Attached files

file filename
8-K - CURRENT REPORT OF MATERIAL EVENTS OR CORPORATE CHANGES - Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.a12-25236_18k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

CONTACT:

Brian L. Cantrell

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119

(918) 295-7673

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.

 

Increases Quarterly Distribution by 3.2% to $0.72 Per Unit and Reports Quarterly Financial Results

 

TULSA, OKLAHOMA, October 26, 2012 — Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (NASDAQ: AHGP) today announced that the Board of Directors of its general partner declared a quarterly cash distribution for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 (the “2012 Quarter”) of $0.72 per unit, or an annualized rate of $2.88 per unit.  The declared distribution will be paid on November 19, 2012 to AHGP’s unitholders of record as of the close of trading on November 12, 2012.

 

The announced quarterly cash distribution represents an 18.0% increase over the $0.61 per unit distribution (an annualized rate of $2.44 per unit) for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 (the “2011 Quarter”) and an increase of 3.2% over the second quarter 2012 distribution of $0.6975 per unit (an annualized rate of $2.79 per unit).

 

The declared distribution is based on the distribution AHGP will receive from its ownership interests in Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP).  ARLP today announced a quarterly distribution for the 2012 Quarter of $1.085 per unit, or $4.34 per unit on an annualized basis, payable on November 14, 2012 to all unitholders of record as of the close of trading on November 7, 2012.  (See ARLP Press Release dated October 26, 2012.)

 

AHGP reported net income for the 2012 Quarter of $39.5 million, or $0.66 per basic and diluted limited partner unit, compared to $57.1 million, or $0.95 per basic and diluted limited partner unit, in the 2011 Quarter. The decrease in net income during the 2012 Quarter primarily reflects approximately $24.1 million of losses and charges related to ARLP’s idling of the Pontiki mine, including a non-cash asset impairment of $19.0 million, and reduced coal shipments into the metallurgical export markets.  (For a discussion of net income presentation, please see the end of this release.)

 

AHGP currently has no other operating activities apart from those conducted by the operating subsidiaries of ARLP and reports its financial results on a consolidated basis with the financial results of ARLP. AHGP’s principal sources of cash flow are its ownership of general partner interests, limited partner interests and incentive distribution rights in ARLP. Based on ARLP’s current declared distribution, AHGP expects to receive quarterly cash distributions from ARLP of $44.3 million, or $177.2 million on an annualized basis. AHGP’s primary cash requirements are for working capital, distributions to its unitholders and general and administrative expenses, including for 2012 an estimated $4.5 million to $4.75 million in general and administrative expenses.

 

-MORE-

 



 

AHGP and ARLP will discuss their 2012 Quarter financial results during a joint conference call scheduled for today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.  To participate in the conference call, dial (800) 299-9086 and provide pass code 23801657.  International callers should dial (617) 786-2903 and provide the same pass code.  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 (888) 286-8010 and provide pass code 72201009.  International callers should dial (617) 801-6888 and provide the same pass code.

 

This announcement is intended to be a qualified notice under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b), with 100% of the partnership’s distributions to foreign investors attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business.  Accordingly, AHGP’s distributions to foreign investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at the highest applicable tax rate.

 

About Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.

 

AHGP is a limited partnership formed to own and control Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, the managing general partner of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP), through which it holds a 1.98% general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights in ARLP.  In addition, AHGP owns 15,544,169 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 projections 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.

 

-MORE-

 



 

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 ARLP Partnership’s ability 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 ARLP Partnership’s expansion of its operations and properties; the impact of health care legislation; 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 customer contracts upon expiration of existing contracts; 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 due to labor and transportation costs and disruptions, equipment availability, governmental regulations, including those related to carbon dioxide emissions, and other factors; legislation, regulatory and court decisions and interpretations thereof, including issues related to air and water quality and miner health and safety; the ARLP Partnership’s productivity levels and margins earned on its coal sales; unexpected changes in raw material costs; unexpected changes in availability of skilled labor; the ARLP Partnership’s ability to maintain satisfactory relations with its employees; any unanticipated increases in labor costs, adverse changes in work rules, or unexpected cash payments or projections associated with post-mine reclamation and workers’ compensation claims; any unanticipated increases in transportation costs and risk of transportation delays or interruptions; greater than expected environmental regulation, costs and liabilities; a variety of operational, geologic, permitting, labor and weather-related 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 pension, black lung benefits and other post-retirement benefit liabilities; coal market’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 alternative sources of energy, 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 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 equity investments in companies we do 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, 2011, filed on February 28, 2012 with the SEC.  Except as required by applicable securities laws, AHGP does not intend to update its forward-looking statements.

 

-MORE-

 


 


 

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
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal sales

 

$

499,003

 

$

473,683

 

$

1,441,107

 

$

1,323,851

 

Transportation revenues

 

5,625

 

7,446

 

17,651

 

25,452

 

Other sales and operating revenues

 

6,720

 

6,528

 

25,854

 

19,381

 

Total revenues

 

511,348

 

487,657

 

1,484,612

 

1,368,684

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)

 

338,644

 

294,771

 

946,806

 

835,006

 

Transportation expenses

 

5,625

 

7,446

 

17,651

 

25,452

 

Outside coal purchases

 

4,424

 

19,864

 

34,759

 

29,495

 

General and administrative

 

15,282

 

13,613

 

47,494

 

40,692

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

59,781

 

40,275

 

154,923

 

117,237

 

Asset impairment charge

 

19,031

 

 

19,031

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

442,787

 

375,969

 

1,220,664

 

1,047,882

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

 

68,561

 

111,688

 

263,948

 

320,802

 

Interest expense, net

 

(7,446

)

(8,782

)

(21,626

)

(27,248

)

Interest income

 

94

 

84

 

239

 

279

 

Equity in loss of affiliates, net

 

(2,832

)

 

(11,040

)

 

Other income

 

254

 

360

 

2,853

 

1,340

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

58,631

 

103,350

 

234,374

 

295,173

 

INCOME TAX BENEFIT

 

(102

)

(317

)

(726

)

(221

)

NET INCOME

 

58,733

 

103,667

 

235,100

 

295,394

 

LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

 

(19,238

)

(46,559

)

(91,927

)

(133,367

)

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. (NET INCOME OF AHGP)

 

$

39,495

 

$

57,108

 

$

143,173

 

$

162,027

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

 

$

0.66

 

$

0.95

 

$

2.39

 

$

2.71

 

DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

 

$

0.6975

 

$

0.5825

 

$

2.0025

 

$

1.665

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING - BASIC AND DILUTED

 

59,863,000

 

59,863,000

 

59,863,000

 

59,863,000

 

 

-MORE-

 



 

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

4,110

 

$

281,469

 

Trade receivables

 

152,826

 

128,643

 

Other receivables

 

1,432

 

3,525

 

Due from affiliates

 

79

 

 

Inventories

 

63,923

 

33,837

 

Advance royalties

 

9,038

 

7,560

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

10,321

 

12,022

 

Total current assets

 

241,729

 

467,056

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

 

2,278,297

 

1,974,520

 

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

(784,123

)

(793,200

)

Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

1,494,174

 

1,181,320

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

Advance royalties

 

26,972

 

27,916

 

Equity investments in affiliates

 

74,329

 

40,118

 

Other long-term assets

 

31,196

 

18,067

 

Total other assets

 

132,497

 

86,101

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

1,868,400

 

$

1,734,477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

113,776

 

$

97,369

 

Due to affiliates

 

395

 

494

 

Accrued taxes other than income taxes

 

19,150

 

15,897

 

Accrued payroll and related expenses

 

42,233

 

35,876

 

Accrued interest

 

6,320

 

2,195

 

Workers’ compensation and pneumoconiosis benefits

 

9,488

 

9,511

 

Current capital lease obligations

 

1,019

 

676

 

Other current liabilities

 

22,900

 

15,326

 

Current maturities, long-term debt

 

18,000

 

18,000

 

Total current liabilities

 

233,281

 

195,344

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities

 

693,000

 

686,000

 

Pneumoconiosis benefits

 

60,987

 

54,775

 

Accrued pension benefit

 

24,273

 

27,538

 

Workers’ compensation

 

74,862

 

64,520

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

76,695

 

70,836

 

Long-term capital lease obligations

 

18,865

 

2,497

 

Other liabilities

 

8,536

 

6,774

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

957,218

 

912,940

 

Total liabilities

 

1,190,499

 

1,108,284

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (“AHGP”) Partners’ Capital:

 

 

 

 

 

Limited Partners — Common Unitholders 59,863,000 units outstanding

 

437,140

 

414,165

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(16,669

)

(17,560

)

Total AHGP Partners’ Capital

 

420,471

 

396,605

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

257,430

 

229,588

 

Total Partners’ Capital

 

677,901

 

626,193

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS CAPITAL

 

$

1,868,400

 

$

1,734,477

 

 

-MORE-

 



 

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 

$

422,369

 

$

429,975

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(332,353

)

(216,308

)

Changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(4,024

)

511

 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

114

 

465

 

Purchase of equity investments in affiliate

 

(43,100

)

(35,700

)

Payment for acquisition of business

 

(100,000

)

 

Payments to affiliate for development of coal reserves

 

(34,601

)

(33,841

)

Advances/loans to affiliate

 

(2,229

)

 

Payments from affiliate

 

4,229

 

 

Other

 

546

 

810

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(511,418

)

(284,063

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings under term loan

 

250,000

 

 

Borrowings under revolving credit facility

 

150,000

 

 

Payments under revolving credit facility

 

(75,000

)

 

Payment on term loan

 

(300,000

)

 

Payment on long-term debt

 

(18,000

)

(18,000

)

Payments on capital lease obligations

 

(673

)

(595

)

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

(4,272

)

 

Net settlement of employee withholding taxes on vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

(3,734

)

(2,324

)

Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interests

 

(66,755

)

(57,787

)

Distributions paid to Partners

 

(119,876

)

(99,672

)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(188,310

)

(178,378

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

(277,359

)

(32,466

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

281,469

 

342,237

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

4,110

 

$

309,771

 

 

Presentation of Net Income

 

Consolidated net income includes earnings attributable to both AHGP and noncontrolling interests.  Unless otherwise noted, any reference to net income in this release represents net income attributable to AHGP.

 

-END-