Alpha Natural Resources announced today that it has entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement with Lexington Coal Company (LCC) to convey real and personal properties located in Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee and West Virginia.
The conveyance will include approximately 280 permits, substantial reclamation equipment, ongoing royalty payments associated with these properties and 100 million tons of reserves. While the specific economic terms were not disclosed, LCC will receive approximately $204 million in cash at the time of closing and $112 million in installment payments to assist in the fulfillment of bonding, reclamation, water treatment and other obligations associated with the conveyed properties and permits.
Alpha established a management team to oversee its idle and non-active properties after emerging from bankruptcy and that team will take senior leadership positions in LCC at the time of closing. In addition to accelerating reclamation compared to current plans, the transaction with LCC will eliminate all remaining self-bonds in West Virginia. Prior to emerging from bankruptcy in July 2016, Alpha had approximately $250 million in self-bonding outstanding. Alpha and West Virginia regulators have worked to reduce that exposure by more than $100 million over the past year. This transaction with LCC allows Alpha’s self-bonds in West Virginia to be replaced nine years ahead of schedule.
The closing is subject to various contingencies, including Alpha obtaining financing and entering into agreements with various state and federal regulatory agencies on the transfer of the permits. After closing, Alpha will continue to operate 19 mines and 9 prep plants in West Virginia, and the company still expects to produce 14 million tons of metallurgical and thermal coal in 2017. The parties expect to close during the third quarter of 2017.