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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract]  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements of the Partnership have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Natural Resource Partners L.P. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The Partnership has an equity investment in Ciner Wyoming through which it is able to exercise significant influence over but does not control the investee and is not the primary beneficiary of the investee’s activities and is accounted for using the equity method. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates

Preparation of the accompanying financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities on the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses on the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most significant estimates pertain to coal and aggregates reserves and related cash flow estimates which are used to compute depreciation, depletion and amortization and impairments of coal and aggregates properties and related intangible assets and commitments and contingencies.

Fair Value

The Partnership discloses certain assets and liabilities using fair value as defined by authoritative guidance. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. See Note 12. Fair Value Measurements for further details.
There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2—Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial assets and liabilities whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Partnership considers all highly liquid short-term investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Partnership records an allowance for doubtful accounts for its accounts receivable and notes receivable comprised of estimated credit risk and non-credit risk (e.g., legal disputes) losses. Receivables are written off when collection efforts are exhausted and future recovery is doubtful. Beginning January 1, 2020 upon adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, the Partnership includes an allowance for current expected credit losses ("CECL") on its financial assets based on the loss-rate method. NRP assesses the likelihood of collection of its receivables utilizing historical loss rates, current market conditions that include the estimated impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, industry and macroeconomic factors, reasonable and supportable forecasts and facts or circumstances of individual customers and properties. See Note 18. Credit Losses for more information. The total allowance related to accounts receivables included in accounts receivables, net on the Partnership's Consolidated Balance Sheets was $1.7 million and $0.4 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The total allowance related to short-term notes receivables included in other current assets, net on the Partnership's Consolidated Balance Sheets was $0.6 million and $1.2 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The total allowance related to the Partnership's long-term financing receivable included in long-term contract receivable, net on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $1.6 million at December 31, 2020. The Partnership recorded bad debt expense of $4.0 million, $7.5 million and $(0.1) million included in operating and maintenance expenses on its Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Mineral Rights

Mineral rights owned and leased are recorded at its original cost of construction or, upon acquisition, at fair value of the assets acquired. Coal and aggregates mineral rights are depleted on a unit-of-production basis by lease, based upon minerals mined in relation to the net cost of the mineral properties and estimated proven and probable tonnage therein.

Intangible Assets

The Partnership’s intangible assets consist of mineral royalty and transportation contracts that at acquisition were more favorable for the Partnership than prevailing market rates, known as above-market contracts. The estimated fair value of the above-market rate contracts are determined based on the present value of future cash flow projections related to the underlying assets acquired. Intangible assets are amortized on a unit-of-production basis by asset based upon minerals mined or transported in relation to the net book value of the intangible asset and estimated proven and probable tonnage expected to be mined or transported during the above-market contract term.

Asset Impairment

The Partnership has developed procedures to evaluate its long-lived assets, including intangible assets, for possible impairment periodically or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate an asset's net book value may not be recoverable. Potential events or circumstances include, but are not limited to, specific events such as a reduction in economically recoverable reserves or production ceasing on a property for an extended period. This analysis is based on historic, current and future performance and 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 is less than the asset's net book value. Impairment is measured based on the estimated fair value, which is usually determined based upon the present value of the projected future cash flows compared to the asset's net book value. The Partnership believes its estimates of cash flows and discount rates are consistent with those of principal market participants.
The Partnership evaluates its equity investment for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate, in management’s judgment, that the carrying value of such investment may have experienced an other-than-temporary decline in value. When evidence of loss in value has occurred, management compares the estimated fair value of the investment to the carrying value of the investment to determine whether potential impairment has occurred. If the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value and management considers the decline in value to be other than temporary, the excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value is recognized in the financial statements as an impairment loss. The fair value of the impaired investment is based on quoted market prices (Level 1), or upon the present value of expected cash flows using discount rates believed to be consistent with those used by principal market participants (Level 3), plus market analysis of comparable assets owned by the investee, if appropriate (Level 3).

Accrued Liabilities

Included in accrued liabilities on the Partnership's Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2020 were $3.7 million of accrued employee costs and $4.0 million of other accrued liabilities, which primarily includes property taxes. These amounts were $3.7 million and $5.0 million of accrued employee costs and other accrued liabilities, respectively, at December 31, 2019. Other accrued liabilities at December 31, 2019 primarily included property taxes and disputed well liabilities.

Revenue Recognition

Coal Royalty and Other Segment Revenues

Royalty-based leases. Approximately two-thirds of the Partnership's royalty-based leases have initial terms of five to 40 years, with substantially all lessees having the option to extend the lease for additional terms. For these types of leases, the lessees generally make payments to NRP based on the greater of a percentage of the gross sales price or a fixed price per ton of mineral mined and sold. Most of NRP’s coal and aggregates royalty leases require the lessee to pay quarterly or annual minimum amounts, either made in advance or arrears, which are generally recoupable through actual royalty production over certain time periods that generally range from three to five years.
The Partnership has defined its coal and aggregates royalty lease performance obligation as providing the lessee the right to mine and sell its coal or aggregates over the lease term. NRP then evaluated the likelihood that consideration it expected to receive from its lessees resulting from production would exceed consideration expected to be received from minimum payments over the lease term.
As a result of this evaluation, revenue recognition from the Partnership's royalty-based leases is based on either production or minimum payments as follows:
Production Leases: Leases for which the Partnership expects that consideration from production will be greater than consideration from minimums over the lease term. Revenue recognition for these leases is recognized over time based on production as coal royalty revenues or aggregates royalty revenues, as applicable. Deferred revenue from minimums is recognized as royalty revenues when recoupment occurs or as production lease minimum revenues when the recoupment period expires. In addition, NRP recognizes breakage revenue from minimums when NRP determines that recoupment is remote. This breakage revenue is included in production lease minimum revenues.
Minimum Leases: Leases for which the Partnership expects that consideration from minimums will be greater than consideration from production over the lease term. Revenue recognition for these leases is recognized straight-line over the lease term based on the minimum consideration amount as minimum lease straight-line revenues.
This evaluation is performed at the inception of the lease and only reassessed upon modification or renewal of the lease.
Oil and gas related revenues consist of revenues from royalties and overriding royalties and are recognized on the basis of volume of hydrocarbons sold by lessees and the corresponding revenues from those sales. Also, included within oil and gas royalty revenues are lease bonus payments, which are generally paid upon the execution of a lease. The Partnership also has overriding royalty revenue interests in coal reserves. Revenues from these interests are recognized over time based on when the coal is sold.
Wheelage revenues. Revenues related to fees collected per ton to transport foreign coal across property owned by the Partnership that is recognized over time as transportation across the property occurs.
Other revenues. Other revenues consists primarily of rental payments and surface damage fees related to certain land owned by the Partnership and is recognized straight-line over time as it is earned. Other revenues also include property tax revenues. The majority of property taxes paid on the Partnership's properties are reimbursable by the lessee and are recognized on a gross basis over time which reflects the reimbursement of property taxes by the lessee. Property taxes paid by NRP are included in operating and maintenance expenses on the Partnership's Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Transportation and processing services revenues. The Partnership owns transportation and processing infrastructure that is leased to third parties for throughput fees. Revenue is recognized over time based on the coal tons transported over the beltlines or processed through the facilities.
Contract Modifications
Contract modifications that impact goods or services or the transaction price are evaluated in accordance with ASC 606. A majority of the Partnership's contract modifications pertain to its coal and aggregates royalty contracts and include, but are not limited to, extending the lease term, changes to royalty rates, floor prices or minimum consideration, assignment of the contract or forfeiture of recoupment rights. Consideration received in conjunction with a modification of an ongoing lease will be deferred and recognized straight-line over the remaining term of the contract. Consideration received to assign a lease to another party and related forfeited minimums will be recognized immediately upon the termination of the contract. Fees from contract modifications are recognized in lease amendment revenues within coal royalty and other revenues on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) while modifications in royalty rates and minimums will be recognized prospectively in accordance with the above lease classification.
Contract Assets and Liabilities from Contracts with Customers
Contract assets include receivables from contracts with customers and are recorded when the right to consideration becomes unconditional. Receivables are recognized when the minimums are contractually owed, production occurs or minimums accrued for based on the passage of time.
Contract liabilities represent minimum consideration received, contractually owed or earned based on the passage of time. The current portion of deferred revenue relates to deferred revenue on minimum leases and lease amendment fees that are to be recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the next twelve months. The long-term portion of deferred revenue relates to deferred revenue on production leases and lease amendment fees that are to be recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis beyond the next twelve months. Due to uncertainty in the amount of deferred revenue that will be recouped and recognized as coal royalty revenues from its production leases over the next twelve months, the Partnership is unable to estimate the current portion of deferred revenue.
Equity in Earnings of Ciner Wyoming

The Partnership accounts for non-marketable equity investments using the equity method of accounting if the investment gives it the ability to exercise significant influence over, but not control of, an investee. The Partnership's 49% investment in Ciner Wyoming is accounted for using this method. Under the equity method of accounting, investments are stated at initial cost and are adjusted for subsequent additional investments and the proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions. The basis difference between the investment and the proportional share of investee's net assets is attributed to net tangible assets and is amortized over its estimated useful life. The carrying value in Ciner Wyoming is recognized in equity in unconsolidated investment on the Partnership's Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Partnership's adjusted share of the earnings or losses of Ciner Wyoming and amortization of the basis difference is recognized in equity in earnings of Ciner Wyoming on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The Partnership decreases its investment for its proportional share of distributions received from Ciner Wyoming. These cash flows are reported utilizing the cumulative earnings approach. Under this approach, distributions received are considered returns on investment and classified as operating cash inflows unless the cumulative distributions received exceed the Partnership's cumulative equity in earnings. The excess of cumulative distributions received over the Partnership's cumulative equity in earnings are considered returns of investment and classified as investing cash inflows.
Property Taxes

The Partnership is responsible for paying property taxes on the properties it owns. Typically, the lessees are contractually responsible for reimbursing the Partnership for property taxes on the leased properties. The payment of and reimbursement of property taxes is included in operating and maintenance expenses and in coal royalty and other revenues, respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Unit-Based Compensation

The Partnership has awarded unit-based compensation in the form of equity-based awards and phantom units. Compensation cost is measured at the grant date for equity-classified awards and remeasured each reporting period for liability-classified awards based on the fair value of an award and is recognized over the service period, which is generally the vesting period. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. Unit-based compensation expense for all awards is recognized in general and administrative expenses and operating and maintenance expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). See Note 16. Unit-Based Compensation for more information.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs consist of legal and other costs related to the issuance of the Partnership’s debt. These costs are amortized over the term of the respective line-of-credit or debt arrangements. Deferred financing costs related to the Partnership's revolving credit facility are included in other long-term assets, net on the Partnership's Consolidated Balance Sheets. Deferred financing costs related to the Partnership's note agreements are included as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability in current portion of long-term debt, net or long-term debt, net on the Partnership's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Income Taxes

The Partnership is not subject to federal or material state income taxes as the unitholders are taxed individually on their allocable share of taxable income. Net income (loss) for financial statement purposes may differ significantly from taxable income reportable to unitholders as a result of differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of assets and liabilities. In the event of an examination of the Partnership’s tax return, the tax liability of the unitholders could be changed if an adjustment in the Partnership’s income is ultimately sustained by the taxing authorities.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Credit Losses
On January 1, 2020, the Partnership adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), and all the related amendments ("the new credit loss standard"). The Partnership recognized a $3.9 million cumulative effect of adoption in the opening balance of partners' capital on January 1, 2020 as a result of the adoption of the new credit loss standard. The new standard replaces today's "incurred loss" model with an "expected credit loss" model that requires entities to estimate an expected lifetime credit loss on financial assets, including trade accounts receivable. See Note 18. Credit Losses for more information.