Exhibit



Exhibit 4.2



Execution Version




NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P., 
BTO CARBON HOLDINGS L.P.,
BLACKSTONE FAMILY TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP ESC L.P.,


GOLDENTREE 2004 TRUST, 
GOLDENTREE INSURANCE FUND SERIES INTERESTS OF THE SALI MULTI SERIES FUND, LP, 


SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION, 


LOUISIANA STATE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM 


AND


GT NM, LP
        
    
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
Dated March 2, 2017
    
    






 






        



	
			
	 
	TABLE OF CONTENTS
	 

	 
	 
	 

	ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS
	1

	 
	 
	 

	Section 1.01
	Definitions
	1

	Section 1.02
	Registrable Securities
	5

	 
	 
	 

	ARTICLE II. REGISTRATION RIGHTS
	5

	 
	 
	 

	Section 2.01
	Shelf Registration
	5

	Section 2.02
	Piggyback Registration
	7

	Section 2.03
	Underwritten Offering
	9

	Section 2.04
	Further Obligations
	11

	Section 2.05
	Cooperation by Holders
	15

	Section 2.06
	Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities
	15

	Section 2.07
	Expenses
	15

	Section 2.08
	Indemnification
	16

	Section 2.09
	Rule 144 Reporting
	18

	Section 2.10
	Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights
	19

	Section 2.11
	Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights
	19

	 
	 
	 

	ARTICLE III. MISCELLANEOUS
	19

	 
	 
	 

	Section 3.01
	Communications
	19

	Section 3.02
	Binding Effect
	21

	Section 3.03
	Assignment of Rights
	21

	Section 3.04
	Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc
	21

	Section 3.05
	Aggregation of Registrable Securities
	21

	Section 3.06
	Specific Performance
	21

	Section 3.07
	Counterparts
	21

	Section 3.08
	Governing Law, Submission to Jurisdiction
	22

	Section 3.09
	Waiver of Jury Trial
	22

	Section 3.10
	Entire Agreement
	22

	Section 3.11
	Amendment
	22

	Section 3.12
	No Presumption
	23

	Section 3.13
	Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement
	23

	Section 3.14
	Interpretation
	23















        



REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of March 2, 2017 (this “Agreement”), is entered into by and among NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), BTO Carbon Holdings L.P., Blackstone Family Tactical Opportunities Investment Partnership ESC L.P. (collectively, “Blackstone”) and GoldenTree 2004 Trust, GoldenTree Insurance Fund Series Interests of the SALI Multi-Series Fund, LP, San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association, Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System and GT NM, LP (collectively, “GoldenTree”) (each of Blackstone and GoldenTree, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”).
WHEREAS, this Agreement is made in connection with (i) the issuance of the Class A Preferred Units (the date of such issuance, the “Closing Date”) pursuant to the Class A Convertible Preferred Unit and Warrant Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2017, by and between the Partnership and the Purchasers (the “Preferred Purchase Agreement”), and (ii) the issuance of the Warrants, dated as of February 22, 2017, by the Partnership to the Purchasers (the “Warrants”); and
WHEREAS, the Partnership has agreed to provide the registration and other rights set forth in this Agreement for the benefit of the Purchasers pursuant to the Preferred Purchase Agreement and the Warrants.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01    Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, the Person in question. As used herein, the term “control” (including, with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, 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 the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, (a) the Managing General Partner or the Partnership, on the one hand, and each Purchaser, on the other, shall not be considered Affiliates and (b) any fund or account managed, advised or subadvised, directly or indirectly, by any Purchaser or its Affiliates, shall be considered an Affiliate of such Purchaser.
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.


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“Average VWAP” over a certain period means the arithmetic average of the VWAP of a Common Unit for each trading day in such period.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, any federal legal holiday or day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or State of Texas are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close.
“Class A PIK Units” means any additional Class A Preferred Units issued by the Partnership to the holders of Class A Preferred Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement.
“Class A Preferred Units” means the Class A Preferred Units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership and having the rights and obligations specified in the Partnership Agreement to be issued and sold to the Purchasers pursuant to the Preferred Purchase Agreement, including any Class A PIK Units issued in connection therewith.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Units” means the common units representing limited partner interests in the Partnership and having the rights and obligations specified in the Partnership Agreement.
“Conversion Unit Registrable Securities” means the Common Units issuable upon conversion of the Class A Preferred Units, all of which are subject to the rights provided herein until such time as such securities cease to be Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.02.
“Conversion Unit Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)(ii).
“Effective Date” means the date of effectiveness of any Registration Statement.
“Effectiveness Period” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)(iii).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“General Partner” means NRP (GP) LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the general partner of the Partnership.
“Holder” means the record holder of any Registrable Securities.
“Holder Underwriter Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.04(q).
“Included Registrable Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
“Liquidated Damages” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(b).


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“Liquidated Damages Multiplier” means (i) with respect to the Warrant Unit Registration Statement, the product of (a) the Average VWAP for the 10 Trading Days immediately preceding the Liquidated Damages Measurement Date and (b)  the number of Warrant Unit Registrable Securities held by the Holder as of the Liquidated Damages Measurement Date to be included in the Warrant Unit Registration Statement and (ii) with respect to the Conversion Unit Registration Statement, the product of (i) the Average VWAP for the 10 Trading Days immediately preceding the Liquidated Damages Measurement Date and (b) the number of Conversion Unit Registrable Securities held by the Holder as of the Liquidated Damages Measurement Date and to be included in the Conversion Unit Registration Statement.
“Losses” has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(a).
“Managing General Partner” means GP Natural Resource Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and the general partner of the General Partner.
“Managing Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the book running lead manager of such Underwritten Offering.
“National Securities Exchange” means an exchange registered with the Commission under Section 6(a) of the Exchange Act (or any successor to such Section).
“Partnership” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Partnership Agreement” means the Fifth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership, dated as of the date hereof.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, company, voluntary association, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, government or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any other form of entity.
“Piggyback Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
“Piggyback Opt-Out Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
“Piggyback Registration” has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).
“Preferred Purchase Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Purchasers” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“Registrable Securities” means the Conversion Unit Registrable Securities and the Warrant Unit Registrable Securities.
“Registrable Securities Required Voting Percentage” means a majority of the outstanding Registrable Securities voting together as a single class.
“Registration” means any registration pursuant to this Agreement, including pursuant to a Registration Statement or a Piggyback Registration.


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“Registration Expenses” has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(a).
“Registration Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.01(a)(ii).
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Selling Expenses” has the meaning specified in Section 2.07(a).
“Selling Holder” means a Holder who is selling Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement.
“Selling Holder Indemnified Persons” has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(a).
“Target Effective Date” means (a) with respect to the Warrant Unit Registration Statement for the Warrant Unit Registrable Securities and in any event within 90 days of, the date hereof, or 120 days of the date hereof if the Warrant Unit Registration Statement is reviewed by the Commission, and (a) with respect to the Conversion Unit Registration Statement for the Conversion Unit Registrable Securities, the fifth anniversary of the date hereof or, if earlier, within 90 days of the first issuance of any Conversion Unit Registrable Securities, or 120 days of the date thereof if the Conversion Unit Registration Statement is reviewed by the Commission.
“Trading Day” means a day on which the principal National Securities Exchange on which the Common Units are listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if such Common Units are not listed or admitted to trading on any National Securities Exchange, a day on which banking institutions in New York City generally are open.
“Underwriter” means, with respect to any Underwritten Offering, the underwriters of such Underwritten Offering.
“Underwritten Offering” means an offering (including an offering pursuant to a Registration Statement) in which Common Units are sold to an Underwriter on a firm commitment basis for reoffering to the public or an offering that is a “bought deal” with one or more investment banks.
“VWAP” means the volume-weighted average trading price, as adjusted for splits, combinations and other similar transactions, of a Common Unit.
“Warrants” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.
“Warrant Unit Registrable Securities” means the Common Units issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, all of which are subject to the rights provided herein until such time as such securities cease to be Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 1.02.
“Warrant Unit Registration Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(a)(i).


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Section 1.02    Registrable Securities. Any Registrable Security will cease to be a Registrable Security upon the earliest to occur of the following: (a) when a registration statement covering such Registrable Security becomes or has been declared effective by the Commission and such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of pursuant to such effective registration statement, (a) when such Registrable Security has been disposed of (excluding transfers or assignments by a Holder to an Affiliate or to another Holder or any of its Affiliates or to any assignee or transferee to whom the rights under this Agreement have been transferred pursuant to Section 2.10) pursuant to any section of Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in effect) under the Securities Act, (a) when such Registrable Security is held by the Partnership or one of its direct or indirect subsidiaries and (a) when such Registrable Security has been sold or disposed of in a private transaction in which the transferor’s rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of such securities pursuant to Section 2.10. In addition, a Holder will cease to have rights to require Registration of any Registrable Securities held by such Holder under this Agreement (i) with respect to Conversion Unit Registrable Securities, on the later of (A) the third anniversary of the date on which all Class A Preferred Units have been converted into Common Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement and, (A) if such Holder is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Partnership, the date on which such Holder is no longer an affiliate of the Partnership and all Registrable Securities held by such Holder could be sold pursuant to Rule 144 during any 90 day period without relying on the Partnership maintaining current public information as defined in Rule 144, and (i) with respect to Warrant Unit Registrable Securities, on the later of (A) the third anniversary of the date on which the Warrants have been exercised and, (A) if such Holder is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Partnership, the date on which such Holder is no longer an affiliate of the Partnership and all Registrable Securities held by such Holder could be sold pursuant to Rule 144 during any 90 day period without relying on the Partnership maintaining current public information as defined in Rule 144.] For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 1.02 do not modify the transfer restrictions applicable to the Holders set forth in the Partnership Agreement.
ARTICLE II.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Section 2.01    Shelf Registration.
(a)    Shelf Registration Statements.
(i)    The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (A) as soon as reasonably practicable after the date hereof, prepare and file an initial registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the resale of the Warrant Unit Registrable Securities from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 (or any similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) of the Securities Act (a “Warrant Unit Registration Statement”) and (A) cause such initial Registration Statement to become effective no later than the Target Effective Date for the Warrant Unit Registrable Securities.
(ii)    The Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (A) prepare and file an initial registration statement under the Securities Act to permit the resale of the 


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Conversion Unit Registrable Securities from time to time as permitted by Rule 415 (or any similar provision adopted by the Commission then in effect) of the Securities Act (a “Conversion Unit Registration Statement” and each Conversion Unit Registration Statement or Warrant Unit Registration Statement, a “Registration Statement”) and (A) cause such initial Registration Statement or such amendment to become effective no later than the Target Effective Date for the Conversion Unit Registrable Securities.
(iii)    The Partnership will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statements filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a) to become and remain continuously effective under the Securities Act, with respect to any Holder, until the earliest to occur of the following: (A) the date on which there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding and (A) (1) with respect to Conversion Unit Registrable Securities, the later of (I) the third anniversary of the date on which all Class A Preferred Units have been converted into Common Units pursuant to the Partnership Agreement and, (I) if such Holder is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Partnership, the date on which such Holder is no longer an affiliate of the Partnership and all Registrable Securities held by such Holder could be sold pursuant to Rule 144 during any 90 day period without relying on the Partnership maintaining current public information as defined in Rule 144, and (1) with respect to Warrant Unit Registrable Securities, on the later of (I) the third anniversary of the date on which the Warrants have been exercised and, (I) if such Holder is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act) of the Partnership, the date on which such Holder ceases to be an affiliate of the Partnership] (in each case of clause (A) or (B) the “Effectiveness Period”). A Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2.01(a) shall be on such appropriate registration form of the Commission as shall reasonably be selected by the Partnership; provided that, if the Partnership is then eligible, it may file such Registration Statement on Form S-3. A Registration Statement when declared effective (including the documents incorporated therein by reference) will comply as to form in all material respects with all applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (and, in the case of any prospectus contained in such Registration Statement, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made). As soon as practicable following the date that a Registration Statement becomes effective, but in any event within one Business Day of such date, the Partnership shall provide the Holders with written notice (including notification by electronic mail) of the effectiveness of such Registration Statement.
(b)    Failure to Become Effective. If a Registration Statement required by Section 2.01(a) does not become or is not declared effective by the applicable Target Effective Date, then each Holder shall be entitled to a payment (with respect to each of the Holder’s Registrable Securities which are included in such Registration Statement), as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, of (i) for each non-overlapping 30-day period for the first 60 days following the applicable Target Effective Date, an amount equal to 0.25% of the applicable Liquidated Damages Multiplier, and (i) for each non-overlapping 30-day period beginning on the 61st day following the applicable Target Effective Date, an amount equal to the amount set forth in clause (i) plus an additional 0.25% 


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of the applicable Liquidated Damages Multiplier for each subsequent 60 days (i.e., 0.5% for 61-120 days, 0.75% for 121-180 days, and 1.0% thereafter), up to a maximum amount equal to 2.0% of the applicable Liquidated Damages Multiplier per non-overlapping 30-day period (the “Liquidated Damages”), until such time as such Registration Statement is declared or becomes effective or there are no longer any Registrable Securities outstanding. The Liquidated Damages shall be payable within 10 Business Days after the end of each such 30-day period (the “Liquidated Damages Measurement Date”) in immediately available funds to the account or accounts specified by the applicable Holders. Any amount of Liquidated Damages shall be prorated for any period of less than 30 days accruing during any period for which a Holder is entitled to Liquidated Damages hereunder.
(c)    Waiver of Liquidated Damages. If the Partnership is unable to cause the Warrant Unit Registration Statement or the Conversion Unit Registration Statement to become effective on or before the applicable Target Effective Date, then the Partnership may request a waiver of the Liquidated Damages with respect thereto, which may be granted by the consent of the Holders of at least the Registrable Securities Required Voting Percentage, in their sole discretion, and which such waiver shall apply to all the Holders of Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement.
(d)    Delay Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Partnership may, upon written notice to any Selling Holder whose Registrable Securities are included in a Registration Statement, suspend such Selling Holder’s use of any prospectus which is a part of such Registration Statement (in which event the Selling Holder shall suspend sales of the Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement) if (i) the Partnership is pursuing an acquisition, merger, reorganization, disposition or other similar transaction and the Partnership determines in good faith that the Partnership’s ability to pursue or consummate such a transaction would be materially and adversely affected by any required disclosure of such transaction in such Registration Statement or (i) the Partnership has experienced some other material non-public event, the disclosure of which at such time, in the good faith judgment of the Partnership, would materially and adversely affect the Partnership; provided, however, that in no event shall the Selling Holders be suspended from selling Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement more than once during any 12-month period for a period not to exceed 90 days. Upon disclosure of such information or the termination of the condition described above, the Partnership shall provide prompt notice to the Selling Holders whose Registrable Securities are included in such Registration Statement, and shall promptly terminate any suspension of sales it has put into effect and shall take such other actions necessary or appropriate to permit registered sales of Registrable Securities as contemplated in this Agreement.
Section 2.02    Piggyback Registration.
(a)    Participation. If at any time the Partnership proposes to file (i) a Registration Statement (other than a shelf Registration Statement) relating to the sale of Common Units in an Underwritten Offering on its own behalf or on behalf of any other Persons who have or have been granted registration rights (“Other Holders”) or (i) a prospectus supplement relating to the sale of Common Units in an Underwritten Offering by the Partnership or any Other Holder pursuant to an 


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effective “automatic” registration statement, so long as the Partnership is a WKSI at such time or, whether or not the Partnership is a WKSI, so long as the Registrable Securities were previously included in the underlying shelf Registration Statement or are included on an effective Registration Statement, or in any case in which Holders may participate in such offering without the filing of a post-effective amendment, then the Partnership shall give not less than five Business Days’ notice (including notification by electronic mail) (the “Piggyback Notice”) of such proposed Underwritten Offering to each Holder (together with its Affiliates) owning Registrable Securities and such Piggyback Notice shall offer such Holder the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering such number of Common Unit Registrable Securities (the “Included Registrable Securities”) as such Holder may request in writing (a “Piggyback Registration”); provided, however, that the Partnership shall not be required to offer such opportunity (A) to such Holders if the Holders, together with their Affiliates, do not offer a minimum of $10 million of Registrable Securities, in the aggregate (determined by multiplying the number of Registrable Securities owned by the Average VWAP for the 10 Trading Days preceding the date of such notice), or such lesser amount if it constitutes the remaining holdings of the Holder and its Affiliates, or, (B) to such Holders if the Partnership has been advised by the Managing Underwriter that the inclusion of Registrable Securities for sale for the benefit of such Holders will have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units in such Underwritten Offering, in which case, the amount of Registrable Securities to be offered for the accounts of Holders shall be determined based on the provisions of Section 2.02(b); provided further that the Partnership shall not permit any Other Holder to participate in any public offering of Common Units unless the Partnership complies with the terms of this Section 2.02. Each Piggyback Notice shall be provided to Holders on a Business Day pursuant to Section 3.01 and receipt of such notice shall be confirmed and kept confidential by the Holders until either (x) such proposed Underwritten Offering has been publicly announced by the Partnership or (y) the Holders have received notice from the Partnership that such proposed Underwritten Offering has been abandoned, which the Partnership shall provide to the Holders reasonably promptly after the final decision to abandon a proposed Underwritten Offering has been made; provided that if the Underwritten Offering contemplated by a Piggyback Notice is not consummated within 60 days of such notice, the Partnership shall be required to deliver an additional Piggyback Notice before recommencing such Piggyback Registration. Each such Holder will have four Business Days (or two Business Days in connection with any overnight or bought Underwritten Offering) after a Piggyback Notice has been delivered to request in writing to the Partnership the inclusion of Registrable Securities in the Underwritten Offering. If no request for inclusion from a Holder is received by the Partnership within the specified time, such Holder shall have no further right to participate in such Underwritten Offering. If, at any time after giving written notice of the Partnership’s intention to undertake an Underwritten Offering and prior to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering, such Underwritten Offering is terminated or delayed, the Partnership may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to the Selling Holders and, (1) in the case of a termination of such Underwritten Offering, shall be relieved of its obligation to sell any Included Registrable Securities in connection with such terminated Underwritten Offering, and (2) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Offering, shall be permitted to delay offering any Included Registrable Securities for the same period as the delay in the Underwritten Offering. Any Selling Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Selling Holder’s request for inclusion of such Selling Holder’s Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering by giving written notice to the Partnership of such withdrawal at least one Business Day prior to the time of pricing of such 


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Underwritten Offering. Any Holder may deliver written notice (a “Piggyback Opt-Out Notice”) to the Partnership requesting that such Holder not receive notice from the Partnership of any proposed Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that such Holder may later revoke any such Piggyback Opt-Out Notice in writing. Following receipt of a Piggyback Opt-Out Notice from a Holder (unless subsequently revoked), the Partnership shall not be required to deliver any notice to such Holder pursuant to this Section 2.02(a) and such Holder shall no longer be entitled to participate in Underwritten Offerings pursuant to this Section 2.02(a), unless such Piggyback Opt-Out Notice is revoked by such Holder.
(b)    Priority of Piggyback Registration. If the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering for the Partnership or Other Holders advise the Partnership that the total amount of Registrable Securities that Holders intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Partnership shall include the number of Common Units that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advise the Partnership can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (subject to the terms of the Partnership Agreement) (i) first, to the Common Units requested to be included therein by the Partnership and (ii) second, pro rata among the Holders and any other holders who are exercising piggyback registration rights pursuant to Section 7.12 of the Partnership Agreement related to such offering (based, for each such Holder and other holders, on the percentage derived by dividing (x) the number of Common Units held by such Holder or other holder by (y) the aggregate number of Common Units held by all such Holders and other holders).
Section 2.03    Underwritten Offering.
(a)    Purchaser Demand Rights. If any of (x) Blackstone and its Affiliates or (y) GoldenTree and its Affiliates elect to dispose of Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement pursuant to an Underwritten Offering and reasonably expects gross proceeds of at least $50 million from such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall, at the written request of such Selling Holder(s), enter into an underwriting agreement in a form as is customary in underwritten offerings of securities with the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters selected by the Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities being sold, provided that such selection shall be reasonably acceptable to the Partnership, and shall take all such other reasonable actions as are requested by the Holders or the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including agreeing not to effect any public sale or distribution of Common Units, or securities convertible into Common Units, during the 60 calendar day period beginning on the date of a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission with respect to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Partnership shall have no obligation to facilitate or participate in, including entering into any underwriting agreement for, more than two Underwritten Offerings in the aggregate requested by the Holders in any 365-day period (and no more than (x) two Underwritten Offerings at the request of Blackstone or any of its Affiliates and (y) two Underwritten Offerings at the request of GoldenTree or any of its Affiliates); provided, further, that if the Partnership is conducting or actively pursuing a securities offering of the Partnership’s Common Units with anticipated gross offering proceeds of at least 


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$50 million (other than in connection with any at-the-market offering or similar continuous offering program), then the Partnership may suspend such Selling Holder’s right to require the Partnership to conduct an Underwritten Offering on such Selling Holder’s behalf pursuant to this Section 2.03; provided, however, that the Partnership may only suspend such Selling Holder’s right to require the Partnership to conduct an Underwritten Offering pursuant to this Section 2.03 once in any six-month period and in no event for a period that exceeds an 30 days in any instance.  
(b)    Priority in Underwritten Offerings. If the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering for the Holders pursuant to Section 2.03(a) advise the Partnership that the total amount of Registrable Securities that Holders intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Common Units offered or the market for the Common Units, then the Partnership shall include the number of Common Units that such Managing Underwriter or Underwriters advise the Partnership can be sold without having such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated (subject to the terms of the Partnership Agreement) (i) first, pro rata among the Holders (based, for each such Holder, on the percentage derived by dividing (x) the number of Common Units held by such Holder by (y) the aggregate number of Common Units held by all such Holders) and (ii) second, to the Common Units requested to be included therein by any other holders who are exercising piggyback registration rights pursuant to Section 7.12 of the Partnership Agreement related to such offering.
(c)    General Procedures. In connection with any Underwritten Offering contemplated by Section 2.02 or Section 2.03(a), the underwriting agreement into which each Selling Holder and the Partnership shall enter shall contain such representations, covenants, indemnities (subject to Section 2.08) and other rights and obligations as are customary in underwritten offerings of securities. No Selling Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties to or agreements with the Partnership or the Underwriters other than representations, warranties or agreements regarding such Selling Holder’s authority to enter into such underwriting agreement and to sell, and its ownership of, the securities being registered on its behalf, its intended method of distribution and any other representation required by law. If any Selling Holder disapproves of the terms of an Underwritten Offering contemplated by this Section 2.03, such Selling Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by notice to the Partnership and the Managing Underwriter; provided, however, that such withdrawal must be made at least one Business Day prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering to be effective; provided, further, that in the event the Managing Underwriter or Underwriters of any proposed Underwritten Offering advise the Partnership that the total amount of Registrable Securities that Holders intend to include in such offering exceeds the number that can be sold in such offering without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the Registrable Securities offered or the market for the Common Units, and the amount of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Underwritten Offering by the Holder that initiated such Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.03(a) (the “Initiating Holder”) is reduced by 25% or more, the Initiating Holder will have the right to withdraw from such Underwritten Offering by delivering notice to the Partnership at least one Business Day prior to the time of pricing of such Underwritten Offering, in which case the Partnership will have no obligation to proceed with such Underwritten Offering and such Underwritten Offering, whether or not completed, will not decrease the number of Underwritten Offerings the Initiating Holder 


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shall have the right and option to request under this Section 2.03. No such withdrawal or abandonment shall affect the Partnership’s obligation to pay Registration Expenses.
Section 2.04    Further Obligations. In connection with its obligations under this Article II, the Partnership will:
(a)    promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the Effectiveness Period and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement;
(b)    if a prospectus supplement will be used in connection with the marketing of an Underwritten Offering under a Registration Statement and the Managing Underwriter at any time shall notify the Partnership in writing that, in the sole judgment of such Managing Underwriter, inclusion of detailed information to be used in such prospectus supplement is of material importance to the success of such Underwritten Offering, the Partnership shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to include such information in such prospectus supplement;
(c)    furnish to each Selling Holder (i) as far in advance as reasonably practicable before filing a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any supplement or amendment thereto, upon request, copies of reasonably complete drafts of all such documents proposed to be filed (including exhibits and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent then required by the rules and regulations of the Commission), and provide each such Selling Holder the opportunity to object to any information pertaining to such Selling Holder and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and, to the extent timely received, make the corrections reasonably requested by such Selling Holder with respect to such information prior to filing such Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein or any supplement or amendment thereto, and (ii) such number of copies of such Registration Statement or such other registration statement and the prospectus included therein and any supplements and amendments thereto as such Persons may reasonably request in order to facilitate the resale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement or other registration statement;
(d)    if applicable, use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Selling Holders or, in the case of an Underwritten Offering, the Managing Underwriter, shall reasonably request; provided, however, that the Partnership will not be required to qualify generally to transact business in any jurisdiction where it is not then required to so qualify or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;
(e)    promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the filing of a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement or any prospectus 


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or prospectus supplement to be used in connection therewith, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has become effective; and (ii) the receipt of any written comments from the Commission with respect to any filing referred to in clause (i) and any written request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to any such Registration Statement or any other registration statement or any prospectus or prospectus supplement thereto;
(f)    promptly notify each Selling Holder, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered by any of them under the Securities Act, of (i) the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus or prospectus supplement contained in a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of any prospectus contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which a statement is made); (ii) the issuance or express threat of issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; or (iii) the receipt by the Partnership of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of any Registrable Securities for sale under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction. Following the provision of such notice, the Partnership agrees to, as promptly as practicable, amend or supplement the prospectus or prospectus supplement or take other appropriate action so that the prospectus or prospectus supplement does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing and to take such other action as is reasonably necessary to remove a stop order, suspension, threat thereof or proceedings related thereto;
(g)    furnish to each Selling Holder copies of any and all transmittal letters or other correspondence with the Commission or any other governmental agency or self-regulatory body or other body having jurisdiction (including any domestic or foreign securities exchange) relating to such offering of Registrable Securities;
(h)    use reasonable efforts to cause the executive officers and directors of the General Partner to enter into a customary letter agreement for any Underwritten Offering providing that such executive officers and directors will not effect any public sale or distribution of Common Units, or securities convertible into Common Units, during the 60 calendar day period beginning on the date of the prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission with respect to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering;
(i)    in the case of an Underwritten Offering, use its reasonable efforts to cause to be furnished, upon request, (i) an opinion of counsel for the Partnership addressed to the Underwriters, dated the date of the closing under the applicable underwriting agreement, accompanied by “10b-5” negative assurance for such offerings, (ii) a “comfort letter” addressed to the Underwriters, dated the pricing date of such Underwritten Offering and a letter of like kind dated the date of the closing under the applicable underwriting agreement, in each case, signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Partnership’s financial statements included or incorporated by 


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reference into the applicable registration statement, and (iii) an officer’s certificate from the chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or other officers serving such functions, of the Managing General Partner, and each of the opinion, the “comfort letter” and officer's certificate shall be in customary form and covering substantially the same matters with respect to such registration statement (and the prospectus and any prospectus supplement) and the transactions contemplated thereby as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer’s counsel, in accountants’ letters and in certifications delivered to underwriters in underwritten offerings of securities and such other matters as such Underwriters may reasonably request;
(j)    otherwise use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission;
(k)    make available to the appropriate representatives of the Managing Underwriter during normal business hours access to such information and Partnership personnel as is reasonable and customary to enable such parties to establish a due diligence defense under the Securities Act and use reasonable efforts to cause all of the Managing General Partner's officers, directors and employees and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements to make  themselves available during normal business hours to discuss the business of the Partnership and to supply all information reasonably requested in connection with an Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that the Partnership need not disclose any non-public information to any such representative unless and until such representative has entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Partnership;
(l)    use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause all Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Agreement to be listed on each National Securities Exchange or nationally recognized quotation system on which similar securities issued by the Partnership are then listed;
(m)    use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Partnership to enable the Selling Holders to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;
(n)    provide a transfer agent, which may be the Managing General Partner or one of its Affiliates as provided in the Partnership Agreement, and registrar for all Registrable Securities covered by any Registration Statement not later than the Effective Date of such Registration Statement;
(o)    enter into customary agreements and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by the Selling Holders or the Underwriters, if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities (including making appropriate officers of the Managing General Partner available to participate in customary marketing activities);
(p)    if reasonably requested by a Selling Holder, (i) incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as such Selling Holder reasonably requests to be included therein relating to the sale and distribution of Registrable Securities, including information with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being offered or sold, the purchase 


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price being paid therefor and any other terms of the offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such offering; and (ii) make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment after being notified of the matters to be incorporated in such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
(q)    cooperate with each Selling Holder and each Underwriter, if any, participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any filings required to be made with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority;
(r)    if reasonably required by the Partnership’s transfer agent, the Partnership shall promptly deliver any authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to transfer Registrable Securities without legend upon sale by the Holder of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement; and
(s)    if any Holder could reasonably be deemed to be an “underwriter,” as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act, in connection with a Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereof (a “Holder Underwriter Registration Statement”), then the Partnership will reasonably cooperate with such Holder in allowing such Holder to conduct customary “underwriter’s due diligence” with respect to the Partnership and satisfy its obligations in respect thereof. In addition, at any Holder’s request, the Partnership will furnish to such Holder, on the date of the effectiveness of the Holder Underwriter Registration Statement and thereafter from time to time on such dates as such Holder may reasonably request (provided that such request shall not be more frequently than on an annual basis unless such Holder is offering Registrable Securities pursuant to a Holder Underwriter Registration Statement), (i) a “comfort letter”, dated such date, from the Partnership’s independent certified public accountants in form and substance as are customarily given by independent certified public accountants to underwriters in underwritten offerings of securities, addressed to such Holder, (ii) an opinion, dated as of such date, of counsel representing the Partnership for purposes of the Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as are customarily given in underwritten offerings of securities, accompanied by customary “10b-5” negative assurance for such offerings, addressed to such Holder and (iii) an officer’s certificate from the chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or other officers serving such functions, of the Managing General Partner addressed to the Holder, as are customarily given by such officers in underwritten offerings of securities. The Partnership will also use its reasonable efforts to provide legal counsel to such Holder with an opportunity to review and comment upon any such Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, and any amendments and supplements thereto, prior to its filing with the Commission.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.04, the Partnership will not name a Holder as an underwriter (as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act) in any Registration Statement or Holder Underwriter Registration Statement, as applicable, without such Holder’s consent. If the staff of the Commission requires the Partnership to name any Holder as an underwriter (as defined in Section 2(a)(11) of the Securities Act), and such Holder does not consent thereto, then such Holder’s Registrable Securities shall not be included in the applicable Registration Statement, and the Partnership shall have no further obligations hereunder with respect to Registrable Securities held by such Holder until such Holder provides such consent. 


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Each Selling Holder, upon receipt of notice from the Partnership of the happening of any event of the kind described in subsection (f) of this Section 2.04, shall forthwith discontinue offers and sales of the Registrable Securities by means of a prospectus or prospectus supplement until such Selling Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by subsection (f) of this Section 2.04 or until it is advised in writing by the Partnership that the use of the prospectus may be resumed and has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Partnership, such Selling Holder will, or will request the Managing Underwriter or Managing Underwriters, if any, to deliver to the Partnership (at the Partnership's expense) all copies in their possession or control, other than permanent file copies then in such Selling Holder's possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.
Section 2.05    Cooperation by Holders. The Partnership shall have no obligation to include Registrable Securities of a Holder in a Registration Statement or in an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.03(a) if such Holder has failed to timely furnish such information that the Partnership determines, after consultation with its counsel, is reasonably required in order for any registration statement or prospectus supplement, as applicable, to comply with the Securities Act.
Section 2.06    Restrictions on Public Sale by Holders of Registrable Securities. Each Holder agrees to enter into a customary letter agreement with underwriters for any Underwritten Offering by the Partnership providing that such Holder will not effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities during the 60 calendar day period beginning on the date of a prospectus or prospectus supplement filed with the Commission with respect to the pricing of such Underwritten Offering; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the duration of the foregoing restrictions shall be no longer than the duration of the shortest restriction imposed by the Underwriters on the Partnership or the officers, directors or any other Affiliate of the Partnership, or any other security holders of the Partnership on whom a restriction is imposed, and (b) the restrictions set forth in this Section 2.06 shall not apply to any Registrable Securities that are included in such Underwritten Offering by such Holder.
Section 2.07    Expenses.
(a)    Certain Definitions. “Registration Expenses” shall not include Selling Expenses but otherwise means all expenses incident to the Partnership’s performance under or compliance with this Agreement to effect the Registration of Registrable Securities on a Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2.01, a Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.02, or an Underwritten Offering pursuant to Section 2.03, and the disposition of such Registrable Securities, including all registration, filing, securities exchange listing and National Securities Exchange fees, all registration, filing, qualification and other fees and expenses of complying with securities or blue sky laws, fees of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, fees of transfer agents and registrars, all word processing, duplicating and printing expenses, all reasonable fees and disbursements of one legal counsel for the Selling Holders, all expenses related to the "road show" for any Underwritten Offering (provided that such fees and disbursements of counsel and expenses related to the "road show" shall be limited to $100,000 for the first Underwritten Offering and $75,000 per subsequent Underwritten Offerings), and the fees and disbursements of counsel and independent 


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public accountants for the Partnership, including the expenses of any special audits or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and compliance. “Selling Expenses” means all underwriting fees, discounts and selling commissions and transfer taxes allocable to the sale of the Registrable Securities.
(b)    Expenses. The Partnership will pay all reasonable Registration Expenses, as determined in good faith, in connection with a shelf Registration, a Piggyback Registration or an Underwritten Offering, whether or not any sale is made pursuant to such shelf Registration, Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Offering. Each Selling Holder shall pay its pro rata share of all Selling Expenses in connection with any sale of its Registrable Securities hereunder. 
Section 2.08    Indemnification.
(a)    By the Partnership. The Partnership will indemnify and hold harmless each Selling Holder, its directors, officers, managers, partners, members, employees and agents and each Person, if any, who controls such Selling Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and its directors, officers, managers, partners, members, employees or agents (collectively, the “Selling Holder Indemnified Persons”), against any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (collectively, “Losses”), joint or several, to which such Selling Holder Indemnified Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Losses (or actions or proceedings, whether commenced or threatened, in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact (in the case of any prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which such statement is made) contained in (which, for the avoidance of doubt, includes documents incorporated by reference in) the applicable Registration Statement or other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or any free writing prospectus relating thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse each such Selling Holder Indemnified Person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating, defending or resolving any such Loss or actions or proceedings; provided, however, that the Partnership will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any such Loss arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in conformity with information furnished by such Selling Holder Indemnified Person in writing specifically for use in the applicable Registration Statement or other registration statement, prospectus or prospectus supplement, as applicable. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Selling Holder Indemnified Person, and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Selling Holder.
(b)    By Each Selling Holder. Each Selling Holder agrees severally and not jointly to indemnify and hold harmless the Partnership, the General Partner and the Managing General Partner’s directors, officers, employees and agents and each Person, who, directly or indirectly, controls the Partnership within the meaning of the Securities Act or of the Exchange Act to the same 


16




        



extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Partnership to the Selling Holders, but only with respect to information regarding such Selling Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Holder expressly for inclusion in a Registration Statement or any other registration statement contemplated by this Agreement, any preliminary prospectus, prospectus supplement or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any free writing prospectus relating thereto; provided, however, that the liability of each Selling Holder shall not be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Selling Holder (net of Selling Expenses) from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification.
(c)    Notice. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof, but the omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party other than under this Section 2.08(c), except to the extent that the indemnifying party is materially prejudiced by such failure. In any action brought against any indemnified party, it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.08 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation and of liaison with counsel so selected; provided, however, that, (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and counsel to the indemnified party shall have concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, or if the interests of the indemnified party reasonably may be deemed to conflict with the interests of the indemnifying party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate counsel (plus local counsel in each applicable jurisdiction) and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the defense of such action, with the reasonable expenses and fees of such separate counsel and other reasonable expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the indemnifying party as incurred. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no indemnifying party shall settle any action brought against any indemnified party with respect to which such indemnified party may be entitled to indemnification hereunder without the consent of the indemnified party, unless the settlement thereof imposes no liability or obligation on, includes a complete and unconditional release from liability of, and does not contain any admission of wrongdoing by, the indemnified party.
(d)    Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.08 is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless in respect of any Losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of the indemnified party, on the other 


17




        



hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations; provided, however, that in no event shall any Selling Holder be required to contribute an aggregate amount in excess of the dollar amount of proceeds (net of Selling Expenses) received by such Selling Holder from the sale of Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification. The relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and the indemnified party, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact has been made by, or relates to, information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this paragraph were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the Losses referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include any legal and other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating, defending or resolving any Loss that is the subject of this paragraph. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(e)    Other Indemnification. The provisions of this Section 2.08 shall be in addition to any other rights to indemnification or contribution that an indemnified party may have pursuant to law, equity, contract or otherwise.
Section 2.09    Rule 144 Reporting. With a view to making available the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the Commission that may permit the resale of the Registrable Securities without registration, the Partnership agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to:
(a)    make and keep public information regarding the Partnership available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in effect), at all times from and after the date hereof;
(b)    file with the Commission in a timely manner all reports and other documents required of the Partnership under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act at all times from and after the date hereof; and
(c)    so long as a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish (i) to the extent accurate, forthwith upon request, a written statement of the Partnership that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any similar provision then in effect) and (ii) unless otherwise available via the Commission’s EDGAR filing system, to such Holder forthwith upon request a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Partnership, and such other reports and documents so filed as such Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the Commission allowing such Holder to sell any such securities without registration.
Section 2.10    Transfer or Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights to cause the Partnership to register Registrable Securities under this Article II may be transferred or assigned by each Holder to one or more transferees or assignees of Registrable Securities; provided, however, 


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that (a) unless any such transferee or assignee is an Affiliate of, and after such transfer or assignment continues to be an Affiliate of, such Holder, the amount of Registrable Securities transferred or assigned to such transferee or assignee shall represent at least $15 million of Registrable Securities (determined by multiplying the number of Registrable Securities owned by the Average VWAP for the 10 Trading Days preceding the date of such transfer or assignment), or such lesser amount if it constitutes the remaining holdings of the Holder and its Affiliates, (b) the Partnership is given written notice prior to any said transfer or assignment, stating the name and address of each such transferee or assignee and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights are being transferred or assigned and (c) each such transferee or assignee assumes in writing responsibility for its portion of the obligations of such transferring Holder under this Agreement.
Section 2.11    Limitation on Subsequent Registration Rights. The Partnership shall not, without the prior written consent of the Holders of at least the Registrable Securities Required Voting Percentage, enter into any agreement with any current or future holder of any securities of the Partnership that would allow such current or future holder to require the Partnership to include securities in any registration statement filed by the Partnership on a basis other than expressly subordinate to, the piggyback rights of the Holders of Registrable Securities hereunder.
ARTICLE III.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 3.01    Communications. All notices, demands and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery, personal delivery or (in the case of any notice given by the Partnership to the Purchasers) email to the following addresses:
(a)    If to Blackstone:
Kevin Kelly
Blackstone
345 Park Ave. 
New York, NY 10154
Kevin.kelly@blackstone.com




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With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Ropes & Gray L.L.P.
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Attention: Gregg M. Galardi
Jonathan P. Gill
Email:    Gregg.Galardi@ropesgray.com 
Jonathan.Gill@ropesgray.com 
 

(b)    If to GoldenTree:
GoldenTree Asset Management LP
300 Park Avenue
New York, New York  10022
Attention: Karen Weber 
                  Daniel Flores
Email: dflores@goldentree.com 
kweber@goldentree.com
           
With a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Gordon R. Caplan
Email:    gcaplan@willkie.com
(c)    If to the Partnership:
Natural Resource Partners L.P. 
1201 Louisiana Street 
Suite 3400 
Houston, Texas 77002 
Attention: General Counsel 
Email: kwilson@nrplp.com
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. 
1001 Fannin Street 
Suite 2500 
Houston TX 77002-6760 
Attention: Ramey Layne 
Email: rlayne@velaw.com


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or to such other address as the Partnership or the applicable Purchaser may designate to each other in writing from time to time or, if to a transferee or assignee of a Purchaser or any transferee or assignee thereof, to such transferee or assignee at the address provided pursuant to Section 2.10. All notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; upon actual receipt if sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, or regular mail, if mailed; upon actual receipt of the email copy, if sent via email; and upon actual receipt when delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.
Section 3.02    Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Partnership, the Purchasers and their respective successors and permitted assigns, including subsequent Holders of Registrable Securities to the extent permitted herein. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement (including in Section 2.08 hereunder), this Agreement shall not be construed so as to confer any right or benefit upon any Person other than the parties to this Agreement and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Section 3.03    Assignment of Rights. Except as provided in Section 2.10, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, benefits or obligations hereunder may be assigned or transferred, by operation of law or otherwise, by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party.
Section 3.04    Recapitalization, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Units. The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to the full extent set forth herein with respect to any and all units of the Partnership or any successor or assign of the Partnership (whether by merger, acquisition, consolidation, reorganization, sale of assets or otherwise) that may be issued in respect of, in exchange for or in substitution of, the Registrable Securities, and shall be appropriately adjusted for combinations, unit splits, recapitalizations, pro rata distributions of units and the like occurring after the date of this Agreement.
Section 3.05    Aggregation of Registrable Securities. All Registrable Securities held or acquired by Persons who are Affiliates of one another shall be aggregated together for the purpose of determining the availability of any rights under this Agreement.
Section 3.06    Specific Performance. Damages in the event of breach of this Agreement by a party hereto may be difficult, if not impossible, to ascertain, and it is therefore agreed that each such Person, in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, will have the right to seek an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and enforcing specifically the terms and provisions hereof, and each of the parties hereto hereby waives any and all defenses it may have on the ground of lack of jurisdiction or competence of the court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief. The existence of this right will not preclude any such Person from pursuing any other rights and remedies at law or in equity that such Person may have.
Section 3.07    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same agreement.


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Section 3.08    Governing Law, Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement, and all claims or causes of action (whether in contract or tort) that may be based upon, arise out of or relate to this Agreement or the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement (including any claim or cause of action based upon, arising out of or related to any representation or warranty made in or in connection with this Agreement), will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Any action against any party relating to the foregoing shall be brought in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located within the State of Delaware, and the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any federal or state court located within the State of Delaware over any such action. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such dispute brought in such court or any defense of inconvenient forum for the maintenance of such dispute. Each of the parties hereto agrees that a judgment in any such dispute may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
Section 3.09    Waiver of Jury Trial. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH HEREBY WAIVE, AND AGREE TO CAUSE THEIR AFFILIATES TO WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION (A) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (B) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES HERETO IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY OR OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT EACH HEREBY AGREES AND CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
Section 3.10    Entire Agreement. This Agreement, the Preferred Purchase Agreement, the Warrants and the other agreements and documents referred to herein and therein are intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein or in the Preferred Purchase Agreement or the Warrants, with respect to the rights granted by the Partnership or any of its Affiliates or the Purchasers or any of their respective Affiliates set forth herein or therein. This Agreement, the Preferred Purchase Agreement or the Warrants and the other agreements and documents referred to herein or therein supersede all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
Section 3.11    Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by means of a written amendment signed by the Partnership and the Holders of at least the Registrable Securities Required Voting Percentage; provided, however, that no such amendment shall disproportionately or adversely 


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affect the rights of any Holder hereunder without the consent of such Holder. Any amendment, supplement or modification of or to any provision of this Agreement, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement, and any consent to any departure by the Partnership or any Holder from the terms of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which such amendment, supplement, modification, waiver or consent has been made or given.
Section 3.12    No Presumption. This Agreement has been reviewed and negotiated by sophisticated parties with access to legal counsel and shall not be construed against the drafter.
Section 3.13    Obligations Limited to Parties to Agreement. Each of the parties hereto covenants, agrees and acknowledges that, other than as set forth herein, no Person other than the Purchaser, the Holders, their respective permitted assignees and the Partnership shall have any obligation hereunder and that, notwithstanding that one or more of such Persons may be a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, no recourse under this Agreement or under any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith shall be had against any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of such Persons or their respective permitted assignees, or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, whether by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding, or by virtue of any applicable law, it being expressly agreed and acknowledged that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, be imposed on or otherwise be incurred by any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of such Persons or any of their respective assignees, or any former, current or future director, officer, employee, agent, general or limited partner, manager, member, stockholder or Affiliate of any of the foregoing, as such, for any obligations of such Persons or their respective permitted assignees under this Agreement or any documents or instruments delivered in connection herewith or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligation or its creation, except, in each case, for any assignee of any Purchaser or a Selling Holder hereunder.
Section 3.14    Interpretation. Article and Section references in this Agreement are references to the corresponding Article or Section in this Agreement, unless otherwise specified. All references to instruments, documents, contracts and agreements are references to such instruments, documents, contracts and agreements as the same may be amended, supplemented and otherwise modified from time to time, unless otherwise specified. The word “including” shall mean “including but not limited to” and shall not be construed to limit any general statement that it follows to the specific or similar items or matters immediately following it. Whenever the Partnership has an obligation under this Agreement, the expense of complying with that obligation shall be an expense of the Partnership unless otherwise specified. Any reference in this Agreement to “$” shall mean U.S. dollars. Whenever any determination, consent or approval is to be made or given by a Holder, such action shall be in such Holder’s sole discretion, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement. If any provision in this Agreement is held to be illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable, (a) such provision shall be fully severable and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such illegal, invalid, not binding or unenforceable provision had never comprised 


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a part of this Agreement, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect, and (b) the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible. When calculating the period of time before which, within which or following which any act is to be done or step taken pursuant to this Agreement, the date that is the reference date in calculating such period shall be excluded. If the last day of such period is a non-Business Day, the period in question shall end on the next succeeding Business Day. The words such as “herein,” “hereinafter,” “hereof’ and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely to a subdivision in which such words appear unless the context otherwise requires. The provision of a Table of Contents, the division of this Agreement into Articles, Sections and other subdivisions and the insertion of headings are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect or be utilized in construing or interpreting this Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Left Intentionally Blank]


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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto execute this Agreement, effective as of the date first above written.
	
				
	 
	NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	NRP (GP) LP, its general partner

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	GP Natural Resource Partners LLC, its

	 
	 
	general partner

	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	By:
	/s/ Kathryn S. Wilson    

	 
	 
	Name:
	Kathryn S. Wilson

	 
	 
	Title:
	Vice President,General Counsel and Secretary








[Signature page to Registration Rights Agreement]






        



	
			
	 
	BTO CARBON HOLDINGS L.P.

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	BTO Holdings Manager L.L.C.

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/ Christopher J. James

	 
	Name:
	Christopher J. James

	 
	Title:
	Authorized Signatory






	
			
	 
	BLACKSTONE FAMILY TACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP ESC L.P.

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	BTO Side-by-Side GP L.L.C.

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/ Christopher J. James

	 
	Name:
	Christopher J. James

	 
	Title:
	Authorized Signatory






	
			
	 
	GOLDENTREE 2004 TRUST

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	GoldenTree Asset Management, LP

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/ Karen Weber

	 
	Name:
	Karen Weber

	 
	Title:
	Authorized Signatory






	
			
	 
	GOLDENTREE INSURANCE FUND SERIES INTERESTS OF THE SALI MULTI-SERIES FUND, LP

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	GoldenTree Asset Management, LP

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/ Karen Weber

	 
	Name:
	Karen Weber

	 
	Title:
	Authorized Signatory












[Signature page to Registration Rights Agreement]






        



	
			
	 
	SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	GoldenTree Asset Management, LP

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/ Karen Weber

	 
	Name:
	Karen Weber

	 
	Title:
	Authorized Signatory






	
			
	 
	LOUISIANA STATE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	GoldenTree Asset Management, LP

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/ Karen Weber

	 
	Name:
	Karen Weber

	 
	Title:
	Authorized Signatory






	
			
	 
	GT NM, LP

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	GoldenTree Asset Management, LP

	 
	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/ Karen Weber

	 
	Name:
	Karen Weber

	 
	Title:
	Authorized Signatory




 








[Signature page to Registration Rights Agreement]