UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

☒   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

 

OR

 

☐   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ________________to________________

 

 

Commission File No.:  0-26823

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

1717 South Boulder Avenue, Suite 400, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(918) 295-7600

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. [X] Yes   [   ] No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  [X ] Yes   [   ] No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [   ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  [   ] Yes   [X]  No

 

As of May 7, 2018,  130,903,256 common units are outstanding.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I 

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except unit and per unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

1.ORGANIZATION AND PRESENTATION

 

Significant Relationships Referenced in Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

Organization

 

ARLP is a Delaware limited partnership listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "ARLP."  ARLP was formed in May 1999 to acquire, upon completion of ARLP's initial public offering on August 19, 1999, certain coal production and marketing assets of Alliance Resource Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("ARH"), consisting of substantially all of ARH's operating subsidiaries, but excluding ARH.  ARH is owned by Joseph W. Craft III, the President and Chief Executive Officer and a Director of MGP, and Kathleen S. Craft.  SGP, a Delaware limited liability company, is owned by ARH.  SGP owns 20,641,168 common units of AHGP's  59,863,000 outstanding common units, 7,181 common units of ARLP and, prior to the Exchange Transaction discussed below, owned a 0.01% special general partner interest in both ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership. 

 

We are managed by MGP, a Delaware limited liability company and the sole general partner of ARLP.  MGP holds a non-economic general partner interest in ARLP, a 1.0001% managing general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership and a 0.001% managing member interest in Alliance Coal.  AHGP is a Delaware limited partnership that was formed to become the owner and controlling member of MGP.  AHGP completed its initial public offering on May 15, 2006.  AHGP owns directly and indirectly 87,188,338 common units of ARLP's  130,903,256 outstanding common units.  AHGP indirectly owns 100% of the members' interest of MGP.  ARLP and its consolidated subsidiaries represent virtually all the net assets and operations of AHGP.  See discussions below regarding MGP's and AHGP's change of ownership in ARLP effective with the Exchange Transaction on July 28, 2017.

 

Exchange Transaction 

 

In 2017, the board of directors of our general partner and its conflicts committee unanimously approved a transaction to simplify our partnership structure and on July 28, 2017, MGP contributed to ARLP all of its incentive distribution rights ("IDRs") and its 0.99% managing general partner interest in ARLP in exchange for 56,100,000 ARLP common units and a non-economic general partner interest in ARLP.  In conjunction with this transaction and on the same economic basis as MGP, SGP also contributed to ARLP its 0.01% general partner interests in both ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership in exchange for 7,181 ARLP common units (collectively the "Exchange Transaction").  In

connection with the Exchange Transaction, ARLP amended its partnership agreement to reflect, among other things, cancellation of the IDRs and the economic general partner interest in ARLP and issuance of a non-economic general partner interest to MGP.  MGP is the sole general partner of ARLP following the Exchange Transaction, and no control, management or governance changes otherwise occurred. 

 

Simultaneously with the Exchange Transaction discussed above, MGP became a wholly owned subsidiary of MGP II, LLC ("MGP II") which is directly and indirectly 100% owned by AHGP and was created in connection with the Exchange Transaction.  As of March 31, 2018, MGP II held the 56,100,000 ARLP common units discussed above.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the ARLP Partnership and present the consolidated financial position as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 and the results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 of ARLP, the Intermediate Partnership (a subsidiary of ARLP and a variable interest entity of which ARLP is the primary beneficiary), Alliance Coal (a subsidiary of the Intermediate Partnership and a variable interest entity of which the Intermediate Partnership is the primary beneficiary) and other directly and indirectly wholly and majority owned subsidiaries of the Intermediate Partnership and Alliance Coal.  The Intermediate Partnership, Alliance Coal and their wholly and majority owned subsidiaries represent virtually all the net assets of the ARLP Partnership.  MGP's interests in both Alliance Coal and the Intermediate Partnership are reported as part of the general partner interest in the ARLP Partnership.  For the periods presented prior to the Exchange Transaction, MGP's managing general partner interest and IDRs in ARLP and the SGP's special general partner interests in ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership are also reported as part of the general partner interest in the ARLP Partnership.  All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated.  See Note 7 – Variable Interest Entities for more information regarding ARLP's consolidation of the Intermediate Partnership and Alliance Coal.  See Note 10 – Net Income of ARLP Per Limited Partner Unit for more information regarding allocations to the limited and general partner interests.

 

These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes are unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented.  Results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2018.  

 

These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes are prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission for interim reporting and do not include all of the information normally included with financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") of the United States.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of the ARLP Partnership's condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in our condensed consolidated financial statements.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Investments 

 

Our investments and ownership interests in equity securities without readily determinable fair values in entities in which we do not have a controlling financial interest or significant influence are accounted for using a measurement alternative other than fair value which is historical cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same entity.   Distributions received on those investments are recorded as income unless those distributions are considered a return on investment in which case the historical cost is reduced.    We account for our ownership interests in Kodiak Gas Services, LLC ("Kodiak") as equity securities without readily determinable fair values.  See Note 8 – Investments for further discussion of this investment.

 

Our investments and ownership interests in entities in which we do not have a controlling financial interest are accounted for under the equity method of accounting if we have the ability to exercise significant influence over the entity.    

Investments accounted for under the equity method are initially recorded at cost, and the difference between the basis of our investment and the underlying equity in the net assets of the joint venture at the investment date, if any, is amortized over the lives of the related assets that gave rise to the difference. 

 

Our equity method investments include AllDale Minerals, LP ("AllDale I"), and AllDale Minerals II, LP ("AllDale II") (collectively "AllDale Minerals"), both held by our affiliate Cavalier Minerals JV, LLC ("Cavalier Minerals") and AllDale Minerals III, LP ("AllDale III") which is held through our subsidiary, Alliance Minerals, LLC ("Alliance Minerals").  AllDale III and AllDale Minerals are collectively referred to as the "AllDale Partnerships."  See Note 8 – Investments for further discussion of these equity method investments. 

 

We review our equity securities and our equity method investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate a loss in the value of the investment may be other-than-temporary.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Revenues from coal supply contracts with customers are recognized at the point in time when control of the coal passes to the customer.  We have determined that each ton of coal represents a  separate and distinct performance obligation.  Our coal supply contracts and other sales and operating revenue contracts vary in length from short-term to long-term contracts and do not typically have significant financing components.  Transportation revenues represent the fulfillment costs incurred for the services provided to customers through third-party carriers and for which we are directly reimbursed.  Other sales and operating revenues primarily consist of transloading fees, administrative service revenues from our affiliates, mine safety services and products, other coal contract fees and other handling and service fees.  Performance obligations under these contracts are typically satisfied upon transfer of control of the goods or services to our customer which is determined by the contract and could be upon shipment or upon delivery. 

 

The estimated transaction price from each of our contracts is based on the total amount of consideration we expect to be entitled to under the contract.  Included in the transaction price for certain coal supply contracts is the impact of variable consideration, including quality price adjustments, handling services, government imposition claims, per ton price fluctuations based on certain coal sales price indices and anticipated payments in lieu of shipments.  We have constrained the expected value of variable consideration in our estimation of transaction price and only included this consideration to the extent that it is probable that a significant revenue reversal will not occur.  The estimated transaction price for each contract is allocated to our performance obligations based on relative standalone selling prices determined at contract inception.  Variable consideration is allocated to a specific part of the contract in many instances, such as if the variable consideration is based on production activities for coal delivered during a certain period or the outcome of a customer's ability to accept coal shipments over a certain period. 

 

Contract assets are recorded as trade receivables and reported separately in our consolidated balance sheet from other contract assets as title passes to the customer and our right to consideration becomes unconditional.  Payments for coal shipments are typically due within two to four weeks of performance.  We typically do not have material contract assets that are stated separately from trade receivables as our performance obligations are satisfied as control of the goods or services passes to the customer thereby granting us an unconditional right to receive consideration.  Contract liabilities relate to consideration received in advance of the satisfaction of our performance obligations.  Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue at the point in time when control of the good or service passes to the customer. 

 

2.NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

New Accounting Standards Issued and Adopted

 

In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-07,  Compensation–Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) ("ASU 2017-07").  ASU 2017-07 requires that an employer disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net benefit cost.  It also provides explicit guidance on how to present the service cost component and the other components of net benefit cost in the income statement and allows only the service cost component of net benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization.  ASU 2017-07 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those annual periods.  The adoption of ASU 2017-07 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.  The new presentation requirements in the guidance were applied retrospectively to all periods presented using the amounts of

other components of net benefit cost previously disclosed in prior period footnotes. The requirement under the guidance to only capitalize the service cost component was applied prospectively. 

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities ("ASU 2016-01").  ASU 2016-01 will require entities to measure equity investments at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income. The guidance removes the cost method of accounting for equity investments without a readily determinable fair value, but provides a new measurement alternative where entities may choose to measure those investments at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus any changes resulting from observable price changes in transactions for the same issuer.  ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU 2016-01 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements. 

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASU 2014-09").  ASU 2014-09 is a new revenue recognition standard that provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized.  ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017.  The adoption of the new standard did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements, but requires expanded disclosures including presenting, by type and by segment, revenues for all periods presented and expected revenues by year for performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied as of the date of presentation.  The new standard allows for two methods of adoption: a full retrospective adoption method and a modified retrospective method.  We elected to use the modified retrospective method of adoption, which allows a cumulative effect adjustment to equity as of the date of adoption.  As there was no change in the recognition pattern of our revenues, we did not have a cumulative effect adjustment upon adoption of the new standard.  See Note 9 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers for additional information.

 

New Accounting Standards Issued and Not Yet Adopted

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments–Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments ("ASU 2016-13").  ASU 2016-13 changes the impairment model for most financial assets and certain other instruments to require the use of a new forward-looking "expected loss" model that generally will result in earlier recognition of allowances for losses.  The new standard will require disclosure of significantly more information related to these items.  ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted for the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods.  We are currently evaluating the effect of adopting ASU 2016-13, but do not anticipate it will have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2016-02").  ASU 2016-02 increases transparency and comparability among organizations by requiring lessees to record right-to-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about lease arrangements.  The new guidance will classify leases as either finance or operating (similar to current standard's  "capital" or "operating" classification), with classification affecting the pattern of income recognition in the statement of income.  ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted.  The FASB continues to issue clarifications, updates and implementation guidance to ASU 2016-02 which we continue to monitor, such as ASU 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842) ("ASU 2018-01") which provides a land easement practical expedient for transition to Topic 842. This update allows for companies that did not previously recognize land easements as leases to continue this practice for existing leases, but will still require the evaluation of new lease arrangements, including land easements. 

 

We have developed an assessment team to determine the effect of adopting ASU 2016-02.  As part of the assessment process, management has provided education and guidance to business units regarding the new standard.  We have also started compiling and reviewing our population of leases and assessing our systems and internal controls relating to our accounting for leases.  In addition to monitoring FASB activity regarding ASU 2016-02, we are continuing to monitor various non-authoritative groups with respect to implementation issues that could affect our assessment. 

 

3.CONTINGENCIES

 

On March 9, 2018, we finalized an agreement with a customer and certain of its affiliates to settle breach of contract litigation we initiated in January 2015.  The agreement provided for a $93.0 million cash payment to us, execution

of a new coal supply agreement with the customer,  continued export transloading capacity for our Appalachian mines and the rights to acquire certain coal reserves for $2.0 million from an affiliate of the customer.  We estimated total consideration received in the agreement to be a $93.0 million cash payment.  We accrued $13.0 million of legal fees and associated incentive compensation costs related to this settlement which resulted in a net gain of $80.0 million reflected in the Settlement gain line item in our condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

Various lawsuits, claims and regulatory proceedings incidental to our business are pending against the ARLP Partnership.  We record accruals for potential losses related to these matters when, in management's opinion, such losses are probable and reasonably estimable.  Based on known facts and circumstances, we believe the ultimate outcome of these outstanding lawsuits, claims and regulatory proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.  However, if the results of these matters were different from management's current opinion and in amounts greater than our accruals, then they could have a material adverse effect.

 

4.INVENTORIES

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

 

 

5.FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The following table summarizes our fair value measurements within the hierarchy:

 

 

The carrying amounts for cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities, due from affiliates and due to affiliates approximate fair value due to the short maturity of those instruments.

 

The estimated fair value of our long-term debt, including current maturities, is based on interest rates that we believe are currently available to us in active markets for issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities (See Note 6 – Long-Term Debt).  The fair value of debt, which is based upon these interest rates, is classified as a Level 2 measurement under the fair value hierarchy.

 

The estimated fair value of our contingent consideration arrangement is based on a probability-weighted discounted cash flow model.  The assumptions in the model include a risk-adjusted discount rate, forward coal sales price curves, cost of debt and probabilities of meeting certain contractual threshold coal sales prices.  The fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in active markets and thus represents a Level 3 fair value measurement under the fair value hierarchy.

 

6.LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

 

On January 27, 2017, our Intermediate Partnership entered into a Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with various financial institutions.  The Credit Agreement provides for a $494.75 million revolving credit facility, including a sublimit of $125 million for the issuance of letters of credit and a sublimit of $15.0 million for swingline borrowings (the "Revolving Credit Facility"), with a termination date of May 23, 2019.    The Credit Agreement was amended on April 3, 2017 to extend the termination date of the Revolving Credit Facility as to $461.25 million of the $494.75 million of commitments to May 23, 2021 and effectuate certain other changes. 

 

The Credit Agreement is guaranteed by all of the material direct and indirect subsidiaries of our Intermediate Partnership, and is secured by substantially all of the Intermediate Partnership's assets.  Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest, at the option of the Intermediate Partnership, at either (i) the Base Rate at the greater of three benchmarks or (ii) a Eurodollar Rate, plus margins for (i) or (ii), as applicable, that fluctuate depending upon the ratio of Consolidated Debt to Consolidated Cash Flow (each as defined in the Credit Agreement).  The Eurodollar Rate, with applicable margin, under the Credit Facility was 4.07% as of March 31, 2018.  At March 31, 2018, we had $8.1 million of letters of credit outstanding with $486.7 million available for borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility. We currently incur an annual commitment fee of 0.35% on the undrawn portion of the Revolving Credit Facility.  We utilize the Revolving Credit Facility, as appropriate, for working capital requirements, capital expenditures and investments, scheduled debt payments and distribution payments. 

 

The Credit Agreement contains various restrictions affecting our Intermediate Partnership and its subsidiaries including, among other things, restrictions on incurrence of additional indebtedness and liens, sale of assets, investments, mergers and consolidations and transactions with affiliates, in each case subject to various exceptions, and the payment of cash distributions by our Intermediate Partnership if such payment would result in a certain fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  See Note 7 – Variable Interest Entities for further discussion of restrictions on the cash available for distribution.  The Credit Agreement requires the Intermediate Partnership to maintain (a) a debt to cash flow ratio of not more than 2.5 to 1.0 and (b) a cash flow to interest expense ratio of not less than 3.0 to 1.0, in each case, during the four most recently ended fiscal quarters.  The debt to cash flow ratio and cash flow to interest expense ratio were 0.75 to 1.0 and 16.0 to 1.0, respectively, for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2018.  We remain in compliance with the covenants of the Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2018.

 

On April 24, 2017, the Intermediate Partnership and Alliance Resource Finance Corporation (as co-issuer), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Intermediate Partnership ("Alliance Finance"), issued an aggregate principal amount of $400.0 million of senior unsecured notes due 2025 ("Senior Notes") in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers.    The Senior Notes have a term of eight years, maturing on May 1, 2025 (the "Term") and accrue interest at an annual rate of 7.5%.  Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on each May 1 and November 1.  The indenture governing the Senior Notes contains customary terms, events of default and covenants relating to, among other things, the incurrence of debt, the payment of distributions or similar restricted payments, undertaking transactions with affiliates and limitations on asset sales.  At any time prior to May 1, 2020, the issuers of the Senior Notes may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 107.5% of the principal amount redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date.  The issuers of the Senior Notes may also redeem all or a part of the notes at any time on or after May 1, 2020, at redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing the Senior Notes.  At any time prior to May 1, 2020, the issuers of the Senior Notes may

redeem the Senior Notes at a redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Senior Notes plus a "make-whole" premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date. 

 

On December 5, 2014, certain direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of our Intermediate Partnership entered into a $100.0 million accounts receivable securitization facility ("Securitization Facility").  Under the Securitization Facility, certain subsidiaries sell trade receivables on an ongoing basis to our Intermediate Partnership, which then sells the trade receivables to AROP Funding, LLC ("AROP Funding"), a wholly owned bankruptcy-remote special purpose subsidiary of our Intermediate Partnership, which in turn borrows on a revolving basis up to $100.0 million secured by the trade receivables.  After the sale, Alliance Coal, as servicer of the assets, collects the receivables on behalf of AROP Funding.  The Securitization Facility bears interest based on a Eurodollar Rate.  It was renewed in January 2018 and matures in January 2019. At March 31, 2018, we had $40.0 million outstanding under the Securitization Facility. 

 

On October 6, 2015, Cavalier Minerals (see Note 7 – Variable Interest Entities) entered into a credit agreement (the "Cavalier Credit Agreement") with Mineral Lending, LLC ("Mineral Lending") for a $100.0 million line of credit (the "Cavalier Credit Facility").  Mineral Lending is an entity owned by (a) Alliance Resource Holdings II, Inc. ("ARH II," the parent of ARH), (b) an entity owned by an officer of ARH who is also a director of ARH II ("ARH Officer") and (c) foundations established by the President and Chief Executive Officer of MGP and Kathleen S. Craft.  There is no commitment fee under the facility.  Mineral Lending's obligation to make the line of credit available terminates no later than October 6, 2019.  Borrowings under the Cavalier Credit Facility bear interest at a one month LIBOR rate plus 6% with interest payable quarterly, and mature on September 30, 2024, at which time all amounts then outstanding are required to be repaid.  The Cavalier Credit Agreement requires repayment of the principal balance beginning in 2018, in quarterly payments of an amount equal to the greater of $1.3 million initially, escalated to $2.5 million after two years, or fifty percent of Cavalier Minerals' excess cash flow. To secure payment of the facility, Cavalier Minerals pledged all of its partnership interests, owned or later acquired, in AllDale Minerals.  Cavalier Minerals may prepay the Cavalier Credit Facility at any time in whole or in part subject to terms and conditions described in the Cavalier Credit Agreement.  As of March 31, 2018, Cavalier Minerals had not drawn on the Cavalier Credit Facility.  Alliance Minerals has the right to require Cavalier Minerals to draw the full amount available under the Cavalier Credit Facility and distribute the proceeds to the members of Cavalier Minerals, including Alliance Minerals. 

 

7.VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

 

Cavalier Minerals

 

On November 10, 2014, our subsidiary, Alliance Minerals, and Bluegrass Minerals Management, LLC ("Bluegrass Minerals") entered into a limited liability company agreement (the "Cavalier Agreement") to create Cavalier Minerals, which was formed to indirectly acquire oil and gas mineral interests, initially through its 71.7% noncontrolling ownership interest in AllDale I and subsequently through its 72.8% noncontrolling ownership interest in AllDale II.  Bluegrass Minerals is owned and controlled by the ARH Officer discussed in Note 6 – Long-Term Debt and is Cavalier Minerals' managing member.  Alliance Minerals and Bluegrass Minerals initially committed funding of $48.0 million and $2.0 million, respectively, to Cavalier Minerals, and Cavalier Minerals committed funding of $49.0 million to AllDale I.  On October 6, 2015, Alliance Minerals and Bluegrass Minerals committed to fund an additional $96.0 million and $4.0 million, respectively, to Cavalier Minerals, and Cavalier Minerals committed to fund $100.0 million to AllDale II.  Alliance Minerals and Bluegrass Minerals contributed $143.1 million and $6.0 million, respectively, to Cavalier Minerals, which sufficiently completed funding to Cavalier Minerals for these commitments. 

 

In accordance with the Cavalier Agreement, Bluegrass Minerals is entitled to receive an incentive distribution from Cavalier Minerals equal to 25% of all distributions (including in liquidation) after all members have recovered their investment.  The incentive distributions are reduced by certain distributions received by Bluegrass Minerals or its owner from AllDale Minerals Management, LLC ("AllDale Minerals Management"), the managing member of AllDale Minerals.  Distributions paid to Alliance Minerals and Bluegrass Minerals from Cavalier Minerals for each period presented are as follows:

 

 

Alliance Minerals' ownership interest in Cavalier Minerals is 96%.  The remainder of the equity ownership is held by Bluegrass Minerals.  We have consolidated Cavalier Minerals' financial results as we concluded that Cavalier Minerals is a variable interest entity ("VIE") and we are the primary beneficiary because neither Bluegrass Minerals nor Alliance Minerals individually has both the power and the benefits related to Cavalier Minerals and we are most closely aligned with Cavalier Minerals through our substantial equity ownership.  Bluegrass Minerals' equity ownership of Cavalier Minerals is accounted for as noncontrolling ownership interest in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.  In addition, earnings attributable to Bluegrass Minerals are recognized as noncontrolling interest in our condensed consolidated statements of income.

 

WKY CoalPlay

 

On November 17, 2014, SGP Land, LLC ("SGP Land"), a wholly owned subsidiary of SGP, and two limited liability companies ("Craft Companies") owned by irrevocable trusts established by the President and Chief Executive Officer of MGP, entered into a limited liability company agreement to form WKY CoalPlay, LLC ("WKY CoalPlay").  WKY CoalPlay was formed, in part, to purchase and lease coal reserves.  WKY CoalPlay is managed by the ARH Officer discussed in Note 6 – Long-Term Debt, who is also an employee of SGP Land and trustee of the irrevocable trusts owning the Craft Companies.  In December 2014 and February 2015, we entered into various coal reserve leases with WKY CoalPlay.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018, we paid $10.8 million of advanced royalties to WKY CoalPlay.  As of March 31, 2018, we had $40.7 million of advanced royalties outstanding under the leases, which is reflected in the Advance royalties, net line items in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. 

 

We have concluded that WKY CoalPlay is a VIE because of our ability to exercise options to acquire reserves under lease with WKY CoalPlay, which is not within the control of the equity holders and, if it occurs, could potentially limit the expected residual return to the owners of WKY CoalPlay.  We do not have any economic or governance rights related to WKY CoalPlay and our options that provide us with a variable interest in WKY CoalPlay's reserve assets do not give us any rights that constitute power to direct the primary activities that most significantly impact WKY CoalPlay's economic performance.  SGP Land has the sole ability to replace the manager of WKY CoalPlay at its discretion and therefore has power to direct the activities of WKY CoalPlay.  Consequently, we concluded that SGP Land is the primary beneficiary of WKY CoalPlay.

 

Alliance Coal and the Intermediate Partnership

 

Alliance Coal is a limited liability company designed to operate as the operating subsidiary of the Intermediate Partnership and holds the interests in the mining operations and Alliance Service, Inc. ("ASI").  The Intermediate Partnership is a limited partnership that holds the non-managing member interest in Alliance Coal and the sole member interests in Alliance Resource Properties, Alliance Minerals and other entities.  Together Alliance Coal and the Intermediate Partnership and their subsidiaries represent virtually all the net assets of ARLP.  Both the Intermediate Partnership and Alliance Coal were designed to operate as the operating subsidiaries of ARLP and to distribute available cash to ARLP so that ARLP can distribute available cash to its partners. We considered MGP's and ARLP's ownership in the Intermediate Partnership and MGP's and the Intermediate Partnership's ownership in Alliance Coal separately for the purposes of determining whether the Intermediate Partnership and Alliance Coal are VIEs.

 

The Intermediate Partnership holds a 99.999% non-managing interest and MGP holds the 0.001% managing member interest in Alliance Coal.  To determine whether Alliance Coal is a VIE, we considered that since Alliance Coal is structured as the equivalent of a limited partnership with the non-managing member 1) not having the ability to remove its managing member and 2) not participating significantly in the operational decisions, Alliance Coal represents a VIE.

 

We determined that neither the MGP nor the Intermediate Partnership have both the power and the benefits related to Alliance Coal.  We then considered which of the two was most closely aligned with Alliance Coal and thus would be designated the primary beneficiary of Alliance Coal for consolidation purposes.  We determined that the Intermediate Partnership was most closely aligned with Alliance Coal and is the primary beneficiary.  We based our determination of alignment on 1) the purpose and design of Alliance Coal which is to (a) be the operating subsidiary of the Intermediate Partnership and (b) distribute all of its available cash to the Intermediate Partnership such that the Intermediate Partnership can pay its partners and debt obligations, 2) AHGP's common control over both the Intermediate Partnership and MGP, as discussed in Note 1 – Organization and Presentation, to achieve the aforementioned purpose and design and 3) the Intermediate Partnership's debt funding for Alliance Coal for capital expenditures, operations and other purposes as needed and related risks and collateral requirements in the debt arrangements.

 

ARLP holds a 98.9899% limited partnership interest and a 0.01% general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership and MGP holds the 1.0001% managing general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership.  To determine whether the Intermediate Partnership is a VIE, we considered that since the Intermediate Partnership is structured as a limited partnership with the limited partner 1) not having the ability to remove its managing general partner and 2) not participating significantly in the operational decisions, the Intermediate Partnership represents a VIE.

 

We determined that neither the MGP nor ARLP have both the power and the benefits related to Intermediate Partnership.  We then considered which of the two was most closely aligned with the Intermediate Partnership and thus would be designated the primary beneficiary of the Intermediate Partnership for consolidation purposes.  We determined that ARLP was most closely aligned with the Intermediate Partnership and is the primary beneficiary.  We based our determination of alignment on 1) the purpose and design of the Intermediate Partnership which is to (a) be the operating subsidiary to ARLP and (b) distribute all of its available cash to ARLP to pay its partners and 2) AHGP's common control over ARLP, MGP and the Intermediate Partnership, as discussed in Note 1 – Organization and Presentation, to achieve the aforementioned purpose and design.

 

The effect of the partnership agreements of ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership and the operating agreement of Alliance Coal (collectively the "Agreements") is that on a quarterly basis 100% of available cash from our operations must be distributed by ARLP to its partners (apart from certain nominal distributions from the Intermediate Partnership and Alliance Coal to MGP).  Available cash is determined as defined in the Agreements and represents all cash with the exception of cash reserves (i) for the proper conduct of the business including reserves for future capital expenditures and for anticipated credit needs of the Partnership Group, (ii) to comply with debt obligations or (iii) to provide funds for certain subsequent distributions.  MGP, as the managing member of Alliance Coal and the general partner of the Intermediate Partnership, is responsible for distributing this cash to ARLP so it can meet its distribution requirements.  As discussed in Note 6 – Long-Term Debt, the Intermediate Partnership's debt covenants place additional restrictions on distributions to ARLP by limiting cash available for distribution from the Intermediate Partnership based on various debt covenants pertaining to the most recent preceding quarter.  MGP does not have the ability, without the consent of the limited partners, to amend the Agreements.

 

8.INVESTMENTS

 

AllDale Minerals

 

In November 2014, Cavalier Minerals (see Note 7 – Variable Interest Entities) was created to indirectly purchase, through its equity investments in AllDale Minerals, oil and gas mineral interests in various geographic locations within producing basins in the continental U.S.  In February 2017, Alliance Minerals, which is included in our Other and Corporate category (see Note 14 – Segment Information), committed to directly (rather than through Cavalier Minerals) invest $30.0 million in AllDale III which was created for similar investment purposes.  We account for our ownership interest in the income or loss of the AllDale Partnerships as equity method investments.  We record equity income or loss based on the AllDale Partnerships' individual distribution structures.  The changes in our aggregate equity method investment in the AllDale Partnerships for each of the periods presented were as follows:

 

 

Kodiak

 

On July 19, 2017, Alliance Minerals purchased $100 million of Series A-1 Preferred Interests from Kodiak, a privately-held company providing large-scale, high-utilization gas compression assets to customers operating primarily in the Permian Basin.  This structured investment provides us with a quarterly cash or payment-in-kind return.  Our ownership interests in Kodiak are senior to all other Kodiak equity interests and subordinate only to Kodiak's senior secured debt facility.  We account for our ownership interests in Kodiak as equity securities without readily determinable fair values.  It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of our investment in Kodiak because of the lack of a quoted market price for our ownership interests, therefore we use a measurement alternative other than fair value to account for our investment.  The changes in our investment in Kodiak for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were as follows:

 

 

 

9.REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

 

The following table illustrates the disaggregation of our revenues by type, including a reconciliation to our segment presentation as presented in Note 14 – Segment Information, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

 

 

The following table illustrates the amount of our transaction price for all current coal supply contracts allocated to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied as of March 31, 2018 and disaggregated by segment and contract duration.

 

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10.NET INCOME OF ARLP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

 

We utilize the two-class method in calculating basic and diluted earnings per unit ("EPU").  Net income of ARLP is allocated to the general partners and limited partners in accordance with their respective partnership percentages, after giving effect to any special income or expense allocations, including incentive distributions to our general partner, MGP.  On July 28, 2017, MGP contributed to ARLP all of its IDRs and its general partner interest in ARLP in exchange for 56,100,000 ARLP common units and a non-economic general partner interest in ARLP.  In conjunction with this transaction and on the same economic basis as MGP, SGP also contributed to ARLP its 0.01% general partner interests in both ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership in exchange for 7,181 ARLP common units.  In connection with the Exchange Transaction, ARLP amended its partnership agreement to reflect, among other things, cancellation of the IDRs and the economic general partner interest in ARLP and issuance of a non-economic general partner interest to MGP.  Under the IDR provisions of our partnership agreement prior to the Exchange Transaction, MGP was entitled to receive 15% of the amount we distributed in excess of $0.1375 per unit, 25% of the amount we distributed in excess of $0.15625 per unit, and 50% of the amount we distributed in excess of $0.1875 per unit.  Beginning with distributions declared for the three months ended June 30, 2017, we no longer make distributions with respect to the IDRs.