Peabody Energy Aligns Global Coal Sales and Trading Groups as Part of Expanded Access to High-Growth Asian Markets

Peabody Energy, one of large private coal companies in the world and active in Mongolia released following press release about its corporate re-shuffling.

MonInfo, News and Information service

ST. LOUIS, Aug 24, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Peabody Energy today announced that it has realigned its COALSALES and COALTRADE businesses as part of the company's focus on expanded access to the high-growth Asia-Pacific markets.
President of COALSALES Bryan A. Galli and President of COALTRADE International Paul T. Demzik have assumed additional responsibilities. Both continue to report to Peabody Energy President and Chief Commercial Officer Richard A. Navarre.

Galli will be responsible for sale of the company's industry-leading global coal production including U.S. and Australian metallurgical, thermal and industrial products. He also continues oversight of the company's market analytics and contract administration functions. Australian coal sales will now report to Galli, having previously reported to Demzik.

Demzik will be responsible for Peabody's global trading and marketing activities on five continents, which include offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Australia and Venezuela. U.S. trading and brokerage activities will now report to Demzik, having previously reported to Galli.

"Bryan and Paul will continue to expand our global sales and trading activities to serve traditional markets as well as high-growth emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific region," said Peabody Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gregory H. Boyce. "Both are talented leaders who have delivered record sales and trading results as we've transformed our platform to serve global markets."

Peabody has an expanding platform of Australian coal products from metallurgical and thermal coal mines in Queensland and New South Wales. The company is rapidly increasing its trading activities in the Asia-Pacific region, including developing a new Southeast Asia coal trading, brokerage and sourcing hub, planned for either Hong Kong or Singapore, to augment offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Beijing, London, Venezuela and the United States. The company also has joint venture and business development activities under way in China, Mongolia, Australia and other countries.

Galli has served as President of COALSALES since 2006 and has held a series of senior positions, which include serving as Group Executive for Midwest Operations and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for COALSALES in the Midwest. He has more than 25 years of industry experience and a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering from the University of Missouri - Rolla School of Mines. He also serves as a board member for the university.

Demzik joined Peabody in 2005 as President of COALTRADE International and led Peabody's dramatic global expansion of coal trading activities. Prior to joining Peabody, Demzik was head of coal trading for EDF Trading Limited in London. He has more than 25 years of experience in trading and a Bachelor of Science degree in mining engineering from the University of Missouri - Rolla School of Mines.

Peabody achieved record coal sales of 256 million tons and $6.6 billion in revenues in 2008, serving nearly 330 customers in 21 nations on six continents. Last year, Peabody nearly doubled its EBITDA contributions from global trading and brokerage activities.

Peabody Energy (NYE: BTU) is the world's largest private-sector coal company. Its coal products fuel 10 percent of all U.S. electricity generation and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

CONTACT:
Beth Sutton
(928) 522-7008


SOURCE Peabody Energy