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8-K - 8-K - Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.f8-k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture 1

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.

 

Reports Quarterly Financial Results and Increases Quarterly Distribution by 0.7% to $0.735 Per Unit

 

TULSA, OKLAHOMA, October 30, 2017 — Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (NASDAQ: AHGP) today reported financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 (the "2017 Quarter"). As previously announced, the Board of Directors of its general partner (the "Board") approved a distribution to unitholders of $0.735 per unit (an annualized rate of $2.94 per unit) for the 2017 Quarter, payable on November 17, 2017 to AHGP unitholders of record as of the close of trading on November 9, 2017.  The announced distribution represents a 33.6% increase over the cash distribution of $0.55 for the quarter ended September 30, 2016 and a 0.7% increase over the cash distribution of $0.73 for the quarter ended June 30, 2017.

 

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 a quarterly distribution for the 2017 Quarter of $0.505 per unit, or $2.02 per unit on an annualized basis, payable on November  14, 2017 to all unitholders of record as of the close of trading on November 7, 2017.  (See ARLP Press Release dated October 27, 2017.)    Based on ARLP's current declared distribution, AHGP expects to receive quarterly cash distributions from ARLP of $44.7 million, or $178.8 million on an annualized basis. AHGP's primary cash requirements are for working capital, distributions to its unitholders and, for the 2017 full year, an estimated $1.9 million in general and administrative expenses.

 

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.

 

A joint conference call regarding AHGP and ARLP’s 2017 Quarter financial results is scheduled for today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.  To participate in the conference call, dial (888)  317-6016 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) 317-6016 and request to be connected to the same call.  Investors may also listen to the call

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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 10113071.

 

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 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; continuation or worsening of depressed oil and gas prices adversely affecting the ARLP Partnership’s investments in oil and gas mineral interests and midstream 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;

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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, 2016, filed on February 24, 2017 and AHGP's  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, filed on May 8, 2017 and August 4, 2017, respectively, with the SEC.  Except as required by applicable securities laws, AHGP does not intend to update its forward-looking statements.

 

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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

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2017

    

2016

    

2017

    

2016

SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal sales

 

$

435,162

 

$

533,817

 

$

1,256,168

 

$

1,357,578

Transportation revenues

 

 

8,009

 

 

7,692

 

 

24,933

 

 

19,732

Other sales and operating revenues

 

 

9,916

 

 

10,457

 

 

31,610

 

 

26,422

Total revenues

 

 

453,087

 

 

551,966

 

 

1,312,711

 

 

1,403,732

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)

 

 

295,385

 

 

326,891

 

 

796,845

 

 

842,417

Transportation expenses

 

 

8,009

 

 

7,692

 

 

24,933

 

 

19,732

Outside coal purchases

 

 

 —

 

 

1,514

 

 

 —

 

 

1,514

General and administrative

 

 

15,389

 

 

18,987

 

 

47,160

 

 

55,175

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

69,962

 

 

101,432

 

 

194,109

 

 

245,736

Total operating expenses

 

 

388,745

 

 

456,516

 

 

1,063,047

 

 

1,164,574

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

 

 

64,342

 

 

95,450

 

 

249,664

 

 

239,158

Interest expense, net

 

 

(10,773)

 

 

(8,001)

 

 

(28,904)

 

 

(23,386)

Interest income

 

 

 6

 

 

 3

 

 

87

 

 

11

Equity in income of affiliates

 

 

3,798

 

 

1,105

 

 

10,414

 

 

1,041

Cost investment income

 

 

2,800

 

 

 —

 

 

2,800

 

 

 —

Debt extinguishment loss

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(8,148)

 

 

 —

Other income

 

 

774

 

 

293

 

 

2,461

 

 

545

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

60,947

 

 

88,850

 

 

228,374

 

 

217,369

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)

 

 

 4

 

 

 6

 

 

(3)

 

 

 4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET INCOME

 

 

60,943

 

 

88,844

 

 

228,377

 

 

217,365

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

 

 

(21,821)

 

 

(40,337)

 

 

(91,661)

 

 

(92,643)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

$

39,122

 

$

48,507

 

$

136,716

 

$

124,722

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

 

$

0.65

 

$

0.81

 

$

2.28

 

$

2.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

 

$

0.73

 

$

0.55

 

$

1.83

 

$

2.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING – BASIC AND DILUTED

 

 

59,863,000

 

 

59,863,000

 

 

59,863,000

 

 

59,863,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 

 

December 31, 

 

 

    

2017

    

2016

    

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

22,571

 

$

44,525

 

Trade receivables

 

 

129,031

 

 

152,032

 

Other receivables

 

 

709

 

 

279

 

Due from affiliates

 

 

27

 

 

37

 

Inventories, net

 

 

87,667

 

 

61,051

 

Advance royalties, net

 

 

1,207

 

 

1,207

 

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

 

10,488

 

 

22,128

 

 Total current assets

 

 

251,700

 

 

281,259

 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

 

 

2,938,362

 

 

2,920,988

 

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

(1,436,470)

 

 

(1,335,145)

 

 Total property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

1,501,892

 

 

1,585,843

 

OTHER ASSETS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advance royalties, net

 

 

40,578

 

 

29,372

 

Equity investments in affiliates

 

 

144,349

 

 

138,817

 

Cost Investments

 

 

102,800

 

 

 —

 

Goodwill

 

 

136,399

 

 

136,399

 

Other long-term assets

 

 

33,041

 

 

25,997

 

 Total other assets

 

 

457,167

 

 

330,585

 

TOTAL ASSETS

 

$

2,210,759

 

$

2,197,687

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

74,289

 

$

64,460

 

Due to affiliates

 

 

759

 

 

906

 

Accrued taxes other than income taxes

 

 

20,578

 

 

18,288

 

Accrued payroll and related expenses

 

 

41,124

 

 

41,576

 

Accrued interest

 

 

13,083

 

 

316

 

Workers' compensation and pneumoconiosis benefits

 

 

9,732

 

 

9,897

 

Current capital lease obligations

 

 

28,220

 

 

27,196

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

16,697

 

 

14,778

 

Current maturities, long-term debt, net

 

 

100,000

 

 

149,874

 

 Total current liabilities

 

 

304,482

 

 

327,291

 

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities, net

 

 

385,449

 

 

399,446

 

Pneumoconiosis benefits

 

 

64,197

 

 

62,822

 

Accrued pension benefit

 

 

39,497

 

 

42,070

 

Workers' compensation

 

 

52,477

 

 

40,400

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

 

125,146

 

 

125,266

 

Long-term capital lease obligations

 

 

64,358

 

 

85,540

 

Other liabilities

 

 

16,248

 

 

17,203

 

 Total long-term liabilities

 

 

747,372

 

 

772,747

 

 Total liabilities

 

 

1,051,854

 

 

1,100,038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PARTNERS CAPITAL:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. ("AHGP") Partners' Capital:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

623,614

 

 

598,077

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(25,270)

 

 

(16,550)

 

 Total AHGP Partners' Capital

 

 

598,344

 

 

581,527

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

 

560,561

 

 

516,122

 

 Total Partners’ Capital

 

 

1,158,905

 

 

1,097,649

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS CAPITAL

 

$

2,210,759

 

$

2,197,687

 

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ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 

 

 

    

2017

    

2016

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

$

454,818

 

$

491,960

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(105,455)

 

 

(70,267)

 

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

4,182

 

 

(7,965)

 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

1,488

 

 

756

 

Contributions to equity investments in affiliates

 

 

(16,487)

 

 

(65,367)

 

Purchase of cost investment

 

 

(100,000)

 

 

 —

 

Distributions received from investments in excess of cumulative earnings

 

 

10,880

 

 

2,167

 

Payment for acquisition of business

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,011)

 

Payment for acquisition of customer contracts

 

 

 —

 

 

(23,000)

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(205,392)

 

 

(164,687)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings under securitization facility

 

 

100,000

 

 

44,600

 

Payments under securitization facility

 

 

(100,000)

 

 

(27,700)

 

Payments on term loan

 

 

(50,000)

 

 

(106,250)

 

Borrowings under revolving credit facilities

 

 

165,000

 

 

140,000

 

Payments under revolving credit facilities

 

 

(420,000)

 

 

(215,000)

 

Borrowings under long-term debt

 

 

400,000

 

 

 —

 

Payment on long-term debt

 

 

(145,000)

 

 

 —

 

Proceeds on capital lease transactions

 

 

 —

 

 

33,881

 

Payments on capital lease obligations

 

 

(20,186)

 

 

(17,769)

 

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

 

(16,221)

 

 

 —

 

Payment for debt extinguishment

 

 

(8,148)

 

 

 —

 

Contributions to consolidated company from affiliate noncontrolling interest

 

 

251

 

 

2,557

 

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

 

 

(2,988)

 

 

(1,336)

 

Contribution by limited partner - affiliate

 

 

800

 

 

 —

 

Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interests

 

 

(62,143)

 

 

(69,680)

 

Distributions paid to Partners

 

 

(109,548)

 

 

(123,318)

 

Other

 

 

(3,197)

 

 

(60)

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(271,380)

 

 

(340,075)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

 

(21,954)

 

 

(12,802)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

 

 

44,525

 

 

38,678

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

 

$

22,571

 

$

25,876

 

 

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