VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

10.VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

AllDale I & II and Cavalier Minerals

We own the general partner interests and, including the limited partner interests we hold through our ownership in Cavalier Minerals JV, LLC ("Cavalier Minerals"), approximately 97% of the limited partner interests in AllDale Minerals LP ("AllDale I") and AllDale Minerals II, LP ("AllDale II", and collectively with AllDale I, "AllDale I & II"). As the general partner of AllDale I & II, we are entitled to receive 20.0% of all distributions from AllDale I & II with the remaining 80.0% allocated to limited partners based upon ownership percentages.

Cavalier Minerals owns approximately 72% of the limited partner interests in AllDale I & II. We own the managing member interest and a 96% member interest in Cavalier Minerals. Bluegrass Minerals Management, LLC ("Bluegrass Minerals") owns a 4% member interest in Cavalier Minerals and a profits interest which entitles it to receive distributions equal to 25% of all distributions (including in liquidation) after all members have recovered their investment. All members have recovered their investment and Bluegrass Minerals began receiving its profits interest distributions in late 2022.

We have concluded that AllDale I, AllDale II and Cavalier Minerals are variable interest entities ("VIEs") which we consolidate as the primary beneficiary because we have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of AllDale I, AllDale II and Cavalier Minerals in addition to having substantial equity ownership.

Our share of Cavalier Minerals' investment in AllDale I & II is eliminated in consolidation and Bluegrass Minerals' investment in Cavalier Minerals is accounted for as noncontrolling ownership interest on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Additionally, earnings attributable to Bluegrass Minerals are recognized as noncontrolling interest in our condensed consolidated statements of income.

The following table presents the carrying amounts and classification of AllDale I & II's assets and liabilities included in our condensed consolidated balance sheets:

	March 31,		December 31,
	2024		2023
Assets (liabilities):	(in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	4,229	$	4,690
Trade receivables		17,131		16,058
Total property, plant and equipment, net		385,580		389,767
Accounts payable		(202)		(175)
Accrued taxes other than income taxes		(280)		(958)

AllDale III

AllDale Minerals III, LP ("AllDale III") owns oil & gas mineral interests in areas around the oil & gas mineral interests we own. Alliance Minerals owns a 13.9% limited partner interest in AllDale III. Alliance Minerals' investment in AllDale III is subject to a 25% profits interest for the general partner that is subject to a return hurdle equal to the greater of 125% of cumulative capital contributions and a 10% internal rate of return, and following an 80/20 "catch-up" provision for the general partner.

We have concluded that AllDale III is a VIE that we do not consolidate because we are not the primary beneficiary and AllDale III is structured as a limited partnership with the limited partners (1) not having the ability to remove the general partner and (2) not participating significantly in the operational decisions. We are not the primary beneficiary of AllDale III because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact AllDale III's economic performance. See Note 11 – Equity Investments for more information about the accounting for our investment in AllDale III.

Francis

On April 5, 2022, we invested $20 million in Francis Renewable Energy, LLC ("Francis"), in the form of a convertible note. Our convertible note matured on April 1, 2023 and was converted into a preferred equity interest in Francis.  Prior to conversion, we had determined the note more closely represented equity as opposed to debt. Therefore, we accounted for the convertible note as an equity contribution even though we did not participate in Francis' earnings or losses and were not eligible to receive distributions during the term of the note. Subsequent to the conversion on April 1, 2023, we participate in earnings and losses and are eligible to receive distributions. As of March 31, 2024, we held approximately 16.7% of Francis' equity.

We have concluded that Francis is a VIE that we do not consolidate because we are not the primary beneficiary and Francis' management structure is similar to a limited partnership with the non-managing members (i) not having the ability to remove the managing member and (ii) not participating significantly in the operational decisions. We are not the primary beneficiary of Francis because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Francis's economic performance. See Note 11 – Equity Investments for more information about the accounting for our investment in Francis.

NGP ET IV

On June 2, 2022, we committed to purchase $25.0 million of limited partner interests in NGP Energy Transition, L.P. ("NGP ET IV"), a private equity fund sponsored by NGP and focused on investments that are part of the global transition toward a lower carbon economy. This commitment represents a 3.6% interest in NGP ET IV. As of March 31, 2023, we have funded $7.2 million of this commitment.  

We have concluded that NGP ET IV is a VIE that we do not consolidate because we are not the primary beneficiary and NGP ET IV is structured as a limited partnership with limited partners (i) not having the ability to remove the general partner and (ii) not participating significantly in the operational decisions. We are not the primary beneficiary of NGP ET IV because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact NGP ET IV's economic performance. See Note 11 – Equity Investments for more information about the accounting for our investment in NGP ET IV.