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  Exhibit 10.23    
    

 
 

  REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT    
    

        This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as
of                                    ,
2009, is entered into by and among Cloud Peak Energy Inc., a Delaware corporation (including its successors, the "Company"), Cloud Peak Energy
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("CPE LLC"), Rio Tinto America Inc., a Delaware corporation
("RTA"), Rio Tinto Energy America Inc., a Delaware corporation ("RTEA") and Kennecott Management
Services Company, a Delaware corporation ("KMS"). The Company, RTEA and KMS are parties to the Third Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company
Agreement of CPE LLC. 

 ARTICLE 1  

DEFINITIONS  

        1.1.    Definitions.    The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1: 

        "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly "controlling," "controlled by" or "under common control
with" (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act), such specified Person; provided,  however, the determination of whether a Person is an
Affiliate of another Person shall be made assuming that no Holder is an Affiliate of the Company or
CPE LLC solely by virtue of the ownership of Membership Units. 

        "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock, par value $0.01 per share. 

        "Equity Interests" mean, with respect to the Company, any and all shares of capital stock in the Company or securities convertible into,
or exchangeable or exercisable for, such shares, and options, warrants or other rights to acquire such shares. For purposes of this Agreement, Equity Interests shall include all issued and outstanding
Membership Units. 

        "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations
promulgated by the SEC thereunder. 

        "Excluded Registration" means a registration under the Securities Act of (i) securities pursuant to one or more Demand
Registrations pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, (ii) securities registered on Form S-8 or any similar successor form, and
(iii) securities registered to effect the acquisition of, or combination with, another Person. 

        "Holder" means (i) RTEA, (ii) KMS and (iii) any Person to whom RTA, RTEA or KMS assigns rights under this Agreement
pursuant to Section 2.9, and who has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. 

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

        "IPO Registration Statement" means the Company's registration statement on Form S-1 (File
No. 333-161293), as amended, filed with the SEC in connection with the Initial Public Offering. 

        "Membership Units" means the common membership units of CPE LLC. 

        "Person" or "person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or other agency or political subdivision thereof. 

        "register," "registered" and
"registration" refer to a registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in compliance with the Securities Act, and the
declaration or ordering of the effectiveness of such registration statement. 

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        "Registrable Securities" means the shares of the Company's Common Stock issued or issuable to any Holder in exchange for Membership Units
or any other shares of Common Stock owned at any time by the Holders. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such Common Stock shall cease to be Registrable Securities when: (a) a
registration statement with respect to the sale of such Common Stock shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such Common Stock shall have been disposed of in accordance with such
registration statement; (b) such Common Stock shall have been sold to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any successor provision); or (c) such Common
Stock shall have ceased to be outstanding. 

        "Requesting Holders" shall mean any Holder(s) requesting to have its (their) Registrable Securities included in any Demand Registration or
Shelf Registration. 

        "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act. 

        "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated
by the SEC thereunder. 

        1.2.    Other Terms.    For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in the section
or agreement indicated. 

 

 

			
	Term

 
	 	Section 
	Advice	 	Section 2.6
	
Agreement	
 	
Introductory Paragraph
	
Blackout Period	
 	
Section 2.1.6
	
Company	
 	
Introductory Paragraph
	
Demand Registration	
 	
Section 2.1.1(i)
	
Demanding Shareholders	
 	
Section 2.1.1(i)
	
Demand Request	
 	
Section 2.1.1(i)
	
FINRA	
 	
Section 2.7.1
	
Inspectors	
 	
Section 2.5(xiii)
	
KMS	
 	
Introductory Paragraph
	
Piggyback Registration	
 	
Section 2.2.1
	
Required Filing Date	
 	
Section 2.1.1(ii)
	
RTA	
 	
Introductory Paragraph
	
RTEA	
 	
Introductory Paragraph
	
Shelf Registration	
 	
Section 2.3
	
Suspension Notice	
 	
Section 2.6
	
Suspension Period	
 	
Section 2.6

 

         1.3.    Rules of Construction.    Unless the context otherwise requires  

	(1)
	a
term has the meaning assigned to it;

	(2)
	words
in the singular include the plural, and words in the plural include the singular; and 

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	(3)
	"herein,"
"hereof" and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. 

 ARTICLE 2  

REGISTRATION RIGHTS  

        2.1.  Demand Registration. 

        2.1.1  Request for Registration. 

          (i)  Commencing
on the date hereof, RTA shall have the right to require the Company to file a registration statement on Form S-1 or S-3
or any similar or successor to such forms under the Securities Act for a public offering of all or part of the Registrable Securities of one or more Holders of Registrable Securities (a
"Demand Registration"), by delivering to the Company written notice stating that such right is being exercised, naming, if applicable, the Holders whose
Registrable Securities are to be included in such registration (collectively, the "Demanding Shareholders"), specifying the number of each such
Demanding Shareholder's Registrable Securities to be included in such registration and, subject to Section 2.1.3 hereof, describing the intended
method of distribution thereof (a "Demand Request"). The IPO Registration Statement shall not constitute a Demand Registration for any purpose under
this Agreement. RTA may exercise its rights under this Section 2.1 on behalf of any Holder of Registrable Securities, in RTA's sole discretion. 

         (ii)  Each
Demand Request shall specify the aggregate number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold. Subject to  Section 2.1.6, the Company shall file the registration statement in respect of a Demand
Registration within forty-five
(45) days after receiving a Demand Request (the "Required Filing Date") and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the same to be declared
effective by the SEC as promptly as practicable after such filing; provided, however, that: 

         (a)  the
Company shall not be obligated to cause a registration statement with respect to a Demand Registration to be declared effective pursuant to  Section 2.1.1(i) (A) within 60 days after the
effective date of a previous Demand Registration, other than a Shelf Registration
pursuant to this Article 2, or (B) within 180 days after the effective date of the IPO Registration Statement unless any underwriter lock-up period applicable to RTEA
and/or KMS in connection with the Initial Public Offering has been waived; 

         (b)  the
Company shall not be obligated to cause a registration statement with respect to a Demand Registration to be declared effective pursuant to Section  2.1.1(i) unless the Demand Request is for a number of
Registrable Securities with a market value that is equal to at least $50 million as of the
date of such Demand Request; provided, however, that this  Section 2.1.1.(ii)(b) shall not apply if the
applicable Demand Request is for all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders as of the
date of such Demand Request; 

         (c)  the
Company shall not be obligated to cause to be declared effective pursuant to Section 2.1.1(i) more than five registration statements with respect to Demand
Registrations; and 

         (d)  if
the Company causes a registration statement to be declared effective registering the sale of the Company's equity securities and conducts a sale of such equity
securities, the net proceeds of which will be used solely for the purpose of causing CPE LLC to redeem Membership Units from RTEA or KMS
in exchange for cash, such registration statement shall constitute a Demand Registration under the terms of this Agreement so long as the net proceeds are equal to at least $50 million. 

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        2.1.2    Primary Offering.    In the event RTA chooses to exercise a Demand Registration on behalf of RTEA and/or KMS
but either are unable to sell the Registrable Securities in such Demand Registration under applicable law or due to an SEC position or interpretation regarding such Demand Registration, as promptly as
practicable following such an occurrence, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to conduct an SEC registered offering of its securities (including, without limitation, debt or equity
securities), the net proceeds of which shall be used to repurchase the Registrable Securities from RTEA or KMS, as applicable, that were intended to be part of such Demand Registration. Any such
securities offering by the Company shall be deemed to satisfy one Demand Registration under this Section 2.1. 

        2.1.3    Selection of Underwriters.    At the request of a majority of the Requesting Holders (as defined below), the
offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration shall be in the form of a "firm commitment" underwritten offering. The Holders of a
majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered in a Demand Registration shall select the investment banking firm or firms to manage the underwritten offering, provided that such selection
shall be subject to the consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Following the printing of any preliminary prospectus or preliminary prospectus
supplement, no Holder participating in such an underwritten offering may withdraw its Registrable Securities from such Demand Registration without the consent of a majority of the Requesting Holders
or RTA. No Holder may participate in any registration pursuant to Section 2.1.1 unless such Holder (x) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements described above and (y) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements and other documents and delivers all opinions reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements; provided,  however, that no
such Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties in connection with any such registration other than
representations and warranties as to (i) such Holder's ownership of his or its Registrable Securities to be transferred free and clear of all encumbrances, (ii) such Holder's power and
authority to effect such transfer, and (iii) such matters pertaining to compliance with securities laws as may be reasonably requested; provided,  further, however, that the obligation of such Holder to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting
arrangements shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders selling Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder will be in proportion thereto, and  provided, further, that such liability will be limited to the net amount received by such Holder from
the sale of his or its Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration; and provided, further, that
any such indemnification provided by a Holder selling Registerable Securities shall be limited to indemnification for information provided by such Holder specifically for inclusion in the registration
statement. 

        2.1.4    Rights of Nonrequesting Holders.    Upon receipt of any Demand Request, the Company shall no later than ten
(10) days after filing of the relevant registration statement give written notice delivered by
hand, facsimile transmission, electronic mail or nationally recognized overnight delivery service (with postage prepaid) of such proposed Demand Registration to all other Holders, who shall have the
right, exercisable by written notice to the Company within fifteen (15) days of the delivery of the Company's notice, to elect to include in such Demand Registration such portion of their
Registrable Securities as they may request. All Holders requesting to have their Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration in accordance with the preceding sentence shall be deemed to
be "Requesting Holders" for purposes of this Section 2.1. 

        2.1.5    Priority on Demand Registrations.    No securities to be sold for the account of any Person (including the
Company) other than a Requesting Holder shall be included in a Demand Registration unless the managing underwriter or underwriters shall advise the Requesting Holders that such securities may be
included and sold in an orderly manner at a price that is acceptable to 

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the
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities of the Requesting Holders to be included in such Demand Registration. The managing underwriter or underwriters may make any determination
pursuant to this Section 2.1.5 both prior to and following the printing of any preliminary prospectus or preliminary prospectus supplement with
respect to any Demand Registration. 

        2.1.6    Deferral of Filing.    During any calendar year, the Company may defer the filing (but not the preparation)
of a registration statement required by Section 2.1 to after the Required Filing Date (i) for no more than thirty (30) days during
such calendar year if at the time the Company receives the Demand Request, the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee of the Board of Directors of the Company reasonably determines in good
faith that such filing would be materially detrimental to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or the stockholders of the Company, and (ii) for no more than one hundred twenty days
(120) less the number of days utilized pursuant to clause (i) above during such calendar year if at the time the Company receives the Demand Request, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries are engaged in confidential negotiations or other confidential business activities, disclosure of which would be required in such registration statement (but would not be required if such
registration statement were not filed), and the Board of Directors of the Company or a committee of the Board of Directors of the Company reasonably determines in good faith that such disclosure would
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its stockholders (any such period during which such filing is deferred pursuant to this  Section 2.1.6, a "Blackout
Period"). The Company may only exercise its right to defer a
registration statement pursuant to this Section 2.1.6 twice in any calendar year and, considered together with any Suspension Period (as defined
in Section 2.6), (a) for no more than thirty calendar days (30) with respect to items of the type covered by clause (i)
above and (b) for no more than one hundred and twenty (120) days less the number of days covered by clause (a) above in the aggregate during such calendar year. A deferral of the
filing of a registration statement pursuant to Section 2.1.6(ii) shall be lifted, and the requested registration statement shall be filed
forthwith, if the negotiations or other activities are disclosed or terminated. In order to defer the filing of a registration statement pursuant to this  Section 2.1.6, the Company shall within ten
(10) days, upon determining to seek such deferral, deliver to each Requesting Holder a
certificate signed by an executive officer of the Company stating that the Company is deferring such filing pursuant to this Section 2.1.6
(subject to execution of a confidentiality agreement if required by law or contract) and a general statement of the reason for such deferral and an approximation of the anticipated delay. Within
twenty (20) days after receiving such certificate, RTA may withdraw such Demand Request by giving notice to the Company;
if withdrawn, the Demand Request shall be deemed not to have been made for all purposes of this Agreement. 

        2.2.  Piggyback Registrations. 

        2.2.1    Right to Piggyback.    Each time the Company proposes to register any of its equity securities (other than
pursuant to an Excluded Registration) under the Securities Act for sale to the public (whether for the account of the Company or the account of any securityholder of the Company) (a
"Piggyback Registration"), the Company shall give prompt written notice to each Holder (which notice shall be given not less than twenty
(20) days prior to the anticipated printing of any preliminary prospectus), which notice shall offer each such Holder the opportunity to include any or all of its Registrable Securities in such
registration statement, subject to the limitations contained in Section 2.2.2 hereof. Each Holder who desires to have its Registrable Securities
included in such registration statement shall so advise the Company in writing (stating the number of shares desired to be registered) within ten (10) days after the date of such notice from
the Company. Any Holder shall have the right to withdraw such Holder's request for inclusion of such Holder's Registrable Securities in any registration statement pursuant to this  Section 2.2.1 by
giving written notice to the Company of such withdrawal. The Company shall 

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include
in such registration statement all such Registrable Securities so requested to be included therein; provided,  however, that the Company may at any time
withdraw or cease proceeding with any such registration if it shall at the same time withdraw or cease
proceeding with the registration of all other equity securities originally proposed to be registered. Notwithstanding this Section 2.2.1, a
Piggyback Registration shall not include any registration statement which is initiated by the Company and for which the intended use of all of the net proceeds by the Company is to cause
CPE LLC to redeem Membership Units from one or more Holders in exchange for cash. 

        2.2.2  Priority on Piggyback Registrations. 

          (i)  With
respect to any Piggyback Registration filed during the first three years following the completion of the Initial Public Offering: 

         (a)  If
a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering and was initiated by the Company, the Company shall include in such registration statement (a) first, RTEA
and/or KMS's Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration, (b) second, the securities the Company proposes to sell, and (c) third, any other securities requested
to be included in such registration. 

         (ii)  With
respect to any Piggyback Registration filed after the time period specified in Section 2.2.2(i) above: 

         (a)  If
a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering and was initiated by the Company, the Company shall include in such registration statement the securities to be
included therein by the Company and any other securities requested to be included therein, pro rata on the basis of the number of shares to be so registered. 

        (iii)  If
a Piggyback Registration is an underwritten offering and was initiated by a security holder of the Company, the Company shall include in such registration statement
(a) first, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration, (b) second, the securities requested to be included therein by the security holders requesting such
registration, pro rata among the holders of such securities on the basis of the number of securities owned by each such holder, and (c) third, any other securities requested to be included in
such registration (including securities to be sold for the account of the Company). 

        (iv)  No
Holder may participate in any registration statement in respect of a Piggyback Registration hereunder unless such Holder (x) agrees to sell such Holder's
Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (y) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities,
underwriting agreements and other documents and delivers all opinions, each in customary form, reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements;  provided, however, that no such Holder shall be required to make any representations or warranties in
connection with any such registration other than representations and warranties as to (a) such Holder's ownership of his or its Registrable Securities to be sold or transferred free and clear
of all encumbrances, (b) such Holder's power and authority to effect such transfer, and (c) such matters pertaining to compliance with securities laws as may be reasonably requested;  provided,
further, however, that the obligation of such
Holder to indemnify pursuant to any such underwriting arrangements shall be several, not joint and several, among such Holders selling Registrable Securities, and the liability of each such Holder
will be in proportion to, and provided, further, that such liability will be limited to, the net amount
received by such Holder from the sale of his or its Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration; and provided,  further, that any such
indemnification provided by a Holder selling Registrable 

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Securities
shall be limited to indemnification for information provided by such Holder specifically for inclusion in the registration statement. 

        2.2.3  Selection of Underwriters. 

          (i)  In
the event of any Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.2.2(i), RTA (if RTEA and/or KMS are
participating) (a) may select one or more investment banking firms to manage the offering, and
(b) may select one or more investment banking firms to participate in any underwriting syndicate, provided,  however, that RTA shall cooperate in good
faith with the Company to select the investment banking firms to participate in such underwriting syndicate
and such investment banking firms shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. 

         (ii)  In
the event of any Piggyback Registration pursuant to Section 2.2.2(ii) that is an underwritten offering
initiated by the Company, (a) the Company may select one or more investment banking firms to manage the offering, and (b) the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities
(including for purposes of this Section 2.2.3(ii) any shares of the Company's Common Stock held by the Company to be included in such
registration statement) included in such Piggyback Registration may select one or more investment banking firms to participate in any underwriting syndicate, provided
however, that such Holders shall cooperate in good faith with the Company to select the investment banking firms to participate in such underwriting syndicate and such
investment banking firms shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. 

        2.3.    SEC Form S-3.    The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to become eligible to
use Form S-3 and, after becoming eligible to use Form S-3, shall use its reasonable best efforts to remain so eligible. Once the Company becomes eligible to use
Form S-3 (or any successor form), then RTA may require the Company to cause Demand Registrations to be filed on Form S-3 (or any successor form) (a
"Shelf Registration"). If the Company is not then eligible under the Securities Act to use Form S-3, Demand Registrations shall be
filed on the form for which the Company then qualifies. 

        2.4.  Holdback Agreements. 

          (i)  The
Company shall not and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its officers and directors not to effect any public sale or distribution of the equity
securities of the Company, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities (other than any public sale or distribution pursuant to a plan that complies with
Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act), during the ten days prior to and during the 90-day period beginning on the effective date of any registration statement in
connection with a Demand Registration (other than a Shelf Registration), a Piggyback Registration or any registered underwritten public offering of the equity securities of the Company in which the
Holders participate, except pursuant to registrations on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form or unless the underwriters managing any such public offering
on Form S-4 or Form S-8 otherwise agree; provided, however, that
if (1) during the last 17 days of any such 90-day period, the Company releases earnings results or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or
(2) prior to the expiration of any such ten day or 90-day period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the
last day of such ten day or 90-day period, then, in each case, such ten day or 90-day period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on
the date of release of the earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the underwriters managing any such public offering waives, in writing, such
extension. 

         (ii)  If
any Holders of Registrable Securities notify the Company in writing that they intend to effect an underwritten sale of Registrable Securities registered pursuant to
a Shelf Registration pursuant to Article 2 hereof, the Company shall not and shall use its reasonable 

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best
efforts to cause its officers and directors not to effect any public sale or distribution of the equity securities of the Company, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for its equity securities, during the ten days prior to and during the 90-day period beginning on the date such notice is received, except pursuant to registrations on
Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form or unless the underwriters managing any such public offering otherwise agree;  provided, however, that
if (1) during the last 17 days of any such 90-day
period, the Company releases earnings results or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of any such 90-day period, the
Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of such 90-day period, then, in each case, such 90-day
period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of release of the earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as
applicable, unless the underwriters managing any such public offering waives, in writing, such extension. 

        (iii)  For
so long as RTEA, KMS or any of their Affiliates holds, in the aggregate, more than twenty-percent of the outstanding Equity Interests, each Holder agrees, in the
event of an underwritten offering by the Company (whether for the account of the Company or otherwise) in which such Holder has a right to participate, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, including any sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act (except as part of such underwritten offering), during the ten days prior to, and during the 90-day period (or such lesser period as the lead or managing underwriters may
require) beginning on, the effective date of the registration statement for such underwritten offering (or, in the case of an offering pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement pursuant to
Rule 415, the pricing date for such underwritten offering); provided, however, that if
(1) during the last 17 days of any 90-day period, the Company releases earnings results or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or
(2) prior to the expiration of any 90-day period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of such
90-day period, then in each case such 90-day period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of release of the earnings
results or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the underwriters managing any such public offering waives, in writing, such extension. 

        2.5.    Registration Procedures.    Whenever any Holder has requested that any Registrable Securities be registered
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to complete the registration and the sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method of
disposition thereof within the time periods set forth in this Agreement, and pursuant thereto the Company will as promptly as practicable: 

          (i)  prepare
and file with the SEC, pursuant to Section 2.1.1(ii) with respect to any Demand Registration, a
registration statement on any appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to such Registrable Securities and use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement to become
effective, provided that as far in advance as practicable before filing such registration statement or any amendment thereto, the Company will furnish to the selling Holders copies of reasonably
complete drafts of all such documents prepared to be filed (including exhibits), and any such Holder shall have the opportunity to object to any information contained therein and the Company will make
corrections reasonably requested by such Holder with respect to such information prior to filing any such registration statement or amendment; 

         (ii)  except
in the case of a Shelf Registration, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, post-effective amendments, and supplements to such registration
statement 

8

 

and
the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period of not less than one hundred eighty (180) days (or such lesser
period as is necessary for the underwriters in an underwritten offering to sell unsold allotments) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all
securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement; 

        (iii)  in
the case of a Shelf Registration, prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities
subject thereto for a period ending on the date on which all the Registrable Securities subject thereto have been sold pursuant to such registration statement; 

        (iv)  furnish
to each seller of Registrable Securities and the underwriters of the securities being registered such number of copies of such registration statement, each
amendment and supplement thereto, the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus), any issuer free writing prospectus, any documents incorporated by
reference therein and such other documents as such seller or underwriters may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller or the sale
of such securities by such underwriters (it being understood that, subject to Section 2.6 and the requirements of the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws, the Company consents to the use of the prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto and any issuer free writing prospectus by each seller and the underwriters in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement of which such prospectus, amendment or supplement is a part); 

         (v)  use
its reasonable best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities under such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the managing
underwriter reasonably requests (or,
in the event the registration statement does not relate to an underwritten offering, as the holders of a majority of such Registrable Securities may reasonably request); use its reasonable best
efforts to keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the period in which such registration statement is required to be kept effective; and do any and all
other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each seller to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller in such jurisdictions
(provided, however, that the Company will not be required to (A) qualify generally to do business
in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this subparagraph or (B) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction); 

        (vi)  promptly
notify each seller and each underwriter and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing (A) when a registration statement or any
issuer free writing prospectus used in connection therewith, a prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment has been filed and, with respect to a registration
statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective, (B) of the issuance by any state securities or other regulatory authority of any order suspending the
qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities under state securities or "blue sky" laws or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, and (C) of
the happening of any event which makes any statement made in a 

9

 

registration
statement or related prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus untrue or which requires the making of any changes in such registration statement, prospectus, issuer free writing
prospectus or documents so that they will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and, as promptly as practicable thereafter, prepare and file with the SEC and furnish a supplement or amendment to such prospectus or additional issuer free writing prospectus
so that, as thereafter deliverable to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; 

       (vii)  permit
any selling Holder, which in such Holder's sole and exclusive judgment, might reasonably be deemed to be an underwriter or a controlling person of the Company,
to participate in the preparation of such registration or comparable statement and to require the insertion therein of material, furnished to the Company in writing, which in the reasonable judgment
of such Holder and its counsel should be included; 

      (viii)  make
reasonably available members of management of the Company, as selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in such registration,
for assistance in the selling effort relating to the Registrable Securities covered by such registration, including, but not limited to, the participation of such members of the Company's management
in live or recorded road show presentations; 

        (ix)  otherwise
use its reasonable best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and make generally available to the Company's securityholders an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act no later than ninety (90) days after the end of the twelve (12) month period beginning with the first day of the Company's first fiscal quarter commencing after the effective date of
a registration statement, which earnings statement shall cover said twelve (12) month period, and which requirement will be deemed to be satisfied if the Company timely files complete and
accurate information on Forms 10-Q, 10-K and 8-K under the Exchange Act and otherwise complies with Rule 158 under the Securities Act; 

         (x)  if
requested by the managing underwriter or any seller promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment or prepare an issuer free
writing prospectus including such information as the managing underwriter or any seller reasonably requests to be included therein, including, without limitation, with respect to the Registrable
Securities being sold by such seller, the purchase price being paid therefor by the underwriters and with respect to any other terms of the underwritten offering of the Registrable Securities to be
sold in such offering, and promptly make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment or issuer free writing prospectus; 

        (xi)  as
promptly as practicable after filing with the SEC of any document which is incorporated by reference into a registration statement (in the form in which it was
incorporated), deliver a copy of each such document to each seller unless available on the SEC's Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval System (EDGAR) or any successor system; 

       (xii)  cooperate
with the sellers and the managing underwriter to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates (which shall not bear any restrictive legends
unless required under applicable law) representing securities sold under any registration 

10

 

statement,
and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or such sellers may request and keep available and make available to the
Company's transfer agent prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement a supply of such certificates; 

      (xiii)  promptly
make available for inspection by any seller, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to any registration statement, and any attorney,
accountant or other agent or representative retained by any such seller or underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply all information requested by any such Inspector in connection with such registration statement; 

      (xiv)  furnish
to each seller and underwriter a signed counterpart of (A) an opinion or opinions of counsel to the Company, and (B) a comfort letter or comfort
letters from the Company's independent registered public accountants, each in customary form and covering such matters of the type customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may
be, as the sellers or managing underwriter reasonably requests (each such opinion and comfort letter to be addressed to both the seller and underwriter, if reasonably possible); 

       (xv)  use
its reasonable best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities included in any registration statement to be listed on each securities exchange, if any, on which
similar securities issued by the Company are then listed; 

      (xvi)  provide
a transfer agent and registrar for all Registrable Securities registered hereunder; 

     (xvii)  cooperate
with each seller and each underwriter participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and their respective counsel in connection with any
filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; 

    (xviii)  during
the period when the prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, promptly file all documents required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; 

      (xix)  notify
each seller of Registrable Securities promptly of any request by the SEC for the amending or supplementing of such registration statement or prospectus or for
additional information; 

       (xx)  enter
into such agreements (including underwriting agreements in the managing underwriter's customary form) as are customary in connection with an underwritten
registration; and 

      (xxi)  advise
each seller of such Registrable Securities, promptly after it shall receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of the issuance of any stop order by the SEC
suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose and promptly use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of
any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal at the earliest possible moment if such stop order should be issued. 

        2.6.    Suspension of Dispositions.    Each Holder agrees by acquisition of any Registrable Securities that, upon
receipt of any notice (a "Suspension Notice") from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in  Section 2.5(vi)(C) such
Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended 

11

 

prospectus,
or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the Company that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and has received copies of
any additional or supplemental filings which are incorporated by reference in the prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company all copies, other than
permanent file copies then in such Holder's possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice (any such period during which disposition
of Registrable Securities is suspended, a "Suspension Period"); provided,  however, that the Company
may only exercise its rights under this Section 2.6, considered
together with any Blackout Period, for no more than one hundred and twenty (120) days in the aggregate during any calendar year. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time
period regarding the effectiveness of registration statements set forth in Sections 2.5(ii) and  2.5(iii) hereof shall be extended by the number of
days during the period from and including the date of the giving of the Suspension Notice to and
including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus or the Advice. The Company
shall use its reasonable best efforts and take such actions as are reasonably necessary to render the Advice as promptly as practicable. 

        2.7.  Registration Expenses. 

        2.7.1    Demand Registrations.    All reasonable, out-of-pocket fees and expenses incident to
any Demand Registration including, without limitation, the Company's performance of or compliance with this Article 2, all registration and
filing fees, all fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), as may be
required by the rules and regulations of the FINRA, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or "blue sky" laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with "blue
sky" qualifications of the Registrable Securities), rating agency fees, printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit
with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities), messenger and delivery expenses, the fees and
expenses incurred in connection with any listing or quotation of the Registrable Securities, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company and its independent certified public accountants (including
the expenses of any special audit or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance), and the fees and expenses of any special experts, including mining experts, retained by the
Company in connection with such registration will be borne by RTEA and/or KMS and the Company such that RTEA and/or KMS will bear seventy-five percent (75%) and the Company will bear
twenty-five percent (25%) of such fees and expenses; provided, however, that any
underwriting discounts, commissions or fees attributable to the sale of the Registrable Securities will be borne by RTEA and/or KMS. 

        2.7.2    Piggyback Registrations.    All fees and expenses incident to any Piggyback Registration including, without
limitation, the Company's performance of or compliance with this Article 2, all registration and filing fees, all fees and expenses associated
with filings required to be made with the FINRA, as may be required by the rules and regulations of the FINRA, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or "blue sky" laws (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with "blue sky" qualifications of the Registrable Securities), rating agency fees, printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for
the Registrable Securities in a form eligible for deposit with the Depository Trust Company and of printing prospectuses), messenger and delivery expenses, the fees and expenses incurred in connection
with any listing or quotation of the Registrable Securities, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company and its independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of any special audit
or "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such performance), the fees and expenses of any special experts, including mining experts, retained by the Company in connection with such
registration, and the fees and expenses of other persons retained by the Company, will be borne by the 

12

 

Company
(unless paid by a security holder that is not a Holder for whose account the registration is being effected) whether or not any registration statement becomes effective;  provided, however, that any underwriting discounts, commissions or fees attributable to the sale of the
Registrable Securities will be borne by the Holders pro rata on the basis of the number of shares so sold. 

        2.8.  Indemnification. 

        2.8.1  CPE LLC
will indemnify and hold harmless each seller of Registrable Securities and, in the case of an underwritten offering, each underwriter, their respective
partners, members, directors, officers, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such seller or underwriter, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such seller may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any
registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus, 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and will reimburse such seller for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such seller in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether
or not such seller is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred;  provided,
however, that CPE LLC will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or
is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any such seller specifically for use therein; provided, the liability of each such seller of Registrable Securities will be in proportion to,
and will be limited to, the net amount received by such seller from the sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such registration statement;  provided, however, that such seller of Registrable Securities shall not be liable in any such case to
the extent that prior to the filing of any such registration statement or prospectus or amendment thereof or supplement thereto, such seller has furnished in writing to the Company
information expressly for use in such registration statement or prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto which corrected or made not misleading information previously furnished to the
Company. 

        Insofar
as the foregoing indemnity agreement may permit indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act of any person who is an underwriter or a partner or controlling person of
an underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and who, at the date of this Agreement, is a director, officer or controlling person of the Company or CPE LLC,
CPE LLC has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such provisions may contravene federal public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and may therefore be unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification under such agreement for any such liabilities (except insofar as such agreement provides for the payment by CPE LLC of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such a person, CPE LLC will submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction (unless in
the opinion of counsel for CPE LLC the matter has already been settled by controlling precedent) the question of whether or not indemnification by it for such liabilities is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and therefore unenforceable, and CPE LLC will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. 

        2.8.2  Each
seller of Registrable Securities will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers who signs
a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of 

13

 

the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such indemnified party may become subject, under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus or arise out of
or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only
to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
such seller specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending against any such
loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such indemnified party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any
such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred. 

        2.8.3  Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 2.8 of notice of the commencement of any
action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under Section 2.8.1 or  Section 2.8.2 above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not
relieve it from any liability that it may have under Section 2.8.1 or Section 2.8.2 above
except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and
provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under  Section 2.8.1 or
Section 2.8.2 above. In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with
any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying
party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 2.8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect
any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party
unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party. 

        2.8.4  If
the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.8 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party under Section 2.8.1 or Section 2.8.2 above although applicable in
accordance with its terms, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to
in Section 2.8.1 or Section 2.8.2 above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
faults referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the 

14

 

indemnified
party on the other as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. In connection with any registration statement filed with the SEC by the Company, the relative fault 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 relates to information
supplied by such indemnifying party or indemnified party and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The
relative benefits received by the indemnifying party on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of
securities registered thereunder (before deducting expenses) received by the indemnifying party bear to the aggregate public offering price of the securities registered thereunder. The amount paid by
an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this Section 2.8.4 shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this  Section 2.8.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 2.8.4, no Holder shall be
required to contribute an amount greater than the dollar amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holder with respect to the sale of any Registrable Securities exceeds the amount of damages
which such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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 was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Holders' obligations in this Section 2.8.4 to contribute shall be several in proportion to the
amount of Registrable Securities registered by them and not joint. 

        If
indemnification is available under this Section 2.8, the indemnifying parties shall indemnify each indemnified party to the full
extent provided in Section 2.8.1 and Section 2.8.2 without regard to the relative fault of
said indemnifying party or indemnified party or any other equitable consideration provided for in this Section 2.8.4 subject, in the case of the
Holders, to the limited dollar amounts set forth in Section 2.8.2. 

        2.8.5  The
indemnification and contribution provided for under this Agreement will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the
indemnified party or any officer, director, or controlling Person of such indemnified party and will survive the transfer of securities. 

15

 

  
        2.9.    Transfer of Registration Rights.    Any of the rights and obligations of RTA, RTEA or KMS or any Holder
under
this Agreement may be assigned, in the discretion of RTA, RTEA or KMS or any such Holder, without the consent of the Company, to any Person (i) to whom RTEA or KMS or any Holder sells,
exchanges or otherwise transfers Registrable Securities or Membership Units and (ii) who agrees in writing to be subject to and bound by all the terms and conditions of this Agreement;  provided,
however, that the obligations of RTEA and KMS pursuant to  Section 2.7.1 may be assigned only with the Company's consent. 

        2.10.    Rule 144.    The Company will file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, will, upon the request of the Holders, make publicly available
other information) and will take such further action as the Holders may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell the Registrable Securities
without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time or
(ii) any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC. Upon the reasonable request of any Holder, the Company will deliver to such parties a written statement as to whether it has
complied with such requirements and will, at its expense, forthwith upon the request of any such Holder, deliver to such Holder a certificate, signed by the Company's principal financial officer,
stating (a) the Company's name, address and telephone number (including area code), (b) the Company's Internal Revenue Service identification number, (c) the Company's SEC file
number, (d) the number of shares of each class of capital stock outstanding as shown by the most recent report or statement published by the Company, and (e) whether the Company has
filed the reports required to be filed under the Exchange Act for a period of at least ninety (90) days prior to the date of such certificate and in addition has filed the most recent annual
report required to be filed thereunder. 

        2.11.    Preservation of Rights.    The Company will not (i) grant any registration rights to third parties
which are more favorable than or inconsistent with the rights granted hereunder or (ii) enter into any agreement, take any action, or permit any change to occur, with respect to its securities
that violates or subordinates the rights expressly granted to the Holders in this Agreement. 

 ARTICLE 3  

MISCELLANEOUS  

        3.1.    Notices.    Any notice, instruction, direction or demand required under the terms of this Agreement shall be
in writing and shall be duly given upon delivery, if delivered by hand, facsimile transmission or mail (with postage prepaid), to the following addresses: 

        If
to the Company or CPE LLC, to: 

Cloud
Peak Energy Inc.

General Counsel

505 S. Gillette Avenue

Gillette, Wyoming 82716

(307) 687-6000

Fax: (307) 687-6059 

16

 

        If
RTA, RTEA or KMS, to: 

Rio
Tinto America Inc.

Legal Department

4700 Daybreak Parkway

South Jordan, Utah 84095

(801) 204-2000

Fax: (801) 204-2892 

With
a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): 

Chief
Executive Officer

4700 Daybreak Parkway

South Jordan, Utah 84095

(801) 204-2000

Fax: (801) 204-2892 

or
to such other addresses or telecopy numbers as may be specified by like notice to the other parties. 

        If
to any other Holder, the address indicated for such Holder in the Company's stock transfer records with copies, so long as RTEA or KMS owns any Registrable Securities or Membership
Units, to RTA as provided above. 

        Any
notice or communication hereunder shall be deemed to have been given or made as of the date so delivered if personally delivered; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is
acknowledged, if telecopied; and five (5) calendar days after mailing if sent by registered or certified mail (except that a notice of change of address shall not be deemed to have been given
until actually received by the addressee). 

        Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the
manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. 

        3.2.    Authority.    Each of the parties hereto represents on behalf of itself as follows: (i) it has the
requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby, (ii) this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof. 

        3.3.  Governing Law. 

        3.3.1  This
Agreement is to be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal 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 internal laws of the State of New York to the rights and duties of the parties. 

        3.3.2  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 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 

17

 

legal
proceeding relating thereto except in such courts), including to enforce any settlement, order or award. Each party hereto: 

          (i)  consents
to service of process in any such proceeding in any manner permitted by the laws of the State of New York, and agrees that service of process by registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section 3.1 is reasonably calculated to give actual notice; 

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

        (iii)  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. 

        3.3.3  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. 

        3.3.4  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 hereby. 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 3.3.4. 

        3.4.    Successors and Assigns.    Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, this Agreement shall be binding upon
and benefit the Company, each Holder, and their respective successors and assigns. 

        3.5.    Severability.    If any terms or other provision of this Agreement shall be determined by a court,
administrative agency or arbitrator to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not render the entire Agreement invalid. Rather, this Agreement shall
be construed as if not containing the particular invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, and all other provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as
the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to either party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is
invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties 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
to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law. 

        3.6.    Remedies.    Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, or relating to, the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, or the validity, interpretation, breach or termination of any provision of this Agreement shall be resolved in accordance with  Section 9.10 of the Master Separation Agreement.

        3.7.    Waivers.    A provision of this Agreement may be waived only by a writing signed by the party or parties
intended to be bound by the waiver. A Holder may waive a provision of this Agreement that relates exclusively to their rights, remedies or conditions under this Agreement that does not affect, 

18

 

directly
or indirectly, the rights of other Holders. The Holders of the majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities may waive any provision of this Agreement so long as any Holder that
does not approve of such waiver is not affected by such waiver in a manner materially worse than the approving Holders. A party is not prevented from enforcing any right, remedy or condition in the
party's favor because of any failure or delay in exercising any right or remedy or in requiring satisfaction of any condition, except to the extent that the party specifically waives the same in
writing. A written waiver given for one matter or occasion is effective only in that instance and only for the purpose stated. A waiver once given is not to be construed as a waiver for any other
matter or occasion. Any enumeration of a party's rights and remedies in this Agreement is not intended to be exclusive, and a party's rights and remedies are intended to be cumulative to the extent
permitted by law and include any rights and remedies authorized in law or in equity. 

        3.8.    Amendment.    This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any respect except by a written agreement
signed by the Company, CPE LLC, RTEA (so long as RTEA owns any Registrable Securities or Membership Units), KMS (so long as KMS owns any Registrable Securities or Membership Units) and the
Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. 

        3.9.    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an
original and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same agreement. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature. 

[THE
REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK] 

19

 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above. 

 

 

					
	

 	
 	
 CLOUD PEAK ENERGY INC.
	

 	
 	
 By:	
 	
 

 
	 	 	Name:
	 	 	Title:
	

 	
 	
 CLOUD PEAK ENERGY LLC
	

 	
 	
 By:	
 	
  

 
	 	 	Name:
	 	 	Title:
	

 	
 	
RIO TINTO AMERICA INC.
	

 	
 	
 By:	
 	
  

 
	 	 	Name:
	 	 	Title:
	

 	
 	
 RIO TINTO ENERGY AMERICA INC.
	

 	
 	
 By:	
 	
  

 
	 	 	Name:
	 	 	Title:
	

 	
 	
 KENNECOTT MANAGEMENT SERVICES COMPANY
	

 	
 	
 By:	
 	
 

 
	 	 	Name:
	 	 	Title:

 

 20

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Exhibit 10.23

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENTQuickLinks
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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 

2

 

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 

3

 

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). 

4

 

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 

5

 

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 

6

 

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. 

7

 

        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 

8

 

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

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.24

EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

RECITALS

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00164-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00164-of-00352.parquet"}]]