ALLIANCE RESOURCE PARTNERS LP

Distributions

Our available cash that is not used for unit repurchases may, at the discretion of our general partner, be distributed within 45 days after the end of each quarter to unitholders of record. Available cash is generally defined in the partnership agreement as all cash and cash equivalents on hand at the end of each quarter less reserves established by MGP in its reasonable discretion for future cash requirements. These reserves are retained to provide for the conduct of our business, the payment of debt principal and interest and to provide funds for future distributions. The following table summarizes the quarterly per unit distribution paid during each quarter of 2021 through 2023:

On January 26, 2024, we declared a quarterly distribution of $0.70 per unit, totaling approximately $89.0 million, on all our common units outstanding, which was paid on February 14, 2024 to all unitholders of record on February 7, 2024.

In January 2023, the board of directors of MGP authorized a $93.5 million increase to the unit repurchase program, which had $6.5 million of available capacity as of December 31, 2022. As a result, we were authorized to repurchase up to a total of $100.0 million of ARLP common units. The program has no time limit and we may repurchase units from time to time in the open market or in other privately negotiated transactions. The unit repurchase program authorization does not obligate us to repurchase any dollar amount or number of units. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we repurchased and retired 929,842 units at an average unit price of $20.90 for an aggregate purchase price of $19.4 million, leaving $80.6 million remaining under the current authorization. Since inception of the unit repurchase program, we have repurchased and retired 6,390,446 units at an average unit price of $17.67 for an aggregate purchase price of $112.9 million.

Other

The noncontrolling interest in our consolidated balance sheets represents Bluegrass Minerals Management, LLC's ("Bluegrass Minerals") ownership interest in Cavalier Minerals JV, LLC ("Cavalier Minerals"). Our accumulated other comprehensive loss consists of unrecognized actuarial gains and losses as well as unrecognized prior service costs related to our pension and pneumoconiosis benefits. See Note 11 – Variable Interest Entities, Note 15 – Employee Benefit Plans and Note 19 – Accrued Workers' Compensation and Pneumoconiosis Benefits for further information.