Alpha CEO David Stetson called the agreement a significant transaction for all stakeholders of the Central Appalachian coal producer. “LCC has a decade-long history of reclaiming properties in a diligent and environmentally responsible manner, and Alpha is providing LCC with adequate resources to meet its obligations to the communities in which the properties are located,” Stetson said.
Alpha established a dedicated 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. “The seamless transition of this management team, which knows the properties and permits and has a demonstrated track record of success, coupled with the conveyance of infrastructure and capital, will enable LCC to dedicate resources to accelerate the reclamation of the properties with less contingent exposure for the states,” Stetson said.
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 nine 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.
