11. NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

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 (See Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies) and an affiliate ownership interest in Cavalier Minerals (See Note 10 – Variable Interest Entities).

The following table summarizes the components of noncontrolling interests recorded in Partners' Capital for the years indicated:


	December 31,		December 31,
	2017		2016
	(in thousands)
Noncontrolling interests reflected in Partners' Capital:
Affiliate (SGP)	$	(303,817)	$	(303,818)
Non-Affiliates (ARLP's non-affiliate limited partners)		876,451		836,380
Affiliate (Cavalier Minerals) (See Note 10 - Variable Interest Entities)		5,348		5,550
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(17,120)		(21,990)
Total noncontrolling interests	$	560,862	$	516,122

The noncontrolling interest designated as Affiliate (SGP) represents SGP's limited partner interest in ARLP and, prior to the Exchange Transaction, SGP's 0.01% general partner interest in ARLP and 0.01% general partner interest in the Intermediate Partnership (See Note 1 – Organization and Presentation).

The noncontrolling interest designated as Non-Affiliates represents the limited partners' interest in ARLP controlled through the common unit ownership, excluding the 87,188,338 common units of ARLP held directly and indirectly by us (See Note 1 – Organization and Presentation). 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 (See Note 14 – Compensation Plans).

The following table summarizes net income attributable to each component of the noncontrolling interests for the years indicated:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest:
Affiliate (SGP)	$	27	$	53	$	33
Non-Affiliates (ARLP's non-affiliate limited partners)		115,680		150,426		92,840
Affiliates (Cavalier Minerals)		563		140		(27)
		116,270		150,619		92,846

The following table summarizes cash distributions paid by ARLP to each component of the noncontrolling interests for the years indicated:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2017		2016		2015
	(in thousands)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests:
Affiliate (SGP) (1)	$	26	$	49	$	67
Non-Affiliates (ARLP's non-affiliate limited partners) (1)		84,947		89,262		117,295
	$	84,973	$	89,311	$	117,362

(1)

Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests, in the table above, represent ARLP's quarterly distributions in accordance with the ARLP Partnership agreement.

The Affiliate (SGP) component of noncontrolling interests represents SGP's cumulative investment basis in the net assets of the ARLP Partnership. SGP's investment basis as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 reflects various transactions associated with the ARLP Partnership's formation and initial public offering in 1999, the cumulative amount of nominal ARLP income allocations and distributions to SGP, nominal contributions by SGP to ARLP and the Intermediate Partnership to maintain its general partner interests in the ARLP Partnership and nominal net income allocations related to SGP's new limited partner interests obtained in the Exchange Transaction (See Note 1 – Organization and Presentation).