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EX-32.2 - CERTIFICATION OF BRIAN L. CANTRELL, PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 - Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.dex322.htm
EX-31.1 - CERTIFICATION OF JOSEPH W. CRAFT III, PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 - Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.dex311.htm
EX-32.1 - CERTIFICATION OF JOSEPH W. CRAFT III, PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 - Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.dex321.htm
EX-31.2 - CERTIFICATION OF BRIAN L. CANTRELL, PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 - Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.dex312.htm
EXCEL - IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT - Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.Financial_Report.xls
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

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

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011

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.: 0-51952

 

 

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   03-0573898

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

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

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(918) 295-1415

(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 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, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (check one)

 

Large Accelerated Filer   ¨    Accelerated Filer    x
Non-Accelerated Filer   ¨  (Do not check if smaller reporting company)    Smaller Reporting Company    ¨

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 August 8, 2011, 59,863,000 common units are outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

         Page  

ITEM 1.

  Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
  ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES   
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010      1   
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010      2   
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010      3   
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements      4   

ITEM 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      18   

ITEM 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk      38   

ITEM 4.

  Controls and Procedures      39   
  Forward-Looking Statements      40   
  PART II   
  OTHER INFORMATION   

ITEM 1.

  Legal Proceedings      42   

ITEM 1A.

  Risk Factors      42   

ITEM 2.

  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      42   

ITEM 3.

  Defaults upon Senior Securities      42   

ITEM 4.

  Reserved      42   

ITEM 5.

  Other Information      42   

ITEM 6.

  Exhibits      46   


Table of Contents

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 349,612      $ 342,237   

Trade receivables

     145,826        112,942   

Other receivables

     1,314        2,537   

Due from affiliates

     —          1,635   

Inventories

     52,081        31,548   

Advance royalties

     4,812        4,812   

Prepaid expenses and other assets

     4,292        10,363   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     557,937        506,074   

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:

    

Property, plant and equipment, at cost

     1,730,668        1,598,130   

Less accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (711,207     (648,883
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property, plant and equipment, net

     1,019,461        949,247   

OTHER ASSETS:

    

Advance royalties

     30,684        27,439   

Other long-term assets

     20,414        21,312   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other assets

     51,098        48,751   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 1,628,496      $ 1,504,072   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS CAPITAL

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 80,304      $ 63,934   

Due to affiliates

     467        573   

Accrued taxes other than income taxes

     18,772        13,916   

Accrued payroll and related expenses

     30,848        30,773   

Accrued interest

     3,403        2,491   

Workers’ compensation and pneumoconiosis benefits

     8,357        8,518   

Current capital lease obligations

     771        295   

Other current liabilities

     17,893        16,780   

Current maturities, long-term debt

     18,000        18,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     178,815        155,280   

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

    

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities

     704,000        704,000   

Pneumoconiosis benefits

     47,753        45,039   

Accrued pension benefit

     10,809        13,296   

Workers’ compensation

     66,785        59,796   

Asset retirement obligations

     56,880        56,045   

Due to affiliates

     —          682   

Long-term capital lease obligations

     2,835        165   

Other liabilities

     3,592        12,549   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term liabilities

     892,654        891,572   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     1,071,469        1,046,852   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

    

PARTNERS CAPITAL:

    

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

    

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

     371,234        330,346   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (8,067     (8,138
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total AHGP Partners’ Capital

     363,167        322,208   

Noncontrolling interests

     193,860        135,012   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Partners’ Capital

     557,027        457,220   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS CAPITAL

   $ 1,628,496      $ 1,504,072   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

1


Table of Contents

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except unit and per unit data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

SALES AND OPERATING REVENUES:

        

Coal sales

   $ 442,483      $ 385,905      $ 850,168      $ 750,064   

Transportation revenues

     8,706        8,821        18,006        18,526   

Other sales and operating revenues

     6,666        5,523        12,853        12,276   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total revenues

     457,855        400,249        881,027        780,866   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EXPENSES:

        

Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)

     284,117        246,702        540,235        485,969   

Transportation expenses

     8,706        8,821        18,006        18,526   

Outside coal purchases

     5,842        4,544        9,631        6,386   

General and administrative

     13,806        11,823        27,079        23,026   

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     39,100        35,677        76,962        71,973   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     351,571        307,567        671,913        605,880   

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

     106,284        92,682        209,114        174,986   

Interest expense (net of interest capitalized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 of $167, $423, $312 and $691, respectively)

     (9,156     (7,439     (18,466     (15,034

Interest income

     89        49        195        101   

Other income

     393        304        980        154   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     97,610        85,596        191,823        160,207   

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     324        422        96        591   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET INCOME

     97,286        85,174        191,727        159,616   

LESS: NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

     (43,874     (38,940     (86,808     (72,354
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

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

   $ 53,412      $ 46,234      $ 104,919      $ 87,262   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

BASIC NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.89      $ 0.77      $ 1.75      $ 1.46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

DILUTED NET INCOME OF AHGP PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.89      $ 0.77      $ 1.75      $ 1.46   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

DISTRIBUTIONS PAID PER LIMITED PARTNER UNIT

   $ 0.555      $ 0.465      $ 1.0825      $ 0.9175   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING-BASIC

     59,863,000        59,863,000        59,863,000        59,863,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF UNITS OUTSTANDING-DILUTED

     59,863,000        59,863,000        59,863,000        59,863,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010  

CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

   $ 259,741      $ 257,671   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Property, plant and equipment:

    

Capital expenditures

     (142,433     (174,848

Changes in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (5,524     (9,913

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

     122        102   

Receipts of prior advances on Gibson rail project

     810        1,032   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (147,025     (183,627
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Borrowings under revolving credit facilities

     —          66,500   

Payments under revolving credit facilities

     —          (61,500

Payments on capital lease obligations

     (379     (160

Net settlement of employee withholding taxes on vesting of

ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan

     (2,324     (1,265

Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interests

     (37,836     (33,775

Distributions paid to Partners

     (64,802     (54,925
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (105,341     (85,125
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

EFFECT OF CURRENCY TRANSLATION ON CASH

     —          (333
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     7,375        (11,414

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD

     342,237        24,361   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD

   $ 349,612      $ 12,947   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ 17,433      $ 15,424   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 300      $ 253   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITY:

    

Accounts payable for purchase of property, plant and equipment

   $ 18,863      $ 10,905   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Market value of ARLP common units issued under ARLP’s Long-Term Incentive Plan before minimum statutory tax withholding requirements

   $ 6,572      $ 3,396   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Assets acquired by capital lease

   $ 3,525      $ —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, 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

 

   

References to “we,” “us,” “our” or “AHGP” mean Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., individually as the parent company, and not on a consolidated basis.

 

   

References to “AHGP Partnership” mean the business and operations of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., the parent company, as well as its consolidated subsidiaries, which include Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC and Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

   

References to “AGP” mean Alliance GP, LLC, the general partner of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., also referred to as our general partner.

 

   

References to “ARLP Partnership” mean the business and operations of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., the parent company, as well as its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

   

References to “ARLP” mean Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., individually as the parent company, and not on a consolidated basis.

 

   

References to “MGP” mean Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, the managing general partner of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

   

References to “SGP” mean Alliance Resource GP, LLC, the special general partner of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

   

References to “Intermediate Partnership” mean Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P., the intermediate partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

   

References to “Alliance Coal” mean Alliance Coal, LLC, the holding company for the operations of Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P.

Organization and Formation

We are a Delaware limited partnership listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “AHGP.” We own directly and indirectly 100% of the members’ interest in MGP, ARLP’s managing general partner. The ARLP Partnership is a diversified producer and marketer of coal to major United States (“U.S.”) utilities and industrial users. ARLP conducts substantially all of its business through its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Intermediate Partnership. ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership were formed in May 1999, to acquire, upon completion of ARLP’s initial public offering on August 19, 1999, certain coal and marketing assets of Alliance Resource Holdings, Inc. (“ARH”), a Delaware corporation. We and ARH, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SGP, maintain general partner interests in ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership. In June 2006, ARH and its parent company became wholly-owned, directly and indirectly, by Joseph W. Craft III, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGP and a Director and the President and Chief Executive Officer of MGP.

We are owned 100% by limited partners. Our general partner, AGP, has a non-economic interest in us and is owned by Mr. Craft.

 

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Table of Contents

Secondary Public Offering

On April 1, 2011, we completed a secondary public offering of 2.75 million common units representing limited partner interests in us at a price of $54.21 per unit, before underwriting discounts and commissions. These common units were previously held by current and former members of management (who are the former indirect owners of MGP) and their affiliates. The sale of these already outstanding common units increases our public float. However, we received no proceeds from this secondary public offering, and no additional common units were issued by us.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts and operations of the AHGP Partnership and present our financial position as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, results of our operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010. All of our intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Net income attributable to Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. from within our accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements will be described as “Net Income of AHGP.”

Since we own MGP, our condensed consolidated financial statements reflect the consolidated results of the ARLP Partnership. The earnings of the ARLP Partnership allocated to its limited partners’ interests not owned by us and allocated to SGP’s general partner interest in ARLP are reflected as net income attributable to noncontrolling interest on our condensed consolidated statement of income and as noncontrolling interest on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our consolidated financial statements do not differ materially from those of the ARLP Partnership. The differences between our financial statements and those of the ARLP Partnership are primarily attributable to (a) amounts reported as noncontrolling interests and (b) additional general and administrative costs and taxes attributable to us. The additional general and administrative costs principally consist of costs incurred by us as a result of being a publicly traded partnership, amounts billed by, and reimbursed to, Alliance Coal under an administrative services agreement and amounts billed by, and reimbursed to, AGP under our partnership agreement.

These condensed consolidated financial statements and notes are unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments (which include only 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 for a full year.

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 should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of AHGP Partnership’s condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) of the U.S. 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.

 

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Table of Contents
2. NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

New Accounting Standards Issued and Adopted

In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-29, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations (“ASU 2010-29”). ASU 2010-29 amended FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations, to specify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements and a business combination has occurred during the current reporting period, then the public entity should disclose revenues and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred at the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures under FASB ASC 805 to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenues and earnings. The adoption of the ASU 2010-29 amendments were effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The adoption of ASU 2010-29 did not have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Standards Issued and Not Yet Adopted

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 removes the presentation options in Accounting Standards Codification 220, Comprehensive Income, and requires entities to report components of comprehensive income in either a continuous statement of comprehensive income or two separate but consecutive statements. Under the two statement approach, the first statement would include components of net income, and the second statement would include components of other comprehensive income (“OCI”). ASU 2011-05 does not change the items that must be reported in OCI. ASU 2011-05 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, and its provisions must be applied retrospectively for all periods presented in the financial statements. We do not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2011-05 on January 1, 2012 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

3. CONTINGENCIES

We are not engaged in any material litigation. The ARLP Partnership is involved in various lawsuits, claims and regulatory proceedings incidental to its business. The ARLP Partnership records an accrual for a potential loss related to these matters when, in management’s opinion, such loss is probable and reasonably estimable. Based on known facts and circumstances, the ARLP Partnership believes the ultimate outcome of these outstanding lawsuits, claims and regulatory proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on its 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 the ARLP Partnership’s accruals, then they could have a material adverse effect.

 

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Table of Contents
4. PATTIKI VERTICAL HOIST CONVEYOR SYSTEM FAILURE IN 2010

On May 13, 2010, White County Coal’s Pattiki mine was temporarily idled following the failure of the vertical hoist conveyor system used in conveying raw coal out of the mine. The ARLP Partnership’s operating expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 include $1.2 million for retirement of certain assets related to the failed vertical hoist conveyor system in addition to other repair and clean-up expenses that were not significant on a consolidated or segment basis. The ARLP Partnership reviewed its commercial property (including business interruption) insurance policies and, as the loss on the vertical hoist conveyor system did not exceed the ARLP Partnership’s deductible for property damage, it did not recover any amounts under such policies.

While the Pattiki mine was temporarily idled, the ARLP Partnership expanded coal production at its other coal mines in the region, including the addition of the seventh and eighth production units at the River View mine, to partially offset the loss of production from the Pattiki mine. Consequently, the temporary idling of the Pattiki mine in 2010 did not have a material adverse impact on the ARLP Partnership’s results of operations and cash flows. On July 19, 2010, the Pattiki mine resumed limited production while White County Coal continued to assess the effectiveness and reliability of the repaired vertical hoist conveyor system. On January 3, 2011, the Pattiki mine returned to full production.

 

5. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

We apply the provisions of FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which, among other things, defines fair value, requires enhanced disclosures about assets and liabilities carried at fair value and establishes a hierarchal disclosure framework based upon the quality of inputs used to measure fair value.

Valuation techniques are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our own market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

 

   

Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

   

Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

 

   

Level 3 – Instruments whose significant value drivers are unobservable.

The carrying amounts for cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. At June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the estimated fair value of the ARLP Partnership’s long-term debt, including current maturities, was approximately $767.9 million and $809.5 million, respectively, based on interest rates that it believes are currently available to it for issuance of debt with similar terms and remaining maturities (Note 6).

 

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6. LONG-TERM DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):

 

     June 30,
2011
    December 31,
2010
 

AHGP Credit facility

   $ —        $ —     

ARLP Credit facility

     —          —     

ARLP Senior notes

     72,000        72,000   

ARLP Series A senior notes

     205,000        205,000   

ARLP Series B senior notes

     145,000        145,000   

ARLP Term loan

     300,000        300,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     722,000        722,000   

Less current maturities

     (18,000     (18,000
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt

   $ 704,000      $ 704,000   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

On December 29, 2010, the Intermediate Partnership entered into a term loan agreement (the “ARLP Term Loan Agreement”) with various financial institutions for a term loan (the “Term Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of $300 million. The Term Loan bears interest at a variable rate plus an applicable margin, which fluctuates depending upon whether we elect the Term Loan (or a portion thereof) to bear interest at the Base Rate or the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement). The ARLP Partnership elected the Eurodollar Rate which, with applicable margin, was 2.3% as of June 30, 2011. Interest is payable quarterly with principal due as follows: $15 million due per quarter beginning March 31, 2013 through December 31, 2013, $18.75 million due per quarter beginning March 31, 2014 through September 30, 2015 and the balance of $108.75 million due on December 31, 2015. The ARLP Partnership has the option to prepay the Term Loan at any time in whole or in part subject to terms and conditions described in the Term Loan Agreement. Upon a “change of control” (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement), the unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under the Term Loan Agreement will become due and payable.

The ARLP Partnership incurred debt issuance costs of approximately $1.4 million in 2010 associated with the ARLP Term Loan Agreement, which have been deferred and are being amortized as a component of interest expense over the duration of the Term Loan.

The Intermediate Partnership has a $142.5 million revolving credit facility (the “ARLP Credit Facility”), $72.0 million in senior notes (“Senior Notes”), $205.0 million in Series A and $145.0 million in Series B senior notes (the “2008 Senior Notes”) and the $300 million Term Loan (collectively, the “ARLP Debt Arrangements”), which are guaranteed by all of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Intermediate Partnership. The ARLP Debt Arrangements contain various covenants affecting the Intermediate Partnership and its subsidiaries restricting, among other things, the amount of distributions by the Intermediate Partnership, the incurrence of additional indebtedness and liens, the sale of assets, the making of investments, the entry into mergers and consolidations and the entry into transactions with affiliates, in each case subject to various exceptions. The ARLP Debt Arrangements also require the Intermediate Partnership to remain in control of a certain amount of mineable coal reserves relative to its annual production. In addition, the ARLP Debt Arrangements require the Intermediate Partnership to maintain the following: (a) debt to cash flow ratio of not more than 3.0 to 1.0 and (b) cash flow to interest

 

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expense ratio of not less than 4.0 to 1.0, in both cases, during the four most recently ended fiscal quarters. The ARLP Credit Facility, Senior Notes and the 2008 Senior Notes limit the Intermediate Partnership’s maximum annual capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions. The amount of any annual limit in excess of actual capital expenditures for that year carries forward and is added to the annual limit of the subsequent year. As a result, the capital expenditure limit for 2011 is approximately $531.9 million. The debt to cash flow ratio and cash flow to interest expense ratio were 1.33 to 1.0 and 16.2 to 1.0, respectively, for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2011. Actual capital expenditures were $142.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011. The ARLP Partnership was in compliance with the covenants of the ARLP Debt Arrangements as of June 30, 2011.

We previously maintained a $2.0 million revolving credit facility (the “AHGP Credit Facility”) with C-Holdings, LLC, which owns 100% of the members’ interest of our general partner, AGP, and is controlled by Joseph W. Craft, III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGP. There were no material operating restrictions, financial restrictions or covenants in the AHGP Credit Facility. The AHGP Credit Facility expired on April 1, 2011 and was not renewed.

At June 30, 2011, the ARLP Partnership had $11.6 million of letters of credit outstanding with $130.9 million available for borrowing, and it had no borrowings outstanding under the ARLP Credit Facility as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. The ARLP Partnership utilizes the ARLP Credit Facility, as appropriate, to meet working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures, scheduled debt payments or distribution payments. The ARLP Partnership incurs an annual commitment fee of 0.375% on the undrawn portion of the ARLP Credit Facility.

 

7. NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

We apply the provisions of FASB ASC 810, Consolidation. As required by FASB ASC 810, our noncontrolling ownership interest in consolidated subsidiaries is presented in the consolidated balance sheet within partners’ capital as a separate component from the limited partners’ equity. In addition, consolidated net income includes earnings attributable to both the limited partners’ and the noncontrolling interests.

The noncontrolling interests balance is comprised of non-affiliate and affiliate ownership interests in the net assets of the ARLP Partnership that we consolidate (Note 1). The following table summarizes the components of noncontrolling interests recorded in Partners’ Capital for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     June 30,     December 31,  
     2011     2010  

Noncontrolling interests reflected in Partners’ Capital:

    

Affiliate (SGP)

   $ (303,805   $ (303,816

Non-Affiliates (ARLP’s non-affiliate limited partners)

     508,186        449,411   

Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

     (10,521     (10,583
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total noncontrolling interests

   $ 193,860      $ 135,012   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The noncontrolling interest designated as Affiliate represents SGP’s 0.01% general partner interest in ARLP and 0.01% general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership.

The noncontrolling interest designated as Non-Affiliates represents the limited partners’ interest in ARLP controlled through the common unit ownership, excluding the 15,544,169 common units of ARLP held by us. The total obligation associated with ARLP’s Long-Term Incentive Plan (“ARLP LTIP”), MGP Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (“MGP Deferred Compensation Plan”) and the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (“SERP”) are also included in the Non-Affiliates component of noncontrolling interest (Note 9).

 

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The following table summarizes net income attributable to each component of the noncontrolling interests for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
     Six Months Ended
June,
 
   2011      2010      2011      2010  

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest:

           

Affiliate (SGP)

   $ 15       $ 14       $ 31       $ 26   

Non-Affiliates (ARLP’s non-affiliate limited partners)

     43,859         38,926         86,777         72,328   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 43,874       $ 38,940       $ 86,808       $ 72,354   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table summarizes cash distributions paid by ARLP to each component of the noncontrolling interests for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011      2010  

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests:

     

Affiliate (SGP) (1)

   $ 20       $ 18   

Non-Affiliates (ARLP’s non-affiliate limited partners) (1)

     37,816         33,757   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 37,836       $ 33,775   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

  (1) Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests, in the table above, represent ARLP’s quarterly distributions in accordance with the ARLP partnership agreement.

The Affiliate component of noncontrolling interest represents SGP’s cumulative investment basis in the net assets of the ARLP Partnership. After the consummation of the various transactions associated with the ARLP Partnership’s formation and initial public offering transaction in 1999 (which included the contribution of net assets by SGP to the ARLP Partnership, the retention by SGP of debt borrowings assumed by ARLP and a distribution by ARLP to SGP), SGP’s investment basis in ARLP totaled $(303.9) million. SGP’s investment basis as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 also reflects the cumulative amount of nominal ARLP income allocations and distributions to SGP and nominal contributions by SGP to ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership to maintain its general partner interests.

 

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The following tables present the change in Partners’ Capital for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 (in thousands):

 

     Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.              
     Limited Partners’
Capital
    Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Noncontrolling
Interest
    Total Partners’
Capital
 

Balance at January 1, 2011

   $ 330,346      $ (8,138   $ 135,012      $ 457,220   

Net income

     104,919        —          86,808        191,727   

Other comprehensive income

     —          71        62        133   

Vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan

     —          —          (2,324     (2,324

Common unit-based compensation

     89        —          2,915        3,004   

Reclassification of SERP and Deferred Compensation Plans (Note 9)

     682        —          9,223        9,905   

Distributions on ARLP common unit-based compensation

     —          —          (711     (711

Distributions to AHGP Partners

     (64,802     —          —          (64,802

Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interest

     —          —          (37,125     (37,125
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2011

   $ 371,234      $ (8,067   $ 193,860      $ 557,027   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     Alliance Holdings GP, L.P.              
     Limited Partners’
Capital
    Accumulated Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
    Noncontrolling
Interest
    Total Partners’
Capital
 

Balance at January 1, 2010

   $ 269,742      $ (7,465   $ 60,423      $ 322,700   

Net income

     87,262        —          72,354        159,616   

Other comprehensive income

     —          245        293        538   

Deconsolidation of MAC

     —          —          (1,117     (1,117

Vesting of ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan

     —          —          (1,265     (1,265

Common unit-based compensation under ARLP Long-Term Incentive Plan

     —          —          1,894        1,894   

Distributions on ARLP common unit-based compensation

     —          —          (665     (665

Distributions to AHGP Partners

     (54,925     —          —          (54,925

Distributions paid by consolidated partnership to noncontrolling interest

     —          —          (33,110     (33,110
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2010

   $ 302,079      $ (7,220   $ 98,807      $ 393,666   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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8. WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND PNEUMOCONIOSIS

The changes in the workers’ compensation liability (including current and long-term liability balances) for each of the periods presented were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Beginning balance

   $ 70,965      $ 66,371      $ 67,687      $ 63,220   

Accruals increase

     5,557        5,005        11,114        9,811   

Payments

     (2,801     (2,293     (6,028     (4,818

Interest accretion

     794        833        1,587        1,666   

Valuation loss

     —          134        155        171   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ending balance

   $ 74,515      $ 70,050      $ 74,515      $ 70,050   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Pneumoconiosis

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, amended previous legislation related to coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, or black lung, providing automatic extension of awarded lifetime benefits to surviving spouses and providing changes to the legal criteria used to assess and award claims. The impact of these changes to the ARLP Partnership’s current population of beneficiaries and claimants resulted in an estimated $8.3 million increase to its black lung obligation at December 31, 2010. The ARLP Partnership recorded this estimate as an increase to its black lung liability and a decrease to its actuarial gain included in accumulated other comprehensive income on our December 31, 2010 condensed consolidated balance sheet. The increase to the ARLP Partnership’s obligation excludes the impact of potential re-filing of closed claims and potential filing rates for employees who terminated more than seven years ago as the ARLP Partnership does not have sufficient information to determine what, if any, claims will be filed until regulations are issued. The ARLP Partnership will continue to evaluate the impact of these changes on such claims and record any necessary changes in the period in which the impact is estimable. For more information, please read “Part I. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Other—Health Care Reform” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

9. COMPENSATION PLANS

ARLP Partnership

The ARLP Partnership has established the ARLP LTIP for certain employees and officers of MGP and its affiliates who perform services for the ARLP Partnership. The ARLP LTIP awards are grants of non-vested “phantom” or notional units, which upon satisfaction of vesting requirements, entitle the ARLP LTIP participant to receive ARLP common units. Annual grant levels and vesting provisions for designated participants are recommended by the President and Chief Executive Officer of the MGP, subject to review and approval of the MGP compensation committee (“MGP Compensation Committee”). On January 25, 2011, the MGP Compensation Committee determined that the vesting requirements for the 2008 grants of 91,100 units (which are net of 2,500 forfeitures) had been satisfied as of January 1, 2011. As a result of this vesting, on February 11, 2011, the ARLP Partnership issued 58,886 unrestricted common units to the ARLP LTIP participants. The remaining units were settled in cash to satisfy the individual tax withholding obligations for the ARLP LTIP participants. On January 25, 2011, the MGP

 

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Compensation Committee authorized additional grants of up to 110,000 restricted units, of which 108,416 were granted during the six months ended June 30, 2011, all of which will vest on January 1, 2014 subject to satisfaction of certain financial tests. The fair value of these 2011 grants is equal to the intrinsic value at the date of grant, which was $66.84 per unit. ARLP LTIP expense was $1.4 million and $1.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $2.5 million and $1.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. After consideration of the January 1, 2011 vesting and subsequent issuance of 58,886 common units, approximately 2.2 million units remain available for issuance under the ARLP LTIP in the future, assuming all grants issued in 2009, 2010 and 2011 currently outstanding are settled with common units and no future forfeitures occur.

As of June 30, 2011, there was $9.2 million in total unrecognized compensation expense related to the non-vested ARLP LTIP grants that are expected to vest. That expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.4 years. As of June 30, 2011, the intrinsic value of the non-vested ARLP LTIP grants was $29.9 million. As of June 30, 2011, the total obligation associated with the ARLP LTIP was $6.8 million and is included in the noncontrolling interests line item in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

As provided under the distribution equivalent rights provisions of the ARLP LTIP, all non-vested grants include contingent rights to receive quarterly cash distributions in an amount equal to the cash distributions ARLP makes to its unitholders during the vesting period.

AHGP Partnership

We have also adopted a Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “AHGP LTIP”) for employees, directors and consultants of our general partner and its affiliates, including the ARLP Partnership. Grants under the AHGP LTIP are to be made in AHGP restricted units, which are “phantom” units that entitle the grantee to receive either a common unit or equivalent amount of cash upon the vesting of the phantom units. The aggregate number of common units reserved for issuance under the AHGP LTIP is 5,215,000. There have been no grants under the AHGP LTIP as of June 30, 2011.

SERP and Directors Deferred Compensation Plan

The ARLP Partnership has the SERP to provide deferred compensation benefits for certain officers and key employees. All allocations made to participants under the SERP are made in the form of “phantom” ARLP units.

Our directors participate in the AGP Amended and Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors (“AGP Deferred Compensation Plan”), and the directors of MGP participate in the MGP Deferred Compensation Plan (collectively, the “Deferred Compensation Plans”). Pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plans, for amounts deferred either automatically or at the election of the director, a notional account is established and credited with notional common units of ARLP or AHGP, as appropriate, which are described in the Deferred Compensation Plans as “phantom” units.

For the SERP and Deferred Compensation Plans, when quarterly cash distributions are made with respect to ARLP or AHGP common units, an amount equal to such quarterly distribution is credited to each participant’s notional account as additional phantom units. All grants of phantom units under the SERP and Deferred Compensation Plans vest immediately.

Amounts that were payable under the SERP or Deferred Compensation Plans on or prior to January 1, 2011, were paid in either cash or common units of ARLP or AHGP, as appropriate. Effective for amounts that become payable after January 1, 2011, the Deferred Compensation Plans and the SERP

 

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require that vested benefits be paid to participants only in common units of ARLP or AHGP, as appropriate, and therefore the phantom units now qualify for equity award accounting treatment. As a result, we reclassified a total of $9.2 million of obligations for the SERP and the MGP Deferred Compensation Plan from other long-term liabilities to the noncontrolling interests line item in our condensed consolidated balance sheets as required under FASB ASC 718, Compensation-Stock Compensation, on January 1, 2011. In addition, we reclassified $0.7 million of obligations for the AGP Deferred Compensation Plan from due to affiliates to the partners’ capital-limited partners line item in our condensed consolidated balance sheets during the six months ended June 30, 2011. For the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, SERP and MGP Deferred Compensation Plan participant notional account balances were credited with a total of 5,898 and 6,283 phantom units, respectively, and the fair value of these phantom units was $71.96 and $44.97, respectively, on a weighted-average basis. For the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, AGP Deferred Compensation Plan participant notional account balances were credit with a total of 1,754 and 1,517 phantom units, respectively, and the fair value of these phantom units was $50.30 and $31.71, respectively, on a weighted-average basis. Total SERP and Deferred Compensation Plans expenses was approximately $0.2 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and $0.5 million and $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

As of June 30, 2011, there were 162,068 total phantom units outstanding under the SERP and Deferred Compensation Plans and the total intrinsic value of the SERP and Deferred Compensation Plans phantom units was $12.1 million. As of June 30, 2011, the total obligation associated with the SERP and MGP Deferred Compensation Plan was $9.6 million, which was included in the noncontrolling interests line item in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. The total obligation associated with the AGP Deferred Compensation Plan was $0.8 million, which was included in the partners’ capital-limited partners line item in our condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

10. COMPONENTS OF PENSION PLAN NET PERIODIC BENEFIT COSTS

Eligible employees at certain of the ARLP Partnership’s mining operations participate in a defined benefit plan (the “Pension Plan”) sponsored by the ARLP Partnership. The benefit formula for the Pension Plan is a fixed dollar unit based on years of service. Components of the net periodic benefit cost for each of the periods presented are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June  30,
    Six Months Ended
June  30,
 
   2011     2010     2011     2010  

Service cost

   $ 618      $ 713      $ 1,236      $ 1,426   

Interest cost

     788        840        1,576        1,679   

Expected return on plan assets

     (973     (924     (1,945     (1,846

Amortization of net loss

     122        269        244        538   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 555      $ 898      $ 1,111      $ 1,797   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

We previously disclosed in our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010 that the ARLP Partnership expected to contribute $5.0 million to the Pension Plan in 2011. During the six months ended June 30, 2011, the ARLP Partnership made contribution payments of $2.6 million for the 2010 plan year and $0.8 million for the 2011 plan year. On July 15 2011, we made a payment of $0.8 million for the 2011 plan year. The ARLP Partnership will make an additional quarterly contribution of $0.8 million for the 2011 plan year and therefore, expects to contribute a total of approximately $5.0 million to the Pension Plan in 2011 for the 2010 and 2011 plan years.

 

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11. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Total comprehensive income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Net income

   $ 97,286      $ 85,174      $ 191,727      $ 159,616   

Other comprehensive income:

        

Actuarially determined long-term liability adjustments

     67        269        133        538   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income

     67        269        133        538   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

     97,353        85,443        191,860        160,154   

Less comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests:

        

Net income

     (43,874     (38,940     (86,808     (72,354

Actuarially determined long-term liability adjustments

     (37     (151     (62     (293
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to AHGP

   $ 53,442      $ 46,352      $ 104,990      $ 87,507   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income differs from net income due to net amortization of actuarial gains and losses associated with adoption of amendments to FASB ASC 715, Compensation – Retirement Benefits.

 

12. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The ARLP Partnership operates in the eastern U.S. as a producer and marketer of coal to major utilities and industrial users. We aggregate multiple operating segments into four reportable segments: Illinois Basin, Central Appalachia, Northern Appalachia and Other and Corporate. The first three reportable segments correspond to the three major coal producing regions in the eastern U.S. Factors similarly affecting financial performance of the operating segments within each of these three reportable segments include coal quality, coal seam height, mining and transportation methods and regulatory issues.

The Illinois Basin reportable segment is comprised of multiple operating segments, including Webster County Coal, LLC’s Dotiki mining complex, Gibson County Coal, LLC’s Gibson North mining complex, Hopkins County Coal, LLC’s Elk Creek mining complex, White County Coal, LLC’s Pattiki mining complex, Warrior Coal, LLC’s mining complex, River View Coal, LLC’s mining complex, the Sebree Mining, LLC (“Sebree”) property, the Gibson County Coal (South), LLC (“Gibson South”) property and certain properties of Alliance Resource Properties, LLC (“Alliance Resource Properties”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ARP Sebree, LLC. The ARLP Partnership recently received the permits necessary to begin mine construction at the Gibson South property, and on July 25, 2011, the ARLP Partnership’s board of directors of its managing general partner approved development of the Gibson South mine, which is currently underway. The ARLP Partnership is in the process of permitting the Sebree property for future mine development.

The Central Appalachian reportable segment is comprised of two operating segments, Pontiki Coal, LLC’s and MC Mining, LLC’s mining complexes.

 

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The Northern Appalachian reportable segment is comprised of multiple operating segments, including Mettiki Coal, LLC’s mining complex, Mettiki Coal (WV) LLC’s Mountain View mining complex, two small third-party mining operations, a mining complex currently under construction at Tunnel Ridge, LLC (“Tunnel Ridge”) and the Penn Ridge Coal, LLC (“Penn Ridge”) property. In May 2010, incidental production began from mine development activities at Tunnel Ridge; however, longwall production is not anticipated until early 2012. The ARLP Partnership is in the process of permitting the Penn Ridge property for future mine development.

Other and Corporate includes the ARLP Partnership and AHGP’s marketing and administrative expenses, Matrix Design Group, LLC (“Matrix Design”), Alliance Design Group, LLC (“Alliance Design”) (collectively, Matrix Design and Alliance Design are referred to as the “Matrix Group”), the Mt. Vernon Transfer Terminal, LLC (“Mt. Vernon”) dock activities, coal brokerage activity, the ARLP Partnership’s equity investment in Mid-America Carbonates, LLC, (“MAC”) and certain properties of Alliance Resource Properties. Reportable segment results as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 are presented below:

 

     Illinois
Basin
     Central
Appalachia
     Northern
Appalachia
     Other and
Corporate
     Elimination
(1)
    Consolidated  
     (in thousands)  

Reportable segment results for the three months ended June 30, 2011:

                

Total revenues (2)

   $ 323,214       $ 57,521       $ 69,493       $ 10,876       $ (3,249   $ 457,855   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense (3)

     193,023         39,535         51,579         8,678         (3,249     289,566   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA (4)

     124,201         17,563         15,622         2,197         —          159,583   

Capital expenditures

     37,913         5,498         34,315         925         —          78,651   

Reportable segment results for the three months ended June 30, 2010:

                

Total revenues (2)

   $ 296,949       $ 40,928       $ 57,973       $ 10,741       $ (6,342   $ 400,249   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense (3)

     174,590         31,921         41,616         9,157         (6,342     250,942   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA (4)

     115,872         8,911         14,121         1,582         —          140,486   

Capital expenditures

     51,191         3,161         42,684         355         —          97,391   

Reportable segment results as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2011:

                

Total revenues (2)

   $ 640,801       $ 105,226       $ 123,196       $ 20,467       $ (8,663   $ 881,027   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense (3)

     373,267         73,052         92,893         18,337         (8,663     548,886   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA (4)

     254,934         31,134         25,937         2,130         —          314,135   

Total assets

     798,452         91,271         367,514         372,249         (990     1,628,496   

Capital expenditures

     73,354         11,855         55,773         1,451         —          142,433   

Reportable segment results as of and for the six months ended June 30, 2010:

                

Total revenues (2)

   $ 591,586       $ 80,690       $ 98,975       $ 21,208       $ (11,593   $ 780,866   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense (3)

     347,443         64,746         73,587         18,018         (11,593     492,201   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA (4)

     230,001         15,834         21,111         3,193         —          270,139   

Total assets

     759,487         80,656         286,740         32,733         (2,707     1,156,909   

Capital expenditures

     83,389         4,520         85,991         948         —          174,848   

 

(1) The elimination column represents the elimination of intercompany transactions and is primarily comprised of sales from the Matrix Group to the ARLP Partnership’s mining operations.
(2) Revenues included in the Other and Corporate column are primarily attributable to the Matrix Group revenues, Mt. Vernon transloading revenues and brokerage sales.

 

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(3) Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense includes operating expenses, outside coal purchases and other income. Transportation expenses are excluded as these expenses are passed through to the ARLP Partnership’s customers and consequently it does not realize any gain or loss on transportation revenues. We review Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense per ton for cost trends.

The following is a reconciliation of consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense to operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization) (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense

   $ 289,566      $ 250,942      $ 548,886      $ 492,201   

Outside coal purchases

     (5,842     (4,544     (9,631     (6,386

Other income

     393        304        980        154   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expenses (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)

   $ 284,117      $ 246,702      $ 540,235      $ 485,969   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(4) Segment Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Net Income (prior to the allocation of noncontrolling interest) before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization, and general and administrative expenses. Management therefore is able to focus solely on the evaluation of segment operating profitability as it relates to the ARLP Partnership’s revenues and operating expenses, which are primarily controlled by our segments. Consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to Net Income as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
    Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010     2011     2010  

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 159,583      $ 140,486      $ 314,135      $ 270,139   

General and administrative

     (13,806     (11,823     (27,079     (23,026

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (39,100     (35,677     (76,962     (71,973

Interest expense, net

     (9,067     (7,390     (18,271     (14,933

Income tax expense

     (324     (422     (96     (591
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 97,286      $ 85,174      $ 191,727      $ 159,616   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On July 27, 2011, we declared a quarterly distribution for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, of $0.5825 per unit on all common units outstanding, totaling approximately $34.9 million, payable on August 19, 2011 to all unitholders of record as of August 12, 2011.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Significant relationships referenced in this management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations include the following:

 

   

References to “we,” “us,” “our” or “AHGP” mean Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., individually as the parent company, and not on a consolidated basis.

 

   

References to “AHGP Partnership” mean the business and operations of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., the parent company, as well as its consolidated subsidiaries, which include Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC and Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

   

References to “AGP” mean Alliance GP, LLC, the general partner of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., also referred to as our general partner.

 

   

References to “ARLP Partnership” mean the business and operations of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., the parent company, as well as its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

   

References to “ARLP” mean Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., individually as the parent company, and not on a consolidated basis.

 

   

References to “MGP” mean Alliance Resource Management GP, LLC, the managing general partner of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

   

References to “SGP” mean Alliance Resource GP, LLC, the special general partner of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

   

References to “Intermediate Partnership” mean Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P., the intermediate partnership of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

 

   

References to “Alliance Coal” mean Alliance Coal, LLC, the holding company for the operations of Alliance Resource Operating Partners, L.P.

Summary

We have no operating activities apart from those conducted by the ARLP Partnership, and our cash flows currently consist primarily of distributions from ARLP for our ARLP partnership interests, including the incentive distribution rights that we own. We reflect our ownership interest in the ARLP Partnership on a consolidated basis, which means that our financial results are combined with the ARLP Partnership’s financial results and the results of our other subsidiaries. The earnings of the ARLP Partnership allocated to its limited partners’ interest not owned by us and allocated to SGP’s general partner interest in ARLP are reflected as a noncontrolling interest in our consolidated statement of income and balance sheet. In addition to the ARLP Partnership, our historical consolidated results of operations include the results of operations of MGP, our wholly-owned subsidiary.

The AHGP Partnership’s results of operations principally reflect the results of operations of the ARLP Partnership adjusted for noncontrolling partners’ interest in the ARLP Partnership’s net income. Accordingly, the discussion of our financial position and results of operations in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” reflects the operating activities and results of operations of the ARLP Partnership.

The ARLP Partnership is a diversified producer and marketer of coal primarily to major United States (“U.S.”) utilities and industrial users. The ARLP Partnership began mining operations in 1971 and, since then, has grown through acquisitions and internal development to become the fourth largest coal producer in the eastern U.S. The ARLP Partnership operates nine underground mining complexes in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland and West Virginia. The ARLP Partnership is constructing a new

 

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mining complex in West Virginia and also operates a coal loading terminal on the Ohio River at Mt. Vernon, Indiana. In addition, on July 25, 2011, the ARLP Partnership’s board of directors of its managing general partner (the “MGP Board of Directors”) approved development of a new mine in Indiana. As is customary in the coal industry, the ARLP Partnership has entered into long-term coal supply agreements with many of its customers.

We have four reportable segments: Illinois Basin, Central Appalachia, Northern Appalachia and Other and Corporate. The first three reportable segments correspond to the three major coal producing regions in the eastern U.S. Factors similarly affecting financial performance of the operating segments within each of these three reportable segments include coal quality, coal seam height, mining and transportation methods and regulatory issues.

 

   

Illinois Basin reportable segment is comprised of multiple operating segments, including Webster County Coal, LLC’s Dotiki mining complex (“Dotiki”), Gibson County Coal, LLC’s Gibson North mining complex (“Gibson North”), Hopkins County Coal, LLC’s Elk Creek mining complex (“Hopkins”), White County Coal, LLC’s Pattiki mine (“Pattiki”), Warrior Coal, LLC’s mining complex (“Warrior”), River View Coal, LLC’s mining complex (“River View”), the Sebree Mining, LLC (“Sebree”) property, the Gibson County Coal (South), LLC (“Gibson South”) property and certain properties of Alliance Resource Properties, LLC (“Alliance Resource Properties”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ARP Sebree, LLC. The ARLP Partnership recently received the permits necessary to begin mine construction at the Gibson South property, and on July 25, 2011, the MGP Board of Directors approved development of this mine, which is currently underway. The ARLP Partnership is in the process of permitting the Sebree property for future mine development.

 

   

Central Appalachian reportable segment is comprised of two operating segments, Pontiki Coal, LLC’s (“Pontiki”) and MC Mining, LLC’s mining complexes.

 

   

Northern Appalachian reportable segment is comprised of multiple operating segments, including Mettiki Coal, LLC’s mining complex (“Mettiki”), Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC’s Mountain View mining complex, two small third-party mining operations, a mining complex currently under construction at Tunnel Ridge, LLC (“Tunnel Ridge”) and the Penn Ridge Coal, LLC (“Penn Ridge”) property. In May 2010, incidental production began from mine development activities at Tunnel Ridge; however, longwall production is not anticipated until early 2012. The ARLP Partnership is in the process of permitting the Penn Ridge property for future mine development.

 

   

Other and Corporate reportable segment includes marketing and administrative expenses, Matrix Design Group, LLC (“Matrix Design”), Alliance Design Group, LLC (collectively, Matrix Design and Alliance Design Group, LLC are referred to as the “Matrix Group”), the Mt. Vernon Transfer Terminal, LLC (“Mt. Vernon”) dock activities, coal brokerage activity, the ARLP Partnership’s equity investment in Mid-America Carbonates, LLC (“MAC”) and certain properties of Alliance Resource Properties.

Three Months Ended June 30, 2011 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2010

We reported record net income of $97.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 (“2011 Quarter”) compared to $85.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010 (“2010 Quarter”). This increase of $12.1 million was principally due to improved pricing resulting in a record quarterly average coal sales price of $56.08 per ton sold for the 2011 Quarter, as compared to $51.53 per ton sold for the 2010 Quarter and record coal sales volumes, which increased to 7.9 million tons for the 2011 Quarter

 

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compared to 7.5 million tons for the 2010 Quarter. The ARLP Partnership had higher tons produced of 7.5 million tons in the 2011 Quarter compared to 6.9 million tons produced in the 2010 Quarter. The increase in produced tons primarily reflects increased production from the ARLP Partnership’s River View, Pattiki and Central Appalachia mines. Higher operating expenses during the 2011 Quarter resulted primarily from increased sales and production volumes, which particularly impacted materials and supplies expenses, sales-related expenses, maintenance costs and labor costs. Increased operating expenses also reflect increased incidental production at its Tunnel Ridge mine development project.

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010  
     (in thousands)      (per ton sold)  

Tons sold

     7,890         7,489         N/A         N/A   

Tons produced

     7,535         6,917         N/A         N/A   

Coal sales

   $ 442,483       $ 385,905       $ 56.08       $ 51.53   

Operating expenses and outside coal purchases

   $ 289,959       $ 251,246       $ 36.75       $ 33.55   

Coal sales. Coal sales for the 2011 Quarter increased 14.7% to $442.5 million from $385.9 million for the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $56.6 million in coal sales reflected the benefit of record coal sales prices (contributing $35.9 million in coal sales) and record tons sold (contributing $20.7 million in additional coal sales). Average coal sales prices in the 2011 Quarter increased $4.55 per ton sold to $56.08 per ton in the 2011 Quarter compared to $51.53 per ton in the 2010 Quarter, primarily as a result of improved contract pricing across all regions.

Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased 15.2% to $284.1 million for the 2011 Quarter from $246.7 million for the 2010 Quarter primarily due to record coal sales and increased production volumes. Increased River View production and Tunnel Ridge development combined to increase certain operating expenses by $11.6 million during the 2011 Quarter, which are generally included in variances discussed below. Operating expenses were impacted by various other factors, the most significant of which are also discussed below:

 

   

Labor and benefit expenses per ton produced, excluding workers’ compensation, increased 7.2% to $11.95 per ton in the 2011 Quarter from $11.15 per ton in the 2010 Quarter. This increase of $0.80 per ton represents increased mine development labor and benefits at the ARLP Partnership’s Tunnel Ridge mine and the impact of decreased coal recoveries at the ARLP Partnership’s Dotiki, Warrior and Mettiki mines, partially offset by lower labor cost per ton resulting from increased production at the ARLP Partnership’s River View and Central Appalachian mines;

 

   

Workers’ compensation expenses per ton produced increased to $1.09 per ton in the 2011 Quarter from $1.06 per ton in the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $0.03 per ton produced resulted primarily from favorable reserve adjustments during the 2010 Quarter;

 

   

Material and supplies expenses per ton produced increased 16.7% to $12.14 per ton in the 2011 Quarter from $10.40 per ton in the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $1.74 per ton produced resulted from an increase in cost for certain products and services, primarily roof support (increase of $0.39 per ton), power and fuel used in the mining process (increase of $0.38 per ton), outside services and contract labor used in the mining process (increase of $0.40 per ton), ventilation (increase of $0.19 per ton) and rock dust (increase of $0.11 per ton) in addition to the negative cost impact of heightened regulatory oversight;

 

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Maintenance expenses per ton produced increased 13.0% to $4.08 per ton in the 2011 Quarter from $3.61 per ton in the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $0.47 per ton produced was primarily due to higher maintenance costs in various equipment categories in the Illinois Basin and Northern Appalachian regions, as well as increased longwall maintenance costs at the ARLP Partnership’s Mettiki mine;

 

   

Mine administration expenses increased $3.4 million for the 2011 Quarter compared to the 2010 Quarter, primarily due to increased regulatory cost across all regions, increased costs associated with Matrix Design products, and research and higher insurance costs;

 

   

Contract mining expenses increased $0.8 million for the 2011 Quarter compared to the 2010 Quarter due principally to increased production expenses at both third-party operations, which include transition costs associated with a new contract mining agreement and closure costs related to one of the third-party mining operations;

 

   

Production taxes and royalties expenses (which were incurred as a percentage of coal sales prices and volumes) increased $0.27 per produced ton sold in the 2011 Quarter compared to the 2010 Quarter, primarily as a result of increased average coal sales prices across all regions; and

 

   

Operating expenses for the 2010 Quarter included $1.2 million for the retirement of certain assets related to the failed vertical hoist conveyor system at the ARLP Partnership’s Pattiki mine. For more information on Pattiki, please read “Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Note 4. Pattiki Vertical Hoist Conveyor System Failure In 2010” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses for the 2011 Quarter increased to $13.8 million compared to $11.8 million in the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $2.0 million was primarily due to increases in salary expense, professional service fees and contributions to certain industry and advocacy groups.

Other sales and operating revenues. Other sales and operating revenues are principally comprised of Mt. Vernon transloading revenues, Matrix Design and other outside services. Other sales and operating revenues increased to $6.7 million for the 2011 Quarter from $5.5 million for the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $1.5 million was primarily attributable to increased Matrix Design product sales.

Outside coal purchases. Outside coal purchases increased to $5.8 million for the 2011 Quarter from $4.5 million in the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $1.3 million was primarily attributable to increased coal brokerage activity as well as Mettiki’s higher cost per ton of coal purchased for sale into the export market.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense increased to $39.1 million for the 2011 Quarter from $35.7 million for the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $3.4 million was attributable to additional depreciation expense associated with capital expenditures related to the expansion of the ARLP Partnership’s River View mine, infrastructure and equipment expenditures at the Dotiki mine and capital expenditures related to various infrastructure improvements and efficiency projects at other mining operations.

 

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Interest expense. Interest expense, net of capitalized interest, increased to $9.2 million for the 2011 Quarter from $7.4 million for the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $1.8 million was principally attributable to increased interest expense resulting from the ARLP Partnership’s $300 million term loan, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2010, partially offset by reduced interest expense resulting from the August 2010 principal repayment of $18.0 million on the ARLP Partnership’s original senior notes issued in 1999, each of which is discussed in more detail below under “–Debt Obligations.”

Transportation revenues and expenses. Transportation revenues and expenses were $8.7 million and $8.8 million for the 2011 and 2010 Quarters, respectively. The decrease of $0.1 million was primarily attributable to reduced tonnage for which the ARLP Partnership arranged transportation at certain mines. The cost of transportation services are passed through to the ARLP Partnership’s customers. Consequently, the ARLP Partnership does not realize any gain or loss on transportation revenues.

Income tax expense. Income tax expense was $0.3 million for the 2011 Quarter compared to $0.4 million for the 2010 Quarter. Income taxes are primarily due to the operations of Matrix Design, which is owned by the ARLP Partnership’s subsidiary, Alliance Service, Inc. The decrease in income tax expense was due to lower annualized operating income from Matrix Design.

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. The noncontrolling interests balance is comprised of non-affiliate and affiliate ownership interests in the net assets of the ARLP Partnership that we consolidate. The noncontrolling interest designated as Affiliate represents SGP’s 0.01% general partner interest in ARLP and 0.01% general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership. The noncontrolling interest designated as Non-Affiliates represents the limited partners’ interest in ARLP controlled through the common unit ownership, excluding the 15,544,169 common units of ARLP held by us. The net income attributable to noncontrolling interest was $43.9 million and $39.0 million for the 2011 and 2010 Quarters, respectively. The increase in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest is due to an increase in the consolidated net income of the ARLP Partnership resulting from the changes in revenues and expenses described above.

 

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Segment Adjusted EBITDA. Our 2011 Quarter Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased $19.1 million, or 13.6%, to a record $159.6 million from the 2010 Quarter Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $140.5 million. Segment Adjusted EBITDA, tons sold, coal sales, other sales and operating revenues and Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense by segment are (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
       
     2011     2010     Increase/(Decrease)  

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

        

Illinois Basin

   $ 124,201      $ 115,872      $ 8,329        7.2

Central Appalachia

     17,563        8,911        8,652        97.1

Northern Appalachia

     15,622        14,121        1,501        10.6

Other and Corporate

     2,197        1,582        615        38.9

Elimination

     —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA (2)

   $ 159,583      $ 140,486      $ 19,097        13.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Tons sold

        

Illinois Basin

     6,328        6,113        215        3.5

Central Appalachia

     708        543        165        30.4

Northern Appalachia

     830        833        (3     (0.4 )% 

Other and Corporate

     24        —          24        (1

Elimination

     —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total tons sold

     7,890        7,489        401        5.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Coal sales

        

Illinois Basin

   $ 317,042      $ 290,204      $ 26,838        9.2

Central Appalachia

     57,098        40,837        16,261        39.8

Northern Appalachia

     66,360        54,859        11,501        21.0

Other and Corporate

     1,983        5        1,978        (1

Elimination

     —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total coal sales

   $ 442,483      $ 385,905      $ 56,578        14.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Other sales and operating revenues

        

Illinois Basin

   $ 181      $ 257      $ (76     (29.6 )% 

Central Appalachia

     —          (5     5        (1

Northern Appalachia

     842        878        (36     (4.1 )% 

Other and Corporate

     8,892        10,735        (1,843     (17.2 )% 

Elimination

     (3,249     (6,342     3,093        48.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total other sales and operating revenues

   $ 6,666      $ 5,523      $ 1,143        20.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense

        

Illinois Basin

   $ 193,023      $ 174,590      $ 18,433        10.6

Central Appalachia

     39,535        31,921        7,614        23.9

Northern Appalachia

     51,579        41,616        9,963        23.9

Other and Corporate

     8,678        9,157        (479     5.2

Elimination

     (3,249     (6,342     3,093        48.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense (3)

   $ 289,566      $ 250,942      $ 38,624        15.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

(1) Percentage change was greater than or equal to 100%.

 

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(2) Segment Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure) is defined as EBITDA, excluding general and administrative expense. EBITDA is defined as net income (prior to the allocation of noncontrolling interest) before net interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation, depletion and amortization. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is a key component of consolidated EBITDA, which is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and by external users of our financial statements such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others, to assess:

 

   

the financial performance of the ARLP Partnership’s assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;

 

   

the ability of the ARLP Partnership’s assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and support its indebtedness;

 

   

the ARLP Partnership’s operating performance and return on investment as compared to those of other companies in the coal energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structures; and

 

   

the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA is also used as a supplemental financial measure by our management for reasons similar to those stated in the above explanation of EBITDA. In addition, the exclusion of corporate general and administrative expenses from Segment Adjusted EBITDA allows management to focus solely on the evaluation of segment operating profitability as it relates to our revenues and operating expenses, which are primarily controlled by our segments.

The following is a reconciliation of consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most comparable GAAP financial measure (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010  

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 159,583      $ 140,486   

General and administrative

     (13,806     (11,823

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (39,100     (35,677

Interest expense, net

     (9,067     (7,390

Income tax expense

     (324     (422
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 97,286      $ 85,174   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(3) Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense (a non-GAAP financial measure) includes operating expenses, outside coal purchases and other income. Transportation expenses are excluded as these expenses are passed through to the ARLP Partnership’s customers and, consequently, it does not realize any gain or loss on transportation revenues. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense is used as a supplemental financial measure by the ARLP Partnership’s management to assess the operating performance of the segments. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense is a key component of EBITDA in addition to coal sales and other sales and operating revenues. The exclusion of corporate general and administrative expenses from Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense allows management to focus solely on the evaluation of segment operating performance as it primarily relates to the ARLP Partnership’s operating expenses. Outside coal purchases are included in Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense because tons sold and coal sales include sales from outside coal purchases.

 

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The following is a reconciliation of consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense to operating expense, the most comparable GAAP financial measure (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
     2011     2010  

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense

   $ 289,566      $ 250,942   

Outside coal purchases

     (5,842     (4,544

Other income

     393        304   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expense (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)

   $ 284,117      $ 246,702   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Illinois Basin – Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.2% to $124.2 million in the 2011 Quarter from $115.9 million in the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $8.3 million was primarily attributable to improved contract pricing resulting in a higher average coal sales price of $50.10 per ton sold during the 2011 Quarter compared to $47.47 per ton sold for the 2010 Quarter. Coal sales increased 9.2% to $317.0 million in the 2011 Quarter compared to $290.2 million in the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $26.8 million primarily reflects the increase in the average coal sales price discussed above and increased tons produced and sold from the ARLP Partnership’s River View mine and Pattiki mine, which resumed full production in the first quarter of 2011, offset partially by weather disruptions and difficult mining conditions affecting certain other mining operations. Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense for the 2011 Quarter increased 10.6% to $193.0 million from $174.6 million in the 2010 Quarter and increased $1.94 per ton sold to $30.50 from $28.56 per ton sold, primarily as a result of certain cost increases described above under consolidated operating expenses, as well as difficult mining conditions resulting in lower production at the Warrior and Dotiki mines and weather related disruptions at the Gibson North and Hopkins mines. These increases were partially offset by higher production at the ARLP Partnership’s River View and Pattiki mines and the impact on the 2010 Quarter of a $1.2 million loss on the retirement of certain assets related to the failed vertical hoist conveyor system at the ARLP Partnership’s Pattiki mine. For more information on Pattiki, please read “Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Note 4. Pattiki Vertical Hoist Conveyor System Failure In 2010” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Central Appalachia – Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 97.1% to $17.6 million for the 2011 Quarter compared to $8.9 million in the 2010 Quarter. The increase of $8.7 million was primarily attributable to increased tons sold, which increased 30.4% to 0.7 million tons sold in the 2011 Quarter, as well as improved contract pricing resulting in a higher average coal sales price of $80.66 per ton sold during the 2011 Quarter compared to $75.24 per ton sold for the 2010 Quarter. Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense for the 2011 Quarter increased 23.9% to $39.5 million from $31.9 million in the 2010 Quarter, primarily as a result of increased sales volumes and certain cost increases described above under consolidated operating expenses, as well as the impact of increasingly stringent regulatory compliance. Although Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense increased, Segment Adjusted EBITDA expense per ton decreased 5.1% to $55.85 per ton in the 2011 Quarter from $58.82 per ton in the 2010 Quarter, primarily as a result of increased production at both Central Appalachian mines and particularly Pontiki, which added a fourth mining unit in the 2011 Quarter.

Northern Appalachia – Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 10.6% to $15.6 million for the 2011 Quarter as compared to $14.1 million in the 2010 Quarter. This increase of $1.5 million was primarily attributable to improved contract pricing in the export coal markets resulting in a higher average sales price of $79.92 per ton sold for the 2011 Quarter compared to $65.87 per ton sold for the 2010 Quarter. Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense for the 2011 Quarter increased 23.9% to $51.6

 

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million from $41.6 million in the 2010 Quarter and increased $12.15 per ton sold to $62.12 from $49.97 per ton sold, primarily as a result of increased cost per ton of coal purchased for sale into the export markets and lower coal recoveries due to difficult geologic conditions at the Mountain View mine, as well as the other cost increases described above under consolidated operating expenses, including expenses related to the ARLP Partnership’s Tunnel Ridge mine development project

Other and Corporate – Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased $0.6 million in the 2011 Quarter from the 2010 Quarter. This increase was primarily attributable to higher coal brokerage sales. Other sales and operating revenues decreased 17.2% to $8.9 million in the 2011 Quarter compared to $10.7 million for the 2010 Quarter. The decrease of $1.8 million was primarily attributable to decreased sales of mine safety equipment by the Matrix Group to the ARLP Partnership’s mining subsidiaries (which are eliminated upon consolidation) and a decrease in Mt. Vernon outside transloading revenue resulting in part from weather disruptions. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense decreased 5.2% to $8.7 million for the 2011 Quarter compared to $9.2 million for the 2010 Quarter, primarily due to an increase in equity income from MAC, partially offset by increased component expenses and research costs associated with services revenue and safety equipment sales by the Matrix Group.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2011 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2010

We reported record net income of $191.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 (“2011 Period”) compared to $159.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010 (“2010 Period”). This increase of $32.1 million was principally due to improved pricing resulting in an average coal sales price of $55.11 per ton sold for the 2011 Period, as compared to $50.44 per ton sold in the 2010 Period. The ARLP Partnership had tons sold of 15.4 million tons and tons produced of 15.8 million tons in the 2011 Period compared to 14.9 million tons sold and 14.5 million tons produced in the 2010 Period. This increase in produced tons primarily reflects increased production from the ARLP Partnership’s River View mine. Higher operating expenses during the 2011 Period resulted primarily from increased sales and production volumes, which particularly impacted materials and supplies expenses, sales-related expenses, maintenance costs and labor costs. Increased operating expenses also reflect increased incidental production at its Tunnel Ridge mine development project.

 

     Six Months Ended June 30,  
     2011      2010      2011      2010  
     (in thousands)      (per ton sold)  

Tons sold

     15,428         14,870         N/A         N/A   

Tons produced

     15,755         14,461         N/A         N/A   

Coal sales

   $ 850,168       $ 750,064       $ 55.11       $ 50.44   

Operating expenses and outside coal purchases

   $ 549,866       $ 492,355       $ 35.64       $ 33.11   

Coal sales. Coal sales for the 2011 Period increased 13.3% to $850.2 million from $750.1 million for the 2010 Period. The increase of $100.1 million in coal sales reflected the benefit of higher coal sales prices (contributing $72.1 million in coal sales) and increased tons sold (contributing $28.2 million in additional coal sales). Average coal sales prices increased $4.67 per ton sold to $55.11 per ton in the 2011 Period as compared to $50.44 per ton sold in the 2010 Period, primarily as a result of improved contract pricing across all regions.

 

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Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased 11.2% to $540.2 million for the 2011 Period from $486.0 million for the 2010 Period primarily due to increased coal sales and production volumes. Increased River View production and Tunnel Ridge development combined to increase certain operating expenses by $29.5 million during the 2011 Period, which are generally included in variances discussed below. Operating expenses were impacted by various other factors, the most significant of which are discussed below:

 

   

Labor and benefit expenses per ton produced, excluding workers’ compensation, increased 6.4% to $11.32 per ton in the 2011 Period from $10.64 per ton in the 2010 Period. This increase of $0.68 per ton represents increased labor and benefits due mine development at the ARLP Partnership’s Tunnel Ridge mine and decreased coal recoveries at its Dotiki, Warrior and Mettiki mines, partially offset by lower labor cost per ton resulting from increased production at the ARLP Partnership’s River View mine and Central Appalachian mines;

 

   

Workers’ compensation expenses per ton produced increased to $1.05 per ton in the 2011 Period from $1.00 per ton in the 2010 Period. The increase of $0.5 per ton produced resulted primarily from favorable reserve adjustments during the 2010 Period;

 

   

Material and supplies expenses per ton produced increased 17.9% to $11.74 per ton in the 2011 Period from $9.96 per ton in the 2010 Period. The increase of $1.78 per ton produced resulted from an increase in cost for certain products and services, primarily roof support (increase of $0.50 per ton), power and fuel used in the mining process (increase of $0.29 per ton), outside services and contract labor used in the mining process (increase of $0.44 per ton), ventilation (increase of $0.14 per ton), certain safety related materials and supplies (increase of $0.11 per ton) and rock dust (increase of $0.10 per ton) in addition to the negative cost impact of heightened regulatory oversight;

 

   

Maintenance expenses per ton produced increased 17.1% to $4.05 per ton in the 2011 Period from $3.46 per ton in the 2010 Period. The increase of $0.59 per ton produced was primarily due to higher maintenance costs on continuous miners (increase of $0.13 per ton) in the Illinois Basin and Northern Appalachian regions, increased longwall maintenance costs at the ARLP Partnership’s Mettiki mine and higher costs in other various categories;

 

   

Mine administration expenses increased $5.8 million for the 2011 Period compared to the 2010 Period, primarily due to increased regulatory costs, insurance costs and increased components expense associated with safety equipment sales by the Matrix Group. In addition, mine administration expenses increased during the 2011 Period due to costs incurred at Tunnel Ridge and Warrior related to reserve studies and mine planning activities;

 

   

Contract mining expenses increased $1.9 million for the 2011 Period compared to the 2010 Period. The increase primarily reflects increased production and increased production expense from the ARLP Partnership’s existing contract mining operations in Northern Appalachia. Also contributing to increased contract mining expenses were transition costs associated with a new contract mining agreement and closure costs for one of the mining operations;

 

   

Production taxes and royalties expenses (which were incurred as a percentage of coal sales prices and volumes) increased $0.38 per produced ton sold in the 2011 Period compared to the 2010 Period, primarily as a result of increased average coal sales prices across all regions;

 

   

The operating expenses increases described above were partially offset in the 2011 Period by a 1.0 million reduction in tons sold from higher cost per ton beginning of the year coal inventory compared to the 2010 Period; and

 

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Operating expenses for the 2010 Period included $1.2 million related to the retirement of certain assets related to the failed vertical hoist conveyor system at the ARLP Partnership’s Pattiki mine. For more information on Pattiki, please read “Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Note 4. Pattiki Vertical Hoist Conveyor System Failure In 2010” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses for the 2011 Period increased to $27.1 million compared to $23.0 million in the 2010 Period. The increase of $4.1 million was primarily due to increases in salary expense, incentive compensation expense and professional service fees.

Other sales and operating revenues. Other sales and operating revenues are principally comprised of Mt. Vernon transloading revenues, Matrix Design, and other outside services. Other sales and operating revenues increased to $12.9 million for the 2011 Period from $12.3 million for the 2010 Period. The increase of $0.6 million was primarily attributable to increased Matrix Design product sales and Mt. Vernon transloading revenues.

Outside coal purchases. Outside coal purchases increased to $9.6 million for the 2011 Period compared to $6.4 million in the 2010 Period. The increase of $3.2 million was primarily attributable to increased outside coal purchases related to the Northern Appalachian region due to increased demand in export coal markets, as well as increased coal brokerage activity.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization. Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense increased to $77.0 million for the 2011 Period from $72.0 million for the 2010 Period. The increase of $5.0 million was attributable to additional depreciation expense associated with capital expenditures related to the expansion of the ARLP Partnership’s River View mine, infrastructure and equipment expenditures at the Dotiki mine and capital expenditures related to various infrastructure improvements and efficiency projects at other mining operations.

Interest expense. Interest expense, net of capitalized interest, increased to $18.5 million for the 2011 Period from $15.0 million for the 2010 Period. The increase of $3.5 million was principally attributable to increased interest expense resulting from the ARLP Partnership’s $300 million term loan, which was completed in the fourth quarter of 2010, partially offset by reduced interest expense from the ARLP Partnership’s August 2010 principal repayment of $18.0 million on its original senior notes issued in 1999, each of which is discussed in more detail below under “–Debt Obligations.”

Transportation revenues and expenses. Transportation revenues and expenses were $18.0 million and $18.5 million for the 2011 and 2010 Periods, respectively. The decrease of $0.5 million was primarily attributable to reduced tonnage for which the ARLP Partnership arranged transportation at certain mines, partially offset by an increase in the average transportation rate in the 2011 Period reflecting higher spot contracts with pass-through costs. The cost of transportation services are passed through to the ARLP Partnership’s customers. Consequently, the ARLP Partnership does not realize any gain or loss on transportation revenues.

Income tax expense. Income tax expense was $0.1 million for the 2011 Period compared to $0.6 million for the 2010 Period. Income taxes are primarily due to the operations of Matrix Design, which is owned by the ARLP Partnership’s subsidiary, Alliance Service, Inc. The decrease in income tax expense was due to lower annualized operating income in the 2011 Period from Matrix Design.

 

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Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. The noncontrolling interests balance is comprised of non-affiliate and affiliate ownership interests in the net assets of the ARLP Partnership that we consolidate. The noncontrolling interest designated as Affiliate represents SGP’s 0.01% general partner interest in ARLP and 0.01% general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership. The noncontrolling interest designated as Non-Affiliates represents the limited partners’ interest in ARLP controlled through the common unit ownership, excluding the 15,544,169 common units of ARLP held by us. The net income attributable to noncontrolling interest was $86.8 million and $72.4 million for the 2011 and 2010 Periods, respectively. The increase in net income attributable to noncontrolling interest is due to an increase in the consolidated net income of the ARLP Partnership resulting from the changes in revenues and expenses described above.

 

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Segment Adjusted EBITDA. Our 2011 Period Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased $44.0 million, or 16.3%, to $314.1 million from the 2010 Period Segment Adjusted EBITDA of $270.1 million. Segment Adjusted EBITDA, tons sold, coal sales, other sales and operating revenues and Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense by segment are (in thousands):

 

     Six Months Ended
June 30,
       
     2011     2010     Increase/(Decrease)  

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

        

Illinois Basin

   $ 254,934      $ 230,001      $ 24,933        10.8

Central Appalachia

     31,134        15,834        15,300        96.6

Northern Appalachia

     25,937        21,111        4,826        22.9

Other and Corporate

     2,130        3,193        (1,063     (33.3 )% 

Elimination

     —          —          —          (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA (2)

   $ 314,135      $ 270,139      $ 43,996        16.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Tons sold

        

Illinois Basin

     12,502        12,190        312        2.6

Central Appalachia

     1,303        1,149        154        13.4

Northern Appalachia

     1,599        1,531        68        4.4

Other and Corporate

     24        —          24        (1

Elimination

     —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total tons sold

     15,428        14,870        558        3.8
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Coal sales

        

Illinois Basin

   $ 627,050      $ 576,644      $ 50,406        8.7

Central Appalachia

     104,063        80,466        23,597        29.3

Northern Appalachia

     117,072        92,940        24,132        26.0

Other and Corporate

     1,983        14        1,969        (1

Elimination

     —          —          —          —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total coal sales

   $ 850,168      $ 750,064      $ 100,104        13.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Other sales and operating revenues

        

Illinois Basin

   $ 1,150      $ 800      $ 350        43.8

Central Appalachia

     123        114        9        7.9

Northern Appalachia

     1,759        1,758        1        0.1

Other and Corporate

     18,484        21,197        (2,713     (12.8 )% 

Elimination

     (8,663     (11,593     2,930        25.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total other sales and operating revenues

   $ 12,853      $ 12,276      $ 577        4.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense

        

Illinois Basin

   $ 373,267      $ 347,443      $ 25,824        7.4

Central Appalachia

     73,052        64,746        8,306        12.8

Northern Appalachia

     92,893        73,587        19,306        26.2

Other and Corporate

     18,337        18,018        319        1.8

Elimination

     (8,663     (11,593     2,930        25.3
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense (3)

   $ 548,886      $ 492,201      $ 56,685        11.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

(1) Percentage change was greater than or equal to 100%.

 

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(2) Segment Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure) is defined as net EBITDA, excluding general and administrative expense. EBITDA is defined as net income (prior to the allocation of noncontrolling interest) before net interest expense, income taxes, and depreciation, depletion and amortization. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is a key component of consolidated EBITDA, which is used as a supplemental financial measure by management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others, to assess:

 

   

the financial performance of the ARLP Partnership’s assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis;

 

   

the ability of the ARLP Partnership’s assets to generate cash sufficient to pay interest costs and support its indebtedness;

 

   

the ARLP Partnership’s operating performance and return on investment as compared to those of other companies in the coal energy sector, without regard to financing or capital structures; and

 

   

the viability of acquisitions and capital expenditure projects and the overall rates of return on alternative investment opportunities.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA is also used as a supplemental financial measure by our management for reasons similar to those stated in the above explanation of EBITDA. In addition, the exclusion of corporate general and administrative expenses from Segment Adjusted EBITDA allows management to focus solely on the evaluation of segment operating profitability as it relates to our revenues and operating expenses which are primarily controlled by our segments.

The following is a reconciliation of consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA to net income, the most comparable GAAP financial measure (in thousands):

 

     Six Months Ended  
     June 30,  
     2011     2010  

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 314,135      $ 270,139   

General and administrative

     (27,079     (23,026

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (76,962     (71,973

Interest expense, net

     (18,271     (14,933

Income tax expense

     (96     (591
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 191,727      $ 159,616   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(3) Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense (a non-GAAP financial measure) includes operating expenses, outside coal purchases and other income. Transportation expenses are excluded as these expenses are passed through to the ARLP Partnership’s customers, and consequently it does not realize any gain or loss on transportation revenues. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense is used as a supplemental financial measure by the ARLP Partnership’s management to assess the operating performance of the ARLP Partnership’s segments. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense is a key component of EBITDA in addition to coal sales and other sales and operating revenues. The exclusion of corporate general and administrative expenses from Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense allows management to focus solely on the evaluation of segment operating performance as it primarily relates to our operating expenses. Outside coal purchases are included in Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense because tons sold and coal sales include sales from outside coal purchases.

 

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The following is a reconciliation of consolidated Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense to operating expense, the most comparable GAAP financial measure (in thousands):

 

     Six Months Ended  
     June 30,  
     2011     2010  

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense

   $ 548,886      $ 492,201   

Outside coal purchases

     (9,631     (6,386

Other income

     980        154   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating expense (excluding depreciation, depletion and amortization)

   $ 540,235      $ 485,969   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Illinois Basin – Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 10.8% to $254.9 million in the 2011 Period from $230.0 million in the 2010 Period. The increase of $24.9 million was primarily attributable to improved contract pricing resulting in a higher average coal sales price of $50.16 per ton sold during the 2011 Period compared to $47.31 per ton sold for the 2010 Period. Coal sales increased 8.7% to $627.1 million in the 2011 Period compared to $576.6 million in the 2010 Period. The increase of $50.5 million primarily reflects the increase in average coal sales price discussed above and increased tons produced and sold from the ARLP Partnership’s River View mine and Pattiki mine, which resumed full production in the first quarter of 2011, offset partially by weather disruptions and difficult mining conditions affecting certain mine operations. Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense for the 2011 Period increased 7.4% to $373.3 million from $347.4 million in the 2010 Period and increased $1.36 per ton sold to $29.86 from $28.50 per ton sold, primarily as a result of certain cost increases described above under consolidated operating expenses, as well as lower production at the Dotiki and Warrior mines and weather related disruptions at the Gibson North and Hopkins mines. These increases were partially offset by higher production at the ARLP Partnership’s River View and Pattiki mines in the 2011 Period and the impact on the 2010 Period of a $1.2 million loss on the retirement of certain assets related to the failed vertical hoist conveyor system at the ARLP Partnership’s Pattiki mine. For more information on Pattiki, please read “Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited) – Note 4. Pattiki Vertical Hoist Conveyor System Failure In 2010” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Central Appalachia – Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 96.6% to $31.1 million for the 2011 Period, compared to $15.8 million for the 2010 Period. The increase of $15.3 million was primarily attributable to improved contract pricing resulting in a higher average coal sales price of $79.89 per ton sold during the 2011 Period compared to $70.01 per ton sold for the 2010 Period, as well as a 13.4% increase in tons sold to 1.3 million tons in the 2011 Period compared to 1.1 million tons sold in the 2010 Period. Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense for the 2010 Period increased 12.8% to $73.1 million from $64.7 million in the 2010 Period, primarily as a result of certain cost increases described above under consolidated operating expenses as well as the impact of increasingly stringent regulatory compliance. Although Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense increased, Segment Adjusted EBITDA expense per ton decreased 0.4% to $56.08 per ton in the 2011 Period from $56.33 per ton in the 2010 Period primarily as a result of increased production at both Central Appalachian mines and particularly Pontiki, which added a fourth mining unit during the 2011 Period.

Northern Appalachia – Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased 22.9% to $25.9 million for the 2011 Period, compared to $21.1 million for the 2010 Period. The increase of $4.8 million was primarily attributable to improved contract pricing in the export coal markets resulting in a higher average sales price of $73.20 per ton sold for the 2011 Period compared to $60.73 per ton sold for the 2010 Period. Improved demand in the export coal markets also resulted in higher tons sold, which increased 4.4% to

 

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1.6 million tons in the 2011 Period from 1.5 million tons in the 2010 Period. Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense for the 2011 Period increased 26.2% to $92.9 million from $73.6 million in the 2010 Period and increased $10.00 per ton sold to $58.08 from $48.08 per ton sold, primarily as a result of higher coal sales volumes, increased costs associated with coal purchased for sale into the export market and lower coal recoveries due to adverse geologic conditions, as well as the other cost increases described above under consolidated operating expenses, including expenses related to the ARLP Partnership’s Tunnel Ridge mine development project.

Other and Corporate – Segment Adjusted EBITDA and other sales and operating revenues decreased $1.0 million and $2.7 million, respectively, in the 2011 Period compared to the 2010 Period. These decreases were primarily attributable to lower Matrix Group safety equipment sales and a decrease in Mt. Vernon outside transloading revenues. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense increased 1.8% to $18.3 million for the 2011 Period compared to $18.0 million for the 2010 Period, primarily due to increased component expenses and research costs associated with services revenue and safety equipment sales by the Matrix Group, partially offset by an increase in equity income from MAC during the 2011 Period and a loss associated with United Kingdom currency held during the 2010 Period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity

Our only cash generating assets are limited partnership and general partnership interests in the ARLP Partnership, including incentive distribution rights, from which we receive quarterly distributions. We currently have no independent operations separate from those of the ARLP Partnership. We rely on distributions from the ARLP Partnership to fund our cash requirements.

The ARLP Partnership has historically satisfied its working capital requirements and funded its capital expenditures and debt service obligations from cash generated from operations, cash provided by the issuance of debt or equity and borrowings under revolving credit facilities. The ARLP Partnership believes that the current cash on hand, cash generated from operations, cash from borrowings under its current credit facility and cash provided from the issuance of debt or equity will be sufficient to meet its working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures, scheduled debt payments and distribution payments. The ARLP Partnership’s ability to satisfy its obligations and planned expenditures will depend upon its future operating performance and access to and cost of financing sources, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions generally and in the coal industry specifically, which are beyond its control. Based on the ARLP Partnership’s recent operating results, current cash position, anticipated future cash flows and sources of financing that it expects to have available, it does not anticipate any significant liquidity constraints in the foreseeable future. However, to the extent operating cash flow or access to and cost of financing sources are materially different than expected, future liquidity may be adversely affected. Please read “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Cash Flows

Cash provided by operating activities was $259.7 million for the 2011 Period compared to $257.7 million for the 2010 Period. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was principally attributable to higher net income and an increase in the change in accounts payable in the 2011 Period compared to the 2010 Period. These increases in cash provided by operating activities were partially offset by a significant increase in coal inventory during the 2011 Period as compared to a decrease during the 2010 Period.

 

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Net cash used in investing activities was $147.0 million for the 2011 Period compared to $183.6 million for the 2010 Period. The decrease in cash used for investing activities was primarily attributable to decreases in capital expenditures at Tunnel Ridge as a result of the ARLP Partnership’s construction timetable and River View due to the addition of mining units during the 2010 Period, partially offset by mine infrastructure and equipment expenditures at the Dotiki mine as well as increased capital expenditures at other mines and timing differences in accounts payable and accrued liabilities compared to the 2010 Period.

Net cash used in financing activities was $105.3 million for the 2011 Period compared to $85.1 million for the 2010 Period. The increase in cash used in financing activities was primarily attributable to increased distributions paid to partners in the 2011 Period and net borrowings of $5.0 million under the ARLP Credit Facility in the 2010 Period.

Capital Expenditures

Capital expenditures decreased to $142.4 million in the 2011 Period from $174.8 million in the 2010 Period. See “—Cash Flows” above for additional information regarding capital expenditures.

The ARLP Partnership’s anticipated total capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2011 are estimated in a range of $320.0 to $360.0 million. Management anticipates funding remaining 2011 capital requirements with the ARLP Partnership’s cash and cash equivalents ($347.1 million as of June 30, 2011), cash flows provided by operations and borrowing available under the ARLP Credit Facility as discussed below. The ARLP Partnership will continue to have significant capital requirements over the long-term, which may require it to incur debt or seek additional equity capital. The availability and cost of additional capital to the ARLP Partnership will depend upon prevailing market conditions, the market price of ARLP common units and several other factors over which the ARLP Partnership has limited control, as well as its financial condition and results of operations.

Debt Obligations

AHGP Partnership

We previously maintained a $2.0 million revolving credit facility (“AHGP Credit Facility”) with C-Holdings, LLC (“C-Holdings”), which owns 100% of the members’ interest of our general partner, AGP, and is controlled by Joseph W. Craft, III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGP. We had no borrowings under the AHGP Credit Facility during the 2011 Period. The AHGP Credit Facility expired on April 1, 2011 and was not renewed.

ARLP Partnership

ARLP Credit Facility. The Intermediate Partnership maintains the ARLP Credit Facility, a $142.5 million revolving credit facility that matures September 25, 2012. The ARLP Credit Facility limits the ARLP Partnership’s annual capital expenditures. The capital expenditure limit is $531.9 million for 2011 and $250.0 million for 2012. The amount of any annual limit in excess of actual capital expenditures for that year carries forward and is added to the annual limit for the subsequent year.

At June 30, 2011, the ARLP Partnership had $11.6 million of letters of credit outstanding with $130.9 million available for borrowing under the ARLP Credit Facility. The ARLP Partnership had no borrowings outstanding under the ARLP Credit Facility as of June 30, 2011 or December 31, 2010. The ARLP Partnership utilizes the ARLP Credit Facility, as appropriate, to meet working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures, scheduled debt payments or distribution payments. The ARLP Partnership incurs an annual commitment fee of 0.375% on the undrawn portion of the ARLP Credit Facility.

 

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Senior Notes. The Intermediate Partnership has $72.0 million principal amount of 8.31% senior notes due August 20, 2014, payable in four remaining equal annual installments of $18.0 million with interest payable semi-annually (“ARLP Senior Notes”).

Series A Senior Notes. On June 26, 2008, the Intermediate Partnership entered into a Note Purchase Agreement (the “2008 Note Purchase Agreement”) with a group of institutional investors in a private placement offering. The Intermediate Partnership issued $205.0 million of Series A senior notes, which bear interest at 6.28% and mature on June 26, 2015 with interest payable semi-annually.

Series B Senior Notes. On June 26, 2008, the Intermediate Partnership issued under the 2008 Note Purchase Agreement $145.0 million of Series B senior notes (together with the Series A senior notes, the “2008 Senior Notes”), which bear interest at 6.72% and mature on June 26, 2018 with interest payable semi-annually.

Term Loan. On December 29, 2010, the Intermediate Partnership entered into a term loan agreement (the “ARLP Term Loan Agreement”) with various financial institutions for a term loan (the “ARLP Term Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount of $300 million. The ARLP Term Loan bears interest at a variable rate plus an applicable margin which fluctuates depending upon whether the ARLP Partnership elects the ARLP Term Loan (or a portion thereof) to bear interest at the Base Rate or the Eurodollar Rate (as defined in the ARLP Term Loan Agreement). The ARLP Partnership elected the Eurodollar Rate which, with applicable margin, was 2.3% as of June 30, 2011. Interest is payable quarterly with principal due as follows: $15 million due per quarter beginning March 31, 2013 through December 31, 2013, $18.75 million due per quarter beginning March 31, 2014 through September 30, 2015 and the balance of $108.75 million due on December 31, 2015. The ARLP Partnership has the option to prepay the ARLP Term Loan at any time in whole or in part subject to terms and conditions described in the ARLP Term Loan Agreement. Upon a “change of control” (as defined in the ARLP Term Loan Agreement), the unpaid principal amount of the ARLP Term Loan, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under the ARLP Term Loan Agreement will become due and payable.

The ARLP Partnership incurred debt issuance costs of approximately $1.4 million in 2010 associated with the ARLP Term Loan Agreement, which have been deferred and are being amortized as a component of interest expense over the duration of the ARLP Term Loan.

The ARLP Credit Facility, ARLP Senior Notes, 2008 Senior Notes and the ARLP Term Loan (collectively, “ARLP Debt Arrangements”) are guaranteed by all of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Intermediate Partnership. The ARLP Debt Arrangements contain various covenants affecting the Intermediate Partnership and its subsidiaries restricting, among other things, the amount of distributions by the Intermediate Partnership, the incurrence of additional indebtedness and liens, the sale of assets, the making of investments, the entry into mergers and consolidations and the entry into transactions with affiliates, in each case subject to various exceptions. The ARLP Debt Arrangements also require the Intermediate Partnership to remain in control of a certain amount of mineable coal reserves relative to its annual production. In addition, the ARLP Debt Arrangements require the Intermediate Partnership to maintain the following: (a) debt to cash flow ratio of not more than 3.0 to 1.0 and (b) cash flow to interest expense ratio of not less than 4.0 to 1.0, in both cases, during the four most recently ended fiscal quarters. The ARLP Credit Facility, ARLP Senior Notes and the 2008 Senior Notes limit the Intermediate Partnership’s maximum annual capital expenditures, excluding acquisitions, as described above. The debt to cash flow ratio and cash flow to interest expense ratio were 1.33 to 1.0 and 16.2 to 1.0, respectively, for the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2011. Actual capital expenditures were $142.4 million for the 2011 Period. The ARLP Partnership was in compliance with the covenants of the ARLP Debt Arrangements as of June 30, 2011.

 

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Other. In addition to the letters of credit available under the ARLP Credit Facility discussed above, the ARLP Partnership also has agreements with two banks to provide additional letters of credit in an aggregate amount of $31.1 million to maintain surety bonds to secure certain asset retirement obligations and its obligations for workers’ compensation benefits. At June 30, 2011, the ARLP Partnership had $30.7 million in letters of credit outstanding under agreements with these two banks. SGP previously guaranteed $5.0 million of these outstanding letters of credit. On May 4, 2011, the ARLP Partnership entered into the Amendment and Restatement of Letter of Credit Facility Agreement, dated as of October 2, 2010, which released SGP from its guarantee of these outstanding letters of credit.

Related-Party Transactions

The ARLP Partnership has continuing related-party transactions with us, SGP and our respective affiliates. These related-party transactions relate principally to the provision of administrative services to us and Alliance Resource Holdings II, Inc. and our respective affiliates, a time sharing agreement concerning use of aircraft and mineral and equipment leases with SGP and its affiliates. The ARLP Partnership also had guarantees from the SGP for certain letters of credit. However, these guarantees were released on May 4, 2011.

Please read our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Related-Party Transactions” for additional information concerning related-party transactions.

New Accounting Standards

New Accounting Standards Issued and Adopted

In December 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-29, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Disclosure of Supplementary Pro Forma Information for Business Combinations (“ASU 2010-29”). ASU 2010-29 amended FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations, to specify that if a public entity presents comparative financial statements and a business combination has occurred during the current reporting period, then the public entity should disclose revenues and earnings of the combined entity as though the business combination that occurred during the current year had occurred at the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period only. The amendments also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures under FASB ASC 805 to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenues and earnings. The adoption of the ASU 2010-29 amendments were effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The adoption of ASU 2010-29 did not have an impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

New Accounting Standards Issued and Not Yet Adopted

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”). ASU 2011-05 removes the presentation options in Accounting Standards Codification 220, Comprehensive Income, and requires entities to report components of comprehensive income in either a continuous statement of comprehensive income or two separate but consecutive statements. Under the

 

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two statement approach, the first statement would include components of net income, and the second statement would include components of other comprehensive income (“OCI”). ASU 2011-05 does not change the items that must be reported in OCI. ASU 2011-05 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011, and its provisions must be applied retrospectively for all periods presented in the financial statements. We do not anticipate the adoption of ASU 2011-05 on January 1, 2012 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Other

Health Care Reform

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”). Additionally, on March 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law a reconciliation measure, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Implementation of the PPACA and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (collectively, the “Health Care Act”) will result in comprehensive changes to health care in the U.S. Implementation of this legislation is planned to occur in phases, with standard plan changes taking effect beginning in 2010, but to a greater extent with the 2011 benefit plan year and extending through 2018.

The Health Care Act continues to have implications on benefit plan eligibility, coverage requirements, and benefit standards and limitations. In the long term, the ARLP Partnership plan’s health care costs are expected to increase for various reasons due to the Health Care Act, including the potential impact of an excise tax on “high cost” plans (beginning in 2018), among other standard requirements. The ARLP Partnership’s anticipates that certain government agencies will provide additional regulations or interpretations concerning the application of the Health Care Act and reporting required thereunder. Until these regulations or interpretations are published, the ARLP Partnership is unable to reasonably estimate the further impact of such federal mandate requirements on its future health care costs.

The Health Care Act amended previous legislation related to coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, or black lung, providing automatic extension of awarded lifetime benefits to surviving spouses and providing changes to the legal criteria used to assess and award claims. The impact of these changes to the ARLP Partnership’s current population of beneficiaries and claimants resulted in an estimated $8.3 million increase to its black lung obligation at December 31, 2010. This increase to the ARLP Partnership’s obligation excludes the impact of potential re-filing of closed claims and potential filing rates for employees who terminated more than seven years ago as it does not have sufficient information to determine what, if any, claims will be filed until regulations are issued. The ARLP Partnership expects these regulations to be issued during fiscal 2011.

The ARLP Partnership will continue to evaluate the potential impact of the Health Care Act on its self-insured long term disability plan, black lung liabilities, results of operations and internal controls as governmental agencies issue interpretations regarding the meaning and scope of the Health Care Act. However, the ARLP Partnership believes it is likely that its costs will continue to increase as a result of these provisions, which may have an adverse impact on our results of operations and cash flows.

The DoddFrank Act

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd - Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd- Frank Act”). The additional regulations imposed by the Dodd- Frank Act on financial institutions may result in increased costs associated with future borrowings and decreased availability of credit. However, we are presently unable to determine the significance of any

 

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potential increase in our borrowing costs or potential liquidity constraints, if any. The Dodd- Frank Act also requires public mining companies to report certain safety information regarding citations, penalties and pending legal actions in each periodic report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and to file current reports on Form 8-K for certain safety matters. We are continuing to evaluate the effect of the Dodd- Frank Act on the ARLP Partnership’s operations.

Pattiki Vertical Hoist Conveyor System Failure In 2010

On May 13, 2010, White County Coal’s Pattiki mine was temporarily idled following the failure of the vertical hoist conveyor system used in conveying raw coal out of the mine. The ARLP Partnership’s operating expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 include $1.2 million for retirement of certain assets related to the failed vertical hoist conveyor system in addition to other repair and clean-up expenses that were not significant on a consolidated or segment basis. The ARLP Partnership reviewed its commercial property (including business interruption) insurance policies and, as the loss on the vertical hoist conveyor system did not exceed the ARLP Partnership’s deductible for property damage, it did not recover any amounts under such policies.

While the Pattiki mine was temporarily idled, the ARLP Partnership expanded coal production at its other coal mines in the region, including the addition of the seventh and eighth production units at the River View mine, to partially offset the loss of production from the Pattiki mine. Consequently, the temporary idling of the Pattiki mine did not have a material adverse impact on the ARLP Partnership’s results of operations and cash flows. On July 19, 2010, the Pattiki mine resumed limited production while White County Coal continued to assess the effectiveness and reliability of the repaired vertical hoist conveyor system. On January 3, 2011, the Pattiki mine returned to full production.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Commodity Price Risk

The ARLP Partnership has significant long-term coal supply agreements. Virtually all of the long-term coal supply agreements are subject to price adjustment provisions, which permit an increase or decrease periodically in the contract price to principally reflect changes in specified price indices or items such as taxes, royalties or actual production costs resulting from regulatory changes.

The ARLP Partnership has exposure to price risk for supplies that are used directly or indirectly in the normal course of coal production such as diesel fuel, steel, explosives and other supplies. The ARLP Partnership manages its risk for these items through strategic sourcing contracts for normal quantities required by its operations. The ARLP Partnership does not utilize any commodity price-hedges or other derivatives related to these risks.

Credit Risk

Most of the ARLP Partnership’s sales tonnage is consumed by electric utilities. Therefore, the ARLP Partnership’s credit risk is primarily with domestic electric power generators. The ARLP Partnership’s policy is to independently evaluate each customer’s creditworthiness prior to entering into transactions and to constantly monitor outstanding accounts receivable against established credit limits. When deemed appropriate by the ARLP Partnership’s credit management department, it will take steps to reduce its credit exposure to customers that do not meet its credit standards or whose credit has deteriorated. These steps may include obtaining letters of credit or cash collateral, requiring prepayments for shipments or establishing customer trust accounts held for the ARLP Partnership’s benefit in the event of a failure to pay.

 

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Exchange Rate Risk

Almost all of the ARLP Partnership’s transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars and, as a result, it does not have material exposure to currency exchange-rate risks.

Interest Rate Risk

Borrowings under the ARLP Credit Facility and ARLP Term Loan Agreement are at variable rates and, as a result, the ARLP Partnership has interest rate exposure. Historically, the ARLP Partnership’s earnings have not been materially affected by changes in interest rates. The ARLP Partnership does not utilize any interest rate derivative instruments related to its outstanding debt. The ARLP Partnership had no borrowings under the ARLP Credit Facility and $300.0 million outstanding under the ARLP Term Loan Agreement at June 30, 2011. A one percentage point increase in the interest rates related to the ARLP Term Loan Agreement would result in an annualized increase in 2011 interest expense of $3.0 million, based on borrowing levels at June 30, 2011. With respect to the ARLP Partnership’s fixed-rate borrowings, a one percentage point increase in interest rates would result in a decrease of approximately $18.2 million in the estimated fair value of these borrowings.

As of June 30, 2011, the estimated fair value of the ARLP Debt Arrangements was approximately $767.9 million. The fair values of long-term debt are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based upon the ARLP Partnership’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements as of June 30, 2011. There were no other changes in our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk as set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports we file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. An evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act) was performed as of June 30, 2011. This evaluation was performed by our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these controls and procedures are effective to ensure that the AHGP Partnership is able to collect, process and disclose the information it is required to disclose in the reports it files with the SEC within the required time periods, and during the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011, there have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) identified in connection with this evaluation that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements and information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q may constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements are based on our beliefs as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. When used in this document, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “may,” “project,” “will,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, all statements relating to our future outlook, anticipated capital expenditures, future cash flows and borrowings and sources of funding are forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to numerous assumptions that we believe are reasonable, but are open to a wide range of uncertainties and business risks, and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in these statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements are:

 

   

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 recent 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 climate change and miner health and safety;

 

   

the ARLP Partnership’s productivity levels and margins it earns on 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;

 

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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

 

   

other factors, including those discussed in “Part II. Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Part II. Item 1. Legal Proceedings” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those described in any forward-looking statement. When considering forward-looking statements, you should also keep in mind the risks described in “Risk Factors” below. These risks could also cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. We disclaim any obligation to update the above list or to announce publicly the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements to reflect future events or developments.

You should consider the information above when reading or considering any forward-looking statements contained in:

 

   

this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q;

 

   

other reports filed by us with the SEC;

 

   

our press releases;

 

   

our website http://www.ahgp.com; and

 

   

written or oral statements made by us or any of our officers or other authorized persons acting on our behalf.

 

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PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The information in Note 3. Contingencies to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in “Part I. Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q herein is hereby incorporated by reference. See also “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are not our only risks. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial based on current knowledge and factual circumstances, if such knowledge or facts change, also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results in the future.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

 

ITEM 4. RESERVED

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Federal Mine Safety and Health Act Information

Workplace safety is fundamental to the ARLP Partnership’s culture. The ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries empower their employees to be actively involved in continuous efforts to prevent accidents. By providing a work environment that rewards safety and encourages employee participation in the safety process, the ARLP Partnership’s mining operations strive to be the leaders in safety performance in our industry.

The ARLP Partnership is also a leader in developing and implementing new technologies to improve safety throughout the industry. For example, the ARLP Partnership’s subsidiary Matrix Design recently announced the development of two innovative technologies designed to improve safety in underground mining operations – a portable, wireless communication and electronic tracking system designed to allow surface personnel the ability to communicate with and locate underground mining personnel and a proximity detection system designed to improve the safety of continuous mining units used in underground operations. Matrix Design has completed installation of its communication and tracking system at all of the ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries and has either installed or received orders to install this vital safety system at over half of the operating underground coal mines in the U.S. In addition, Matrix Design has twenty-six of its proximity detection systems functioning on continuous miners in the ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries’ underground coal mines.

 

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The ARLP Partnership’s industry is focused on improving employee safety and its safety performance is continuously monitored, including through the mining industry standard of “non-fatal days lost”, or “NFDL”, which reflects both the frequency and severity of injuries incurred and, the ARLP Partnership believes, is a better measure of safety performance than compliance statistics. As indicated in the chart below, these efforts have resulted in significant safety improvements as the industry average NFDL as of the first quarter of 2011, as reported(a) by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”), has decreased approximately 65% since 1998.

LOGO

 

(a) Data compiled for all U.S. underground bituminous coal mines and related surface facilities from the MSHA report “Mine Injury and Worktime, Quarterly Closeout Edition.” Data for 1998 through 2010 reflects the “January – December, Final” report for each year. Data for 2011 reflects the “January – March, Preliminary” report for the first three months of 2011.

During this same time period, the combined NFDL rating of the ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries has averaged approximately one-third better than the industry average and in 2010 the ARLP Partnership achieved the best overall annual NFDL rating in our history.

The ARLP Partnership’s mining operations are subject to extensive and stringent compliance standards established pursuant to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended by the MINER Act (as amended, the “Mine Act”). MSHA monitors and rigorously enforces compliance with these standards and the ARLP Partnership’s mining operations are inspected frequently. During the three months ended June 30, 2011, the ARLP Partnership’s mines were subject to 1,541 MSHA inspection days with an average of only 0.21 “significant and substantial”, or “S&S”, citations written per inspection day.

The ARLP Partnership endeavors to comply at all times with all Mine Act regulations. However, the Mine Act has been construed as authorizing MSHA to issue citations and orders pursuant to the legal doctrine of strict liability, or liability without fault. If, in the opinion of an MSHA inspector, a condition exists that violates the Mine Act or regulations promulgated thereunder, then a citation or order will be issued regardless of whether the ARLP Partnership had any knowledge of, or fault in, the existence of that condition. Many of the Mine Act standards include one or more subjective elements, so that issuance of a citation often depends on the opinions or experience of the MSHA inspector involved and the frequency of citations will vary from inspector to inspector.

 

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The number of citations issued also is affected by the size of the mine, in that the number of citations issued generally increases with the size of the mine. The ARLP Partnership’s mines typically are larger in scale than most underground coal mines in the U.S. in terms of area, production and employee hours.

The ARLP Partnership takes all allegations of violations of Mine Act standards seriously, and if it disagrees with the assertions of an MSHA inspector, it exercises its right to challenge those findings by “contesting” the citation or order pursuant to the procedures established by the Mine Act and its regulations. During the three months ended June 30, 2011, the ARLP Partnership’s operating subsidiaries contested approximately 20% of all citations and the majority of S&S citations issued by MSHA inspectors. These contested proceedings frequently result in the dismissal or modification of previously issued citations, substantial reductions in the penalty amounts originally assessed by MSHA, or both.

The Dodd–Frank Act requires issuers to include in periodic reports filed with the SEC certain information relating to citations or orders for violations of standards under the Mine Act. Responding to that legislation, the ARLP Partnership reports that, for the three months ended June 30, 2011, none of its operating subsidiaries (a) received any violations under section 110(b)(2) of the Mine Act for failure to make reasonable efforts to eliminate a known violation of a mandatory safety or health standard that substantially proximately caused, or reasonably could have been expected to cause, death or serious bodily injury, (b) received any MSHA written notice under Mine Act section 104(e) of a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards or the potential to have such a pattern, or (c) had any fatalities. For the three months ended June 30, 2011, the ARLP Partnership’s subsidiary, Webster County Coal, LLC, initiated one (1) legal proceeding before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (“Commission”). The proceeding, which seeks an appeal of an administrative law judge’s decision in three consolidated cases involving Webster County Coal, LLC, is still pending. The ARLP Partnership has contests of 296 citations or orders pending before the administrative law judges of the Commission that were initiated during the three months ended June 30, 2011 and that involve all types of citations (i.e., not only S&S citations).

The following table sets out additional information required by the Dodd–Frank Act for the three months ended June 30, 2011. The mine data retrieval system maintained by MSHA may show information that is different than what is provided herein. Any such difference may be attributed to the need to update that information on MSHA’s system or other factors.

 

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Subsidiary Name (1)

   Section  104(a)
Citations(2)
     Section  104(b)
Orders (3)
     Section  104(d)
Citations and
Orders (4)
     Section  107(a)
Orders (5)
     Total  Proposed
Assessments
(in thousands) (6)
 

Illinois Basin Operations

              

Webster County Coal, LLC (KY)

     61         —           —           —         $ 43.1   

Warrior Coal, LLC (KY)

     35         1         2         1       $ 7.7   

Hopkins County Coal, LLC (KY)

     16         —           —           —         $ 3.5   

River View Coal, LLC (KY)

     19         —           —           —         $ 3.3   

White County Coal, LLC (IL)

     36         —           3         —         $ 16.1   

Gibson County Coal, LLC (IN)

     32         —           —           1       $ 93.7   

Central Appalachian Operations

              

Pontiki Coal, LLC (KY)

     50         —           —           —         $ 106.6   

MC Mining, LLC (KY)

     30         —           —           —         $ 24.3   

Northern Appalachian Operations

              

Mettiki Coal, LLC (MD)

     3         —           —           —         $ 0.1   

Mettiki Coal (WV), LLC

     21         —           —           —         $ 2.6   

Tunnel Ridge, LLC (PA/WV)

     11         —           —           —         $ 4.7   

 

(1)

The statistics reported for each of the ARLP Partnership’s subsidiaries listed above include all components of the mining complex involved and therefore may involve multiple MSHA identification numbers. Any S&S citations or orders issued to the ARLP Partnership’s subsidiary, Excel Mining, LLC, are included in the statistics for either Pontiki or MC Mining, depending on the mining complex involved.

 

(2)

Mine Act section 104(a) citations shown above are for alleged violations of health or safety standards that could significantly and substantially contribute to a serious injury.

 

(3)

Mine Act section 104(b) orders are for alleged failures to totally abate a citation within the period of time specified in the citation.

 

(4)

Mine Act section 104(d) citations and orders are for an alleged unwarrantable failure (i.e. aggravated conduct constituting more than ordinary negligence) to comply with a mining safety standard or regulation.

 

(5)

Mine Act section 107(a) orders are for alleged conditions or practices which could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before such condition or practice can be abated and result in orders of immediate withdrawal from the area of the mine affected by the condition.

 

(6)

Amounts shown include assessments proposed by MSHA during the three months ended June 30, 2011 on the citations and orders reflected in this chart.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

          Incorporated by Reference  

Exhibit
Number

  

Exhibit Description

   Form    SEC
File No. and
Film No.
   Exhibit    Filing
Date
   Filed
Herewith*
 
31.1    Certification of Joseph W. Craft, III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance GP, LLC, the general partner of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., dated August 8, 2011, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.                  þ   
31.2    Certification of Brian L. Cantrell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alliance GP, LLC, the general partner of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., dated August 8, 2011, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.                  þ   
32.1    Certification of Joseph W. Craft III, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance GP, LLC, the general partner of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., dated August 8, 2011, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.                  þ   
32.2    Certification of Brian L. Cantrell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alliance GP, LLC, the general partner of Alliance Holdings GP, L.P., dated August 8, 2011, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.                  þ   
101    Interactive Data File (Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011 furnished in XBRL). The financial information contained in the XBRL-related documents is “unaudited” and “unreviewed” and, in accordance with Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, is not deemed “filed” or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 and 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to liability under these sections.               

 

* Or furnished, in the case of Exhibits 32.1 and 32.2.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on August 8, 2011.

 

ALLIANCE HOLDINGS GP, L.P.

By:

  Alliance GP, LLC
  its general partner
  /s/ Joseph W. Craft, III
  Joseph W. Craft, III
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, duly authorized to sign on behalf of the registrant
  /s/ Brian L. Cantrell
  Brian L. Cantrell
  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

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