federal law.
8.5 Severability. If
any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is
deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify
the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the
Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended
to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed
or deemed amended without, in the determination of the
Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the
Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction,
Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award
shall remain in full force and effect.
8.6 Other Laws. The
Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Units or other
consideration under an Award if, in its sole discretion, it
determines that the issuance or transfer of such Units or such
other consideration might violate any applicable law or
regulation, the rules of the principal securities exchange on
which the Units are then traded, or entitle the Partnership or
an Affiliate to recover the entire then Fair Market Value
thereof under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any
payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder
or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award
shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder
or beneficiary.
8.7 No Trust or
Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor the Award shall
create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any
kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any
Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent
that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the
Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall
be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor
of the Company or any Affiliate.
8.8 No Fractional Units.
No fractional Units shall be issued or delivered pursuant to
the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether
cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or
transferred in lieu of any fractional Units or whether such
fractional Units or any rights thereto shall be canceled,
terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
8.9 Headings.
Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the
Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such
headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to
the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision
thereof.
8.10 Gender and Number.
Words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine
gender, the plural shall include the singular and the singular
shall include the plural.
8.11 Code
Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan
to the contrary,
ifAwards
granted under the Plan shall contain terms that (i) are
designed to avoid application of Section 409A of the Code
to the Award or (ii) are designed to avoid adverse tax
consequences under Section 409A of the Code should that
section apply to the Award. If any Plan provision or
Award under the Plan would result in the imposition of an
applicable tax under Code Section 409A and related
regulations and Treasury pronouncements
(Section 409A), that Plan provision or
Award may be reformed to avoid imposition of the applicable tax
and no action taken to comply with Section 409A shall be
deemed to adversely affect the Participants rights to an
Award.
Section 9. Term
of the Plan
The Plan was
amended and restated effective January 26, 2006. The
current amendment and restatement was approved by the holders of
Units and became effective on October 1, 2006.
The Plan shall be effective on the date of its
approval by the Board and shall continue
underuntil
the date
A-9
terminated by the Board or Units are no longer available for
grants of Awards under the Plan, whichever occurs first,
provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, no Award
shall be made under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the
Effective Date. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in
the Plan or in an applicable Award agreement, any Award granted
prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or the
Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or
terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights
under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date.
Section 10. Special
Provisions Applicable to Covered Participants.
Awards subject to Performance Criteria paid to Covered
Participants under this Plan shall be governed by the conditions
of this Section 10 in addition to the requirements of
Section 6.4, above. Should conditions set forth under this
Section 10 conflict with the requirements of
Section 6.4, the conditions of this Section 10 shall
prevail.
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10.1 Establishment of Performance Measures, Goals or
Criteria. All Performance Measures, Goals, or Criteria
relating to Covered Participants for a relevant Performance
Period shall be established by the Committee in writing prior to
the beginning of the Performance Period, or by such other later
date for the Performance Period as may be permitted under
Section 162(m) of the Code. The Performance Goals may be
identical for all Participants or, at the discretion of the
Committee, may be different to reflect more appropriate measures
of individual performance. |
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10.2 Performance Goals. The Committee shall
establish the Performance Goals relating to Covered Participants
for a Performance Period in writing. Performance Goals may
include alternative and multiple Performance Goals and may be
based on one or more business and/or financial criteria. In
establishing the Performance Goals for the Performance Period,
the Committee in its discretion may include one or any
combination of the following criteria in either absolute or
relative terms, for the Partnership or any Affiliate: |
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(i) Increased revenue; |
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(ii) Net income measures (including but not limited to
income after capital costs and income before or after taxes); |
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(iii) Unit price measures (including but not limited to
growth measures and total unitholder return); |
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(iv) Market share; |
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(v) Earnings per unit (actual or targeted growth); |
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(vi) Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and
amortization (EBITDA); |
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(vii) Economic value added
(EVA®); |
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(viii) Cash flow measures (including but not limited to net
cash flow and net cash flow before financing activities); |
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(ix) Return measures (including but not limited to return
on equity, return on average assets, return on capital,
risk-adjusted return on capital, return on investors
capital and return on average equity); |
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(x) Operating measures (including operating income, funds
from operations, cash from operations, after-tax operating
income, sales volumes, production volumes, and production
efficiency); |
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(xi) Expense measures (including but not limited to
overhead cost and general and administrative expense); |
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(xii) Margins; |
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(xiii) Unitholder value; |
A-10
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(xiv) Total unitholder return; |
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(xv) Proceeds from dispositions; |
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(xvi) Pipeline and terminal utilization; |
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(xvii) Total market value; and |
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(xviii) Corporate values measures (including ethics
compliance, environmental, and safety). |
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10.3 Compliance with
Section 162(m). The Performance Goals must be
objective and must satisfy third party objectivity
standards under Section 162(m) of the Code, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder. In interpreting Plan
provisions relating to Awards subject to Performance Goals paid
to Covered Participants, it is the intent of the Plan to conform
with the standards of Section 162(m) of the Code and
Treasury Regulation
§ 1.162-27(e)(2)(i),
and the Committee in establishing such goals and interpreting
the Plan shall be guided by such provisions. |
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10.4 Adjustments. The
Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the method of
calculating attainment of Performance Goals in recognition of:
(i) extraordinary or non-recurring items, (ii) changes
in tax laws, (iii) changes in generally accepted accounting
principles or changes in accounting principles,
(iv) charges related to restructured or discontinued
operations, (v) restatement of prior period financial
results, and (vi) any other unusual, non-recurring gain or
loss that is separately identified and quantified in the
Companys financial statements. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee may, at its sole discretion, reduce the
performance results upon which Awards are based under the Plan,
to offset any unintended result(s) arising from events not
anticipated when the Performance Goals were established, or for
any other purpose, provided that such adjustment is permitted by
Section 162(m) of the Code. |
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10.5 Discretionary
Adjustments. The Performance Goals shall not allow for
any discretion by the Committee as to an increase in any Award,
but discretion to lower an Award is permissible. |
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10.6 Certification.
The Award and payment of any Award under this Plan to a Covered
Participant with respect to a relevant Performance Period shall
be contingent upon the attainment of the Performance Goals that
are applicable to such Covered Participant. The Committee shall
certify in writing prior to payment of any such Award that such
applicable Performance Goals relating to the Award are
satisfied. Approved minutes of the Committee may be used for
this purpose. |
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10.7 Other
Considerations. All Awards to Covered Participants under
this Plan shall be further subject to such other conditions,
restrictions, and requirements as the Committee may determine to
be necessary to carry out the purpose of this Section 10. |
A-11
Appendix B
Form of Consent
VALERO L.P.
One Valero Way
San Antonio, Texas 78249
CONSENT SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF VALERO
GP, LLC, THE GENERAL PARTNER OF RIVERWALK LOGISTICS, L.P., THE
GENERAL PARTNER OF VALERO L.P., FOR ADOPTION OF PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS TO THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED 2000 LONG-TERM
INCENTIVE PLAN OF VALERO GP, LLC.
The undersigned Unitholder of Valero L.P., a Delaware limited
partnership, hereby revokes all prior consents given with
respect to the matters covered hereunder, and acknowledges
receipt of the Consent Solicitation Statement dated
August 18, 2006.
THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP UNITS REPRESENTED BY THIS SIGNED CONSENT
WILL BE TREATED AS HAVING CAST A VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOX
YOU MARK ON THE REVERSE SIDE.
PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS CONSENT USING THE
ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE
UNITED STATES.
HAS YOUR ADDRESS CHANGED?
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS?
B-1
FOLD AND DETACH HERE
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Please mark your votes as in this example. |
The board of directors of Valero GP, LLC, the general partner of Riverwalk Logistics, L.P., the
general partner of Valero L.P., recommends a vote FOR the Proposal
Valero L.P.
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FOR |
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AGAINST |
Proposal: To approve the
Valero GP, LLC Second Amended
and Restated 2000 Long-Term
Incentive Plan, which
incorporates the Proposed
Amendments described in the
Consent Solicitation Statement.
A copy of the Valero GP, LLC
Second Amended and Restated 2000
Long-Term Incentive Plan, marked
to show the Proposed Amendments,
is included in the accompanying
Consent Solicitation Statement
as Appendix A.
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If no box at the right is
marked, but this Consent is
otherwise properly completed and
signed, the limited partnership
units will be voted FOR the
Proposal. |
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The solicitation of Consents
will expire at 5:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, on September 18, 2006, unless extended.
Failure to return this Consent
will have the same effect as a
vote against the Proposal.
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Mark box at
right if an address change or comment has been noted on the reverse side of this
card.
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Please execute this consent as your name appears on this form. When partnership units are held by
joint tenants, both should sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or
guardian, please give full title as such.
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Signature:
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Date:
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Signature:
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Date: |
Valero L.P.
C/O
COMPUTERSHARE INVESTOR SERVICES, INC.
P.O. BOX 43102
PROVIDENCE, RI 02940
Your vote is important. Please vote immediately.
Vote-by-Internet
Log on to the Internet and go to the web site http://www.computershare.com/expressvote.
OR
Vote-by-Telephone
Call toll-free
(800) 652-VOTE (8683)
If you vote over the Internet or by telephone, please do not mail your card.