Alexander C. Schoch Joins Peabody as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peabody Energy today announced that Alexander C. Schoch has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer with responsibility for legal and corporate secretary functions for the company. Schoch will report to President and Chief Executive Officer Gregory H. Boyce.

Schoch has 27 years of extensive corporate legal experience, most recently as Vice President and General Counsel for Emerson Process Management, an operating segment of Emerson Electric. In that role he provided advice and counsel to senior management, with responsibility for the legal affairs of the process systems and services business in the United States and its substantial global operations.

He previously served in legal positions with Goodrich Corporation, including Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Secretary, with prior assignments in Goodrich's aerospace and specialty chemicals divisions. Earlier in his career Schoch worked for Marathon Oil Company as an attorney in its international exploration and production division.

"Alex brings to Peabody an excellent track record of providing counsel for major international corporations with complex operations and transactions. His knowledge and experience across the energy and basic material industries will enhance Peabody's core business and add depth as we expand in global coal markets and Btu Conversion opportunities," said Boyce.

Reporting to Schoch are Vice President and General Counsel Jeffery L. Klinger and Vice President and Associate General Counsel Joseph W. Bean.

Schoch holds a Juris Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Kenyon College in Ohio. He is admitted to practice law in several states, and is a member of the American and International Bar Associations.

Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company, with 2005 sales of 240 million tons of coal and $4.6 billion in revenues. Its coal products fuel approximately 10 percent of all U.S. electricity generation and 3 percent of worldwide electricity.

CONTACT: Beth Sutton (314) 342-7573