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  Exhibit 10.24    
    


 
    EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT    
    


        THIS EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as
of            , 2009 by and among CLOUD PEAK ENERGY LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("CPE LLC"), CLOUD PEAK ENERGY
SERVICES
COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("CPESC," together with CPE LLC and their respective subsidiaries, the "CPE
GROUP"), CLOUD PEAK ENERGY INC., a Delaware corporation ("CPE"), RIO TINTO AMERICA INC, a Delaware corporation
("RTA"), and RIO TINTO ENERGY AMERICA INC., a Delaware corporation ("RTEA") (RTA and RTEA, each a
"Company" and collectively, the "Companies") and, solely for purposes of Section 3.2 of this
Agreement, RIO TINTO PLC, a corporation incorporated in England and Wales ("RIO") and RIO TINTO LIMITED
("RIO LTD"), an Australian corporation. CPE LLC, CPESC, CPE, each Company, RIO and RIO LTD are sometimes referred to herein
separately as a "Party" and together as the "Parties." 


 
 

  RECITALS    
    


        WHEREAS, as contemplated by the terms of the Limited Liability Company Operating
Agreement of CPE LLC dated as of            , 2009 (the "LLC Agreement"), the Companies, CPE, CPESC and the members of the CPE
Group have
approved this Agreement; and 


        WHEREAS, the Parties have agreed to enter into this Agreement to allocate between them assets, liabilities and responsibilities with
respect to certain employee compensation, benefit plans and programs, and certain employment matters with respect to their employees. 


        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows: 



1.    Definitions.    


        The
following terms shall have the indicated meaning: 


        "Affiliate" means with respect to a Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. As used in this definition, the word "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction
of the management and policies of a Person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. For purposes of clarity, neither CPE nor any member of the CPE Group shall be
considered an Affiliate of any of the Companies and none of the Companies or RIO or RIO LTD shall be considered an Affiliate of CPE or any member of the CPE Group. 


        "Agreement" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 


        "Benefit Plans" means, with respect to an entity, any "employee pension benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA),
"employee welfare benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and any other plan or arrangement of any kind, whether qualified or non-qualified, relating to stock options,
incentive compensation, bonus, profit sharing, retirement, pension, deferred compensation, severance benefits, leave of absence, vacation, life, health, accident, disability, sick pay, workers'
compensation or other insurance severance, separation, fringe or any other benefits. 


        "COBRA" means the continuation coverage requirements for group health plans under Title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended. 


        "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. 


        "Common Stock" means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of CPE. 


        "Companies" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 


        "CPE" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 







 

        "CPESC" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 


        "CPE Group" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 


        "CPE LLC" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 



        "Effective Date" means the date on which the Underwriting Agreement is executed and delivered by each of the Parties thereto. 


        "Employment Related Obligations" means all claims, liabilities and obligations, whether contingent or otherwise, fixed or absolute, known
or unknown, present or future or otherwise, arising from an employment relationship or an alleged employment relationship relating to the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees, including
compensation for services (and related employment and withholding taxes), workers' compensation or similar benefits and payments on account of occupational illnesses and injuries, provision of leave
under the Family and Medical Leave Act or similar Law, and claims, liabilities and obligations arising out of any such Executive Employee's or Transferred Employee's employment, terms of employment,
transfers, compensation, termination of employment, harassment or employee benefits. 


        "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. 


        "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, each business or entity that is a member of a "controlled group of corporations,"
under "common control" or a member of the "affiliate service group" with such Person within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c) or (m) of the Code or required to be aggregated with
such Person under Section 414(o) of the Code or under "common control" with such Person within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA. 


        "Executive Employees" is defined in Section 2.1(a). 


        "FSA Cost Invoice" is defined in Section 4.11. 


        "Health and Welfare Plans" is defined in Section 4.1. 


        "Health Plan Continuation Period" is defined in Section 4.1. 


        "Health Plan Cost Invoice" is defined in Section 4.3. 


        "HIPAA" shall mean the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended. 


        "Initial Public Offering" means the initial public offering registered under the Securities Act of the Common Stock. 



        "Law" or "Laws" means all applicable
federal, state, tribal and local laws (statutory or common), rules, ordinances, regulations, grants, concessions, franchises, licenses, orders, directives, judgments, decrees, restrictions and other
similar requirements, whether legislative, municipal, administrative or judicial in nature. 


        "LLC Agreement" is defined in the Recitals. 


        "Option One Benefits" is defined in Section 4.9. 



        "Person" means an individual, corporation, joint venture, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, trust, estate,
business trust, association, governmental authority or any other entity. 


        "RIO" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 


        "RIO LTD" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 


        "Rio Tinto Equity Compensation Plans" means the (i) Rio Tinto plc Share Option Plan 2004, (ii) Rio Tinto Limited
Share Option Plan 2004, (iii) Rio Tinto plc Management Share Plan 2007, (iv) Rio Tinto Limited Management Share Plan 2007, (v) Rio Tinto plc Mining Companies 


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Comparative
Plan 2004, (vi) Rio Tinto Limited Mining Companies Comparative Plan 2004, (vii) Rio Tinto plc Share Savings Plan, (viii) Rio Tinto Bonus Deferral Plan 2008, and
(ix) Rio Tinto Share Savings Plan. 


        "Rio Tinto Non-Equity Incentive Compensation Plans" means the (i) Rio Tinto Short Term Incentive Plan, (ii) Rio
Tinto Energy America Quarterly Incentive Plan and (iii) Rio Tinto Energy America Retention Bonus. 


        "RTA" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 


        "RTA Flex Plans" is defined in Section 4.10. 


        "RTA Pension Plan" means the Rio Tinto America, Inc. Retirement Plan. 



        "RTA's Retiree Benefits" means those benefits provided to eligible retirees under the Rio Tinto America Inc. Health and Welfare
Plan in effect from time to time. 


        "RTA Savings Plan" means the Rio Tinto America, Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan and Investment Partnership Plan. 


        "Rio Tinto SERP" means the Rio Tinto America Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan. 



        "Rio Tinto NQ Saving Plan" means the Non-Qualified 401(k) component of the Rio Tinto America Inc. Executive Deferred
Compensation Plan. 


        "Rio Tinto NQIPP" means the Non-Qualified Investment Partnership Plan component of the Rio Tinto America Inc. Executive
Deferred Compensation Plan. 


        "RTEA" is defined in the introductory paragraph. 


        "Senior Executives" shall mean the chief executive officer of CPE and any individual employed by any of the companies, CPESC, RIO or
RIO LTD prior to the Effective Date that becomes an officer of CPE or any member of the CPE Group reporting directly to the chief executive officer of CPE. 


        "Transferred Employees" means (i) those employees of the Companies and their Affiliates listed on  Exhibit A and identified as Transferred
Employees who accept offers of employment from any member of the CPE Group as of or prior to the
Effective Date; provided any such employee on long-term disability pursuant to any of the Benefit Plans of Rio Tinto shall not become a Transferred Employee and (ii) those
individuals employed by any entity that is or becomes a member of the CPE Group as of the Effective Date. 



        "Underwriting Agreement" means the underwriting agreement entered into among CPE and the several underwriters of the Initial Public
Offering. 


2.    Employment and Employee Benefits.    


        2.1.    Employment; Cooperation.    


        (a)   Effective
as of the Effective Date, CPE shall assume or retain, as applicable, responsibility as employer for those employees of the Companies and their Affiliates
listed on Exhibit B and identified as Executive Employees who accept offers of employment from CPE as of or prior to the Effective Date (the
"Executive Employees") and the applicable member of the CPE Group shall assume or retain, as applicable, responsibility as employer of the Transferred
Employees; provided that nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the ability of the CPE Group, CPE or the Companies or any of their respective subsidiaries to terminate the employment of
any of their employees at any time and for any or no reason. Other than with respect to the Rio Tinto Equity Compensation Plans, the assumption or retention of responsibility as employer described in
this Section 2.1(a) shall not, of itself, constitute a severance or a termination of employment under any plan of severance or of income extension maintained by the Companies, and no such
severance, separation or termination shall be deemed to 


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occur.
The CPE Group shall indemnify the Companies and hold the Companies harmless from and against any damages, liabilities, costs or expenses which may be incurred or suffered by any of the
Companies relating to, or arising from, any individual listed on Exhibit A or Exhibit B
becoming entitled to separation pay, benefit continuation or eligibility for enhanced retirement benefits (other than as provided in Section 5.2) on or after the Effective Date by reason of
(i) the transfer of employment from any of the Companies to CPE or any member of the CPE Group, (ii) any termination of employment arising from the failure of any such individual to
accept an offer of employment with CPE or any member of the CPE Group or (iii) any termination of employment of an such individual that has become an Executive Employee or a Transferred
Employee occurring after the Effective Date. 


        (b)   To
the maximum extent permitted under applicable Law, the Companies, the CPE Group and CPE shall share and shall cause each of their respective Affiliates to share, with
each other and their respective agents and vendors all participant information reasonably necessary for the efficient and accurate administration of each of the Benefit Plans of the Companies and the
CPE Group. The Companies, the CPE Group, CPE and their respective authorized agents shall, subject to applicable Law on confidentiality, be given reasonable and timely access to, and may make copies
of, all information relating to the subjects of this Agreement in the custody or control of the other parties, to the extent necessary for such administration. To the extent a party requests
information pursuant to this section that cannot be shared lawfully, the parties will cooperate, to the extent practical and reasonable, to offer assistance to the other. 



        (c)   Except
as otherwise explicitly provided herein, effective as of the Effective Date, the Companies shall be responsible for, and do hereby, for themselves, and will cause
each of their Affiliates and subsidiaries to, and their respective successors and assigns to, relinquish, release, forever discharge and indemnify and hold harmless CPE and the CPE Group and each
member of the CPE Group's respective Affiliates, subsidiaries and assigns, in each case, from all Employment Related Obligations arising prior to the Effective Date and whether arising under any
contract or agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any
conditions existing or alleged to have existed before the Effective Date. 



        (d)   Except
as otherwise explicitly provided herein, effective as of the Effective Date, the members of the CPE Group shall be responsible for, and do hereby, for themselves,
and will cause each of their Affiliates and subsidiaries to, and their respective successors and assigns to, relinquish, release, forever discharge and indemnify and hold harmless the Companies and
each of their respective Affiliates, subsidiaries and assigns, in each case, from all Employment Related Obligations arising on or after the Effective Date and whether arising under any contract or
agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing
or alleged to have existed on or after the Effective Date. 


        (e)   The
Companies shall indemnify CPE and the CPE Group and hold CPE and the CPE Group harmless from and against any damages, liabilities, costs or expenses which may be
incurred or suffered by CPE or any member of the CPE Group as a result of any such entity being held jointly and/or severally liable, on, before or after the Effective Date by reason of being
considered to have been an ERISA Affiliate of any of the Companies, RIO or RIO LTD, and each of their Affiliates and subsidiaries before the Effective Date. 


        (f)    The
CPE Group shall reimburse RIO or RIO LTD for any reasonable , fees, direct costs and expenses associated with immigration and tax services actually incurred
by such entities after the Effective Date as result of any of the Executive Employees or Transferred Employees being assigned by RIO or RIO LTD to the Companies. Notwithstanding anything in
Section 6 to the contrary, RIO and RIO LTD shall be considered 3rd party beneficiaries to this Section 2.1(f). 


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3.    Incentive Plans.    



        3.1.    Non-Equity Incentive Plans.    Executive Employees and Transferred Employees who participated in
Rio Tinto's Non-Equity Incentive Compensation Plans shall receive the full amount of their bonus under such plans for the year in which the Effective Date occurs to the extent that the
objectives established under such plans are satisfied at the end of the relevant performance period, as determined by the applicable Company in accordance with past practice and the terms and
conditions of the applicable Rio Tinto Non-Equity Incentive Compensation Plans (the "Bonus Amount"). The Companies shall be liable for the
portion of the Bonus Amount equal to the number of days in the performance period prior to the Effective Date divided by 365 and the CPE Group (or CPE) shall be liable for the portion of the Bonus
Amount equal to the number of days in the performance period on and after the Effective Date divided by 365. At the same time that payments are made to all other participants in such Rio Tinto
Non-Equity Incentive Compensation Plans, the Companies shall provide funds to the CPE Group equal to the Companies pro rata share of the Bonus Amount as determined pursuant to the
preceding sentence and the CPE Group (or CPE) shall make the payments to Executive Employees and Transferred Employees.
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3.1 to the contrary, with respect to any discretion under the terms of the Rio Tinto Non-Equity Incentive Compensation Plans that may be
exercised under the terms of the Rio Tinto Non-Equity Incentive Compensation Plans by the Companies, such discretion with respect to the Bonus Amounts for Senior Executives will be
exercised by the Companies prior to the Effective Date but otherwise in accordance with past practice and the terms and conditions of the applicable Rio Tinto Non-Equity Incentive
Compensation Plans. Prior to the Effective Date, the Companies shall inform the CPE Group of its decision and the CPE Group shall, prior to the Effective Date, inform the Senior Executives that such
decision has been made which, for the avoidance of doubt, is to make clear that no discretionary action by the Companies taken after the Effective Date will have an impact on the Bonus Amount for the
Senior Executives. 


        3.2.    Equity Incentive Plans.    RIO and RIO LTD hereby agree that, for purposes of the Rio Tinto Equity
Compensation Plans, each Executive Employee and Transferred Employee shall be deemed to have terminated employment with his or her respective RTA related employer due to his or her employment company
ceasing to be under the control of the company and such Executive Employee or Transferred Employee shall be paid out in accordance with the applicable plan terms. 


4.    Health and Welfare Benefit Plans.    


        4.1.  Effective
no later than January 1, 2010, the CPE Group (or CPE) shall adopt such health and welfare plans as it determines for the benefit of the Executive
Employees and the Transferred Employees. From the Effective Date until December 31, 2009, or such earlier date that the CPE Group (or CPE) adopts the health and welfare plans described above,
(the "Health Plan Continuation Period"), the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees and, subject to the satisfaction of the applicable
eligibility requirements, any person hired by CPE or the CPE Group during the Health Plan Continuation Period (and, in each case, their respective beneficiaries and dependents) will be eligible to
continue to participate in the health and welfare plans of the Companies listed on Exhibit C (the "Health and Welfare
Plans") on the same terms and conditions of the applicable Health and Welfare Plan as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date. Prior to the Effective Date, the
Companies, CPE and the CPE Group shall take all commercially reasonable actions required (including adopting certain amendments of the Health and Welfare Plans and the approval by the authorized
boards or committees (or authorized officers) of CPE and the members of the CPE Group of the adoption of the Health and Welfare Plans and the execution of an adoption agreement effecting such
adoption, if requested by the Companies) to provide that CPE and the members of the CPE Group shall adopt the Health and Welfare Plans so that CPE and the members of the CPE Group will become
participating employers in the Health and Welfare Plans during the Health Plan Continuation Period. During the Health Plan Continuation Period, CPE and the members of CPE Group shall provide, or cause
to be 


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provided,
to the Companies or the administrator, record-keeper or trustee of the Health and Welfare Plans, all information within its control that is reasonably required to administer and operate the
Health and Welfare Plans with respect to the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees during the Health Plan Continuation Period. 


        4.2.  The
Companies shall be responsible for complying with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, the certificate of creditable coverage requirements of HIPAA,
and the corresponding provisions of their Health and Welfare Plans with respect to Executive Employees and Transferred Employees and their covered dependents who incur a COBRA qualifying event or loss
of coverage under such Health and Welfare Plans before January 1, 2010, provided, that the CPE Group shall be responsible for the costs thereof (net of participant contributions actually paid)
with respect to any Executive Employee or Transferred Employee who incur a qualifying event during the Health Plan Continuation Period. The CPE Group shall be responsible for complying with the health
care continuation requirements of COBRA, the certificate of creditable coverage requirements of HIPAA, and the corresponding provisions of their health and welfare plans with respect to Executive
Employees and Transferred Employees and their covered dependents who incur a COBRA qualifying event or loss of coverage at any time after January 1, 2010. 



        4.3.  No
later than 30 days after the date on which any invoice (including supporting documentation in reasonable detail) (a "Health Plan Cost
Invoice") from the Companies or any of the Health and Welfare Plans has become final and binding as provided below, the CPE Group shall reimburse the Companies or any of the
Health and Welfare Plans, as applicable, for any reasonable fees and direct costs and expenses actually incurred by the Companies or any of the Health and Welfare Plans for the continued
administration and operation by the Companies of the Health and Welfare Plans after the Effective Date with respect to the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees (net of participant
contributions actually paid), including any such amounts resulting from a COBRA qualifying event or loss of coverage affecting an Executive Employee or Transferred Employee during the Health Plan
Continuation Period. The Health Plan Cost Invoice shall include any per participant fee charged by the record-keeper for each participating Executive Employee and Transferred Employee and any other
incremental costs associated with the continued participation by the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees in the Health and Welfare Plans of the Companies after the Effective Date. The
CPE Group shall cooperate with the Companies in making all filings or reports required under applicable law and in distributing any employee communications or materials to the Executive Employees and
the Transferred Employees. 


        4.4.  The
CPE Group shall indemnify and hold harmless the Companies and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives, and the Health and
Welfare Plans and their fiduciaries, from and against any costs, expenses, losses or other liabilities (net of participant contributions actually paid) to the extent arising from, relating to or
otherwise in respect of (A) the participation of the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees in such Health and Welfare Plans during the Health and Welfare Plan Continuation Period,
(B) the responsibilities of the Companies to comply with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, the certificate of creditable coverage requirements of HIPAA, and the corresponding
provisions of the Health and Welfare Plans with respect to Executive Employees and Transferred Employees and their covered dependents who incur a COBRA qualifying event or loss of coverage after the
Effective Date and before January 1, 2010, (C) the adoption by CPE and the members of the CPE Group of the Health and Welfare Plans and (D) CPE's and the members of the CPE
Group's status as participating employers under such Health and Welfare Plans; provided, that no indemnification by the CPE Group shall be required, and
the Companies shall indemnify and hold harmless CPE and the CPE Group and their directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives from and against any such costs, expenses, losses or other
liabilities, to the extent that such costs, expenses, losses or other liabilities result from the willful misconduct or material breach of fiduciary duty of any of the Companies, or any 


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of
their respective directors, officers or employees, in the maintenance or administration of the Health and Welfare Plans. 


        4.5.  Nothing
in this Agreement shall be deemed to limit the Companies' or the CPE Group's right to amend and /or terminate any of the Benefit Plans of the Companies or the
Benefit Plans of the CPE Group, as applicable. 


        4.6.  Effective
as of the end of the Health Plan Continuation Period, the CPE Group shall provide each Executive Employee and Transferred Employee with credit for all service
with the Companies for vesting and eligibility purposes only under each of its Benefits Plans in which such Executive Employee or Transferred Employee is eligible to participate, except to the extent
that such service credit would result in a duplication of benefits with respect to the same period of service with the Companies. With respect to each Benefit Plan provided by any member of the CPE
Group that is a health and welfare plan, as of the end of the Health Plan Continuation Period the CPE Group shall (i) waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions, exclusions and waiting
periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to the Executive Employees and Transferred Employees, provided that if such plan is provided under an insured arrangement,
such waiver will occur only to the extent required by Law or otherwise permitted under the applicable insurance contract or agreements, and (ii) for the year in which the Health Plan
Continuation Period ends, provide each Executive Employee and Transferred Employee with credit for any co-payments and deductibles paid prior to the end of the Health Plan Continuation
Period in satisfying any applicable deductible or out-of-pocket requirements under such group health. 


        4.7.  Except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, none of the Companies shall have liability under any Health and Welfare Plan with respect to any claim incurred on or
after the Effective Date in respect of any Executive Employee or Transferred Employee. Neither CPE nor any member of the CPE Group shall have any liability under any Health and Welfare Plan for
expenses incurred or services rendered with respect to any claim incurred prior to the Effective Date in respect of any Executive Employee or Transferred Employee. 


        4.8.  For
purposes of this Section 4, a claim shall be deemed incurred when the event occurs or condition arises giving rise to the claim which, in the case of claims
under medical, dental, hospitalization and vision benefits, will be deemed to occur when the applicable expense is incurred or the service provided. 



        4.9.  Effective
as of January 1, 2010, the CPE Group shall assume all unsatisfied obligations as of the Effective Date and responsibility for operation of the welfare
benefit program consisting of health reimbursement accounts known as "Option One" arising from benefits originally provided in 2004 and 2005 to
Executive Employees and Transferred Employees (the "Option One Benefits"). No later than 30 days after the date on which any invoice (including
supporting documentation in reasonable detail) from the Companies has become final and binding, the CPE Group shall reimburse the Companies for any reasonable fees and direct costs and expenses
actually incurred by the Companies for the continued administration and operation by the Companies of the Option One Benefits during the Health Plan Continuation Period. 


        4.10.  Without
limiting the foregoing, the CPE Group shall immediately, and in any event within ten (10) business days after receipt by the CPE Group of notice from
the Companies of a claim for indemnification hereunder, fully indemnify the Companies from any claim or demand made after the Effective Date, or liability assumed hereunder (including all reasonable
fees and expenses incurred by the Companies arising out of or relating to the Option One Benefits) regardless of when the event giving rise to such claim or demand occurred;  provided, however, that no indemnification by the CPE Group shall be required, to the extent that such
claim was the result of the willful misconduct or material breach of fiduciary duty of any of the Companies, or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, in the maintenance or
administration of the Option One Benefits. 


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        4.11.  The
Companies, CPE and the members of the CPE Group agree that, as of the Effective Date through the end of the Health Plan Continuation Period, with respect to any
Benefit Plan of the Companies that has a flexible spending account arrangement, Executive Employees and Transferred Employee will continue to participate in such Benefit Plans (the
"RTA Flex Plans"). During the Health Plan Continuation Period, the CPE Group shall provide, or cause to be provided, to the Companies or the
record-keepers or trustees of the RTA Flex Plans all information within its control that is reasonably required to administer and operate the RTA Flex Plans with respect to the Executive Employees and
Transferred Employees during the Health Plan Continuation Period. No later than 30 days after the date on which any invoice (including supporting documentation in reasonable detail) (an
"FSA Cost Invoice") from the Companies or the record-keepers of the RTA Flex Plans has become final and binding as provided below, the CPE Group shall
reimburse the Companies or the RTA Flex Plans for any reasonable fees and direct costs and expenses actually incurred by the Companies or by the RTA Flex Plans for the continued administration and
operation by the Companies of the RTA Flex Plans with respect to the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees (net of participant contributions actually paid), including, any per participant
fee charged by the record-keepers for each participating Executive Employee and Transferred Employee during the Health Plan Continuation Period and any other incremental costs directly associated with
the continued participation by the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees in the RTA Flex Plans during the Health Plan Continuation Period. The CPE Group shall cooperate with the Companies
in making all filings or reports required under the Code or ERISA, including, the Form 5500 for the 2009 plan year, and in distributing any employee communications or materials to the Executive
Employees and the Transferred Employees. The Companies shall indemnify and hold harmless the Companies and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives, and the RTA Flex
Plans and its fiduciaries from and against any costs, expenses, losses or other liabilities (net of participant contributions actually paid) to the extent arising from, relating to or otherwise in
respect of (A) the participation of the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees in the RTA Flex Plans during the Health Plan Continuation Period, (B) the adoption by CPE and
the members of the CPE Group of the RTA Flex Plans and (C) CPE's and the members of the CPE Group's status as participating employers under the RTA Flex Plans;  provided, that no indemnification by
the CPE Group shall be required, and the Companies shall indemnify and hold harmless the CPE Group and its
directors, officers, employees, agents and representatives from and against any such costs, expenses, losses or other liabilities, to the extent that such costs, expenses, losses or other liabilities
result from the willful misconduct or material breach of fiduciary duty of the Companies, or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, in the maintenance or administration of the RTA
Flex Plans. 


        4.12.  CPE
and the members of the CPE Group shall cease to be participating employers in the Health and Welfare Plans, as well as the RTA Flex Plans, on the last day of the
Health Plan Continuation Period. 


5.    Retirement Plans.    


        5.1.  All
benefits accrued on or before the Effective Date in respect of all Executive Employees and Transferred Employees who are participants in the RTA Pension Plan and
the Rio Tinto SERP shall be "locked and frozen" as of the Effective Date and the Companies shall retain sole liability for the payment of such benefits as and when such participants become eligible
under such plans. For purposes of this Section, the term "locked and frozen" means that Executive Employees and Transferred Employees who are plan participants shall retain their accrued benefits
under the RTA Pension Plan and Rio Tinto SERP as of the Effective Date but no additional benefit accruals with respect to service on and after the Effective Date will be provided under the respective
plans following the Effective Date. No later than the Effective Date, the Companies shall amend the RTA Pension Plan to ensure that all Executive Employees and Transferred Employees who are
participants in such plans as of the Effective Date shall become fully vested in their accrued benefits. Following the 


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Effective
Date the Executive Employees and Transferred Employees who participate in the cash balance portion of the RTA Pension Plan shall continue to accrue additional interest credits to their cash
balance accounts for benefit accrual purposes in accordance with the RTA Pension Plan. 


        5.2.  Subject
to the right of RTA to amend, modify, terminate or otherwise change the provisions of the RTA Retiree Benefits in common with all other affected employees, all
Executive Employees and Transferred Employees who will have had at least 10 years of service with any of the Companies and have attained at least age 55, in each case, as of the Effective Date
will be treated as if they had retired from the Companies as of the Effective Date and will be entitled to receive the RTA Retiree Benefits. Subject to the right of the CPE Group to amend, modify,
terminate or otherwise change the provisions of its retiree benefits, the CPE Group will offer retiree health benefits for all Executive Employees and Transferred Employees from retirement through age
65. Executive Employees and Transferred Employees will be granted credit for all service with the Companies for purposes of eligibility. At the time of retirement, and subject to Section 4.2,
Executive Employees and Transferred Employees who satisfy the age and service requirements set forth in the first sentence of this Section 5.2 with respect to RTA's Retiree Benefits will have
the option of choosing whether to receive benefits under RTA's Retiree Benefits or pursuant to the plan established by the CPE Group pursuant to this Section 5.2, but may not participate in
both plans. 


        5.3.  No
later than the Effective Date, RTA shall cause the RTA Savings Plan, Rio Tinto NQ Savings Plan and Rio Tinto NQIPP to be amended, to the extent necessary, in order
to (i) provide that the Executive Employees and Transferred Employees shall be fully vested in their accounts under such plans and (ii) permit such individuals to elect to the extent
permitted by Law to have their interest in the RTA Savings Plan, including any participant loan balances, rolled over to a savings plan established or maintained by the CPE Group at the discretion of
the participant. As of the Effective Date, all employee contributions by the Executive Employees and the Transferred Employees and obligations of any of the Companies to make contributions in respect
of such employees (other than in respect to periods prior to the Effective Date) under the RTA Savings Plan shall cease. The Companies will not require any Executive Employee or Transferred Employees
to repay any participant loan balances earlier than ninety (90) days following the Effective Date if such loan would not otherwise be payable within such ninety (90) day period. 


6.    Third-Party Beneficiaries.    This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and their
respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other person or persons (including any employee or former employee
of the Companies, any Executive Employee or Transferred Employee or any individual that becomes an employee of the Companies, CPE or the CPE Group on or after the Effective Date, or any of their
respective subsidiaries or Affiliates or any beneficiary or dependent thereof) any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. No provision in this
Agreement shall modify or amend any other agreement, plan, program, or document unless this Agreement explicitly states that the provision "amends" that other agreement, plan, program, or document.
This shall not prevent the parties entitled to enforce this Agreement from enforcing any provision in this Agreement, but no other person shall be entitled to enforce any provision in this Agreement
on the grounds that it is an amendment to another agreement, plan, program, or document unless the provision is explicitly designated as such in this Agreement, and the person is otherwise entitled to
enforce the other agreement, plan, program, or document. If a person not entitled to enforce this Agreement brings a lawsuit or other action to enforce any provision in this Agreement as an amendment
to another agreement, plan, program, or document, and that provision is construed to be such an amendment despite not being explicitly designated as one in this Agreement, that provision in this
Agreement shall be void ad initio, thereby precluding it from having any amendatory effect. Furthermore, nothing in this Agreement is intended to confer upon any employee or former employee the
Companies, any Executive Employee or Transferred Employee or any individual that becomes an 


9







 



employee
of the Companies, CPE or the CPE Group on or after the Effective Date, or any of their respective subsidiaries or Affiliates or any beneficiary or dependent thereof, any right to continued
employment, or any recall or similar rights to an individual on layoff or any type of approved leave. 


7.    Miscellaneous.    



        7.1.    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.    


        (a)   This
Agreement is to be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to any choice of law rule that would cause
the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York to the rights and duties of the Parties. 


        (b)   Except
for any action, suits or proceedings involving RIO and RIO LTD in which the exclusive jurisdiction shall be in the United Kingdom, each Party hereby
irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York or, if such court does not have
subject matter jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York sitting in New York County (the "New York Courts") for any legal action or other
legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the negotiation, validity or performance of this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated thereby (and agrees not to commence any
legal action or other legal proceeding relating thereto except in such courts). Other than any legal proceedings involving RIO and RIO LTD (in which the exclusive jurisdiction shall be in the
United Kingdom), each of the Parties hereto agree that: 



          (i)  expressly
and irrevocably consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the New York Courts in connection with any such legal proceeding, including to enforce any
settlement, order or award; 


         (ii)  consents
to service of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by the laws of the State of New York, and also agrees that service of process by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section 7.2 is sufficient and reasonably calculated
to give actual notice; 


        (iii)  agrees
that the New York Courts shall be deemed to be a convenient forum; 


        (iv)  waives
and agrees not to assert (by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise), in any such legal proceeding commenced in the New York Courts that such Party is not
subject personally to the jurisdiction of such court, that such legal proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of such proceeding is improper or that this Agreement or the
subject matter hereof or thereof may not be enforced in or by such court; and 


         (v)  agrees
to the entry of an order to enforce any resolution, settlement, order or award made pursuant to this  Section 7.1 by the New York Courts and in connection therewith hereby waives, and agrees not to
assert by way of motion, as a defense, or
otherwise, any claim that such resolution, settlement, order or award is inconsistent with or violative of the laws or public policy of the laws of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction. 




        (c)   In
the event of any action or other proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement, the prevailing party (as determined by
the court) shall be entitled to payment by the non-prevailing party of all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the prevailing party, including any costs
and expenses incurred in connection with any challenge to the jurisdiction or the convenience or propriety of venue of proceedings before the New York Courts. 


        (d)   Each
of the Parties hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any legal action or
other legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated 


10







 



hereby
or thereby. Each of the Parties hereto (a) certifies that no Representative, agent or attorney of any other Party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other Party would
not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other Parties hereto have been induced to enter into this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as applicable, by, among other things, the mutual waivers set forth in this Section 7.1(d). 


        7.2.    Notices.    All notices, demands or other communications to be given under or by reason of this Agreement
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been received when delivered personally, or when transmitted by overnight delivery service, addressed as follows: 




If
to CPE: 


Cloud
Peak Energy Inc.

General Counsel

505 S. Gillette Avenue

Gillette, WY 82716

(307) 687-6000

Fax: (307) 687-6059 


with a copy to:


Chief
Executive Officer

505 S. Gillette Avenue

Gillette, Wyoming 82716

(307) 687-6000

Fax: (307) 687-6059 





If
to CPE LLC or CPESC: 


Cloud
Peak Energy Inc.

General Counsel

505 S. Gillette Avenue

Gillette, WY 82716

(307) 687-6000

Fax: (307) 687-6059 


with a copy to:


Chief
Executive Officer

505 S. Gillette Avenue

Gillette, Wyoming 82716

(307) 687-6000

Fax: (307) 687-6059 


If
to RIO, RIO LTD or RTEA: 


Jane
Craighead

Rio Tinto

1188 Sherbrooke Street West,

Montreal, Quebec, H3A 3G2, Canada

Tel: (514) 848-8441

Fax: (514) 848 1530 




11







 


with a copy to:


Craig
Johnson

Rio Tinto Services Inc.

4700 Daybreak Parkway

South Jordan, UT 84095

Tel: (801) 204-2803

Fax: (801) 204-2892 





Any
party hereto may change its address for notices, demands and other communications under this Agreement by giving notice of such change to the other parties hereto in accordance with this
Section 7.2. 


        7.3    Amendment.    This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or supplemented except by means of a written
instrument executed on behalf of each party hereto. 


        7.4    Waiver.    No failure on the part of any party hereto to exercise any power, right, privilege or remedy under
this Agreement, and no delay on the part of any party hereto in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, shall operate as a waiver thereof; and no single or partial
exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power, right, privilege or remedy. 


        7.5    Severability.    If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent
jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full
force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable. 


        7.6    Counterparts and Facsimiles.    This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall
be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the others. The parties hereto may execute
the signature pages hereof and exchange such signature pages by facsimile transmission. 


        7.7    Interpretation of Agreement.    


        (a)   As
used in this Agreement, the words "include" and "including," and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, and shall be deemed to be followed
by the words "without limitation." 


        (b)   Unless
otherwise specified, references in this Agreement to "Sections" are intended to refer to Sections of this Agreement. 


        (c)   The
Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the parties and shall not in any way affect
the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. 


        (d)   Each
party hereto and its counsel cooperated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement and the documents referred to in this Agreement. Any rule of Law or any
legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against the party that drafted it is of no application and is hereby expressly waived. 


        7.8    Entire Agreement.    This Agreement sets forth the entire understanding of parties hereto and supersedes all
other agreements and understandings between the parties hereto relating to the subject matter hereof. 


[Signature page to follow]


12







 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on the day and year first above written. 


 





					
	CLOUD PEAK ENERGY INC.:	 	 
	
 By:	
 	
      







 	
 	

 
	
 Its:	
 	
     







 	
 	

 
	

CLOUD PEAK ENERGY LLC	
 	

 
	
 By:	
 	
     







 	
 	

 
	
 Its:	
 	
      







 	
 	

 
	

CLOUD PEAK ENERGY SERVICES COMPANY:	
 	

 
	
 By:	
 	
      







 	
 	

 
	
 Its:	
 	
     







 	
 	

 
	

RIO TINTO AMERICA INC:	
 	

 
	
 By:	
 	
     







 	
 	

 
	
 Its:	
 	
      







 	
 	

 
	

RIO TINTO ENERGY AMERICA INC.:	
 	

 
	
 By:	
 	
      







 	
 	

 
	
 Its:	
 	
     







 	
 	

 
	
 Solely for purposes of Section 3.2,	
 	

 
	

RIO TINTO PLC:	
 	

 
	
 By:	
 	
     







 	
 	

 
	
 Its:	
 	
      








 	
 	

 
	
 Solely for purposes of Section 3.2,	
 	

 
	

RIO TINTO LTD:	
 	

 
	
 By:	
 	
     







 	
 	

 
	
 Its:	
 	
      







 	
 	

 





13











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Exhibit 10.24


EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

RECITALS