Marathon Petroleum Corp

6. Variable Interest Entities

Consolidated VIE

We control MPLX through our ownership of its general partner. MPLX is a VIE because the limited partners do not have substantive kick-out or participating rights over the general partner. We are the primary beneficiary of MPLX because in addition to our significant economic interest, we also have the ability, through our ownership of the general partner, to control the decisions that most significantly impact MPLX. We therefore consolidate MPLX and record a noncontrolling interest for the interest owned by the public.

The creditors of MPLX do not have recourse to MPC’s general credit or assets through guarantees or other financial arrangements, except as otherwise noted. MPC has effectively guaranteed certain indebtedness of LOOP LLC (“LOOP”) and LOCAP LLC (“LOCAP”), in which MPLX holds an interest. See Note 27 for more information. The assets of MPLX can only be used to settle its own obligations and any rights of MPC’s creditors to participate in the assets of MPLX are subject to prior claims of MPLX’s creditors.

The following table presents balance sheet information for the assets and liabilities of MPLX, which are included in our consolidated balance sheets.

Non-Consolidated VIEs

Martinez Renewables LLC

On September 21, 2022, MPC closed on the formation of the Martinez Renewables LLC joint venture. We determined that Martinez Renewables LLC is a VIE because the entity does not have sufficient equity to operate without additional financial support from its owners. We are not the primary beneficiary of this VIE because we do not have the ability to control the activities that significantly influence the economic outcomes of the entity and, therefore, do not consolidate the entity.

MPLX VIEs

For those entities that have been deemed to be VIEs, neither MPLX nor any of its subsidiaries have been deemed to be the primary beneficiary due to voting rights on significant matters. While we have the ability to exercise influence through participation in the management committees which make all significant decisions, we have equal influence over each committee as a joint interest partner and all significant decisions require the consent of the other investors without regard to economic interest and as such we have determined that these entities should not be consolidated and apply the equity method of accounting with respect to our investments in each entity.

Sherwood Midstream LLC (“Sherwood Midstream”) has been deemed the primary beneficiary of Sherwood Midstream Holdings LLC (“Sherwood Midstream Holdings”) due to its controlling financial interest through its authority to manage the joint venture. As a result, Sherwood Midstream consolidates Sherwood Midstream Holdings.

MPLX’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with equity method investments includes its equity investment, any additional capital contribution commitments and any operating expenses incurred by the subsidiary operator in excess of its compensation received for the performance of the operating services.

We account for our ownership interest in each of these investments as an equity method investment. See Note 14 for ownership percentages and investment balances.