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<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August&nbsp;8, 2011.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="right" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Registration No.&nbsp;333-</B>
</DIV>


<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>




<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>UNITED STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 18pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>FORM S-8</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 24pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Peabody Energy Corporation</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><B>(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</B></DIV>


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
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<TR></TR>
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Delaware</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>13-4004153</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>(State or other jurisdiction of</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>(I.R.S. Employer</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>incorporation or organization)</B>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><B>Identification Number)</B></TD>
</TR>
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</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>701 Market Street<BR>
St. Louis, Missouri 63101<BR>
(314)&nbsp;342-3400</B><BR>
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 14pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><BR>
<B>Peabody Energy Corporation 2011 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan</B>
</div>
<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt">
(Full Title of the Plan)</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV><BR>
<B>Alexander C. Schoch, Esq.<BR>
Executive Vice President Law, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary<BR>
Peabody Energy Corporation<BR>
701 Market Street<BR>
St. Louis, Missouri 63101<BR>
(314)&nbsp;342-3400<BR>
(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>With a copy to:<BR>
Ris&#235; B. Norman, Esq.<BR>
Simpson Thacher &#038; Bartlett LLP<BR>
425 Lexington Avenue<BR>
New York, New York 10017</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><DIV align="center"><DIV style="FONT-size: 3pt; margin-top: 16pt; width: 26%; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV></DIV></DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of &#147;large
accelerated filer,&#148; &#147;accelerated filer&#148; and &#147;smaller reporting company&#148; in Rule&nbsp;12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="22%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR></TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top" nowrap>Large accelerated filer <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#254;</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" nowrap>Accelerated filer <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" nowrap>Non-accelerated filer <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT>
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" nowrap>Smaller reporting company <FONT style="font-family: Wingdings">&#111;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top" nowrap>(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="31%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="20%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="8%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="17%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD><!-- VRule -->
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="14%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="15" style="border-bottom: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom"><TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Proposed maximum</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of securities to be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>offering price per</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>aggregate offering</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>

    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>registered</B><SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"><B>(1)</B></SUP></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>registered</B><SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"><B>(1)(2)</B></SUP></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>share</B><SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"><B>(3)</B></SUP></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>price</B><SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"><B>(3)(4)</B></SUP></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>registration fee</B><SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"><B>(3)(4)</B></SUP></TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
                    <TD align="center" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><DIV style="margin-left:15px; text-indent:-15px"><b>Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share and Preferred Share</b> <b>Purchase Rights<SUP style="FONT-size: 85%; vertical-align: text-top"><B>(4)</B></SUP></b> </DIV></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><B>14,000,000 shares</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>

<TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><B>$48.24</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>

<TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><B>$675,360,000</B></TD>
    <TD style="border-right: 2px solid #000000; border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>

<TD align="center" valign="bottom" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000"><B>$78,409.30</B></TD>
    <TD width="1%" style="border-top: 2px solid #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>


<TR style="font-size: 1px" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left" colspan="15" style="border-top: 3px double #000000">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left">
<DIV style="font-size: 3pt; margin-top: 6pt; width: 18%; border-top: 0px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV>

<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="3%"></TD>
    <TD width="1%"></TD>
    <TD width="96%"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#147;Securities Act&#148;),
this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares which may
be offered and issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends,
anti-dilution provisions or similar transactions.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Covers 14,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the &#147;Common Stock&#148;), of
Peabody Energy Corporation approved for issuance under the Peabody Energy Corporation 2011
Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan.</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering
price per share, the proposed maximum aggregate offering price and the amount of registration
fee have been computed on the basis of the average of the high and low prices per share of
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on August 4, 2011.
</TD>
</TR>

<TR style="font-size: 3pt"><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<TR valign="top">
    <TD nowrap align="left">(4)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Each share of Common Stock issued also represents one Preferred Share Purchase Right.
Preferred Share Purchase Rights currently cannot trade separately from the underlying Common
Stock and, therefore, do not carry a separate price or necessitate an additional registration
fee.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>



<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 1pt solid black; margin-top: 10pt; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV style="width: 100%; border-bottom: 2pt solid black; font-size: 1pt">&nbsp;</DIV>







<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<!--TOC-->
<!--/TOC-->






<!-- link1 "PART I" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART I</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The information specified in Items 1 and 2 of Part&nbsp;I of the Form S-8 is omitted from this
filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule&nbsp;428 under the Securities Act and the introductory
note to Part&nbsp;I of the Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part&nbsp;I will
be delivered to the participants in the Peabody Energy Corporation 2011 Long-Term Equity Incentive
Plan covered by this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the &#147;Registration Statement&#148;) as required
by Rule&nbsp;428(b)(1).
</DIV>
<!-- link1 "PART II" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>PART II</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="Center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt"><B>INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</B>
</DIV>
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;)
by Peabody Energy Corporation (the &#147;Company&#148;) pursuant to the Securities Act and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#147;Exchange Act&#148;), are hereby incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Company&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December&nbsp;31, 2010
(File No.&nbsp;001-16463);</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(b)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Company&#146;s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended
March&nbsp;31, 2011 and June&nbsp;30, 2011 (File No.&nbsp;001-16463);</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(c)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>the Company&#146;s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February
16, 2011, March&nbsp;17, 2011, May&nbsp;9, 2011, July&nbsp;14, 2011, August&nbsp;1, 2011 and August&nbsp;4, 2011
(other than information furnished pursuant to Item&nbsp;2.02 or Item&nbsp;7.01 of any Current
Report on Form 8-K, unless expressly stated otherwise therein) (File No.&nbsp;001-16463);</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(d)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of the Company&#146;s common stock contained in the Company&#146;s
registration statement on Form 8-A (File No.&nbsp;001-16463), filed on May&nbsp;2, 2001, and any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(e)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The description of the Company&#146;s preferred share purchase rights contained in
the Company&#146;s registration statement on Form 8-A (File No.&nbsp;001-16463), filed on July
24, 2002, as amended by Forms 8-A/A filed on March&nbsp;29, 2005 and February&nbsp;22, 2006, and
any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All documents that the Company subsequently files pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than information furnished pursuant to Item&nbsp;2.02 or Item&nbsp;7.01 of
any Current Report on Form 8-K, unless expressly stated otherwise therein) after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also
is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;4. Description of Securities.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

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<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that, among other things, a
corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and agents of the
corporation against expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with threatened, pending
or completed actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, a &#147;derivative action&#148;),
if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the
case of derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses (including
attorneys&#146; fees) incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such actions, and the
statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking
indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not
exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation&#146;s by-laws, disinterested
director vote, stockholder vote, agreement or otherwise.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;Sixth of the Company&#146;s third amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as
amended) and Article&nbsp;IV of the Company&#146;s amended and restated by-laws requires indemnification to
the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The Company&#146;s third amended and restated
certificate of incorporation (as amended) requires indemnification and the advancement of expenses
incurred by officers or directors in relation to any action, suit or proceeding.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in
its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable
to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a
director, except for liability (i)&nbsp;for any transaction from which the director derives an improper
personal benefit, (ii)&nbsp;for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)&nbsp;under Section&nbsp;174 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (certain illegal distributions) or (iv)&nbsp;for any breach of a director&#146;s duty of
loyalty to the company or its stockholders. Article&nbsp;Sixth of the Company&#146;s third amended and
restated certificate of incorporation (as amended) includes such a provision.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In connection with the Company&#146;s existing indemnification procedures and policies and the
rights provided for by its third amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as amended) and
amended and restated by-laws, the Company has executed indemnification agreements with its
directors and certain senior executive officers.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to those agreements, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of
Delaware, the Company has agreed to indemnify those persons against any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by
reason of the fact that the indemnified person is or was or has agreed to serve at the Company&#146;s
request as a director, officer, employee or agent, or while serving as the Company&#146;s director or
officer, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the Company&#146;s request as a director, officer,
employee or agent (which, for purposes of the indemnification agreements, includes a trustee,
partner, manager or a position of similar capacity) of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to
have been taken or omitted in such capacity. The indemnification provided by these agreements is
from and against expenses (including attorneys&#146; fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnified person or on his or her behalf in
connection with the action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, but shall only be provided
if the indemnified person acted in good faith and in a manner the indemnified person reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the Company&#146;s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal
action, suit or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the indemnified person&#146;s conduct was
unlawful.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Company has obtained officers&#146; and directors&#146; liability insurance which insures against
liabilities that the Company&#146;s officers and directors, in such capacities, may incur.
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not applicable.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;8. Exhibits.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For a full list of exhibits, see the Exhibit&nbsp;Index in this Registration Statement, which is
incorporated into this Item&nbsp;8 by reference.
</DIV>

<!-- link2 "Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings" -->

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 12pt"><B>Item&nbsp;9. Undertakings.</B>
</DIV>


<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="left">(a)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(i)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To include any prospectus required by Section&nbsp;10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(ii)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and
any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20
percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the &#147;Calculation
of Registration Fee&#148; table in the effective registration statement;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="4%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(iii)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration statement;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>

<DIV style="margin-top: 6pt">
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3"><I>provided, however</I>, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished
to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD style="font-size: 6pt">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="2%" style="background: transparent">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="left">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>
</DIV>
<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(b)&nbsp;The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan&#146;s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide </I>offering thereof.
</DIV>

<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">(c)&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
</DIV>




<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>SIGNATURES</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Louis, State of
Missouri on August&nbsp;8, 2011.
</DIV>


<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size: 10pt">
<TR>
    <TD width="48%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="35%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="15%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD valign="top" align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" align="left">PEABODY ENERFY CORPORATION<BR>
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">By:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="2" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000" align="center">/s/ Gregory H. Boyce
&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">Gregory H. Boyce&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR><TR>
    <TD align="left">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">Title:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left">Chairman and Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B>
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints each of Gregory H. Boyce, Richard A. Navarre, Michael C. Crews, Alexander C. Schoch and
Kenneth L. Wagner, or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of
substitution, for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, including any
filings pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto such said attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power and
authority to do so and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
</DIV>


<DIV align="left" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 6pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration
Statement and power of attorney have been signed by the following persons in the capacities
indicated on August&nbsp;8, 2011.
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Gregory H. Boyce
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Chairman of the Board &#038; Chief Executive Officer&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Gregory H. Boyce
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Principal Executive Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Michael C. Crews
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Michael C. Crews
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ William A. Coley
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">William A. Coley</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ William E. James
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">William E. James</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Robert B. Karn III
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Robert B. Karn III</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ M. Frances Keeth
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">M. Frances Keeth</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Henry E. Lentz
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Henry E. Lentz</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Robert A. Malone
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Robert A. Malone</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="40%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Signature</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" style="border-bottom: 1px solid #000000"><B>Title</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR><TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ William C. Rusnack
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">William C. Rusnack</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ John F. Turner
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">John F. Turner</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Sandra A. Van Trease
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Sandra A. Van Trease</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">/s/ Alan H. Washkowitz
<DIV style="font-size: 1pt; border-top: 1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</DIV>
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">Director&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">Alan H. Washkowitz</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt"><!-- Folio -->&nbsp;<!-- /Folio -->
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT LIST" -->


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt; margin-top: 18pt"><B>EXHIBIT LIST</B>
</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
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<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="92%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Exhibit</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="left"><B>Number</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<B>Description of Document</B></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 of the Company&#146;s Quarterly Report on Form&nbsp;10-Q (File No.&nbsp;001-16463)
for the quarter ended June&nbsp;30, 2008).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 of the Company&#146;s
Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K (File No.&nbsp;001-16463), filed September&nbsp;16, 2008).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.3
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Rights Agreement, dated as of July&nbsp;24, 2002, between the Company and EquiServe Trust Company,
N.A., as Rights Agent (which includes the form of Certificate of Designations of Series&nbsp;A
Junior Preferred Stock of the Company as Exhibit&nbsp;A, the form of Right Certificate as Exhibit&nbsp;B
and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares as Exhibit&nbsp;C) (Incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A (File No.
001-16463), filed July&nbsp;24, 2002).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.4
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Certificate of Designations of Series&nbsp;A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company,
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July&nbsp;24, 2002 (Incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A (File
No.&nbsp;001-16463), filed July&nbsp;24, 2002).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Certificate of Adjustment delivered by the Company to EquiServe Trust Company, N.A., as
Rights Agent, on March&nbsp;29, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.2 to Amendment No.&nbsp;1
to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A/A (File No.&nbsp;001-16463) filed on March&nbsp;29,
2005).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.6
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Certificate of Adjustment delivered by the Company to American Stock Transfer &#038; Trust
Company, as Rights Agent, on February&nbsp;22, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.2 to
Amendment No.&nbsp;2 to the Company&#146;s Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A/A(File No.&nbsp;001-16463)
filed on February&nbsp;22, 2006).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.7
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Specimen of stock certificate representing the Company&#146;s common stock, $0.01 par value
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.13 of the Company&#146;s Form&nbsp;S-1 Registration Statement
No.&nbsp;333-55412).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">4.8
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Peabody Energy Corporation 2011 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit&nbsp;10.1 of the Company&#146;s Current Report on Form&nbsp;8-K (File No.&nbsp;001-16463), filed May&nbsp;9,
2011).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5.1 *
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Simpson Thacher &#038; Bartlett LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1 *
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP.</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2 *
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Simpson Thacher &#038; Bartlett LLP (included as part of Exhibit&nbsp;5.1).</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom"><!-- Blank Space -->
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24.1 *
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages to this Registration Statement).</TD>
</TR>
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    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Filed herewith.</TD>
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[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "c65685sv8.htm", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 57030}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PEABODY ENERGY CORP", "cik": "0001064728", "assigned-sic": "1221", "irs-number": "134004153", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-176129", "film-number": "111016189"}, "business-address": {"street1": "701 MARKET ST", "city": "ST LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63101-1826", "phone": "3143423400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "701 MARKET ST", "city": "ST LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63101-1826"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "P&L COAL HOLDINGS CORP", "date-changed": "19980623"}}
sv8
As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2011.
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Peabody Energy Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
13-4004153
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification Number)
701 Market Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63101
(314) 342-3400
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of principal executive offices)
Peabody Energy Corporation 2011 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
Alexander C. Schoch, Esq.
Executive Vice President Law, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Peabody Energy Corporation
701 Market Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63101
(314) 342-3400
(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
With a copy to:
Risë B. Norman, Esq.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated
filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large
accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
þ
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
Smaller reporting company
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed maximum
Proposed maximum
Title of securities to be
Amount to be
offering price per
aggregate offering
Amount of
registered
(1)
registered
(1)(2)
share
(3)
price
(3)(4)
registration fee
(3)(4)
Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share and Preferred Share
Purchase Rights
(4)
14,000,000 shares
$48.24
$675,360,000
$78,409.30
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares which may
be offered and issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends,
anti-dilution provisions or similar transactions.
(2)
Covers 14,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of
Peabody Energy Corporation approved for issuance under the Peabody Energy Corporation 2011
Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan.
(3)
Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act, the proposed maximum offering
price per share, the proposed maximum aggregate offering price and the amount of registration
fee have been computed on the basis of the average of the high and low prices per share of
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on August 4, 2011.
(4)
Each share of Common Stock issued also represents one Preferred Share Purchase Right.
Preferred Share Purchase Rights currently cannot trade separately from the underlying Common
Stock and, therefore, do not carry a separate price or necessitate an additional registration
fee.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
The information specified in Items 1 and 2 of Part I of the Form S-8 is omitted from this
filing in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the introductory
note to Part I of the Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will
be delivered to the participants in the Peabody Energy Corporation 2011 Long-Term Equity Incentive
Plan covered by this Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") as required
by Rule 428(b)(1).
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
by Peabody Energy Corporation (the "Company") pursuant to the Securities Act and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are hereby incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement:
(a)
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010
(File No. 001-16463);
(b)
the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended
March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011 (File No. 001-16463);
(c)
the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February
16, 2011, March 17, 2011, May 9, 2011, July 14, 2011, August 1, 2011 and August 4, 2011
(other than information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current
Report on Form 8-K, unless expressly stated otherwise therein) (File No. 001-16463);
(d)
The description of the Company's common stock contained in the Company's
registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-16463), filed on May 2, 2001, and any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description; and
(e)
The description of the Company's preferred share purchase rights contained in
the Company's registration statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-16463), filed on July
24, 2002, as amended by Forms 8-A/A filed on March 29, 2005 and February 22, 2006, and
any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents that the Company subsequently files pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of
any Current Report on Form 8-K, unless expressly stated otherwise therein) after the date of this
Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration
Statement indicating that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration
Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also
is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that, among other things, a
corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and agents of the
corporation against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with threatened, pending
or completed actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, a "derivative action"),
if they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the
case of derivative actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses (including
attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such actions, and the
statute requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking
indemnification has been found liable to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not
exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation's by-laws, disinterested
director vote, stockholder vote, agreement or otherwise.
Article Sixth of the Company's third amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as
amended) and Article IV of the Company's amended and restated by-laws requires indemnification to
the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The Company's third amended and restated
certificate of incorporation (as amended) requires indemnification and the advancement of expenses
incurred by officers or directors in relation to any action, suit or proceeding.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a corporation to provide in
its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable
to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a
director, except for liability (i) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper
personal benefit, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (certain illegal distributions) or (iv) for any breach of a director's duty of
loyalty to the company or its stockholders. Article Sixth of the Company's third amended and
restated certificate of incorporation (as amended) includes such a provision.
In connection with the Company's existing indemnification procedures and policies and the
rights provided for by its third amended and restated certificate of incorporation (as amended) and
amended and restated by-laws, the Company has executed indemnification agreements with its
directors and certain senior executive officers.
Pursuant to those agreements, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of
Delaware, the Company has agreed to indemnify those persons against any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by
reason of the fact that the indemnified person is or was or has agreed to serve at the Company's
request as a director, officer, employee or agent, or while serving as the Company's director or
officer, is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the Company's request as a director, officer,
employee or agent (which, for purposes of the indemnification agreements, includes a trustee,
partner, manager or a position of similar capacity) of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to
have been taken or omitted in such capacity. The indemnification provided by these agreements is
from and against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the indemnified person or on his or her behalf in
connection with the action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, but shall only be provided
if the indemnified person acted in good faith and in a manner the indemnified person reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the Company's best interests, and, with respect to any criminal
action, suit or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the indemnified person's conduct was
unlawful.
The Company has obtained officers' and directors' liability insurance which insures against
liabilities that the Company's officers and directors, in such capacities, may incur.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
For a full list of exhibits, see the Exhibit Index in this Registration Statement, which is
incorporated into this Item 8 by reference.
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act of 1933;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and
any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20
percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation
of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however
, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished
to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability
under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the
registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification
by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it
has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and
has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Louis, State of
Missouri on August 8, 2011.
PEABODY ENERFY CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Gregory H. Boyce
Name:
Gregory H. Boyce
Title:
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints each of Gregory H. Boyce, Richard A. Navarre, Michael C. Crews, Alexander C. Schoch and
Kenneth L. Wagner, or any one of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact, with full power of
substitution, for him and his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, including any
filings pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting unto such said attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power and
authority to do so and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration
Statement and power of attorney have been signed by the following persons in the capacities
indicated on August 8, 2011.
Signature
Title
/s/ Gregory H. Boyce
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer
Gregory H. Boyce
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Michael C. Crews
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Michael C. Crews
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ William A. Coley
Director
William A. Coley
/s/ William E. James
Director
William E. James
/s/ Robert B. Karn III
Director
Robert B. Karn III
/s/ M. Frances Keeth
Director
M. Frances Keeth
/s/ Henry E. Lentz
Director
Henry E. Lentz
/s/ Robert A. Malone
Director
Robert A. Malone
Signature
Title
/s/ William C. Rusnack
Director
William C. Rusnack
/s/ John F. Turner
Director
John F. Turner
/s/ Sandra A. Van Trease
Director
Sandra A. Van Trease
/s/ Alan H. Washkowitz
Director
Alan H. Washkowitz
EXHIBIT LIST
Exhibit
Number
Description of Document
4.1
Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-16463)
for the quarter ended June 30, 2008).
4.2
Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's
Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-16463), filed September 16, 2008).
4.3
Rights Agreement, dated as of July 24, 2002, between the Company and EquiServe Trust Company,
N.A., as Rights Agent (which includes the form of Certificate of Designations of Series A
Junior Preferred Stock of the Company as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B
and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares as Exhibit C) (Incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No.
001-16463), filed July 24, 2002).
4.4
Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company,
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on July 24, 2002 (Incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File
No. 001-16463), filed July 24, 2002).
4.5
Certificate of Adjustment delivered by the Company to EquiServe Trust Company, N.A., as
Rights Agent, on March 29, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Amendment No. 1
to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A (File No. 001-16463) filed on March 29,
2005).
4.6
Certificate of Adjustment delivered by the Company to American Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, as Rights Agent, on February 22, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
Amendment No. 2 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A(File No. 001-16463)
filed on February 22, 2006).
4.7
Specimen of stock certificate representing the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 of the Company's Form S-1 Registration Statement
No. 333-55412).
4.8
Peabody Energy Corporation 2011 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-16463), filed May 9,
2011).
5.1 *
Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.
23.1 *
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2 *
Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included as part of Exhibit 5.1).
24.1 *
Power of Attorney (included in the signature pages to this Registration Statement).
*
Filed herewith.