UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 ______________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
ýQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016
or
¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number: 001-31465
  ______________________________________________________
image0a03.gif
NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  ______________________________________________________
Delaware 35-2164875
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1201 Louisiana Street, Suite 3400
Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(713) 751-7507
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code) 
  ______________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ý    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ý    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of "accelerated filer", "large accelerated filer", and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large Accelerated Filer¨Accelerated Filer ý
Non-accelerated Filer
¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller Reporting Company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  ý
At August 1,November 4, 2016 there were 12,232,006 Common Units outstanding.
 


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS, L.P.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
  Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 





i



PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 
ITEM 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except unit data) 
June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
(Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents$21,391

$41,204
$92,391

$41,204
Accounts receivable, net40,815

43,633
44,139

43,633
Accounts receivable—affiliates8,616

6,345
Accounts receivable—affiliates, net7,057

6,345
Inventory7,832

7,835
7,160

7,835
Prepaid expenses and other4,777

4,268
3,707

4,268
Current assets of discontinued operations (see Note 3)113,218

17,844
Current assets held for sale (see Note 6)5,520
 
Current assets of discontinued operations (see Note 2)991

17,844
Total current assets196,649
 121,129
160,965
 121,129
Land25,020

25,022
25,020

25,022
Plant and equipment, net55,763

60,675
52,516

60,675
Mineral rights, net946,355

984,522
924,181

984,522
Intangible assets, net3,470

3,930
3,239

3,930
Intangible assets, net—affiliate51,570
 52,997
50,668
 52,997
Equity in unconsolidated investment259,778

261,942
257,661

261,942
Long-term contracts receivable—affiliate44,572

47,359
44,224

47,359
Other assets863

1,173
1,898

1,173
Other assets—affiliate1,046

1,124
1,034

1,124
Non-current assets of discontinued operations (see Note 3)

110,162
Non-current assets of discontinued operations (see Note 2)

110,162
Total assets$1,585,086
 $1,670,035
$1,521,406
 $1,670,035
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL      
Current liabilities:      
Accounts payable$5,260

$5,022
$6,223

$5,022
Accounts payable—affiliates779

801
829

801
Accrued liabilities33,837

44,997
44,816

44,997
Accrued liabilities—affiliates
 456

 456
Current portion of long-term debt, net157,996

80,745
158,597

80,745
Current liabilities of discontinued operations (see Note 3)79,947

4,388
Current liabilities of discontinued operations (see Note 2)835

4,388
Total current liabilities277,819

136,409
211,300

136,409
Deferred revenue42,608

80,812
40,050

80,812
Deferred revenueaffiliates
78,793

82,853
74,663

82,853
Long-term debt, net1,050,562

1,186,681
1,041,984

1,186,681
Long-term debt, netaffiliate


19,930


19,930
Other non-current liabilities3,670

5,171
4,404

5,171
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations (see Note 3)

85,237
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations (see Note 2)

85,237
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 11)





Partners’ capital:





Common unitholders’ interest (12,232,006 units outstanding)136,695

79,094
154,315

79,094
General partner’s interest568

(606)928

(606)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(2,235)
(2,152)(2,844)
(2,152)
Total partners’ capital135,028
 76,336
152,399
 76,336
Non-controlling interest(3,394) (3,394)(3,394) (3,394)
Total capital131,634
 72,942
149,005
 72,942
Total liabilities and capital$1,585,086
 $1,670,035
$1,521,406
 $1,670,035

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands, except per unit data) 
(Unaudited)

Three Months Ended Six Months EndedThree Months Ended Nine Months Ended
June 30, June 30,September 30, September 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152016 2015 2016 2015
Revenues and other income:              
Coal and hard mineral royalty and other$58,892

$34,752

$87,368

$69,201
Coal and hard mineral royalty and other—affiliates17,504

32,342

28,074

51,403
Coal royalty and other$27,504

$40,431

$116,336

$112,139
Coal royalty and other—affiliates21,434

19,535

49,508

70,938
VantaCore31,642

40,643

56,324

67,442
31,757

39,616

88,081

107,058
Oil and gas royalty1,091

892

1,464

2,507
Equity in earnings of Ciner Wyoming10,188

11,599

19,989

24,122
10,753

12,617

30,742

36,739
Gain (loss) on asset sales(1,071)
3,455

20,854

5,070
Gain on asset sales, net6,426

1,833

27,280

6,903
Total revenues and other income118,246
 123,683
 214,073
 219,745
97,874
 114,032
 311,947
 333,777

              
Operating expenses:              
Operating and maintenance expenses29,797

36,781

56,582

68,592
31,242

37,746

87,824

106,338
Operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates, net2,402

3,479

5,886

6,346
4,062

1,744

9,948

8,090
Depreciation, depletion and amortization10,472

18,170

20,252

28,846
11,929

15,666

32,181

44,512
Amortization expense—affiliate704

907

1,426

1,745
902

771

2,328

2,516
General and administrative3,173

1,918

6,408

4,205
4,268

1,809

10,676

6,014
General and administrative—affiliates866

301

1,803

1,385
867

2,424

2,670

3,809
Asset impairments91

3,803

1,984

3,803
5,697

361,703

7,681

365,506
Total operating expenses47,505
 65,359
 94,341
 114,922
58,967
 421,863
 153,308
 536,785

              
Income from operations70,741

58,324

119,732

104,823
Income (loss) from operations38,907

(307,831)
158,639

(203,008)

              
Other income (expense)              
Interest expense(22,054)
(21,474)
(44,251)
(43,147)(22,491)
(22,441)
(66,742)
(65,588)
Interest expense—affiliate(61) (462) (523) (924)
 (464) (523) (1,388)
Interest income7

1

26

16
3



29

16
Other expense, net(22,108) (21,935) (44,748) (44,055)(22,488) (22,905) (67,236) (66,960)

              
Net income from continuing operations48,633
 36,389
 74,984
 60,768
Loss from discontinued operations (see Note 3)(2,187) (3,811) (5,111) (10,701)
Net income46,446
 32,578
 69,873
 50,067
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interest
 (1,244) 
 (1,244)
Net income attributable to NRP$46,446
 $31,334
 $69,873

$48,823
Net income (loss) from continuing operations16,419
 (330,736) 91,403
 (269,968)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (see Note 2)7,112
 (269,265) 2,001
 (279,966)
Net income (loss)23,531
 (600,001) 93,404
 (549,934)
Less: net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
 1,244
 
 
Net income (loss) attributable to NRP$23,531
 $(598,757) $93,404

$(549,934)

    
      
  
Net income (loss) attributable to limited partners:              
Continuing operations$47,726

$34,442

$73,616

$58,334
$16,155

$(322,133)
$89,771

$(263,799)
Discontinued operations(2,143)
(3,735)
(5,009)
(10,487)6,970

(263,880)
1,961

(274,367)
Total$45,583

$30,707

$68,607

$47,847
$23,125

$(586,013)
$91,732

$(538,166)

              
Net income (loss) attributable to the general partner:              
Continuing operations$907

$703

$1,368

$1,190
$264

$(7,359)
$1,632

$(6,169)
Discontinued operations(44)
(76)
(102)
(214)142

(5,385)
40

(5,599)
Total$863
 $627
 $1,266
 $976
$406
 $(12,744) $1,672
 $(11,768)

              
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common unit:              
Continuing operations$3.90
 $2.82
 $6.02
 $4.77
$1.32
 $(26.34) $7.34
 $(21.57)
Discontinued operations(0.18)
(0.31)
(0.41)
(0.86)0.57

(21.57)
0.16

(22.43)
Total$3.72
 $2.51
 $5.61
 $3.91
$1.89
 $(47.91) $7.50
 $(44.00)

              
Weighted average number of common units outstanding12,232

12,232

12,232

12,232
12,232

12,232

12,232

12,232

              
Net income$46,446
 $32,578
 $69,873
 $50,067
Add: comprehensive income (loss) from unconsolidated investment and other462

210

(83)
(755)
Less: comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interest
 (1,244) 
 (1,244)
Comprehensive income$46,908
 $31,544
 $69,790
 $48,068
Net income (loss)$23,531
 $(600,001) $93,404
 $(549,934)
Add: comprehensive loss from unconsolidated investment and other(609)
(1,136)
(692)
(1,891)
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest
 1,244
 
 
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NRP$22,922
 $(599,893) $92,712
 $(551,825)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF PARTNERS’ CAPITAL
(In thousands) 
(Unaudited)
Common Unitholders General Partner Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 Partners' Capital Excluding Non-Controlling Interest Non-Controlling Interest Total CapitalCommon Unitholders General Partner Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 Partners' Capital Excluding Non-Controlling Interest Non-Controlling Interest Total Capital
Units Amounts Units Amounts 
Balance at December 31, 201512,232
 $79,094
 $(606) $(2,152) $76,336
 $(3,394) $72,942
12,232
 $79,094
 $(606) $(2,152) $76,336
 $(3,394) $72,942
Distributions to unitholders
 (11,006) (226) 
 (11,232) 
 (11,232)
 (16,511) (338) 
 (16,849) 
 (16,849)
Net income
 68,607
 1,266
 
 69,873
 
 69,873

 91,732
 1,672
 
 93,404
 
 93,404
Non-cash contributions
 
 134
 
 134
 
 134

 
 200
 
 200
 
 200
Comprehensive loss from unconsolidated investment and other
 
 
 (83) (83) 
 (83)
 
 
 (692) (692) 
 (692)
Balance at June 30, 201612,232
 $136,695
 $568
 $(2,235) $135,028
 $(3,394) $131,634
Balance at September 30, 201612,232
 $154,315
 $928
 $(2,844) $152,399
 $(3,394) $149,005

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Six Months EndedNine Months Ended
June 30,September 30,
2016 20152016 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net income$69,873

$50,067
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:


Net income (loss)$93,404
 $(549,934)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:   
Depreciation, depletion and amortization20,252
 28,846
32,181
 44,512
Amortization expense—affiliates1,426
 1,745
2,328
 2,516
Distributions from equity earnings from unconsolidated investment22,050

21,805
34,300

34,545
Equity earnings from unconsolidated investment(19,989) (24,122)(30,742) (36,739)
Gain on asset sales(20,854) (5,070)
Loss from discontinued operations5,111
 10,701
Asset impairment1,984

3,803
Gain on asset sales, net(27,280) (6,903)
(Income) loss from discontinued operations(2,001) 279,966
Asset impairments7,681
 365,506
Gain on reserve swap

(9,290)

(9,290)
Other, net4,094

(10,049)6,694

(7,774)
Other, net—affiliates212

(352)848

(2,139)
Change in operating assets and liabilities:


Change in assets and liabilities:

 
Accounts receivable3,922

6,620
(341)
3,503
Accounts receivable—affiliates(2,271)
1,302
(712)
2,044
Accounts payable150

686
635

(2,163)
Accounts payable—affiliates(25)
(41)29

1,563
Accrued liabilities(3,131)
63
7,287

8,485
Accrued liabilities—affiliates(456) 
(456) 457
Deferred revenue(38,204)
7,499
(40,762)
6,035
Deferred revenue—affiliates(4,060)
63
(8,190)
(3,399)
Other items, net(2,045)
741
(356)
1,400
Other items, net—affiliates607


Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations38,646

85,017
74,547

132,191
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations5,815
 21,093
8,173
 29,159
Net cash provided by operating activities44,461

106,110
82,720

161,350
Cash flows from investing activities:      
Proceeds from sale of oil and gas royalty properties34,347


35,964


Proceeds from sale of coal and hard mineral royalty properties9,802

1,845
18,214

3,505
Return of long-term contract receivables—affiliate2,180

1,137
2,577

2,121
Proceeds from sale of plant and equipment and other843

5,255
1,186

11,484
Acquisition of plant and equipment and other(3,919)
(5,073)(4,431)
(8,581)
Acquisition of mineral rights

(400)

(400)
Net cash provided by investing activities of continuing operations43,253

2,764
53,510

8,129
Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations(3,814) (25,285)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of discontinued operations106,821
 (32,581)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities39,439

(22,521)160,331

(24,452)
Cash flows from financing activities:      
Proceeds from loans20,000

25,000
20,000

100,000
Repayments of loans(98,482)
(58,483)(106,174)
(141,175)
Distributions to partners(11,232)
(54,910)(16,849)
(66,142)
Distributions to non-controlling interest

(2,744)

(2,744)
Contributions to discontinued operations
 (31,725)
Proceeds from (contributions to) discontinued operations40,226
 (23,725)
Debt issue costs and other(11,998)
(5,086)(14,072)
(5,840)
Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations(101,712) (127,948)(76,869) (139,626)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of discontinued operations(10,570) 21,808
(125,564) 13,808
Net cash used in financing activities(112,282)
(106,140)(202,433)
(125,818)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents(28,382) (22,551)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents40,618
 11,080
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at beginning of period41,204
 48,971
41,204
 48,971
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations at beginning of period10,569
 1,105
10,569
 1,105
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period51,773

50,076
51,773

50,076
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period23,391

27,525
92,391

61,156
Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations at end of period2,000
 18,721

 11,491
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of period$21,391

$8,804
$92,391

$49,665

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)


1.    Basis of Presentation

Nature of Business

Natural Resource Partners L.P. (the "Partnership") engages principally in the business of owning, operating, managing and leasing a diversified portfolio of mineral properties in the United States, including interests in coal, trona and soda ash, oil and gas, construction aggregates frac sand and other natural resources. As used in these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the terms "NRP," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Natural Resource Partners L.P. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise stated or indicated by context.

Principles of Consolidation and Reporting

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Partnership have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and with Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current period financial statement presentation.

As described in Note 2. Discontinued Operations, the Partnership has classified the assets and liabilities, operating results and cash flows of its non-operated oil and gas working interest assets as discontinued operations in its consolidated financial statements for all periods presented.

As described in Note 3. Segment Information, wethe Partnership has reclassified certain prior period amounts to conform to the way weit internally managemanages and monitormonitors segment performance. In particular, prior year general and administrative charges that were allocated to operating segments have been reclassified to Operating and maintenance expenses and Operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. The prior period reclassifications for new segments had no impact on the Partnership's consolidated financial position, net income (loss) or cash flows.

As described in Note 3. Discontinued Operations, we reclassified the operations of the Partnership's non-operated oil and gas working interest assets to discontinued operations and reclassified its related assets and liabilities to assets and liabilities held for sale for all periods presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

On January 1, 2016, the Partnership adopted a new accounting standard using a retrospective approach that required the presentation of the Partnership's debt issuance costs as a direct deduction from the related debt liability, rather than recorded as an asset. The adoption resulted in a reclassification that reduced other current assets and short-term debt by $0.2 million and reduced other assets and long-term debt (including affiliate) by $13.8 million on the Partnership’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2015.

On January 26, 2016, the board of directors of ourthe Partnership's general partner approved a 1-for-10 reverse split on ourits common units, effective following market close on February 17, 2016. Pursuant to the authorization provided, the Partnership completed the 1-for-10 reverse unit split and its common units began trading on a reverse unit split-adjusted basis on the New York Stock Exchange on February 18, 2016. As a result of the reverse unit split, every 10 outstanding common units were combined into one common unit. The reverse unit split reduced the number of common units outstanding from 122.3 million units to 12.2 million units. All unit and per unit data included in these consolidated financial statements has been retroactively restated to reflect the reverse unit split.

In the second quarter of 2016, the Partnership determined its net cash provided by operating activities and net cash used by financing activities were understated by $8.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2016. The Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 has been corrected for this error.

In ourthe Partnership's opinion, all adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes included in the Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results for a full year.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Management’s Forecast, Strategic Plan and Going Concern Analysis
    
While NRP has a diversified portfolio of assets and a history and continued forecast of profitable operations with positive operating cash flows, its operating results and credit metrics continue to behave been impacted by demand challenges for coal. in coal and other commodity markets. The following going concern analysis includes an evaluation of relevant conditions and events, including the Partnership's business performance and forecast, and its ability to meet its obligations and remain in compliance with its debt covenants over the next twelve months.

As described in Note 8. Debt and Debt—Affiliate, NRP Operating LLC ("Opco"), a wholly owned subsidiary of NRP,the Partnership, has debt agreements that contain customary financial covenants, including maintenance covenants, and other covenants. In addition, NRPthe Partnership has issued $425 million of 9.125% Senior Notes due October 2018 (the "NRP Senior Notes") that are governed by an indenture (the "Indenture") containing customary incurrence-based financial covenants and other covenants, but not maintenance covenants. In July 2016, NRP Oil and Gas LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, sold all of its non-operated oil and gas working interest assets and used a portion of the proceeds to repay the NRP Oil and Gas reserve based lending facility (the "RBL Facility") in full. The following discussion presents management’s going concern analysis in light of management’s outlook and strategic plan to address its debt covenant compliance and maturities.

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016, Opco had $260.0 million of indebtedness outstanding under its revolving credit facility (the "Opco Credit Facility") with scheduled commitment reductions of $50.0 million on December 31, 2016, $30.0 million on June 30, 2017, $30.0 million on December 31, 2017, andwith the remaining balance of $150 million maturing on June 30, 2018. In addition, as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 Opco had $537.6$529.9 million outstanding under several series of Private Placement Notes with scheduled principal payments of $80.8 million through JuneSeptember 30, 2017 (the "Opco Private Placement Notes") (collectively referred to as the "Opco Debt agreements"). The maximum leverage ratio under the Opco Debt agreements is required not to exceed 4.0x. In addition, the Opco Debt agreements contain certain additional customary negative covenants that, among other items, restrict Opco’s ability to incur additional debt, grant liens on its assets, make investments, sell assets and engage in business combinations. Opco's leverage ratio was 2.84x2.95x at JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

Our going concern analysis includes an evaluation of relevant conditions and events including the Partnership's ability toThe Partnership currently forecasts that it will meet its obligations, including scheduled principal and interest payments, that it will remain in compliance with its debt covenants, over the next twelve months. We currently forecast that we will meet the Partnership's obligations, that we will be in compliance with all of the covenants under the Opco Debt agreements and that weit will continue as a going concern. However, ourthe forecast is sensitive to commodity demand, pricing and counterparty credit and operating risk. In addition, the scheduled debt principal payments in 2017 under Opco's Debt agreements will strain the Partnership's liquidity. Inability to make these payments would result in an event of default and could result in Opco’s lenders accelerating Opco’s debt. Breaches of the Opco Debt agreementdebt covenants that are not waived or cured to the extent possible, would result in an event of default underhave a similar effect. Any such acceleration by the Opco Debt agreements, and if such debt is accelerated by the lenders thereunder, such acceleration would also result in a cross-default under the NRP Indenture. We are

The Partnership has been and is currently pursuing or considering a number of actions in order to manage its liquidity and mitigate the effects of adverse market developments whichthat could otherwise cause usaffect its ability to breach financialrepay debt and remain in compliance with the covenants under its debt agreements. On a cumulative basis since January 1, 2015, the Opco Debt agreements. These actions include (i) dispositionsPartnership has reduced debt by $262.2 million and completed asset sales for $192 million in gross sales proceeds. In addition, the Partnership is continuing to take proactive steps with a long-term view to address its 2018 debt maturities and has engaged Greenhill & Co., LLC to advise in connection with these efforts. The Partnership is currently in active discussions with several institutional investors that may provide new equity capital to it. In addition, the Partnership has begun discussions with representatives of assets, (ii) actively managing ourseveral holders of the NRP Senior Notes, and it may determine to pursue a refinancing or an exchange of some or all those notes.
As the Partnership pursues these capital markets transactions, it will continue to manage its business with a focus on debt reduction, cost management, and maximizing opportunities within its current asset base, including additional asset sales. The coal markets have shown improvement during the third quarter of 2016, particularly with respect to metallurgical coal, and the Partnership expects its coal royalty business to benefit from the higher pricing environment. However, to the extent that the Partnership is unable to execute on opportunistic capital structure throughraising and/or debt refinancing efforts on favorable terms and the coal markets do not show a number of potentialsustained improvement, the Partnership’s liquidity may be adversely affected. Accordingly, the Partnership may consider other alternatives including exchange offersover the next several months to manage its liquidity and non-traditionaladdress its debt and equity financing, (iii) minimizing our capital expenditures, (iv) obtaining waivers or amendments from our lenders, (v) effectively managing our working capital, (vi) improving our cash flows from operations and (vii) engaging legal and financial advisers to assist us in this process.maturities.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") amended its guidance on revenue recognition. The core principle of this amendment is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.  The guidance will also require enhanced disclosures, provide more comprehensive guidance for transactions such as service revenue and contract modifications, and enhance guidance for multiple-element arrangements. The Partnership is required to adopt this guidance in the first quarter of 2018 using one of two retrospective application methods. The Partnership is currently evaluating the provisions of this guidance and has not determined the impact this guidance may have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosure or decided upon the method of adoption.

The FASB issued guidance on management’s responsibility to evaluate whether there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and to provide related footnote disclosures. The new guidance will require a formal assessment of going concern by management based on criteria prescribed in the new guidance, but will not impact the Partnership's financial position or results of operations. This guidance is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016, and interim periods thereafter. Early adoption is permitted for annual or interim reporting periods for which the financial statements have not previously been issued. The Partnership is evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosure and reviewing its policies and processes to ensure compliance with this new guidance upon adoption.



NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



The FASB issued authoritative guidance which intended to simplify the measurement of inventory. This guidance requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, and defines net realizable value as the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This guidance is effective for annual and interim periods ending after December 15, 2016. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

The FASB issued authoritative lease guidance that requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for the present value of the rights and obligations created by all leases with terms of more than 12 months. The guidance also requires disclosures designed to give financial statement users information on the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods ending after December 31, 2018. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

The FASB issued authoritative guidance that replaces the incurred loss impairment methodology in the current standard with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods ending after December 31, 2019. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

The FASB issued authoritative guidance to clarify how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows in order to reduce current and potential future diversity in practice. The guidance is effective for annual and interim periods ending after December 31, 2017. The Partnership is currently evaluating the impact of the provisions of this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

2.    Segment Information

Due to acquisitions that diversified our natural resource asset base, effective for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, management revised the Partnership's operating segments to align with its management structure and organizational responsibilities and revised the information that its chief operating decision maker regularly reviews for purposes of allocating resources and assessing performance. As a result, effective for the quarter ended December 31, 2015, we reported our financial performance based on the new segments as described below.

The Partnership's segments are strategic business units that offer products and services to different customer segments in different geographies within the U.S. and that are managed accordingly. NRP has the following four operating segments:

Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other—consists primarily of coal royalty, coal related transportation and processing assets, aggregate and industrial minerals royalty assets and timber. Our coal reserves are primarily located in Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Western United States. Our aggregates and industrial minerals are located in a number of states across the United States. In February 2016, we sold reserves and related royalty rights at three aggregates operations located in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee.

Soda Ash—consists of the Partnership's 49% non-controlling equity interest in a trona ore mining operation and soda ash refinery in the Green River Basin, Wyoming. Ciner Resources LP, our operating partner, mines the trona, processes it into soda ash, and distributes the soda ash both domestically and internationally into the glass and chemicals industries. We receive regular quarterly distributions from this business.

VantaCore—consists of our construction materials business acquired in October 2014 that operates hard rock quarries, an underground limestone mine, sand and gravel plants, asphalt plants and marine terminals. VantaCore operates in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisiana.

Oil and Gas—consists of our royalty interests and overriding royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties. We own fee mineral, royalty and overriding royalty interests in oil and gas properties in Oklahoma and Louisiana. In February 2016, we sold royalty and overriding royalty interests in several producing properties located in the Appalachian Basin. In July 2016, we completed the sale of all of our Williston Basin non-operated working interest assets in North Dakota and Montana. See Note 3. Discontinued Operations for additional details about our discontinued operations. During the third quarter of 2016, the Partnership plans to transition the management responsibilities and reporting of its remaining oil and gas royalty assets into the Coal and Hard Minerals Royalty and Other operating segment.

Direct segment costs and certain costs incurred at a corporate level that are identifiable and that benefit the Partnership's segments are allocated to the operating segments. These allocated costs include costs of: taxes, legal, information technology and shared facilities services and are included in Operating and maintenance expenses and Operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Prior year general and administrative charges that are allocated

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



to the operating segments have been reclassified to operating and maintenance expenses. Intersegment sales are at prices that approximate market.

Corporate and Financing includes functional corporate departments that do not earn revenues. Costs incurred by these departments include corporate headquarters and overhead, financing, centralized treasury and accounting and other corporate-level activity not specifically allocated to a segment.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



The following table summarizes certain financial information for each of the Partnership's operating segments (in thousands):
  Operating Segments   
  Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Corporate and Financing Total
             
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
Revenues (including affiliates) $76,396
 $10,188
 $31,642
 $1,091
 $
 $119,317
Intersegment revenues (expenses) 30
 
 (30) 
 
 
Gain (loss) on asset sales 67
 
 9
 (1,147) 
 (1,071)
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) 7,419
 
 24,492
 288
 
 32,199
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 7,308
 
 3,690
 178
 
 11,176
Asset impairment 91
 
 
 
 
 91
Interest expense, net 
 
 
 
 22,108
 22,108
Net income (loss) from continuing operations 61,675
 10,188
 3,439
 (522) (26,147) 48,633
Net loss from discontinued operations 
 
 
 (257) (1,930) (2,187)
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
Revenues (including affiliates) $67,094
 $11,599
 $40,643
 $892
 $
 $120,228
Gain on asset sales 3,056
 
 399
 
 
 3,455
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) 7,070
 
 32,564
 626
 
 40,260
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 12,749
 
 4,865
 1,463
 
 19,077
Asset impairment 3,803
 
 
 
 
 3,803
Interest expense, net 
 
 
 
 21,935
 21,935
Net income (loss) from continuing operations 46,528
 11,599
 3,613
 (1,197) (24,154) 36,389
Net loss from discontinued operations 
 
 
 (2,404) (1,407) (3,811)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
Revenues (including affiliates) $115,442
 19,989
 56,324
 1,464
 
 193,219
Intersegment revenues (expenses) 52
 
 (52) 
 
 
Gain on asset sales 1,656
 
 9
 19,189
 
 20,854
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) 14,820
 
 46,627
 1,021
 
 62,468
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 14,069
 
 7,252
 357
 
 21,678
Asset impairment 1,984
 
 
 
 
 1,984
Interest expense, net 
 
 
 
 44,748
 44,748
Net income (loss) from continuing operations 86,277
 19,989
 2,402
 19,275
 (52,959) 74,984
Net loss from discontinued operations 
 
 
 (2,092) (3,019) (5,111)
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
Revenues (including affiliates) 120,604
 24,122
 67,442
 2,507
 
 214,675
Gain on asset sales 4,671
 
 399
 
 
 5,070
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) 15,484
 
 57,998
 1,456
 
 74,938
Depreciation, depletion and amortization 22,765
 
 8,721
 (895) 
 30,591
Asset impairment 3,803
 
 
 
 
 3,803
Interest expense, net 
 
 
 
 44,055
 44,055
Net income (loss) from continuing operations 83,223
 24,122
 1,122
 1,946
 (49,645) 60,768
Net loss from discontinued operations 
 
 
 (8,486) (2,215) (10,701)
Total Assets
June 30, 2016 996,714
 259,778
 199,187
 128,903
 504
 1,585,086
December 31, 2015 1,047,922
 261,942
 200,348
 158,862
 961
 1,670,035

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



3.    Discontinued Operations

In June 2016, the Partnership determined it met held for sale criteria for its non-operated oil and gas working interest assets. In June 2016, NRP Oil and Gas signed a definitive agreement to sell these assets for $116.1 million, subject to customary closing conditions and purchase price adjustments. In July 2016, NRP Oil and Gas closed this transaction, which had an effective date of April 1, 2016.

The Partnership's exit from its non-operated oil and gas working interest business represents a strategic shift to reduce debt and focus on its aggregates, soda ash and coal royalty and hard mineralsother business segments. As a result, we havethe Partnership has classified the operating results and cash flows of ourits non-operated oil and gas working interest assets as discontinued operations in ourits consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented. Additionally,


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Prior to this exit, the related assets and liabilities associated with discontinued operations are classified as held for sale in our consolidated balance sheets. The assets and liabilities of ourPartnership's non-operated oil and gas working interest assets as of June 30, 2016 are classified as current in our consolidated balance sheet as we closed on the transaction in July 2016. Remaining in the Oil and Gas segment is our investments in royalty interests inwere included along with its oil and natural gas properties thatroyalty assets as a separate reportable segment. During the third quarter of 2016, the Partnership plan to transitiontransitioned management responsibilities and reporting of its oil and gas royalty assets into theits Coal Hard Minerals Royalty and Other operating segement during the third quarter of 2016.segment and eliminated its Oil and Gas segment. See Note 3. Segment Information for further segment information.

The following table (in thousands) presents summarized financial results of the Partnership's discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income:
 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 June 30, June 30,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
 (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Revenues and other income:       
Oil and gas$9,511
 $13,947
 $16,435
 $27,111
Gain (loss) on asset sales(184) 
 (184) 451
Total revenues and other income9,327

13,947

16,251

27,562
        
Operating expenses:       
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates)5,871
 4,768
 10,252
 10,587
Depreciation, depletion and amortization3,286
 11,583
 7,527
 25,461
Asset impairments427
 
 564
 
Total operating expenses9,584

16,351

18,343

36,048
        
Interest expense(1,930) (1,407) (3,019) (2,215)
Loss from discontinued operations$(2,187) $(3,811) $(5,111) $(10,701)



NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
 September 30, September 30,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
 (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Revenues and other income:       
Oil and gas$41
 $11,447
 $16,476
 $38,558
Gain on asset sales8,468
 
 8,284
 451
Total revenues and other income8,509

11,447

24,760

39,009
        
Operating expenses:       
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates)928
 4,584
 11,180
 15,171
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
 10,187
 7,527
 35,648
Asset impairments
 265,135
 564
 265,135
Total operating expenses928

279,906

19,271

315,954
        
Interest expense(469) (806) (3,488) (3,021)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations$7,112
 $(269,265) $2,001
 $(279,966)

The following table (in thousands) presents the carrying amounts of the Partnership's assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheets:
June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents$2,000
 $10,569
$
 $10,569
Accounts receivable, net (including affiliates) (1)6,845
 7,053
Mineral rights, net103,962
 
Accounts receivable, net991
 7,053
Other411
 222

 222
Total current assets113,218

17,844
991

17,844
Mineral rights, net
 109,505

 109,505
Other non-current assets
 657

 657
Total assets of discontinued operations$113,218
 $128,006
$991
 $128,006
      
LIABILITIES      
Current liabilities:      
Current portion of long-term debt, net (2)$74,783
 $
Other (including affiliates) (1)5,164
 4,388
$835
 $4,388
Total current liabilities79,947
 4,388
835
 4,388
Long-term debt, net (2)
 83,600

 83,600
Other non-current liabilities
 1,637

 1,637
Total liabilities of discontinued operations$79,947
 $89,625
$835
 $89,625
     
(1)
See Note 10. Related Party Transactions for additional information on the Partnership's related party assets and liabilities.
(2)
The Partnership identified the RBL FacilityNRP Oil and Gas reserve based lending facility (the "RBL Facility") as specifically attributed to its non-operated oil and gas working interest assets and included the interest from this debt in discontinued operations. See Note 8. Debt and Debt—Affiliate for additional information on the Partnership's debt related to discontinued operations.

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



    
The following table (in thousands) presents supplemental cash flow information of the Partnership's discontinued operations:
 Six Months Ended
 June 30,
 2016 2015
 (Unaudited)
Cash paid for interest$1,489
 $1,435
 Nine Months Ended
 September 30,
 2016 2015
 (Unaudited)
Cash paid for interest$1,906
 $2,156
Plant, equipment and mineral rights funded with accounts payable or accrued liabilities
 3,336

Capital expenditures related to the Partnership's discontinued operations were $3.8$3.1 million and $28.7$36.0 million during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

3.    Segment Information

The Partnership's segments are strategic business units that offer products and services to different customer segments in different geographies within the U.S. and that are managed accordingly. NRP has the following three operating segments:

Coal Royalty and Other—consists primarily of coal royalty and coal related transportation and processing assets. Other assets include aggregate royalty, industrial mineral royalty, oil and gas royalty and timber. The Partnership's coal reserves are primarily located in Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Western United States. Its aggregates and industrial minerals are located in a number of states across the United States. As a result of the sale of its non-operated oil and gas working interest assets and exit from this oil and gas business in the third quarter of 2016, the Partnership transitioned management responsibilities and reporting of its oil and gas royalty assets into the Coal Royalty and Other operating segment. The Partnership has adjusted the corresponding items of segment information for prior periods to reflect this change. In February 2016, the Partnership sold reserves and related royalty rights at three aggregates operations located in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee. In February 2016, the Partnership also sold royalty and overriding royalty interests in several oil and gas producing properties located in the Appalachian Basin.

Soda Ash—consists of the Partnership's 49% non-controlling equity interest in a trona ore mining operation and soda ash refinery in the Green River Basin, Wyoming. Ciner Resources LP, the Partnership's operating partner, mines the trona, processes it into soda ash, and distributes the soda ash both domestically and internationally into the glass and chemicals industries. The Partnership receive regular quarterly distributions from this business.

VantaCore—consists of the Partnership's construction materials business that operates hard rock quarries, an underground limestone mine, sand and gravel plants, asphalt plants and marine terminals. VantaCore operates in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisiana.

Direct segment costs and certain costs incurred at a corporate level that are identifiable and that benefit the Partnership's segments are allocated to the operating segments. These allocated costs include costs of: taxes, legal, information technology and shared facilities services and are included in Operating and maintenance expenses and Operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. Prior year general and administrative charges of $4.8 million and $15.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively, were allocated to the operating segments and have been reclassified to operating and maintenance expenses. Intersegment sales are at prices that approximate market.

Corporate and Financing includes functional corporate departments that do not earn revenues. Costs incurred by these departments include corporate headquarters and overhead, financing, centralized treasury and accounting and other corporate-level activity not specifically allocated to a segment.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



The following table summarizes certain financial information for each of the Partnership's operating segments (in thousands):
  Operating Segments   
  Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Corporate and Financing Total
           
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
Revenues (including affiliates) $48,938
 $10,753
 $31,757
 $
 $91,448
Intersegment revenues (expenses) 45
 
 (45) 
 
Gain on asset sales 6,425
 
 1
 
 6,426
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) 8,391
 
 26,913
 
 35,304
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (including affiliates) 9,070
 
 3,761
 
 12,831
Asset impairment 5,697
 
 
 
 5,697
Other expense, net 
 
 
 22,488
 22,488
Net income (loss) from continuing operations 32,250
 10,753
 1,039
 (27,623) 16,419
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 
 
 
 
 7,112
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015
Revenues (including affiliates) $59,966
 $12,617
 $39,616
 $
 $112,199
Gain (loss) on asset sales 2,256
 
 (423) 
 1,833
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) 6,832
 
 32,658
 
 39,490
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (including affiliates) 12,659
 
 3,778
 
 16,437
Asset impairment 361,703
 
 
 
 361,703
Other expense, net 
 
 
 22,905
 22,905
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (318,972) 12,617
 2,757
 (27,138) (330,736)
Net loss from discontinued operations 
 
 
 
 (269,265)
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016
Revenues (including affiliates) $165,844
 30,742
 88,081
 
 284,667
Intersegment revenues (expenses) 97
 
 (97) 
 
Gain on asset sales 27,270
 
 10
 
 27,280
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) 24,232
 
 73,540
 
 97,772
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (including affiliates) 23,496
 
 11,013
 
 34,509
Asset impairment 7,681
 
 
 
 7,681
Other expense, net 
 
 
 67,236
 67,236
Net income (loss) from continuing operations 137,802
 30,742
 3,441
 (80,582) 91,403
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations 
 
 
 
 2,001
For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015
Revenues (including affiliates) 183,077
 36,739
 107,058
 
 326,874
Gain (loss) on asset sales 6,927
 
 (24) 
 6,903
Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) 23,772
 
 90,656
 
 114,428
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (including affiliates) 34,529
 
 12,499
 
 47,028
Asset impairment 365,506
 
 
 
 365,506
Other expense, net 
 
 
 66,960
 66,960
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (233,803) 36,739
 3,879
 (76,783) (269,968)
Net loss from discontinued operations 
 
 
 
 (279,996)
Total Assets of Continuing Operations
September 30, 2016 1,007,034
 257,661
 195,617
 60,103
 1,520,415
December 31, 2015 1,078,778
 261,942
 200,348
 961
 1,542,029


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



4.    Equity Investment

We accountThe Partnership accounts for ourits 49% investment in Ciner Wyoming LLC ("Ciner Wyoming", and formerly "OCI Wyoming LLC") using the equity method of accounting. Ciner Wyoming distributed $22.1$34.3 million and $21.8$34.5 million to us in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The difference between the amount at which the investment in Ciner Wyoming is carried and the amount of underlying equity in Ciner Wyoming's net assets was $152.1$150.9 million and $154.8 million as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. This excess basis relates to plant, property and equipment and right to mine assets. The excess basis difference that relates to property, plant and equipment is being amortized into income using the straight-line method over a weighted average of 28 years. The excess basis difference that relates to right to mine assets is being amortized into income using the units of production method. OurThe Partnership's equity in the earnings of Ciner Wyoming is summarized as follows (in thousands):

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152016 2015 2016 2015
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Income allocation to NRP’s equity interests$11,388
 $12,786
 $22,384
 $26,513
$11,973
 $13,806
 $34,357
 $40,319
Amortization of basis difference(1,200) (1,187) (2,395) (2,391)(1,220) (1,189) (3,615) (3,580)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated investment$10,188
 $11,599
 $19,989
 $24,122
$10,753
 $12,617
 $30,742
 $36,739

The results of Ciner Wyoming’s operations are summarized as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152016 2015 2016 2015
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Sales$116,698
 $122,200
 $231,082
 $242,630
$121,003
 $117,340
 $352,085
 $359,970
Gross profit28,732
 31,091
��56,983
 63,815
30,673
 32,750
 87,656
 96,565
Net Income23,241
 26,094
 45,682
 54,108
24,436
 28,175
 70,118
 82,283

The financial position of Ciner Wyoming is summarized as follows (in thousands):
June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
(Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  
Current assets$134,053
 $144,695
$142,549
 $144,695
Noncurrent assets231,926
 233,845
232,462
 233,845
Current liabilities43,772
 43,018
57,071
 43,018
Noncurrent liabilities102,437
 116,808
100,000
 116,808

The purchase agreement for the acquisition of the Partnership’s interest in Ciner Wyoming required the Partnership to pay additional contingent consideration to Anadarko to the extent certain performance criteria described in the purchase agreement were met by Ciner Wyoming in any of the years 2013, 2014 or 2015. During the first quarters of 2014, 2015 and 2016, the Partnership paid contingent consideration of $0.5 million, $3.8 million and $7.2 million, respectively, in contingent consideration to Anadarko for performance criteria met by Ciner Wyoming in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The Partnership has no further contingent consideration payments due to Anadarko under the purchase agreement.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



5.    Plant and Equipment

The Partnership’s plant and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
(Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  
Plant and equipment at cost$79,009
 $92,049
$77,377
 $92,049
Construction in process1,031
 646
1,717
 646
Less accumulated depreciation(24,277) (32,020)(26,578) (32,020)
Total plant and equipment, net$55,763

$60,675
$52,516

$60,675

Depreciation expense related to the Partnership's plant and equipment totaled $3.0$3.1 million and $4.5$3.9 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Depreciation expense related to the Partnership's plant and equipment totaled $6.5$9.5 million and $9.0$12.9 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



6.    Mineral Rights

The Partnership’s mineral rights consist of the following (in thousands):
June 30, 2016September 30, 2016
(Unaudited)(Unaudited)
Carrying Value Accumulated Depletion Net Book ValueCarrying Value Accumulated Depletion Net Book Value
Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other$1,268,661
 $(443,259) $825,402
Coal Royalty and Other$1,270,295
 $(454,261) $816,034
VantaCore112,700
 (4,017) 108,683
112,700
 (4,553) 108,147
Oil and Gas18,098
 (5,828) 12,270
Total$1,399,459
 $(453,104) $946,355
$1,382,995
 $(458,814) $924,181
December 31, 2015December 31, 2015
Carrying Value Accumulated Depletion Net Book ValueCarrying Value Accumulated Depletion Net Book Value
Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other$1,278,274
 $(432,260) $846,014
Coal Royalty and Other$1,317,158
 $(442,254) $874,904
VantaCore112,700
 (3,082) 109,618
112,700
 (3,082) 109,618
Oil and Gas38,884
 (9,994) 28,890
Total$1,429,858
 $(445,336) $984,522
$1,429,858
 $(445,336) $984,522

Depletion expense related to the Partnership’s mineral rights totaled $7.2$8.6 million and $13.3$11.6 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Depletion expense related to the Partnership's mineral rights totaled $13.3$21.9 million and $19.3$30.9 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Sales of Royalty Properties

As discussed in Note 1. "Basis of Presentation," we are the Partnership is currently pursuing or considering a number of actions, including dispositions of assets, in order to mitigate the effects of adverse market developments which could otherwise cause usthe Partnership to breach financial covenants under ourits debt agreements. As part of this plan, the Partnership soldexecuted a definitive agreement to sell all its mineral fee interests in Grant County, Oklahoma. As a result, approximately $5.5 million in the Partnership's oil and gas royalty mineral rights are classified as Current assets held for sale on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2016. In addition, the Partnership completed the sale of the following assets during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016:
1)Oil and gas royalty and overriding royalty interests in several producing properties located in the Appalachian Basin for $36.4 million. The effective date of the sale was January 1, 2016, and the Partnership recorded a $19.2an $18.6 million gain from this sale included in Gain on asset sales, net on its Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.
2)Hard mineral reserves and related royalty rights at three aggregates operations located in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee for $10.0 million. The effective date of the sale was February 1, 2016, and the Partnership recorded a $1.6$1.5 million gain from this sale included in Gain on asset sales, net on its Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.
In addition to the two asset sales described above, during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Partnership sold mineral reserves in multiple sale transactions for cumulative $9.8 million of gross sales proceeds and recorded $6.8 million of cumulative gain from these sale transactions that are included in Gain on asset sales, net on its Consolidated Statement of

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Comprehensive Income. The substantial majority of these amounts relate to eminent domain transactions with governmental agencies.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Partnership sold mineral reserves for $3.7 million in gross sales proceeds and recorded a $3.3 million gain on asset sales included in Gain on asset sales, net on its Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Impairment of Mineral Rights

The Partnership has developed procedures to periodically evaluate its long-lived assets for possible impairment. These procedures are performed throughout the year and consider both quantitative and qualitative information based on historic, current and future performance and are designed to identify impairment indicators. If an impairment indicator is identified, additional evaluation is performed for that asset that considers both quantitative and qualitative information. A long-lived asset is deemed impaired when the future expected undiscounted cash flows from its use and disposition are less than the assets’ carrying value. Impairment is measured based on the estimated fair value, which is primarily determined based upon the present value of the projected future cash flow compared to the assets’ carrying value. The inputs used by management for fair value measurements include significant inputs that are not observable in the market and thus represent a Level 3 fair value measurement for these types of assets. In addition to the evaluations discussed above, specific events such as a reduction in economically recoverable reserves or production ceasing on a property for an extended period may require that a separate impairment evaluation be completed on a significant property. The Partnership believes the discount rates used in estimating fair value were representative of what market participants would use in valuing the impacted assets.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, the Partnership identified facts and circumstances that indicated that the carrying value of certain of its mineral rights exceed future cash flows from those assets and recorded non-cash impairment expense as follows (in thousands):
  Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Impaired Asset Description 2016 2015 2016 2015
  (Unaudited)
Coal properties (1) $3,817
 $247,815
 $3,908
 $249,362
Oil and gas royalty properties (2) 36
 70,527
 36
 70,527
Aggregates royalty properties (3) 1,411
 43,361
 1,677
 43,361
Total $5,264
 $361,703

$5,621
 $363,250
(1)The Partnership recorded $3.8 million and $3.9 million of coal property impairments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Total coal property impairment expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 was $249.4 million. The Partnership recorded $1.5 million of coal property impairment during the three months ended June 30, 2015 and the fair value measurement of these impaired assets recorded at fair value was $0.0 million at June 30, 2015. The Partnership recorded the remaining $247.8 million of coal property impairment during the three months ended September 30, 2015 and the fair value measurement of these impaired assets recorded at fair value was $28.4 million at September 30, 2015. These impairments primarily resulted from the continued deterioration and expectations of further reductions in global and domestic coal demand due to reduced global steel demand, sustained low natural gas prices, and continued regulatory pressure on the electric power generation industry. NRP compared net capitalized costs of its coal properties to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows. If the net capitalized cost exceeded the undiscounted future cash flows, the Partnership recorded an impairment for the excess of net capitalized cost over fair value. Significant inputs used to determine fair value include estimates of future cash flow, discount rate and useful economic life. Estimated cash flows are the product of a process that began with current realized pricing as of the measurement date and included an adjustment for risk related to the future realization of cash flows.

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



(2)The Partnership recorded $70.5 million of oil and gas royalty property impairment during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The fair value measurement of these impaired assets recorded at fair value were $13.0 million at September 30, 2015. This impairment primarily resulted from declines in future expected realized commodity prices and reduced expected drilling activity on its acreage. NRP compared net capitalized costs of its oil and gas royalty properties to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows. If the net capitalized cost exceeded the undiscounted future net cash flows, the Partnership recorded an impairment for the excess of net capitalized cost over fair value. A discounted cash flow method was used to estimate fair value. Significant inputs used to determine the fair value include estimates of: (i) oil and gas reserves and risk-adjusted probable and possible reserves; (ii) future commodity prices; (iii) production costs, (iv) capital expenditures, (v) production and (vi) discount rates. The underlying commodity prices embedded in the Partnership's estimated cash flows are the product of a process that begins with NYMEX forward curve pricing as of the measurement date, adjusted for estimated location and quality differentials.
(3)The Partnership recorded $1.4 million and $1.7 million of aggregates royalty property impairments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. The Partnership recorded $43.4 million of aggregates royalty property impairments during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015. The fair value measurement of these impaired assets recorded at fair value was $13.1 million at September 30, 2015. This impairment primarily resulted from greenfield development projects that have not performed as projected, leading to recent lease concessions on minimums and royalties combined with the continued regional market decline for certain properties. NRP compared net capitalized costs of its aggregates properties to estimated undiscounted future net cash flows. If the net capitalized cost exceeded the undiscounted cash flows, the Partnership recorded an impairment for the excess of net capitalized cost over fair value. A discounted cash flow model was used to estimate fair value. Significant inputs used to determine fair value include estimates of future cash flow, discount rate and useful economic life. Estimated cash flows are the product of a process that began with current realized pricing as of the measurement date and included an adjustment for risk related to the future realization of cash flows.

7.    Intangible Assets (Including Affiliate)

The Partnership's intangible assets—affiliate relate to above market coal transportation contracts with subsidiaries of Foresight Energy LP ("Foresight Energy") in, pursuant to which we receiveit receives throughput fees for the handling and transportation of coal.
June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
(Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  
Intangible assets—affiliate$81,109
 $81,109
$81,109
 $81,109
Less accumulated amortization—affiliate(29,539) (28,112)(30,441) (28,112)
Total intangible assets, net—affiliate$51,570
 $52,997
$50,668
 $52,997

Amortization expense related to the Partnership's intangible assets—affiliate totaled $0.7$0.9 million and $0.9$0.7 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Amortization expense related to the Partnership's intangible assets—affiliate totaled $1.4$2.3 million and $1.8$2.5 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



The Partnership's intangible assets consist of permits, aggregate-related trade names and other agreements as follows (in thousands):
June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
(Unaudited)  (Unaudited)  
Intangible assets$5,077
 $5,076
$5,077
 $5,076
Less accumulated amortization(1,607) (1,146)(1,838) (1,146)
Total intangible assets, net$3,470
 $3,930
$3,239
 $3,930

Amortization expense related to the Partnership's intangible assets totaled $0.3$0.2 million and $0.7 million for both the three and nine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, and $0.5 million both the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015.respectively.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



8. Debt and Debt—Affiliate

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, debt and debt—affiliate consisted of the following (in thousands):
 June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
 (Unaudited)  
NRP LP debt:   
9.125% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in April and October, due October 2018, $300 million issued at 99.007% and $125 million issued at 99.5%$425,000
 $425,000
Opco debt (1):   
$300 million floating rate revolving credit facility, due June 2018260,000
 290,000
4.91% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in June, due June 20189,233
 13,850
8.38% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in March and September, with annual principal payments in March, due March 201964,286
 85,714
5.05% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in January and July, with annual principal payments in July, due July 202038,462
 38,462
5.31% utility local improvement obligation, with annual principal and interest payments in February, due March 2021961
 1,153
5.55% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in June, due June 202318,900
 21,600
4.73% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in December, due December 202360,000
 60,000
5.82% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in March and September, with annual principal payments in March, due March 2024120,000
 135,000
8.92% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in March and September, with annual principal payments in March, due March 202436,364
 40,909
5.03% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in December, due December 2026148,077
 148,077
5.18% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in December, due December 202642,308
 42,308
NRP Oil and Gas debt:   
Reserve-based revolving credit facility due November 201975,000
 85,000
Total debt at face value$1,298,591
 $1,387,073
Net unamortized debt discount(1,700) (2,077)
Net unamortized debt issuance costs (1)(13,550) (14,040)
Total debt, net$1,283,341

$1,370,956
Less: current portion of long-term debt157,996
 80,745
Less: debt classified as liabilities of discontinued operations74,783
 83,600
Total long-term debt$1,050,562
 $1,206,611
 September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
 (Unaudited)  
NRP LP debt:   
9.125% senior notes, with semi-annual interest payments in April and October, due October 2018, $300 million issued at 99.007% and $125 million issued at 99.5%$425,000
 $425,000
Opco debt (1):   
Revolving credit facility, due June 2018260,000
 290,000
Senior notes   
4.91% with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in June, due June 20189,233
 13,850
8.38% with semi-annual interest payments in March and September, with annual principal payments in March, due March 201964,286
 85,714
5.05% with semi-annual interest payments in January and July, with annual principal payments in July, due July 202030,769
 38,462
5.55% with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in June, due June 202318,900
 21,600
4.73% with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in December, due December 202360,000
 60,000
5.82% with semi-annual interest payments in March and September, with annual principal payments in March, due March 2024120,000
 135,000
8.92% with semi-annual interest payments in March and September, with annual principal payments in March, due March 202436,364
 40,909
5.03% with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in December, due December 2026148,077
 148,077
5.18% with semi-annual interest payments in June and December, with annual principal payments in December, due December 202642,308
 42,308
5.31% utility local improvement obligation, with annual principal and interest payments in February, due March 2021$961
 $1,153
NRP Oil and Gas debt:   
Revolving credit facility
 85,000
Total debt at face value$1,215,898
 $1,387,073
Net unamortized debt discount(1,511) (2,077)
Net unamortized debt issuance costs (1)(13,806) (14,040)
Total debt, net$1,200,581

$1,370,956
Less: current portion of long-term debt158,597
 80,745
Less: debt classified as non-current liabilities of discontinued operations
 83,600
Total long-term debt$1,041,984
 $1,206,611
     

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



(1)
See Note 1. Basis of Presentation for discussion of debt issuance costs reclassification upon adoption of new accounting standard on January 1, 2016.

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)




NRP LP Debt

NRP Senior Notes    

In September 2013, NRP,the Partnership, together with NRP Finance Corporation ("NRP Finance"), a wholly owned subsidiary of NRP,the Partnership, as co-issuer, issued $300.0 million of 9.125% Senior Notes at an offering price of 99.007% of par (the "NRP Senior Notes"). Net proceeds after expenses from the issuance of NRP Senior Notes were approximately $289.0 million. The NRP Senior Notes call for semi-annual interest payments on April 1 and October 1 of each year, and will mature on October 1, 2018.

In October 2014, NRP,the Partnership, together with NRP Finance as co-issuer, issued an additional $125.0 million of the NRP Senior Notes at an offering price of 99.5% of par. The additional issuance constituted the same series of securities as the existing NRP Senior Notes. Net proceeds of $122.6 million from the additional issuance of the NRP Senior Notes were used to fund a portion of the purchase price of NRP’s acquisition of non-operated working interests in oil and gas assets located in the Williston Basin in North Dakota.

NRPThe Partnership and NRP Finance have the option to redeem the NRP Senior Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after April 1, 2016, at fixed redemption prices specified in the indenture governing the NRP Senior Notes (the "Indenture"). The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of NRPthe Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries to incur or guarantee additional indebtedness. Under the Indenture, NRPthe Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries generally are not permitted to incur additional indebtedness unless, on a consolidated basis, the fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the indenture) is at least 2.0 to 1.0 for the four preceding full fiscal quarters. The ability of NRPthe Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness is further limited in the event the amount of indebtedness of NRPthe Partnership and certain of its subsidiaries that is senior to NRP’sthe Partnership's unsecured indebtedness exceeds certain thresholds.

Opco Debt

All of Opco’s debt is guaranteed by its wholly owned subsidiaries and is secured by certain of the assets of Opco and its wholly owned subsidiaries other than NRP Trona LLC, as further described below. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, Opco was in compliance with the terms of the financial covenants contained in its debt agreements.

Opco Credit Facility

In June 2016, Opco entered into an amendment (the "First Amendment") to its $300.0 million Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ("Opco(the "Opco Credit Facility") that is guaranteed by all of Opco’s wholly owned subsidiaries, and is secured by liens on certain of the assets of Opco and its subsidiaries, as further described below. Under the First Amendment:
The maturity date of the Opco Credit Facility was extended from October 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018;
The maximum leverage ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDDA (as defined in the Opco Credit Facility) has been amended to remain at 4.0x for the remaining term of the Opco Credit Facility, including for the period ending June 30, 2016; and
The asset sale covenant was amended to allow asset sales of up to $300.0 million from and after the effective date of the First Amendment; provided, however, that 75% of the net cash proceeds of any such asset sales must be used to repay the Opco Credit Facility (without any corresponding commitment reduction) and/or NRP Opco’s Senior Notes described below.
  
On the effective date of the First Amendment, the total commitment under the Opco Credit Facility was reduced from $300.0 million to $260.0 million. In addition, Opco and the lenders agreed to further reduce commitments under the Opco Credit Facility to (a) $210.0 million on December 31, 2016, (b) $180.0 million on June 30, 2017 and (c) $150.0 million on December 31, 2017. Opco will have the right to delay any of these commitment reductions by up to 90 days each upon the agreement of the lenders holding 66.7% of the then-existing commitments. To the extent any such commitment reduction is extended under the terms of the A&R Revolving Credit Facility, Opco's ability to make distributions to the Partnership will be limited to amounts necessary for the Partnership to pay taxes and other general partnership expenses and make interest payments on its 9.125% Senior Notes due 2018.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)




In addition to the 4.0x leverage ratio described above, the Opco Credit Facility requires Opco to maintain a ratio of consolidated EBITDDA to consolidated fixed charges (consisting of consolidated interest expense and consolidated lease expense) of not less than 3.5 to 1.0. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016, Opco's leverage ratio was 2.84x,2.95x, and fixed charge coverage ratio was 5.67x.5.46x.

Effective on the date of the First Amendment, indebtedness under the Opco Credit Facility bears interest, at Opco's option, at:
the higher of (i) the prime rate as announced by the agent bank; (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%; or (iii) LIBOR plus 1%, in each case plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.50% to 3.50%; or
a rate equal to LIBOR plus an applicable margin ranging from 3.50% to 4.50%.

The weighted average interest rates for the borrowings outstanding under the Opco Credit Facility for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015 were 4.11%4.87% and 2.19%3.05%, respectively. The weighted average interest rates for the borrowings outstanding under the Opco Credit Facility for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015 were 3.95%4.24% and 2.07%2.41%, respectively.

Opco will incur a commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility at a rate of 0.50% per annum. Opco may prepay all amounts outstanding under the Opco Credit Facility at any time without penalty.

The Opco Credit Facility contains certain additional customary negative covenants that, among other items, restrict Opco’s ability to incur additional debt, grant liens on its assets, make investments, sell assets and engage in business combinations. Included in the investment covenant are restrictions upon Opco’s ability to acquire assets where Opco does not maintain certain levels of liquidity. The Opco Credit Facility also contains customary events of default, including cross-defaults under Opco’s senior notes (as described below).

The Opco Credit Facility is collateralized and secured by liens on certain of Opco’s assets with a carrying values of $691.2$680.5 million and $709.9 million classified as Land, Mineral rights and Plant and equipment and Mineral rights on the Partnership’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively. The collateral includes (1) the equity interests in all of Opco’s wholly owned subsidiaries, other than NRP Trona LLC (which owns a 49% non-controlling equity interest in Ciner Wyoming), (2) the personal property and fixtures owned by Opco’s wholly owned subsidiaries, other than NRP Trona LLC, (3) Opco’s material coal royalty revenue producing properties, (4) real property associated with certain of VantaCore’s construction aggregates mining operations, and (5) certain of Opco’s coal-related infrastructure assets.

Opco Senior Notes   

Opco has issued several series of private placement senior notes (the "Opco Senior Notes") with various interest rates and principal due dates. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016, and December 31, 2015, the Opco Senior Notes had cumulative principal balances of $537.6$529.9 million and $585.9 million, respectively. Opco made principal payments of $48.3$56.0 million on the Opco Senior Notes during each ofboth the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015.

The Note Purchase Agreements relating to the Opco Senior Notes contain covenants requiring Opco to: 
maintain a ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDDA (as defined in the note purchase agreement) of no more than 4.0 to 1.0 for the four most recent quarters;
not permit debt secured by certain liens and debt of subsidiaries to exceed 10% of consolidated net tangible assets (as defined in the note purchase agreement); and
maintain the ratio of consolidated EBITDDA (as defined in the note purchase agreement) to consolidated fixed charges (consisting of consolidated interest expense and consolidated operating lease expense) at not less than 3.5 to 1.0.

The 8.38% and 8.92% Opco Senior Notes also provide that in the event that Opco’s leverage ratio of consolidated indebtedness to consolidated EBITDDA (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreements) exceeds 3.75 to 1.00 at the end of any fiscal quarter, then in addition to all other interest accruing on these notes, additional interest in the amount of 2.00% per annum shall accrue on the notes for the two succeeding quarters and for as long thereafter as the leverage ratio remains above 3.75 to 1.00. Opco has not exceeded the 3.75 to 1.00 ratio at the end of any fiscal quarter through JuneSeptember 30, 2016.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



In connection with the entry into an amendment toSeptember 2016, Opco amended the Opco Credit Facility in June 2015,Senior Notes. Under this amendment, Opco entered into the Third Amendmentagreed to the Note Purchase Agreements (the "NPA Amendment") that provides for the security ofuse certain asset sale proceeds to make mandatory prepayment offers on the Opco Senior Notes byas follows:
Until the same collateral package pledged byearlier of the time that (1) Opco has sold $300 million of assets and its subsidiaries(2) June 30, 2020, Opco will be required to secure the A&R Revolving Credit Facility, as described above. In addition, the NPA Amendment includes a covenant that provides that, in the event Opco or any of its subsidiaries is subjectmake prepayment offers to any additional or more restrictive covenants under the agreements governing its material indebtedness (including the A&R Revolving Credit Facility, and all renewals, amendments or restatements thereof), such covenants shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Opco Senior Notes and the holders of the Opco Senior Notes shall receiveusing 25% of the benefitnet cash proceeds from certain asset sales; and
After the earlier to occur of such additional or more restrictive covenantsthe dates above, Opco will be required to make prepayment offers to the same extent as the lenders under such material indebtedness agreement. Certain holders of the Opco Senior Notes have communicated to ususing an amount of net cash proceeds from certain asset sales that they believe they are entitled to consideration under this provision in connection withwill be calculated pro-rata based on the First Amendmentamount of Opco Senior Notes then outstanding compared to the other total Opco Credit Facility. We are evaluating the noteholders’ assertions and are in active discussions with them. We are unable to estimate the outcome of these discussions at this time.senior debt outstanding that is being prepaid.

The mandatory prepayment offers described above will be made pro-rata across each series of outstanding Opco Senior Notes and will not require any make-whole payment by Opco. In addition, the remaining principal and interest payments on the Opco Senior Notes will be adjusted accordingly based on the amount of Opco Senior Notes actually prepaid. The prepayments do not affect the maturity dates of any series of the Opco Senior Notes.
NRP Oil and Gas Debt Classified as Liabilities of Discontinued Operations

The RBL Facility    

In August 2013, NRP Oil and Gas entered into the RBL Facility, a senior secured, reserve-based revolving credit facility, in order to fund capital expenditure requirements related to the development of the oil and gas assets in which it owned non-operated working interests. The RBL Facility was secured by a first priority lien and security interest in substantially all of the assets of NRP Oil and Gas. NRP Oil and Gas was the sole obligor under the RBL Facility, and neither the Partnership nor any of its other subsidiaries was a guarantor of the RBL Facility.

At June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, there was $75.0 million and $85.0 million respectively, outstanding under the RBL Facility. As described in Note 3.2. Discontinued Operations, the Partnership included this debt and its related interest expense in discontinued operations. In July 2016, NRP Oil and Gas LLC closed the sale of its Williston Basin non-operated oil and gas working interest assets and used a portion of the proceeds to repay the RBL Facility in full.

In March 2016, the Company entered into an amendment to the RBL Facility (the "Fourth Amendment"). Per the Fourth Amendment, the borrowing base would have been reduced to $70.0 million on August 1, 2016, and to $50.0 million on October 1, 2016, with any outstanding amounts under the RBL Facility in excess of the reduced principal amounts due and payable on their respective day. The next scheduled redetermination of the borrowing base under the RBL Facility would have occured in November 2016.

The Fourth Amendment amended the financial covenants contained in the RBL Facility as follows:
The maximum total leverage ratio (defined as the ratio of the total debt to EBITDAX) was increased from 3.5x to 4.0x at March 31, 2016 and 4.5x at June 30, 2016. Thereafter, the total leverage ratio would have decreased to 3.5x for the remainder of the term of the RBL Facility.
The minimum current ratio decreased from 1.0x to 0.75x at March 31, 2016 and June 30, 2016 and would have reverted to 1.0x thereafter for the remainder of the term of the RBL Facility.

As of June 30, 2016, NRP Oil and Gas' leverage ratio was 3.98x, and current ratio was 2.61x. NRP Oil and Gas was in compliance with the terms of the covenants contained in the RBL Facility as of both June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

Effective on the date of the Fourth Amendment, indebtedness under the RBL Facility bore interest, at the Company's option, at:
the higher of (i) the prime rate as announced by the agent bank; (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%; or (iii) LIBOR plus 4.0%; or
a rate equal to LIBOR, plus an applicable margin of 4.0%.

The commitment fee on the unused portion of the borrowing base under the RBL Facility was also amended to be a flat 0.50% fee.

The Fourth Amendment contained several other amendments, including a requirement for NRP Oil and Gas to pay down the RBL Facility each month with excess cash flow (which amounts may not be reborrowed and will result in a corresponding reduction

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
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in the borrowing base) and a requirement to use the net proceeds of any asset sales to repay the RBL Facility (which amounts may not be reborrowed and will result in a corresponding reduction in the borrowing base). In addition, the Fourth Amendment waived the delivery of 2015 audited financial statements containing an audit opinion containing "a "going concern" or like qualification or exception" as an event of default under the RBL Facility.

9.    Fair Value Measurements

The Partnership’s financial instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, contracts receivable—affiliate, accounts payable and debt. The carrying amounts reported on the Partnership's Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature.



NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
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The following table (in thousands) shows the carrying value and estimated fair value of the Partnership's debt, debt—affiliate and contracts receivable—affiliate:
June 30, 2016 December 31, 2015September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015
Carrying
Value
 Estimated
Fair Value
 Carrying
Value
 Estimated
Fair Value
Carrying
Value
 Estimated
Fair Value
 Carrying
Value
 Estimated
Fair Value
(Unaudited)    (Unaudited)    
Debt and debt—affiliate:              
NRP Senior Notes (2)(1)$418,696
 $318,750
 $417,296
 $277,313
$419,397
 $391,531
 $417,296
 $277,313
Opco Senior Notes and utility local improvement obligation (1)(2)536,527
 403,943
 584,890
 383,065
527,016
 489,090
 584,890
 383,065
Opco Revolving Credit Facility (3)253,335
 260,000
 285,170
 290,000
254,168
 260,000
 285,170
 290,000
NRP Oil and Gas RBL Facility (3)74,783
 75,000
 83,600
 85,000

 
 83,600
 85,000
              
Assets:              
Contracts receivable—affiliate, current and long-term (1)(2)$47,542
 $32,861
 $49,948
 $34,498
$47,542
 $32,861
 $49,948
 $34,498
     
(1)The Level 1 fair value is based upon quotations obtained for identical instruments on the closing trading prices near period end.
(2)The Level 3 fair value is estimated by management using quotations obtained for comparable instruments on the closing trading prices near period end.
(2)The Level 1 fair value is based upon quotations obtained for identical instruments on the closing trading prices near period end.
(3)The Level 3 fair value approximates the carryingoutstanding borrowing amount because the interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates and the terms of the credit facility allow the Partnership to repay this debt at any time without penalty.

10.    Related Party Transactions

Reimbursements to Affiliates of ourNRP's General Partner

The Partnership’s general partner does not receive any management fee or other compensation for its management of Natural Resource Partners L.P. However, in accordance with the partnership agreement, the general partner and its affiliates are reimbursed for services provided to the Partnership and for expenses incurred on the Partnership’s behalf. Employees of Quintana Minerals Corporation ("QMC") and Western Pocahontas Properties Limited Partnership ("WPPLP"), affiliates of the Partnership, provide their services to manage the Company'sPartnership's business. QMC and WPPLP charge the Partnership the portion of their employee salary and benefits costs related to their employee services provided to NRP. In addition, the Partnership receives non-cash equity contributions from its general partner related to compensation paid directly by the general partner and not reimbursed by the Partnership. These amounts are presented as non-cash equity contributions on the Partnership's Consolidated Statements of Partners' Capital and were $0.1$0.2 million during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. These QMC and WPPLP employee management service costs and non-cash equity compensation expenses are presented as Operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates, net and General and administrative—affiliates on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income. NRP also reimburses overhead costs incurred by its affiliates to manage the Partnership's business. These overhead costs include certain legal, accounting, treasury, information technology, insurance, administration of employee benefits and other corporate services incurred by the Partnership’s general partner and its affiliates and are presented as Operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates, net and General and administrative—affiliates on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
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The Partnership had Accounts payable—affiliates to Quintana Minerals Corporation of $0.5 million and $1.1 million, including $0.2$0.1 million and $0.7 million related to discontinued operations at JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, for services provided by Quintana Minerals Corporation to the Partnership. The Partnership had Accounts payable—affiliates to WPPLP of $0.5 million and $0.3 million at JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Direct general and administrative expenses charged to the Partnership by WPPLP and Quintana Minerals Corporation are as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2016 2015 2016 20152016 2015 2016 2015
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates, net$2,099
 $3,235
 $4,611
 $5,937
$1,980
 $1,540
 $6,591
 $7,068
General and administrative—affiliates866
 301
 1,803
 1,385
867
 2,424
 2,670
 3,809

Included in Incomeincome (loss) from discontinued operations are $0.5$0.4 million and $0.7$1.2 million and $0.2 million and $0.4$0.6 million of operating and maintenance expenses charged by Quintana Minerals Corporation for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Cline Affiliates

Various companies controlled by Chris Cline, including Foresight Energy LP ("Foresight Energy"), lease coal reserves from the Partnership, and the PartnershipNRP also leases coal transportation assets to these companies for a fee. Mr. Cline both individually and through another affiliate, Adena Minerals, LLC, owns a 31% interest in the NRP'sPartnership's general partner through his affiliate Adena Minerals, LLC, as well as approximately 0.5 million of NRP'sthe Partnership's common units at JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

Coal related revenues from Foresight Energy totaled $16.9$20.6 million and $31.6$18.7 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Coal related revenues from Foresight Energy totaled $27.0$47.6 million and $49.9$68.6 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, the Partnership had Accounts receivable—affiliates from Foresight Energy of $8.4$6.9 million and $6.4 million, respectively. The Partnership had recorded $78.5$74.7 million and $82.6 million in minimum royalty payments as Deferred revenue—affiliates at JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively.

The PartnershipNRP owns and leases rail load out and associated facilities to a subsidiary of Foresight Energy at Foresight Energy's Sugar Camp mine. The lease agreement is accounted for as a direct financing lease. Total projected remaining payments under the lease at JuneSeptember 30, 2016 were $78.9$77.7 million, with unearned income of $33.6$32.7 million, and the net amount receivable was $45.3$45.0 million, of which $2.0$2.1 million is included in Accounts receivable—affiliates while the remaining is included in Long-term contracts receivable—affiliate on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets. Total projected remaining payments under the lease at December 31, 2015 were $81.2 million, with unearned income of $35.3 million and the net amount receivable was $45.9 million, of which $2.0 million is included in Accounts receivable—affiliates while the remaining is included in Long-term contracts receivable—affiliates on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The PartnershipNRP holds a contractual overriding royalty interest from a subsidiary of Foresight Energy that provides for payments based upon production from specific tons at Foresight Energy's Sugar Camp operations. This overriding royalty was accounted for as a financing arrangement and is reflected as an affiliate receivable. The net amount receivable under the agreement as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 was $2.8$2.7 million, of which $1.5$1.4 million is included in Accounts receivable—affiliates, while the remaining is included in Long-term contracts receivable—affiliate. The net amount receivable under the agreement as of December 31, 2015 was $4.9 million, of which $1.5 million is included in Accounts receivable—affiliates while the remaining is included in Long-term contracts receivable—affiliate on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

NRP owns rail load out transportation assets and subcontracts out the operating responsibilities to an affiliate of Foresight Energy at Foresight's Williamson mine. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Partnership recorded operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates of $0.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to operate these assets. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, the Partnership recorded operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates of $0.3 million and $1.0 million, respectively, to the operate these assets.




NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Long-Term Debt—Affiliate

Donald R. Holcomb, one of the Partnership’s former directors, iswas a manager of Cline Trust Company, LLC which owns(the "Cline Trust Company") as of December 31, 2015, that owned approximately 0.5 million of the Partnership’s common units and $20.0 million in principal amount of the Partnership’s 9.125% Senior Notes due 2018. TheAs of December 31, 2015, the members of the Cline Trust Company arewere four trusts for the benefit of the children of Chris Cline,

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



each of which ownsowned an approximately equal membership interest in the Cline Trust Company. As of December 31, 2015, Mr. Holcomb also servesserved as trustee of each of the four trusts. Cline Trust Company, LLC purchased the $20.0 million of the Partnership’s 9.125% Senior Notes due 2018 in the Partnership’s offering of $125.0 million additional principal amount of such notes in October 2014 at the same price as the other purchasers in that offering. The balance on this portion of the Partnership’s 9.125% Senior Notes due 2018 was $19.9 million as of December 31, 2015 and iswas included in Long-term debt, net—affiliate on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2015.Sheet. In April 2016, Mr. Holcomb resigned from the Partnership's board of directors and as a result the $19.9 million debt balance held by Cline Trust Company was included insubsequently reclassified as Long-term debt, net on the Partnership's accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2016.Sheet.

Quintana Capital Group GP, Ltd.

Corbin J. Robertson, Jr. is a principal in Quintana Capital Group GP, Ltd. ("Quintana Capital"), which controls several private equity funds focused on investments in the energy business. In connection with the formation of Quintana Capital, the Partnership adopted a formal conflicts policy that establishes the opportunities that will be pursued by the Partnership and those that will be pursued by Quintana Capital. The governance documents of Quintana Capital’s affiliated investment funds reflect the guidelines set forth in the Partnership's conflicts policy.

At JuneSeptember 30, 2016, a fund controlled by Quintana Capital owned a majority interest in Corsa Coal Corp. ("Corsa"), a coal mining company traded on the TSX Venture Exchange that is one of the Partnership’s lessees in Tennessee. Corbin J. Robertson III, one of the Partnership’s directors, is Chairman of the Board of Corsa. Coal related revenues from Corsa totaled $0.6$0.8 million and $0.8$0.9 million for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively and $1.1$1.9 million and $1.5$2.4 million for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Partnership had recorded $0.3 million in minimum royalty payments as Deferred revenue—affiliates at both JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015. The Partnership also had Accounts receivable—affiliates totaling $0.2 million from Corsa at both JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015.

WPPLP Production Royalty and Overriding Royalty

The Partnership recorded $0.1$0.0 million and $0.7 million in operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates related to a non-participating production royalty payable to WPPLP pursuant to a conveyance agreement entered into in 2007 for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, respectively. These charges were zeroThe Partnership recorded ($0.1 million) and $0.0 million in operating and maintenance expenses—affiliates related to this non-participating production royalty payable to WPPLP for both the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015. The Partnership had Other assets—affiliate from WPPLP of $1.0 million and $1.1 million at JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively related to a non-production royalty receivable from WPPLP for overriding royalty interest on a mine.

11.    Commitments and Contingencies

Legal

The PartnershipNRP is involved, from time to time, in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While the ultimate results of these proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, Partnership management believes these claims will not have a material effect on the Partnership’s financial position, liquidity or operations.

Since 2013, several citizen group lawsuits have been filed against landowners alleging ongoing discharges of pollutants, including selenium and conductivity, from valley fills located at reclaimed mountaintop removal mining sites in West Virginia. In each case, the mine on the subject property had been closed, the property had been reclaimed, and the state reclamation bond had been released. Any determination that a landowner or lessee has liability for discharges from a previously reclaimed mine site could result in substantial compliance costs or fines and would result in uncertainty as to continuing liability for completed and reclaimed coal mine operations. A subsidiary of the Partnership has been named as a defendant in one of these lawsuits. The Partnership currently cannot reasonably estimate a range of potential loss, if any, related to this matter.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Foresight Energy Disputes

In November 2015, wea subsidiary of the Partnership filed a lawsuit against Foresight Energy’s subsidiary, Hillsboro Energy LLC ("Hillsboro"), in the Circuit Court of the Fourth Judicial Circuit in Montgomery County, Illinois. The lawsuit alleges, among other items, breach of contract by Hillsboro resulting from a wrongful declaration of force majeure at Hillsboro’s Deer Run mine in July 2015. In late March 2015, elevated carbon monoxide readings were detected at the Deer Run mine, and coal production at the mine was idled. In July 2015, wethe Partnership received the notice declaring a force majeure event at the mine as a result of the elevated carbon monoxide levels.

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



The effect of a valid force majeure declaration would relieve Foresight Energy of its obligation to pay us minimum deficiency payments in arrears of $7.5 million per quarter, or $30.0 million per year. Foresight Energy's failure to make the deficiency payment with respect to the second, third and fourth quarters of 2015 and the first, halfsecond and third quarters of 2016 resulted in a cumulative $31.0$38.5 million negative cash impact to us. Such amount will increase for each quarter during which mining operations continue to be idled. We doThe Partnership does not currently have an estimate as to when the mine will resume coal production. If the mine remains idled for an extended period or if the mine is permanently closed, ourthe Partnership's financial condition couldand future cash flows will be adversely affected.

In April 2016, wea subsidiary of the Partnership filed a lawsuit against Macoupin Energy, LLC ("Macoupin"), a subsidiary of Foresight Energy, in Macoupin County, Illinois. The lawsuit alleges that Macoupin has failed to comply with the terms of its coal mining, rail loadout and rail loop leases by incorrectly recouping previously paid minimum royalties. Foresight Energy’s failure to properly calculate its recoupable balance and failure to make payments in accordance with these lease agreements with respect to the third and fourth quarters of 2015 and the first half of 2016certain periods resulted in a cumulative $4.7$5.8 million negative cash impact to us. While the Partnership plans to pursue its claim, a valuation allowance for the receivable amount has been recorded. It is possible that the Partnership’s current estimate of the valuation allowance related to this matter could change, perhaps materially, in the future.

12.    Major Customers

Revenues from customers that exceeded ten percent of total revenues and other income for either the three or sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015 are as follows (in thousands except for percentages):
 Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
 (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
 Revenues Percent Revenues Percent Revenues Percent Revenues Percent
Foresight Energy$16,935
 14% $31,581
 26% $27,013
 13% $49,879
 23%
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
 (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
 Revenues Percent Revenues Percent Revenues Percent Revenues Percent
Foresight Energy$20,635
 21% $18,677
 16% $47,648
 15% $68,556
 21%
Alpha Natural Resources$3,829
 4% $15,429
 14% $14,420
 5% $33,201
 10%

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, total revenues and other income from Alpha Natural Resources included a $6.0 million non-recurring lease assignment fee.

13.    Unit-Based Compensation

At the time of ourthe Partnership's initial public offering, GP Natural Resource Partners LLC adopted the Natural Resource Partners Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "Long-Term Incentive Plan") for directors of GP Natural Resource Partners LLC and employees of its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership. The Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee ("CNG Committee") of GP Natural Resource Partners LLC’s board of directors administers the Long-Term Incentive Plan and has historically approved annual awards of phantom units that vest four years from the date of grant. In February 2016, the CNG Committee adopted and the Board approved a new cash-based long-term incentive plan to the employees of its affiliates who perform services for the Partnership.

Subject to the rules of the exchange upon which the common units are listed at the time, the board of directors and the compensation committee of the board of directors have the right to alter or amend the Long-Term Incentive Plan or any part of the Long-Term Incentive Plan from time to time. Except upon the occurrence of unusual or nonrecurring events, no change in any outstanding grant may be made that would materially reduce the benefit intended to be made available to a participant without the consent of the participant.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Phantom units are incentive based equity awards issued to employees over a vesting period that entitle the grantee to receive the cash equivalent to the value of a unit of ourthe Partnership's common units upon each vesting. The Partnership records compensation cost equal to the fair value of the award at the measurement date, which is determined to be the earlier of the performance commitment date or the service completion date. In addition, compensation cost for unvested phantom unit awards is adjusted quarterly for any changes in the Partnership’s unit price. Under the plan a grantee will receive the market value of a common unit in cash upon vesting. Market value is defined as the average closing price over the 20 trading days prior to the vesting date. The compensation committee may make grants under the Long-Term Incentive Plan to employees and directors containing such terms as it determines, including the vesting period. Outstanding grants vest upon a change in control of the Partnership, the general partner, or GP Natural Resource Partners LLC. If a grantee’s employment or membership on the board of directors terminates for any reason, outstanding grants will be automatically forfeited unless and to the extent the compensation committee provides otherwise.

In connection with the phantom unit awards, the Compensation, Nominating and Governance Committee also granted tandem Distribution Equivalent Rights ("DERs"), which entitle the holders to receive distributions equal to the distributions paid on the

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



Partnership’s common units between the date the units are granted and the vesting date. The DERs are payable in cash upon vesting but may be subject to forfeiture if the grantee ceases employment prior to vesting.

A summary of activity in the outstanding grants during 2016 is as follows (in thousands):
 Phantom Units
Outstanding grants at January 1, 2016126
Grants during the period
Grants vested and paid during the period(28)
Forfeitures during the period(610)
Outstanding grants at JuneSeptember 30, 20169288

Grants typically vest at the end of a four-year period and are paid in cash upon vesting. The Partnership recorded expenses related to its Long-Term Incentive Plan of $0.2$0.7 million and $0.8 million for both the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016.2016, respectively. The Partnership also recorded a credit to expenses related to its Long-Term Incentive plan of $1.4$0.2 million and $1.5$1.7 million for the three and sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015, respectively due to the decline in the market price of the Partnership's common units during the period.

In connection with the Long-Term Incentive Plan, payments are typically made during the first quarter of the year. Payments of $1.5 million and $4.4 million were made during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The unaccrued cost associated with unvested outstanding grants and related DERs at JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, was $0.5$0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

14.    Cash Distributions

The following table shows the distributions paid by the Partnership during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015:
   Total Distributions (In thousands)   Total Distributions (In thousands)
Date Paid Period Covered by Distribution Distribution per Common Unit Common Units GP Interest Total Period Covered by Distribution Distribution per Common Unit Common Units GP Interest Total
2016                
February 12, 2016 October 1 - December 31, 2015 $0.45
 $5,503
 $113
 $5,616
 October 1 - December 31, 2015 $0.45
 $5,503
 $113
 $5,616
May 13, 2016 January 1 - March 31, 2016 0.45
 5,503
 113
 5,616
 January 1 - March 31, 2016 0.45
 5,503
 113
 5,616
August 12, 2016 April 1 - June 30, 2016 0.45
 5,505
 112
 5,617
                
2015                
February 13, 2015 October 1 - December 31, 2014 $3.50
 $42,804
 $874
 $43,678
 October 1 - December 31, 2014 $3.50
 $42,804
 $874
 $43,678
May 14, 2015 January 1 - March 31, 2015 0.90
 11,007
 225
 11,232
 January 1 - March 31, 2015 0.90
 11,007
 225
 11,232
August 14, 2015 April 1 - June 30, 2015 0.90
 11,009
 223
 11,232

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)




15.  Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The Partnership's supplemental cash flow information of continuing operations is summarized as follows (in thousands):
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
 2016 2015
 (Unaudited)
Cash paid for interest$42,671
 $42,739
Plant, equipment and mineral rights funded with accounts payable or accrued liabilities
 4,452


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



16.  Supplementary Unrestricted Subsidiary Information

The following is presented as supplementary data as required by the Indenture governing the NRP Senior Notes. As described in Note 1. Basis of Presentation, in February 2016, the Partnership designated NRP Oil and Gas as an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture. In addition, the Partnership has designated BRP LLC, a joint venture in which the Partnership owns a 51% interest, and Coval Leasing Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of BRP LLC, as Unrestricted Subsidiaries for purposes of the Indenture. The information below may not necessarily be indicative of the results of operations, or financial position had the subsidiaries operated as independent entities. There were no transactions between the Partnership's Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries. In accordance with the requirements of the Indenture, the following condensed consolidating financial information presents the financial condition and results of operations of the Partnership and its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Unrestricted Subsidiaries:


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
  June 30, 2016
  Unrestricted Subsidiaries of NRP NRP and its Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Total
ASSETS        
Current assets of discontinued operations $113,218
 $
 $
 $113,218
Current assets (including affiliates) 3,621
 79,810
 
 83,431
Mineral rights, net 24,570
 921,785
 
 946,355
Equity in unconsolidated investment 
 259,778
 
 259,778
Other non-current assets (including affiliates) 230
 182,074
 
 182,304
Total assets $141,639

$1,443,447

$
 $1,585,086
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL       

Current portion of long-term debt, net $
 $157,996
 $
 $157,996
Current liabilities of discontinued operations 79,947
 
 
 79,947
Other current liabilities (including affiliates) 2,672
 37,207
 (3) 39,876
Long-term debt, net 
 1,050,562
 
 1,050,562
Other non-current liabilities (including affiliates) 3,086
 121,985
 
 125,071
Partners' capital 59,379
 75,646
 3
 135,028
Non-controlling interest (3,445) 51
 
 (3,394)
Total liabilities and capital $141,639

$1,443,447

$
 $1,585,086
        

  December 31, 2015
  Unrestricted Subsidiaries of NRP NRP and its Restricted Subsidiaries Eliminations Total
ASSETS       

Current assets of discontinued operations $17,844
 $
 $
 17,844
Current assets (including affiliates) 3,696
 100,178
 (589) 103,285
Mineral rights, net 24,940
 959,582
 
 984,522
Equity in unconsolidated investment 
 261,942
 
 261,942
Non-current assets of discontinued operations 110,162
 
 
 110,162
Other non-current assets (including affiliates) (1) 230
 192,050
 
 192,280
Total assets $156,872

$1,513,752

$(589)
$1,670,035
LIABILITIES AND CAPITAL       

Current portion of long-term debt, net (1) $
 $80,745
 $
 $80,745
Current liabilities of discontinued operations 4,388
 
 
 4,388
Other current liabilities (including affiliates) 2,963
 48,356
 (43) 51,276
Long-term debt, net (including affiliate) (1) 
 1,206,611
 
 1,206,611
Non-current liabilities of discontinued operations 85,237
 
 
 85,237
Other non-current liabilities (including affiliates) 3,066
 165,770
 
 168,836
Partners' capital 64,663
 12,219
 (546) 76,336
Non-controlling interest (3,445) 51
 
 (3,394)
Total liabilities and capital $156,872
 $1,513,752
 $(589) $1,670,035
(1)
See Note 1. Basis of Presentation for discussion of debt issuance costs reclassification upon adoption of new accounting standard on January 1, 2016.


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
  Three Months Ended June 30, 2016
  Unrestricted Subsidiaries of NRP NRP and its Restricted Subsidiaries Total
Revenues $644
 $117,602
 $118,246
Operating expenses 572
 46,933
 47,505
Income from operations 72
 70,669
 70,741
Other expense, net 
 22,108
 22,108
Net income from continuing operations 72
 48,561
 48,633
Net loss from discontinued operations (2,187) 
 (2,187)
Net income (loss) (2,115) 48,561
 46,446
Add: comprehensive income from unconsolidated investment and other 
 462
 462
Comprehensive income (loss) $(2,115) $49,023
 $46,908
      

  Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
  Unrestricted Subsidiaries of NRP NRP and its Restricted Subsidiaries Total
Revenues $3,834
 $119,849
 $123,683
Operating expenses 1,280
 64,079
 65,359
Income from operations 2,554
 55,770
 58,324
Other expense, net 
 21,935
 21,935
Net income from continuing operations 2,554
 33,835
 36,389
Net loss from discontinued operations (3,811) 
 (3,811)
Net income (loss) (1,257) 33,835
 32,578
Add: comprehensive income from unconsolidated investment and other 
 210
 210
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest (1,244) 
 (1,244)
Comprehensive income (loss) $(2,501) $34,045
 $31,544



NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)



CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
  Six Months Ended June 30, 2016
  Unrestricted Subsidiaries of NRP NRP and its Restricted Subsidiaries Total
Revenues $1,043
 $213,030
 $214,073
Operating expenses 1,214
 93,127
 94,341
Income (loss) from operations (171) 119,903
 119,732
Other expense, net 
 44,748
 44,748
Net income (loss) from continuing operations (171) 75,155
 74,984
Net loss from discontinued operations (5,111) 
 (5,111)
Net income (loss) (5,282) 75,155
 69,873
Add: comprehensive loss from unconsolidated investment and other 
 (83) (83)
Comprehensive income (loss) $(5,282) $75,072
 $69,790
       
  Six Months Ended June 30, 2015
  Unrestricted Subsidiaries of NRP NRP and its Restricted Subsidiaries Total
Revenues $5,119
 $214,626
 $219,745
Operating expenses (1,669) 116,591
 114,922
Income from operations 6,788
 98,035
 104,823
Other expense, net 
 44,055
 44,055
Net income from continuing operations 6,788

53,980
 60,768
Net loss from discontinued operations (10,701) 
 (10,701)
Net income (loss) (3,913) 53,980
 50,067
Add: comprehensive loss from unconsolidated investment and other 
 (755) (755)
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest (1,244) 
 (1,244)
Comprehensive income (loss) $(5,157) $53,225
 $48,068
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 2016 2015
 (Unaudited)
Cash paid for interest$54,749
 $55,761
Plant, equipment and mineral rights funded with accounts payable or accrued liabilities
 4,465

17.16. Deferred Revenue and Deferred Revenue—Affiliate

Most of the Partnership’s coal and aggregates lessees must make minimum annual or quarterly payments which are generally recoupable over certain time periods. These minimum payments are recorded as deferred revenue when received. The deferred revenue attributable to the minimum payment is recognized as revenue based upon the underlying mineral lease when the lessee recoups the minimum payment through production or in the period immediately following the expiration of the lessee’s ability to recoup the payments. The Partnership’s deferred revenue (including affiliate) consist of the following (in thousands):
 June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
 (Unaudited)  
Deferred revenue$42,608
 $80,812
Deferred revenue—affiliate78,793
 82,853
Total deferred revenue (including affiliate)$121,401
 $163,665


NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)


 September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
 (Unaudited)  
Deferred revenue$40,050
 $80,812
Deferred revenue—affiliate74,663
 82,853
Total deferred revenue (including affiliate)$114,713
 $163,665

The Partnership recognized the following amounts of deferred revenue (including affiliate) attributable to previously paid minimums as Coal and hard mineral royalty and other revenue (in thousands):
 Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
 (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Coal and hard mineral royalty and other$38,740
 $706
 $44,835
 $1,769
Coal and hard mineral royalty and other—affiliates4,787
 4,000
 5,657
 7,477
Total coal and hard mineral royalty and other (including affilaites)$43,527
 $4,706
 $50,492
 $9,246
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 2016 2015 2016 2015
 (Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Coal royalty and other$3,662
 $539
 $48,705
 $2,308
Coal royalty and other—affiliates6,093
 2,695
 11,750
 10,172
Total coal royalty and other (including affiliates)$9,755
 $3,234
 $60,455
 $12,480

Lease Modifications, Termination and Forfeitures of Minimum Royalty Balances

In AprilDuring the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Partnership entered into agreements with certain lessees to either modify or terminate existing coal related leases that resulted in the Partnership recognizing approximately $35$40.4 million of deferred revenue in April 2016 as follows:
An agreement that terminated a central Appalachia coal royalty lease and resulted in the lessee forfeiting the right to recoup $26.2 million of minimum royalties previously paid to the Partnership. The Partnership agreed to transfer its coal mineral rights that were subject to this former lease to the lessee. This terminated lease had no current or planned production and the mineral rights transferred had zero net book value on the Partnership's consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016. As a result of this transaction, in April 2016 the Partnership recognized $26.2 million of revenue.
Lease modifications of existing coal royalty leases resulted in lessee forfeiture of rights to recoup previously paid minimum royalties and the reduction in lessee recoupment time. As a result of these modifications, in Aprilthe first and second quarters of 2016 the Partnership recognized approximately $9$10.7 million of revenue.
The Partnership recognized $3.5 million of revenue from various other coal and aggregates lease modifications, terminations and forfeitures during the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, there was less than $0.1 million of revenue recognized from coal and aggregate lease modifications, terminations or forfeitures.

NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—CONTINUED
(Unaudited)




18.17.    Subsequent Events

The following represents material events that have occurred subsequent to JuneSeptember 30, 2016 through the time of the Partnership’s filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the SEC:

Distribution Declared

On July 20,October 26, 2016 the Board of Directors of GP Natural Resource Partners LLC declared a distribution of $0.45 per unit to be paid by the Partnership on August 12,November 14, 2016 to unitholders of record on August 5,November 7, 2016.

SaleClosing of Non-Operated Oil and Gas Working Interest Assets and Repayment of RBL FacilityRoyalty Sale

In July, NRP Oil and GasNovember 2016, the Partnership sold its non operated oil and gas working interest assets locatedmineral fee interests in the Williston BasinGrant County, Oklahoma for $116.1$7.5 million in gross cash proceeds, subject to customary closing conditions and purchase price adjustments, and recorded a gain of approximately $6$1.8 million. The effective date of the sale was April 1, 2016. A portion of these net proceeds were used to repay the NRP Oil and Gas RBL Facility in full.







ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINACNIALFINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements included in this 10-Q may constitute forward-looking statements. In addition, we and our representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements which are also forward-looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding:
our business strategy;
our liquidity and access to capital and financing sources;
our financial strategy;
prices of and demand for coal, trona and soda ash, construction aggregates crude oil and natural gas, frac sand and other natural resources;
estimated revenues, expenses and results of operations;
the amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures;
our ability to consummate planned asset sales and execute on our long-term strategic plan;
projected production levels by our lessees and VantaCore Partners LLC ("VantaCore"), and the operators of our oil and gas working interests;
Ciner Wyoming LLC’s ("Ciner Wyoming") trona mining and soda ash refinery operations;
the impact of governmental policies, laws and regulations, as well as regulatory and legal proceedings involving us, and of scheduled or potential regulatory or legal changes; and
global and U.S. economic conditions.

These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof and are made based upon our current plans, expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting us and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. See "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 for important factors that could cause our actual results of operations or our actual financial condition to differ.

As used herein, unless the context otherwise requires: "we," "our," "us" and the "Partnership" refer to Natural Resource Partners L.P. and, where the context requires, our subsidiaries. References to "NRP" and "Natural Resource Partners" refer to Natural Resource Partners L.P. only, and not to NRP (Operating) LLC or any of Natural Resource Partners L.P.’s subsidiaries. References to "Opco" refer to NRP (Operating) LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRP, and its subsidiaries. References to "NRP Oil and Gas" refer to NRP Oil and Gas LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRP. NRP Finance Corporation ("NRP Finance") is a wholly owned subsidiary of NRP and a co-issuer with NRP on the 9.125% senior notes.

Introduction

The following discussion and analysis presents management’s view of our business, financial condition and overall performance and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and footnotes included elsewhere in this filing. Our discussion and analysis consists of the following subjects:
Executive Overview
Results of Operations
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Unrestricted Subsidiary Information
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions


Related Party Transactions
Recent Accounting Standards


Executive Overview

We are a diversified natural resource company engaged principally in the business of owning, managing and leasing a diversified portfolio of mineral properties in the United States, including interests in coal, trona and soda ash, construction aggregates frac sand, crude oil and natural gas, and other natural resources. Our business is organized into fourthree operating segments:

Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other—consists primarily of coal royalty and coal related transportation and processing assets. Other assets include aggregate royalty, industrial mineral royalty, oil and industrial mineralsgas royalty assets and timber. Our coal reserves are primarily located in Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Western United States. Our aggregates and industrial minerals are located in a number of states across the United States. As a result of the sale of our non-operated oil and gas working interest assets and exit from this oil and gas business in the third quarter of 2016, we transitioned management responsibilities and reporting of our oil and gas royalty assets into the Coal Royalty and Other operating segment. We have adjusted the corresponding items of segment information for prior periods to reflect this change. In February 2016, we sold reserves and related royalty rights at three aggregates operations located in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee. In February 2016, we also sold royalty and overriding royalty interests in several oil and gas producing properties located in the Appalachian Basin.

Soda Ash—consists of our 49% non-controlling equity interest in a trona ore mining operation and soda ash refinery in the Green River Basin, Wyoming. Ciner Resources LP, our operating partner, mines the trona, processes it into soda ash, and distributes the soda ash both domestically and internationally into the glass and chemicals industries. We receive regular quarterly distributions from this business.

VantaCore—consists of our construction materials business acquired in October 2014 that operates hard rock quarries, an underground limestone mine, sand and gravel plants, asphalt plants and marine terminals. VantaCore operates in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Louisiana.
 

Oil and Gas—consists of our royalty interests and overriding royalty interests in oil and natural gas properties. We own fee mineral, royalty and overriding royalty interests in oil and gas properties in Oklahoma and Louisiana. In February 2016, we sold royalty and overriding royalty interests in several producing properties located in the Appalachian Basin. In July 2016, we completed the sale of all of our Williston Basin non-operated working interest assets in North Dakota and Montana. During the third quarter of 2016, we plan to transition the management responsibilities and reporting of its remaining oil and gas royalty assets into the Coal and Hard Minerals Royalty and Other operating segment.

For the sixnine months end Juneended September 30, 2016, our financial results included (in thousands):
Revenues and other income$214,073
$311,947
Net income from continuing operations$74,984
$91,403
Adjusted EBITDA (1)$145,481
$204,416
  
Operating cash flow provided by continuing operations$38,646
$74,547
Investing cash flow provided by continuing operations$43,253
$53,510
Financing cash flow used by continuing operations$(101,712)
Financing cash flow (used in) continuing operations$(76,869)
Distributable Cash Flow ("DCF") (1)$82,489
$238,701
     
(1)See "Results of Operations" below for additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

We continue to take proactive steps with a long-term view to address our debt maturities, and we have engaged Greenhill & Co., LLC to advise us in connection with these efforts. We are currently in active discussions with several institutional investors that may provide new equity capital to us. In addition, we have begun discussions with representatives of several holders of the NRP Senior Notes, and we may determine to pursue a refinancing or an exchange of some or all those notes.

As we pursue these capital markets transactions, we will continue to manage our business with a focus on debt reduction, cost management, and maximizing opportunities within our current asset base, including additional asset sales. The coal markets have shown improvement during the third quarter of 2016, particularly with respect to metallurgical coal, and we expect our coal royalty business to benefit from the higher pricing environment. However, to the extent that we are unable to execute on our opportunistic capital raising and/or debt refinancing efforts on favorable terms and the coal markets do not show a sustained improvement, our liquidity may be adversely affected. Accordingly, we may consider other alternatives over the next several months to manage our liquidity and address our 2018 debt maturities.


Current Liquidity, PositionManagement’s Forecast and Going Concern Analysis

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016, we had $21.4a total of $92.4 million of cash and cash equivalents as well as $2.0 million in cash related to our discontinued operations.equivalents. During the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, we repaidreduced our debt by approximately $108.5$171.2 million of debt including $48.5by repaying $85.0 million of the Opco’s senior notes and utility local improvement obligation, $50.0 million under Opco’s revolving credit facility and $10.0 million under the NRP Oil and Gas RBLreserve based lending facility each discussed below. In July 2016, we repaid the remaining balance of $75.0 million under the NRP Oil and Gas RBL facility in full with a portion(the "RBL Facility"), $56.0 of the proceeds fromOpco Private Placement Notes (as defined below), $30.0 million of the sale of allOpco Credit Facility (as defined below) and $0.2 million of our non-operated oil and gas working interests assets.Opco utility local improvement obligation

WeWhile we have significanta diversified portfolio of assets and a history and continued forecast of profitable operations with positive operating cash flows, our operating results and credit metrics have been impacted by challenges in coal and other commodity markets. The following going concern analysis includes an evaluation of relevant conditions and events, including our business performance and forecast, and our ability to meet our obligations and remain in compliance with our debt service requirements, including $80.8covenants over the next twelve months.

The Partnership has $425.0 million in principal payments on Opco's senior notes9.125% Senior Notes maturing in October 2018 (the "Opco"NRP Senior Notes") due each year through 2018, and scheduled commitment reductions. As of September 30, 2016, Opco had $260.0 million of indebtedness outstanding under Opco’s $260.0 millionits revolving credit facility (the "Opco Credit Facility") by $50with scheduled commitment reductions of $50.0 million aton December 31, 2016, an additional $30$30.0 million aton June 30, 2017, $30.0 million on December 31, 2017 and the remaining $150 million on June 30, 2018. In addition, as of September 30, 2016 Opco had $529.9 million outstanding under several series of Private Placement Notes with scheduled principal payments of $80.8 million through September 30, 2017 (the "Opco Private Placement Notes") (collectively referred to as the "Opco Debt agreements"). The maximum leverage ratio under the Opco Debt agreements is required not to exceed 4.0x. In addition, the Opco Debt agreements contain certain additional customary negative covenants that, among other items, restrict Opco’s ability to incur additional debt, grant liens on its assets, make investments, sell assets and engage in business combinations.


an additional $30.0 million at December 31, 2017.We currently forecast that we will meet our obligations, including scheduled principal and interest payments, that we will remain in compliance with our debt covenants, and that we will continue as a going concern. However, our forecast is sensitive to commodity demand and pricing and counterparty risk. In addition, the debt principal payments scheduled in 2017 will strain our operating results continueliquidity. Inability to be impactedmake these payments would result in an event of default and could result in Opco’s lenders accelerating Opco’s debt. Breaches of the Opco debt covenants that are not waived or cured, to the extent possible, would have a similar effect. Any such acceleration by the adverse conditionsOpco lenders would result in a cross-default under the commodity markets.NRP Indenture. We continue to implement our long-term plan to strengthen our balance sheet, reduce debt and enhance liquidityare currently pursuing or considering a number of actions in order to reposition the Partnership for future growth. As part of this plan, we reduced our cash distributions during 2015 by over 87%. The cash savings resulting from the distribution reductions are being used primarily to repay debt. We also reduced general and administrative and other overhead costs in connection with these efforts.

However, we have determined that the cash savings from the distribution cuts and our cost reduction efforts will not be sufficient to meet our deleveraging objectives and have determined to sell certain assets and pursue alternative financing arrangements to help meet these objectives. In February 2016, we sold the aggregates reserves and related royalty rights at three aggregates operations located in Texas, Georgia and Tennessee for $10.0 million in cash. In February 2016, we also sold royalty and overriding royalty interests in several producing properties located in the Appalachian Basin, including our overriding royalty interests in the Marcellus Shale, for $37.5 million in cash. The sale included royalty and overriding royalty interests in approximately 765 gross producing wells as of December 31, 2015. In July 2016, we completed the sale of NRP Oil and Gas LLC's non-operated working interest oil and gas assets in the Williston Basin for $116.1 million in cash, subject to customary post-closing purchase price adjustments, and used a portion of the proceeds to repay the $75.0 million of outstanding borrowings on the NRP Oil and Gas RBL Facility in full. This sale had an effective date of April 1, 2016.

While we have closed several asset sale transactions, if we are unable to complete additional asset sales and/or pursue alternative financing transactions and conditions in the commodity markets do not improve,manage our liquidity and mitigate the effects of adverse market developments that could affect our ability to repay debt and comply with the financial and other restrictive covenants contained inunder our debt agreements will be adversely affected. See "—Management's Forecast and Strategic Plan" below for further discussion.agreements.

Current Results/Market Outlook

Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Business Segment

For the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, our Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other business segment financial results included the following (in thousands):
Revenues and other income$117,098
$193,114
Net income from continuing operations$86,277
$137,802
Adjusted EBITDA (1)$102,330
$168,979
  
Operating cash flow provided by continuing operations$55,908
$91,372
Investing cash flow provided by continuing operations$12,796
$57,834
Financing cash flow used by continuing operations$(93,161)
Distributable Cash Flow ("DCF") (1)$68,709
DCF (1)$149,206
     
(1)See "Results of Operations" below for additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

AlthoughWe stands to benefit from recent improvements in both the thermal and metallurgical coal markets. The metallurgical coal markets remain challenged in the near term, pricesparticular have improved recently for both commodities.  Assignificantly over the last few months, with global contract and spot prices in excess of June 30, 2016, coal$200 per ton due to supply shortages caused by China’s recent production cutbacks, operational disruptions in Australia, and the significant number of mine closures in the United States was down approximately 27% over 2015 production, and warm summer weather has led to drawdowns from inventories.  However, there are still significant stockpiles at the utilities, and the strong dollar remainsStates. As a headwind for exports.  We believe that additional tons will come outresult of the increased pricing, some of the higher-quality coal from our properties that is typically sold by our lessees into the thermal market is now being sold by our lessees into the metallurgical markets, which command a higher price per ton than the thermal markets. We expect this trend to continue to the extent the metallurgical markets

show sustained improvements. We derived approximately 32% of our coal royalty revenues and approximately 37% of the related production from metallurgical coal during the nine months ended September 30, 2016. The domestic thermal coal markets have also shown modest improvements, as production cuts over the remainder of 2016, but that the market is moving towards an equilibrium that could leadlast year have rationalized coal stockpiles. Higher recent natural gas prices have also caused thermal coal to improved pricing in 2017.

Although thebe more competitive for electricity generation. Despite these improvements, U.S. coal industry isproducers remain under pressure we do not know to what extent our properties will be affected. A numberas a result of coal producers have filed petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11a strong U.S. Dollar, continued excessive governmental regulation of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code,coal-fired power generation facilities, and additional producers may file for bankruptcy. Historically, our leases have generally been assumed and all pre-petition bankruptcy amounts have been cured in full in our lessees’ bankruptcy processes, but we have no assurance this will continue in the future. Alpha Natural Resources ("Alpha"), which is our second largest lessee, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 2015. Alpha has continued operating and paying royalties to us following the bankruptcy filing. Alpha’s planan oversupply of reorganization was approved in July 2016, and the majority of our leases were accepted and assumed by either Contura Energy, which acquired certain core coal assets from Alpha in the bankruptcy, or by the reorganized Alpha. We expect to receive all pre-petition amounts due to us with respect to the leases assumed. We believe that each of Contura and the reorganized Alpha will continue to rationalize coal production until the


coal markets stabilize. We do not know to what extent our properties will be affected. Arch Coal, Inc. ("Arch") and Peabody Energy Corporation ("Peabody") filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2016 and April 2016, respectively. Our overall exposure to both Arch and Peabody is immaterial; however, we expect our Arch leases to be assumed in the third quarter and to receive all pre-petition amounts due to us.

Whilenatural gas. In particular, producers of Central Appalachian thermal coal continue to face challenges, as their production costs remain high relative to sales prices. We have struggled for an extended period due tosuccessfully navigated the high cost naturebankruptcies of their operations, productionseveral of our lessees, including Alpha Natural Resources, and have had substantially all of our leases assumed or assigned and received substantially all past-due amounts in these bankruptcies.

Production from our Illinois Basin properties also decreased by 34%27% in the first sixnine months of 2016 as compared to the same period in 2015. Substantially all of the decrease in production from our Illinois Basin properties is attributable to the idling of Foresight Energy's Deer Run mine (which we also refer to as our Hillsboro property) as a result of elevated carbon monoxide levels at the mine beginning in March 2015. In July 2015, we received a notice from Foresight Energy declaring a resulting force majeure event at the Deer Run mine. While we have filed a lawsuit disputing Foresight Energy’s claim of force majeure, the effect of a valid force majeure declaration would relieve Foresight Energy of its obligation to pay us quarterly minimum deficiency payments with respect to the Deer Run mine until mining resumes. Under the lease for the Deer Run mine, Foresight Energy is required to make minimum deficiency payments to us of $7.5 million per quarter, or $30.0 million per year. The amount payable to us as the minimum deficiency payment with respect to any quarter is reduced by the amount of coal royalties actually paid to us for tonnage sold at the mine with respect to that quarter. We received royalty payments on tonnage sold from coal stockpiles at the Deer Run mine during 2015, but these stockpiles have been depleted. Foresight Energy’s failure to make the deficiency payments with respect to the second, third and fourth quarters of 2015 and the first, halfsecond and third quarters of 2016 resulted in a cumulative negative cash impact to us of $31.0$38.5 million. Such amount will increase for each quarter during which mining operations continue to be idled. Foresight Energy has temporarily sealed the mine, and is continuing efforts to cure the elevated carbon monoxide levels, but we do not know when, or if, mining activities at the Deer Run mine will recommence.

While the metallurgical coal markets continue to remain depressed, the benchmark pricing has increased over 10% in 2016, and recent spot prices have exceeded $100/ton. We derived approximately 34% of our coal royalty revenues and 38% of the related production from metallurgical coal during the six months ended June 30, 2016. The global metallurgical coal market continues to suffer from oversupply driven in part by reduced demand from China. Domestic coal producers are also burdened by the effects of the relatively strong U.S. dollar, which increases the production cost of domestic coal producers relative to foreign producers.

Soda Ash Business Segment

For the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, our Soda Ash business segment financial results included the following (in thousands):
Revenues and other income$19,989
$30,742
Net income from continuing operations$19,989
$30,742
Adjusted EBITDA (1)$22,050
$34,300
  
Operating cash flow provided by continuing operations$22,050
$34,300
Financing cash flow used by continuing operations$(22,050)$(7,229)
Distributable Cash Flow ("DCF") (1)$22,050
DCF (1)$34,300
     
(1)See "Results of Operations" below for additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Income from our trona mining and soda ash refinery investment was lower year-over-year for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 due2016. This decrease is primarily related to certain operationallower international prices compared to the prior year, in addition to higher royalty and G&A costs. These decreases were partially offset by higher production related issues. We believe these issues have been resolved,compared to the market remains firm, and that we expect to see operational improvements from Ciner Wyoming over the remainder of theprior year. Domestic sales volumes, which are typically sold at higher prices than soda ash sold internationally, have remained relatively stable. Ciner Resources LP.,LP, our partner that controls and operates Ciner Wyoming, is a publicly traded master limited partnership that predominantly depends on distributions from Ciner Wyoming in order to make distributions to its public unitholders.



VantaCore Business Segment

For the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, our VantaCore business segment financial results included the following (in thousands):
Revenues and other income$56,333
$88,091
Net income from continuing operations$2,402
$3,441
Adjusted EBITDA (1)$9,654
$14,454
  
Operating cash flow provided by continuing operations$12,323
$16,680
Investing cash flow used by continuing operations$(3,890)$(4,324)
Financing cash flow used by continuing operations$(3,819)$(1,593)
Distributable Cash Flow ("DCF") (1)$9,018
DCF (1)$13,111
     
(1)See "Results of Operations" below for additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP financial measures.

VantaCore’s construction aggregates mining and production business is largely dependent on the strength of the local markets that it serves and is also seasonal, with lower production and sales expected during the first quarter of each year due to winter weather.serves. VantaCore’s Laurel Aggregates operation in southwestern Pennsylvania serves producers and oilfield service companies operating in the Marcellus and Utica Shales and was impacted during the first halfnine months of 2016 by the slowing pace of exploration and development of natural gas in those areas due to low natural gas prices. Increased local construction activity partially offset these declines during the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016, but we expect that Laurel’s business will continue to be impacted by decreased natural gas development activities. In June 2015, VantaCore purchased a hard rock quarry operation located on the Tennessee River near Grand Rivers, Kentucky from one of NRP’s aggregates lessees that had previously idled the operation. This operation continues to lease reserves from NRP and sells its produced limestone aggregates in both the local market and downstream to river-based markets. While VantaCore's production and revenues have declined in 2016 compared to 2015, it's effective variable cost management strategiesefforts have enabled the business to maintain its 2016 net income within budget.profitability.

Oil and Gas Business SegmentDiscontinued Operations

On June 14,In July 2016, NRP Oil and Gas signed a definitive agreement to sellclosed on the sale of its non-operated oil and gas working interest assets in the Williston Basin for $116.1 million, subject to customary closing conditions and purchase price adjustments. In July 2016, NRP Oil and Gas closed this transaction. The Partnership's exit from its non-operated oil and gas working interest business represented a strategic shift to reduce debt and focus on its aggregates, soda ash, coal royalty and coal and hard mineralsconstruction aggregates business segments. As a result, we have classified the assets and liabilities, operating results and cash flows of our non-operated oil and gas working interest assets as discontinued operations in our consolidated financial statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows for all periods presented. Additionally, the related assets and liabilities associated with discontinued operations are classified as held for sale in our consolidated balance sheets. The assets and liabilities as of June 30, 2016 are classified as current in our consolidated balance sheet as we closed on the transaction in July 2016.



Management’s Forecast and Strategic Plan
Opco’s revolving credit facility has scheduled commitment reductions as described above and matures in June 2018 and NRP’s 9.125% Senior Notes mature in October 2018. We believe we need to significantly improve our leverage ratios prior to the maturity thereof in order to be able to refinance or restructure such debt. We remain committed to our strategic plan announced in April 2015 to improve our balance sheet and reduce leverage, and intend to take all necessary steps to execute on that plan, including through asset sales and other means. During the first quarter of 2016, we completed asset sales for $46.3 million in gross proceeds. In July 2016 we closed on the sale of our NRP Oil and Gas non-operated working interest assets in the Williston Basin for $116.1 million in gross proceeds and repaid the NRP Oil and Gas revolving credit facility in full. However, we believe deterioration in the commodity markets will continue to have a negative impact on our results of operations, which in turn may prevent us from achieving our leverage ratio goals including those in our debt agreement financial covenants. Historically, we have accessed the debt and equity capital markets on a regular basis and relied on bank credit facilities to finance our business activities. However, due to the current commodity price environment and the state of the coal markets in particular, we believe we do not currently have the ability to access either the traditional debt or equity capital markets. In addition, the volatility in the energy industry combined with recent bankruptcies and additional perceived credit risks of companies with coal and/or oil and gas exposure has resulted in traditional bank lenders seeking to reduce or eliminate their lending exposure to these companies. Accordingly, we will be required over the near term to run our business and service our debt through cash from operations or asset sales. In addition, we may be required to seek financing from non-traditional sources at unfavorable pricing or with unfavorable terms to run our business or to refinance or restructure our 2018 debt maturities.

While NRP has a diversified portfolio of assets and a history and continued forecast of profitable operations with positive operating cash flows, its operating results and credit metrics continue to be impacted by demand challenges for coal. In particular, as described in Note 8. Debt and Debt—Affiliate, Opco, a wholly owned subsidiary of NRP, has debt agreements that contain customary financial covenants, including maintenance covenants, and other covenants. In addition, NRP has issued $425 million of 9.125% Senior Notes that are governed by an indenture (the "Indenture") containing customary incurrence-based financial covenants and other covenants, but not maintenance covenants. In July 2016, NRP Oil and Gas LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, closed the sale of its Williston Basin non-operated working interest assets and used a portion of the proceeds to repay the RBL Facility in full. The following discussion presents management’s going concern analysis in light of management’s outlook and strategic plan to address its debt covenant compliance and maturities.

As of June 30, 2016, Opco had $260.0 million of indebtedness outstanding under the Opco Credit Facility with scheduled commitment reductions of $50.0 million on December 31, 2016, $30.0 million on June 30, 2017, $30.0 million on December 31, 2017 and the remaining $150 million on June 30, 2018. In addition, as of June 30, 2016 Opco had $537.6 million outstanding under the Opco Senior Notes with scheduled principal payments of $80.8 million through June 30, 2017 (collectively referred to as the "Opco Debt agreements"). The maximum leverage ratio under the Opco Debt agreements is required not to exceed 4.0x. In addition, the Opco Debt agreements contain certain additional customary negative covenants that, among other items, restrict Opco’s ability to incur additional debt, grant liens on its assets, make investments, sell assets and engage in business combinations. Opco's leverage ratio was 2.84x at June 30, 2016. The agreements governing the Opco Senior Notes also include a covenant that provides that, in the event Opco or any of its subsidiaries are subject to any additional or more restrictive covenants under the agreements governing its material indebtedness (including the Opco Credit Facility), such covenants shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Opco Senior notes and the holders of the Opco Senior Notes shall receive the benefit of such additional or more restrictive covenants to the same extent as the lenders under such material indebtedness agreement. Certain holders of the Opco Senior Notes have communicated to us that they believe they are entitled to consideration under this provision in connection with the First Amendment to the Opco Credit Facility.  We are evaluating the noteholders’ assertions and are in active discussions with them. 

Our going concern analysis includes an evaluation of relevant conditions and events including the Partnership's ability to meet its obligations and remain in compliance with its debt covenants over the next twelve months. We currently forecast that we will meet the Partnership's obligations, that we will be in compliance with all of the covenants under the Opco Debt agreements and that we will continue as a going concern. However, breaches of the Opco Debt agreement covenants that are not waived or cured, to the extent possible, would result in an event of default under the Opco Debt agreements, and if such debt is accelerated by the lenders thereunder, such acceleration would also result in a cross-default under the Indenture. We are currently pursuing or considering a number of actions in order to mitigate the effects of adverse market developments which could otherwise cause us to breach financial covenants under the Opco Debt agreements. These actions include (i) dispositions of assets, (ii) actively managing our debt capital structure through a number of potential alternatives, including exchange offers and non-traditional debt and equity financing, (iii) minimizing our capital expenditures, (iv) obtaining waivers or amendments from our lenders, (v)


effectively managing our working capital, (vi) improving our cash flows from operations and (vii) engaging legal and financial advisers to assist us in this process.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015

Revenues and Other Income

Revenues and other income decreased $5.5$16.1 million, or 4%14%, from $123.7$114.0 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $118.2$97.9 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. The following table shows our diversified sources of revenues and other income by business segment for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands except for percentages):
 Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Total Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Total
2016                  
Revenues and other income $76,463

$10,188

$31,651

$(56) $118,246
 $55,363

$10,753

$31,758

$97,874
Percentage of total 64% 9% 27%  %   57% 11% 32%  
2015                  
Revenues and other income $70,150

$11,599

$41,042

$892
 $123,683
 $62,222

$12,617

$39,193

$114,032
Percentage of total 57% 9% 33% 1 %   55% 11% 34%  

The changes in revenue and other income is discussed for each of the Partnership's business segments below:



Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other

Revenues and other income related to our Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other segment increased $6.3decreased $6.8 million, or 9%11%, from $70.2$62.2 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $76.5$55.4 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

The table below presents coal royalty production and coal royalty revenues (including affiliates) derived from our major coal producing regions hard mineral royalty income and the significant categories of other coal and hard mineral royalty and other revenues:
For the Three Months Ended June 30, 
Increase
(Decrease)
 
Percentage
Change
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 
Increase
(Decrease)
 
Percentage
Change
2016 2015 2016 2015 
(In thousands, except percent and per ton data)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except percent and per ton data)
(Unaudited)
Coal royalty production (tons)       
Coal production (tons)       
Appalachia              
Northern (1)(138)
4,318
 (4,456) (103)%(356)
1,518
 (1,874) (123)%
Central3,470

4,376
 (906) (21)%3,348

4,642
 (1,294) (28)%
Southern773

1,174
 (401) (34)%683

851
 (168) (20)%
Total Appalachia4,105

9,868
 (5,763) (58)%3,675

7,011
 (3,336) (48)%
Illinois Basin1,909

2,960
 (1,051) (36)%2,411

2,722
 (311) (11)%
Northern Powder River Basin442

892
 (450) (50)%1,318

1,301
 17
 1 %
Gulf Coast

300
 (300) (100)%

361
 (361) (100)%
Total coal royalty production6,456
 14,020
 (7,564) (54)%
Total coal production7,404
 11,395
 (3,991) (35)%

              
Average coal royalty revenue per ton       
Coal royalty revenue per ton       
Appalachia              
Northern
N/A (1)


$0.16
 
N/A (1)

 
N/A (1)

N/A (1)


$0.50
 
N/A (1)

 
N/A (1)

Central3.13

4.04
 (0.91) (23)%3.28

3.76
 (0.48) (13)%
Southern3.36

4.60
 (1.24) (27)%3.83

4.18
 (0.35) (8)%
Total Appalachia3.39

2.41
 0.98
 41 %
Illinois Basin3.76

3.90
 (0.14) (4)%3.63

4.05
 (0.42) (10)%
Northern Powder River Basin3.05

2.32
 0.73
 31 %3.27

2.80
 0.47
 17 %
Gulf Coast

3.49
 (3.49) (100)%

4.26
 (4.26) (100)%
Combined average coal royalty revenue per ton3.48

2.74
 0.74
 27 %

              
Coal royalty revenues              
Appalachia              
Northern (1)$463
 $708
 $(245) (35)%$370
 $763
 $(393) (52)%
Central10,864
 17,670
 (6,806) (39)%10,994
 17,440
 (6,446) (37)%
Southern2,598
 5,399
 (2,801) (52)%2,618
 3,561
 (943) (26)%
Total Appalachia13,925
 23,777
 (9,852) (41)%13,982
 21,764
 (7,782) (36)%
Illinois Basin7,181

11,538
 (4,357) (38)%8,745

11,015
 (2,270) (21)%
Northern Powder River Basin1,348

2,071
 (723) (35)%4,314

3,641
 673
 18 %
Gulf Coast

1,047
 (1,047) (100)%

1,537
 (1,537) (100)%
Total coal royalty revenue$22,454
 $38,433
 $(15,979) (42)%$27,041
 $37,957
 $(10,916) (29)%

              
Other Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other revenues       
Other revenues       
Override revenue$657

$1,071
 $(414) (39)%$615

$433
 $182
 42 %
Transportation and processing fees5,302

6,465
 (1,163) (18)%6,127

5,338
 789
 15 %
Minimums recognized as revenue43,527

4,706
 38,821
 825 %9,755

3,234
 6,521
 202 %
Gain on reserve swap

9,290
 (9,290) (100)%
Lease assignment fee

6,000
 (6,000) (100)%
Wheelage465

939
 (474) (50)%919

401
 518
 129 %
Hard mineral royalty revenues603

2,261
 (1,658) (73)%700

3,118
 (2,418) (78)%
Gain on asset sales67

3,056
 (2,989) (98)%
Oil and gas royalty revenues1,283
 969
 314
 32 %
Property tax revenue3,027

3,070
 (43) (1)%2,567

2,528
 39
 2 %
Other361

859
 (498) (58)%(69)
(12) (57) (475)%
Total other Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other revenue$54,009
 $31,717
 $22,292
 70 %
Total Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other revenue$76,463
 $70,150
 $6,313
 9 %
Total other revenues$21,897
 $22,009
 $(112) (1)%
Coal royalty and other income48,938
 59,966
 (11,028) (18)%
Gain on coal royalty and other segment asset sales6,425

2,256
 4,169
 185 %
Total coal royalty and other segment revenues and other income$55,363
 $62,222
 $(6,859) (11)%
     
(1) Northern Appalachia was impacted by a prior period adjustment of 0.40.5 million tons and less than $0.1 million in royalty revenue primarily related to the Hibbs Run mine that ceased production during 2016. Absent this adjustment, production in the Northern Appalachia region was 0.2 million tons, average revenue per ton was $2.08$1.97 and revenue was $0.4 million.



Total coal production decreased 7.54.0 million tons, or 54%35%, from 14.011.4 million tons in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to 6.57.4 million tons in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. Total coal royalty revenues decreased $15.9$11 million, or 42%29%, from $38.4$38.0 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $22.5$27.0 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. Total production and revenue decreased in all of our regions, with a corresponding decrease in revenue in all regions. Total revenues and other income within the segment increased as a result of several lease modifications and terminationsdriven by downward pressure in the second quarter of 2016 that more than offset the decreasecoal markets as described above, with Central Appalachian thermal coal producers in coal royalty revenues.particular continuing to face challenges, as their production costs remain high relative to sales prices.

Soda Ash

Revenues and other income related to our Soda Ash segmentequity investment in Ciner Wyoming decreased $1.4$1.8 million, or 12%14%, from $11.6$12.6 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $10.2$10.8 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily related to lower domestic(i) higher royalty rates for certain leases, (ii) higher G&A costs from increased investment in information technology and international prices compared to the prior year.(iii) higher variable costs and DD&A resulting from greater soda ash production quarter-over-quarter. These decreases at Ciner Wyoming were partially offset by increased sale revenue resulting from higher soda ash production quarter-over-quarter.

VantaCore

Revenues and other income related to our VantaCore segment decreased $9.3$7.4 million, or 23%19%, from $41.0$39.2 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $31.7$31.8 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily due to a reductiondecrease in construction aggregates and brokered stone revenue as well as reduced delivery and fuel income quarter-over-quarter. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in construction revenue. Tonnage sold by the VantaCore segment decreased 0.20.3 million tons, or 10%14% from 2.02.1 million tons in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to 1.8 million tons in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016.2016 primarily as a result of decreased construction aggregates demand in the oil and gas services sector that was partially offset by increased construction aggregates sales into the construction market.

Operating and Maintenance Expenses (including affiliates)

Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) decreased $8.1$4.2 million, or 20%11%, from $40.3$39.5 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $32.2$35.3 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily related to the following:

VantaCore

Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) in our VantaCore segment decreased $8.1$5.8 million, or 25%18% from $32.6$32.7 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $24.5$26.9 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily due to effective variable cost management and the decline in materials cost as a result of the decrease in construction aggregates and brokered stone sales volume quarter-over-quarter.quarter-over-quarter due to reduced demand in the oil and gas sector, a decrease in delivery and fuel costs due to the lower construction aggregates production and brokered stone purchases quarter over quarter and effective variable cost management.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization ("DD&A") Expense

DD&A expense decreased $7.9$3.6 million, or 41%22%, from $19.1$16.4 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $11.2$12.8 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily related to the reduction of the cost basis of our coal and aggregateaggregates royalty mineral rights due to the asset impairments recorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2015 and the decline in coal royalty production quarter-over-quarter.

General and Administrative (including affiliates) ("G&A") Expense

Corporate and financing G&A expense (including affiliates) includes corporate headquarters, financing and centralized treasury and accounting. These costs increased $1.8$0.9 million, or 82%21%, from $2.2$4.2 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $4.0$5.1 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This increase is primarily related to increased legal and advisory fees related to the implementation of our long-term plan to strengthen our balance sheet, reduce debt and enhance liquidity in order to reposition the Partnership for future growth.liquidity.


Asset Impairments

Asset impairments decreased $356.0 million, or 98%, from $361.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2015 to $5.7 million in the three months ended September 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily related to $247.8 million in coal property impairment, $70.5 million in oil and gas property impairment and $43.4 million in hard mineral property impairment recorded during the third quarter of 2015 as compared to $3.8 million in coal property impairment and $1.4 million in hard mineral property impairment recorded during the third quarter of 2016. The impairments in 2015 primarily resulted from the continued deterioration and expectations of further reductions in global and domestic coal demand due to reduced global steel demand, sustained low natural gas prices, and continued regulatory pressure on the electric power generation industry.

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

LossIncome from discontinued operations decreased $1.6increased $276.4 million, or 42%, from a loss of $3.8$269.3 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to a lossincome of $2.2$7.1 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decreaseThe change in income (loss) from discontinued operations is primarily related to less DD&A expense in the three months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to 2015 as a result of the reduction of the cost basis of our oil and gas mineral rights due to the$265.1 million asset impairmentsimpairment recorded in the third and fourth quartersquarter of 2015, and the decline in production quarter-over-quarter. This decrease was partially offset by reducedsale of our non-operated oil and gas revenue due to declineworking interest assets that was completed in productionJuly 2016 with an effective date of April 1, 2016 and price quarter-over-quarter.the $8.5 million gain recorded in the third quarter of 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA (a Non-GAAP Financial Measure)

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as net income (loss) from continuing operations less equity earnings from unconsolidated investment, gain on reserve swaps and income to non-controlling interest; plus distributions from equity earnings in unconsolidated investment, interest expense, depreciation, depletion and amortization and asset impairments.

Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income or loss, net income or loss attributable to partners, operating income, cash flows from operating activities or any other measure of financial performance presented in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance, liquidity or ability to service debt obligations. There are significant limitations to using Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of performance, including the inability to analyze the effect of certain recurring items that materially affect our net income (loss), the lack of comparability of results of operations of different companies and the different methods of calculating Adjusted EBITDA reported by different companies.

Adjusted EBITDA is a supplemental performance measure used by our management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others to assess the financial performance of our assets without regard to financing methods, capital structure or historical cost basis.

Adjusted EBITDA increased $10.4decreased $11.5 million, or 15%16%, from $71.2$70.4 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $81.6$58.9 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. The increasedecrease is primarily related to an increase in Coala result of decreased coal production and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other net income, partially offsetcoal royalty revenue per ton quarter-over-quarter driven by lower depreciation expense within each segment quarter-over-quarter.

the continued pressure on U.S. coal producers as described above.


The following table (in thousands) reconciles net income (loss) from continuing operations (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) to Adjusted EBITDA by business segment for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015:
 Operating Segments    Operating Segments    
For the Three Months Ended Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Corporate and Financing Total Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Corporate and Financing Total
June 30, 2016            
September 30, 2016          
Net income (loss) from continuing operations $61,675
 $10,188
 $3,439
 $(522) $(26,147)
$48,633
 $32,250
 $10,753
 $1,039
 $(27,623)
$16,419
Less: equity earnings from unconsolidated investment 
 (10,188) 
 
 

(10,188) 
 (10,753) 
 

(10,753)
Add: distributions from unconsolidated investment 
 9,800
 
 
 

9,800
 
 12,250
 
 

12,250
Add: depreciation, depletion and amortization 7,308
 
 3,690
 178
 

11,176
 9,070
 
 3,761
 

12,831
Add: asset impairment 91
 
 
 
 

91
Add: asset impairments 5,697
 
 
 

5,697
Add: interest expense 
 
 
 
 22,115

22,115
 
 
 
 22,491

22,491
Adjusted EBITDA $69,074
 $9,800
 $7,129
 $(344) $(4,032) $81,627
 $47,017
 $12,250
 $4,800
 $(5,132) $58,935
                      
June 30, 2015            
September 30, 2015          
Net income (loss) from continuing operations $46,528
 $11,599
 $3,613
 $(1,197) $(24,154)
$36,389
 $(318,972) $12,617
 $2,757
 $(27,138)
$(330,736)
Less: equity earnings from unconsolidated investment 
 (11,599) 
 
 

(11,599) 
 (12,617) 
 

(12,617)
Less: gain on reserve swap (9,290) 
 
 
 

(9,290)
Add: distributions from unconsolidated investment 
 10,902
 
 
 

10,902
 
 12,740
 
 

12,740
Add: depreciation, depletion and amortization 12,749
 
 4,865
 1,463
 

19,077
 12,659
 
 3,778
 

16,437
Add: asset impairment 3,803
 
 
 
 

3,803
Add: asset impairments 361,703
 
 
 

361,703
Add: interest expense 
 
 
 
 21,936

21,936
 
 
 
 22,905

22,905
Adjusted EBITDA $53,790
 $10,902
 $8,478
 $266
 $(2,218)
$71,218
 $55,390
 $12,740
 $6,535
 $(4,233)
$70,432

Distributable Cash Flow, or "DCF" (a Non-GAAP Financial Measure)

DCF is a non-GAAP financial measure that we define as net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations, plus returns of unconsolidated equity investments, proceeds from sales of assets, including those included in discontinued operations, and returns of long-term contract receivables—affiliate, less maintenance capital expenditures and distributions to non-controlling interest.

DCF is not a measure of financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities. DCF may not be calculated the same for us as for other companies.

DCF is a supplemental liquidity measure used by our management and by external users of our financial statements, such as investors, commercial banks, research analysts and others to assess the Partnership's ability to make cash distributions to our unitholders and our general partner and repay debt.

DCF decreased $19.9increased $102.0 million, or 44%188%, from $45.2$54.2 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $25.3$156.2 million in the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decreaseincrease is due primarily to the $109.9 million net cash proceeds from the sale of our discontinued operation, partially offset by lower coal production, lower coal royalty productionrevenue per ton and lesslower minimum royalty payments received from our coal leases. These decreases are driven by the continued pressure on U.S. coal producers as described above.

The following table (in thousands) presents the three major categories of the statement of cash flows by business segment for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015:
 Operating Segments    Operating Segments    
For the Three Months Ended Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Corporate and Financing Total Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Corporate and Financing Total
June 30, 2016            
September 30, 2016          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $32,610
 $17,032
 $6,210
 $1,110
 $(33,773) $23,189
 $34,997
 $12,250
 $4,357
 $(15,703) $35,901
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations $2,685
 $
 $(1,672) $1,499
 $
 $2,512
 $10,691
 $
 $(434) $
 $10,257
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations $(47,102) $(17,029) $(2,604) $(2,580) $14,385
 $(54,930) $
 $
 $
 $24,843
 $24,843
                      
June 30, 2015            
September 30, 2015          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $63,071
 $11,567
 $6,625
 $1,435
 $(39,312) $43,386
 $40,389
 $12,762
 $5,841
 $(11,818) $47,174
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations $5,176
 $
 $(3,658) $(337) $
 $1,181
 $8,422
 $
 $(3,057) $
 $5,365
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations $(71,451) $(11,567) $(3,765) $(10,506) $29,847
 $(67,442) $
 $
 $
 $(11,678) $(11,678)


The following table (in thousands) reconciles net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) by business segment to DCF for the three months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015:
 Operating Segments    Operating Segments    
For the Three Months Ended Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Corporate and Financing Total Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Corporate and Financing Total
June 30, 2016            
September 30, 2016          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $34,997
 $12,250
 $4,357
 $(15,703)
$35,901
Add: return on long-term contract receivables—affiliate 397
 
 
 

397
Add: proceeds from sale of PP&E 265
 
 78
 

343
Add: proceeds from sale of mineral rights 10,029
 
 
 

10,029
Add: proceeds from sale of assets included in discontinued operations 
 
 
 
 109,889
Less: maintenance capital expenditures (5) 
 (342) 

(347)
DCF $45,683
 $12,250
 $4,093
 $(15,703) $156,212
          
September 30, 2015          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $32,610
 $17,032
 $6,210
 $1,110
 $(33,773)
$23,189
 $40,389
 $12,762
 $5,841
 $(11,818)
$47,174
Add: return on long-term contract receivables—affiliate 1,871
 
 
 
 

1,871
 984
 
 
 

984
Add: proceeds from sale of PP&E 819
 
 21
 
 

840
 6,228
 
 1
 

6,229
Add: proceeds from sale of mineral rights 
 
 
 1,499
 

1,499
 1,660
 
 
 

1,660
Less: maintenance capital expenditures 
 
 (2,079) 
 

(2,079) (329) 
 (1,511) 

(1,840)
DCF $35,300
 $17,032
 $4,152
 $2,609
 $(33,773) $25,320
 $48,932
 $12,762
 $4,331
 $(11,818) $54,207
            
June 30, 2015            
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $63,071
 $11,567
 $6,625
 $1,435
 $(39,312)
$43,386
Add: proceeds from sale of PP&E 4,350
 
 
 
 

4,350
Add: proceeds from sale of mineral rights 539
 
 
 
 

539
Less: maintenance capital expenditures 158
 
 (1,120) 
 

(962)
Less: distributions to non-controlling interest (1,041) 
 
 (1,041) 

(2,082)
DCF $67,077
 $11,567
 $5,505
 $394
 $(39,312) $45,231

Results of Operations

SixNine Months Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 Compared to SixNine Months Ended Ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015

Revenues and Other Income

Revenues and other income decreased $5.6$21.9 million, or 3%7%, from $219.7$333.8 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $214.1$311.9 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. The following table shows our diversified sources of revenues and other income by business segment for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands except for percentages):
 Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Total Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Total
2016                  
Revenues and other income $117,098
 $19,989
 $56,333
 $20,653
 $214,073
 $193,114
 $30,742
 $88,091
 $311,947
Percentage of total 55% 9% 26% 10%   62% 10% 28%  
2015                  
Revenues and other income $125,275
 $24,122
 $67,841
 $2,507
 $219,745
 $190,004
 $36,739
 $107,034
 $333,777
Percentage of total 57% 11% 31% 1%   57% 11% 32%  

The changes in revenue and other income is discussed for each of the Partnership's business segments below:



Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other

Revenues and other income related to our Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other segment decreased $8.2increased $3.1 million, or 7%2%, from $125.3$190.0 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $117.1$193.1 million in the threenine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

The table below presents coal royalty production and coal royalty revenues (including affiliates) derived from our major coal producing regions hard mineral royalty income and the significant categories of other coal and hard mineral royalty and other revenues:
For the Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
Increase
(Decrease)
 
Percentage
Change
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
Increase
(Decrease)
 
Percentage
Change
2016 2015 2016 2015 
(In thousands, except percent and per ton data)
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except percent and per ton data)
(Unaudited)
Coal royalty production (tons)       
Coal production (tons)       
Appalachia              
Northern1,292

6,063
 (4,771) (79)%479

7,581
 (7,102) (94)%
Central6,698

8,760
 (2,062) (24)%10,046

13,402
 (3,356) (25)%
Southern1,518

2,149
 (631) (29)%2,201

3,000
 (799) (27)%
Total Appalachia9,508
 16,972
 (7,464) (44)%12,726
 23,983
 (11,257) (47)%
Illinois Basin3,637

5,543
 (1,906) (34)%6,056

8,265
 (2,209) (27)%
Northern Powder River Basin1,416

2,196
 (780) (36)%2,734

3,497
 (763) (22)%
Gulf Coast

417
 (417) (100)%

778
 (778) (100)%
Total coal royalty production14,561
 25,128
 (10,567) (42)%
Total coal production21,516
 36,523
 (15,007) (41)%
              
Average coal royalty revenue per ton       
Coal royalty revenue per ton       
Appalachia              
Northern$1.27

$0.22
 $1.05
 477 %$4.19

$0.28
 $3.91
 1,396 %
Central3.19

4.02
 (0.83) (21)%3.22

3.93
 (0.71) (18)%
Southern3.16

4.69
 (1.53) (33)%3.37

4.55
 (1.18) (26)%
Total Appalachia2.92

2.75
 0.17
 6 %
Illinois Basin3.54

3.97
 (0.43) (11)%3.57

4.00
 (0.43) (11)%
Northern Powder River Basin2.82

2.54
 0.28
 11 %3.04

2.64
 0.40
 15 %
Gulf Coast

3.50
 (3.50) (100)%

3.85
 (3.85) (100)%
Combined average coal royalty revenue per ton3.07

3.01
 0.06
 2 %
              
Coal royalty revenues              
Appalachia              
Northern$1,635

$1,342
 $293
 22 %$2,005

$2,105
 $(100) (5)%
Central21,337

35,176
 (13,839) (39)%32,331

52,616
 (20,285) (39)%
Southern4,800

10,085
 (5,285) (52)%7,419

13,646
 (6,227) (46)%
Total Appalachia27,772
 46,603
 (18,831) (40)%41,755
 68,367
 (26,612) (39)%
Illinois Basin12,867

22,005
 (9,138) (42)%21,611

33,020
 (11,409) (35)%
Northern Powder River Basin4,000

5,578
 (1,578) (28)%8,314

9,219
 (905) (10)%
Gulf Coast

1,459
 (1,459) (100)%

2,996
 (2,996) (100)%
Total coal royalty revenue$44,639
 $75,645
 $(31,006) (41)%$71,680
 $113,602
 $(41,922) (37)%
              
Other Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other revenues       
Other revenues
      
Override revenue$867

$1,762
 $(895) (51)%$1,482

$2,195
 $(713) (32)%
Transportation and processing fees9,536

11,062
 (1,526) (14)%15,663

16,400
 (737) (4)%
Minimums recognized as revenue50,492

9,246
 41,246
 446 %60,455

12,480
 47,975
 384 %
Lease assignment fee

6,000
 (6,000) (100)%
Gain on reserve swap

9,290
 (9,290) (100)%

9,290
 (9,290) (100)%
DOH sale268

1,665
 (1,397) (84)%
Wheelage878

1,716
 (838) (49)%1,797

2,117
 (320) (15)%
Hard mineral royalty revenues1,494

4,434
 (2,940) (66)%2,194

7,552
 (5,358) (71)%
Gain on asset sales1,656

4,671
 (3,015) (65)%
Oil and gas royalty revenues2,538
 3,476
 (938) (27)%
Property tax revenue6,332

6,074
 258
 4 %8,899

8,602
 297
 3 %
Other936

(290) 1,226
 (423)%1,136

1,363
 (227) (17)%
Total other Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other revenue$72,459
 $49,630
 $22,829
 46 %
Total Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other revenue$117,098
 $125,275
 $(8,177) (7)%
Total other revenues$94,164
 $69,475
 $24,689
 36 %
Coal royalty and other income165,844
 183,077
 (17,233) (9)%
Gain on coal royalty and other segment asset sales27,270

6,927
 20,343
 294 %
Total coal royalty and other segment revenues and other income$193,114
 $190,004
 $3,110
 2 %

Total coal production decreased 10.515.0 million tons, or 42%41%, from 25.136.5 million tons in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to 14.621.5 million tons in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. Total coal royalty revenues decreased $31.0$41.9 million, or 41%37%, from $75.6$113.6 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $44.6$71.7 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. Total production and royalty revenue decreased in all of our regions, with a corresponding decreaseregions. These decreases are driven by downward pressure in revenue in all but the Northern Appalachia region. Revenue in the Northern Appalachia region increased as a result of decreased production on a lease with a lower royalty rate, offset by increased production

the coal markets, with producers of Central Appalachian thermal coal in particular continuing to face challenges, as their production costs remain high relative to sales prices.

on leases with a higher per ton rate. The decrease in coal royalty revenues was partially offset by ana $48.0 million increase in minimums recognized as revenues due to several lease modifications and terminations in the second quarter of 2016 as well as a $20.3 million increase in gains on asset sales due to the sales of our oil and gas royalty and aggregates royalty businesses in the first quarter of 2016.

Soda Ash

Revenues and other income related to our Soda Ash segmentequity investment in Ciner Wyoming decreased $4.1$6.0 million, or 17%16%, from $24.1$36.7 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $20.0$30.7 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily related to lower domesticinternational prices compared to the prior year, in addition to higher royalty and international pricesG&A costs. These decreases were partially offset by higher production compared to the prior year.

VantaCore

Revenues and other income related to our VantaCore segment decreased $11.5$18.9 million, or 17%18%, from $67.8$107.0 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $56.3$88.1 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily due to a reductiondecrease in construction aggregates and brokered stone revenue as well as reducedlower delivery and fuel income quarter-over-quarter. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in construction revenue.year-over-year. Tonnage sold by the VantaCore segment decreased 0.30.7 million tons, or 9%12% from 3.55.7 million tons in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to 3.25.0 million tons in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

Oil and Gas

Revenues and other income related to our Oil and Gas segment increased $18.2 million from $2.5 million2016 as a result of decreased construction aggregates demand in the six months ended June 30, 2015 to $20.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 2016. This increase was primarily due to a $19.2 million gain recorded on the sale of our oil and gas royalty assets,services sector that was partially offset by lower royalty revenues year-over-year.increased aggregates sales into the construction market.

Operating and Maintenance Expenses (including affiliates)

Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) decreased $12.4$16.6 million, or 17%15%, from $74.9$114.4 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $62.5$97.8 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily related to the following:

VantaCore

Operating and maintenance expenses (including affiliates) in our VantaCore segment decreased $11.4$17.2 million, or 20%19% from $58.0$90.7 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $46.6$73.5 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily due to the decline in materials cost as a result of the decrease in construction aggregates and brokered stone volume year-over-year.year-over-year due to reduced demand in the oil and gas sector and a decrease in delivery and fuel costs due to the lower construction aggregates production and brokered stone purchases year-over-year partially and effective variable cost management.

Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization ("DD&A") Expense

DD&A expense decreased $8.9$12.5 million, or 29%27%, from $30.6$47.0 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $21.7$34.5 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily related to the reduction in the cost basis of our coal and aggregateaggregates royalty mineral rights due to the asset impairments recorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2015 and the decline in production.

coal royalty production year-over-year.
General and Administrative (including affiliates) ("G&A") Expense

Corporate and financing G&A expense (including affiliates) includes corporate headquarters, financing and centralized treasury and accounting. These costs increased $2.6$3.5 million, or 46%36%, from $5.6$9.8 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $8.2$13.3 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This increase is primarily related to increased legal and consulting fees related to the implementation of our long-term plan to strengthen our balance sheet, reduce debt and enhance liquidityliquidity.


Asset Impairments

Asset impairments decreased $357.8 million, or 98%, from $365.5 million in orderthe nine months ended September 30, 2015 to reposition$7.7 million in the Partnership for future growth.nine months ended September 30, 2016. This decrease is primarily related to $249.4 million in coal property impairment, $70.5 million in oil and gas property impairment and $43.4 million in hard mineral property impairment recorded during the first nine months 2015 as compared to $3.9 million in coal property impairment and $1.7 million in hard mineral property impairment recorded during the first nine months of 2016. The impairments in 2015 primarily resulted from the continued deterioration and expectations of further reductions in global and domestic coal demand due to reduced global steel demand, sustained low natural gas prices, and continued regulatory pressure on the electric power generation industry.

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

LossIncome from discontinued operations decreased $5.6increased $282.0 million, or 52%, from a loss of $10.7$280.0 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to a lossincome of $5.1$2.0 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decreaseThe change in income (loss) from discontinued operations is primarily related to less DD&A expense in the six months ended June 30, 2016 as compared to 2015 as a result of the reduction of the cost basis of our oil and gas mineral rights due to the$265.1 million asset impairmentsimpairment recorded in the third and fourth quartersquarter of 2015, and the decline in production year-over-year. This decrease was partially offset by reducedsale of our non-operated oil and gas revenue due to declineworking interest assets that was completed in productionJuly 2016 with an effective date of April 1, 2016 and price year-over-year.


the $8.3 million gain on sale for the nine months ended September 30, 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA (a Non-GAAP Financial Measure)

Adjusted EBITDA increased $17.9$6.3 million, or 14%3%, from $127.6$198.1 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $145.5$204.4 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. The increase is primarily relateda result of $48.0 million increase in minimums recognized as revenue primarily as a result of coal lease modifications or terminations that resulted in our lessee forfeiting their minimum royalty balances. Adjusted EBITDA also increased due to $20.4 million of additional gains on asset sales as compared to the $19.2same period in 2015. These increases were partially offset $41.9 million gainin reduced coal royalty revenue resulting from decreased in coal production and coal royalty revenue per ton driven by the continued pressure on the saleU.S. coal producers as described above, a $6.0 million non-recurring 2015 lease assignment fee and $5.4 million of certain oilreduced aggregates royalty revenue in 2016 due to decreased 2016 aggregates production and gas royalty properties andsales. In addition, this increase was partially offset by lower net income from our Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other segment due$3.5 million of additional G&A expense in the first nine months of 2016 compared to reduced production. See "—Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2015—Adjusted EBITDA (a Non-GAAP Financial Measure)" for explanation of Adjusted EBITDA.2015 as described above.


The following table (in thousands) reconciles net income (loss) from continuing operations (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) to Adjusted EBITDA by business segment for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015:
 Operating Segments    Operating Segments    
For the Six Months Ended Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Corporate and Financing Total
June 30, 2016            
For the Nine Months Ended Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Corporate and Financing Total
September 30, 2016          
Net income (loss) from continuing operations $86,277
 $19,989
 $2,402
 $19,275
 $(52,959)
$74,984
 $137,802
 $30,742
 $3,441
 $(80,582)
$91,403
Less: equity earnings from unconsolidated investment 
 (19,989) 
 
 

(19,989) 
 (30,742) 
 

(30,742)
Add: distributions from unconsolidated investment 
 22,050
 
 
 

22,050
 
 34,300
 
 

34,300
Add: depreciation, depletion and amortization 14,069
 
 7,252
 357
 

21,678
 23,496
 
 11,013
 

34,509
Add: asset impairment 1,984
 
 
 
 

1,984
Add: asset impairments 7,681
 
 
 

7,681
Add: interest expense 
 
 
 
 44,774

44,774
 
 
 
 67,265

67,265
Adjusted EBITDA $102,330
 $22,050
 $9,654
 $19,632
 $(8,185) $145,481
 $168,979
 $34,300
 $14,454
 $(13,317) $204,416
                      
June 30, 2015            
September 30, 2015          
Net income (loss) from continuing operations $83,223

$24,122

$1,122

$1,946

$(49,645)
$60,768
 $(233,803)
$36,739

$3,879

$(76,783)
$(269,968)
Less: equity earnings from unconsolidated investment 

(24,122)






(24,122) 

(36,739)




(36,739)
Less: gain on reserve swap (9,290)








(9,290) (9,290)






(9,290)
Add: distributions from unconsolidated investment 

21,805







21,805
 

34,545





34,545
Add: depreciation, depletion and amortization 22,765



8,721

(895)


30,591
 34,529



12,499



47,028
Add: asset impairment 3,803









3,803
Add: asset impairments 365,506







365,506
Add: interest expense 







44,071

44,071
 





66,976

66,976
Adjusted EBITDA $100,501
 $21,805
 $9,843
 $1,051
 $(5,574) $127,626
 $156,942
 $34,545
 $16,378
 $(9,807) $198,058

DCF (a Non-GAAP Financial Measure)

DCF decreased $5.8increased $96.2 million, or 7%68%, from $88.3$142.5 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2015 to $82.5$238.7 million in the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016. This decreaseincrease is due primarily to lowerthe $109.9 million net cash providedproceeds from the sale of our discontinued operation in addition to $54.2 million in net cash proceeds from sales of mineral rights in 2016. These increases were partially offset by operations from our coal and hard mineral royalty and other segment as a result of to lower coal royalty production, lower coal royalty revenue per ton and less minimum payments received from our coal leases, partially offsetleases. These decreases are driven by $44.1 million net cash proceeds received from the sales of our oil and gas and aggregates royalty assets. See "—Three Months Ended June 30, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2015—DCF (a Non-GAAP Financial Measure)" for explanation of DCF.continued pressure on U.S. coal producers as described above.

The following table (in thousands) presents the three major categories of the statement of cash flows by business segment for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015:
 Operating Segments    Operating Segments    
For the Six Months Ended Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Corporate and Financing Total
June 30, 2016            
For the Nine Months Ended Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Corporate and Financing Total
September 30, 2016          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $55,908
 $22,050
 $12,323
 $467
 $(52,102) $38,646
 $91,372
 $34,300
 $16,680
 $(67,805) $74,547
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations $12,796
 $
 $(3,890) $34,347
 $
 $43,253
 $57,834
 $
 $(4,324) $
 $53,510
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations $(93,161) $(22,050) $(3,819) $(45,205) $62,523
 $(101,712) $
 $(7,229) $(1,593) $(68,047) $(76,869)
                      
June 30, 2015            
September 30, 2015          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $109,250
 $18,016
 $13,942
 $202
 $(56,393) $85,017
 $149,841
 $30,778
 $19,783
 $(68,211) $132,191
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities of continuing operations $7,461
 $
 $(4,360) $(337) $
 $2,764
 $15,546
 $
 $(7,417) $
 $8,129
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities of continuing operations $(152,192) $(18,016) $(10,907) $(11,610) $64,777
 $(127,948) $(2,744) $
 $
 $(136,882) $(139,626)


The following table (in thousands) reconciles net cash provided by operating activities (the most comparable GAAP financial measure) by business segment to DCF for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015:
 Operating Segments    Operating Segments    
For the Six Months Ended Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Oil and Gas Corporate and Financing Total
June 30, 2016            
For the Nine Months Ended Coal Royalty and Other Soda Ash VantaCore Corporate and Financing Total
September 30, 2016          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $55,908

$22,050

$12,323

$467

$(52,102)
$38,646
 $91,372

$34,300

$16,680

$(67,805)
$74,547
Add: return on long-term contract receivables—affiliate 2,180









2,180
 2,577







2,577
Add: proceeds from sale of PP&E 819



24





843
 1,084



102



1,186
Add: proceeds from sale of mineral rights 9,802





34,347



44,149
 54,178







54,178
Add: proceeds from sale of assets included in discontinued operations 
 
 
 
 109,889
Less: maintenance capital expenditures 



(3,329)




(3,329) (5)


(3,671)


(3,676)
DCF $68,709

$22,050

$9,018

$34,814

$(52,102)
$82,489
 $149,206

$34,300

$13,111

$(67,805)
$238,701
                      
June 30, 2015            
September 30, 2015          
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations $109,250
 $18,016
 $13,942
 $202
 $(56,393)
$85,017
 $149,841
 $30,778
 $19,783
 $(68,211)
$132,191
Add: return on long-term contract receivables—affiliate 1,137
 
 
 
 

1,137
 2,121
 
 
 

2,121
Add: proceeds from sale of PP&E 4,350
 
 905
 
 

5,255
 10,578
 
 906
 

11,484
Add: proceeds from sale of mineral rights 1,845
 
 
 
 

1,845
 3,505
 
 
 

3,505
Less: maintenance capital expenditures 
 
 (2,238) 
 

(2,238) (329) 
 (3,749) 

(4,078)
Less: distributions to non-controlling interest (1,372) 
 
 (1,372) 

(2,744) (2,744) 
 
 

(2,744)
DCF $115,210
 $18,016
 $12,609
 $(1,170) $(56,393) $88,272
 $162,972
 $30,778
 $16,940
 $(68,211) $142,479

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

While we believe we have sufficientFor an overview of our liquidity to meet our current financial needs we have significant debt service requirements as discussed inand related matters, see "—Executive Overview—Current Liquidity, Position" above. We believe we need to significantly improve our leverage ratios prior to the maturity of the Opco Senior Notes and Opco's Revolving Credit Facility in order to be able to refinance or restructure such debt. We remain committed to our long-term strategic plan to improve our balance sheet and reduce leverage, and intend to take all necessary steps to execute on that plan, including asset sales and other means. From January 1, 2016 through the date of this filing, we completed asset sales for $156.3 million in net proceeds. However, we believe the adverse conditions in the commodity markets will continue to have a negative impact on our results of operations, which in turn may prevent us from achieving our leverage ratio goals including those included in our debt agreement financial covenants. Historically, we have accessed the debt and equity capital markets on a regular basis and have relied on bank credit facilities to finance our business activities. However, due to the current commodity price environment and the state of the coal markets in particular, we believe we do not currently have the ability to access either the traditional debt or equity capital markets. In addition, the volatility in the energy industry combined with recent bankruptcies and additional perceived credit risks of companies with coal exposure has resulted in traditional bank lenders seeking to reduce or eliminate their lending exposure to these companies. Accordingly, we will be required over the near term to run our business and service our debt through cash from operations or asset sales. In addition, we may be required to seek financing from non-traditional sources at unfavorable pricing or with unfavorable terms to run our business or to refinance or restructure our 2018 debt maturities.



While we have closed several asset sale transactions, if we are unable to complete additional asset sales and conditions in the commodity markets continue to deteriorate, our liquidity and our ability to comply with the financial and other restrictive covenants contained in our debt agreements will be adversely affected. See "—Management's Forecast and Strategic Plan" above.

Going Concern Analysis." Generally, we satisfy our working capital requirements with cash generated from operations. Our current liabilities exceeded our current assets by approximately $81.2$50.3 million as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016, primarily due to $161.0$81.0 million in total principal payments on the Opco Senior Notes and in scheduled commitment reductions$80.0 million of payments on the Opco Credit Facility. Excluding these payments, net of their unamortized debt issue costs, our current assets exceeded our current liabilities by approximately $154.8$108.3 million as of JuneSeptember 30, 2016.

Capital Expenditures

A portion of the capital expenditures associated with our VantaCore segment are maintenance capital expenditures, which are capital expenditures made to maintain the long-term production capacity of those businesses. We deduct maintenance capital expenditures when calculating DCF.


Cash Flows

OperatingCash flow provided by operating activities of continuing operations provided $38.6decreased $78.7 million, and $85.0from $161.4 million in cash for the sixnine months ended JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and 2015 respectively. The majority of our cash provided by operations of continuing operations is generated from our coal royalty leases.to $82.7 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Operating cash flow from continuing operations decreased $53.3$58.5 million in our Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other segment year-over-year primarily as a result of the reduction in coal royalty revenue and reduction of coal royalty minimum cash payments received on certain leases year-over-year.leases. Cash flow provided by continuingoperating activities of discontinued operations decreased $21.0 million, from $29.2 million in the Soda Ash segment increasednine months ended September 30, 2015 to $8.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2016 primarily as a result of increased distributions from Ciner Wyoming when compared to the six months ended June 30, 2015.

Investing activities of continuing operations provided $43.3 million in cash for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015. During the first half of 2016, our investing activities of continuing operations primarily consisted of $44.1 million in net proceeds received from the sale of certain hard mineral royalty and oil and gas royalty properties. These investing cash inflows of continuing operations were partially offset by $3.9 million in plant and equipment acquisitions within our VantaCore segment. During the first half of 2015, our investing activities of continuing operations primarily consisted of proceeds received fromcompleting the sale of our cell towernon-operated oil and gas working interest assets within the Coal and Hard Mineral Royalty and Other segment, partially offset by plant and equipment acquisitions within our VantaCore segment.in July 2016 that had an effective date of April 1, 2016.

NetCash flow provided by investing activities increased $184.8 million, from $24.5 million cash used in investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2015 to $160.3 million cash provided by investing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Investing cash flows from discontinued operations increased $139.4 million primarily as a result of the sale of our non-operated oil and gas working interest assets in July 2016 for $109.9 million in net cash proceeds. Investing cash flows from continuing operations increased $45.4 million primarily as a result of 2016 sales of royalty properties as described in Note 6. Mineral Rights to the consolidated financial statements.

Cash flow used in financing activities increased $76.6 million, from $125.8 million cash used in financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2015, to $202.4 million cash used in financing activities in the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Cash used in financing activities of continuingdiscontinued operations for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 was $101.7increased $139.4 million and $127.9 million, respectively. During the first halfprimarily as a result of 2016 we repaid $108.5 million in debt (including $10.0 million related to discontinued operations), distributed $11.2using $85.0 million to our unitholdersrepay the RBL Credit Facility and paid our final contingent consideration paymentcontributing the $40.2 million of discontinued asset sales proceeds that remained after repayment of the RBL Facility in full to Anadarko related to the 2015 operating performance of Ciner Wyoming of $7.2 million. Thesecontinuing operations. This $139.4 million increase in cash outflows wereflow used in financing activities was partially offset by $20.0a $62.8 million decrease in loancash flow used in financing activities from continuing operations. This decrease is primarily a result of distributing $49.3 million less cash to partners and receiving the remaining net proceeds during the first half of 2016. During the first half of 2015 our financing outflows primarily consisted of loan repayments of $68.5 million (including $10.0 million related to discontinued operations) and unitholder distributions of $54.9 million. These cash outflows were partially offset by $25.0 million in loan proceeds during the first half of 2015.from discontinuing operations after repayment as described above.

Capital Resources and Obligations

Indebtedness

As of JuneSeptember 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015 we had the following indebtedness (in thousands):
June 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
September 30,
2016
 December 31,
2015
Current portion of long-term debt, net$157,996
 $80,745
$158,597
 $80,745
Long-term debt, net (including affiliate)1,050,562
 1,206,611
1,041,984
 1,206,611
Total debt, net (including affiliate)$1,208,558
 $1,287,356
$1,200,581
 $1,287,356

We were and continue to be in compliance with the terms of the financial covenants contained in our debt agreements. For additional information regarding our debt and the agreements governing our debt, including the covenants contained therein, see


Note 8. Debt and Debt—Affiliate to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Shelf Registration Statement

In September 2015, we filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC that is available for registered offerings of common units.

Unrestricted Subsidiary Information

In February 2016, NRP designated NRP Oil and Gas as an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture. In addition, BRP LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, Coval Leasing Company, LLC, are also Unrestricted Subsidiaries for purposes of the Indenture. For more information regarding the financial condition and results of operations of NRP and its Restricted Subsidiaries for purposes of the Indenture separate from NRP’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries for purposes of the Indenture, see Note 16. Supplementary Unrestricted Subsidiary Information under the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements with unconsolidated entities or related parties and accordingly, there are no off-balance sheet risks to our liquidity and capital resources from unconsolidated entities.


Related Party Transactions

The information required set forth under Note 10. Related Party Transactions to the consolidated financial statements under the caption "Related Party Transactions" is incorporated herein by reference.

Summary of Critical Accounting Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting estimates from those disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Recent Accounting Standards

The information set forth under Note 1. Basis of Presentation to the consolidated financial statements under the caption "Basis of Presentation" is incorporated herein by reference.





ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk, which includes adverse changes in commodity prices and interest rates as discussed below:

Commodity Price Risk

We are dependent upon the effective marketing of the coal mined by our lessees. Our lessees sell the coal under various long-term and short-term contracts as well as on the spot market. We estimate that over 65% of our coal is currently sold by our lessees under coal supply contracts that have terms of one year or more. Current conditions in the coal industry may make it difficult for our lessees to extend existing contracts or enter into supply contracts with terms of one year or more. Our lessees’ failure to negotiate long-term contracts could adversely affect the stability and profitability of our lessees’ operations and adversely affect our coal royalty revenues. If more coal is sold on the spot market, coal royalty revenues may become more volatile due to fluctuations in spot coal prices.


We have market risk related to the prices for oil and natural gas, NGLs and condensate. Management expects energy prices to remain unpredictable and potentially volatile. As energy prices decline or rise significantly, revenues and cash flows are likewise affected. In addition, a non-cash write-down of the Partnership’s oil and gas properties may be required if commodity prices experience a significant decline.
We have market risk related to prices for our aggregates products. Aggregates prices are primarily driven by economic conditions in the local markets in which the products are sold.
The market price of soda ash directly affects the profitability of Ciner Wyoming’s operations. If the market price for soda ash declines, Ciner Wyoming’s sales will decrease. Historically, the global market and, to a lesser extent, the domestic market for soda ash have been volatile, and those markets are likely to remain volatile in the future.

Interest Rate Risk

Our exposure to changes in interest rates results from our borrowings under our revolving credit facility and term loan, which are subject to variable interest rates based upon LIBOR. At JuneSeptember 30, 2016, we had $335.0$260.0 million outstanding in variable interest rate debt. If interest rates were to increase by 1%, annual interest expense would increase approximately $3.4$2.6 million, assuming the same principal amount remained outstanding during the year.


ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

NRP carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. This evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of NRP management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the general partner of the general partner of NRP. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective in providing reasonable assurance that (a) the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and (b) such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in the Partnership’s Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting during the first sixnine months of 2016 that materially affected, or were reasonably likely to materially affect, the Partnership’s internal control over financial reporting.


PART II
 
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved, from time to time, in various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. While the ultimate results of these proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe these claims will not have a material effect on our financial position, liquidity or operations.

For more information regarding certain other legal proceedings involving the Partnership, see Note 11. "Commitments and Contingencies" to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

During the period covered by this report there were no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Natural Resource Partners L.P.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTESDEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None. 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

The information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by SEC regulations is included in Exhibit 95.1 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.



ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number
 Description
2.1 Purchase Agreement, dated as of January 23, 2013, by and among Anadarko Holding Company, Big Island Trona Company, NRP Trona LLC and NRP (Operating) LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 25, 2013).
2.2 Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of June 13, 2016 by and between NRP Oil and Gas LLC and Lime Rock Resources IV-A, L.P (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 15, 2016).
3.1 Certificate of Limited Partnership of Natural Resource Partners L.P.(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed April 19, 2002, File No. 333-86582).
3.2 Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Natural Resource Partners L.P., dated as of September 20, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 21, 2010).
3.3 Fifth Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of GP Natural Resource Partners LLC dated as of October 31, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2013).
4.1 First Amendment, dated March 6, 2012, to the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of Natural Resource Partners L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2012).
10.14.2 FirstFourth Amendment, dated as of June 3,September 9, 2016, to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,Note Purchase Agreements, dated as of June 16, 2015, by and19, 2003, among NRP (Operating) LLC and the lenders party thereto, Citibank, N.A. as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities LLC as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, and Citibank, N.A., as Syndication Agent.holders named therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 7,September 12, 2016).
31.1* Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley.
31.2* Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of Sarbanes-Oxley.
32.1** Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
32.2** Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350.
95.1* Mine Safety Disclosure.
101.INS* XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document
101.PRE* XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
   
* Filed herewith
** Furnished herewith




SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned and thereunto duly authorized.

 NATURAL RESOURCE PARTNERS L.P.
 By: NRP (GP) LP, its general partner
 By: GP NATURAL RESOURCE
   PARTNERS LLC, its general partner
    
Date: August 4,November 7, 2016By: /s/ CORBIN J. ROBERTSON, JR.      
   Corbin J. Robertson, Jr.
   Chairman of the Board and
   Chief Executive Officer
   (Principal Executive Officer)
Date: August 4,November 7, 2016By: 
/s/ CRAIG W. NUNEZ      
   Craig W. Nunez
   Chief Financial Officer and
   Treasurer
   (Principal Financial Officer)
Date: August 4,November 7, 2016By: 
/s/ CHRISTOPHER J. ZOLAS
   Christopher J. Zolas
   Chief Accounting Officer
   (Principal Accounting Officer)


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