Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. Increases Quarterly Distribution by 3.0% to $0.7625 Per Unit and Reports Strong Quarterly Financial Results

TULSA, Okla.--()--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 March 31, 2013 (the "2013 Quarter") of $0.7625 per unit, or an annualized rate of $3.05 per unit. The declared distribution will be paid on May 20, 2013 to AHGP’s unitholders of record as of the close of trading on May 13, 2013.

The announced quarterly cash distribution represents a 14.2% increase over the $0.6675 per unit distribution (an annualized rate of $2.67 per unit) for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 (the "2012 Quarter") and an increase of 3.0% over the fourth quarter 2012 distribution of $0.74 per unit (an annualized rate of $2.96 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 2013 Quarter of $1.13 per unit, or $4.52 per unit on an annualized basis, payable on May 15, 2013 to all unitholders of record as of the close of trading on May 8, 2013. (See ARLP Press Release dated April 26, 2013.)

AHGP reported net income for the 2013 Quarter of $60.0 million, or $1.00 per basic and diluted limited partner unit, an increase of 21.7% compared to net income for the 2012 Quarter of $49.3 million, or $0.82 per basic and diluted limited partner unit. (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 $46.7 million, or $186.8 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 2013 an estimated $3.0 million in general and administrative expenses.

AHGP and ARLP will discuss their 2013 Quarter financial results during a joint conference call scheduled for today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. To participate in the conference call, dial (866) 318-8612 and provide pass code 14461240. International callers should dial (617) 399-5131 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 65143934. 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.

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; legislation, regulations, and court decisions and interpretations thereof, including those relating to the environment, 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 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; 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; unexpected 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 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 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 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, 2012, filed on March 1, 2013 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,
2013 2012
 
SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:
Coal sales $ 534,509 $ 429,599
Transportation revenues 6,934 6,585
Other sales and operating revenues   6,527     7,308  
Total revenues   547,970     443,492  
 
EXPENSES:
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization) 348,575 273,515
Transportation expenses 6,934 6,585
Outside coal purchases 602 14,181
General and administrative 15,713 14,677
Depreciation, depletion and amortization   64,382     43,033  
Total operating expenses 436,206 351,991
 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS 111,764 91,501
Interest expense, net (6,618 ) (5,912 )
Interest income 134 93
Equity in loss of affiliates, net (3,867 ) (3,778 )
Other income   274     215  
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 101,687 82,119
INCOME TAX BENEFIT   (697 )   (367 )
NET INCOME 102,384 82,486
LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS   (42,382 )   (33,172 )
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.
("NET INCOME OF AHGP") $ 60,002   $ 49,314  
 
BASIC AND DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT $ 1.00   $ 0.82  
 
DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT $ 0.74   $ 0.6375  
 
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)
 
ASSETS March 31, December 31,
2013 2012
 
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 32,231 $ 31,111
Trade receivables 168,270 172,724
Other receivables 1,097 1,019
Due from affiliates - 562
Inventories 50,628 46,660
Advance royalties 11,492 11,492
Prepaid expenses and other assets   14,894     20,554  
Total current assets 278,612 284,122
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Property, plant and equipment, at cost 2,434,704 2,361,863
Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization   (886,497 )   (832,293 )
Total property, plant and equipment, net 1,548,207 1,529,570
 
OTHER ASSETS:
Advance royalties 24,955 23,267
Equity investments in affiliates 115,525 88,513
Due from affiliate 4,862 3,084
Other long-term assets   30,851     30,284  
Total other assets   176,193     145,148  
TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,003,012   $ 1,958,840  
 
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable $ 97,849 $ 100,678
Due to affiliates 406 327
Accrued taxes other than income taxes 25,087 20,033
Accrued payroll and related expenses 39,038 38,501
Accrued interest 6,398 1,435
Workers’ compensation and pneumoconiosis benefits 9,468 9,320
Current capital lease obligations 1,069 1,000
Other current liabilities 23,603 19,572
Current maturities, long-term debt   18,000     18,000  
Total current liabilities 220,918 208,866
 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities 768,000 773,000
Pneumoconiosis benefits 61,306 59,931
Accrued pension benefit 31,457 31,078
Workers’ compensation 70,347 68,786
Asset retirement obligations 82,017 81,644
Long-term capital lease obligations 18,260 18,613
Other liabilities   9,211     9,147  
Total long-term liabilities   1,040,598     1,042,199  
Total liabilities   1,261,516     1,251,065  
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
PARTNERS' CAPITAL:
Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. ("AHGP") Partners' Capital:
Limited Partners – Common Unitholders 59,863,000 units outstanding 464,752 448,976
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (17,941 )   (18,296 )
Total AHGP Partners' Capital 446,811 430,680
Noncontrolling interests   294,685     277,095  
Total Partners' Capital   741,496     707,775  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL $ 2,003,012   $ 1,958,840  
   
 
ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2013 2012
 
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES $ 199,184   $ 109,071  
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Property, plant and equipment:
Capital expenditures (70,306 ) (105,339 )
Changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities (7,608 ) (6,664 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 9 15
Purchases of equity investments in affiliate (29,700 ) (4,400 )
Payments to affiliate for acquisition and development of coal reserves (12,064 ) (18,000 )
Advances/loans to affiliate (1,643 ) (776 )
Other   -     268  
Net cash used in investing activities   (121,312 )   (134,896 )
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Borrowings under revolving credit facility 45,000 -
Payments under revolving credit facility (50,000 ) -
Payments on capital lease obligations (284 ) (171 )

Net settlement of employee withholding taxes on vesting of

ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan (3,015 ) (3,734 )

Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling

interests

(24,154 ) (21,511 )
Distributions paid to Partners   (44,299 )   (38,163 )
Net cash used in financing activities   (76,752 )   (63,579 )
 
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 1,120 (89,404 )
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 31,111 281,469
   
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $ 32,231   $ 192,065  

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.

Contacts

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.
Brian L. Cantrell, 918-295-7673

Contacts

Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.
Brian L. Cantrell, 918-295-7673