Buchanan Team Assists in $2 Billion Stock Merger for Client Alpha Natural Resources, Inc.

Pittsburgh, PA, August 6, 2009 — A cross-section of attorneys from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC teamed up to assist firm client Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., with certain executive compensation and corporate governance aspects of its all-stock merger with Foundation Coal Holdings, Inc., which created one of the foremost U.S. coal producers. The merger, which was completed on Friday, July 31, is valued at about $2 billion.

Led by Pittsburgh Corporate Finance & Technology attorney Amy I. Pandit, the team included Lewis U. Davis Jr., Wendy A. Germain from the firm's Corporate Practice; John E. McGrady, III and Philip J. Weis from Tax; and David J. Laurent and Gregory A. Miller from Labor and Employment.

According to its press release issued on July 31, the new company, which will retain the name Alpha Natural Resources and continue to trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "ANR," becomes the third-largest coal producer in the U.S., with 2008 pro forma revenues of $4.2 billion. It operates more than 60 coal mines and 14 preparation plants, maintains one of the most expansive geographic footprints in the industry, and controls reserves of more than 2.3 billion tons of coal.

As stated in Alpha's press release, "the combined company's scale of operations, diverse revenue stream, free cash flow generation capability and management depth will provide a platform to compete successfully in today's market environment and capitalize on the projected future growth in coal demand."