Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (NASDAQ: AHGP) today reported
financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 (the "2018
Quarter"). As previously announced on April 27, 2018, the Board of
Directors of its general partner (the "Board") approved a
distribution to unitholders of $0.7475 per unit (an annualized rate
of $2.99 per unit) for the 2018 Quarter, payable on May 18, 2018 to
AHGP unitholders of record as of the close of trading on May 11,
2018. The announced distribution represents a 35.9% increase over
the cash distribution of $0.55 for the quarter ended March 31, 2017
(the "2017 Quarter") and a 0.7% increase over the cash distribution
of $0.7425 for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 (the "Sequential
Quarter").
AHGP's principal sources of cash flow are its ownership
interests in Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP). The
declared distribution is based on the distribution AHGP will
receive from its ownership interests in ARLP, which previously
announced on April 27, 2018 a quarterly distribution for the 2018
Quarter of $0.515 per unit, or $2.06 per unit on an annualized
basis, payable on May 15, 2018 to all unitholders of record as of
the close of trading on May 8, 2018.
AHGP also reported net income attributable to AHGP for the 2018
Quarter of $103.7 million, or $1.73 per basic and diluted limited
partner unit, an increase of 88.5% compared to net income
attributable to AHGP for the 2017 Quarter of $55.0 million, or
$0.92 per basic and diluted limited partner unit. Net income
attributable to AHGP for the 2018 Quarter increased approximately
110.4% compared to net income attributable to AHGP for the
Sequential Quarter of $49.3 million, or $0.82 per basic and diluted
limited partner unit.
Operating results for AHGP reflect those of the operating
subsidiaries of ARLP and, as a result, AHGP reports its financial
results on a consolidated basis with the financial results of ARLP.
The consolidated net income of AHGP includes earnings and losses
attributable to both AHGP and noncontrolling interests.
On February 23, 2018 ARLP and AHGP (collectively, the “Alliance
Partnerships”) jointly announced an agreement pursuant to which,
through a series of transactions (the “Simplification
Transactions”), AHGP would become a wholly owned subsidiary of ARLP
and all of the ARLP common units held by AHGP and its subsidiaries
would be distributed to the unitholders of AHGP in exchange for
their AHGP common units. Pursuant to this agreement, ARLP filed a
preliminary registration statement on Form S-4 on March 29, 2018.
On April 26, 2018, the Securities Exchange Commission declared the
Form S-4 effective to register the distribution of the ARLP common
units currently held by AHGP and its subsidiaries to AHGP’s
unitholders and, on April 27, 2018, AHGP mailed consent
solicitation statements to its unitholders of record as of April
25, 2018. Consummation of the Simplification Transactions remains
subject to the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding AHGP common units. Certain AHGP
unitholders, which collectively own a majority of the outstanding
AHGP common units, have agreed to deliver a written consent
approving the Simplification Transactions pursuant to a support
agreement. The Alliance Partnerships expect to close the
Simplification Transactions during the second quarter of 2018
following AHGP's quarterly cash distribution to unitholders
discussed above.
A joint conference call regarding AHGP and ARLP's 2018 Quarter
financial results is scheduled for today at 10:00
a.m. Eastern. To participate in the conference call, dial
(877) 506-1589 and request to be connected to the Alliance Resource
Partners, L.P. and Alliance Holdings GP, L.P earnings conference
call. Canadian callers should dial (855) 669-9657 and all other
International callers should dial (412) 317-5240 and request to be
connected to the same call. Investors may also listen to the call
via the "investor information" section of ARLP's website at
http://www.arlp.com or AHGP's website at http://www.ahgp.com.
An audio replay of the conference call will be available for
approximately one week. To access the audio replay, dial US Toll
Free (877) 344-7529; International Toll (412) 317-0088; Canada Toll
Free (855) 669-9658 and request to be connected to replay access
code 10118635.
About Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.
AHGP is a limited partnership formed to own and control ARLP's
general partner through which it holds a non-economic general
partner interest in ARLP and an approximate one percent general
partner interest in ARLP's operating subsidiary, Alliance Resource
Operating Partners, L.P. In addition, AHGP owns 87,188,338 common
units of ARLP.
News, unit prices and additional information about AHGP
including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, are
available at http://www.ahgp.com. For more information, contact the
investor relations department of AHGP at (918) 295-1415 or via
e-mail at investorrelations@ahgp.com.
The statements and projections used throughout this release are
based on current expectations. These statements and projections are
forward-looking, and actual results may differ materially. These
statements do not include the potential impact of any mergers,
acquisitions or other business combinations that may occur after
the date of this release. At the end of this release, we have
included more information regarding business risks that could
affect our results.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: With the exception of
historical matters, any matters discussed in this press release are
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from projected
results. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies
include, but are not limited to, the following: changes in
competition in coal markets and the ability of ARLP and its
consolidated subsidiaries (the "ARLP Partnership") to respond to
such changes; changes in coal prices, which could affect the ARLP
Partnership's operating results and cash flows; risks associated
with the expansion of the ARLP Partnership's operations and
properties; legislation, regulations, and court decisions and
interpretations thereof, including those relating to the
environment and the release of greenhouse gases, mining, miner
health and safety and health care; deregulation of the electric
utility industry or the effects of any adverse change in the coal
industry, electric utility industry, or general economic
conditions; dependence on significant customer contracts, including
renewing existing contracts upon expiration; changing global
economic conditions or in industries in which the ARLP
Partnership's customers operate; liquidity constraints, including
those resulting from any future unavailability of financing;
customer bankruptcies, cancellations or breaches to existing
contracts, or other failures to perform; customer delays, failure
to take coal under contracts or defaults in making payments;
adjustments made in price, volume or terms to existing coal supply
agreements; fluctuations in coal demand, prices and availability;
changes in oil and gas prices, which could affect the ARLP
Partnership’s investments in oil and gas mineral interests and gas
compression services; the ARLP Partnership's productivity levels
and margins earned on its coal sales; changes in raw material
costs; changes in the availability of skilled labor; the ARLP
Partnership's ability to maintain satisfactory relations with its
employees; increases in labor costs, including costs of health
insurance and taxes resulting from the Affordable Care Act, adverse
changes in work rules, or cash payments or projections associated
with post-mine reclamation and workers' compensation claims;
increases in transportation costs and risk of transportation delays
or interruptions; operational interruptions due to geologic,
permitting, labor, weather-related or other factors; risks
associated with major mine-related accidents, such as mine fires,
or interruptions; results of litigation, including claims not yet
asserted; difficulty maintaining the ARLP Partnership's surety
bonds for mine reclamation as well as workers' compensation and
black lung benefits; difficulty in making accurate assumptions and
projections regarding post-mine reclamation as well as pension,
black lung benefits and other post-retirement benefit liabilities;
the coal industry's share of electricity generation, including as a
result of environmental concerns related to coal mining and
combustion and the cost and perceived benefits of other sources of
electricity, such as natural gas, nuclear energy and renewable
fuels; uncertainties in estimating and replacing the ARLP
Partnership's coal reserves; a loss or reduction of benefits from
certain tax deductions and credits; difficulty obtaining commercial
property insurance, and risks associated with the ARLP
Partnership's participation (excluding any applicable deductible)
in the commercial insurance property program; and difficulty in
making accurate assumptions and projections regarding future
revenues and costs associated with investments in companies the
ARLP Partnership does not control.
Additional information concerning these and other factors can
be found in AHGP's public periodic filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including AHGP's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, filed on
February 23, 2018 with the SEC. Except as required by
applicable securities laws, AHGP does not intend to update its
forward-looking statements.
ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND OPERATING
DATA (In thousands, except unit and per unit data)
(Unaudited) Three Months Ended
March 31, 2018
2017 SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES: Coal sales
$ 423,610 $ 438,744 Transportation revenues 19,785 9,596 Other
sales and operating revenues 13,641 12,665
Total revenues 457,036 461,005
EXPENSES: Operating expenses (excluding depreciation,
depletion and amortization) 277,238 262,027 Transportation expenses
19,785 9,596 Outside coal purchases 1,374 — General and
administrative 17,145 16,447 Depreciation, depletion and
amortization 61,848 65,127 Settlement gain (80,000 )
— Total operating expenses 297,390
353,197
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 159,646 107,808
Interest expense, net (10,858 ) (7,516 ) Interest income 68 25
Equity investment income 3,736 3,700 Equity securities income 3,724
— Other (expense) income (847 ) 533
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 155,469 104,550
INCOME
TAX EXPENSE (10 ) (12 )
NET INCOME
155,479 104,562
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO
NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS (51,759 ) (49,551 )
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.
("NET INCOME OF AHGP") $ 103,720 $ 55,011
BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER
UNIT $ 1.73 $ 0.92
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID
PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT $ 0.7425 $ 0.5500
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING – BASIC AND
DILUTED 59,863,000 59,863,000
ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands,
except unit data) (Unaudited)
March 31, December 31,
2018 2017 ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents $ 30,700 $ 8,643
Trade receivables 157,798 181,671 Other receivables 229 146 Due
from affiliates 11 25 Inventories, net 83,944 60,275 Advance
royalties, net 2,856 4,510 Prepaid expenses and other assets
19,864 28,192 Total current assets 295,402
283,462
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT: Property, plant and
equipment, at cost 2,983,666 2,934,188 Less accumulated
depreciation, depletion and amortization (1,520,732 )
(1,457,532 ) Total property, plant and equipment, net 1,462,934
1,476,656
OTHER ASSETS: Advance royalties, net 50,800 39,660
Equity method investments 158,669 147,964 Equity securities 110,122
106,398 Goodwill 136,399 136,399 Other long-term assets
30,442 30,712 Total other assets
486,432 461,133
TOTAL ASSETS $
2,244,768 $ 2,221,251
LIABILITIES AND
PARTNERS' CAPITAL CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable
$ 93,577 $ 97,371 Due to affiliates — 771 Accrued taxes other than
income taxes 20,307 20,366 Accrued payroll and related expenses
34,530 35,801 Accrued interest 12,499 5,005 Workers' compensation
and pneumoconiosis benefits 10,769 10,729 Current capital lease
obligations 28,948 28,613 Other current liabilities 16,732 19,071
Current maturities, long-term debt, net 40,000
72,400 Total current liabilities 257,362 290,127
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: Long-term debt, excluding current
maturities, net 386,703 415,937 Pneumoconiosis benefits 72,509
71,875 Accrued pension benefit 42,906 45,317 Workers' compensation
46,861 46,694 Asset retirement obligations 126,287 126,750
Long-term capital lease obligations 50,634 57,091 Other liabilities
20,055 14,587 Total long-term
liabilities 745,955 778,251 Total
liabilities 1,003,317 1,068,378
PARTNERS’
CAPITAL: Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.
("AHGP") Partners' Capital: Limited Partners – Common Unitholders
59,863,000 units outstanding 685,127 626,831 Accumulated other
comprehensive loss (34,087 ) (34,820 ) Total AHGP
Partners' Capital 651,040 592,011 Noncontrolling interests
590,411 560,862 Total Partners’ Capital
1,241,451 1,152,873
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
PARTNERS’
CAPITAL $ 2,244,768 $ 2,221,251
ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands) (Unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
2017 CASH FLOWS
FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: $ 224,311 $ 176,552
CASH
FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Property, plant and equipment:
Capital expenditures (51,525 ) (30,346 ) Increase (decrease) in
accounts payable and accrued liabilities (15 ) 2,144 Proceeds from
sale of property, plant and equipment 7 453 Contributions to equity
method investments (11,400 ) (9,287 ) Distributions received from
investments in excess of cumulative earnings 736
1,191 Net cash used in investing activities
(62,197 ) (35,845 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
ACTIVITIES: Borrowings under securitization facility 37,600 —
Payments under securitization facility (70,000 ) — Borrowings under
revolving credit facilities 70,000 — Payments under revolving
credit facilities (100,000 ) (25,000 ) Payments on capital lease
obligations (6,974 ) (6,678 ) Payment of debt issuance costs —
(6,664 ) Contributions to consolidated company from affiliate
noncontrolling interest — 251 Net settlement of withholding taxes
on ARLP's issuance of units in deferred compensation plans (2,081 )
(2,988 ) Contribution by limited partner - affiliate — 800
Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling
interests (23,257 ) (19,810 ) Distributions paid to Partners
(44,449 ) (32,925 ) Other (896 ) (190 ) Net cash used
in financing activities (140,057 ) (93,204 )
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 22,057 47,503
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 8,643
44,525
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF
PERIOD $ 30,700 $ 92,028
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180430005178/en/
Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.Brian L. Cantrell,
918-295-7673
Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. Representing Limited Partner Interests (delisted) (NASDAQ:AHGP)
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