Natural Resource Partners L.P. Reports Third Quarter 2007 Results

Third Quarter Highlights: - Distributable cash flow of $34.0 million, up 10% over 3Q06 - Record revenues of $56.4 million, up 36% - Net income attributable to limited partners of $22.9 million, up 7% - Net income per unit decreases 17% to $0.35 - Distribution increases for seventeenth consecutive quarter to $0.475 per unit - Guidance reaffirmed for 2007 


HOUSTON, Nov. 1  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE: NRP; NSP) today reported distributable cash flow, a non-GAAP measure, of $34.0 million, up 10% from the $31.0 million reported for the third quarter 2006. Net income attributable to the limited partners increased to $22.9 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to $21.5 million for the third quarter of 2006.  Net income per unit decreased from $0.42 for the third quarter 2006 to $0.35 per unit in the third quarter 2007.

                                Highlights

                                    3Q07           2Q07           3Q06
                                (in thousands except per ton and per unit)
  Coal Production:                 14,708          13,573        12,798
  Coal Royalty Revenues:          $44,378         $40,733       $36,902
  Average coal royalty revenue
   per ton:                         $3.02           $3.00         $2.88
  Total revenues:                 $56,366         $51,097       $41,491
  Net income to limited partners: $22,902         $18,145       $21,483
  Average units outstanding in
   quarter:                        64,891          64,886        50,681
  Net income per unit:              $0.35           $0.28         $0.42
  Distributable cash flow:        $34,045         $43,511       $31,034





"Our third quarter results demonstrated improvement over our second quarter performance, largely due to the strengthening price environment for both metallurgical and steam coal," said Nick Carter, President and Chief Operating Officer. "We are pleased with the operating performance of our lessees in the third quarter, and as a whole they have met our expectations for the quarter."

"Distributable cash flow for the third quarter was down from second quarter due to changes in working capital and the allocation of $1.9 million to our quarterly debt service reserve in recognition of additional scheduled principal payments on another series of senior notes that will begin amortizing in July 2008," said Dwight Dunlap, Chief Financial Officer.

  Third Quarter and Nine Month Results

  Revenues
  Third Quarter


Total revenues increased 36% to a record $56.4 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to $41.5 million reported for the same period last year. Third quarter 2007 coal royalty revenues increased 20% to $44.4 million from $36.9 million last year as the partnership continued to experience increased coal royalty revenues per ton in all regions, with an overall average coal royalty revenue per ton of $3.02.  Total production for the partnership in the third quarter was 14.7 million tons compared to 12.8 million tons in 2006.  Aggregate royalties, coal processing fees and transportation fees generated approximately $4.5 million in the third quarter of 2007 versus $0.2 million in the same period last year, the first quarter for these operations.

Nine Months

Total revenues improved to $157.7 million, or 22% over the first nine months of 2006, while distributable cash flow increased 11% to $105.9 million over the same period.  Coal royalty revenues increased 12% to $126.1 million, largely the result of improved pricing.  Average royalty revenue per ton increased to $3.02 from $2.80, or 8%, while NRP's total production increased approximately 4% to 41.8 million tons over the nine month comparative period. Aggregate royalties, coal processing fees and transportation fees, generated approximately $11.5 million for the first nine months of 2007 versus $0.2 million in the same period last year.

  Expenses
  Third Quarter


Total expenses increased $8.2 million to $21.1 million in the third quarter.  Depreciation, depletion and amortization, a non-cash item, accounted for $6.0 million, or approximately 73% of the increase, primarily as a result of acquisitions over the last year. Property, franchise and other taxes nearly doubled to $4.0 million mainly due to taxes on acquisitions acquired since last year, of which the majority of the property taxes are offset by reimbursements from our lessees, which are recorded in revenues.  The remainder is due to additional franchise taxes.

Interest expense increased $3.1 million over the third quarter last year to $7.1 million due to additional borrowings associated with acquisitions completed during the last year.

Nine Months

For the nine month period, total expenses increased $24.1 million to $64.9 million, $15.2 million of which was associated with depreciation, depletion and amortization and $4.1 million was associated with property, franchise and other taxes, both due to the same reasons discussed earlier.  In addition, general and administrative expenses increased $4.9 million mainly due to increases in personnel, salaries, and incentive compensation accruals; increased costs associated with reporting partners' tax information; and increases in the allowance for doubtful accounts.

Interest expense for the nine month period increased by $10.3 million due to increased borrowings associated with acquisitions.

  Net Income
  Third quarter


While total revenues for the third quarter increased by $14.9 million over third quarter 2006, net income attributable to the limited partners only increased $1.4 million to $22.9 million.  The increase in revenues was largely offset by increases in expenses primarily due to increases in depreciation, depletion and amortization as well as interest on debt incurred to finance NRP's recent acquisitions.  Net income per unit decreased $0.07 to $0.35 per unit mainly due to approximately 14.2 million additional units that have been issued for acquisitions, some of which are under development and not yet generating significant revenues, since the third quarter 2006.

Nine months

For the nine month period, net income attributable to the limited partners decreased $10.1 million to $58.8 million, or $0.91 per unit for the reasons discussed previously.

  Distributable Cash Flow
  Third quarter


Distributable cash flow increased $3.0 million, or 10%, over the same quarter last year predominantly due to increases in net income.  In the third quarter 2007, NRP reserved $1.9 million for one quarter of the debt payment due in July 2008.

Nine months

For the nine month period distributable cash flow increased $10.4 million, or 11%, predominantly due to increases in deferred revenue and depreciation, depletion and amortization, offset by a decline in net income.

Update on Acquired Properties and Outlook

The Gatling WV property has continued to experience operational issues while ramping up to full production but the mining conditions and operating results are steadily improving.

The Williamson operation in Illinois is currently at full production during the development phase of the longwall. The longwall is expected to be operational sometime in the first quarter of 2008. Coal is currently being shipped and the stockpile is also being reduced, which will generate increased coal royalty revenues and transportation fees for NRP in the fourth quarter. We anticipate those revenue streams will significantly increase in 2008 as longwall production commences.

While the properties acquired in the Dingess-Rum acquisition have contributed significantly to NRP's 2007 coal royalty revenues, the properties continue to substantially underperform expectations as a result of continued geological and operational issues.  However, recent mine plan changes at one of the operations should improve production over current levels.

Because NRP's other lessees are collectively producing and selling coal as forecasted and prices are improving, NRP is reaffirming the guidance issued in August 2007 and anticipates issuing next year's guidance in January 2008.

Current Market

"This quarter we have seen improvements in prices in all regions over the second quarter of this year.  These increases more than offset some modest declines in sales in Northern and Southern Appalachia as some of our lessees have coal ready for export and awaiting ships.  We are seeing significantly stronger export markets for both metallurgical coal as well as steam coal, which will bode well for improved pricing going into 2008," said Nick Carter. "We continue to believe that our concentration in metallurgical coal, with approximately 25% of our reserves and 23% of our current production, could benefit us significantly in the future."

Distributions

As reported on October 17, the Board of Directors of NRP's general partner declared a quarterly distribution of $0.475 per unit, an increase of $0.01 per unit, for both the common units traded under the symbol NRP and the subordinated units traded as NSP. This made the seventeenth consecutive increase in the quarterly distribution and represented a 2.2% increase over the second quarter distribution and an 11.8% increase over the third quarter last year.

Capital Structure

Following the payment of the third quarter distribution, all financial conditions precedent to the conversion of the subordinated units into common units required by the partnership agreement, will have been satisfied. After the close of trading on November 14, all outstanding subordinated units will convert, in a tax free conversion, on a one-for-one basis into common units. Following this transaction, the subordinated units will no longer exist and NRP will be the only remaining security that trades on the NYSE for Natural Resource Partners L.P.

Company Profile

Natural Resource Partners L.P. is headquartered in Houston, TX, with its operations headquarters in Huntington, WV.  NRP is a master limited partnership that is principally engaged in the business of owning and managing coal properties, and coal handling and transportation infrastructure in the three major coal producing regions of the United States: Appalachia, the Illinois Basin and the Powder River Basin.  In addition, the partnership also manages aggregate reserves, oil and gas properties and timber assets across the United States.

For additional information, please contact Kathy Hager at 713-751-7555 or .  Further information about NRP is available on the partnership's website at http://www.nrplp.com/.

Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Distributable cash flow represents cash flow from operations less actual principal payments and cash reserves set aside for scheduled principal payments on the senior notes.  Distributable cash flow is a "non-GAAP financial measure" that is presented because management believes it is a useful adjunct to net cash provided by operating activities under GAAP. Distributable cash flow is a significant liquidity metric that is an indicator of NRP's ability to generate cash flows at a level that can sustain or support an increase in quarterly cash distributions paid to its partners. Distributable cash flow is also the quantitative standard used throughout the investment community with respect to publicly traded partnerships. Distributable cash flow 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. A reconciliation of distributable cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities is included in the tables attached to this release.  Distributable cash flow may not be calculated the same for NRP as other companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include "forward-looking statements" as defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Such statements include the 2007 outlook and current coal market conditions.  All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the partnership expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the partnership based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances.  Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the partnership.  These risks include, but are not limited to, decreases in demand for coal; changes in operating conditions and costs; production cuts by our lessees; commodity prices; unanticipated geologic problems; changes in the legislative or regulatory environment and other factors detailed in Natural Resource Partners' Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  Natural Resource Partners L.P. has no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

                      -Financial statements follow-



                      Natural Resource Partners L.P.
                           Operating Statistics
                    (In thousands except per ton data)
                               (Unaudited)

                           Three Months Ended    For the Nine Months Ended
                             September 30,             September 30,
                           2007         2006        2007          2006
  Coal Royalties:
  Coal royalty revenues:
    Appalachia
       Northern           $3,941       $2,292      $11,064       $8,330
       Central            29,662       24,568       88,248       74,953
       Southern            4,649        5,471       13,677       16,088
         Total
          Appalachia     $38,252      $32,331     $112,989      $99,371
    Illinois Basin         2,462          808        4,941        4,465
    Northern Powder
     River Basin           3,664        3,763        8,154        8,703

  Total                  $44,378      $36,902     $126,084     $112,539

  Coal royalty production
   (tons):
    Appalachia
       Northern            1,640        1,177        4,875        4,391
       Central             8,927        7,873       27,022       24,050
       Southern            1,184        1,395        3,514        4,256
         Total
          Appalachia      11,751       10,445       35,411       32,697
    Illinois Basin         1,147          368        2,307        2,507
    Northern Powder
     River Basin           1,810        1,985        4,072        4,983

  Total                   14,708       12,798       41,790       40,187

  Average royalty revenue
   per ton:
    Appalachia
       Northern            $2.40        $1.95        $2.27        $1.90
       Central              3.32         3.12         3.27         3.12
       Southern             3.93         3.92         3.89         3.78
        Total Appalachia    3.26         3.10         3.19         3.04
    Illinois Basin          2.15         2.20         2.14         1.78
    Northern Powder
     River Basin            2.02         1.90         2.00         1.75

    Combined average
     royalty revenue
     per ton               $3.02        $2.88        $3.02        $2.80

  Aggregates:
  Royalty revenues        $2,096            -       $5,785            -
  Production:              1,583            -        4,455            -
  Average base royalty
   per ton:                $1.32            -        $1.30            -



                      Natural Resource Partners L.P.
                    Consolidated Statements of Income
                   (In thousands, except per unit data)

                          Three Months Ended     For the Nine Months Ended
                             September 30,            September 30,
                           2007         2006        2007         2006
                              (Unaudited)              (Unaudited)
  Revenues:
    Coal royalties       $44,378      $36,902     $126,084     $112,539
    Aggregate royalties    2,096            -        5,785            -
    Coal processing fees   1,374          203        3,404          203
    Transportation fees    1,000            -        2,306            -
    Oil and gas royalties  1,388          853        3,924        3,500
    Property taxes         2,963        1,532        7,836        4,827
    Minimums recognized
     as revenue              913          633        1,698        1,254
    Override royalties       953          283        2,994          767
    Other                  1,301        1,085        3,639        5,911
       Total revenues     56,366       41,491      157,670      129,001
  Operating costs and
   expenses:
    Depreciation,
     depletion and
     amortization         13,045        7,009       37,324       22,098
    General and
     administrative        3,687        3,475       15,880       11,010
    Property, franchise
     and other taxes       3,993        2,142       10,618        6,486
    Transportation costs      79            -          149            -

    Coal royalty and
     override payments       246          296          914        1,250
       Total operating
        costs and
        expenses          21,050       12,922       64,885       40,844
  Income from operations  35,316       28,569       92,785       88,157
  Other income (expense)
    Interest expense      (7,124)      (3,960)     (21,584)     (11,253)
    Interest income          736          665        2,239        1,938
  Net income             $28,928      $25,274      $73,440      $78,842
  Net income
   attributable to: (1)
    General partner       $4,119       $2,641      $10,012       $6,989
    Holders of incentive
     distribution rights  $1,907       $1,150       $4,602       $2,914
    Limited partners     $22,902      $21,483      $58,826      $68,939
  Basic and diluted net
   income per limited
   partner unit:
    Common                 $0.35        $0.42        $0.91        $1.36
    Subordinated           $0.35        $0.42        $0.91        $1.36
  Weighted average number
   of units outstanding:
    Common                53,537       33,651       53,009       33,651
    Subordinated          11,354       17,030       11,354       17,030


  (1) Net income is allocated among the limited partners, the general
      partner and holders of the incentive distribution rights (IDRs) based
      upon their pro rata share of distributions.  The IDRs are allocated
      65% to the general partner and the remaining 35% to affiliates of the
      general partner.  The IDRs allocated to the general partner are
      included in the net income attributable to the general partner.



                      Natural Resource Partners L.P.
                         Statements of Cash Flows
                              (In thousands)

                               Three Months Ended  For the Nine Months Ended
                                  September 30,         September 30,
                                 2007       2006        2007     2006
                                   (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)
  Cash flows from
   operating activities:
   Net income                   $28,928    $25,274     $73,440  $78,842
   Adjustments to reconcile net
    income to net cash provided
    by operating activities:
      Depreciation, depletion
       and amortization          13,045      7,009      37,324   22,098
      Non-cash interest charge      117         97         326      288
      Gain from sale of assets        -          -           -   (2,634)
   Change in operating
    assets and liabilities:
      Accounts receivable        (4,835)    (2,332)     (7,634)  (2,439)
      Other assets                  326        282         883      525
      Accounts payable and
       accrued liabilities           77        255        (217)     235
      Accrued interest           (2,763)     1,020        (166)   2,237
      Deferred revenue            2,890        625      10,807    1,033
      Accrued incentive plan
       expenses                     495        996        (138)   2,506
      Property, franchise and
       other taxes payable           45        158         304     (147)
        Net cash provided by
         operating activities    38,325     33,384     114,929  102,544

  Cash flows from investing
   activities:
      Acquisition of land, plant
       and equipment, coal
       and other mineral rights  (7,435)   (54,401)    (40,068)(105,839)
      Proceeds from sale of
       timber assets                  -          -           -    4,761
      Cash placed in restricted
       accounts                      74          -      (6,240)       -
        Net cash used in
         investing activities    (7,361)   (54,401)    (46,308)(101,078)

  Cash flows from financing
   activities:
      Proceeds from loans         7,000     53,000     262,400  103,000
      Deferred financing costs       (6)         -      (1,292)       -

      Repayments of loans          (400)         -    (235,942) (24,350)
      Distributions to
       partners                 (37,635)   (23,819)   (108,099) (67,023)
      Contribution by general
       partner                        -          -       2,645        -
        Net cash used in
         financing activities   (31,041)    29,181     (80,288)  11,627
  Net (decrease) or increase in
   cash and cash equivalents        (77)     8,164     (11,667)  13,093
  Cash and cash equivalents at
   beginning of period           54,454     52,620      66,044   47,691
  Cash and cash equivalents at
   end of period                $54,377    $60,784     $54,377  $60,784

  SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
       Cash paid during the
        period for interest      $9,752     $2,841     $21,379   $8,702
   Non-cash investing activities:
       Units issued for assets
        and liabilities              $-         $-    $350,741       $-
       Liability assumed
        in business combination      39          -       1,989        -



                      Natural Resource Partners L.P.
                       Consolidated Balance Sheets
                              (In thousands)

                                  ASSETS
                                                September 30,  December 31,
                                                    2007           2006
                                                (Unaudited)
  Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                     $54,377        $66,044
    Restricted cash                                 6,240              -
    Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
     doubtful accounts                             30,003         23,357
    Accounts receivable - affiliate                 1,009             21
    Other                                             237          1,411
       Total current assets                        91,866         90,833
  Land                                             24,532         17,781
  Plant and equipment, net                         61,650         29,615
  Coal and other mineral rights, net            1,004,081        798,135
  Intangible assets                               111,179              -
  Loan financing costs, net                         3,202          2,197
  Other assets, net                                   825            932
       Total assets                            $1,297,335       $939,493

  LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL

  Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                               $2,550         $1,041
    Accounts payable - affiliate                      368            105
    Current portion of long-term debt              17,234          9,542
    Accrued incentive plan expenses - current
     portion                                        4,260          5,418
    Property, franchise and other taxes payable     4,634          4,330
    Accrued interest                                3,680          3,846
       Total current liabilities                   32,726         24,282
  Deferred revenue                                 31,461         20,654
  Asset retirement obligation                          39              -
  Accrued incentive plan expenses                   5,599          4,579
  Long-term debt                                  473,057        454,291
  Partners' capital:
    Common units                                  661,094        338,912
    Subordinated units                             78,701         83,772
    General partner's interest                     15,418         12,138
    Holders of incentive distribution rights          (48)         1,616
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss             (712)          (751)
       Total partners' capital                    754,453        435,687
       Total liabilities and partners' capital $1,297,335       $939,493



                      Natural Resource Partners L.P.
    Reconciliation of GAAP "Net cash provided by operating activities"
                  To Non-GAAP "Distributable cash flow"
                              (In thousands)
                               (Unaudited)

                          Three Months Ended    For the Nine Months Ended
                             September 30,            September 30,
                           2007         2006        2007         2006

  Cash flow from
   operations            $38,325      $33,384     $114,929     $102,544
  Less scheduled
   principal payments          -            -       (9,350)      (9,350)
  Less reserves for
   future principal
   payments               (4,280)      (2,350)      (9,080)      (7,050)
  Add reserves used for
   scheduled principal
   payments                    -            -        9,400        9,400
  Distributable cash
   flow                  $34,045      $31,034     $105,899      $95,544


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DATASOURCE: Natural Resource Partners L.P.



CONTACT:  Kathy Hager of Natural Resource Partners L.P., [phone],





Web site:  http://www.nrplp.com/ 

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