Alliance Resource Partners Reports Q3 2022 Financial and Operating Results

TULSA, Okla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ARLP) (“ARLP” or the “Partnership”) today reported financial and operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 (the “2023 Quarter”). Total revenues in the 2023 Quarter increased slightly to $636.5 million compared to $632.5 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 (the “2022 Quarter”) primarily as a result of higher transportation and other revenues, partially offset by lower oil & gas royalties. Net income for the 2023 Quarter was $153.7 million, or $1.18 per basic and diluted limited partner unit, compared to $167.7 million, or $1.25 per basic and diluted limited partner unit, for the 2022 Quarter as a result of increased total operating expenses, partially offset by higher interest income and lower income tax expense. EBITDA for the 2023 Quarter was $227.6 million compared to $253.8 million in the 2022 Quarter. (Unless otherwise noted, all references in the text of this release to “net income” refer to “net income attributable to ARLP.”)

Compared to the quarter ended June 30, 2023 (the “Sequential Quarter”), total revenues in the 2023 Quarter decreased 0.8% primarily as a result of lower coal sales volumes of 8.5 million tons sold compared to 8.9 million tons sold in the Sequential Quarter, partially offset by higher average coal sales prices, which increased 3.2% to $64.94 per ton sold in the 2023 Quarter. Lower revenues and higher total operating expenses contributed to a reduction in net income and EBITDA of 9.5% and 8.7%, respectively, compared to the Sequential Quarter. (For a definition of EBITDA and related reconciliation to its comparable GAAP financial measure, please see the end of this release.)

Financial and operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (the “2023 Period”) increased compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022 (the “2022 Period”). Coal sales prices and coal sales revenues during the 2023 Period were higher by 16.8% and 14.8%, respectively, compared to the 2022 Period. Increased revenues and lower income tax expense were partially offset by higher total operating expenses in the 2023 Period, which resulted in higher net income and EBITDA by 39.4% and 14.1%, respectively, both as compared to the 2022 Period.

CEO Commentary

“Our well-contracted coal order book enabled us to navigate an otherwise challenging operating environment during the 2023 Quarter,” commented Joseph W. Craft III, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our coal segment achieved higher realized pricing per ton sold relative to both the 2022 and Sequential Quarters, a theme that continues to favorably impact year-to-date results, particularly with regards to EBITDA and net income. However, we faced some difficult mining conditions in Appalachia at all three mines during the 2023 Quarter, which resulted in higher operating costs and fewer tons produced versus previous expectations.”

Mr. Craft added, “Our Oil & Gas Royalties segment reported continued growth resulting in record production volumes, underscoring the success of recent acquisitions in core parts of the prolific Permian Basin. Although average realized pricing per BOE during the 2023 Quarter was lower compared to near record levels in the 2022 Quarter, our royalty portfolio is well-positioned to provide significant cash flow via hedge-free exposure to commodity price and cost-free organic growth.”

Mr. Craft concluded, “We are excited to announce direct investments in Ascend Elements and Infinitum during the 2023 Quarter. These companies are led by proven management teams and possess innovative, commercial technologies that, in our view, will reshape their respective industries. Beyond our direct investments, we are actively engaged in discussions with both companies to explore additional strategic opportunities intended to unlock value and growth for our unitholders.”

Segment Results and Analysis

Coal Operations

ARLP’s coal sales prices per ton increased in all regions compared to both the 2022 and Sequential Quarters. Improved domestic pricing, partially offset by lower export price realizations, drove coal sales prices higher by 10.1% and 3.6% in the Illinois Basin and 11.6% and 6.5% in Appalachia as compared to the 2022 and Sequential Quarters, respectively. Tons sold decreased by 21.7% and 15.2% in Appalachia compared to the 2022 and Sequential Quarters, respectively, due to reduced volumes across the region caused by lock outages, customer plant maintenance, reduced operating units at MC Mining, and unique geologic conditions that delayed development of a new district at our Mettiki longwall operation. ARLP ended the 2023 Quarter with total coal inventory of 1.8 million tons, representing an increase of 0.5 million tons compared to the end of the 2022 Quarter and comparable to the end of the Sequential Quarter.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense per ton for the 2023 Quarter increased by 10.5% in the Illinois Basin compared to the 2022 Quarter, resulting from increased sales-related expenses due to higher price realizations and higher labor-related, roof support and maintenance costs due to days lost by a sizable roof fall in July and a longwall move in August at our Hamilton mine. Segment Adjusted EBITDA Expense per ton in Appalachia increased by 25.3% and 30.4% compared to the 2022 and Sequential Quarters, respectively, due primarily to lower production volumes, purchased coal and increased labor-related, roof support, maintenance and selling expenses per ton.

Royalties

Segment Adjusted EBITDA for the Oil & Gas Royalties segment decreased to $31.4 million in the 2023 Quarter compared to $39.4 million in the 2022 Quarter. The decrease was directly connected to lower price realizations, which decreased by 31.2%, partially offset by record oil & gas volumes, which increased 28.2% to 772 MBOE sold in the 2023 Quarter. Compared to the Sequential Quarter, Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased by 8.0% due to higher prices and volumes. Higher volumes during the 2023 Quarter resulted from increased drilling and completion activities on our interests and the acquisition of additional oil & gas mineral interests.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA for the Coal Royalties segment was $9.9 million for the 2023 Quarter, representing a decrease of $1.3 million and $1.1 million compared to the 2022 and Sequential Quarters, respectively, as a result of lower royalty tons sold and increased selling expenses, partially offset by higher average royalty rates per ton received from the Partnership’s mining subsidiaries.

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2023, total debt and finance leases outstanding were $371.0 million, including $284.6 million in ARLP’s 2025 senior notes. During the 2023 Quarter, ARLP redeemed $50.0 million and repurchased $4.6 million of its senior notes due May 1, 2025. The Partnership’s total and net leverage ratio was 0.36 times and 0.17 times, respectively, as of September 30, 2023. ARLP ended the 2023 Quarter with total liquidity of $629.5 million, which included $197.2 million of cash and cash equivalents and $432.3 million of borrowings available under its revolving credit and accounts receivable securitization facilities.

Distributions

On October 25, 2023, the Board of Directors of ARLP’s general partner (the “Board”) approved a cash distribution to unitholders for the 2023 Quarter of $0.70 per unit (an annualized rate of $2.80 per unit), payable on November 14, 2023, to all unitholders of record as of the close of trading on November 7, 2023. The announced distribution represents a 40.0% increase over the cash distribution of $0.50 per unit for the 2022 Quarter and is consistent with the Sequential Quarter cash distribution.

Strategic Investments

During the 2023 Quarter, ARLP invested approximately $50 million in two companies that align with the Partnership’s strategy to allocate a portion of excess cash flows into high-growth businesses where ARLP can leverage its core competencies to generate meaningful, risk-adjusted returns.

Ascend Elements, Inc. (“Ascend Elements”)

As previously announced, on September 6, 2023, ARLP invested $25 million in Ascend Elements, a U.S.-based manufacturer and recycler of sustainable, engineered battery materials for electric vehicles, as part of its $460 million Series D funding round. This capital, combined with $480 million in total grants awarded by the Department of Energy, will advance construction of North America’s first commercial-scale manufacturing facility, located near Hopkinsville, Kentucky, producing cathode materials for electric vehicle batteries.

In close proximity to ARLP’s western Kentucky mining operations, when complete, the 1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility will produce enough cathode materials for 750,000 electric vehicles per year. ARLP intends to explore other strategic opportunities with Ascend Elements to expand investment in the battery recycling industry and leverage our unique operational expertise, geographic footprint, and strategic relationships in Kentucky and the surrounding battery-belt states to drive value creation for both companies.

Infinitum

During the 2023 Quarter, ARLP invested an additional $24.6 million in Infinitum, a Texas-based developer and manufacturer of high-efficiency electric motors, as part of their ongoing Series E equity raise. The incremental amount brings ARLP’s total investment in the company to approximately $67 million. Infinitum believes that its patented air core motors offer superior performance in half the weight and size, at a fraction of the carbon footprint of traditional motors, making them pound for pound the most efficient in the world.

In addition to the investment, ARLP’s wholly-owned subsidiary Matrix Design Group LLC (“Matrix“) and Infinitum are actively evaluating opportunities to combine Matrix’s underground mining expertise with Infinitum’s technology to deliver much needed innovation to the growing global mining industry by improving the safety, efficiency, and performance of certain mining machinery.

Outlook

“As we assess current market conditions, we have elected to slightly adjust our full year 2023 guidance for coal sales volumes and pricing, which will be highly dependent on logistics during the fourth quarter,” commented Mr. Craft. “We expect Appalachia operating expense per ton sold to be 8-10% higher during the fourth quarter of 2023 as development for the new district at Mettiki is not expected to be complete until late November 2023 and Tunnel Ridge has a normally scheduled longwall move. The new longwall district at Mettiki allows us to develop longer panels that will increase production and reduce unit costs in 2024.”

Mr. Craft closed, “As we look beyond 2023, we are encouraged by improving fundamentals for coal export demand based on recent trends in international benchmark pricing and emerging opportunities we see in the market. On the domestic front, we hold firm in our conviction that the reliability of our product is highly valued by our customers and the long-term potential for higher natural gas prices and growth in electric demand will sustain our projections for coal demand and lead to a slowing in the pre-mature closure of coal-fired power plants in the eastern U.S.”

ARLP is providing the following updated guidance for the 2023 full year:

Conference Call

A conference call regarding ARLP’s 2023 Quarter financial results is scheduled for today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. To participate in the conference call, dial (877) 407-0784 and request to be connected to the Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. earnings conference call. International callers should dial (201) 689-8560 and request to be connected to the same call. Investors may also listen to the call via the “investors” section of ARLP’s website at www.arlp.com.

An audio replay of the conference call will be available for approximately one week. To access the audio replay, dial U.S. Toll Free (844) 512-2921; International Toll (412) 317-6671 and request to be connected to replay using access code 13741573.

Concurrent with this announcement, we are providing qualified notice to brokers and nominees that hold ARLP units on behalf of non-U.S. investors under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446-4(b) and (d) and Treasury Regulation Section 1.1446(f)-4(c)(2)(iii). Brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of ARLP’s distributions to non-U.S. investors as being attributable to income that is effectively connected with a United States trade or business. In addition, brokers and nominees should treat one hundred percent (100%) of the distribution as being in excess of cumulative net income for purposes of determining the amount to withhold. Accordingly, ARLP’s distributions to non-U.S. investors are subject to federal income tax withholding at a rate equal to the highest applicable effective tax rate plus ten percent (10%). Nominees, and not ARLP, are treated as the withholding agents responsible for withholding on the distributions received by them on behalf of non-U.S. investors.

About Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.

ARLP is a diversified energy company that is currently the largest coal producer in the eastern United States, supplying reliable, affordable energy domestically and internationally to major utilities, metallurgical and industrial users. ARLP also generates operating and royalty income from mineral interests it owns in strategic coal and oil & gas producing regions in the United States. In addition, ARLP is evolving and positioning itself as a reliable energy partner for the future by pursuing opportunities that support the advancement of energy and related infrastructure.

News, unit prices and additional information about ARLP, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), are available at www.arlp.com. For more information, contact the investor relations department of ARLP at (918) 295-7673 or via e-mail at investorrelations@arlp.com.