PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION (OTCMKTS:BTUUQ) Files An 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

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PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION (OTCMKTS:BTUUQ) Files An 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Item1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

Plan of Reorganization

As previously disclosed, on April13, 2016, Peabody Energy
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (Peabody Energy or the
Company), and a majority of the Companys wholly owned domestic
subsidiaries, as well as one international subsidiary in
Gibraltar (collectively with the Company, the Debtors), filed
voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the U.S. Code
(the Bankruptcy Code) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for
the Eastern District of Missouri (the Bankruptcy Court). The
Debtors Chapter 11 cases (the Chapter 11 Cases) were jointly
administered under the caption In re Peabody Energy
Corporation, et al.
, Case No.16-42529.

On March17, 2017, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order, Docket
No.2763 (the Confirmation Order), confirming the Debtors Second
Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Debtors and Debtors in
Possession as revised March15, 2017 (the Plan). Copies of the
Confirmation Order and the Plan were included as exhibits to the
Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on March20, 2017.

On April3, 2017, (the Effective Date), the Company satisfied the
conditions to effectiveness set forth in the Confirmation Order
and in the Plan, the Plan became effective in accordance with its
terms and the Company and the other Debtors emerged from the
Chapter 11 Cases. All capitalized terms used herein but not
otherwise defined in this Current Report on Form 8-K have the meanings set
forth in the Plan.

Registration Rights
Agreement

On the Effective
Date, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement
(the Registration Rights Agreement) with certain parties
(together with any person or entity that becomes a party to the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Holders) that received shares
of the Companys new common stock (the Common Stock) and new
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock (the Preferred Stock) in the
Company on the Effective Date as provided in the Plan. The
Registration Rights Agreement provides Holders with registration
rights for the Holders Registrable Securities (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement).

to the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is required to file a
Shelf Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration
Rights Agreement) with respect to the Registrable Securities
within 30 days of the Effective Date. Subject to limited
exceptions, the Company is required to maintain the effectiveness
of any such registration statement until the Registrable
Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been
disposed of or are no longer Registrable Securities.

In addition,
specified Holders have the right to demand that the Company
effect the registration of any or all of the Registrable
Securities (a Demand Registration) and/or effectuate the
distribution of any or all of their Registrable Securities by
means of an underwritten shelf takedown offering. The Company is
not obligated to effect more than four Demand Registrations or
more than four underwritten shelf takedown offerings in any
twelve-month period, and it need not comply with such a request
unless the aggregate gross proceeds from such a sale will exceed
$25million. The Company will not be obligated to effect an
underwritten shelf takedown within 90 days after the consummation
of a previous underwritten shelf takedown or Demand
Registration.

Holders also have
customary piggyback registration rights, subject to the
limitations set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.

These registration
rights are subject to certain conditions and limitations,
including the right of the underwriters to limit the number of
shares to be included in a registration statement and the
Companys right to delay or withdraw a registration statement
under certain circumstances. The Company will generally pay all
registration expenses in connection with its obligations under
the Registration Rights Agreement, regardless of whether a
registration statement is filed or becomes effective. The
registration rights granted in the Registration Rights Agreement
are subject to customary indemnification and contribution
provisions, as well as customary restrictions such as blackout
periods.

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The foregoing
description of the Registration Rights Agreement does not purport
to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
the full text of the Registration Rights Agreement, a copy of
which is included as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form
8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Preferred
Stock

The information
set forth under Item 3.02 and Item 5.03 below is incorporated by
reference into this section.

Warrant
Agreement

On the Effective
Date, the Company entered into a warrant agreement (the Warrant
Agreement) with American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC.
In accordance with the Plan, the Company issued 6,210,000
warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 6,210,000 shares of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (the
Warrants) to all Noteholder Co-Proponents (as defined in the
Plan) and subscribers in the Rights Offering (as defined in the
Plan) and related backstop commitment.

All unexercised
Warrants will expire, and the rights of the holders of such
Warrants to purchase Common Stock will terminate, on the date
that is 90 days after the Effective Date, or if such date falls
on a date other than a business day, on the next succeeding
business day, which is July3, 2017.

The Warrant
Agreement provides that nothing contained therein will be
construed as conferring upon any holder of Warrants or his, her
or its transferees the right to vote or to receive dividends or
distributions (except as otherwise expressly provided therein) or
to consent or to receive notice as a stockholder in respect of
any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the
Company or of any other matter, or any rights whatsoever as
stockholders of the Company.

The number of
shares of Common Stock for which a Warrant is exercisable, and
the exercise price per share of such Warrant, is subject to
adjustment from time to time upon the occurrence of specified
events, including: (1)the subdivision or combination of the
Common Stock into a greater or lesser number of shares (2)the
payment of a dividend on the Common Stock and (3)certain forms of
tender offers or exchange offers made by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries as specified in the Warrant Agreement.

In connection with
any Organic Change (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) prior to
the expiration of the exercise period, the Company will make
appropriate provision to ensure that the holders of the Warrants
have the right to acquire and receive, upon exercise of the
Warrants, the cash, stock, securities or other assets or property
as would have been issued or payable in such Organic Change with
respect to, or in exchange for, as applicable, the number of
shares of Common Stock that would have been issued upon exercise
of such Warrants, if such Warrants had been exercised immediately
prior to the occurrence of such Organic Change.

The foregoing
description of the Warrant Agreement does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
full text of the Warrant Agreement, a copy of which is included
as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and
incorporated by reference herein.

2022 and
2025 Notes

As previously
disclosed, on February15, 2017, Peabody Securities Finance
Corporation (PSFC), a Delaware corporation and wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, entered into an indenture (the
Indenture) between PSFC and Wilmington Trust, National
Association, as trustee (the Trustee), relating to the issuance
by PSFC of $500.0million aggregate principal amount of 6.000%
senior secured notesdue 2022 (the 2022 Notes) and $500.0million
aggregate principal amount of 6.375% senior secured notesdue 2025
(together with the 2022 Notes, the Notes). The Noteswere sold on
February15, 2017 in a private transaction exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the
Securities Act).

Prior to the
Effective Date, PSFC deposited the net proceeds of the offering
of the Notes, together with additional funds deposited by the
Company, into an escrow account pending confirmation of the Plan
and certain other conditions being satisfied. On the Effective
Date, the net proceeds from the offering were released
from

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escrow to the
Company and the Company became a co-obligor of the Notesby
executing a supplemental indenture, dated as of April3, 2017 (the
First Supplemental Indenture), among the Company, PSFC, the
subsidiary guarantors party thereto and the Trustee, and,
thereafter, became the sole issuer of the Notesupon the merger of
PSFC with and into the Company to the Certificate of Ownership
and Merger, dated as of April3, 2017, with the Company as the
surviving corporation (the Assumption).

Upon the
Assumption, the Notes became jointly and severally and fully and
unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis by
substantially all of the Companys material domestic subsidiaries
and secured by first priority liens over (1)substantially all of
the assets of the Company and the guarantors, except for certain
excluded assets, (2) 50% of the capital stock of each domestic
restricted subsidiary of the Company, (3) 50% of the non-voting
capital stock of each first tier foreign subsidiary of the
Company or a foreign subsidiary holding company and no more than
65% of the voting capital stock of each first tier foreign
subsidiary of the Company or a foreign subsidiary holding
company, (4)a legal charge of 65% of the voting capital stock and
50% of the non-voting capital stock of Peabody Investments
(Gibraltar) Limited and (5)all intercompany debt owed to the
Company or any guarantor, in each case, subject to certain
exceptions, including that the Notesand guarantees are secured by
second priority liens on certain collateral pledged under the
Credit Agreement (as defined below).

The foregoing
description of the Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the full text of the Indenture, a copy of which
is incorporated as Exhibit 4.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K
and incorporated by reference herein, and the full text of the
First Supplemental Indenture, a copy of which is included as
Exhibit 4.3 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated
by reference herein.

Credit
Agreement

As previously
disclosed, on January11, 2017, the Debtors obtained an exit
facility commitment letter (the Exit Facility Commitment Letter)
from Goldman Sachs Bank USA(Goldman Sachs), JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A. (JPMorgan), Credit Suisse AG (acting through such of its
affiliates or branches as it deems appropriate, CS), Credit
Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (CS Securities and, together with
Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, the Arrangers), Macquarie Capital
Funding LLC (together with Goldman Sachs, CS and JPMorgan, the
Initial Lenders) and Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. (collectively
with the Arrangers and the Initial Lenders, the Commitment
Parties), to which, in connection with the consummation of the
Plan, the Initial Lenders agreed to provide a senior secured term
loan facility in an aggregate amount of $1.5billion, less the
aggregate principal amount of privately placed debt securities of
the Company, or special purpose escrow issuer, issued on or prior
to the closing date of the term loan facility (the Closing Date),
plus any amount of additional senior secured term loans funded on
the Closing Date at the sole discretion of the Arrangers and the
Company.

On April3, 2017,
the Company entered into the Credit Agreement, dated as of
April3, 2017, among the Company, as Borrower, Goldman Sachs Bank
USA, as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto
(the Credit Agreement) as contemplated by the Exit Facility
Commitment Letter. The Credit Agreement provides for a
$950million senior secured term loan, matures in 2022 and bears
interest at a fluctuating rate of LIBOR plus 4.50% per annum with
a 1.00% LIBOR floor.

The foregoing
description of the Exit Facility Commitment Letter and the Credit
Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the full text of the Exit Facility
Commitment Letter, a copy of which is incorporated as Exhibit
10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by
reference herein, and the full text of the Credit Agreement, a
copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.3 to this Current Report
on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

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Securitization
Facility

As previously
disclosed, on January27, 2017, the Company and PL Receivables
Company, LLC (PL Receivables) obtained a commitment letter (as
amended, the Receivables Commitment Letter) from PNC Bank,
National Association (PNC), to which, in connection with the
consummation of the Plan, PNC agreed to amend the existing
securitization facility evidenced by the Fifth Amended and
Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of March25,
2016, among PL Receivables, as the seller, the Company, as the
servicer, the sub-servicers party thereto, the various purchasers
and purchaser agents party thereto and PNC, as administrator, in
order to, among other things, (1)increase the purchase limit to
an amount not to exceed $250.0million, (2)extend the facility
termination date, and (3)add certain Australian subsidiaries of
the Company as originators.

On the Effective
Date, the Company entered into the Sixth Amended and Restated
Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of April3, 2017 (the
Receivables Purchase Agreement), among PL Receivables, as the
seller, the Company, as the servicer, thesub-servicersparty
thereto, the various purchasers and purchaser agents party
thereto and PNC, as administrator. The Receivables Purchase
Agreement effectuates the terms of the Receivables Commitment
Letter.

The foregoing
description of the Receivables Purchase Agreement does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the full text of the Receivables Purchase Agreement,
a copy of which is included as Exhibit 10.4 to this Current
Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Item1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive
Agreement

Cancellation of
Prepetition Obligations

In accordance with
the Plan, on the Effective Date all of the obligations of the
Debtors with respect to the following debt instruments were
cancelled:

Indenture governing $1,000.0million outstanding aggregate
principal amount of the Companys 10.00% Senior Secured Second
Lien Notes due 2022, dated as of March16, 2015, among the
Company, U.S. Bank National Association (U.S. Bank), as
trustee and collateral agent, and the guarantors named
therein, as supplemented;
Indenture governing $650.0million outstanding aggregate
principal amount of the Companys 6.50% Senior Notes due 2020,
dated as of March19, 2004, among the Company, U.S. Bank, as
trustee, and the guarantors named therein, as supplemented;
Indenture governing $1,518.8million outstanding aggregate
principal amount of the Companys 6.00% Senior Notes due 2018,
dated as of November15, 2011, among the Company, U.S. Bank,
as trustee, and the guarantors named therein, as
supplemented;
Indenture governing $1,339.6million outstanding aggregate
principal amount of the Companys 6.25% Senior Notes due 2021,
dated as of November15, 2011, by and among the Company, U.S.
Bank, as trustee, and the guarantors named therein, as
supplemented;
Indenture governing $250.0million outstanding aggregate
principal amount of the Companys 7.875% Senior Notes due
2026, dated as of March19, 2004, among the Company, U.S.
Bank, as trustee, and the guarantors named therein, as
supplemented;
Subordinated Indenture governing $732.5million outstanding
aggregate principal amount of the Companys Convertible Junior
Subordinated Debentures due 2066, dated as of December20,
2006, among the Company and U.S. Bank, as trustee, as
supplemented; and
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended and
restated as of September24, 2013, related to $1,170.0million
outstanding aggregate principal amount of term loans under a
term loan facility and $1,650.0million under a revolving
credit facility, which includes approximately $675million of
posted but undrawn letters of credit and approximately
$947million in outstanding borrowings, by and among the
Company, Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line
lender and letter of credit issuer, Citigroup Global Markets,
Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner Smith Incorporated, BNP
Paribas Securities Corp., Crdit Agricole Corporate and
Investment Bank, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Morgan Stanley
Senior Funding, Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC and RBS
Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers and joint book
managers, and the lender parties thereto, as amended by that
certain Omnibus Amendment Agreement, dated as of February5,
2015.

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Cancellation of Prior
Common Stock

In accordance with
the Plan, each share of the Companys common stock outstanding
prior to the Effective Date, including all options and warrants
to purchase such stock, were extinguished, canceled and
discharged, and each such share, option or warrant has no further
force or effect after the Effective Date. Furthermore, all of the
Companys equity award agreements under prior incentive plans, and
the awards granted thereto, were extinguished, canceled and
discharged and have no further force or effect after the
Effective Date.

Item3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

On the Effective
Date, in connection with the Companys emergence from the Chapter
11 Cases and in reliance on the exemption from registration
requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section1145 of the
Bankruptcy Code, the Company issued:

11,636,980 shares of Common Stock issued to the initial
distribution of Common Stock to holders of Allowed Claims in
Classes 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D and 5B on account of such claims as
provided in the Plan; and
51,225,813 shares of Common Stock and approximately 2,915,990
Warrants (the 1145 Warrants) issued to the completed Rights
Offering to certain holders of the Companys pre-petition indebtedness
for total consideration of approximately $704million.

Any shares of
Common Stock issued to the exercise of such 1145 Warrants will
similarly be issued to the exemption from registration provided
by Section1145 of the Bankruptcy Code.

In addition, on
the Effective Date, in connection with the Companys emergence
from the Chapter 11 Cases and in reliance on the exemption from
registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by
Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act, the Company issued:

29,999,999 shares of Preferred Stock issued to specified
parties to the Private Placement Agreement, dated as of
December22, 2016 (as amended, the Private Placement
Agreement), among the Company and the other parties thereto,
for total consideration of $750million;
3,319,641 shares of Common Stock and approximately 188,979
Warrants (the Private Warrants) issued to specified parties
to the Backstop Commitment Agreement, dated as of December22,
2016 (as amended, the Backstop Commitment Agreement), among
the Company and the other parties thereto, on account of
their commitments under that agreement, for total
consideration of $46million; and
4,799,813 shares of Common Stock and 3,105,000 Private
Warrants to specified parties to the Private Placement
Agreement and Backstop Commitment Agreement on account of
commitment premiums contemplated by those agreements.

Any shares of
Common Stock issued to the conversion of the Preferred Stock or
the exercise of such Private Warrants will be issued to the
exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(9) and/or
Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.

The securities
issued in reliance on Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act are
subject to restrictions on transfer unless otherwise registered
under the Securities Act.

Item3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security
Holders

The information
set forth under Item 1.01, Item 1.02 above and Item 5.03 below is
incorporated by reference into this Item3.03.

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Item5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant

The information
set forth under Item 1.01 above and Item 5.02 below is
incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.

Item5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election
of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory
Arrangements of Certain Officers

Board of
Directors

In accordance with
the Plan, on the Effective Date, William A. Coley, William E.
James, Robert B. Karn, III, Henry E. Lentz, William C. Rusnack,
John F. Turner, Sandra A Van Trease, and Heather A. Wilson ceased
to be members of the Companys board of Directors (the
Board).

As previously
disclosed, and in accordance with the Plan, on the Effective
Date, the Board was constituted with nine members. The Companys
eight independent directors were selected as follows: (1)the
Debtors designated one; (2)Contrarian Capital Management Corp.
(Contrarian), PointState Capital Management, LP (PointState), and
Panning Capital Management, LP (Panning) together designated one;
(3)Elliott Management Corp. (Elliott) designated one; and (4)a
selection committee comprising the Companys chief executive
officer, a representative of Elliott and one nominee acting on
behalf of Contrarian, PointState and Panning agreed on the
retention of a search firm to identify and recommend the
remaining five, which were then selected by the committee.

The following are
the members of the Board as of the Effective Date: Nicholas J.
Chirekos, Stephen E. Gorman, Glenn L. Kellow, Joe W. Laymon,
Teresa S. Madden, Robert A. Malone, Kenneth W. Moore, Michael W.
Sutherlin and Shaun A. Usmar.

All directors are
in one class and serve for a term ending at the annual meeting
following the annual meeting at which the director was elected.
The current class of directors will be subject to reelection at
the Companys 2018 annual meeting.

The audit
committee currently consists of Teresa S. Madden (chair),
Nicholas J. Chirekos and Kenneth W. Moore. The compensation
committee currently consists of Joe W. Laymon (chair). The
nominating and corporate governance committee consists of Shaun
A. Usmar, Joe W. Laymon and Kenneth W. Moore.

There are no
transactions in which any member of the Board has an interest
that requires disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation
S-K under the
Securities Act.

Indemnification
Agreements

The previous Board approved a
form of indemnification agreement (the Indemnification Agreement)
to be entered into by all of the members of the new Board and the
Companys executive officers. The Indemnification Agreement
provides for the mandatory advancement and reimbursement of
reasonable expenses (subject to limited exceptions) incurred by
indemnitees in various legal proceedings in which they may be
involved by reason of their service as directors or officers, as
applicable, as permitted by Delaware law and the Companys Fourth
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the Charter).
Each executive officer listed in Exhibit 10.4 has entered into an
Indemnification Agreement and the Company anticipates that each
director will each enter into an Indemnification
Agreement.

The foregoing description of
the Indemnification Agreements does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of
the form of Indemnification Agreement, a copy of which is
included as Exhibit 10.5 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and
incorporated by reference herein.

2017 Incentive
Compensation Plan

In accordance with the Plan,
the Peabody Energy Corporation 2017 Incentive Plan (the 2017
Incentive Plan) became effective as of the Effective Date. The
2017 Incentive Plan is intended to, among other things,
help

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attract and retain employees
and directors upon whom, in large measure, the Company depends
for sustained progress, growth and profitability. The 2017
Incentive Plan also permits awards to consultants. By encouraging
employees, consultants and directors of the Company and its
subsidiaries to acquire a proprietary interest in the Companys
growth and performance, the 2017 Incentive Plan is intended to
motivate employees, consultants and directors to achieve Company
goals and to more closely align such persons interests with those
of the Companys other stockholders.

Unless otherwise determined by
the Board, the Compensation Committee (the Committee) will
administer the 2017 Incentive Plan. The 2017 Incentive Plan
generally provides for the following types of
awards:

options (including non-qualified stock options and incentive
stock options);
stock appreciation rights;
restricted stock;
restricted stock units;
deferred stock;
performance units;
dividend equivalents; and
cash incentive awards.

The aggregate number of shares
of Common Stock reserved for issuance to the 2017 Incentive Plan
is 14,092,376. The 2017 Incentive Plan will remain in effect,
subject to the right of the Board to terminate the Plan at any
time, subject to certain restrictions, until the earlier to occur
of (a)the date all shares of common stock subject to the 2017
Incentive Plan are purchased or acquired and the restrictions on
all restricted stock granted under the 2017 Incentive Plan have
lapsed, according to the 2017 Incentive Plans provisions, and
(b)ten years from the Effective Date.

Unless otherwise set forth in
the applicable award agreement, upon the occurrence of (a)an
event satisfying the definition of Change in Control (as defined
in the 2017 Incentive Plan) with respect to a particular award,
and (b)during the two year period immediately following such
event, an involuntary termination of service of a grantee who
holds an award either (i)by the grantee for good reason (as may
be defined in the applicable award agreement) or (ii)by the
Company for a reason other than Cause (as defined in the 2017
Incentive Plan), then such award will become fully vested, all
restrictions will lapse and all performance goals will be deemed
to be met at target levels, as applicable; provided that no
payment of an award will be accelerated to the extent such
payment would cause such award to be subject to the adverse
consequences described in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986 (the Code). The Committee may, in its discretion,
include such further provisions and limitations in any award
agreement as it may deem desirable.

In order to maintain the
grantees rights with respect to an award upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control in which such award is assumed by the acquiring
or surviving entity, the Committee will, unless otherwise set
forth in an applicable award agreement, either (a)make such
adjustment to any such award then outstanding as the Committee
deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control or (b)cause
any such award to be substituted for new rights, by the acquiring
or surviving entity after such Change in Control. In order to
maintain the grantees rights with respect to an award upon the
occurrence of a Change in Control in which such award is not to
be assumed by the acquiring or surviving entity, the Committee
will, unless otherwise set forth in an applicable award
agreement, cause such award to be canceled in exchange for
consideration (whether in cash or other property) based on the
price paid per share of Common Stock as part of the transaction
which constitutes the Change in Control; provided, that such
cancellation and payment complies with Section 409A of the Code.
In addition, for each option or stock appreciation right with an
option price or strike price, respectively, that is greater than
the price paid per share of Common Stock as part of the
transaction which constitutes the Change in Control, the
Committee may cancel such award without any payment
therefor.

Grant of Emergence
Awards

On the Effective Date, the
Company granted restricted stock units under the 2017 Incentive
Plan and the terms of the relevant restricted stock unit
agreement to employees, including its executive officers,
covering an

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aggregate of 2,941,731 shares
of Common Stock (the Emergence Awards). The Emergence Awards
granted to our executive officers generally will vest ratably on
each of the first three anniversaries of the Effective Date,
subject to, among other things, each such executive officers
continued employment with the Company. The Emergence Awards will
become fully vested upon each such executive officers termination
of employment by the Company and its subsidiaries without Cause
or by the executive for Good Reason (each, as defined in the
award agreement) or due to a termination of employment with the
Company and its subsidiaries by reason of death or Disability (as
defined in the award agreement).

In order to receive the
Emergence Awards, the executive officers must execute a
restrictive covenant agreement (a Restrictive Covenant Agreement)
which requires the recipient to: (1)maintain the confidentiality
of the Companys confidential information, (2)not compete with the
Company during the term of employment and for a period of twelve
months thereafter, and (3)not solicit the Companys employees or
customers during the period of employment and for a period of
twelve months thereafter.

The foregoing description of
the 2017 Incentive Plan, Restricted Stock Unit Agreements and
Restrictive Covenant Agreements does not purport to be complete
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of
the 2017 Incentive Plan, the full text of the Form of Restricted
Stock Unit Agreement, and the full text of the Form of
Restrictive Covenant Agreement, copies of which are included as
Exhibits 10.6, 10.7 and 10.8, respectively, to this Current
Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference
herein.

Other
Items

Also, in connection with the
Companys emergence from the Chapter 11 Cases, Mr.Kellow executed
the standard participation agreement for the Peabody Energy
Corporation 2015 Amended and Restated Executive Severance Plan
(the Executive Severance Plan), commiserate with the Companys
previously disclosed intent for its executives to transition from
employment agreements to its Executive Severance Plan. Mr.Kellows
participation in the Executive Severance Plan will be upon terms
materially consistent with the previously disclosed terms of the
plan. None of the Companys executive officers are parties to
employment agreements and, with the addition of Mr.Kellow, all of
the Companys executive officers are now covered by the Executive
Severance Plan.

Item5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws;
Change in Fiscal Year

The Charter, Certificate of
Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock attached
thereto (Certificate of Designation), and Amended and Restated
Bylaws (the Bylaws) in the forms contemplated by the Plan became
effective on the Effective Date. The Charter authorizes the
Company to issue: up to 450,000,000 shares of common stock, of
which 70,982,247 shares were or will be issued to the Plan on the
Effective Date and up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
of which 50,000,000 shares are designated as Series A Convertible
Stock and of which 30,000,000 were issued to the Plan on the
Effective Date.

A description of the key
provisions of the Charter, Certificate of Designation and Bylaws
is included in the Companys registration statement on Form 8-A
filed with the SEC on April3, 2017, which description is
incorporated by reference herein.

This description is qualified
in its entirety by the full text of the Charter, Certificate of
Designation and Bylaws, copies of which are included as Exhibits
3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, respectively, to this Current Report on Form
8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Item7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On April3, 2017, the Company
issued a press release announcing the Effective Date of the Plan.
A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 of
this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by
reference.

The information set forth in
and incorporated into this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on
Form8-Kis being furnished to Item 7.01 of Form8-Kand shall not be
deemed filed for purposes of Section18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), or otherwise subject
to the liabilities of that

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section, nor shall it be
deemed incorporated by reference into any of the Companys filings
under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, whether made before
or after the date hereof and regardless of any general
incorporation language in such filings, except to the extent
expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing. The
filing of this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form8-Kshall
not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any
information herein that is required to be disclosed solely by
reason of Regulation FD.

Cautionary Note
Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form
8-K contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined
in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements include statements that relate to the
intent, beliefs, plans or expectations of the Company or its
management at the time of this Current Report, as well as any
estimates or projections for the outcome of events that have not
yet occurred at the time of this Current Report. All statements
other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements include expressions such
as believe anticipate, expect, estimate, intend, may, plan,
predict, will and similar terms and expressions. All
forward-looking statements made by the Company are predictions
and not guarantees of future performance and are subject to
various risks, uncertainties and factors relating to the Companys
operations and business environment, all of which are difficult
to predict and many of which are beyond the Companys control.
These risks, uncertainties and factors could cause the Companys
actual results to differ materially from those matters expressed
in or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such factors
include, but are not limited to: those described under the Risk
Factors section and elsewhere in the Companys most recently filed
Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the SEC,
which are available on the Companys website at
www.peabodyenergy.com and on the SECs website at www.sec.gov,
such as unfavorable economic, financial and business conditions.
Factors that could affect the Companys results or an investment
in its securities include, but are not limited to:

competition in the energy market and supply and demand for
the Companys products, including the impact of alternative
energy sources, such as natural gas and renewables;
global steel demand and the downstream impact on
metallurgical coal prices, and lower demand for the Companys
products by electric power generators;
customer procurement practices and contract duration;
the impact of weather and natural disasters on demand,
production and transportation;
reductions and/or deferrals of purchases by major customers
and the Companys ability to renew sales contracts;
credit and performance risks associated with customers,
suppliers, contract miners, co-shippers, and trading, bank
and other financial counterparties;
geologic, equipment, permitting, site access, operational
risks and new technologies related to mining;
transportation availability, performance and costs;
availability, timing of delivery and costs of key supplies,
capital equipment or commodities such as diesel fuel, steel,
explosives and tires;
impact of take-or-pay arrangements for rail and port
commitments for the delivery of coal;
successful implementation of business strategies, including,
without limitation, the actions the Company is implementing
to improve its organization and respond to current
conditions;
negotiation of labor contracts, employee relations and
workforce availability, including, without limitation,
attracting and retaining key personnel;
changes in post-retirement benefit and pension obligations
and their related funding requirements;
replacement and development of coal reserves;
effects of changes in interest rates and currency exchange
rates (primarily the Australian dollar);
effects of acquisitions or divestitures;
the Companys ability to successfully consummate planned
divestitures, including the planned sale of all of its equity
interests in Metropolitan Collieries Pty Ltd, the entity that
owns the Metropolitan coal mine in New South Wales, Australia
(the Metropolitan Mine);
economic strength and political stability of countries in
which the Company has operations or serve customers;

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legislation, regulations and court decisions or other
government actions, including, but not limited to, new
environmental and mine safety requirements, changes in income
tax regulations, sales-related royalties, or other regulatory
taxes and changes in derivative laws and regulations;
the Companys ability to obtain and renew permits necessary
for its operations;
the Companys ability to appropriately secure its requirements
for reclamation, federal and state workers compensation,
federal coal leases and other obligations related to the
Companys operations, including its ability to utilize
self-bonding and/or successfully access the commercial surety
bond market;
litigation or other dispute resolution, including, but not
limited to, claims not yet asserted;
terrorist attacks or security threats, including, but not
limited to, cybersecurity breaches;
impacts of pandemic illnesses;
any lack of an established market for certain of the Companys
securities, including its Preferred Stock, and potential
dilution of its Common Stock due to future issuances of
equity securities;
price volatility in the Companys securities;
short-sales in the Companys Common Stock; and
any conflicts of interest between the Companys significant
stockholders and other holders of its capital stock.

In addition, such factors
include the following related to the Companys capital
structure:

the Companys ability to generate sufficient cash to service
all of its indebtedness;
the Companys debt instruments and capital structure placing
certain limits on its ability to pay dividends and repurchase
Common Stock; and
the Companys ability to comply with financial and other
restrictive covenants in various agreements, including its
debt instruments.

Forward-looking statements
made by the Company in this Current Report, or elsewhere, speak
only as of the date on which the statements were made. New risks
and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is not possible
for the Company to predict all of these events or how they may
affect it or its anticipated results. The Company does not
undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking
statements except as may be required by law. In light of these
risks and uncertainties, readers should keep in mind that the
events referenced by any forward-looking statements made in this
Current Report may not occur and should not place undue reliance
on any forward-looking statements.

-11-

Item9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number

Description

3.1 Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
3.2 Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock
3.3 Amended and Restated Bylaws
4.1 Warrant Agreement, dated as of April3, 2017, among the
Registrant and American Stock Transfer Trust Company, LLC
4.2 Indenture, dated as of February15, 2017, between the Peabody
Securities Finance Corporation (merged with and into the
Registrant on April3, 2017) and Wilmington Trust, National
Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit4.1 of the Registrants Current Report on Form 8-K
filed February15, 2017)
4.3 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April3, 2017, among
the Registrant, Peabody Securities Finance Corporation, the
subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust,
National Association, as trustee
10.1 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April3, 2017,
among the Registrant and the stockholders party thereto
10.2 Exit Facility Commitment Letter entered into as of January11,
2017, by and among the Registrant, Goldman Sachs Bank USA,
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse
Securities (USA) LLC, Macquarie Capital Funding LLC and
Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on January12, 2017)
10.3 Credit Agreement dated as of April3, 2017, among the
Registrant, as Borrower, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as
Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto
10.4 Sixth Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement,
dated as of April3 2017, by and among PL Receivables Company,
LLC, Peabody Energy Corporation, the various Sub-Servicers
listed on the pages thereto, all Conduit Purchasers listed on
the pages thereto, all Committed Purchasers listed on the
pages thereto, all Purchaser Agents listed on the pages
thereto, all LC Participants listed on the pages thereto, and
PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrator and as LC
Bank
10.5 Form of Indemnification Agreement
10.6 Peabody Energy Corporation 2017 Incentive Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.6 of the Registrants Registration
Statement on Form S-8, filed April3, 2017)
10.7 Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement
10.8 Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement under the Peabody
Energy Corporation 2017 Incentive Plan
99.1 Press Release

-12-

to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION
April3, 2017 By:

/s/ A. Verona Dorch

Name: A. Verona Dorch
Title: Chief Legal Officer

-13-

EXHIBIT
INDEX

Exhibit Number

Description

3.1 Fourth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
3.2 Certificate of Designation of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock
3.3 Amended and Restated Bylaws
4.1 Warrant Agreement, dated as of April3, 2017, among the
Registrant and American Stock Transfer Trust Company, LLC
4.2 Indenture, dated as of February15, 2017, between the Peabody
Securities Finance Corporation (merged with and into the
Registrant on April3, 2017) and Wilmington Trust, National
Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit4.1 of the Registrants Current Report on Form 8-K
filed February15, 2017)
4.3 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April3, 2017, among
the Registrant, Peabody Securities Finance Corporation, the
subsidiary guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust,
National Association, as trustee
10.1 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April3, 2017,
among the Registrant and the stockholders party thereto
10.2 Exit Facility Commitment Letter entered into as of January11,
2017, by and among the Registrant, Goldman Sachs Bank USA,
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse
Securities (USA) LLC, Macquarie Capital Funding LLC and
Macquarie Capital (USA) Inc. (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants Current Report on Form 8-K
filed on January12, 2017)
10.3 Credit Agreement dated as of April3, 2017, among the
Registrant, as Borrower, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as
Administrative Agent, and the other lenders party thereto
10.4 Sixth Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement,
dated as of April3 2017, by and among PL Receivables Company,
LLC, Peabody Energy Corporation, the various Sub-Servicers
listed on the pages thereto, all Conduit Purchasers listed on
the pages thereto, all Committed Purchasers listed on the
pages thereto, all Purchaser Agents listed on the pages
thereto, all LC Participants listed on the


About PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION (OTCMKTS:BTUUQ)

Peabody Energy Corporation is a coal company. The Company’s segments include Powder River Basin Mining, Midwestern U.S. Mining, Western U.S. Mining, Australian Metallurgical Mining, Australian Thermal Mining, Trading and Brokerage, and Corporate and Other. Its Powder River Basin Mining operations consist of its mines in Wyoming. Midwestern U.S. Mining operations reflect the Company’s Illinois and Indiana mining operations. Western U.S. Mining operations reflect the aggregation of the New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado mining operations. Australian Metallurgical Mining operations consist of mines in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Australian Thermal Mining operations consist of mines in New South Wales, Australia. Its Trading and Brokerage segment engages in the direct and brokered trading of coal and freight-related contracts through the trading and business offices. Its Corporate and Other includes selling and administrative expenses, and corporate hedging activities.

PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION (OTCMKTS:BTUUQ) Recent Trading Information

PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION (OTCMKTS:BTUUQ) closed its last trading session down -0.297 at 0.383 with 3,485,001 shares trading hands.