Document:

exv10w1

 

EXHIBIT
10.1

 

RESTRICTED BUSINESS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

among

CHRISTOPHER CLINE,

FORESIGHT RESERVES LP,

ADENA MINERALS, LLC,

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.,

NRP (GP) LP,

GP NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS LLC

and

NRP (OPERATING) LLC

 

 

 

RESTRICTED BUSINESS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

     THIS RESTRICTED BUSINESS CONTRIBUTION AGREEMENT is entered into on, and effective as of, the
Closing Date among Christopher Cline (“Cline”), an individual residing in Palm Beach
County, Florida; Foresight Reserves LP, a Nevada limited partnership (“Foresight”); Adena
Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Foresight
(“Adena” and, together with Cline and Foresight, collectively, the “Adena
Parties”); Natural Resource Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “MLP”);
NRP (GP) LP, a Delaware limited partnership (including any permitted successors and assigns under
the MLP Agreement (as defined herein), the “General Partner”); GP Natural Resource Partners
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Managing General Partner”) and NRP
(Operating) LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “OLLC”). The above-named
entities are sometimes referred to in this Agreement each as a “Party” and collectively as
the “Parties.”

R E C I T A L S:

     The Adena Parties, the MLP, for itself and in its capacity as the sole member of the OLLC, the
OLLC, the General Partner, for itself and in its capacity as the general partner of the MLP, and
the Managing General Partner, for itself and in its capacity as the general partner of the General
Partner, desire by their execution of this Agreement to evidence their understanding, as more fully
set forth in Article II of this Agreement, with respect to (a) those business opportunities that
the Adena Entities are required to offer to the Partnership Group, (b) the procedures whereby such
business opportunities are to be offered to the Partnership Group and accepted or declined, and (c)
the identification by the Parties of areas of mutual interest with respect to certain assets
referred to herein and included in offers of certain business opportunities that the Adena Entities
are required to offer to the Partnership Group.

     In consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions, and agreements contained
herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective
meanings set forth below:

“Acquired Properties” is defined in Section 2.4(a).

“Acquired Properties AMI” is defined in Section 2.4(a).

“Additional AMI Certificates” is defined in Section 2.4(b).

“Adena” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

 

 

     “Adena Entities” means the Adena Parties and their respective Affiliates (including,
without limitation, all Persons that are Affiliates of any Adena Party as of the date of
this Agreement and all Persons that become Affiliates of any Adena Party after the date of
this Agreement) other than the Partnership Entities.

     “Adena Parties” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

     “Adjacent Reserves” means the coal reserves subject to the Adjacent Reserves Option, as
defined in Section 3.1 of the Purchase Option Agreement.

     “Affiliate” means, when used with respect to a specified Person, any other Person
directly or indirectly (through one or more intermediaries or otherwise) controlling,
controlled by or under common control with the specified Person. For purposes of this
definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the Person whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the term “controlled” has
the meanings correlative to the foregoing.

     “Agreement” means this Restricted Business Contribution Agreement, as it may be
amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time.

     “AMI Certificate” means the certificate acknowledged, agreed to and delivered by the
Parties concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, as contemplated by
Section 2.4(a).

     “Applicable Period” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and terminating on
the date on which the Adena Entities cease to be entitled to nominate for election any
individuals to serve as members of the board of directors of the Managing General Partner
pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Managing General Partner Operating Agreement and
that certain Investor Rights Agreement dated as of the date hereof by and among Adena, the
General Partner, the Managing General Partner and Robertson Coal Management LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company.

     “Assignable Reserves” means any interest in any coal reserves and/or resources (as
defined by the United States Geologic Survey) held or acquired by any Adena Entity,
including any ownership or fee interest, leasehold or subleasehold interest, royalty
interest or otherwise, other than any such interests to be acquired by the Partnership Group
for consideration pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Second Contribution
Agreement.

     “Cline” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

     “Closing Date” means the date of the closing of the transactions contemplated by the
Contribution Agreement.

     “Conflicts Committee” is defined in the MLP Agreement.

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     “Consideration” means the consideration to be delivered for a Restricted Business
acquired by the Partnership Group pursuant to Section 2.3 in the form of cash, limited
partner interests in the MLP, limited partner interests in the General Partner (including
special allocations with respect to the Incentive Distribution Rights held by the General
Partner), or any combination thereof.

     “Consideration Cap” means an aggregate interest in the General Partner entitling the
Adena Entities to the right to receive all cash distributions and other income and
deductions related to 40% of the General Partner’s 2% general partner interest in the MLP
and to 61.538% of the General Partner’s Incentive Distribution Rights (or 40% of all of the
Incentive Distribution Rights), as further set forth in the General Partner Partnership
Agreement.

     “Contribution Agreement” means that certain Contribution Agreement dated as of December
14, 2006 by and among Foresight, Adena, the MLP, the General Partner, the Managing General
Partner and the OLLC.

     “Foresight” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

     “General Partner” means the General Partner and its successors as general partner of
the MLP.

     “General Partner Partnership Agreement” means that certain Third Amended and Restated
Limited Partnership Agreement of the General Partner dated as of the Closing Date, as such
agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time after the Closing Date.

     “Hard Minerals” means naturally occurring deposits of minerals that are in solid form
at room temperature that can be extracted, processed and sold for economic gain, which
minerals include but are not limited to coal, aggregates, potash, copper, gold, limestone,
iron ore, platinum, silver, uranium and trona.

     “Hard Minerals AMI” means, collectively, the Acquired Properties AMI and all Offer
AMIs.

     “Hard Minerals Restricted Business” is defined in Section 2.1(a)(i).

     “Managing General Partner” means the Managing General Partner and its successors as
general partner of the General Partner.

     “Managing General Partner Operating Agreement” means that certain Fourth Amended and
Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Managing General Partner dated as of the
Closing Date, as such agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time
after the Closing Date.

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     “Mining Operations” means the mining, extraction, processing and sale of Hard Minerals,
whether conducted through any business, assets or Person.

     “MLP” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

     “MLP Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited
Partnership of the MLP dated as of the Closing Date, as such agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time after the Closing Date.

     “Mutually Agreed Firm” is defined in Section 2.3(c)(ii).

     “Non-Producing Hard Minerals Reserves” means reserves of Hard Minerals that are not
associated with Mining Operations.

     “Offer” is defined in Section 2.3(b).

     “Offer AMI” is defined in Section 2.4(b).

     “OLLC” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

     “Operate” means the unrestricted right to own, operate, purchase, sell, swap, otherwise
transfer, lease or invest in, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, a particular
asset or business.

     “Option Expiration Date” is defined in Section 2.2(e).

     “Option Offer” means a bona fide written offer from Cline to Trout giving Trout the
option to purchase the Option Reserves identified in such offer pursuant to the terms and
conditions of the Purchase Option Agreement or the Wildcat Agreement, as applicable.

     “Option Period” means the 14-day period following the receipt by Trout of an Option
Offer.

     “Option Reserves” means the Adjacent Reserves and the Wildcat Adjacent Reserves,
collectively.

     “Panther” means Panther, LLC, a West Virginia limited liability company.

     “Partnership Entities” means the Managing General Partner, the General Partner, the
MLP, the OLLC and any Subsidiary of the MLP or the OLLC.

     “Partnership Group” means the MLP, the General Partner, the OLLC and any Subsidiary of
the MLP or the OLLC.

     “Party” or “Parties” is defined in the introduction to this Agreement.

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     “Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited
liability company, unincorporated organization or any other entity.

     “Purchase Option Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Purchase
Option Agreement dated as of December 30, 2003 by and among Trout, Trout II, Panther and
Cline, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of March 21, 2005, as such agreement may be
further amended, modified or supplemented from time to time after the Closing Date in
accordance with Section 3.15.

     “Restricted Businesses” is defined in Section 2.1(a).

     “Second Contribution Agreement” is defined in the Contribution Agreement.

     “Selected Firm” is defined in Section 2.3(c)(ii).

     “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) a corporation of which more than
50% of the voting power of shares entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors or other governing body of such
corporation is owned, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person,
by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or a combination thereof, (ii) a partnership
(whether general or limited) in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the
date of determination, a general or limited partner of such partnership, but only if more
than 50% of the partnership interests of such partnership (considering all of the
partnership interests of the partnership as a single class) is owned, directly or
indirectly, at the date of determination, by such Person, by one or more Subsidiaries of
such Person, or a combination thereof, or (iii) any other Person (other than a corporation
or a partnership) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or a
combination thereof, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination, has (A) at least
a majority ownership interest or (B) the power to elect or direct the election of a majority
of the directors or other governing body of such Person.

     “Transportation Infrastructure Restricted Business” is defined in Section 2.1(a)(ii).

     “Transportation Infrastructure Restricted Business Certificate” means the certificate
acknowledged, agreed to and delivered by the Parties concurrently with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, as contemplated by Section 2.1(a).

     “Trout” means Trout Coal Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

     “Trout II” means Trout Coal Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

     “Trout Acceptance Notice” means a notice delivered by Trout or Trout II, as applicable,
to Cline indicating that Trout or Trout II, as applicable, has elected to

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purchase the Option Reserves that are the subject of the Option Offer pursuant to the
terms and conditions of the Purchase Option Agreement or the Wildcat Agreement, as
applicable.

     “Trout Rejection Notice” means a notice delivered by Trout or Trout II, as applicable,
to Cline indicating that Trout or Trout II, as applicable, has elected not to purchase the
Option Reserves that are the subject of the Option Offer pursuant to the terms and
conditions of the Purchase Option Agreement or the Wildcat Agreement, as applicable.

     “Valuation” means (i) the valuation submitted by the Mutually Agreed Firm or (ii) if
there is no Mutually Agreed Firm, the arithmetic mean of the valuation submitted by the
Adena Entity’s Selected Firm and the valuation submitted by General Partner’s Selected Firm.

     “Wildcat Adjacent Reserves” is defined in the Wildcat Agreement.

     “Wildcat Agreement” means that certain Wildcat Adjacent Reserves and Royalty Payment
Agreement dated as of December 30, 2003 by and between Trout and Cline, as amended by
Amendment No. 1 dated as of March 21, 2005, as such agreement may be further amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time after the Closing Date in accordance with Section
3.15.

ARTICLE II

Restricted Businesses; Areas of Mutual Interest

2.1 Restricted Businesses.

(a) During the Applicable Period and subject to Section 2.2, the Adena Entities shall be
required to offer to the Partnership Group the opportunity to acquire all Restricted
Businesses owned, operated or invested in by any of the Adena Entities, directly or
indirectly, in each case in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.3. For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Restricted Business” means the following activities
whether conducted through any business, assets or Person, directly or indirectly: (i)
owning, investing in and/or entering into leases as lessor of any Hard Minerals in the
United States or any overriding royalty interest in any Hard Minerals in the United States
(a “Hard Minerals Restricted Business”), and (ii) owning, investing in, operating
and/or leasing the transportation infrastructure assets included in or associated with (or
to be included in or associated with) the projects in Illinois as identified on the
Transportation Infrastructure Restricted Business Certificate (a “Transportation
Infrastructure Restricted Business”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Restricted
Business does not include (1) any beneficial ownership interest in a publicly traded company
so long as such interest is held solely for passive investment purposes and is not
controlled by an Adena Entity, (2) any beneficial ownership interest in a publicly traded
company primarily engaged in Mining Operations and controlled by an Adena Entity so long as
any assets contributed or otherwise conveyed to such publicly traded company by any Adena
Entity do not constitute Restricted Businesses or are Restricted Businesses described in
Section 2.2(b),

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and (3) the assets of a publicly traded company primarily engaged in Mining Operations and
controlled by an Adena Entity that were not contributed to such publicly traded company by
an Adena Entity. In addition, during the Applicable Period, without the prior written
consent of the Partnership Group, no Adena Entity shall lease to another Adena Entity any
Hard Minerals on terms that are more favorable to the Adena Entity lessee than could be
obtained in an arms’ length transaction with a third party.

(b) For the purpose of clarity, the Adena Entities may Operate Mining Operations, public or
private, and such activities shall not constitute a Restricted Business.

2.2 Permitted Exceptions. Notwithstanding any provision of Section 2.1 to the contrary, an
Adena Entity may Operate Restricted Businesses during the Applicable Period under the
following circumstances only:

(a) The Adena Entities may own and operate the businesses and assets that are the subject of
the Second Contribution Agreement until the closing of the transactions contemplated thereby
or the earlier termination of the Second Contribution Agreement, in which latter event such
businesses and assets shall not be subject to this Agreement.

(b) The Adena Entities may Operate Restricted Businesses that the General Partner has
elected not to cause a member of the Partnership Group to pursue in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Section 2.3.

(c) Subject to Section 2.2(d), the Adena Entities may Operate a Restricted Business
consisting of Non-Producing Hard Minerals Reserves; provided, however, that upon production
and sale of the first ton of coal from such reserves, the relevant Adena Entity will
promptly provide written notice to the General Partner that Mining Operations have begun
with respect to such Hard Minerals Restricted Business and such Adena Entity shall comply
with the provisions of Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.3.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 2.2(c), the Adena Entities may not
sell, swap, exchange or otherwise transfer, directly or indirectly, any of the Hard Minerals
included in or associated with (or to be included in or associated with) any of the projects
identified in the Transportation Infrastructure Restricted Business Certificate (it being
acknowledged and agreed by the Parties that all such Hard Minerals are Restricted Businesses
to be offered to the Partnership Group pursuant to Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.3).

(e) The Adena Entities may Operate a Restricted Business consisting of Option Reserves until
the earliest to occur (the “Option Expiration Date”) of (i) receipt by Cline of a
Trout Rejection Notice with respect to such Option Reserves during the Option Period, (ii)
the expiration of the Option Period without receipt by Cline of a Trout Rejection Notice or
a Trout Acceptance Notice with respect to such Option Reserves, and (iii) if Cline has
received a Trout Acceptance Notice with respect to such Option Reserves during the Option
Period, the earlier to occur of (A) the closing of the sale of such Option Reserves to Trout
or Trout II, as applicable, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase
Option Agreement or the Wildcat Agreement, as

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applicable, and (B) the expiration of the 45th day after receipt by Trout or Trout II, as
applicable, of such Option Offer. Upon the occurrence of the Option Expiration Date, the
Adena Entities shall comply with the provisions of Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.3 with
respect to such Option Reserves, subject in each case to the rights of first refusal, if
applicable, set forth in Section 3.3 of the Purchase Option Agreement and Section 2.3 of the
Wildcat Agreement, as applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section
2.2(e), the Adena Parties shall not be required to comply with the provisions of Section
2.1(a) and Section 2.3 from and after the Option Expiration Date with respect to any Option
Reserves that are Non-Producing Hard Minerals Reserves; provided, however, that upon
production and sale of the first ton of coal from such Option Reserves, the Adena Entities
will promptly provide written notice to the General Partner that Mining Operations have
begun with respect to such Option Reserves and the Adena Entities shall be required to
comply with the provisions of Section 2.1(a) and Section 2.3, subject in each case to the
rights of first refusal, if applicable, set forth in Section 3.3 of the Purchase Option
Agreement and Section 2.3 of the Wildcat Agreement, as applicable. Cline shall provide an
Option Offer to Trout or Trout II, as applicable, as promptly as practicable after the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, by the Adena Entities of any Option Reserves. Upon
assignment of the Option (as defined in the Wildcat Agreement) to Trout Coal Holdings III or
any other entity in accordance with the Wildcat Agreement, applicable references herein to
“Trout” shall thereafter be references to Trout Coal Holdings III or such other entity.

2.3 Procedures.

(a) In the event that an Adena Entity owns, operates or invests in a Restricted Business
that it is not otherwise permitted to own, operate or invest in pursuant to Section 2.2,
then such Adena Entity shall (1) promptly notify the General Partner in writing, (A) in the
case of a Restricted Business consisting of Non-Producing Hard Minerals Reserves, within six
months after the production and sale of the first ton of coal from such reserves, (B) in the
case of a Transportation Infrastructure Restricted Business, within six months after the
generation of any revenue with respect to such Restricted Business, and (C) in the case of a
Restricted Business consisting of Hard Minerals not described in clause (A), within six
months of such ownership, operation or investment in such Restricted Business, (2) deliver
to the General Partner all information prepared by or on behalf of such Adena Entity
relating to such Restricted Business and the proposed acquisition (including information
with respect to coal production and sales or revenues) of such Restricted Business by the
Partnership Group, and (3) offer the Partnership Group the opportunity to acquire such
Restricted Business in accordance with this Section 2.3.

(b) In each such case described in Section 2.3(a), the offer to the Partnership Group (the
“Offer”) shall set forth the terms relating to the purchase of such Restricted
Business, including, without limitation, the requested form of Consideration, subject to the
Consideration Cap, and, in respect of a Hard Minerals Restricted Business, the Offer AMI.
Within 45 days after receipt of the Offer, the General Partner shall notify such Adena
Entity in writing that either (x) the General Partner has elected not to cause a member of
the Partnership Group to purchase such Restricted Business, in which event the Adena Entity
shall be forever free to Operate such Restricted Business without any

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restriction imposed by this Agreement, or (y) the General Partner agrees or wishes in good
faith to negotiate to cause one or more members of the Partnership Group to purchase such
Restricted Business, in which event the following procedures shall be followed:

(c) The Adena Entity and the General Partner shall negotiate after receipt of such Offer by
the General Partner, the terms on which the Restricted Business will be sold to one or more
members of the Partnership Group. The Adena Entity shall provide all additional information
concerning the business, operations and finances of such Restricted Business as may be
reasonably requested by the General Partner.

(i) If the Adena Entity and the General Partner, with the approval of the Conflicts
Committee, agree on such terms within 45 days after initial receipt by the General
Partner of the Offer, one or more members of the Partnership Group shall purchase
the Restricted Business on such terms as soon as commercially practicable after such
agreement has been reached. The contribution agreement for the Restricted Business
will provide for the required Consideration to be delivered, subject to the
Consideration Cap, and will contain commercially reasonable representations,
warranties, covenants, agreements and closing conditions.

(ii) If the Adena Entity and the General Partner are unable to agree on the fair
market value of the Restricted Business proposed to be contributed during the 45-day
period after receipt by the General Partner of the Offer, the Adena Entity and the
General Partner, with the approval of the Conflicts Committee, will engage a
mutually agreeable investment banking firm with a national reputation (the
“Mutually Agreed Firm”) to determine the fair market value of the Restricted
Business. If the Adena Entity and the General Partner are unable to agree on such
an investment banking firm, then each of the Adena Entity and the General Partner
shall engage an investment banking firm with a national reputation (each, a
“Selected Firm”) to determine the fair market value of the Restricted
Business. In determining the fair market value of the Restricted Business, the
Mutually Agreed Firm or each Selected Firm, as the case may be, will have access to
the proposed contribution and acquisition values for the Restricted Business
submitted by the Adena Entity and the General Partner, respectively. The Mutually
Agreed Firm or each Selected Firm, as the case may be, will determine the value of
the Restricted Business within 30 days and furnish the Adena Entity and the General
Partner its opinion of such value. The fees of the Mutually Agreed Firm’s appraisal
will be split equally between the Adena Entity and the MLP. The fees of each
Selected Firm will be paid by the party engaging such Selected Firm or, in the case
of the Selected Firm engaged by the General Partner, by the MLP. Upon receipt of
the Valuation, the General Partner will cause one or more members of the Partnership
Group to acquire the Restricted Business. If, at the end of the 45-day period, the
General Partner has not invoked the valuation procedures called for in this Section
2.3(c)(ii), then the General Partner shall be deemed not to have elected to cause a
member of the Partnership Group to

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purchase such Restricted Business, and the General Partner shall send the written
notice described in Section 2.3(b)(x).

(iii) If the General Partner on behalf of the MLP elects to acquire the Restricted
Business pursuant to Section 2.3(c)(ii), then as soon as commercially practicable
after the fair market value of the Restricted Business has been determined in
accordance with Section 2.3(c)(ii), one or more members of the Partnership Group
shall purchase the Restricted Business for the Consideration equal to the Valuation.
The contribution agreement for the Restricted Business will provide for the
Consideration, subject to the Consideration Cap, and will contain commercially
reasonable representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and closing
conditions. If the Valuation is not equal to the amount specified in the Offer,
then the Consideration shall be increased or decreased, pro rata based on the forms
of Consideration specified in the Offer, to an amount equal to the Valuation,
provided, that if the Partnership Group is contractually or legally
restricted from delivering the Consideration (as so increased or decreased), then
the Partnership Group shall be entitled to delay the closing of such acquisition for
up to an additional 180 days in order to provide the required Consideration, and if
the Partnership Group fails to deliver such Consideration at the end of such 180-day
period, then such Restricted Business shall be treated as if the Partnership Group
had declined to purchase such Restricted Business in accordance with Section 2.2(b),
and the General Partner shall send the written notice described in Section
2.3(b)(x).

(iv) If two or more separate Restricted Businesses are included in the same notice
delivered to the General Partner pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(1), the General Partner
shall have the separate right of election as to each such Restricted Business.

     2.4 Area of Mutual Interest.

          (a) The Parties hereby create an area of mutual interest with respect to the properties of the
Adena Entities to be acquired by the Partnership Group pursuant to the transactions contemplated by
the Contribution Agreement and the Second Contribution Agreement (collectively, the “Acquired
Properties”) consisting of the areas described in the AMI Certificate (the “Acquired
Properties AMI”).

          (b) Each Offer of a Hard Minerals Restricted Business shall include an associated area of
mutual interest with respect to the properties proposed to be acquired (the “Offer AMI”).
The Parties shall supplement the AMI Certificate from time to time by adding supplements in the
form of additional certificates in a form substantially similar to the AMI Certificate (the
“Additional AMI Certificates”) after the Closing Date to include Offer AMIs negotiated in
good faith as part of the Offer pursuant to Section 2.3(b) with respect to Hard Minerals Restricted
Businesses acquired by the Partnership Group pursuant to Section 2.3.

          (c) During the Applicable Period, the Adena Entities shall be required to offer to the
Partnership Group the opportunity to acquire any and all Assignable Reserves within the

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Hard Minerals AMIs held or acquired by any Adena Entity after the date hereof. In the event
that an Adena Entity holds or acquires any Assignable Reserves within a Hard Minerals AMI, such
Adena Entity shall (1) notify the General Partner in writing as soon as practicable of such holding
or acquisition, (2) deliver to the General Partner all information prepared by or on behalf of such
Adena Entity relating to such Assignable Reserves and the proposed acquisition of such Assignable
Reserves by the Partnership Group and (3) if the General Partner on behalf of the Partnership so
elects and notifies such Adena Entity in writing, promptly convey, transfer and assign to one or
more members of the Partnership Group designated by the General Partner on behalf of the MLP all of
such Adena Entity’s right, title and interest in and to such Assignable Reserves, free and clear of
all liens and encumbrances created as a result of debt incurred by any Adena Entity, (I) in the
case of an Assignable Reserve in the Acquired Properties AMI, at no cost to the Partnership
Entities, or (II) in the case of an Assignable Reserve in any Offer AMI, at the acquisition cost to
the Adena Entity.

2.5 Scope of Prohibition. Except as provided in this Article II and the MLP Agreement, each
Adena Entity shall be free to engage in any business activity whatsoever, including those
that may be in direct competition with any Partnership Entity.

2.6 Enforcement. The Adena Entities agree and acknowledge that the Partnership Group does
not have an adequate remedy at law for the breach by the Adena Entities of the covenants and
agreements set forth in this Article II, and that any breach by the Adena Entities of the
covenants and agreements set forth in Article II would result in irreparable injury to the
Partnership Group. The Adena Entities further agree and acknowledge that any member of the
Partnership Group may, in addition to the other remedies which may be available to the
Partnership Group, file a suit in equity for specific performance to compel the Adena
Entities to perform their obligations under this Agreement and consent to the issuance of
injunctive relief under this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

Miscellaneous

3.1 Choice of Law; Submission to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be subject to and
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts-of-law rule or
principle that might refer the construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the laws
of another state. Each party hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal
courts in the State of West Virginia and to venue in Charleston, West Virginia.

3.2 Notice. All notices or requests or consents provided for or permitted to be given
pursuant to this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by depositing same in the
United States mail, addressed to the Person to be notified, postpaid, and registered or
certified with return receipt requested or by delivering such notice in person or by
telecopier or telegram to such party. Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be
effective upon actual receipt. Notice given by telegram or telecopier shall be effective
upon actual receipt if received during the recipient’s normal business hours, or at the
beginning of the recipient’s next business day after receipt if not received during the
recipient’s normal business hours. All notices to be sent to a Party pursuant to this

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Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth below or at such other address
as such Party may stipulate to the other Parties in the manner provided in this Section 3.2:

THE MLP, THE GENERAL PARTNER, THE MANAGING GENERAL PARTNER or THE OLLC:

c/o The MLP

601 Jefferson, Suite 3600

Houston, Texas 77002

Telephone: (713) 751-7516

Facsimile: (713) 751-7517

Attention: Vice President and General Counsel

AND

c/o The MLP

1035 3rd Avenue, Suite 300

Huntington, West Virginia 25727-2827

Telephone: (304) 522-5757

Facsimile: (304) 522-5401

Attention: President and Chief Operating Officer

With a copy (not itself constituting notice) to:

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

1001 Fannin, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

Telephone:(713) 758-3706

Facsimile: (713) 615-5859

Attention: Dan A. Fleckman

ANY ADENA PARTY

c/o Foresight Reserves LP

3801 PGA Boulevard

Suite 903

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

Telephone: (561) 626-4999

Facsimile: (561) 626-4938

Attention: J. Matthew Fifield

With a copy (not itself constituting notice) to:

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Bailey & Glasser LLP

227 Capitol Street

Charleston, West Virginia 25301

Telephone: (304) 345-6555

Facsimile: (304) 342-1110

Attention: Brian A. Glasser

3.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with, the Transportation Infrastructure
Restricted Business Certificate, the AMI Certificate and any and all Additional AMI
Certificates, all of which are incorporated by reference herein and deemed to be a part
hereof) constitute the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained
herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to
the matters contained herein.

3.4 Termination. Article II of this Agreement will terminate upon the expiration of the
Applicable Period unless earlier terminated in writing by the Parties hereto.

3.5 Effect of Waiver or Consent. No waiver or consent, express or implied, by any party to
or of any breach or default by any Person in the performance by such Person of its
obligations hereunder shall be deemed or construed to be a consent or waiver to or of any
other breach or default in the performance by such Person of the same or any other
obligations of such Person hereunder. Failure on the part of a party to complain of any act
of any Person or to declare any Person in default, irrespective of how long such failure
continues, shall not constitute a waiver by such party of its rights hereunder until the
applicable statute of limitations period has run. Time is of the essence of this Agreement.

3.6 Amendment, Supplement or Modification. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or
modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all the Parties; provided,
however, that (a) the MLP and the OLLC may not, without the prior approval of the Conflicts
Committee, agree to any amendment or modification of this Agreement that, in the reasonable
discretion of the General Partner, will adversely affect the holders of Common Units and (b)
the AMI Certificate may be amended, supplemented or modified in accordance with Section
2.4(b) by the written agreement of the General Partner and Adena. Each such instrument
shall be reduced to writing and shall be designated on its face an “Amendment” or an
“Addendum” to this Agreement.

3.7 Assignment. No Party shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations under
this Agreement without the consent of the other Parties hereto, except for an assignment
made in connection with the sale of the General Partner’s two percent general partner
interest in the MLP.

3.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of
counterparts (including facsimile counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original,
but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

-13-

 

3.9 Severability. Each portion of this Agreement is intended to be severable. If any term
or provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or
invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement.

3.10 Construction and Interpretation. As used in this Agreement, unless expressly stated
otherwise or the context requires otherwise, (a) all references to an “Article,” “Section”
or “subsection” shall be to an Article, Section or subsection of this Agreement, (b) the
words “this Agreement,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” “herein,” “hereby,” or words of similar
import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to a particular Article, Section,
subsection, clause or other subdivision hereof, (c) the words used herein shall include the
masculine, feminine and neuter gender, and the singular and the plural, (d) the word
“including” shall mean “including, without limitation” and (e) the word “day” or “days”
shall mean a calendar day or days. The headings of the Articles and Sections of this
Agreement are included for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of
this Agreement or to affect the construction or interpretation hereof or thereof.

3.11 Further Assurances. In connection with this Agreement and all transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, each Party agrees, and agrees to cause its Affiliates, to
execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and to perform such additional
acts as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate, carry out and perform all of the
terms, provisions and conditions of this Agreement and all such transactions.

3.12 Laws and Regulations. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
no Party shall be required to take any act, or fail to take any act, under this Agreement if
the effect thereof would be to cause such Party to be in violation of any applicable law,
statute, rule or regulation.

3.13 Negotiation of Rights of Limited Partners, Assignees, and Third Parties. The
provisions of this Agreement are enforceable solely by the Parties, and no limited partner,
assignee or other Person of the MLP shall have the right, separate and apart from the MLP,
to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to compel any Party to comply with the terms
of this Agreement.

3.14 Compliance by Affiliates of Adena Parties. Each Adena Party hereby agrees and
covenants that it shall cause each of its existing and future Affiliates to comply with all
of the provisions of this Agreement that are applicable to the Adena Entities and shall be
liable for any failure of any such Affiliate to comply with any such provision of this
Agreement.

3.15 Amendments to Purchase Option Agreement and Wildcat Agreement. During the Applicable
Period, Cline (including his successors and permitted assigns) will not amend, modify,
supplement or terminate the Purchase Option Agreement or the Wildcat Agreement without the
prior written agreement of the General Partner, with the approval of the Conflicts
Committee.

-14-

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement on, and effective as of, the
Closing Date.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	/s/
Christopher Cline	 	 
	 	 	Christopher Cline	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Foresight Reserves LP	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	Insight Resource, LLC, its general partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Donald Holcomb	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Donald Holcomb
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Authorized Person	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	ADENA MINERALS, LLC	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Donald Holcomb	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Donald Holcomb
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Authorized Person	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Natural Resource Partners L.P.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	NRP (GP) LP, its general partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	GP Natural Resource Partners LLC,	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	its general partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Nick Carter	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Nick Carter
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	President and Chief Operating Officer	 	 

-15-

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	NRP (GP) LP	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	GP Natural Resource Partners LLC,	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	its general partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Nick Carter	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Nick Carter

President and Chief Operating Officer
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	NRP (Operating) LLC	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	Natural Resource Partners L.P.,	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	its sole member	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	NRP (GP) LP, its general partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	GP Natural Resource Partners LLC,	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	its general partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Nick Carter	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Nick Carter
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	President and Chief Operating Officer	 	 

-16-exv10w2

 

EXHIBIT
10.2
INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

     This Investor Rights Agreement (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into effective
as of January 4, 2007, by and among Adena Minerals, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“Investor”), NRP (GP) LP, a Delaware limited partnership (the “General Partner”), and GP
Natural Resource Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability (the “Company”) and Robertson
Coal Management LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Sole Member,” and
collectively with the General Partner and the Company, the “Partnership Parties”). The
above-named entities are sometimes referred to in this Agreement each as a “Party” and
collectively as the “Parties.”

R E C I T A L S

     A. The Company is the general partner of the General Partner.

     B. In connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement the Investor has entered
into an agreement to acquire 3,913,080 Common Units and 541,956 Class B Units of Natural Resource
Partners L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), (each as defined in that
certain Second Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Partnership dated of
even date herewith) and an aggregate 22% partner interest in the General Partner (pursuant to that

certain Contribution Agreement dated as of December 14, 2006 (the “Contribution Agreement”)
by and among the Partnership, the General Partner, NRP (Operating) LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary
of the Partnership, Adena and Foresight Reserves LP) (such Common Units, Class B Units and limited
partner interests, collectively, the “Transaction Interests”).

     C. As a condition to the Investor’s acquisition of the Transaction Interests, the Partnership
Parties have agreed to grant the Investor certain management and investor rights as more fully set
forth herein and the Investor has agreed to be bound by the obligations set forth herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual promises hereinafter
set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

     1.1 Representations and Warranties by the Investor: The Investor hereby represents
and warrants to the Partnership Parties as follows:

          (a) Authorization and Execution. (i) The Investor has all requisite limited
liability company power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
obligations under this Agreement; (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
the Investor and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all requisite limited liability company action on the part of the Investor; (iii) this Agreement
has been duly executed and delivered by the Investor and constitutes a legal, valid

 

 

and binding obligation of the Investor, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject as to enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws
of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law); and (iv) no governmental consent, approval, authorization, notification, license or
clearance, and no filing or registration by the Investor with any governmental or regulatory
authority, is required in order to permit the Investor to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, except for such as have been obtained.

          (b) Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery by the Investor of this Agreement,
the performance by the Investor of its obligations hereunder, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby by the Investor and compliance by the Investor with the provisions hereof do
not conflict with or result in any violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of
time, or both) under, or give rise to right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or to the loss of a benefit under, or give rise to a right of purchase under, result in
the creation of any lien on any of the assets of the Investor or otherwise result in a detriment to
the Investor under, (i) the certificate of formation or limited liability company operating
agreement of the Investor (each as amended to date), (ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement, instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license
to which the Investor is a party or by which the Investor or any of its properties or assets is
bound, (iii) any joint venture or ownership arrangement or (iv) any judgment, decree, order, writ,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Investor or any of its properties or assets that
would materially and adversely affect the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition,
operations or prospects of the Investor.

     1.2 Representations and Warranties by the Partnership Parties. Each of the Partnership
Parties represents and warrants to the Investor as follows:

          (a) Authorization and Execution. (i) Each Partnership Party has all requisite limited
partnership or limited liability company power and authority, as the case may be, to execute and
deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (ii) the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by each Partnership Party and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all requisite limited partnership or
limited liability company action, as the case may be, on the part of such Partnership Party; (iii)
this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each Partnership Party and constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of such Partnership Party, enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms, subject as to enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in
equity or at law); and (iv) no governmental consent, approval, authorization, notification, license
or clearance, and no filing or registration by any Partnership Party with any governmental or
regulatory authority, is required in order to permit any Partnership Party to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, except for such as have been obtained.

2

 

          (b) Non-Contravention. The execution and delivery by each Partnership Party of this
Agreement, the performance by each Partnership Party of its obligations hereunder, the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby by each Partnership Party and compliance by each
Partnership Party with the provisions hereof do not conflict with or result in any violation of, or
default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to the loss of a benefit under, or
give rise to a right of purchase under, result in the creation of any lien on any of the assets of
any Partnership Party or otherwise result in a detriment to any Partnership Party under, (i) the
certificate of limited partnership, certificate of formation, agreement of limited partnership or
limited liability company operating agreement of any Partnership Party (each as amended to date),
(ii) any loan or credit agreement, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease or other agreement,
instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license to which any Partnership Party is a party or
by which any Partnership Party or any of its properties or assets is bound, (iii) any joint venture
or ownership arrangement or (iv) any judgment, decree, order, writ, statute, rule or regulation
applicable to any Partnership Party or any of its properties or assets that would materially and
adversely affect the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, operations or prospects of
such Partnership Party.

2. MANAGEMENT RIGHTS.

     2.1 The Investor shall be entitled to designate two directors of the board of directors (the
“Board”) of the Company (including for purposes of this Section 2 any Affiliate of the
Company that serves as the successor general partner of the General Partner) (the “Investor
Directors”), one of whom shall be an “Independent Director” as such term is defined in the
Company’s Fourth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, as such agreement may be
amended from time to time (the “Operating Agreement”). The Independent Director shall be
subject to the approval of Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Nominating
Committee”) of the Board, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned. On or before April 4, 2007, the Investor shall provide the Company with a notice (the
“Director Notice”) identifying the Independent Director. The Sole Member shall cooperate
with respect to electing the directors designated by the Investor, including nominating the
Investor Directors for election and voting in favor of the Investor Directors designated by the
Investor (who, with respect to the Independent Director, shall be the individual designated in the
Director Notice, unless otherwise indicated in a subsequent notice delivered by the Investor to the
Company and who shall be subject to the approval of the Nominating Committee). The Independent
Director shall commence his or her service on the Board on or before the tenth business day
following the Company’s receipt of the Director Notice or on such later date as specified by the
Investor therein. Each Investor Director shall hold office until his or her successor is elected
pursuant to the terms of this Section 2 or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.

     2.2 The initial term of each Investor Director shall expire at the next annual meeting of the
members of the Company or an earlier special meeting of the members of the Company called for the
purpose of electing Directors to the Board. At any such meeting (the “Initial Meeting”),
and at all similar, subsequent meetings of the members of the Company held for the purpose of
electing directors to the Board, the Sole Member shall cooperate with respect to

3

 

electing the directors designated by the Investor, including nominating the Investor Directors
for election and voting in favor of the Investor Directors designated by the Investor (who shall be
the individuals designated herein and in the Director Notice, unless otherwise indicated in a
subsequent notice delivered by the Investor to the Company). At the Initial Meeting and all such
meetings held thereafter prior to an Investor Director Resignation Event (as defined below), the
Investor Directors shall be elected to serve annual terms expiring on the date of the annual
meeting of members of the Company following such election.

     2.3 The Investor may remove an Investor Director (other than an Independent Director) at any
time, with or without cause, and the Sole Member shall cooperate with respect to such removal,
including voting in favor of such removal. Independent Directors may only be removed as provided
in the Operating Agreement. In the event of the death, resignation or removal of an Investor
Director, the Investor may designate a replacement Investor Director, who shall be subject to the
approval of the Nominating Committee in the case of an Independent Director.

     2.4 The Investor Directors shall serve on the Board in accordance with the terms of the
Operating Agreement and shall be entitled to all rights and protections provided thereunder to
directors generally. The Company and the Sole Member shall amend Section 7 of the Operating
Agreement to reflect the Investor’s rights to designate the Investor Directors and as otherwise
necessary to reflect the provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement.

     2.5 At the election of the Investor, the Board shall appoint the Investor Director who is not
the Independent Director to serve as a voting member of any executive (or similar) committee as
well as any other committee of the Board for which such person meets the qualifications, the Board
shall appoint the Independent Director to serve as a voting member of at least one committee of the
Board for which such person meets the qualifications, which committee shall be selected by the
Board, and the Sole Member shall cooperate with respect to causing such appointments.

     2.6 The Investor’s right to appoint the Investor Directors shall continue so long as (a) the
Put Right or the Call Right (each as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Limited Partnership
Agreement of the General Partner of even date herewith (as further amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time after the date hereof, the “General Partner Partnership
Agreement”)) has not been exercised by the Investor or the General Partner and (b) the Investor
beneficially owns (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
either (i) an amount of limited partner interests in the Partnership comprising more than 5% of the
aggregate limited partner interest in the Partnership then issued and outstanding; or (ii) an
amount of limited partner interests in the General Partner comprising more than 5% of the limited
partner interests in the General Partner then issued and outstanding (the failure to meet the
ownership test in this clause (ii) is the “Amendment Trigger”). Upon the earlier to occur
of (x) the exercise of the Put Right or the Call Right (each as defined in the General Partner
Partnership Agreement) by either the Investor sending a “Put Notice” or the General Partner sending
a “Call Notice” (each as defined in the General Partner Partnership Agreement) or (y) such time
that the Investor’s holdings of limited partner interests in the Partnership and limited partner
interests in the General Partner satisfy neither of the two

4

 

conditions of clause (b) above (the occurrence of the events in clause (x) or clause (y), the
“Investor Director Resignation Event”), the Sole Member may immediately vote to remove the
Investor Directors if they have not previously resigned from the Board, and all of the Investor’s
rights under this Section 2 shall terminate.

     2.7 Until the Amendment Trigger has occurred, no amendment to the Fourth Amended and Restated
Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company of even date herewith (as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time after the date hereof, the “Company LLC Agreement”) that adversely
affects the economic rights of the Investor in any respect, or the other rights of the Investor, in
any material respect, under the Company LLC Agreement (including a dissolution of the Company),
shall be effective without the written consent of the Investor (in addition to all other persons
required to consent pursuant to Section 13.2(a) of the Company LLC Agreement).

     2.8 So long as the Investor has the right to appoint Investor Directors pursuant to this
Section 2, the Investor shall have the right to have one observer (the “Observer”) attend
each meeting of the Board. The Observer shall execute a confidentiality agreement substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A prior to the first Board meeting attended by the
Observer, and unless the Investor and the Company otherwise agree (such agreement not to be
unreasonably withheld), the Observer shall be Chris Cline. The Observer shall have no voting
rights as a member of the Board but shall be entitled to receive copies of all information
distributed to the Board and to attend all meetings of the Board.

     2.9 So long as the Investor’s holdings of limited partner interests in the
Partnership or limited partner interests in the General Partner satisfy either of the conditions in
Section 2.6(b), the sale or other disposition by the Partnership, the General Partner or any
subsidiary of the Partnership of any entity or assets contributed to the Partnership, the General
Partner or any subsidiary of the Partnership by the Investor or any of its affiliates shall require
the written consent of the Investor which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion and
without regard to any fiduciary or other duty or any reasonableness standard but solely with regard
to the best interests of the Investor and its beneficial owners. Any purported sale or other
disposition by the Partnership, the General Partner or any subsidiary of the Partnership of any
entity or assets contributed to the Partnership, the General Partner or any subsidiary of the
Partnership by the Investor or any of its affiliates without such consent shall be null and void ab
initio.

3. ASSIGNMENT, AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.

     3.1 Assignment. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:

          (a) Management Rights. The rights of the Investor under Section 2 may be assigned to
any Affiliate (as defined in the Contribution Agreement) of Investor in conjunction with an
assignment of Investor’s partnership interest in the General Partner to an Affiliate of the
Investor.

          (b) Other Rights. Any other rights under this Agreement may be assigned only with the
consent of both the Investor and the General Partner.

5

 

     3.2 Amendment of Rights. Any provision of this Agreement may be amended and the
observance thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively) with the written consent of each party hereto.

4. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

     4.1. Notices. All notices or requests or consents provided for or permitted to be
given pursuant to this Agreement must be in writing and must be given by depositing same in the
United States mail, addressed to the person to be notified, postpaid, and registered or certified
with return receipt requested or by delivering such notice in person or by telecopier or telegram
to such party. Notice given by personal delivery or mail shall be effective upon actual receipt.
Notice given by telegram or telecopier shall be effective upon actual receipt if received during
the recipient’s normal business hours, or at the beginning of the recipient’s next business day
after receipt if not received during the recipient’s normal business hours. All notices to be sent
to a Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be sent to or made at the address set forth below or at
such other address as such Party may stipulate to the other Parties in the manner provided in this
Section 4.1:

ANY PARTNERSHIP PARTY:

c/o General Partner

601 Jefferson, Suite 3600

Houston, Texas 77002

Telephone: (713) 751-7516

Facsimile: (713) 751-7517

Attention: Vice President and General Counsel

AND

c/o General Partner

1035 3rd Avenue, Suite 300

Huntington, West Virginia 25727-2827

Telephone: (304) 522-5757

Facsimile: (304) 522-5401

Attention: President and Chief Operating Officer

With a copy (not itself constituting notice) to:

Vinson & Elkins LLP

1001 Fannin, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas 77002

Telephone: (713) 758-3706

Facsimile: (713) 615-5859

Attention: Dan A. Fleckman

6

 

THE INVESTOR:

c/o Foresight Reserves LP

3801 PGA Boulevard

Suite 903

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

Telephone: (561) 626-4999

Facsimile: (561) 626-4938

Attention: J. Matthew Fifield

With a copy (not itself constituting notice) to:

Bailey & Glasser LLP

227 Capitol Street

Charleston, West Virginia 25301

Telephone: (304) 345-6555

Facsimile: (304) 342-1110

Attention: Brian A. Glasser

     4.2 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties
relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether
oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.

     4.3 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be subject to and governed by the laws of the
State of Delaware, excluding any conflicts-of-law rule or principle that might refer the
construction or interpretation of this Agreement to the laws of another state. Each Party hereby
submits to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in the State of West Virginia and to
venue in Charleston, West Virginia.

     4.4 Severability. Each portion of this Agreement is intended to be severable. If any
term or provision hereof is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or
invalidity shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement.

     4.5 Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer upon any person, other than the Parties and their successors and permitted assigns, any
rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

     4.6 Successors and Assigns. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1, the provisions
of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be binding upon, the successors and
permitted assigns of the Parties.

     4.7 Construction. As used in this Agreement, unless expressly stated otherwise or the
context requires otherwise, (a) all references to a “Section” or “subsection” shall be to a Section
or subsection of this Agreement, (b) the words “this Agreement,” “hereof,” “hereunder,” “herein,”
“hereby,” or words of similar import shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to a
particular Section, subsection, clause or other subdivision hereof, (c) the words used herein

7

 

shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter gender, and the singular and the plural, (d)
the word “including” shall mean “including, without limitation” and (e) the word “day” or “days”
shall mean a calendar day or days. The headings of the Sections of this Agreement are included for
convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the
construction or interpretation hereof or thereof.

     4.8 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of
counterparts (including facsimile counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     4.9 Specific Performance. Each Partnership Party, on the one hand, and the Investor,
on the other hand, acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury would occur in the event any of
the provisions of Section 2 were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached and that such injury would be not be compensable in damages. It is accordingly
agreed that the parties hereto shall be entitled to specific enforcement of the terms of Section 2
(Management Rights), and no party will take any action, directly or indirectly, in opposition to
the other party seeking relief on the grounds that any other remedy or relief is available at law
or in equity.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

8

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year
first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Adena Minerals, LLC	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Donald Holcomb	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Donald Holcomb
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Authorized Person	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	NRP (GP) LP	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	GP Natural Resource Partners LLC,

its general partner	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Nick Carter	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Nick Carter

President and Chief Operating Officer
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	GP Natural Resource Partners LLC	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Nick Carter	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 

Nick Carter

President and Chief Operating Officer
	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Robertson Coal Management LLC	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	/s/ Corbin J. Robertson, Jr. 
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Corbin J. Robertson, Jr.	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	Sole Member	 	 

SIGNATURE PAGE FOR INVESTOR RIGHTS AGREEMENT

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