Table of Contents

 
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

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

DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): July 19, 2005

 

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Delaware   001-31465   35-2164875
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  (Commission File
Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
         
601 Jefferson, Suite 3600
Houston, Texas
      77002
(Address of principal executive
offices)
      (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (713) 751-7507

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

     
o
  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
   
o
  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
   
o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
   
o
  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation
Item 8.01 Other Events
Item 9.01 Financial Statements And Exhibits
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
First Supplemental to Note Purchase Agreements
First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreements
Press Release dated July 20, 2005
Press Release dated July 20, 2005


Table of Contents

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

     On July 19, 2005, NRP (Operating) LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Natural Resource Partners L.P., entered into a First Supplement to Note Purchase Agreements with several note purchasers. The First Supplement relates to the issuance of $100 million of 5.05% Series D Senior Notes that mature on July 19, 2020. NRP Operating issued $50 million of senior notes on July 19, 2005 and will issue the remaining $50 million on January 19, 2006. The proceeds from the issuance of the notes were used to pay down the debt outstanding under NRP Operating’s revolving credit facility.

     The senior notes have an average life of approximately 9 years and will be interest only for the first two years. Beginning July 19, 2008, NRP Operating will make annual principal payments on the senior notes of approximately $7.7 million. Other than the maturity and the payment schedule, the senior notes have covenants and other terms that are identical to the Series A, B and C Senior Notes that NRP Operating has previously issued. The Series D Senior Notes are unsecured and are guaranteed by the subsidiaries of NRP Operating.

     In connection with the issuance of the senior notes, NRP Operating entered into a First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreements dated as of June 19, 2003.

     The First Supplement to Note Purchase Agreements is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.1 and the First Amendment to Note Purchase Agreements is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 4.2. The press release announcing the issuance of the notes is attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation.

     Please see the disclosure above under Item 1.01 relating to the issuance of Series D Senior Notes by NRP (Operating) LLC.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

     On July 20, 2005, Natural Resource Partners L.P. announced that the Board of Directors of its general partner has declared a $0.025 increase in its quarterly distribution to $0.7125 per unit. This equates to an annualized distribution of $2.85 per unit. The second quarter distribution will be paid on August 12, 2005 to unitholders of record on August 1, 2005. The press release announcing the distribution is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.

 


Table of Contents

Item 9.01 Financial Statements And Exhibits.

         (c) Exhibits

             
 
    4.1     First Supplement to Note Purchase Agreements, dated as of July 19, 2005 among NRP (Operating) LLC and the purchasers signatory thereto.
 
           
 
    4.2     First Amendment, dated as of July 19, 2005, to Note Purchase Agreements dated as of June 19, 2003 among NRP (Operating) LLC and the purchasers signatory thereto.
 
           
 
    99.1     Press Release dated July 20, 2005.
 
           
 
    99.2     Press Release dated July 20, 2005.

 


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

         
    NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
    (Registrant)
 
       
 
  By:   NRP (GP) LP
 
      its General Partner
 
       
 
  By:   GP Natural Resource Partners LLC
 
      its General Partner
 
       
 
      /s/ Wyatt L. Hogan
 
       
 
      Wyatt L. Hogan
 
      Vice President and General Counsel

     Dated: July 20, 2005

 


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

     
4.1
  First Supplement to Note Purchase Agreements, dated as of July 19, 2005 among NRP (Operating) LLC and the purchasers signatory thereto.
 
   
4.2
  First Amendment, dated as of July 19, 2005, to Note Purchase Agreements dated as of June 19, 2003 among NRP (Operating) LLC and the purchasers signatory thereto.
 
   
99.1
  Press Release dated July 20, 2005.
 
   
99.2
  Press Release dated July 20, 2005

 

 

EXHIBIT 4.1

 

NRP (Operating) LLC

and

 

First Supplement to Note Purchase Agreements

Dated as of July 19, 2005

     
Re:
  $100,000,000 5.05% Series D Senior Notes
 
  Due July 19, 2020

 

 


 

NRP (Operating) LLC

 

Dated as of
July 19, 2005

To the Purchaser(s) named in
Schedule A hereto

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     This First Supplement to Note Purchase Agreements (the “Supplement” ) is among NRP (Operating) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company” ), and the institutional investors named on Schedule A attached hereto (the “Purchasers” ).

     Reference is hereby made to the separate and several Note Purchase Agreements each dated as of June 19 , 2003 (the “Note Purchase Agreements” ) between the Company and the respective purchasers listed on Schedule A thereto. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as specified in the Note Purchase Agreements. Reference is further made to Section 4.13 of the Note Purchase Agreements which requires that, prior to the delivery of any Additional Notes, the Company and each Additional Purchaser shall execute and deliver a Supplement.

     The Company hereby agrees with the Purchaser(s) as follows:

     1.  Authorization of Notes . The Company has authorized the issue and sale of $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.05% Series D Senior Notes due July 19, 2020 (the “Series D Notes” ). The Series D Notes, together with the Notes previously issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreements and each series of Additional Notes which may from time to time hereafter be issued pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2 of the Note Purchase Agreements, are collectively referred to as the “Notes (such term shall also include any such notes issued in substitution therefor pursuant to Section 13 of the Note Purchase Agreements). The Series D Notes shall be substantially in the form set out in Exhibit 1 hereto with such changes therefrom, if any, as may be approved by the Purchaser(s) and the Company.

     2.  Sale and Purchase of Notes . Subject to the terms and conditions hereof and as set forth in the Note Purchase Agreements and on the basis of the representations and warranties hereinafter set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser agrees to purchase from the Company, Series D Notes in the principal amount set forth opposite such Purchaser’s name on Schedule A hereto at a price of 100% of the principal amount thereof on the applicable Closing hereafter mentioned.

     3.  Closings . The sale and purchase of the Series D Notes to be purchased by each Purchaser shall occur at the offices of Chapman and Cutler LLP, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, at 10:00 a.m. Chicago time, on the date or dates set forth opposite each

 


 

Purchaser’s name on Schedule A, the first of which date shall occur on July 19 , 2005 ( the “First Closing” ), and the second of which shall occur on J anuary 19, 2006 ( the “Second Closing” , and together with the First Closing being referred to, individually, as a “Closing” and, collectively, as the “Closings” ) or, in the case of each such Closing, on such other Business Day thereafter as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Purchasers participating in the related Closings. At each Closing, the Company will deliver to each Purchaser the Series D Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser in the form of a single Series D Note (or such greater number of Series D Notes in denominations of at least $250,000 as such Purchaser may request) dated the date of such Closing and registered in such Purchaser’s name (or in the name of such Purchaser’s nominee), against delivery by such Purchaser to the Company or its order of immediately available funds in the amount of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds for the account of the Company to account number 01561106604 at The Huntington National Bank, 919 Fifth Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia 25701, ABA Number 044000024. If at the relevant Closing the Company shall fail to tender such Series D Notes to any Purchaser as provided above in this Section 3, or any of the conditions specified in Section 4 shall not have been fulfilled to any Purchaser’s satisfaction, such Purchaser shall, at such Purchaser’s election, be relieved of all further obligations under this Supplement, without thereby waiving any rights such Purchaser may have by reason of such failure or such nonfulfillment.

     4.  Conditions to Closing . The obligation of each Purchaser to purchase and pay for the Series D Notes to be sold to such Purchaser at each Closing is subject to the fulfillment to such Purchaser’s satisfaction, prior to such Closing, of the conditions set forth in Section 4 of the Note Purchase Agreements (but adjusted to reflect the Series D Notes to be purchased at such Closing), except that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 of the Note Purchase Agreements and Section 5 of the Subsidiary Guarantee shall be modified as set forth in Exhibit A hereto, and subject to the following additional conditions:

     (a) Contemporaneously with such Closing, the Company shall sell to each Purchaser the Series D Notes to be purchased by such Purchaser at such Closing as specified in Schedule A.

     (b) As a condition to the Second Closing, the Company shall have issued and sold 100% of the Series D Notes to be issued and sold on the date of the First Closing in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof.

     5.  Required Prepayments . The Company will prepay the Series D Notes on the dates and in the principal amounts as set forth on Schedule 5 attached hereto at par and without payment of the Make-Whole Amount or any premium, provided that upon any partial prepayment of the Series D Notes pursuant to Section 6 or Section 7 of this Supplement or purchase of the Series D Notes permitted by Section 10 of this Supplement, the principal amount of each required prepayment of the Series D Notes becoming due under this Section 5 of this Supplement on and after the date of such prepayment or purchase shall be reduced in the same proportion as the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Series D Notes is reduced as a result of such prepayment or purchase.

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     6.  Optional Prepayments with Make-Whole Amount . The Company may, at its option, upon notice as provided below, prepay at any time after the Second Closing all, or from time to time any part of, the Series D Notes, in an aggregate principal amount not less than $5,000,000, in the case of a partial prepayment, at 100% of the principal amount so prepaid, plus the applicable Make-Whole Amount with respect to the Series D Notes determined for the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount. The Company will give each holder of Series D Notes written notice of each optional prepayment under this Section 6 of this Supplement not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for such prepayment. Each such notice shall specify such date, the aggregate principal amount of the Series D Notes to be prepaid on such date, the principal amount of each Series D Note held by such holder to be prepaid (determined in accordance with Section 8 of this Supplement), and the interest to be paid on the prepayment date with respect to such principal amount being prepaid, and shall be accompanied by a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer as to the estimated Make-Whole Amount with respect to the Series D Notes due in connection with such prepayment (calculated as if the date of such notice were the date of the prepayment), setting forth the details of such computation. Two Business Days prior to such prepayment, the Company shall deliver to each holder of Series D Notes a certificate of a Senior Financial Officer specifying the calculation of such Make-Whole Amount as of the specified prepayment date.

     7.  Change in Control .

     (a)  Notice of Change in Control or Control Event . The Company will, within five (5) Business Days after any Responsible Officer has knowledge of the occurrence of any Change in Control or Control Event, give written notice (the “Change of Control Notice” ) of such Change in Control or Control Event to each holder of Series D Notes unless notice in respect of such Change in Control (or the Change of Control contemplated by such Control Event) shall have been given pursuant to subparagraph (c) of this Section 7 of this Supplement. Such Change of Control Notice shall contain and constitute an offer to prepay the Series D Notes as described in Section 7(c) of this Supplement and shall be accompanied by the certificate described in Section 7(g) of this Supplement.

     (b)  Condition to Company Action. The Company will not take any action that consummates or finalizes a Change in Control unless (i) at least 30 days prior to such action it shall have given to each holder of Series D Notes written notice containing and constituting an offer to prepay the Series D Notes as described in subparagraph (c) of this Section 7 of this Supplement, accompanied by the certificate described in subparagraph (g) of this Section 7 of this Supplement, and (ii) contemporaneously with such action, it prepays all Series D Notes required to be prepaid in accordance with this Section 7 of this Supplement.

     (c)  Offer to Prepay Notes . The offer to prepay Series D Notes contemplated by paragraph (a) and (b) of this Section 7 of this Supplement shall be an offer to prepay, in accordance with and subject to this Section 7 of this Supplement, all, but not less than all, the Series D Notes held by each holder (in this case only, “holder” in respect of any Series D Note registered in the name of a nominee for a disclosed beneficial owner shall mean such beneficial owner) on a date specified in such Change of Control Notice (the “Proposed Prepayment

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Date” ). If such Proposed Prepayment Date is in connection with an offer contemplated by subparagraph (a) of this Section 7 of this Supplement, such date shall be not less than 30 days and not more than 120 days after the date of such offer (if the Proposed Prepayment Date shall not be specified in such offer, the Proposed Prepayment Date shall be the first Business Day after the 45th day after the date of such offer).

     (d)  Acceptance . A holder of Series D Notes may accept the offer to prepay made pursuant to this Section 7 of this Supplement by causing a notice of such acceptance to be delivered to the Company not later than 15 days after receipt by such holder of the most recent offer of prepayment. A failure by a holder of Series D Notes to respond to an offer to prepay made pursuant to this Section 7 of this Supplement shall be deemed to constitute a rejection of such offer by such holder.

     (e)  Prepayment . Prepayment of the Series D Notes to be prepaid pursuant to this Section 7 of this Supplement shall be at 100% of the principal amount of the Series D Notes together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The prepayment shall be made on the Proposed Prepayment Date except as provided in subparagraph (f) of this Section 7 of this Supplement.

     (f)  Deferral Pending Change in Control. The obligation of the Company to prepay Notes pursuant to the offers required by subparagraph (c) and accepted in accordance with subparagraph (d) of this Section 7 of this Supplement is subject to the occurrence of the Change in Control in respect of which such offers and acceptances shall have been made. In the event that such Change in Control has not occurred on the Proposed Prepayment Date in respect thereof, the prepayment shall be deferred until, and shall be made on, the date on which such Change in Control occurs. The Company shall keep each holder of Series D Notes reasonably and timely informed of (i) any such deferral of the date of prepayment, (ii) the date on which such Change in Control and the prepayment are expected to occur, and (iii) any determination by the Company that efforts to effect such Change in Control have ceased or been abandoned (in which case the offers and acceptances made pursuant to this Section 7 of this Supplement in respect of such Change in Control shall be deemed rescinded).

     (g)  Officer’s Certificate . Each offer to prepay the Series D Notes pursuant to this Section 7 of this Supplement shall be accompanied by a certificate, executed by the Senior Financial Officer of the Company and dated the date of such offer, specifying: (i) the Proposed Prepayment Date; (ii) that such offer is made pursuant to this Section 7 of this Supplement; (iii) the principal amount of each Series D Note offered to be prepaid (which shall be 100% of each such Series D Note); (iv) the interest that would be due on each Series D Note offered to be prepaid, accrued to the Proposed Prepayment Date; (v) that the conditions of this Section 7 of this Supplement have been fulfilled; and (vi) in reasonable detail, the nature and date or proposed date of the Change in Control.

     (h) Certain Definitions. “Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if

     (i) the Parent ceases to own directly all of the membership interests of the Company,

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     (ii) the General Partner ceases to own directly all of the general partner interests of the Parent, or

     (iii) Corbin J. Robertson, Jr., the WPP Group, NRP Investment L.P. and/or one or more of their direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries cease to own, in the aggregate, more than 50% of the partnership interests of the General Partner.

      “Control Event” means (i) the execution by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates of any agreement or letter of intent with respect to any proposed transaction or event or series of transactions or events which, individually or in the aggregate, may reasonably be expected to result in a Change in Control, or

     (ii) the execution of any written agreement which, when fully performed by the parties thereto, would result in a Change in Control.

     (i) All calculations contemplated in this Section 7 of this Supplement involving the capital stock, limited liability company or other equity interest of any Person shall be made with the assumption that all convertible securities of such Person then outstanding and all convertible securities issuable upon the exercise of any warrants, options and other rights outstanding at such time were converted at such time and that all options, warrants and similar rights to acquire shares of capital stock or limited liability company or other equity interest of such Person were exercised at such time.

     8.  Allocation of Partial Prepayments . In the case of each partial prepayment of the Series D Notes pursuant to Section 5 of this Supplement, the principal amount of the Series D Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Series D Notes at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof. In the case of each partial prepayment of the Series D Notes pursuant to Section 6 of this Supplement, the principal amount of the Series D Notes to be prepaid shall be allocated among all of the Series D Notes at the time outstanding in proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective unpaid principal amounts thereof not theretofore called for prepayment.

     9.  Maturity; Surrender, Etc . In the case of each prepayment of Series D Notes pursuant to Sections 5, 6 or 7 of this Supplement, the principal amount of each Series D Note to be prepaid shall mature and become due and payable on the date fixed for such prepayment, together with interest on such principal amount accrued to such date and the applicable Make-Whole Amount, if any. From and after such date, unless the Company shall fail to pay such principal amount when so due and payable, together with the interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, as aforesaid, interest on such principal amount shall cease to accrue. Any Series D Note paid or prepaid in full shall be surrendered to the Company and cancelled and shall not be reissued, and no Series D Note shall be issued in lieu of any prepaid principal amount of any Series D Note.

     10.  Purchase of Notes . The Company will not and will not permit any Affiliate to purchase, redeem, prepay or otherwise acquire,

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directly or indirectly, any of the outstanding Series D Notes except upon the payment or prepayment of the Series D Notes in accordance with the terms of the Note Purchase Agreements, this Supplement and the Series D Notes. The Company will promptly cancel all Series D Notes acquired by it or any Affiliate pursuant to any payment, prepayment or purchase of Series D Notes pursuant to any provision of the Note Purchase Agreements or this Supplement and no Series D Notes may be issued in substitution or exchange for any such Series D Notes.

     11.  Make-Whole Amount . The term “Make-Whole Amount” means, with respect to any Series D Note, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Discounted Value of the Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to the Called Principal of such Series D Note over the amount of such Called Principal, provided that the Make-Whole Amount may in no event be less than zero. For the purposes of determining the Make-Whole Amount, the following terms have the following meanings:

      “Called Principal” means, with respect to any Series D Note, the principal of such Series D Note that is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 6 of this Supplement or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreements, as the context requires.

      “Discounted Value” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Series D Note, the amount obtained by discounting all Remaining Scheduled Payments with respect to such Called Principal from their respective scheduled due dates to the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in accordance with accepted financial practice and at a discount factor (applied on the same periodic basis as that on which interest on the Series D Notes is payable) equal to the Reinvestment Yield with respect to such Called Principal.

      “Reinvestment Yield” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Series D Note, .50% over the yield to maturity implied by (i) the yields reported, as of 10:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, on the display designated as “Page PX1” of the Bloomberg Financial Markets Services Screen (or, if not available, any other national recognized trading screen reporting on-line intraday trading in the U.S. Treasury securities) for actively on-the-run traded U.S. Treasury securities having a maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such series of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date, or (ii) if such yields are not reported as of such time or the yields reported as of such time are not ascertainable, the Treasury Constant Maturity Series Yields reported, for the latest day for which such yields have been so reported as of the second Business Day preceding the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal, in Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) (or any comparable successor publication) for actively traded on-the-run U.S. Treasury securities having a constant maturity equal to the Remaining Average Life of such Called Principal as of such Settlement Date. Such implied yield will be determined, if necessary, by (a) converting U.S. Treasury bill quotations to bond-equivalent yields in accordance with accepted financial practice and (b) interpolating linearly between (1) the actively traded on-the-run

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U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and greater than the Remaining Average Life and (2) the actively traded on-the-run U.S. Treasury security with the maturity closest to and less than the Remaining Average Life.

      “Remaining Average Life” means, with respect to any Called Principal, the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) obtained by dividing (i) such Called Principal into (ii) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the principal component of each Remaining Scheduled Payment with respect to such Called Principal by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth year) that will elapse between the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal and the scheduled due date of such Remaining Scheduled Payment.

      “Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Series D Note, all payments of such Called Principal of such series and interest thereon that would be due after the Settlement Date with respect to such Called Principal if no payment of such Called Principal were made prior to its scheduled due date, provided that if such Settlement Date is not a date on which interest payments are due to be made under the terms of the Series D Notes of such series, then the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued to such Settlement Date and required to be paid on such Settlement Date pursuant to Section 6 of this Supplement or Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreements.

      “Settlement Date” means, with respect to the Called Principal of any Series D Note, the date on which such Called Principal is to be prepaid pursuant to Section 6 of this Supplement or has become or is declared to be immediately due and payable pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Note Purchase Agreements, as the context requires.

     12.  Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers . Each Purchaser represents and warrants that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 6 of the Note Purchase Agreements are true and correct on the date hereof with respect to the purchase of the Series D Notes by such Purchaser.

     13.  Amendment and Waiver. For purposes of any determination under Section 17 of the Note Purchase Agreements after the First Closing and prior to the Second Closing (the “Second Closing Gap Period ”), the Series D Notes proposed to be issued and sold on the Second Closing shall be deemed to be outstanding and held by the proposed Purchasers designated in Schedule A attached to this Supplement, provided that for the purposes of determining the Required Holders under Section 17.1(a) of the Note Purchase Agreements during the Second Closing Gap Period, “Required Holders” shall mean, at any time during the Second Closing Gap Period, the holders of at least 51% in principal amount of the Notes at the time outstanding (exclusive of Notes then owned by the Company or any of its Affiliates) plus the holders of at least 51% in principal amount of the Series D Notes proposed to be issued and sold on the Second Closing.

     14.  Compliance with Note Purchase Agreements . The Company and each Purchaser agree to be bound by and comply with the terms and provisions of the Note Purchase

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Agreements as fully and completely as if such Purchaser were an original signatory to the Note Purchase Agreements.

     15.  Governing Law . This Supplement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State

     The execution hereof shall constitute a contract between the Company and the Purchaser(s) for the uses and purposes hereinabove set forth, and this agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting an original but all together only one agreement.

         
    NRP (Operating) LLC
 
       
 
  By    
 
       
 
      Name:
 
      Title:

     Each of the undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors hereby acknowledges, approves and agrees to the foregoing First Supplement as of the date aforesaid and confirms and ratifies its obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantee dated June 19, 2003, as amended, modified or supplemented (the “ Subsidiary Guarantee ”) and acknowledges and agrees that its obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantee extend to and include, without limitation, all obligations of the Company to the Purchasers under the Note Purchase Agreement and the Series D Notes. The terms and provisions of the Subsidiary Guarantee are hereby incorporated herein in their entirety as if such terms and provisions were actually set forth herein and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby makes the representations and warranties, agreements and covenants in, and agrees to be bound by all the terms of, such terms and provisions.

                     
    WPP LLC
    ACIN LLC
    WBRD LLC
 
                   
    By:   NRP (Operating) LLC, as the Sole Member of each of the above named Subsidiary Guarantors    
 
                   
 
      By            
                 
 
          Name:        
 
                   
 
          Title:        
 
                   

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Accepted as of July 19, 2005

             
    AIG Annuity Insurance Company
    Merit Life Insurance Co.
 
           
    By:   AIG Global Investment Corp., investment adviser
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:
 
           
    Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
 
  By        
         
 
      Name:    
 
      Title:    
 
           
    The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
 
           
 
  By        
         
        Name:
        Its Authorized Representative
 
           
    The Prudential Insurance Company of America
 
           
 
  By        
         
 
      Name:    
 
      Title:    

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    Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company
 
           
    By:   Prudential Investment Management, Inc., as investment manager
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:
 
           
    Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
 
           
    By:   Prudential Private Placement Investors, L.P. (as Investment Advisor)
 
           
    By:   Prudential Private Placement Investors, Inc. (as its General Partner)
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:
 
           
    Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
 
           
    By:   Babson Capital Management LLC as Investment
Adviser
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:

-10-


 

             
    C.M. Life Insurance Company
 
           
    By:   Babson Capital Management LLC as Investment
Sub-Adviser
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:
 
           
    MassMutual Asia Limited
 
           
    By:   Babson Capital Management LLC as Investment
Adviser
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:
 
           
    Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company
 
           
 
  By        
         
 
      Name:    
 
      Title:    
 
           
    Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Company
 
           
 
  By        
         
 
      Name:    
 
      Title:    
 
           
    Jefferson Pilot Financial Insurance Company
 
           
 
  By        
         
 
      Name:    
 
      Title:    

-11-


 

             
    American United Life Insurance Company
 
           
 
  By        
         
 
      Name:    
 
      Title:    
 
           
    The State Life Insurance Company
 
           
    By:   American United Life Insurance Company, Its
Agent
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:
 
           
    Pioneer Mutual Life Insurance Company
 
           
    By:   American United Life Insurance Company, Its
Agent
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:
 
           
    New York Life Insurance Company
 
           
 
  By        
         
 
      Name:    
 
      Title:    

-12-


 

             
    New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation
 
           
    By   New York Life Investment Management LLC,
its Investment Manager
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:

-13-


 

Information Relating to Purchasers

                 
            Principal Amount  
Name and Address   Closing     of Series D Notes  
of Purchaser   Date     to Be Purchased  
[ Name of Purchaser]
                             $    
 
               
(1) All payments by wire transfer of immediately available funds to:
               
 
               
with sufficient information to identify the source and application of such funds.
               
 
               
(2) All notices of payments and written confirmations of such wire transfers:
               
 
               
(3) All other communications:
               

Schedule  A
(to Supplement)

 


 

Supplemental Representations

     The Company represents and warrants to each Purchaser that except as hereinafter set forth in this Exhibit A, each of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5 of the Note Purchase Agreements is true and correct as of the date hereof with respect to the Series D Notes with the same force and effect as if each reference to “Series A, B or C Notes” set forth therein was modified to refer the “Series D Notes” and each reference to “this Agreement” therein was modified to refer to the Note Purchase Agreements as supplemented by the First Supplement. The Section references hereinafter set forth correspond to the similar sections of the Note Purchase Agreements which are supplemented hereby:

      Section 5.3. Disclosure . The Company, through its agent, SPP Capital Partners, LLC and BB&T Capital Markets Inc., have delivered to each Purchaser a copy of a Confidential Direct Private Placement Memorandum dated June 2005 (the “Memorandum” ), relating to the transactions contemplated by the First Supplement. The Note Purchase Agreements, the Memorandum, the documents, certificates or other writings delivered to each Purchaser by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Note Purchase Agreements and the First Supplement and the financial statements listed in Schedule 5.5 to the First Supplement, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Since December 31, 2004, there has been no change in the financial condition, operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary except changes that individually or in the aggregate could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

      Section 5.4. Organization and Ownership of Shares of Subsidiaries . (a) Schedule 5.4 to the First Supplement contains (except as noted therein) complete and correct lists of the Subsidiaries, and showing, as to each Subsidiary, the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization, and the percentage of shares of each class of its capital stock or similar equity interests outstanding owned by the Company and each other Subsidiary.

      Section 5.13. Private Offering by the Company . Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has offered the Series D Notes or any similar securities for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any Person other than the Purchasers and not more than 24 other Institutional Investors, each of which has been offered the Series D Notes at a private sale for investment. Neither the Company nor anyone acting on its behalf has taken, or will take, any action that would subject the issuance or sale of the Notes to the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act.

      Section 5.14. Use of Proceeds; Margin Regulations . The Company will apply the proceeds of the sale of the Series D Notes as set forth in Section I.D. (Transaction Summary) of the Memorandum. No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Series D Notes pursuant to the First Supplement will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of buying or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (12 CFR 222), or for the purpose of buying or carrying or trading in any securities under such circumstances as to involve the Company in a violation of Regulation X of

Exhibit  A
(to Supplement)

 


 

said Board (12 CFR 224) or to involve any broker or dealer in a violation of Regulation T of said Board (12 CFR 220). Margin stock does not constitute more than 1.00% of the value of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the Company does not have any present intention that margin stock will constitute more than 1.00% of the value of such assets. As used in this Section, the terms “margin stock” and “purpose of buying or carrying” shall have the meanings assigned to them in said Regulation U.

      Section 5.15. Existing Debt; Future Liens . (a) Schedule 5.15 to the First Supplement sets forth a complete and correct list of all outstanding Debt of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2005 since which date there has been no Material change in the amounts, interest rates, sinking funds, installment payments or maturities of the Debt of the Company or the Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default and no waiver of default is currently in effect, in the payment of any principal or interest on any Debt of the Company or such Subsidiary and no event or condition exists with respect to any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary that would permit (or that with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would permit) one or more Persons to cause such Debt to become due and payable before its stated maturity or before its regularly scheduled dates of payment.

      Section 5.16. Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc . (a) Neither the sale of the Series D Notes by the Company hereunder nor its use of the proceeds thereof will violate the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto.

     (b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is a Person described or designated in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List of the Office of Foreign Assets Control or in Section 1 of the Anti-Terrorism Order or (ii) engages in any dealings or transactions with any such Person. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA Patriot Act.

     (c) No part of the proceeds from the sale of the Series D Notes hereunder will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, assuming in all cases that such Act applies to the Company.

     As used in this Section 5.16, “Anti-Terrorism Order” means Executive Order No. 13,224 of September 24, 2001, Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism, 66 U.S. Fed. Reg. 49, 079 (2001), as amended; and “USA Patriot Act” means United States Public Law 107-56, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder from time to time in effect.

A-2
(to Supplement)

 


 

[Form of Series D Note]

NRP (Operating) LLC

5.05% Senior Note, Series D Due July 19 , 2020

     
No. R[                 ]– [                                      ]
  [Date]
$[                                                  ]
  PPN 62963# AD 3

      For Value Received , the undersigned, NRP (Operating) LLC (herein called the “Company” ), a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby promises to pay to [___], or registered assigns, the principal sum of [___] Dollars on July 19, 2020, with interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) (a) on the unpaid balance thereof at the rate of 5.05% per annum from the date hereof, payable semi-annually, on the 19 th day of July and January in each year, commencing with the July or January next succeeding the date hereof, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and (b) to the extent permitted by law on any overdue payment (including any overdue prepayment) of principal, any overdue payment of interest and any overdue payment of any Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Supplement referred to below), payable semi-annually, as aforesaid (or, at the option of the registered holder hereof, on demand), at a rate per annum from time to time equal to the greater of (i) 7.05% or (ii) 2% over the rate of interest publicly announced by Citibank, N.A. from time to time in New York, New York as its “base” or “prime” rate.

     Payments of principal of, interest on and any Make-Whole Amount with respect to this Note are to be made in lawful money of the United States of America at Citibank, N.A. or at such other place as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the holder of this Note as provided in the Note Purchase Agreements referred to below.

     This Note is one of a series of Senior Notes (herein called the “Notes” ) issued pursuant to that certain First Supplement dated as of July 19, 2005 (as from time to time amended and supplemented, the “Supplement” ) to Note Purchase Agreements, dated as of June 19, 2003, as from time to time amended and supplemented, between the Company and the respective Purchasers named therein and is entitled to the benefits thereof. Each holder of this Note will be deemed, by its acceptance hereof, (i) to have agreed to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Section 20 of the Note Purchase Agreements (as defined in the Supplement) and (ii) to have made the representation set forth in Section 6.2 of the Note Purchase Agreements (as defined in the Supplement).

     This Note is a registered Note and, as provided in the Note Purchase Agreements, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer, duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer duly executed, by the registered holder hereof or such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, a new Note for a like principal amount will be issued to, and registered in the name of, the transferee. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, the Company may treat the person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for the

Exhibit  1
(to Supplement)

 


 

purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and the Company will not be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     The Company will make required prepayments of principal on the dates and in the amounts specified in the Supplement. This Note is also subject to optional prepayment, in whole or from time to time in part, at the times and on the terms specified in the Supplement, but not otherwise.

     If an Event of Default, as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements, occurs and is continuing, the principal of this Note may be declared or otherwise become due and payable in the manner, at the price (including any applicable Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Supplement)) and with the effect provided in the Note Purchase Agreements.

     This Note is guaranteed pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantee dated June 19, 2003.

     This Note shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York excluding choice-of-law principles of law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

         
    NRP (Operating) LLC
 
       
 
  By    
 
       
 
      [Title]

1-2
(to Supplement)

 


 

Amortization of Series D Notes

     
Date of Principal Payment   Amount of Principal Payment
July 19, 2008   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2009   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2010   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2011   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2012   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2013   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2014   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2015   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2016   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2017   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2018   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2019   
  $7,692,307.70
July 19, 2020   
  $7,692,307.60

Schedule  5
(to Supplement)

 


 

Subsidiaries and Affiliates

(i) Subsidiaries of the Company

         
Subsidiary   Jurisdiction   Ownership by the Company
WPP LLC   Delaware   100%
ACIN LLC   Delaware   100%
WBRD LLC   Delaware   100%

(ii) Affiliates of the Company

Natural Resource Partners L.P.
NRP (GP) LP
GP Natural Resource Partners LLC
Western Pocahontas Properties Limited Partnership
Great Northern Properties Limited Partnership
New Gauley Coal Corporation
Robertson Coal Management LLC
NRP Investment L.P.

(iii) Senior Officers of the Company

         
Nick Carter
    President and Chief Operating Officer
Dwight Dunlap
    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Kevin Wall
    Vice President and Chief Engineer
Wyatt Hogan
    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Kevin Craig
    Vice President-Business Development
Ken Hudson
    Controller

Schedule 5.4
(to Supplement)

 


 

Financial Statements Provided to Purchasers

Natural Resource Partners L.P.

     Financial Statements for the periods October 17, 2002 through December 31, 2004

     Financial Statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2005

Schedule 5.5
(to Supplement)

 


 

Existing Debt

1.   $50,000,000 principal under Revolving Loan Credit Agreement dated October 29, 2004.
 
2.   $53,400,000 principal of 5.55% Series A Senior Notes, due June 19, 2023.
 
3.   $67,900,000 principal of 4.91% Series B Senior Notes, due June 19, 2018.
 
2.   $35,000,000 principal of 5.55% Series C Senior Notes, due June 19, 2013.

Schedule 5.15
(to Supplement)

 

 

Exhibit 4.2

     
 

First Amendment

Dated as of July 18, 2005

to

Note Purchase Agreements dated as of June 19, 2003

Re:

5.55% Senior Notes, Series A, due June 19, 2023

4.91% Senior Notes, Series B, due June 19, 2018

5.55% Senior Notes, Series C, due June 19, 2013

     
 
 
   

 


 

Table of Contents

(Not a part of this First Amendment)

         
Section   Heading   Page
Section 1.
  Amendments to Note Agreements   1
 
       
Section 2.
  Limited Waiver   3
 
       
Section 3.
  Conditions Precedent   3
 
       
Section 4.
  Representations and Warranties   4
 
       
Section 5.
  Miscellaneous   5

Schedule I — Name of Holders and Principal Amount of 2003 Notes

-i- 


 

Dated as of
July 18, 2005

To each of the holders
listed in Schedule I to
this First Amendment

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Reference is made to (i) the separate Note Purchase Agreements each dated as of June 19, 2003 (the “Note Agreements” ), by and between NRP (Operating) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company” ), and each of you, respectively, (ii) the $60,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.55% Senior Notes, Series A, due June 19, 2023 of the Company (the “Series A Notes” ), (iii) the $80,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.91% Senior Notes, Series B, due June 19, 2018 of the Company (the “Series B Notes” ) and (iv) the $35,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.55% Senior Notes, Series C, due June 19, 2013 of the Company (the “Series C Notes,” and collectively with the Series A and Series B Notes, the “2003 Notes” ). Capitalized terms used in this First Amendment (this “First Amendment” ) without definition shall have the meanings given such terms in the Note Agreements.

     For good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company requests the amendment of certain provisions of the Note Agreements as hereinafter provided.

     Concurrently with the Effective Date, this First Amendment shall be effective, but only in the respects hereinafter set forth:

Section 1. Amendments to Note Agreements .

      Section 1.1. Section 7.1(a) of the Note Agreements is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by inserting the following at the end thereof:

provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Company shall be a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent and the Parent does not own any assets other than its membership interest in the Company, the Company may deliver the foregoing items as specified in this Section 7.1(a) with respect to the Parent, rather than the Company; provided, further, however, in the event the Company has delivered items required by this Section 7.1(a) with respect to the Parent and the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners requests additional information (including, without limitation, the financial statements of the Company required to be delivered by the Company pursuant to this Section 7.1(a)) in order to assign or maintain a

 


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

designation of the Notes, the Company agrees to timely furnish such information;”

      Section 1.2. Section 7.1(b) of the Note Agreements is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by inserting the following phrase at the end thereof:

provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Company shall be a direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Parent and the Parent does not own any assets other than its membership interest in the Company, the Company may deliver the foregoing items as specified in this Section 7.1(b) with respect to the Parent, rather than the Company; provided, further, however, in the event the Company has delivered items required by this Section 7.1(b) with respect to the Parent and the Securities Valuation Office of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners requests additional information (including, without limitation, the financial statements of the Company required to be delivered by the Company pursuant to this Section 7.1(b)) in order to assign or maintain a designation of the Notes, the Company agrees to timely furnish such information;”

      Section 1.3. Section 8.3(h)(iii) of the Note Agreements is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by deleting the name “Arch Coal, Inc.” appearing therein and substituting the name “NRP Investment L.P.” therefor.

      Section 1.4. Section 10.6(a)(iii) of the Note Agreements is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by deleting the word “to” appearing in the last line thereof and substituting the phrase “would not” therefor.

      Section 1.5. The new definition “NRP Investment L.P.” is hereby added as of the Effective Date to Schedule B to the Note Agreements in alphabetical order to read as follows:

           “NRP Investment L.P.” means NRP Investment L.P., a Delaware limited partnership.

      Section 1.6. The definition of “Financing Agreement” and “Financing Agreements” set forth on Schedule B to the Note Agreements is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by deleting the phrase “as amended or modified from time to time” appearing therein and substituting the phrase “as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time” therefor.

      Section 1.7. The definition of “Priority Debt” set forth on Schedule B to the Note Agreements is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by deleting the phrase “(other than to the Company or another Subsidiary)” appearing in clause (ii) thereof and substituting the phrase “(other than (a) Debt of a Subsidiary to the Company or another Subsidiary, (b) Debt of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the Subsidiary Guarantee and (c) Debt of a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the unsecured Guaranty of the obligations of the Company under the Bank Agreement)” therefor.

-2-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

      Section 1.8. The definition of “this Agreement” set forth on Schedule B to the Note Agreements is hereby amended as of the Effective Date by deleting the phrase “as amended or modified from time to time” appearing therein and substituting the phrase “as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time” therefor.

Section 2. Limited Waiver.

     With effect from the Effective Date, and subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 hereof, the undersigned holders of the 2003 Notes agree and consent that any Default or Event of Default that has occurred prior to the Effective Date pursuant to (i) Section 11(d) of the Note Agreements, solely as a result of the delivery of quarterly or annual financial statements of the Parent, that otherwise meet the requirements of Sections 7.1(a) and (b) of the Note Agreements, in lieu of the quarterly or annual financial statements of the Company required to be delivered pursuant to Sections 7.1(a) and (b) of the Note Agreements or (ii) Section 11(c) of the Note Agreements, solely as a result of the failure to deliver notice of any Default or Event of Default described in clause (i) of this sentence, is hereby waived. This waiver is limited to the specific Defaults or Events of Default described above in this Section 2 and does not extend to (x) any Default or Event of Default occurring after the Effective Date, whether or not similar in nature to the Defaults or Events of Default described above in this Section 2 or (y) any Default or Event of Default existing on or occurring prior to the Effective Date, other than the specific Defaults or Events of Default described above in this Section 2.

Section 3. Conditions Precedent.

     This First Amendment shall not become effective until, and shall become effective on, the Business Day (the “ Effective Date ”) when each of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

     (a) Each holder of 2003 Notes shall have received this First Amendment, duly executed by the Company.

     (b) Each holder of 2003 Notes shall have consented to this First Amendment as evidenced by their execution thereof.

     (c) Each Subsidiary Guarantor shall have consented to the terms of this First Amendment by signing in the appropriate space on the signature page hereof.

     (d) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 4 hereof shall be true and correct as of the date of the execution and delivery of this First Amendment and as of the Effective Date.

     (e) Any consents or approvals from any holder or holders of any outstanding security or Debt of the Company and any amendments of agreements pursuant to which any securities or Debt may have been issued which shall be necessary to permit the

-3-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and all such consents or amendments shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the holders and their special counsel.

     (f) Each holder shall have received such certificates of officers of the Company as it may reasonably request with respect to this First Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby.

     (g) The Company shall have paid the fees and disbursements of the holders’ special counsel, Chapman and Cutler LLP, incurred in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery of this First Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby which fees and disbursements are reflected in the statement of such special counsel delivered to the Company at the time of the execution and delivery of this First Amendment.

     (h) All corporate and other proceedings in connection with the transactions contemplated by this First Amendment and all documents and instruments incident to such transactions shall be satisfactory to you and your special counsel, and you and your special counsel shall have received all such counterpart originals or certified or other copies of such documents as you or they may reasonably request.

Section 4. Representations and Warranties.

     The Company hereby represents and warrants that as of the date hereof and as of the date of execution and delivery of this First Amendment:

     (a) This First Amendment and the transactions contemplated hereby are within the limited liability company powers of the Company, have been duly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action on the part of the Company and this First Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms.

     (b) After giving effect to this First Amendment, there are no Defaults or Events of Default under the Note Agreements, as amended hereby.

     (c) The execution, delivery and performance of this First Amendment by the Company does not and will not result in a violation of or default under (A) the articles of formation or limited liability company agreement of the Company, (B) any agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its properties is subject, (C) any order, writ, injunction or decree binding on the Company, or (D) any statute, regulation, rule or other law applicable to the Company.

-4-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

     (d) No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration, filing or declaration with, any Governmental Authority is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this First Amendment.

     (e) The Company has not paid or agreed to pay any fees or other consideration, or given any additional security or collateral, or shortened the maturity or average life of any indebtedness or permanently reduced any borrowing capacity, in each case, in connection with the obtaining of any consents or approvals of any Person in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

     (f) Prior to the issuance of 2003 Notes, neither the Company nor anyone that acted on its behalf offered the 2003 Notes or the Subsidiary Guarantee or any similar securities for sale to, or solicited any offer to buy any of the same from, or otherwise approached or negotiated in respect thereof with, any person other than 45 Institutional Investors, each of which was offered the 2003 Notes and the Subsidiary Guarantee at a private sale for investment.

Section 5. Miscellaneous.

      Section 5.1 . Except as amended herein, all terms and provisions of the Note Agreements, the 2003 Notes and related agreements and instruments are hereby ratified, confirmed and approved in all respects.

      Section 5.2 . Each Subsidiary Guarantor, for itself as a guarantor under the Subsidiary Guarantee, consents to the terms of this First Amendment and reaffirms, ratifies and confirms (a) in all respects each and every obligation and covenant made by it in the Subsidiary Guarantee and (b) that the Subsidiary Guarantee remains the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Subsidiary Guarantor enforceable against such Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with its terms.

      Section 5.3 . Each reference in the Note Agreements to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” or words of similar import in instruments or documents provided for in the Note Agreements or delivered or to be delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, shall, except where the context otherwise requires, be deemed a reference to the Note Agreement, as amended hereby.

      Section 5.4. This First Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, excluding choice-of-law principles of the law of such State that would require the application of the laws of a jurisdiction other than such State.

      Section 5.5 . This First Amendment and all covenants herein contained shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereunder. All covenants made by the Company herein shall survive the closing and the delivery of this First Amendment.

-5-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

      Section 5.6. This First Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this First Amendment by facsimile shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this First Amendment.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank — Signature Pages Follow]

-6-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

     The execution hereof by the holders shall constitute a contract among the Company and the holders for the uses and purposes hereinabove set forth.
         
  NRP ( Operating) LLC, a Delaware limited
       liability company
 
 
  By      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

     Each of the undersigned, severally, hereby acknowledges, approves and agrees to the foregoing First Amendment and ratifies and confirms each of its obligations under the Subsidiary Guarantee.

                 
    WPP LLC
    ACIN LLC
    WBRD LLC
 
               
    By:   NRP (Operating) LLC, as the Sole Member of each of the above named Subsidiary Guarantors
 
               
 
      By        
             
 
          Name:    
 
               
 
          Title:    
 
               

-7-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

Accepted as of the date aforesaid:
         
  Teachers Insurance and Annuity
         Association of America

 
 
  By      
    Name:      
    Title:      
 

-8-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

Accepted as of the date aforesaid:

               
    C onnecticut G eneral L ife I nsurance C ompany
 
           
    By:   C igna Investments, Inc. (authorized agent)
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:
 
           
    L ife I nsurance C ompany of N orth A merica
 
           
    By:   CIGNA Investments, Inc.
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:

-9-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment

Accepted as of the date aforesaid:

           
    T he N orthwestern M utual L ife I nsurance C ompany
 
       
 
  By    
 
       
 
      Name:
 
      Title:

-10-


 

     
NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment
               
Accepted as of the date aforesaid:
             
    Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company  
 
             
    By:   Babson Capital Management LLC, as
Investment Adviser
 
 
             
 
      By      
 
             
 
          Name:  
 
          Title:  
 
             
    C.M. Life Insurance Company  
 
             
    By:   Babson Capital Management LLC, as
Investment Sub-Adviser
 
 
             
 
      By      
 
             
 
          Name:  
 
          Title:  
 
             
    MassMutual Asia Limited  
 
             
    By:   Babson Capital Management LLC, as
Investment Adviser
 
 
             
 
      By      
 
             
 
          Name:  
 
          Title:  

-11-


 

     
NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment
           
Accepted as of the date aforesaid:
         
    Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)  
      (successor By merger to Keyport Life Insurance Company  
 
         
 
  By      
 
         
 
      Name:  
 
      Title:  
 
         
 
  By      
 
         
 
      Name:  
 
      Title:  
 
         
    Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada  
 
         
 
  By      
 
         
 
      Name:  
 
      Title:  
 
         
 
  By      
 
         
 
      Name:  
 
      Title:  

-12-


 

     
NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment
               
Accepted as of the date aforesaid:
             
    New York Life Insurance Company  
 
             
 
  By          
           
 
      Name:      
 
      Title:      
 
             
    New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation  
 
             
    By   New York Life Investment Management LLC,
its Investment Manager
 
 
             
 
      By      
 
             
 
          Name:  
 
          Title:  

-13-


 

     
NRP (Operating) LLC
  First Amendment

Accepted as of the date aforesaid:

         
    Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Company
 
       
 
  By    
 
       
 
      Name:
 
      Title:

-14-


 

     
NRP (Operating) LLC
  First Amendment

Accepted as of the date aforesaid:

         
    Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
 
       
 
  By    
 
       
 
      Name:
 
      Title:

-15-


 

     
NRP (Operating) LLC
  First Amendment

Accepted as of the date aforesaid:

         
    National Life Insurance Company
 
       
 
  By    
 
       
 
      Name:
 
      Title:

-16-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment
         
Accepted as of the date aforesaid:
       
    Life Insurance Company of the Southwest
 
       
 
  By    
 
       
 
      Name :
 
      Title :

-17-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment
         
Accepted as of the date aforesaid :
       
 
       
    Beneficial Life Insurance Company
 
       
 
  By    
 
       
 
      Name :
 
      Title :

-18-


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment
         
Accepted as of the date aforesaid :
       
    The Prudential Insurance Company of America
 
       
 
  By :    
 
       
 
      Name :
 
      Title :
 
       
    Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company
             
      By Prudential Investment Management, Inc.,
         as Investment Manager
 
           
 
      By    
 
           
 
          Name:
 
          Title:

-19-


 

                         
    Outstanding Principal Amount ($)  
Name of Holder   of 2003 Notes Held as of  
    July 18, 2005  
    Series A     Series B     Series C  
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America
  $ 13,350,000     $ 8,487,500     $ 7,500,000  
 
                       
CIG & Co. (as nominee of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company)
          $ 15,447,250          
 
                       
CIG & Co. (as nominee of Life Insurance Company of North America)
          $ 2,631,125          
 
                       
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
  $ 15,130,000             $ 9,000,000  
 
                       
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company
  $ 8,633,000     $ 5,050,062.50     $ 3,750,000  
 
                       
C.M. Life Insurance Company
  $ 1,602,000     $ 1,315,562.50     $ 750,000  
 
                       
Gerlach & Co. (as nominee of MassMutual Asia Limited)
  $ 890,000                  
 
                       
Sun Life Insurance Company (U.S.) (successor by merger to Keyport Life Insurance Company)
  $ 10,680,000             $ 2,500,000  
 
                       
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada
          $ 7,214,375          
 
                       
New York Life Insurance Company
          $ 8,063,125     $ 4,000,000  
 
                       
New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation
          $ 4,243,750     $ 2,000,000  
 
                       
Jefferson-Pilot Life Insurance Company
          $ 9,760,625          
 
                       
Chimebrook & Company (as nominee of Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company)
                  $ 4,000,000  
 
                       
National Life Insurance Company
  $ 2,225,000                  
 
                       
Life Insurance Company of the Southwest
                  $ 1,500,000  
 
                       
TFINN (as nominee of Beneficial Life Insurance Company)
  $ 890,000                  

Schedule I
(to First Amendment)

 


 

NRP (Operating) LLC   First Amendment
                         
    Outstanding Principal Amount ($)  
Name of Holder   of 2003 Notes Held as of  
    July 18, 2005  
    Series A     Series B     Series C  
Pru & Co.
          $ 5,686,625          
 
                 
Total:
  $ 53,400,000     $ 67,900,000     $ 35,000,000  

E-2

 

Exhibit 99.1

     
Natural Resource Partners L.P.
601 Jefferson St., Suite 3600, Houston, TX 77002
  (NRP LOGO)

NEWS RELEASE

     
 
   
 
 
 

Natural Resource Partners L.P.
Completes Private Placement of
Senior Notes

HOUSTON, July 20, 2005 Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE: NRP) announced today that its wholly owned operating subsidiary NRP (Operating) LLC has completed a private placement of $50 million of senior unsecured notes and has committed to issue an additional $50 million of senior notes on January 19, 2006. Proceeds from the first $50 million were used to repay borrowings under NRP Operating’s existing revolving credit facility.

The senior notes issued will bear interest at 5.05% with an average life of approximately 9 years. Amortization of the loan will begin in July 2008 with final maturity in July 2020. The covenants of the notes are the same as the senior notes issued in 2003 with the exception of principal and interest payment dates.

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is headquartered in Houston, TX, with its operations headquarters in Huntington, WV. NRP is a master limited partnership that is principally engaged in the business of owning and managing coal properties in the three major coal producing regions of the United States: Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Powder River Basin.

For additional information, please contact Kathy Hager at 713-751-7555 or khager@nrplp.com. Further information about NRP is available on the partnership’s website at http://www.nrplp.com.

     
05-11
   
 
 
-end -  

 

Exhibit 99.2

     
Natural Resource Partners L.P.
601 Jefferson St., Suite 3600, Houston, TX 77002
  (NRP LOGO)

NEWS RELEASE

     
 
   
 
 
 

Natural Resource Partners L.P.
Increases Distribution

HOUSTON, July 20, 2005 Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE: NRP) today announced that the Board of Directors of its general partner has declared an increase of $0.025 or approximately 4% in its quarterly distribution to $0.7125 per unit. This equates to an annualized distribution of $2.85 per unit. The first quarter distribution will be paid on August 12, 2005 to unitholders of record on August 1, 2005. This makes the eighth consecutive quarter that NRP has increased its distribution and represents a 19% increase over the second quarter distribution last year.

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is headquartered in Houston, TX, with its operations headquarters in Huntington, WV. NRP is a master limited partnership that is principally engaged in the business of owning and managing coal properties in the three major coal producing regions of the United States: Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Powder River Basin.

For additional information, please contact Kathy Hager at 713-751-7555 or khager@nrplp.com. Further information about NRP is available on the partnership’s website at http://www.nrplp.com.

05-12

-end-